Sheldon's Next Team

It will be interesting to see how Commissioner Roger Goodell responds to the latest issue involving Jets DT Sheldon Richardson who is already under a four game suspension for failing a test for marijuana.

It was revealed that Richardson was recently arrested after leading police in Missouri on a high speed chase where he was clocked at 143 mph. He blew through a stop sign before they were able to pull him over. Police arrested him at gun point after he bent over to reach under his seat. He was legally possessing a gun, but officers detected the odor of pot. There were two adult males and a 12 year old relative in the car.

No matter what happens, he will play again in the NFL. It might not be with the Jets, but a player with his skills will find a home some place.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is probably watching this.

No Controversy

Tom Brady's status is up in the air. Jimmy Garappolo will be getting a lot of snaps in training camp to get him ready in case he needs to start.

The talk shows and social media are already trying to create a quarterback controversy. Some feel that Brady will never get his starting job back if he needs to sit out any games.

I can't see Brady having the same fate as Drew Bledsoe back in 2001, in spite of what others want to think.

Destroying The Phone

I don't think it was a shock that Tom Brady's four game suspension was not overturned. It appears that he and the NFLPA will file a suit in federal court.

It was revealed that Brady destroyed his cell phone shortly before he was to meet with the Wells Committee. This looks really bad for him. It could be interpreted as a cover-up. In a criminal case, it would be destruction of evidence and obstruction of justice.

He just gave his haters more reasons to trash him on social media. The saga continues.

Best Seller List

Fans around the league seem to hate the Pats, but why is Tom Brady's jersey the number one best seller? Trailing him are Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning.

Even Tim Tebow made it to 16th place. Maybe fans are buying them as collector's items. He has an uphill battle to make the roster for the Eagles.

Disrespecting Seau

The NFL is very petty on things, especially uniforms and equipment. The other day, they brought it to a new level.

They will not allow the daughter of the late Junior Seau to be his presenter at the Hall of Fame inductions. Instead, they will have a video tribute to him.

In the past, deceased inductees have been presented by someone. I wonder if the NFL is being vindictive because Seau's family filed a lawsuit against the league after he committed suicide. The autopsy of his brain showed damage from CTE, often associated with concussions.

Seau is the face of litigation against the NFL for concussion related issues. The league's concern is about the money.

The Last Days of Welker

Training camp around the NFL is days away and many players are hoping to hookup with a team. Former Pats WR Wes Welker keeps hearing about how he should retire after suffering three concussions over a nine month period.

Welker still wants to play, but has attracted little attention. There are younger guys out there who will play for less money and not pose such a medical risk.

Welker is not any different from others who try to hang on and don't know when to leave the game. In most cases, the decision is not in their hands. The phone just stops ringing.

Maybe An Offer

Deflategate is becoming a more like a circus daily. It goes on and on. Fans are getting impatient.

It appears that a few owners are insisting that Tom Brady get his four game suspension.

Now, there appears to be an offer of some type of settlement offer from Brady and the NFLPA. He is very adamant of not wanting to miss any games. The NFL is not budging.

How will this all end?

Stories From All

The season for the Pats really starts tomorrow when rookies report to training camp. Not everyone will make the roster. Some will get hurt and be placed on IR. Others are extra bodies in camp and won't survive the final cut.

For some, getting to a camp is a huge accomplishment. They all have their own story to tell no matter what happens.

No Sense of Urgency

Commissioner Roger Goodell said there is no deadline on making a decision about Tom Brady's appeal. I wonder what is taking so long. Is it going through their legal department for review to the end of the earth?

The NFL is milking this story to the very end. As long as a decision is made, things are fine.

Maybe this will drift through the season until the playoffs.

Chapter of Gronk

It looks like the summer of Gronk is winding down before training camp. He was on television's "Family Feud" with his own family. It has ben one long party since the Super Bowl win.

