Steelers MMQB: NFL Offseason News
By Kim Myers
What We Learned This Week in the NFL Offseason:
- LaDainian Tomlinson to retire as a San Diego Charger
- Pacman Jones to speak at Rookie Symposium
- NFL turns over some bounty evidence to players getting ready for their appeals
- T-Sizzle still expects to play in 2012
- Steelers release Training Camp practice schedule
LaDainian Tomlinson will fly clear across the country to retire rather than play another down for the NY Jets. LT will sign a one day contract with the Chargers today and officially retire a Charger. Tomlinson ends his career with 13,684 rushing yards and 145 touchdowns. LT was once a force to be reckoned with on the football field but was forced out of San Diego as they turned into a more pass-happy team under my favorite overrated QB, Philip Rivers. Tomlinson will no doubt be considered one of the best backs to never win a title and by all accounts be headed to Canton eventually.
The NFL has decided to invite Pacman Jones to speak at the Rookie Symposium, which apparently is to be held at a strip club this year. Jones is expected to teach the 2012 draft class valuable lessons like how to hire the right lawyer, how many people is too many in an entourage, and the exact technique of “making it rain”. Within a few days of this announcement a judge ruled Jones must pay $11 million in damages to the two Las Vegas strip club employees injured in 2007 during a shooting apparently orchestrated by Jones. Jones is also facing some legal troubles stemming from an incident in a Cincinnati bar in January 2011. Perfect speaker for the rookie class don’t you think?
The NFL has turned over a portion of their evidence against the four players suspended for the bounty scandal in New Orleans. The appeals will be heard today by Goodell and the players have already lost two arbitrator decisions challenging Goodell’s authority on the issue. The players are also claiming the evidence disclosed was not complete and is missing a ledger which the league is claiming clearly shows the pay scale set up by the players like Jonathan Vilma for things like “cart-offs” and “whacks”. This is not going to go in the players’ direction. Whether or not you agree with the punishment the Commish did it clearly for the reason of preventing any further instances of bounties being spoken off or organized in any locker rooms in the future. I’d say mission accomplished on that one. There’s always a chance the players suspensions could be reduced in part, but he dropped the hammer down on them to send a clear message. Unfortunately because of the CBA the players signed, they don’t really have a whole lot of legal recourse to protect themselves in the event Rogeez wants to make an example out of them.
Everyone’s favorite Ratbird, Terrell Suggs had to do some back tracking about his optimistic view on his return to the field following his torn Achilles’ tendon. The loud mouth linebacker had initially said he’d be ready to go by the start of the season in September but now is saying he could return by November. Most likely the Ratbirds will have to prepare this season without Suggs completely, hoping that someone else can make the majority of sacks and tackles that Ray Lewis can take credit for. There is also no truth to the rumor that Suggs’ excess gum tissue was used to repair the torn ligament. Here’s to a speedy recovery, ya Jagoff.
To the delight of Steeler Nation, the annual training camp schedule was released with players due to report on Wednesday, July 25th and the first practice on Friday, the 27th. The annual night practice at Latrobe Stadium will be held on Friday, Aug. 3rd and camp is expected to wrap up by Friday, Aug. 17th. The Steelers are still one of the last teams to continue to hold their training camp outside of the team facilities and is regarded as one of the greatest fan experiences one can have. Book your trips and vacation schedules accordingly. The season is right around the corner!
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