Re-Airs first Super Bowl
The NFL Network will replay the first Super Bowl ever played on Friday, January 15. The original network tapes of the broadcast were lost, and the NFL has re-created footage over several months in order to be able to build a broadcast to share. The broadcast will show the first Super Bowl game in its entirety, carefully re-constructed from piecemeal footage, with modern enhancements to color and audio. The original audio from the NBC broadcast has been found and will be layered over the film.
Retires
Connolly retires from the NFL.
It’s important to me to leave the game healthy. I’m able to be here for my kids and walk away on my own terms. I feel like I got everything I could out of football in playing ten years, winning a Super Bowl, and playing alongside some truly great players.
Highest-paid NFL kicker
Patriots kicker Gostkowski signs a four-year $17.2 million contract and becomes the highest-paid kicker in the League.
First full-time female referee
Thomas joins the league as a line judge after working as a college official for over seven years.
Arrested
Dixon is arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence to his person after he was pulled over and for traffic violations while he was riding a motor scooter. Dixon was going down the middle of the road between the northbound and southbound lanes and swerved in front of a vehicle. Officers said he was belligerent and antagonistic. Dixon was released on $1,000 bail.
You’re seriously going to give me a ticket for that? I’m making a U-turn!..You’re just doing this because I’m a black man with dreads and I look like a criminal. I’m not a criminal!
Suspended without pay
The NFL suspends Farmer for the first four games of the 2015 season for sending texts to personnel during games, which violates the NFL’s electronic device policy. The Browns are also fined $250,000. NFL:
There was no evidence in the NFL’s review that Browns ownership or any other team executives had knowledge of the prohibited conduct. Once the violation was discovered, Browns management implemented new processes to ensure future compliance.
Farmer:
I respect the league’s decision and understand that there are consequences for my actions. Accountability is integral to what we are trying to build, and as a leader, I need to set the right example. I made a mistake and apologize to Jimmy Haslam, [coach] Mike Pettine, our entire organization and our fans for the ramifications. Learning is a big part of who I am, and I will certainly be better from this situation.
Crowd noise fine, lose draft pick
As punishment for piping crowd noise into home games, the Falcons are fined $350,000 and forfeit a 2016, fifth-round draft pick. The Falcons will not appeal the punishment.
What took place was wrong and nowhere near the standards by which we run our business. Anytime there are actions that compromise the integrity of the NFL or threaten the culture of our franchise, as this issue did, they will be dealt with swiftly and strongly.
‘Not the only gay person in the NFL’
Speaking at the Dallas Holocaust Museum Upstander Speaker series, Sam claims he is not the only gay player in the NFL. He says that other gay NFL players have reached out to him.
I am not the only gay person in the NFL. I’m just saying there is a lot of us. I respect the players that did reach out to me and had the courage to tell me that they were also gay, but they do not have the same courage as I do to come out before I even played a down in the NFL…Was it a risky move? Yes. But at that moment, the reason why I came out is I thought it wasn’t going to be a big deal. Maybe I was naive. Maybe I thought it was 2014, and people will understand that there’s gay NFL players. There’s gay athletes everywhere. But I was clearly wrong. It was a huge deal.
The players who have reached out to me and told me about their sexual orientation, it just means a lot. But I will never say anything about who they are, what teams they are [on]. I’m just saying there’s some famous people, and I’m not the only one.
Extra point changes discussed
The owners of 32 NFL teams discuss changes the extra point rule in 2015-2016 season. Among the possibilities are moving the line of scrimmage back for PAT kicks; placing the ball on the 1½-yard line for a two-point conversion; eliminating the PAT kicks entirely, requiring teams to run a play from scrimmage; and allowing the defense to score, as in college football, if the ball is turned over on a two-point try. The committee will develop alternatives and be ready for a potential vote in two months in San Francisco. Chairman McKay:
There’s a clear movement to wanting to change and change it this year.