A new season will be starting for Gronk and everyone else. Fans always feel jittery when he goes down hard on the field, given his injury history.

Gronk will be writing the next chapter of his career with the 2015 season.

Paid For Tickets and Parking

We always hear the expression "one lucky fan". It really happened for a Pats fan at the AFC Championship game against the Colts.

RB LeGarrette Blount scored on a 13 TD run and flipped the ball to the ground. WR Brandon LaFell picked it up and gave it to a fan in the stands. It was one of the 12 footballs from the Deflategate fiasco.

The fan ended up selling it at on auction site for $43,740.

Timing and fate made the difference for this fan.

A Leap For Rex

Fans of the Buffalo Bills don't know what to expect from their team this season, but they can be sure that they will be entertained by their new coach. Rex Ryan is making loud statements up in Buffalo.

He took it a bit further the other day when he did a tandem skydive with members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute team. Last year, he ran with the bulls in Paloma, Spain.

Rex will be witty and entertaining as always this season. It's too bad he flamed out in New York because he was made for the Big Apple.

Money For The Kicker

Coach Belichick always said that every player has a certain value attached to them. After the 2005 season, the team let Adam Vinatieri go to the Colts as a free agent because the coach said you can only pay a kicker so much money.

The team just made Steven Gostkowski the highest paid kicker in the NFL with a 4 year/$17.2 million contract. This goes contrary to the team overpaying for players.

Belichick wasn't worried when the team lost Vinatieri. They used a 4th round pick in the 2006 draft to select Gostkowski. He has performed exceptionally well, but skeptics still wonder why they paid him so much.

Dan Connelly

I think many fans were shocked to hear of the retirement of OL Dan Connelly. He was a free agent who the Pats were not planning on resigning.

He cited not wanting to play for another team and being away from his family as deciding factors. He mentioned the four concussions in his NFL career, as well as one in high school. He wants to leave the game while he is still healthy. Although he turns 33 in September, many thought he had a year or two left in him.

Connelly made the most of his career as an undrafted college player. He spent two years with the Jacksonville Jaguars before the Pats signed him in 2007. He ended up playing in 89 regular season and 11 playoff games, including two Super Bowls.

He is best remembered for his unplanned 71 yard kick return against the Green Bay Packers in 2010.

Not Dez Time

The Dallas Cowboys should call the bluff of Dez Bryant who said he won't report to training camp without a long term contract extension. He has no desire to sign the $14.8 million franchise tag.

If his holdout extends into the regular season, he will start to lose his $750,000 game checks. Is he willing to do that? The Cowboys are being smart for once.

A Time of Silence

Jason Pierre-Paul is playing a game of chicken with the New York Giants when it comes to his hand and finger injury from fireworks. He has not signed his $14.8 million franchise tender or allowed team officials to visit him in the hospital. He is making all of his own medical decisions.

He had his right index finger amputated without consulting with team doctors. He fractured his thumb and needed skin grafts for his burns. The team has no clue about his availability for the upcoming season. The entire situation is a mess.

It's unknown whether Pierre-Paul will regain his former playing level. He will forever be held as an example of a player making bad decisions off the field.

Brady's Week

This should be the week that Tom Brady hears about the appeal on his suspension. It's hard to say how it will go. Whatever the result is, there will be discussion to the end of the earth.

I predict that his suspension will get reduced to one or two games. He won't be happy. Will he go to federal court? The drama will continue.

Ken Stabler

The death of Ken Stabler was announced yesterday. He had a great career with the John Madden coached teams of the Oakland Raiders in the 1970's. That seems so long ago.

So many fans have no recollection of him. That's how it goes. Time is a factor.

He should be in the Hall of Fame, but voters rely on statistics too much. He might get in now that he's dead, but it would have been nicer to see get there when he was alive.

Getting Settled In

The NFL seems determined to have a franchise in London at some point. They just agreed to play two games annually, starting in 2018 at the new Premier Soccer League stadium in Tottenham.

