Month: May 2020

Recently acquired Washington Redskins wide receiver Cody Latimer was arrested early Saturday in Colorado and booked on multiple charges, the Douglas County Sheriff’s office reported.

The department said deputies responded to reports of gunshots fired in an apartment in unincorporated Douglas County shortly after midnight. When they arrived, they took Latimer, 27, into custody. One person in the apartment was reported to have minor injuries that weren’t related to a gunshot.

Latimer was booked into the Douglas County Detention Facility on felony charges of assault in the second degree, menacing and illegal discharge of a firearm, as well as two misdemeanors — prohibited use of a weapon and reckless endangerment.

The Redskins issued a statement following news of the arrest.

“We are aware of the situation and have informed the NFL League Office. We will continue to gather more information and have no further comment at this time,” the team said.

Latimer played collegiately at Indiana. The Broncos selected him the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and he spent four seasons in Denver, followed by two with the New York Giants.

In 66 career games (15 starts), he has 70 catches for 935 yards with six touchdowns.

The Redskins signed Latimer in March to a one-year, $1.05 million contract, with $137,500 of it guaranteed.

–Field Level Media

New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker turned himself in to police in Florida on Saturday morning to face four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault.

“Reports are correct that Deandre turned himself in this morning,” his attorney, Bradford Cohen, posted to Instagram. “I am a believer in the system and that if everything works the matter will be appropriately resolved.”

Arrest warrants were issued Thursday for Baker, 22, and Quinton Dunbar, a cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks. Dunbar, 27, faces four counts of armed robbery with a firearm.

Attorneys for both men on Friday said that witnesses signed affidavits maintaining that the two NFL players took no part in an alleged armed robbery on Wednesday night in Miramar, Fla. Cohen said Saturday that police had treated Baker fairly but that there was more to the story than authorities had been told.

“Both my client and I have felt @miramarpd and the Detective working the case, were accommodating and went out of their way to assure Mr Bakers privacy during this hard time,” Cohen’s statement further read. “That is not just lip service, it is fact, and we appreciate it. This is my 23rd year in practice defending those who I feel are wrongly charged or wrongly treated. That doesn’t mean that all police officers are bad or all are good. We all have jobs to do and I believe we all do them to the best of our ability. Police reports are just that, reports of what was told to them or said to them. Court is what we use to then examine those reports, investigate those claims and allow the Defendant an opportunity to confront the evidence. Don’t rush to judgement.”

It was unclear Saturday whether Dunbar also had surrendered.

Baker was drafted by the Giants in the first round (30th overall) out of Georgia in 2019. He had 61 tackles, two tackles for loss and eight pass defenses in 16 games (15 starts) as a rookie.

–Field Level Media

Lawyers for Deandre Baker and Quinton Dunbar said Friday that witnesses signed affidavits maintaining that the two NFL players took no part in an alleged armed robbery on Wednesday night in Miramar, Fla.

Arrest warrants were issued Thursday for Dunbar, a cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, and Baker, a cornerback for the New York Giants. Baker, 22, faces four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. Dunbar, 27, faces four counts of armed robbery with a firearm.

However, Michael Grieco, Dunbar’s attorney, and Baker’s attorney, Bradford Cohen, maintain the players’ innocence, citing statements both say they have received from people on the scene.

“I want to thank @miramarpd for being professional in regards to surrendering and issues with the case,” Cohen wrote in a post on Instagram. “We understand that the officers can only base warrants on what was told to them at the time. We have had affidavits from several witnesses that also dispute the allegations and exculpate our client. … We would have rather presented them to the court at the proper time, rather than in the media, but in this day and age, people rush to judgment.

“I look forward to moving this case forward to proper conclusion, as we believe our client is innocent of any charges.”

Grieco told multiple media outlets that even his office received the statements from “star witnesses recanting within 48 hours” what they had told Miramar police, the police were still requiring Dunbar to turn himself in on the charges.

“I have never in my career seen a police department so excited about arresting a celebrity,” the lawyer said.

Miramar Police spokeswoman Tania Rues disputed that claim while speaking with the Miami Herald. She said that four alleged victims and one witness identified Dunbar under oath.

“If any of them have changed their stories, we would welcome them to come back to the Miramar police station for a new statement,” Rues told the Herald.

She added that the police department didn’t do anything out of the ordinary in the case because celebrities were involved.

Grieco said that Baker and Dunbar, both born in South Florida, are not close.

The Seahawks, Giants and the NFL issued statements Thursday acknowledging awareness of the case while providing no further details.

