How Richie Incognito became NFL’s No. 1 villain

Even before the ugly allegations emerged of Richie Incognito bullying teammate Jonathan Martin, the Dolphins offensive lineman was far from, er, incognito.

The nine-year pro — born in Englewood, N.J., and raised in Glendale, Ariz. — had developed a nasty reputation as a dirty player prone to fits of violence on and off the field.

Here’s a look at Incognito’s lowlights through the years, from college at Nebraska through a journeyman career in the pros to his current banishment from the NFL ranks:

College

Fall 2002: Ejected from Nebraska’s game against Penn State for fighting. Was suspended for the first half of a game against Iowa State the following week.

Spring 2003: Suspended by former Nebraska coach Frank Solich for unspecified reasons.

Feb. 2004: Charged with three counts of assault stemming from a fight at a party. Found guilty of one misdemeanor assault charge after a three-day trial and paid a $500 fine.

Sept. 2004: Suspended from Nebraska. Withdrew from university two weeks later. Two weeks after leaving Nebraska, enrolled at Oregon.

Oct. 2004: Kicked off Oregon team. Coach Mike Bellotti said he failed to meet certain conditions.

Via: NY Post

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White House Buys Ad Time To Promote Obamacare Website During NFL Games…

Even though the website doesn’t work.

Via Twitchy:

Via: Weasel Zippers

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NBC Sports partnered with Oneida casino prior to Costas Redskins rant

The disputed Indian leader pushing to change the Redskins team name had already entered into an undisclosed television agreement with NBC Sports when Bob Costas delivered his on-air editorial condemning the Redskins name.

The Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Casino in upstate New York, overseen by gaming mogul and disputed Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter, will host its first NBC “Fight Night” production November 16 with the IBF heavyweight title fight between Tomasz Adamek and Vyacheslav Glazkov.

NBC already had the deal in place to broadcast from Turning Stone when Bob Costas delivered a halftime editorial during NBC’s October 13 primetime broadcast of the Cowboys-Redskins game.

Costas treated unsuspecting Sunday Night Football fans to an impromptu etymology lesson, noting that objections to the names of the Braves, Chiefs, or Warriors represent “political correctness run amok” because “these nicknames honor rather than demean.” On the other hand, the amateur linguist said, the Cleveland Indians and their mascot Chief Wahoo “have sometimes run into trouble.”

Costas elaborated that the Stanford Cardinal and Dartmouth Big Green were “both once the Indians,” while the St. John’s Red Men “have become the Red Storm.”

“And the Miami of Ohio Redskins, that’s right Redskins, are now the RedHawks,” Costas said.

Costas said that the name Redskins “truly differs from all the others.

“It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent,” Costas said.

Via: Daily Caller

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Super Bowl Champs Get $130,000 to Promote Obamacare

The professional football team that won this year’s Super Bowl is getting $130,000 from American taxpayers to promote Obamacare, according todocuments obtained by Judicial Watch this week.

The deal was secured on September 9 between the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL) and Maryland health officials. The White House has tried recruiting professional sports leagues—especially the NFL and the National Basketball Association (NBA)—to help promote the president’s healthcare law but they have declined.

In fact, the NFL confirmed months ago that it would not participate in the Obamacare public relations campaign, offering the media this written statement: “We have responded to the letters we received from members of Congress to inform them we currently have no plans to engage in this area and have had no substantive contact with the administration about [the health-care law’s] implementation.” Washington D.C.’s mainstream newspaper called it a “blow to the administration.”

But Maryland officials evidently appealed directly to the home team, announcing in early September that the Ravens would help market the state’s Obamacare exchange known as Maryland Health Connection. Both parties refused to offer specifics when the deal was initiated and Judicial Watch filed a Maryland Public Information Act request for details.

In a “Sponsorship Agreement” between the Maryland Health Connection and the Ravens, the state will pay the Super Bowl champs $130,000 to push Obamacare on television, radio, the team’s official website, its newsletter and in social media. This includes the Ravens Report Show on cable TV and a number of pre and post-game radio segments as well as Facebook and Twitter plugs.

Via: Judicial Watch

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Bozell Column: The New Broadcast Profanity, 'Redskins'?

Conservatives begin by revering tradition; liberals often by trashing it. In fact, it doesn’t bother liberals that something they found acceptable one day is declared -- by them -- repugnant the next. It’s taken only a few days of liberal media agitation for MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell to announce that Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is “the George Wallace of the NFL.”

