Quotable: Hernandez indicted for double murder, Sam gets series on Oprah
In awful news: Aaron Hernandez was indicted for killing two men, and there’s not yet an apparent motive. Things got better from then on Thursday. Promise.
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- William Evan, Boston Police commissioner
Aaron Hernandez was indicted Thursday for the double murder of Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston nearly two years ago. Police believe Hernandez pulled up next to the two men at a traffic light after leaving a night club around 1:30 a.m. on July 12, 2012, and opened fire, killing them with a .38-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver. As Evans' statement suggests, investigators have yet to reveal a motive.
The details are chilling, though perhaps not as much as the thought that Hernandez may never have been considered a suspect in the shooting if not for his arrest last year for the murder of Odin Lloyd.
“It wasn’t asked at all. We wouldn’t put the Rams in that position.”
- Michael Sam’s agent, Cameron Weiss
Sam is getting his own documentary series on the Oprah Winfrey Network to show his struggle, and success or failure as he tries to make the St. Louis Rams’ 53-man roster as the NFL’s first openly gay player. One thing you won’t see is anything is inside of the Rams’ facility at 1 Rams Way. It’s unclear whether the Rams would deny cameras inside the facility. Apparently Weiss, a producer for the series, wouldn’t ask.
It may have been the least they could do.
It seems Michael Sam and representatives did not disclose to the Rams or other teams his OWN documentary plan, fearing might not be picked
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) May 15, 2014 Many will question -- rightfully so -- the wisdom of letting cameras disrupt your training when you’re a seventh-round draft pack who isn’t guaranteed to make a roster, especially when you weren’t exactly up front about your intentions with the team that drafted you.
For the rest of us, well, OWN may become necessary viewing in the coming weeks.
“Even as talented a player as Mike Vick is, I think Geno Smith has made that big a stride.”
- New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan
Joe Namath made his annual attempt to shove a wedge between the Jets' quarterbacks on Tuesday, saying that he thinks Michael Vick should be team's starter over Geno Smith. Ryan promptly came to the defense of his second-year passer, telling WFAN-AM on Thursday that Smith has made a lot of progress since an up-and-down rookie season.
"This young man is going to be hard to beat out," Ryan said. "Even as talented a player as Mike Vick is, I think Geno Smith has made that big a stride. And again, the proof will be in the pudding when we play this thing out, but that's my confidence in him."
Ryan didn’t completely dismiss Vick’s chances of taking the reins of the offense, but the message seemed clear: Smith is the team’s starter until further notice. Vick has said as much since being signed during the offseason. The Jets may actually avoid a quarterback controversy heading into the season for the first time since 2011.
“We went with Houston right off the bat. We tried to go to No. 1. They weren’t having it.”
- Buffalo Bills director of player personnel Jim Monos
How badly did the Bills want Sammy Watkins? Not only were they willing to give up a dowry of two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick to move up, they were apparently willing to go all the way to No. 1. In a video interview with the Bills' official site, Monos revealed that the organization was in trade talks with the Houston Texans, but the Texans selected Jadeveon Clowney instead.
General manager Doug Whaley and the Bills then got in touch with Cleveland Browns GM Ray Farmer and pulled off an expensive trade after Watkins slipped past the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 3.
The Bills took some heat in post-draft grades for giving up so much for the wide receiver (who was, admittedly, a consensus premier talent). Studies suggest that NFL teams tend to undervalue having numerous picks and overvalue individual players who they become enamored with after months of scouting. We’ll soon see whether Bills’ love affair with Watkins was warranted.
“Well, credit the Rams’ brass; they’re not wasting any time in getting to roster moves.”
- Turf Show Times blogger 3k
Such was the reaction to the Rams' surprising decision to waive running back Daryl Richardson on Thursday. The move came on the heels of rumors that Isaiah Pead, not Richardson, would soon be leaving St. Louis. For the time being, Pead still has a roster spot. Richardson does not, less than one year after being named the Week 1 starter heading into the 2013 season.
At the time, Richardson's ascent up the depth chart was seen as a feel-good story. He was a seventh-round draft pick, who had earned playing time ahead of fifth-rounder Zac Stacy and second-rounder Pead. Richardson failed to produce as hoped and didn't record a carry after Week 8.
Instead, Stacy became the feel-good story, turning in a strong rookie campaign as a workhorse ball-carrier. The Rams took Auburn running back Tre Mason in the third round NFL Draft to complement Stacy so that he doesn't have to once again shoulder nearly the full workload. As for Richardson, another NFL team should be willing to pick him up, though may never get another shot to become a full-time starter.
“No agreement is in place but the gulf that once existed in talks has shrunk significantly.”
- Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo on Bengals contract talks with Vontaze Burfict
The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly progressing towards a new deal with linebacker Vontaze Burfict, according to Garafolo. Burfict is set to become a restricted free agent after the 2014 season after signing a three-year deal with the team as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2012.
Since, Burfict has led the Bengals in tackles for two straight seasons, and should make it a third. He was named a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro last season, all while making less than $500,000. Burfict should receive a significant pay upgrade whenever his next deal is struck.
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