Wideout Steve Smith signs with Panthers through 2015
AHN Sports Staff Charlotte, NC, United States (AHN Sports) – Wideout Steve Smith signed a three-year extension with the Panthers Tuesday, keeping the Pro Bowler in Charlotte through 2015. Smith hauled in 79 passes for 1,394 yards and seven TD this past season in a solid campaign working with rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Smith, 33, is the team’s all-time leader with 699 catches, 10,278 receiving yards, 59 TD. He is just the the 35th player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards and stands at No. 32 all-time on the list. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Ex-Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams fingered 49ers to injure
AHN Sports Staff New Orleans, LA, United States (AHN Sports) – A documentary filmmaker captured former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams telling his players to injure specific members of the San Francisco 49ers the night before the NFC playoff game. Williams delivered an emotional speech urging his players to injure quarterback Alex Smith, running back Frank Gore and wideouts Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams, according to filmmaker Sean Pamphilon. “At one point Williams says, ‘We hit (expletive) Smith right there’ – then he points under his chin (and continues) – ‘remember me,’” Pamphilon told Yahoo! Sports. Pamphilon admitted that coach Sean Payton or general manager Mickey Loomis were not in the room while Williams made his speech. “Kill the head, the body will die,” Williams said of Gore. “We’ve to do everything in the world to make sure we kill Frank Gore’s head.” Williams has been suspended indefinitely by the league while Payton, Loomis and assistant coach Joe Vitt are appealing their bans. Payton was suspended for the 2012 season, Loomis eight games and Vitt six by the NFL. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Nike, NFL unveil new uniforms for all 32 teams
AHN Sports Staff New York, NY, United States (AHN Sports) – The NFL showed off its new look Tuesday as Nike debuted new uniforms for all 32 NFL teams at an unveiling event in New York. Anticipation of drastic changes was unfounded as most of the uniforms appeared to have minor tweaks to them but still resembled what fans have come to expect. The one team uniform Nike did the most changes too was Seattle’s. The Seahawks now have a new helmet logo and revised color and design for home and away jerseys. The uniform offer players a lightweight design and greater range of motion. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who has a Nike endorsement deal, offered a positive review. “It’s awesome. It’s a great opportunity for Nike, and it’s a great opportunity for the NFL,” Vick told NFL Network. “We’ll feel good and we’ll play good, and I’m very excited for the Nike brand.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Ex-NFL quarterback Leaf faces longer jail time following arrest
Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor Helena, MT, United States (AHN Sports) – Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf could face imprisonment longer than his 10-year probation term if his probation is revoked following his arrest Friday in his hometown of Great Falls on charges of burglary, drug possession and theft. Police said that Leaf, 35, was arrested after a month-long investigation that concluded with the former NFL player breaking into an acquaintance’s residence to steal prescription painkillers. Leaf, the former San Diego Chargers first round draft pick, was released on a $76,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court Monday. Meanwhile, Leaf, who only lasted four seasons in the pros and never lived up to the hype he had as a star player for Washington State, released a statement through his publicist, Wendy Ogunsemore, Friday night. “I’ve made some mistakes, and have no excuses,” the statement read. “I am using the tools I’ve learned to move forward rather than backwards, and will be open to talking about the details in the days to come. “I am confident that there will be further understanding when the facts are revealed, and feel very blessed for all of the support, especially from my friends and family.” The latest legal trouble is not the first for Leaf, who faced a similar accusation in 2008, when he was accused of robbing a player’s home while serving as the quarterbacks coach for Division II West Texas A&M. The investigation following that 2008 incident revealed that Leaf had obtained nearly 1,000 pain pills from area pharmacies in an eight-month span. In May 2009, he was indicted on burglary and controlled substance charges in Texas. Leaf, who was undergoing drug rehab in British Columbia at the time of the indictment, was arrested by customs agents as he returned to the United States. That same year, he pleaded guilty to eight felony drug charges and sentenced to 10 years of probation and fined $20,000. That same plea agreement could be revoked, according to reports. On Saturday, the West Texas district attorney who prosecuted Leaf in 2009 indicated that he will file a motion to revoke the former NFL player’s probation following his arrest in Montana. San Diego made Leaf the
Eagles Pro Bowl offensive tackle Peters ruptures Achilles tendon
