Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Jets’ Ryan says Dungy ‘unfairly judged me’
CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP)—Rex Ryan wants Tony Dungy to know he’s more than just a foul-mouthed coach.
Dungy criticized the New York Jets coach earlier this week for his Rex-pletive-filled appearance on the premiere episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”
“The thing is, I’ve been a big admirer of Tony Dungy, and I’m sure a lot of people are,” Ryan said Wednesday. “I felt that he unfairly judged me, and that was disappointing to me.”
Dungy, a devout Christian, told “The Dan Patrick Show” on Monday that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should talk to Ryan about his excessive cursing because, “I just don’t think the league needs that.” Dungy, who won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis, is an NFL analyst for NBC.
Ryan said he called Dungy and left a message that included his telephone number, and anticipated hearing back from him.
“I’ve invited him to come to camp or any time to spend the day with me and the organization,” Ryan said. “I think maybe he’ll have a different take on it.”
Ryan said last week he only cared that he disappointed his mother, Doris, but apologized if he offended “more people than I usually offend.”
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said there is no chat planned between Goodell and Ryan.
“No, Rex’s mother delivered the message,” Aiello told The Associated Press.
Ryan was asked if he was surprised Dungy suggested that the commissioner get involved.
“I think I was more surprised that he judged me,” Ryan said.
Ryan was criticized by some fans and media for what they thought was an excessive use of profanity during the show, which first airs at 10 p.m. EDT on Wednesdays. The five-part “Hard Knocks” series chronicles the team through training camp.
In the premiere, Ryan is shown using profanity during a team meeting and while talking to players and coaches. HBO posts warnings to viewers about the language contained in the program, and replays have profanity bleeped out during the day.
He also reiterated Wednesday that he will always be himself—colorful language and all.
“I’m a good person,” Ryan said. “Just because somebody cusses or whatever doesn’t make them a bad person. Just because a guy doesn’t cuss doesn’t make him a good person. So, I’ll stand by my merits.”
Ryan said he had “no idea” if there would be less profanity in the second episode. Then he was informed that HBO’s preview indicated sharp-tongued special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff would be featured.
“Then,” he said with a grin, “there could be more.”
Favre comes back for 2nd season with Vikings
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)—The lure of playing in another Super Bowl brought Brett Favre(notes) back to the NFL—again.
Favre joined his Minnesota Vikings teammates at practice Wednesday. The three-time MVP wore a helmet, shoulder pads and red quarterback’s jersey as he worked out with Minnesota for the first time since getting battered by New Orleans as the Vikings lost the NFC championship game in January.
“As we were driving on that last drive it seemed like it was destiny—for us,” said Favre, whose interception in the final minute ended that march and the Vikings never got the ball in overtime. “I was so close, so close to getting these guys to the Super Bowl.
“I owe it to this organization to give it one more try.”
Not that coming back for a 20th season was a simple decision.
“I could make a case for both playing, not playing,” Favre said. “This is a very good football team, the chances here are much greater than other places. From that standpoint, it was always going to be easier (to return).
“Part of me said it was such a great year, it would be easy to say, ‘Hey can’t play any better, why even try?’ Then the other part is, ‘Guys are playing on a high level. Why don’t I go back out?’ The expectations are high here, as they should be.”
The expectations always are high for Favre, even at 40. He’s the NFL’s leader in nearly every significant passing category and the winningest regular-season quarterback ever.
After staying away from training camp, as he’s done for much of the past two summers, Favre was practicing less than 24 hours after the team sent Steve Hutchinson(notes), Jared Allen(notes) and Ryan Longwell(notes)—three of his closest friends—to Mississippi to bring him back. Favre underwent left ankle surgery on May 21 and just a few weeks ago texted several teammates and Vikings officials that he would not return because the recovery was slower than he expected.
He’s back now.
“There is nothing on me that’s 100 percent, there wasn’t anything that was 100 percent last year or the year before,” Favre said. “The surgery made me a little better.
“I have played 309 straight games, I can’t complain.”
Favre’s return to the field came on the one-year anniversary of the day he signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Vikings.
In a scene nearly identical to his arrival last August, Favre took a private plane from Hattiesburg on Tuesday, was followed by news helicopters from a suburban airport to the team headquarters and was greeted by dozens of fans and media members upon his arrival.
“Helicopters acting like they are following O.J.,” tight end Visanthe Shiancoe(notes) tweeted. “Where is the bronco.”
The big difference between this year and last year? His signing with the Vikings—Green Bay’s bitter NFC North rival—was a stunner after he tormented Minnesota for so long as a member of the Packers.
This time around, virtually everyone expected the quarterback who flirts with quitting every summer to return. Favre’s latest dalliance centered on the ankle that was injured in New Orleans and needed surgery. This is the third straight year the Vikings have dealt with questions about Favre, so they weren’t convinced he was done.
Now it’s time to see if the old man can do it all again.
The gray-haired Favre turned in one of the best seasons in a terrific career last year, throwing 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions to lead the Vikings to the NFC North title. He passed for 310 yards and a touchdown against the Saints in the Superdome, but also threw an interception at the end of regulation that cost them a chance at a winning field goal that would have put Minnesota in the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years.
Now after being cajoled by Allen, Hutchinson and Longwell, Favre will have one more shot at redemption and a second Lombardi Trophy.
Even though it was expected that he would be back, the same excitement as last year surrounded his return on Tuesday. Fans clogged Viking Drive, and police tried to control traffic and keep youngsters and television cameras from spilling onto the street.
Last year, Childress picked up Favre from the airport. This year, Longwell was the chauffeur, and fans tried to mob his black BMW SUV as he pulled into the driveway at Winter Park.
