Following sports is meant to be fun — and during this NFL season, fun has been in short supply. Television ratings have slipped; the U.S. president has called for a boycott of the league over player demonstrations protesting racial injustice; an inordinate number of brilliant players have suffered major injuries; Jerry Jones is leading a revolt against the commissioner; and the quality of play has been derided widely. If you want to find joy on an NFL field this year, the only reliable place to look is the end zone. Everywhere else, people are angry, injured or drawing up legal papers. But in the end zone, grown men are dancing and pretending to be baseball players, sword fighters and children. The league’s off-season decision to relax prohibitions on celebrating touchdowns and other big plays has turned into a rare, unqualified, source of whimsy. For years, the NFL punished any choreographed celebration and prohibited using the football as a prop for a demonstration. But a … [Read more...] about Big-play celebrations the only fun in the NFL this year
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Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott has no chance of success with suspension appeal, NFL says
NEW YORK—Lawyers for the NFL say Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has no chance of success with his latest attempt to delay a six-game suspension. The lawyers made the argument Thursday in papers submitted to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court is considering whether to weigh in on Elliott’s suspension for domestic violence allegations. His union’s lawyers argued that he will be damaged irreparably if his suspension begins with Sunday’s game against Kansas City. NFL lawyers wrote that the NFL Players Association is arguing that suspensions are “uniquely injurious to professional football players.” But they say that cannot be so because federal law can’t mean one thing for professional athletes and something else for every other employee. Read more: Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension reinstated for 2nd time … [Read more...] about Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott has no chance of success with suspension appeal, NFL says
We the (AFC) North, or the NFL at its worst
Some might say, thank goodness for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens. No, not because Pittsburgh is the one team that looks like it could prevent New England from reaching another Super Bowl; no, not because the Bengals are a reliable playoff punchline, if they get there at all; no, not because the Ravens have . . . jeez, the Ravens. Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, opening up Deflategate and more Ray Lewis. The Ravens might be the worst. No, the reason to thank those three teams is that no franchises are better at reminding us what the NFL really is. This week on Monday Night Football in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier left the game on a spinal board and required surgery; Steelers receiver Juju Smith-Schuster caught cheap-shot artist Vontaze Burfict with a blindside helmet to Burfict’s jaw, and then stood over him and preened; Bengals safety George Iloka hit Antonio Brown helmet-to-helmet on a touchdown. The TV commentators … [Read more...] about We the (AFC) North, or the NFL at its worst
Former CFL, NFL star Warren Moon denies sexual harassment allegation, calls claims ‘meritless’
Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon says claims in a lawsuit alleging he sexual harassed a female employee at his sports marketing company are “meritless.” The suit, which was filed Monday in Orange County, Calif., names Moon and Sports 1 Marketing as defendants. Wendy Haskell, a former executive assistant to Moon at Sports 1 Marketing, alleges in the lawsuit that Moon required her to wear skimpy lingerie, share his bed during business trips and made unwanted sexual advances. Read more: NFL, CFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon accused of sexual harassment in California lawsuit Haskell also alleges in the documents that Moon grabbed her crotch while she was sleeping on a recent business trip in Seattle. … [Read more...] about Former CFL, NFL star Warren Moon denies sexual harassment allegation, calls claims ‘meritless’
Trump says U.S. should change tax law to punish NFL
WASHINGTON—U.S. President Donald Trump is suggesting the U.S. change its tax laws to punish organizations like the NFL if members are “disrespecting” the national anthem or flag. The NFL gave up its federal tax-exempt status a few years ago and now files tax returns as a taxable entity. So it’s unlikely that Trump’s proposal, tweeted in the early hours Tuesday, would change anything. Trump tweeted : “Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!” Read more: ESPN suspends Jemele Hill for two weeks over tweet about Cowboys owner Jerry Jones NFL sees widespread player protests after Trump’s ‘fire or suspend’ comments … [Read more...] about Trump says U.S. should change tax law to punish NFL