Since I once fought a desperate battle to name this blog "Obstructed View," I'm bringing it back to replace the outdated "Morning Hash" feature. If you've never been a fan of the name "Hashmarks" (also referred to in some circles as "Skidmarks"), please blame Baylor alum Trey Wingo.
Now settle in for a unique journey around the league:
- A 144-page report from the House indicates that the NFL and its players association have a broken down disability plan. And many broken down former players agree. Of course, the league chose to focus on the one compliment that Congress paid them in the report. Now let's hear from House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, who shows his intimate knowledge of the game:
"I commend the NFL and NFLPA for having taken some affirmative steps since our last hearing, but in my view they still fall short of the goal line," said the Michigan Democrat. "This report identifies major concerns about the long-term health of NFL players that demand further attention."
Honestly, I don't think the league is even in the red zone at this point. Mike Ditka and the Gridiron Greats were pleased with the findings.
"I'm very gratified that Congress took a thorough look at our issues and validated the criticisms we've made of this flawed system," said Brent Boyd, the former Minnesota Viking who testified about his debilitating injuries at a hearing last summer.
"He's a mama's boy, and he's a good guy," said D'Angelo.
As predicted, D'Angelo used the popular "mama's boy" defense in the four-day trial in Cleveland. The prosecutors in the case alleged that Davenport received special treatment from Cleveland police, which is odd since Browns fans aren't particularly fond of Steelers players. Apparently one officer asked to have his picture taken with Davenport before he left police headquarters following the October incident. Here's a portion of Davenport's testimony during the trial:
"He testified, among other things, that he came to Cleveland Oct. 4 per his custody arrangement with former girlfriend Anita Person to pick up their 5-year-old son, Najeh Davenport Jr., so both of his boys could appear in a then-upcoming Steelers fashion show. He said he got into a profanity-laced argument with Person over Najeh Jr.'s clothes, and Davenport left her house on East 115th Street angrily proclaiming he planned to seek full custody so the mother "would never see [her son] again."
Person opened a rear passenger-side door to his moving SUV, jumped inside and wound up sitting atop his 2-year-old son, Ali, strapped in his car seat in the middle of the backseat, he testified. He added that, after pushing her hip and moving her off Ali, he stopped the vehicle and she got out clutching Najeh Jr.
Three witnesses from a family that is a neighbor of Person's earlier testified they saw Davenport standing over Person and assaulting her. Davenport said on the stand yesterday that she fell to the ground while the two parents where having a "tug of war" over Najeh Jr. in a yard beside the vehicle. He denied punching her, choking her and throwing her to the ground, as she testified earlier, and also stated that he never assaulted her or caused the swollen lower lip that Najeh Jr. sustained that night.
The boy later came to visit his father in the patrol car in which Davenport sat while police interviewed him, he added."
Davenport's attorney said after the trial that he hopes the acquittal means that commissioner Roger Goodell won't punish his client in any way. Honestly, I couldn't give a rip about what happens to Davenport. His innocence does little to hide what has been an ugly offseason for this proud franchise. Receiver Cedrick Wilson has been released while linebacker James Harrison had domestic violence chargers dropped against him. More than anything, I feel sorry for the children caught up in all this mess.
- Another professional football player in Pennsylvania has been cleared of wrongdoing in a marijuana arrest. Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson is in the clear.
- Minneapolis cops feared for their lives after pulling over former Vikings great Carl Eller. You have to love the restraint hold demonstration that officers conducted at yesterday's news conference.
- Some interesting dialogue between John Elway and Jay Cutler. I think Cutler's starting to feel his oats, and that's not a bad thing for Broncos fans.
- Matt Stover writes Mort a letter. In other words, he puts his tail between his legs and goes crawling back to Mean Gene.
