Football – Page 80 – North Platte Post Archive

Wes Welker was Accidentally Overpaid at Derby

Posted on May 16, 2014

Wes Welker Denver Broncos Football — Wes Welker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — It turns out Wes Welker’s luck at the Kentucky Derby extended beyond the racetrack and into the cashier’s window.

Welker was seen at Churchill Downs with a large stack of cash and handing out $100 bills to random people earlier this month.

A spokesman for Churchill Downs said Friday that a patron believed to be a member of Welker’s group was accidentally overpaid $14,898. TMZ reported that the Denver Broncos receiver sent a friend to collect his winnings for him.

Although the track sent a letter to that individual seeking repayment, the track doesn’t expect to be repaid.

Welker told “The Dan Patrick Show” on Friday that he and his friends never calculated how much they were due and that they made most of their winnings at the Kentucky Derby from boxing Commanding Curve.

Kapri Bibbs Puts Draft Disappointment Aside, Signs with Broncos

Posted on May 16, 2014May 16, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Kapri Bibbs was bypassed in the NFL draft despite leading the nation with 31 touchdown runs in his single season at Colorado State. Yet, he insists he’s glad he turned pro.

Bibbs said there were plenty of other teams lining up for his services after the draft concluded last weekend, including the Buccaneers, Falcons, Bears and Ravens.

He said he decided to stay in Colorado because he and Denver running backs coach Eric Studesville hit it off at the NFL combine and he wanted to play in an up-tempo system engineered by Peyton Manning.

Chiefs Sign Draft Pick Thomas to Contract

Posted on May 16, 2014

De'Anthony Thomas Kansas City Chiefs — De’Anthony Thomas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have signed fourth-round pick De’Anthony Thomas, leaving only first-round pick Dee Ford and fifth-round pick Aaron Murray as their unsigned draft picks.

Thomas is a wide receiver and running back whom the Chiefs are counting on to replace Dexter McCluster, who signed with Tennessee in free agency. The true value in Thomas is that in addition to playing multiple positions on offense, he can also return punts and kicks.

His stock dropped after running a 4.5 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, but his speed and elusiveness made him one of the nation’s most dynamic playmakers during his career at Oregon.

The Chiefs announced the move Friday. The team had previously signed third-round pick Phillip Gaines and sixth-round choices Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Zach Fulton.

Chiefs Sign Draft Pick Gaines to Contract

Posted on May 16, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have signed third-round draft pick Phillip Gaines.

The cornerback out of Rice became the third of the Chiefs’ six draft picks to sign their contracts when he agreed to a deal Thursday. Sixth-round picks Zach Fulton and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, both offensive lineman, had already signed their contracts.

Terms of the contracts have not been disclosed.

That leaves only defensive end Dee Ford, the No. 23 overall pick, fourth-rounder De’Anthony Thomas and fifth-round pick Aaron Murray to sign their contracts.

Gaines played in 52 games for Rice, intercepting four passes and piling up a school-record 38 passes defensed. He served as a captain for the Owls his final two seasons.

Peyton Manning Promises More ‘Omaha!’ Shouts

Posted on May 16, 2014

Peyton Manning came to Omaha to show the city some love in return for the love it showed him during the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl.

Manning was the featured speaker at the B’nai B’rith sports banquet Thursday night. He promised the crowd of 1,200 he’ll keep shouting “Omaha!” at the line of scrimmage, just as he famously did during the Denver Broncos’ run to the Super Bowl.

Before the banquet, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce presented a check for almost $70,000 to Manning’s foundation. Local businesses donated for every pre-snap “Omaha!” Manning shouted.

Manning said he’s received suggestions from other cities, states, businesses and websites urging him to call their names at the line.

Manning said, “I am here to tell you I am sticking with Omaha.”

Eagles Let Martinez Go Because of Failed Physical

Posted on May 14, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Former Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez’s free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles has been voided because he failed a physical.

His father, Casey Martinez, wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday that Taylor continues to struggle with a left-foot injury that dates to early last season. Casey Martinez said the Eagles let Taylor go after evaluating his medical file from Nebraska and taking X-rays of the foot.

Taylor Martinez is considering surgery and hopes to get another opportunity with an NFL team.

The Eagles signed Martinez as an undrafted free agent Sunday. He played in only four games his senior season because of the injury. He left Nebraska as the program’s career leader in total offense, passing yards, career touchdown passes and starts by a quarterback.

Sanders Welcomes Selection of Rookie in 2nd Round

Posted on May 14, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Emmanuel Sanders is still learning his way around town. That’s not stopping him from putting out a big welcome mat for rookie wide receiver Cody Latimer.

Sanders, who signed a three-year, $15 million free agent deal in Denver less than two months ago, said he’s glad the Broncos drafted a wide receiver in the second round last weekend.

Both Sanders and Latimer are expected to replace some of what Eric Decker brought to the Broncos before leaving for the New York Jets in free agency.

At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Sanders brings speed, separation and versatility to the mix and could replace Decker’s 87 catches.

At a shade under 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Latimer has a mix of size, speed and strength in the mold of Denver’s Demaryius Thomas.

Former Nebraska Lineman Qvale Gets Shot at NFL

Posted on May 14, 2014

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — The NFL’s New York Jets have signed former Williston High School and University of Nebraska offensive lineman Brent Qvale (KWAHL’-ee) to a free agent contract.

The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Qvale played in 53 games for the Cornhuskers, including 18 starts at tackle. But he was hampered by injuries in college and wasn’t chosen in last week’s NFL draft.

Qvale also was a prep basketball standout in North Dakota. He finished second in the Mr. Basketball voting in 2009.

Linebacker Josh Banderas Charged in Theft of Bikes

Posted on May 13, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska linebacker Josh Banderas and a member of the men’s track team face felony charges in connection with the thefts of seven bicycles on campus.

Sgt. Douglas Petersen said Tuesday that university police received a report of two individuals using bolt cutters to remove bikes from racks and loading the bikes into a pickup about 5 p.m. Monday. Lincoln police stopped the pickup near campus and arrested Banderas and Lucas Keifer.

Banderas and Keifer are charged with possession of burglary tools and theft by unlawful taking. Each was released on a $3,500 bond.

The athletic department said in a statement that administrators and coaches are aware of the incident and have no comment.

Petersen said Banderas and Keifer were cooperative, with one telling an officer stealing the bikes was “bone-headed.”

Bulldogs to Host Non-Contact Youth Football Camp

Posted on May 12, 2014

The North Platte Bulldogs football team will once again be hosting the Bulldog Football Camps this summer.

The emphasis of each camp will be to work basic position fundamentals, as well as group and team activities.

The camps will be held at the North Platte High School football fields and will be conducted by the NPHS coaching staff and other guest coaches. There will also be current high school and college football players that have played at NPHS.

These camps offer a great opportunity to develop the North Platte Bulldogs football program and the youth football programs in North Platte. They will help each player become more effective on the field.

The camps will be held for three age groups: Pups (4th-6th graders), Jr. High (7th-8th graders), High School (9th-12th graders). The Pups camp will take place May 20-22 between 9:30 and 11:00 am each day. The Junior High camp will be June 2-5 from 9:00 to 11:00 am each day. The High School camp will take place June 2-6 and will begin at 6:00 pm each evening.

The cost is $25 per camp and that includes a camp t-shirt. Campers are encouraged to register as soon as possible by contacting coach Bernie Madison at 308-440-3937 or at [email protected]. Late registrations will be accepted on the day of the camp. Registration and sign-in will take place one-half hour before the start of each camp session at the NPHS Memorial Football Stadium.