Jets file tampering charge
The Jets file a tampering charge against the Patriots after Kraft made the following comment about Revis:
I speak as a fan of the New England Patriots, we wanted to keep him.
Tweaks rule defining catch
The NFL adjusts the rule defining a catch. Rather than simply make a “football move,” a receiver must establish himself as a runner in the field of play, having control of the ball and both feet in bounds.
Once you go down that path, it becomes more subjective. What is, what isn’t a football move. We’re not talking about a lot of plays over the course of the five seasons since the Calvin Johnson play. This allows us to consistently officiate the rule.
Suspends TV blackout policy
0 CommentsNFL owners vote to suspend the NFL’s local TV blackout policy for the 2015 season. After the season, the NFL will reassess the move. During the 2014 regular season, there weren’t any local blackouts. There were only two blackouts during the 2013 season.
Slashed by knife
Walden’s ex-girlfriend, Palmer, slashes Walden in the arm with a knife. Walden calls 911 after wrestling his gun away from Palmer, who was also armed with a baseball bat. Before fleeing, Palmer struck Walden’s female companion in the arm with the bat, breaking the woman’s arm. As Walden was trying to get the woman to the hospital, Palmer reappeared and slashed him in the arm with a knife before fleeing again. Walden did not suffer any major damage in the attack.
Released from team
Only hours after his arrest, Pierce is cut by the Ravens. Pierce told arresting officer:
Do you know what happened the last time a Ravens player got a DUI? I’m getting cut tomorrow, not like you care.
Pierce is the third Ravens player to be cut from the team after being arrested during this offseason.
DUI arrest
After failing a field sobriety test, Pierce is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He is the third Ravens player to be arrested this offseason.
On RB Bernard Pierce: "We are aware of the situation and learning more about it. We take these matters seriously." | http://t.co/2nj03oeluW
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 18, 2015
Retires over safety issues
Borland is retiring due to concerns about the long-term effects stemming from repetitive head trauma. He says he made his decision after talking it over with family members, concussion researchers, friends and teammates, and after studying what is known about the relationship between football and neurodegenerative disease.
I just honestly want to do what’s best for my health. From what I’ve researched and what I’ve experienced, I don’t think it’s worth the risk…I feel largely the same, as sharp as I’ve ever been. For me, it’s wanting to be proactive. I’m concerned that if you wait ’til you have symptoms, it’s too late. … There are a lot of unknowns. I can’t claim that X will happen. I just want to live a long, healthy life, and I don’t want to have any neurological diseases or die younger than I would otherwise…I just thought to myself, ‘What am I doing? Is this how I’m going to live my adult life, banging my head, especially with what I’ve learned and know about the dangers?’
Signs three-year deal
The Browns sign Williams to a three-year deal. Financial terms are not disclosed. Williams joins a Browns secondary that had three of its members named to the 2015 Pro Bowl.
It’s going to be awesome. I’ll be glad to join those guys and help those guys with whatever they need. I see where these guys are going and I think I can help them go to where they want to go. They had a great defense last year with a lot of young guys on the team. I’m a veteran guy and I hope I can take them to another level.
https://twitter.com/HighRizer38/status/577673303369875456
Signs two-year deal
The Texans sign Shorts to a two-year, $6 million contract. Shorts spent four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he caught 176 passes for 2,343 yards and 12 touchdowns.
H Town!!!! https://t.co/oj3CRZe0Oq
— FILFL (@CecilShortsIII) March 16, 2015
Released
The Raiders release Schaub after one year with the team. Schaub threw ten passes for the Raiders, and two of those were intercepted. By the end of the season, he was the holder on kicks. By releasing Schaub, whom they paid $8 million last season, they save themselves $5.5 million in salary-cap room.
Signs two-year deal
The Browns sign Starks to a two-year deal worth around $8 million.
"An attacking and aggressive defensive scheme is one that suits me” – @starks94
PHOTOS: http://t.co/Do9Wq2l1Fk pic.twitter.com/yCAIzP7Nsd
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 16, 2015