Snyder saying he’ll never change his team's name has somehow become historically comparable to George Wallace’s “segregation forever.” It’s suddenly so offensive, apparently, that the leftists who have gone to court to make the airwaves safe for every profanity imaginable, in the name of free speech and tolerance, are now petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to ban “the R-word” from television.

They’re urging the broadcasters to “self-regulate” the team name out of existence. But why would you petition the FCC to urge the media to “self-regulate”? It's non-sensical -- unless  “self-regulation” is merely a first step. The “anti-censorship” Left is just getting started.

Reed Hundt, an FCC chairman under Bill Clinton, led a number of former FCC officials in a letter to FCC acting chairwoman Mignon Clyburn (the daughter of Rep. Jim Clyburn) asking the FCC to use its muscle to force Snyder to surrender. They demand Clyburn apply the agency’s “unquestioned authority to convene an open forum with broadcasters to determine whether they should self-regulate their use of the term ‘XXXskins’ when referring to the Washington D.C football team.”  

The word “Redskins” is so apparently offensive they’ve made the team sound like a porn film. Here is the insanity: They'd be less offended -- and in some circles of the libertine community,  openly supportive – if Snyder renamed the team the “Foreskins.”

These liberals are not reflecting a nation's outrage. They are attempting to create it.

Only 11 percent of Americans (and ten percent of “native Americans”) are offended by “Redskins,” so Hundt & Co. are left with the weak argument of championing American apathy: “63% of those surveyed either would approve of broadcast TV stations not using the current name or do not care if broadcasters stop using that name. Only 37% would disapprove of broadcasters if they no longer used the name. Several media leaders, including Peter King (Sports Illustrated) and Mike Wise (Washington Post), have already recognized this shift and agreed to abandon use of the term ‘XXXskins.’”

Via: Newsbusters

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Poll: Redskins Name Change Wouldn’t Bother Fans

A majority of D.C. residents say a change in the Washington Redskins’ name wouldn’t impact their loyalty to the team, according to a new poll.

The survey commissioned by the Oneida Indian Nation, which has been pushing owner Dan Snyder to change a team name it considers offensive, found that 25 percent of Washington residents would be less of a fan if the name changed, while 18 percent would be more of a fan. But 55 percent said it would make no difference.

The poll is set for release Wednesday morning, but was reviewed by TIME ahead of its release. The automated phone survey of 500 Washington adults, by the firm SurveyUSA, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

“You cannot poll morality, and our hope is that Mr. Snyder will demonstrate true leadership and change the offensive name, not because of what any public opinion studies show, but because it’s the right thing to do,” Ray Halbritter, an Oneida Indian Nation spokesman, said in a statement.

Snyder has adamantly defended the team name and vowed not to change it.

Fifty-nine percent of Washingtonians said American-Indians have a right to be offended when referred to as “Redskins,” according to the poll.

Oneida Indian Nation are scheduled to meet with National Football League officials on Nov. 22.

Via: Time is UP

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SEE THE RANT FROM A POPULAR SPORTSCASTER DURING AN NFL PRE-GAME SHOW THAT MAY HAVE HELPED GET FOOTBALL BACK ON FOR OUR TROOPS

The Fox Sports broadcast team closed Sunday’s NFL pre-game pontifications and predictions with something of a political statement: Former NFL great Howie Long addressed the issue of the government shutdown and how it’s affecting the Armed Forces Network and U.S. troops’ ability to watch professional football.

Image source: Fox Sports via YouTube

On the segment called “Extra Points,” Long wrapped up the show with a brief statement.

“Due to our government shutdown, our games today will not be seen on the Armed Forces Network, preventing thousands of men and women overseas from enjoying NFL football,” he said. “Over the years here at Fox, we’ve been fortunate enough to spend time with the troops both here and abroad. So we know firsthand how these games bring a welcome piece of home and a much-deserved respite from the dangerous work they do protecting our liberty. Regardless of politics, I know we all hope the shutdown ends soon and our troops can once again watch the game we all love.”

Long’s statement seemed to mirror the sentiments of many on social media who were tweeting and posting their displeasure with the shutdown of the service.

Via: The Blaze

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New Rule: Off-Duty Police Officers Better Think Twice Before Deciding to Carry a Gun to Any NFL Game

A new NFL policy reportedly prohibits all law enforcement personnel from carrying their firearms into all NFL stadiums.