AHN Sports Staff Philadelphia, PA, United States (AHN Sports) – Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters ruptured the Achilles tendon in his right leg during a workout in Texas earlier this week, according to the team. Peters will reportedly undergo surgery next week and could take up to a year to fully heal. Coach Andy Reid’s team will depend on King Dunlap, who started a pair of games last season and played in a dozen, to fill Peters’ void. “Jason is one of the best, if not the best, offensive tackle in the NFL,” Reid said in a statement. “We don’t know when he will return to the field and we will not speculate on a timeline. We are just going to let the surgical process and the rehabilitation process play itself out. “(General manager) Howie (Roseman) and I will sort out the roster situation for the offensive line. We are glad to have King back as a part of our offensive line and we will continue to scan the free agent market, also knowing the draft is less than a month away.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Packers agree to terms with defensive end Hargrove
AHN Sports Staff Green Bay, WI, United States (AHN Sports) – The Green Bay Packers agreed to terms on a deal with free agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove according to reports Thursday. ESPN first reported the deal. Terms were not disclosed. The 28-year-old Hargrove played with the Seattle Seahawks last season, recording 18 tackles and three sacks. Hargrove has also played with the New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills and St. Louis Rams during his career. For his career Hargrove has 19.5 sacks in 102 games. In 2008, Hargrove was suspended for a year by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Ex-Giants back Brandon Jacobs joins Niners
AHN Sports Staff San Francisco, CA, United States (AHN Sports) – The San Francisco 49ers boosted their rushing unit after signing former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs to a one-year deal Wednesday. The 49ers nabbed another Giants player just a week after inking wide receiver Mario Manningham to a two-year contract. The Giants released Jacobs to avoid paying the veteran back a $500,000 roster bonus and $4.4 million paycheck due in 2012-2013 season. With Jacobs arrival, the 49ers will have a solid backup rusher along with Kendall Hunter behind star running back Frank Gore. The 30-year-old Jacobs was drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft and tallied two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2007 and 2008. However, his output decreased significantly in the last two years, with just 823 yards in 2010 and 571 yards in 2011. Often booed by New York fans, Jacobs served as a backup for Ahmad Bradshaw in the Giants’ improbable run towards the Super Bowl title last season. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Magic’s green for Dodgers blue: Johnson group buys team for $2B
AHN Sports Staff Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN Sports) – Ex-Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Magic Johnson and former MLB executive Stan Kasten are part of a group that agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers from Frank McCourt Tuesday night, according to reports. The price tag is a whopping $2 billion, well eclipsing the price for sports franchises like the Premier League’s Manchester United ($1.47 billion) and the NFL’s Miami Dolphins ($1.1 billion). The deal must still be approved by federal bankruptcy court, but it didn’t stop Johnson from celebrating. “I am thrilled to be part of the historic Dodger franchise and intend to build on the fantastic foundation laid by Frank McCourt as we drive the Dodgers back to the front page of the sports section in our wonderful community of Los Angeles,” Johnson said in a statement. McCourt, who oversaw the team’s fall to 82-79 last season while failing to draw 3 million fans for the first time since 1992, said the Dodgers have a bright future. “This agreement with Guggenheim reflects both the strength and future potential of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and assures that the Dodgers will have new ownership with deep local roots, which bodes well for the Dodgers, its fans and the Los Angeles community,” McCourt, who was embroiled in an ugly public divorce with his wife Jaime through much of the season, said in a statement. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Super Bowl champion Giants to host Cowboys in 2012 season opener
AHN Sports Staff NY, NY, United States (AHN Sports) – The New York Giants will welcome the Dallas Cowboys to MetLife Stadium Wednesday Sept. 5 to officially start the NFL season. The game will air on NBC TV at 8:30 pm ET. and was moved up a day in order not to conflict with the president’s speech at the Democratic National Convention. Giants struggled to 7-7 at one point last season, but wins over the Jets and Cowboys propelled New York into the playoffs and into another unforgettable Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. It marked the Giants second championship in four years and the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl title in five appearances in the game. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
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