Football – Page 84 – North Platte Post Archive

Miller’s Goal is to Return by Season Opener

Posted on April 14, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Von Miller has shed 20 pounds as he works his way back from a torn right ACL and says his goal is to “play every game” in 2014.

Miller made the comments Monday night at Sports Authority Field, where he handed out prescription glasses to 104 underprivileged children in his inaugural Von’s Vision charity event.

Miller bulked up to 270 pounds last season, 24 more than when he was the second overall pick out of Texas A&M in 2011.

Miller is hoping to bounce back from a rough season that began with a six-game drug suspension and ended with a blown out knee on Dec. 22.

Cross Runs for 100 Yards in Nebraska’s Spring Game

Posted on April 12, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Imani Cross ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns against the No. 1 defense to highlight the Nebraska spring game Saturday.

Instead of splitting the players into Red and White teams, the scrimmage pitted the offense against the defense. The offense won 55-46 in a scoring system that awarded points to the defense for certain accomplishments.

Top running back Ameer Abdullah was held out to guard against possible injury. Cross racked up all his yards in the first half.

The day was about more than the traditional spring scrimmage. Coach Bo Pelini came out of the tunnel cradling a cat — yes, a cat — and raised it to the crowd in a nod to the avatar on the popular @FauxPelini Twitter account. He challenged receiver Kenny Bell to a throwing contest, and Jeremiah Sirles proposed to his girlfriend during a punt, pass and kick competition among former players.

Neb’s Bell Says Colter Asks for Help in Union Push

Posted on April 9, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska football player Kenny Bell says Kain Colter has approached him about enlisting the Cornhuskers in the movement that could lead to the formation of a college athletes union.

Bell and Colter, the former Northwestern quarterback, are longtime friends from Colorado. Bell, who will be a senior receiver this fall, said Wednesday he and Colter have been discussing possible unionization for about a year.

Colter spearheaded an effort at Northwestern that ended up with a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board ruling that football players at that school meet the definition of employees and can unionize. The Northwestern players are set to vote April 25 on whether to proceed. The school is appealing the ruling.

Bell said he isn’t sure a union is the answer to athletes’ concerns.

Future Pro Bowls to be Played in Arizona, Hawaii

Posted on April 9, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The next Pro Bowl will be played in Arizona at the site of the Super Bowl.

The NFL announced Wednesday that the game would return to Hawaii the following year. South Florida most recently hosted both games in 2010.

The game will remain a week before the Super Bowl as it has the last five years. The new format introduced after last season, which scrapped the AFC vs. NFC matchup, will be retained.

The Pro Bowl after this coming season will take place Jan. 25, 2015, at University of Phoenix Stadium. A year later, the game will be held Jan. 31, 2016, at Aloha Stadium.

NFL, Players Meet about Workplace Atmosphere

Posted on April 8, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and union leader DeMaurice Smith met Tuesday to discuss the league’s workplace environment.

In light of the bullying scandal last season involving the Dolphins’ Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, both sides want to improve the working atmosphere. Goodell last month targeted this meeting as a chance to create open lines of discussion about the issue.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the meeting brought “productive discussions.” NFL Players Association spokesman George Atallah called it “positive.”

Also involved Tuesday were new NFLPA President Eric Winston and new NFL director of football operations Troy Vincent.

AP Source: Broncos, Fox Agree on 3-Year Deal

Posted on April 5, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that coach John Fox has agreed to a new three-year contract with the Denver Broncos.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced, said the team ripped up Fox’s 2014 contract and replaced it with a deal that runs through 2016.

GM John Elway said in early February that Fox would get a new deal this offseason.

Fox has gone 37-17 with three AFC West titles in his three seasons in Denver.

He overcame a heart operation in November to lead the Broncos to an appearance in the Super Bowl, where they lost 43-8 to Seattle.

Saints Agree to Terms with Champ Bailey

Posted on April 4, 2014

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Veteran defensive back Champ Bailey has agreed to a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.

The 35-year-old Bailey played the last 10 seasons with Denver after spending his first five in the NFL with Washington. A shutdown cornerback for much of his career, Bailey has made three All-Pro teams and been selected to 12 Pro Bowls. He trails only Hall of Fame end Reggie White (13) among defensive players in NFL history in Pro Bowls.

Bailey’s 52 interceptions are the most among active players, as are his 204 passes defensed.

But he missed 11 games because of a left foot sprain originally suffered in the 2013 preseason, which wound up being a Lisfranc injury, one of the most painful for an athlete.

He returned late in the season to help the Broncos advance to the Super Bowl.

Team Offseason Meetings Begin Monday

Posted on April 3, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The seven NFL teams with new head coaches can begin the first phase of offseason workouts on Monday.

Those workouts for the Redskins, Titans, Buccaneers, Browns, Lions, Texans and Vikings will be limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehab sessions.

Each of those clubs can conduct a voluntary minicamp, with the first of those scheduled for April 22-24 in Detroit and Tampa. Cleveland, Minnesota, Tennessee and Washington will hold their voluntary minicamps the following week, while Houston will go May 6-8.

All other teams can begin their opening phase of workouts April 21.

Broncos Agree to 1-Year Deal with Will Montgomery

Posted on April 2, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos and free agent center Will Montgomery have agreed to terms on a 1-year deal.

Montgomery is a ninth-year pro who played the last five seasons with the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by Carolina in 2006 out of Virginia Tech when Broncos coach John Fox was Panthers coach. He also played for the Jets from 2007-08.

During his career, Montgomery has started 46 games at center, 10 at right guard and seven at left guard.

The Broncos are shuffling their offensive line this offseason. They allowed left guard Zane Beadles to leave for Jacksonville in free agency and might move center Manny Ramirez over to make room for Montgomery. They also could move right tackle Orlando Franklin inside.

Strong, Paulsen are Winners of Over-the-Top Award

Posted on April 2, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Running backs Calvin Strong of Omaha North and Jake Paulsen of Cozad are winners of the Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers Over-the-Top Award as the top offensive players in Nebraska high school football last season.

Strong ran for more than 3,000 yards, and Paulsen became a three-time 1,000-yard rusher. The award is given annually to one player from the east side of the state and one from the west side.

Stanford’s Ty Montgomery will receive the Jet Award as the nation’s top return specialist, and Omaha Westside alumnus and former NFL and Nebraska player Pat Fischer will receive the Jet Legacy Award.

The awards banquet is April 10 at Ralston Arena. Proceeds go to the Johnny Rodgers Career and Technical Education Scholarship at Metropolitan Community College. Tickets are available at www.ralstonarena.com.