Slim to none: With the long-awaited news coming Wednesday of the suspensions of four players for their involvement in a Saints bounty scheme, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell noted the players have three days in which to appeal his verdict. But The Times-Picayune reports some legal experts say New Orleans Saints fans hoping for a reprieve shouldn’t be too sanguine about the chances of success. Tulane law professor and sports law expert Gabe Feldman points out that under the collective bargaining agreement approved last year, the players agreed to make Goodell the sole arbiter of such off-field issues. In other words, the appeals road for the players runs right back to Goodell, just as it did with Saints coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and interim head coach Joe Vitt—all of whom had their appeals summarily rejected. Read the full story here for more analysis.
Lee’s charge: The final image of LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee’s college career was one of frustration—for himself and LSU fans alike—as he watched helplessly from the sideline while Jordan Jefferson ran the Tigers offense into the ground during the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama. But as NLF.com reports, Lee will get a chance to make it as a professional, as the San Diego Chargers signed him as an undrafted free agent Sunday. And he’ll have some immediate motivation if he hears comments made by New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross, asked if the LSU offense limited new Giants receiver Reuben Randle’s production in college. “The way LSU plays, they run the ball, they play defense and those two quarterbacks, to be quite honest, are not very good. So he didn’t get a lot of chances,” Ross says. (Ouch.) Chargers general manager A.J. Smith and coach Norv Turner obviously disagree with part of that assessment, at least. There aren’t many better teams with which to learn the craft of quarterback than San Diego, under Turner and Philip Rivers. There have been no reports of Jefferson signing with a pro team to this point, though he’s reportedly had discussions with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A dream realized: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a notable and poignant free-agent signing Wednesday when they added one of coach Greg Schiano’s former Rutgers players: defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed after injuring his spinal cord in a game in 2010. LeGrand was paralyzed from the neck down after being injured while making a tackle. “Leading up to the draft, I couldn’t help but think that this should’ve been Eric’s draft class,” says Schiano, who is entering his first season with the Buccaneers. “This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit and perseverance.” LeGrand, who is scheduled to graduate next fall from Rutgers with a degree in labor studies, says he’s not sure what his role will be with the Buccaneers and that he would not be paid—but adds the team will be mailing him a No. 52 jersey, a Tampa Bay helmet and a contract by the end of the week. “It was something I always dreamed about, going to the NFL and retiring and becoming a sports broadcaster,” LeGrand says. “Dreams do come true, if you believe. You do the right things in life, and good things happen to you.” Get the full story from The Associated Press here.
