Leonard Fournette tops Bovada’s latest Heisman Trophy odds

LSU running back Leonard Fournette is widely considered to be the best running back in the country heading into the 2016 season. By the time the season ends, there’s a good chance he will be recognized as the best player in all of college football. When the online sports book Bovada released its latest Heisman Trophy […]

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Browns cut quarterback Connor Shaw

The Cleveland Browns cut quarterback Connor Shaw.
He started once over the past two seasons.
The Browns have quarterbacks Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Austin Davis and Cody Kessler on the roster.
Shaw spent last season on injured reserve with a broken thumb.
He started as a rookie against the Baltimore Ravens.

Follow me on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL
Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle.

Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain suspended for 10 games

Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Rolando McClain has been suspended for 10 games for violating the NFL substance-abuse policy.
He was suspended last season, too.
McClain was signed to a one-year, $5 million deal.
He’s due a $1.25 million base salary. He received a $750,000 signing bonus.

McClain is a former consensus All-American and Butkus Award winner from Alabama.
He was drafted eighth overall in the first round in 2010 by the Oakland Raiders.
He retired twice already.
He was traded to Dallas by the Ravens in 2014.
He had 108 tackles in 2014.
He had 97 tackles last season with two sacks and nine tackles for losses with one interception.
Meanwhile, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence’s four-game suspension has been upheld with his appeal denied.
Lawrence led the Cowboys with eight sacks last season.
Follow me on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL
Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle.

Jets DL Sheldon Richardson suspended one game

New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was suspended for one game by the NFL for violating the personal-conduct policy.
He’ll miss the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
In July, 2015, Richardson was arrested for driving a 2014 Bentley Silver Spur at speeds up to 143 mph on an interstate highway near his offseason home in St. Louis. He avoided jail time after pleading guilty in January to reduced charges connected to last summer’s high-speed police chase.
Richardson was accompanied by a 12-year-old relative and two male passengers when he was stopped. Police say they found a loaded semi-automatic handgun under a floor mat and detected a strong marijuana odor.
Richardson is a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Follow me on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL
Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle.

Mississippi Wal-Mart sells Ole Miss, MSU koozies at different prices

The Ole Miss-Mississippi State rivalry is a little different compared to other SEC rivalries in that the schools are often confused for each other by media and merchandisers alike. A Wal-Mart store in Batesville, Miss., doesn’t seem to have that problem, as evidenced by selling these team koozies at different prices. #EggBowlTwitter is bad enough without your assistance, Batesville […]

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Johnny Manziel suspended four games for violating NFL substance-abuse policy

The domestic violence accusation was the final straw for the Browns.
“We’ve been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field,” Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown said in a statement. “Johnny’s continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules. We will have no further comment at this time.”
Manziel was previously investigated in October by Ohio police for allegedly hitting Crowley. He wasn’t arrested and eventually was cleared by the NFL under its personal-conduct policy.
On Oct. 13, Manziel and Crowley got into an argument where she told police that Manziel beat her and shoved her head into the glass before taking back the allegations.
“I appreciate the NFL’s diligence and discretion in reviewing a situation that was both personal and embarrassing,” Manziel said in a statement when he was cleared by the NFL. “Colleen and I cooperated fully with the NFL’s process and completely support their goals of making sure that every family under their umbrella is safer and more secure. I’m grateful that the review was so thorough and fair that there should be no question left in the public mind about what actually happened.”
Signed to a four-year, $8.254 million rookie contract that included a $4.318 million signing bonus and $7.707 million guaranteed after being drafted 22nd overall in the first round following a stellar career in College Station, Manziel never lived up to expectations in Cleveland.
He squandered the Browns’ investment with repeated bad behavior and became a fixture on social media with videos and photographs showing him partying, including rolling a $20 bill in Las Vegas and chugging champagne on a swan float at an Austin nightclub.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted to draft Manziel two years ago, but was talked out of it by his son, Stephen Jones, and they wisely instead drafted Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin. It proved to be a wise decision.
Manziel frequently travels to Los Angeles and Las Vegas where he wore a blonde wig and a fake mustache and went by an alias, Billy.
He’s a fixture for paparazzi photos of him leaving and exiting nightclubs, often appearing disheveled and inebriated
Manziel lost his starting job during the season when he lied to Browns coach Mike Pettine and told him that videos of him partying were outdated. He later regained his starting job, but Pettine said Manziel had “deeper-rooted” problems than the team was aware of when they drafted him and said the undersized, talented quarterback had violated his trust.
Manziel went 2-4 as a starter last season and 2-6 overall in two NFL seasons. He passed for 1,500 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions last season with a 79.4 passer rating. Manziel has passed for 1,675 career yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Whether Manziel will ever play in another NFL game and realize the vast potential he displayed in College Station remains in serious doubt.
Manziel has more important issues to deal with before he can ever have hope of resuming his football career.

Oxford Police Department trolls Laremy Tunsil NCAA investigation

Sports Illustrated released an incriminating story about former Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil on Wednesday, but that didn’t stop the school’s local police department from finding humor in the situation. Not long after the story was published, the Oxford Police Department, which has a notably strong Twitter game, issued a not-so-coincidental tweet about an upcoming event […]

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Andrew Luck locked up through 2021 season

Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck has signed a contract through the 2021 season.
Luck is expected to now be the highest paid quarterback in the NFL.
He was limited to seven games last season due to injuries.
He led the Colts to the playoffs in his first three NFL seasons.
The Houston native and former Stanford standout has thrown 101 career touchdown passes.
He was drafted first overall in 2012.
Follow me on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL
Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle.
 

Seahawks sign Doug Baldwin to $46 million deal

The Seattle Seahawks signed veteran wide receiver Doug Baldwin to a four-year, $46 million deal.
It includes $24 million guaranteed.
Baldwin caught 78 passes for 1,069 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
Baldwin is a fomer undrafted free agent from Stanford.
“It is a big deal. It is a very serious negotiation, as they all are,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said recently “But he’s done an incredible job for us and been a great teammate. And hopefully, eventually, we’ll get something worked out. I hope it happens. The intent is to get him signed and secured for a good while, so we’ll see if we can get that done.”
Follow me on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL
Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle.

Cory Redding retires from NFL

Veteran defensive lineman Cory Redding retired from the NFL today.
The former University of Texas standout has played in the league since 2003.
Redding, 35, wrote on Twitter that he’s “leaving the game I’ve played for 23 years.”
Cut by the Arizona Cardinals in March, Redding had an interception last season against the Detroit Lions.
Redding is a former Detroit Lions third-round draft pick.
He played for the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts.
Follow me on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL
Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle.