Unfortunately, NFL Star Chris Henry has passed away after falling out of a pick up truck. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police tell TMZ Henry died at 6:36 AM EST this morning. He was 26.
As we previously reported, cops believe Henry — a wide receiver on the Cincinnati Bengals — jumped into the back of the truck, in an attempt to stop his fiancee from leaving a “domestic situation” at her parents’ home in North Carolina. Henry was rushed to a local hospital — where he passed away this morning.
Authorities tell us they’re still investigating the situation.
It is very sad to see someone pass away at such a young age.
Tom Brady practiced with the New England Patriots for the first time Tuesday since suffering a season-ending knee injury in last year’s opening game. Brady and nearly the entire team participated in the first of four days of this week’s organized team activities, Patriots spokesman Stacey James said. The first three days of OTAs were held last week for young players and others signed as free agents in the offseason who needed more time to get used to the playbook. About 50 players, roughly half the team, took part in those. The sessions are voluntary. – From ESPN
Four Dallas Cowboys staff members were injured Saturday when the roof of the team’s indoor practice facility collapsed. A Cowboys’ spokesman says he’s not sure of the extent of the injuries.
Brett Favre was released from the reserve-retired list by the New York Jets on Tuesday night, making the quarterback a free agent if he decides to again come out of retirement. When Favre was dealt to New York from Green Bay in August, there were conditions in the trade that required the Packers to be compensated if the Jets moved the three-time MVP. Those no longer apply if he signs elsewhere. The 39-year-old Favre, who spent one disappointing season with New York, had requested the move several weeks ago through agent Bus Cook, but insisted he has no plans to come out of retirement for a 19th season. “Nothing has changed,” Favre said in a statement. “At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.” – From ESPN
When more than one-third of the NFL’s 32 teams invite you to their house, somebody is doing something right. The final semester as a student-athlete for Western Illinois senior Jason Williams has been filled with ups and downs. And frequent flier miles. By the end of this week, the 6-1, 241-pound linebacker will have visited more teams than any other draft prospect, taken nearly 30 flights and traveled more than 13,000 miles in the last four weeks. That’s a lot of job interviews for a college senior. – from here
And on Day 2 of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Cowboys finally make their first pick, choosing Western Illinois linebacker Jason Williams. Following Williams, they chose Ball State offensive lineman Robert Brewster (6-foot-4, 325 pounds). He played tackle in college but projects to be a guard in the NFL. In the fourth round, the Cowboys snagged Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee. He is the first quarterback drafted by the Cowboys since Quincy Carter in 2001 and just the second since 1991. – from here
Western Illinois linebacker Jason Williams did not have to wait long on Sunday to hear his name called in the NFL Draft.. The Dallas Cowboys chose Williams with the fifth pick of the third round, 69th overall. Williams said earlier this week that while he just wanted to be drafted and play in the NFL, the Cowboys were one of the teams where he felt the most comfortable after going through the interview and workout process with 11 teams leading up to the draft. – from here
This is high praise for an unknown player, but the more film scouts watch on Williams, the more they will notice he has the “it” factor. With patient coaching and in the right system, he could turn into one of the better finds in this draft. He plays with excellent field vision and awareness. Williams demonstrates the instincts to quickly track down the ball. He has the change-of-direction agility and lateral movement to string plays wide and hits ballcarriers with force, driving with his legs to push the opponent back through the rush lane. – from here
The NFL draft isn’t just about grabbing new talent or plugging holes in a team’s depth chart. It’s also about intrigue. Bonny Ghosh has a look at some players who are ready for the big day.
EA continues reinventing the Madden cover. This year’s cover features not one, but two players, in a stylized cover that’s reminiscent of Street Fighter IV. The Cardinals’ wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, and the Steelers’ safety, Troy Polamalu, will share the spotlight on EA Sports’ annual NFL game when it goes on sale on August 14th. The two teams should be familiar to anyone who watched last year’s Super Bowl — y’know, people that play Madden. – from Joystiq
Super Bowl combatants Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald face off helmet-to-helmet for “Madden NFL 10,” the first time in the franchise’s 21-year history that two players adorn the cover. EA Sports’ latest edition of the best-selling sports video game ever, with more than 65 million sold, won’t be on store shelves until Aug. 14, but the announcement of the coverboys always arrives with fanfare — and renews the lore of The Madden Curse. – from Post
USC could become the first school to have three linebackers drafted in the first round in the same draft. Brian Orakpo of Texas and Aaron Curry of Wake Forest are also highly regarded linebackers.