“Brett Favre for President!!” receiver Bernard Berrian(notes) tweeted.
He’ll have to settle for quarterback for now.
Even though he will turn 41 in October, Favre doesn’t figure to need much time to get warmed up and ready for another season. He skipped all of training camp last year before unretiring and joining the Vikings. The three-time MVP then delivered a season even he didn’t expect.
He set career bests in completion percentage (68.4), quarterback rating (107.2) and fewest interceptions, while throwing for 4,202 yards. The Vikings (12-4) earned a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs, and Favre became the first 40-year-old QB to win a playoff game with a four-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys.
One good omen for the Vikings in 2010: Favre ran—slowly—without a limp on Wednesday.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Brett Favre is back in Minnesota
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)—Brett Favre(notes) is back in the building.
The 40-year-old quarterback returned to Minnesota on Tuesday, arriving in a private jet trimmed in the Vikings’ purple and gold with three teammates who were sent to Hattiesburg, Miss., to bring him back for one more shot at a Super Bowl.
This time around, Favre got a ride to Vikings headquarters from kicker and close friend Ryan Longwell(notes)—last year, when he joined Minnesota, head coach Brad Childress was at the wheel. Longwell’s black BMW SUV was followed by three helicopters from local television stations and pulled into Vikings headquarters as dozens of fans cheered and photographers snapped pictures. At one point, Favre waved to the media and fans
“Brett Favre for President!!” receiver Bernard Berrian(notes) tweeted.
Favre’s website posted a message earlier saying “stay tuned for breaking news from the Minnesota Vikings today on Brett Favre’s possible return.”
Presumably, Favre did not make the trip just to tell the Vikings he was retiring, but the team has still not given an official confirmation that the star quarterback will play this year.
Favre will turn 41 in October and has flirted with retirement for years, while playing for the Green Bay Packers, the New York Jets and now the Vikings. He threw 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season to help Minnesota reach the NFC title game.
The three-time MVP had been thinking about hanging it up again this year after injuring his ankle in the NFC championship loss to New Orleans last January. He had surgery on his left ankle in June, and told teammates and some team officials earlier in August that it hadn’t healed enough for him to return for a 20th NFL season.
Yet no one in the organization fully bought into that—partly because they went through a similar ordeal in 2009.
Last year, Favre told the team on the eve of training camp that he was going to stay retired only to return the Tuesday after their first preseason game. The Vikings played their first exhibition game of 2010, a 28-7 win over the Rams, on Saturday.
Favre visited Dr. James Andrews in Florida last week to get a checkup on his ankle and the Vikings sent Longwell, Jared Allen(notes) and Steve Hutchinson(notes)—three of his closest friends on the team—to Mississippi to woo him one final time.
Favre proved last year that he didn’t need all that extra sweating in training camp, delivering one of his finest seasons and leading the Vikings to the brink of the Super Bowl.
He took a beating at the Superdome, yet still threw for 310 yards and a touchdown. But he also threw two interceptions, the last one in Saints territory at the end of regulation that cost the team a chance a game-winning field goal try
LeBron tells GQ he isn’t sure Gilbert ever cared
MIAMI (AP)—Adding a new layer to the rift between LeBron James(notes) and Dan Gilbert, the NBA’s two-time reigning MVP and new Miami Heat forward has told GQ magazine that he isn’t sure the Cleveland Cavaliers owner “ever cared” about him during their time together.
In an article released Tuesday, James spoke of how widespread criticism of his decision—and how he chose to make it a television event—is fueling him this offseason, plus reiterated how Ohio will always remain his home.
But perhaps his sharpest words were reserved for Gilbert, the owner who lashed out at him shortly after James announced that he would be joining the Heat
“I don’t think he ever cared about LeBron,” James is quoted as saying. “My mother always told me: ‘You will see the light of people when they hit adversity. You’ll get a good sense of their character.’ Me and my family have seen the character of that man.”
Gilbert did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
James made similar remarks on the night Miami signed him to a six-year contract, doing so while sitting alongside the other two legs of the Heat superstar triangle, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes).
Gilbert was clearly scorned by James’ choice, firing off a now-infamous letter to Cleveland fans describing it all as “a shameful display of selfishness and betrayal.” He called James “narcissistic” and “self-promotional” and vowed the Cavaliers would win a championship before “the self-titled former king.”
Further, in an interview the same night with The Associated Press, Gilbert said he felt James quit on Cleveland during the 2009 and 2010 playoffs. Gilbert was ultimately fined $100,000 by the NBA for what commissioner David Stern said were comments that fell into the category of being “a little extreme.”
In the GQ article, James took exception to the “quitter” tag.
“Every night on the court I give my all, and if I’m not giving 100 percent, I criticize myself,” James said.
He added that he’s looking forward to seeing the Cavaliers as opponents this season.
“I do have motivation,” James told GQ. “A lot of motivation.”
Among other highlights from the article:
— James said he wouldn’t change any part of “The Decision,” the made-for-TV event in Greenwich, Conn. where he announced his playing plans to an audience of about 10 million viewers. The hourlong show made $2.5 million for Boys & Girls Clubs. “When I found out I had an opportunity to do that for those kids, it was a no-brainer,” James said.
— Despite his feuding with Gilbert, James thinks that if he could ever play for the Cavaliers again someday, it would be “a great story.”
— James explained he’s always had an uneasy relationship with Cleveland because he’s from Akron, a half-hour away. “It’s not far, but it is far,” James said. “And Clevelanders, because they were the bigger-city kids when we were growing up, looked down on us. … So we didn’t actually like Cleveland. We hated Cleveland growing up. There’s a lot of people in Cleveland we still hate to this day.”
Monday, August 16, 2010
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