The facility will feature a retractable grass field under artificial turf because the NFL likes to play on the real stuff when they can.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are still committed to playing two of their games annually at Wembley stadium through 2016. Other cities with suitable stadiums are also interested in hosting games.

A lot can happen in ten years. I have no doubt that the league will have a team there, especially if it works financially.

Adam's Stolen Scoop

ESPN should tell everyone how they managed to get a copy of Jason Pierre-Paul's medical chart which showed that his index finger was being amputated.

This is a direct violation of the HIPPA law if the hospital or any staff disclosed this to Adam Schefter who broke the story. Social media is being lit up by NFL players critical of Schefter.

Was it one of Pierre-Paul's people in his camp? Did he authorize it?

This story gets murkier by the day.

Expensive Accident

Jason Pierre-Paul is not making it easy for the New York Giants after being hospitalized for burning his hands in a fireworks accident. Team officials attempted to meet with him, but left without answers.

They could make it very difficult for him if they place him on the non-football injury list. They can stash him there until the end of training camp. If he starts the season on NFI, the team loses him for the first six weeks of the regular season. They also don't need to pay has salary.

He is a player without a contract. The team can pull his $14.8 million franchise tag off the table. They would be foolish to give him a long term deal at this point.

His accident will literally cost him millions.

The Great Gates

The great Antonio Gates will miss the first four games of the 2015 season for violating the league's performing enhancement drug policy. The NFL likes to play tough with their players when it comes to PED's.

They seem to have no problem mocking the absence of Gates when it comes to their fantasy football program. Fans love to play the game, but the league should not be mentioning the absence of a player and making fun of it in their television ads.

Mr Example

Jason Pierre-Paul will forever be the example of NFL players making bad decisions in their personal life. The New York Giants withdrew their $60 million offer after he injured his hands with fireworks.

I assume he will sign his franchise tender option and earn $14.8 million this season. Hopefully, he is there for the team.

At some point, we will hear the extent of his injuries.

Jason's Story

It's so horrible to hear about the fireworks injury to New York Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul. He could have saved himself a lot of heart ache by signing the franchise tender of $14.8 million. Instead, he tried to posture for leverage. He has nothing now with his injury

This could end his career. He knows that. Do the Giants really want him on a long term basis?

The Miami 3

The NFL Network has so much great programming because of their work with NFL Films. The "Football Life" series is great. Their recent program on the 1972 Miami Dolphins running backs brought back great memories.

The NFL has such a rich history of those who played the game. The Dolphins backfield of Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and "Eugene "Mercury" Morris will forever be one for the ages.

Call His Bluff

Jerry Jones calls all the shots for the Dallas Cowboys as owner and GM. He should call WR Dez Bryant on his bluff to sit out the first week of the reason, rather than sign his franchise tender.

Negotiations for a long term contract have stalled. Bryant will make $12.8 million this season if he signs the offer. If he skips the first week, he will lose a game check of $750,000. I can't see him doing that.

Jones will regret if he ever signs Bryant to a long term deal.

Tom's Club of Choice

It's really interesting to see Tom Brady apply to The Country Club in Brookline for membership. The club has a lot of reasons for not wanting him. He draws too much attention.

Brady has already positioned himself by building a mansion that abuts the course, but Tom and Gisele might not make the final cut.

He would do himself better if he abandoned his efforts to join such an exclusionary club. Why would he want to be associated with it, other than for financial reasons?

Just Don't Bring Gronk

Tom Brady might be too famous for his own sake. He and his wife Gisele Bundchen are followed by the paparazzi all too often.

All of this has raised questions whether Brady's membership application will be approved for The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. The exclusive golf course is very selective of its members. They have a policy that your name should not be in the paper on a regular basis. Brady and his wife fail that test.

I wonder if the club is concerned about him bringing Gronk as a guest and having him party there.