Jason Garrett, the in-demand offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, has left the city of Baltimore without accepting the Ravens head coaching job he was reportedly offered earlier in the day.
Instead, the Cowboys assistant has boarded a plane headed for Atlanta to talk with the Falcons brass regarding their vacant head coaching position.
According the Jamison Hensley of The Sun, one league source said Garrett could have misgivings about becoming a head coach after just three years of NFL coaching experience. Another source said Garrett could be headed to Atlanta to drive up the Ravens’ offer.
The National Pro-Football Hall of Fame’s Board of Selectors released their list of those finalists eligible for this year’s induction class in Canton, Ohio.
Joining first-year eligibles Cris Carter and Darrell Green include:
Former National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The Senior Committee nominees, announced in August 2007, are Chicago Cardinals back Marshall Goldberg and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas. The other modern-era player finalists include defensive ends Fred Dean and Richard Dent; linebackers Randy Gradishar, Derrick Thomas and Andre Tippett; guards Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg and Randall McDaniel; punter Ray Guy; wide receivers Art Monk and Andre Reed; and tackle Gary Zimmerman.
Off the top of our heads, Art Monk of the Washington Redskins deserves induction in this class, along with Green and Carter.
The Chicago Tribune’s Kathy Bergen writes that Chicago’s effort to lure the 2016 Olympic Games will be a mighty pricetag for the town.
$900 million.
With revenues for staging an event projected to generate roughly $2.5 billion will help cover the cost of putting the games on in “The Windy City.” According to Bergman, Chicago’s bid team said the city can expect revenue from the International Olympic Committee, which sells TV rights to the Games.
Included in that price: a $385.9 million bill for building a mostly temporary facility in Washington Park.
The Sports Network of Canada’s Bob McKenzie writes in his latest blog entry that former NHL general manager Cliff Fletcher will likely make a decision on accepting a position with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the next 24 hours.
It appears that coincides with Fletcher’s planned Mexican vacation, which he’s supposed to depart for on Wednesday.
McKenzie reports that Fletcher is in talks with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment boss Richard Peddie on replacing the club’s current GM, John Ferguson, Jr.
Free agent pitcher Joe Kennedy died of hypertensive heart disease, a condition that hardens the heart’s walls and can cause it to stop beating, said Dr. Vernard Adams, the Hillsborough County medical examiner.
Kennedy collapsed and died at his in-laws home on Thanksgiving weekend last year.
Kennedy was a left-hander who played seven years in the majors and played for three teams during the 2007 season. He had a 43-61 career record with 4.79 ERA in 222 appearances.
News and notes while Congressional hearings roll on…
Sources: Ravens offer coaching gig to Garrett (ESPN.com) Sources tell ESPN.com’s Ed Werder that the Baltimore Ravens have offered their head coaching job to Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.
Rex Ryan getting second call back in Atlanta (ESPN.com) Atlanta Falcons mouthpiece Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports that the Falcons are bringing in Rex Ryan for a second interview Tuesday.
Attorney: Pacman punched me (WSB-TV, ATL) When Pacman Jones goes to a strip club, trouble typically follows: Jones lunged at Wanda Jackson and then sucker-punched her at an Atlanta, Georgia adult entertainment venue.
Forsberg might make yet another comeback (CP/TheHockeyNews.com) Veteran forward Peter Forsberg is contemplating another comeback, this time with the Sweden national team as he continues to recover from chronic foot, ankle injuries.
NCAA investigating UCLA — and John Wooden? (Los Angeles Times) Just before the start of this college basketball season, UCLA received a letter of inquiry from the NCAA, seeking information about possible illegal contact between a recruit and a person representing the interests of the university. (i-Five to SPORTSbyBROOKS.com for the tip)
…and finally…
Dallas trades Ruiz to Galaxy for cash, draft pick (AP/USATODAY.com) FC Dallas has traded leading scorer Carlos Ruiz back to the Los Angeles Galaxy for a second-round draft pick in 2009 and an undisclosed amount of allocation money.
Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports is blogging the Congressional hearings in Washington and relays a powerful statement from MLB commissioner Bud Selig.
“As a lifelong baseball fan, I am deeply saddened and disappointed by the conduct of the players and many other individuals described by the Senator in his report,” Selig said, reading from a prepared statement.
As the dog and pony show takes place on Capitol Hill today, we’ll be periodically posting different events that may take place — assumption, we know — throughout the day.
Take, for example, the Congressional subcommittee asking the Justice Department to look into whether former AL MVP Miguel Tejada lied to committee staffers when questioned in connection to the Rafael Palmeiro perjury case in 2005.
Henry Waxman (D, California) fired one of the first salvos in Tuesday’s hearings, pointing the finger of complicity in the direction of everyone — the owners, players, management and the player’s union.
“The illegal use of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs was pervasive for more than a decade, Major League Baseball was slow and ineffective in responding to the scandal, and the use of human growth hormone has been rising,” said committee chairman Waxman.
Aussie round-up: Djokovic rolls in straight sets (AP/SI.com) Early winners in the Australian Open include Novak Djokovic, David Nalbandian and Marcos Baghdatis for the men and Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze and Daniela Hantuchova for the ladies.
Selig’s legacy in play in next round of Congressional hearings (ESPN.com) Investigative reporters for ESPN.com T.J. Quinn and Mark Fainaru-Wada take a deep look at how the Congressional hearing will help continue to shape MLB commissioner Bud Selig’s mark on the game.
Clemens deposition appears in flux (Chronicle.com) Speaking of PEDs — The Houston Chronicle’s Jose de Jesus Ortiz writes that the lawyer for Roger Clemens met with the staff of the House Oversight Committee investigating steroids use in baseball Monday in Washington, but it remains unclear if Clemens will have to give a full formal deposition under oath prior to his testimony before the committee next month.
LaRoche agrees to $5 million pact (MLB.com) Pittsburgh first sacker Adam LaRoche and the Pirates avoided arbitration after the two sides agreed to a one year deal that will pay the slugger $5 million in ‘08.
Leafs reportedly ask Fletcher about interim job (TSN.ca) “Toronto Front Office Watch ‘08″ rolls on: The Sports Network’s hockey insider Bob McKenzie reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs have asked former club GM Cliff Fletcher — and a number of others — if they’d be interested in the job now on an interim basis.
..and finally…
Dude — Football! (YouTube) FOXSports’ Joe Buck appears in a Bud Light commercial and, of course, comedy ensues!
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