Dunbar was acquired by the Seahawks from the Redskins in March in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick. He entered the NFL with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2015. In 58 career games (25 starts), Dunbar has 150 tackles (three for loss), a sack, nine interceptions and 35 pass breakups. Last season, he recorded a career-high four interceptions in 11 games.

Baker, 22, was drafted by the Giants in the first round (30th overall) out of Georgia in 2019. He had 61 tackles, two tackles for loss and eight pass defenses in 16 games (15 starts) as a rookie.

–Field Level Media

The lawyer for Quinton Dunbar said Friday that five witnesses signed affidavits maintaining that the Seattle Seahawks cornerback took no part in an alleged armed robbery on Wednesday night in Miramar, Fla.

Arrest warrants were issued Thursday for Dunbar and New York Giants cornerback Deandre Baker. Dunbar, 27, faces four counts of armed robbery with a firearm while Baker, 22, faces four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.

However, Michael Grieco, Dunbar’s attorney, maintains Dunbar’s innocence, citing statements he received from five people on the scene.

Grieco told multiple media outlets that even though his office received the statements from “star witnesses recanting within 48 hours” what they had told Miramar police, the police were still requiring Dunbar to turn himself in on the charges.

“I have never in my career seen a police department so excited about arresting a celebrity,” the lawyer said.

Miramar Police spokeswoman Tania Rues disputed that claim while speaking with the Miami Herald. She said that four alleged victims and one witness identified Dunbar under oath.

“If any of them have changed their stories, we would welcome them to come back to the Miramar police station for a new statement,” Rues told the Herald.

She added that the police department didn’t do anything out of the ordinary in the case because celebrities were involved.

Grieco had no comment on the case against Baker, who is represented by a different attorney, according to ESPN. The lawyer added that the two South Florida-born players are not close.

The Seahawks, Giants and the NFL issued statements Thursday acknowledging awareness of the case but providing no further details.

Dunbar was acquired by the Seahawks from the Redskins in March in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick. He entered the NFL with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2015. In 58 career games (25 starts), Dunbar has 150 tackles (three for loss), a sack, nine interceptions and 35 pass breakups. Last season, he recorded a career-high four interceptions in 11 games.

Baker, 22, was drafted by the Giants in the first round (30th overall) out of Georgia in 2019. He had 61 tackles, two tackles for loss and eight pass defenses in 16 games (15 starts) as a rookie.

–Field Level Media

Looking to incentivize diversity in the ranks of head coaches and general managers, the NFL reportedly might allow teams to improve their draft status based on minority hires.

According to NFL.com and ESPN, the proposal would allow teams to move up 10 places in the third round of the draft ahead of the second year under a newly hired minority GM. For newly hired head coaches of color, teams would get a six-place jump in the third round of the draft before his second season.

Should a team hire a minority head coach and GM in the same year, the rise would be 16 places in the third round — potentially into the second round.

Teams also would get a five-spot bump in the fourth round ahead of the third season of diverse head coaches or GMs. Also, if a minority quarterbacks coach is retained beyond one season, his team would get an additional draft pick at the end of the fourth round.

The NFL also is looking to eliminate the rule that allows teams to block assistant coaches from moving to another team to take a coordinator job. The change is viewed as helpful for minority head-coaching applicants, as teams generally want candidates to have coordinator experience.

The proposals reportedly will be discussed Tuesday during the owners’ virtual meeting, with 24 of the 32 teams needing to vote in favor in order for the changes to be enacted.

Only one of five head-coaching vacancies this offseason went to a minority candidate, with the Washington Redskins hiring former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. According to NFL.com, only three of the past 20 head-coaching openings were filled by a person of color.

The NFL established the Rooney Rule in 2003, requiring teams to interview minority candidates for all head-coaching and senior football operations jobs.

–Field Level Media

The NFL will allow facilities to be reopened on Tuesday by teams that are permitted to do so under state and local regulations, but only for specific personnel.

The league prohibited coaching staffs from the team facilities during the “Phase 1” reopening in a memo sent by commissioner Roger Goodell to team executives and general managers on Friday.

Teams can have only 50 percent of their staff in the facility at a time and no more than 75 people. Players are prohibited from team facilities unless they are undergoing treatment or rehabilitation.

“This first phase of reopening is an important step in demonstrating our ability to operate safely and effectively, even in the current environment,” Goodell wrote. “After we implement this first phase, and as more states and localities enact policies that allow more club facilities to reopen, I expect that additional staff, likely including coaching staff, will be allowed to return to club facilities in a relatively short time.”

All team facilities were ordered shut down as of March 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking with reporters on a conference call last Saturday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said “the day is coming” when team facilities will reopen, but added that all teams should open their doors at the same time, regardless of the difference in local restrictions.