John Madden retired on Wednesday from calling football games, leaving a weekly discipline that he revolutionized with a coach’s eye, cartoonish sound effects and a taste for Thanksgiving turducken. “It’s time,” he said in a statement issued by NBC Sports, where he had been an analyst for “Sunday Night Football” since 2006 following stints at ABC, Fox and CBS, where he began his second career after retiring from coaching the Oakland Raiders in 1979. “I’m 73 years old. My 50th anniversary is this fall.” He added: “It’s been such a great ride. The N.F.L. has been my life for more than 40 years, it has been my passion — and still is.” – From NY Times
Lou Saban, who coached O.J. Simpson in the NFL and ran the New York Yankees for George Steinbrenner during a well-traveled career that spanned five decades, died Sunday. He was 87. Saban died around 4 a.m. at his home in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., his wife, Joyce, said. He had heart problems for years and recently suffered a fall that required hospitalization, she said. Saban played football at Indiana University and for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL before embarking on an unmatched head coaching career that included stops with the Boston Patriots and Buffalo Bills of the old American Football League and the Denver Broncos and Bills after the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970, along with college jobs at Miami, Army, Northwestern and Maryland. – From SI
A police officer was placed on administrative leave Thursday over a traffic stop involving an NFL player whom he kept in a hospital parking lot and threatened to arrest while his mother-in-law died inside the building. Officer Robert Powell also drew his gun during the March 18 incident involving Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats in the Dallas suburb of Plano, police said. “I can screw you over,” he said at one point in the videotaped incident. When another officer came with word that Moats’ mother-in-law was indeed dying, Powell’s response was: “All right. I’m almost done.” Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle apologized to the family and announced that Powell would be on paid leave pending an internal investigation. – From ESPN
More games that count, perhaps as early as August 2011? That’s exactly what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants. There are several hurdles before the league can expand its regular season from 16 to 17 or 18 games. Among them is reaching a new collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union. Still, the commissioner hopes to present a proposal to the owners in May after the matter was discussed at length this week at the owners meetings. – From ESPN
In a year in which sweeping and historic change has come to Washington, D.C. on a national scale, the NFL Players Association followed suit with the trend Sunday night, electing D.C.-based attorney DeMaurice F. Smith, a relative unknown quantity in NFL circles, as the union’s new executive director, SI.com has learned. After a long and often contentious search for a successor to former NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw, who died of pancreatic cancer last August, Smith was elected by the union on the first ballot Sunday night at the Players Association’s annual meeting in Maui. Sources told SI.com that Trace Armstrong, one of the two presumed favorites for the executive director job, along with former union president Troy Vincent, was informed of Smith’s election about 11:15 p.m. ET Sunday. Smith is a partner at the law firm Patton Boggs in Washington and has no significant NFL ties. – From SI
The cover of Sports Illustrated’s April 24, 1989 issue featured NFL prospect Tony Mandarich, a massive offensive tackle from Michigan State. Mandarich was dubbed “the best offensive line prospect ever.” Rick Telander wrote the cover story, titled “The Big Enchilada”, in which he described Mandarich’s workout routine and published Mandarich’s denials of steroid use. While common sense had long ago labeled Mandarich a liar, it was only some 20 years later, at the age of 42, that Mandarich finally came clean. In that 1989 piece, Mandarich scoffed at the notion that he used steroids. He seemed content to pass such accusations off as pure jealousy. – From SI
A missing boater found clinging to an overturned boat was rescued Monday off Florida’s Gulf Coast, but the search continued for two NFL players and another man aboard who didn’t return from a weekend fishing trip.
Tonight at midnight, free agency strikes the NFL. Over 100 players will be free to negotiate and sign deals with other teams. The top player available is Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth can be a monster – dominating games both as a run stuffer and a pass rusher. He young too – only 27 – so the next few years should produce quality results. Down side on Hayneworth is he’s had some injuries, and isn’t as intense as he should be (meaning he takes some plays off at times). Still, he’s one of the few game changers on the board.
The main thing all fans and teams should know is that free agency usually can’t remake a club. It should be used to fill holes and build depth. Rarely are there true impact players available. The lure of free agency is often in the name of the player available – too often a veteran on the decline or cusp of a decline, who disappoints more than not. And often these players are getting huge dollars – and frequently find themselves on the street in a year or two when everyone realizes their performance doesn’t justify their salary.
Ultimately, buyer beware in free agency. Spend on youth and athleticism.
The Carolina Panthers signed T Jordan Gross to a new 6-year deal – and then franchised Julius Peppers. Peppers really wants out, so perhaps a trade can be worked. Peppers gets a one-year guaranteed deal worth $16.7 – not bad for one year. Getting Gross to sign was a coup, since the Panthers would have had choose between him or Peppers when applying the franchise tag. This nets them both players.
Albert Haynesworth will hit the market as the most coveted FA available after failing to come to terms with the Titans. He’ll become the highest paid defensive player in the league when all is said and done. He is a great player when healthy and motivated. But buyer beware if he gets disinterested.
The Titans placed the franchise tag on TE Bo Scaife . He caught a career high 58 passes last year. The tag for the TE isn’t too bad – less than $5 million – so the prices isn’t going to hamper the Titans much.
The Texans are using their franchise tag on cornerback Dunta Robinson. Robinson is certainly a good player, but he’s not an elite one. The Texans will try and work a long term deal to ease the costs a bit. No matter, he would have gotten big bucks on the open market.
The Colts inked cornerback Kelvin Hayden to a five-year deal worth $43 million. He would have gotten $10 million had they tagged him. Hayden is a good player, and the Colts are overpaying for him, but he easily would have gotten this from another team.
