ThreeStrikesandOut

According to the Chicago Tribune, Brian Urlacher is still in a funk about his contract situation with the Bears, and as a result he will probably not report to mini-camp:

The mini-camp is mandatory, meaning Urlacher could would be fined up to a maximum of $8,000 for his absence.

“Yeah, it would bug me to get fined, but it’s my choice,” he said. “Unless something happens [with the contract] between now and then, I won’t be there.

I wonder what Brian will do with all that free time? TSAO offers some suggestions, based upon his previous adventures:

Fishing:

Playing Golden Tee badly:

He could give that whole rasslin’ thing another try:

Brian Urlacher comes to TNA Wrestling to take out the trash!

Badminton:

Other suggestions:

• Tanning
• Gay Porn
• Join the Hair Club For Men
• Hang Out With Adam Jones

Or the most likely thing that Urlacher will do:

Make some more freaking commercials.  This guy has probably made more commercials than anyone in the history of football.

Chicago Tribune

“Sniff”.  I really thought I knew what Randy Moss was about, but in the last year, he’s taken all my beliefs and shown me to be a fool.  First, Randy behaved for an entire year with the Patriots, and gave us a full year of Brady-speak and “my teammates” talk.  Then Moss announces that he is going to go into NASCAR and start his own truck team.  If I had to pick an NFL’r who might go into NASCAR, I’m pretty sure that Randy Moss would have been at the last of that list;  and now, the latest in Randy Moss surprises; Randy was spotted at the Kentucky Derby this weekend watching the horse races.  This just goes to show that whatever we think we know about what interests these folks, we probably don’t really know.  One thing I wasn’t disappointed in is that Randy still likes to get his freak on as TMZ via SportsbyBrooks, has the goods on Randy partying it up with 20-year old Ms. Kentucky, Alysha Noel Harris.  Go on Randy, get your freak on, as much as I hate the Pats, you’ve been a hell of a player this season, you’ve earned hittin’ that! Go Randy, go Randy, go!  (Just don’t by her a drink, her page says she’s twenty, ya know, gotta be careful about that, just looking out for you, man).

SportsbyBrooks

According to ESPN.com, the gun casings found outside of his Philadelphia bar did indeed, come from the gun of Marvin Harrison:

Six of the bullet casings found after an April 29 shooting near Marvin Harrison’s car wash and garage came from a gun that belongs to the Colts wide receiver, Philadelphia police sources told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio.

Harrison and his reps have denied that he was part of the shooting that took place on April 29th.  It’s going to be interesting to see where the NFL goes with this new information.  Roger Goodell has been quick to jump on players for conduct, and now he’s faced with the Cedric Benson incident and the Marvin Harrison incident just days apart from each other.  He really can’t do anything to Benson without doing addressing the Harrison problem, which could be a much more complicated and serious matter.  He can’t come out on Benson and give the Marvin a walk because of his reputation. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Goodell take more time than his history suggests, before addressing either of these player’s issues, so that he can make sure that there’s no hint of favoritism.

The hits keep on coming for former Longhorn running backs.

Former Longhorn and current Bears space-filler Cedric Benson was arrested Saturday night after being charged with driving his boat while under the influence.  According to SI:

Benson was operating the boat with 15 passengers aboard when he was stopped by a Lower Colorado River Authority officer for a random safety inspection. He failed a field sobriety test on the officer’s boat and was uncooperative when the officer tried to take him ashore, the authority said.

“When Benson did not pass the test, he presented himself as a threat to the officer and argued about whether or not he would be taken to land to have a follow-up field sobriety test performed on land and refused to put on a life jacket,” the authority said in a statement.

The officer had to use pepper spray to subdue Benson. He then refused to leave the officer’s boat and authorities had to drag him to a car to be taken to the Travis County jail, the authority said.

I don’t understand why the cops had to pepper spray him.  They should have just handed him a football, and they would’ve had no problem wrapping him up.  I made light of this guy being a Texas running back, but really you can’t compare this guy to Ricky Williams.  Take away the pot and the yoga and the quitting on his teammates, and Ricky was a stud running back that mowed over people.  Benson couldn’t mow over people with a John Deere tractor.  If I’m a Bears fan, I’m hoping that he gets thrown in jail long enough to miss the season, so that the Bears will have to actually go out and try to get somebody worth a damn.

SI

Wow. I didn’t think that there was much in sports that could surprise me anymore.

Color me wrong.

According to the Associated Press, Colts receiver Marvin Harrison was questioned in Philadelphia about a shooting that took place outside of his bar, “Playmakers”:

Lt. Frank Vanore said the investigation of Tuesday’s shooting was continuing. Harrison has not been arrested or charged.

“He was interviewed,” Vanore said Friday. “Why he was interviewed, that is all part of the investigation. No one is a suspect.”

Radio station WIP, citing unidentified sources, reported the alleged shooting victim argued with Harrison at Playmakers bar. The victim left and headed to his car, Harrison followed and gunfire broke out, the station reported. The alleged victim was shot in the hand and did not identify the shooter, according to the radio station.

The most damning part of this story may be this:

A source told WIP that ballistic tests showed the shots were fired from a custom-made Belgian weapon, and police determined Harrison owns that kind of gun.

Police went to a Philadelphia car wash owned by Harrison and questioned him about the gun, the station said. Harrison acknowledged owning such a weapon, but told officials it never left his suburban Philadelphia home, the radio station reported.

The source told the station a gun was discovered in a bucket at the car wash, and tests showed it had fired bullets that matched those at the scene.

I really, really hate to say this, Indy fans, but nice guys don’t get the benefit of the doubt in shootings. Change the name in the article to Adam Jones and what would your perception of this story be? Harrison has been accused of violent behavior before:

Off the field, Harrison was sued following the 2005 Pro Bowl when three boys accused him of attacking them when they tried to get his autograph. The suit alleged Harrison “violently and physically attacked” the minors, including placing a “potentially deadly choke hold” on one of the boys, but it was later dismissed.

I’m not saying Harrison’s guilty because he’s innocent until proven guilty.  But what I’m saying is we shouldn’t immediately act like there is no possibility that he did something that he shouldn’t have, just because he’s a popular player who has always played football, “the right way”.  If the gun’s his, he’s going to have alot of explaining to do to a judge and jury.  It’s that simple.

Yuck.

Philly.com