“I prescribe to the approach of competitive fairness within our game, and that is everybody gets an opportunity,” Tomlin said, according to ESPN. “Our game is extremely competitive. It’s one of the things that make football at this level so attractive to our fans. I’m committed to preserving and protecting that, and so all teams getting an opportunity to start on the same footing is a core element of that.”

–Field Level Media

Pro golfer Justin Thomas and NBA legend Charles Barkley will have integral roles for the upcoming “The Match: Champions for Charity,” Turner Sports announced.

Thomas, a former World No. 1 and 12-time PGA Tour winner, recently landed the cover of the new “PGA Tour 2K21” video game. On May 24, Thomas will be an on-course reporter for the fundraising event between Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady at the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla.

Barkley, an NBA Hall of Famer and outspoken basketball analyst for TNT, will serve as an analyst. He will join 2008 Masters champion and CBS Sports member Trevor Immelman in that capacity.

Brian Anderson will provide play-by-play and CBS’ Amanda Balionis will join Thomas as an on-course reporter.

The event will raise $10 million for COVID-19 relief and will be played without fans in attendance.

–Field Level Media

The New England Patriots signed 2020 third-round draft pick Dalton Keene to a contract, the team announced Friday.

With the tight end in the fold, the Patriots have signed all but one of their 10 picks from the 2020 NFL Draft. New England’s second-round pick, safety Kyle Dugger out of Lenoir-Rhyne, is the lone member of the team’s draft class yet to be signed.

Keene, 21, recorded 59 receptions for 748 yards and eight touchdowns over his three seasons at Virginia Tech. He had 21 catches for 240 yards and a career-best five scores in 13 games last season.

Keene joins fellow third-round pick Devin Asiasi out of UCLA, Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo, Rashod Berry and Jake Burt as tight ends on the roster.

–Field Level Media

Aaron Rodgers admitted on Friday that he was surprised that the Green Bay Packers selected fellow quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of last month’s draft.

Speaking publicly about the situation for the first time, Rodgers was diplomatic with his responses when addressing the Packers’ decision to trade up to acquire the Utah State product with the 26th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

“I think the initial reaction (to the Packers selecting Love) was surprise,” Rodgers said. “Not gonna say that I was thrilled by the pick, but I understand. The organization is not only thinking about the present but the future, and I respect that. I understand their focus and their mindset.”

Rodgers, who is entering his 16th season with the Packers, said he hopes to develop a strong bond with Love. He even went so far as to cite his relationships with former backup quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Brett Hundley.

“I’m excited to work with him,” Rodgers said of Love. “He seems like a really good kid with a really good head on his shoulders.”

While the selection of Love calls Rodgers’ future into question, the two-time NFL MVP said he would like to finish his career with the Packers.

Rodgers is heading into the first season of a four-year, $134 million extension he signed in August 2018. He has cap hits of $21.6 million, $36.4 million, $39.9 million and $28.4 million over the next four seasons.

“(The selection of Love) reinforces the adage that you can only control what you can control,” Rodgers said. “Any great athlete, there’s things that are out of my control. That’s very important to me, but that’s truly out of my control. What I can control is my play and make that decision, at any point, a hard one. … If there feels like a time where I feel like I can play at a high level, and my body feels great, there’s been other great players that have gone on to play elsewhere.”

The Packers sent the Miami Dolphins a fourth-round pick (136th overall) on April 23 in order to flip from the 30th to 26th pick and take Love.

Love will sit and learn behind Rodgers, who is one year older (36) than Brett Favre when Rodgers was drafted 24th overall in 2005. Favre was entering his 15th season in 2005.

Love completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 3,402 yards, 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions last season, with the latter figure the most in the FBS. That was a major step back from 2018, when he completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,567 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions.

–Field Level Media

The New Orleans Saints signed converted running back/kick returner Ty Montgomery to a contract, the team announced Friday.

Terms of Montgomery’s deal were not disclosed by the Saints, who also waived defensive end Mitchell Loewen.

Montgomery, 27, began his NFL career as a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers before injuries to the team forced him to play the running back position.

Montgomery has rushed 224 times for 1,035 yards with seven touchdowns in 58 career games (16 starts) since he was selected by the Packers in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He also has 120 receptions for 982 yards and three scores with the Packers (2015-18), Baltimore Ravens (2018) and the New York Jets (2019).

Last season, Montgomery rushed 32 times for 103 yards and caught 13 passes for 90 yards while appearing in all 16 games with the Jets.

Loewen, 27, recorded two tackles in one game last season for the Saints. He has played in four games over three seasons with New Orleans.

–Field Level Media