Police in Cleveland, Ohio said they received an internal member on September 11 from the NFL that said all off-duty federal, state and local members of law enforcement would not be allowed entry into NFL facilities if they attempt to bring their gun with them,according to Fox affiliate WJW.

An NFL spokesperson did not immediately return multiple requests for comment Sunday.

However, according to Cleveland.com, a spokesman explained that the new policy was implemented after deciding it would best enhance the gameday experience.

A new NFL policy reportedly prohibits off-duty law enforcement personnel from carrying their firearms inside stadiums. (Image source: Shutterstock.com)

The Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association (CPPA) appeared to oppose the new policy, telling WJW officers do not like to disarm themselves.

"A police officer is never happy to give up his service weapon, especially when we have the right to carry it, you know, 24 hours 7 days a week and we're upheld by our oath too to protect and serve the public on or off duty," said Jeff Follmer, president of the CPPA.

"We are police officers 24/7," Follmer added to Cleveland.com. "I don't know why anyone would want to disarm a police officer."

HHS-Run Website Hacked; Now Selling NFL Jerseys, Ugg Boots, Armani Fragrances

A portion of the website of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was apparently hacked as long as two months ago.  SAMHSA is an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS also runs the new Obamacare insurance marketplace, Healthcare.gov.  

Dozens of pages hawking retail merchandise have been uploaded to the SAMHSA site, ranging from NFL jerseys to Ugg shoes to Armani fragrances.  Screen captures of the various pages are shown here:

Clicking on the pages in some cases takes users directly to an external website; other times, certain functions seem to operate within the samhsa.gov site. Of the websites investigated, two domains are registered in the United States and one in China.

Via: The Weekly Standard

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Brennan: It's time I stopped calling team 'Redskins'

I can't tell you how many times I've said the words "Washington Redskins." At one point in my career, I probably used the term at least 50 times a day. I said it on television and radio. I wrote it in the newspaper. Over the years, I've used it thousands of times, probably more than 10,000 by now.

It's time I stopped.

I live in Washington, and for three years, from 1985-87, I was the Redskins beat writer for The Washington Post. Then, and even now, saying "Redskins" has always come naturally to me. That word has been a significant part of my life – my professional life anyway – and a very happy, proud, fulfilling part of it. In talking about the team, or my career, I've used the name so often that I've never given it a second thought.

The Q: Did Goodell soften stance on 'Redskins?'

CAMPAIGN: Indian tribe takes aim at Goodell, Snyder

But when I said the nickname this summer during a panel discussion, I stopped myself. For the first time, it didn't seem right to say it.

Why then? Why not last year? Or five years ago? Or when I covered the team? I think it was the cumulative effect of all the reporting on the issue in the past year or so, solid journalism that continually brings to the surface just how racist the term is to many in the Native American community. And even if only some Native Americans think it's racist, here's news for the rest of us, whether we want to hear it and deal with it or not: it's racist.

Via: USA Today

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Baltimore Ravens to aid Obamacare enrollment effort in Maryland

The NFL may have spiked the White House’s request for Obamacare PR help — but the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens just called an audible.

The team has signed onto efforts to market the health law to Marylanders, according to an announcement from Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and officials running the state’s Obamacare insurance exchange, known as Maryland Health Connection.

“Research shows that 71 percent of the uninsured population in Maryland have watched, attended or listened to a Ravens game in the past 12 months,” the announcement said. “The partnership will provide Maryland Health Connection with the opportunity to reach and engage fans while making them aware of the new opportunity they have for health coverage beginning this fall through the health insurance marketplace.”

(PHOTOS: 25 unforgettable Obamacare quotes)

A Ravens spokesman said the team would reveal more details on Wednesday, after a conference call to discuss its role. According to the Maryland Health Connection, the team is expected to assist during a six-month enrollment period that begins on Oct. 1, a few weeks into the start of the NFL season. The partnership is intended “to connect with Maryland residents about the importance of developing a health coverage game plan.”

In Maryland, the partnership with the Ravens is one facet of a broader enrollment effort, which also includes a social media campaign and partnerships with CVS and Giant Food. The stores will provide shoppers with information about coverage.

The White House’s overtures to professional sports leagues have largely gone unheeded, leaving it to individual teams and players to decide whether to partner with their states’ exchanges. The NFL was among the sports leagues that Republican lawmakers warned against participating in Obamacare outreach efforts, and the league responded by insisting it had no plans to do so.

Via: Politico

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