Looking back at the way he embarrassed himself with his supposed science lesson on deflated footballs, you can almost feel sorry for New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after Friday’s revelation from the Boston Herald’s Ron Borges.
Borges, talking to CSN’s Sports Tonight, said that Belichick’s lack of trust in his quarterback’s honesty may have played a role in Patriots owner Robert Kraft dropping any appeal of the team’s part of the punishment handed down by the NFL.
“Belichick never believed his (Brady’s) story, from what I was told,” Borges said. “Because they all know. Why do you think all those retired quarterbacks, the Troy Aikmans of the world. Troy Aikman is about as nice a guy as I’ve ever met in football, nobody’s backed him (Brady). Nobody, not a single guy. Why do you think that is? Because they hate Brady? No. Because they’re not stupid. They know nothing’s done with those balls that the quarterback doesn’t want done.”
What Brady did, according to the Wells report and anyone with even the slightest grasp of reality, was order two Patriots lackeys to deflate footballs to his liking in order to get a perceived competitive advantage. In America, we call that cheating.
https://twitter.com/NewsInBeantown/status/601759825454698496
Friday NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, on the advice from his lawyers, rejected the NFLPA’s request to step down as the arbitrator in Brady’s appeal hearing over his four-game suspension from the DeflateGate findings. The Patriots were fined $1 million and will lose their 2015 first-round draft pick and their 2017 fourth-round selection.
Marcel Dareus suspended for one game
The Buffalo Bills will be without the services of one of their defensive stars in their season opener after it was announced Friday that defensive tackle Marcel Darius will have to sit out a game for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Bills DL Marcel Dareus suspended for Buffalo's opener for violating the substance abuse policy. Back for Week 2 game against Patriots.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 21, 2015
The punishment doesn’t come from a failed drug test, but instead from a traffic stop May of last year where he was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dareus entered a treatment program and had the chargers dropped.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide standout was one of the most productive defensive tackles in the league last year, with a career and league high (for defensive tackles) 10 sacks to go with 48 tackles, one forced fumble and one pass defended.
Sam gets his chance in Canada
After failing to land with an NFL team after the veterans combine, former SEC Co-Defensive player of the year Michael Sam has agreed to a two-year contract with the CFL Montreal Alouettes. The Allouettes held exclusive CFL rights to Sam.
Welcome to Montreal Michael Sam!
DETAILS -> http://t.co/SSa9jTb864 #IsItJuneYet #Alouettes pic.twitter.com/mc3GCuUiQV
— Alouettes de Montréal (@MTLAlouettes) May 22, 2015
“I am very excited and proud to join the Montreal Alouettes,” said Sam in a statement “…I cannot wait to put on the pads, get back on the field and work hard each and every day with my teammates to bring a Grey Cup to the great fans here in Montreal.”
Sam had a disappointing veterans combine and certainly saw the writing on the wall once his results were in. He was drafted last season in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams but was beaten out in camp by undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks. Sam spent part of the season after than on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.
“With the signing of Michael Sam, we have become a better organization today,” Alouettes GM Jim Popp said. “Not only have we added an outstanding football player, we have added even a better person that brings dignity, character, and heart to our team.”
Cowboys give Orlando Scandrick extension
With the money saved by not signing running back DeMarco Murray, the Cowboys continue locking in their own players. Friday, cornerback Orlando Scandrick signed a $20 million, five-year deal with $4 million due in 2015. Scandrick was a fifth-round pick out of Boise State in 2008. This is likely the eight-year veterans last real NFL contract, so it’s a good move for him and the Cowboys to get it done early.
For the #Cowboys and Orlando Scandrick: It’s a 1-year, $9.5M extension. Worth $20M total
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 22, 2015
Last year Scandrick had 55 tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack, two interceptions and nine passes defended.
Legal news
Texas prosecutors are investigating Denver Broncos defensive end Antonio Smith for a crime that the sheriff’s office describes as “sexual in nature.” Smith has not been charged or arrested as of Friday.
After successfully completing his pretrial intervention program, former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has had the domestic violence charges against him dismissed.
