Page 26 - Florida Sentinel 2-9-18

Sports
HBCU Great Robert Brazile Selected To Football Hall Of Fame
ROBERT BRAZILE
Dawkins Will Receive Two Rings When 2018 Season Kicks Off
BRIAN DAWKINS
When former Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins wasn’t elected to the Pro Foot- ball Hall of Fame a season ago, it was viewed by many as a trav- esty. To his credit, he handled things as classy as he could. Still, anyone who followed his career or cheered for him was- n’t going to be able to accept the fact that he wasn’t a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee. Well, as of the first weekend in Febru- ary, we’ve learned he will get his Hall of Fame ring. That’s not all though, Eagles fans. He’ll also be getting some other hard- ware. A Super Bowl ring.
Dawkins was a second- round selection of the Eagles in 1996. From that day until 2008, all he did was etch his name into the hearts of Eagles fans everywhere. To some, ‘Dawk’ is their favorite Eagle of all time. It was his passion and the way he played the game. When his career in Philly was over, he had constructed one of the most im- pressive resumes of all time at his position.
Josh McDaniels Won't Accept Colts HC Job; Decides To Stay With Patriots
JOSH MCDANIELS
Josh McDaniels' tenure as Indianapolis Colts head coach is over after less than nine hours. McDaniels had a change of heart Tuesday and will remain with the New Eng- land Patriots.
"After agreeing to contract terms to become the Indianapo- lis Colts' new head coach, New England Patriots assistant coach Josh McDaniels this evening informed us that he would not be joining our team," the Colts said in a statement. "Although we are surprised and disappointed, we will resume our head coaching search im- mediately and find the right fit to lead our team and organiza- tion on and off the field."
Patriots' Malcolm
One of the greatest defen- sive players in NFL and HBCU football history received foot- ball’s highest honor last Satur- day.
Former Jackson State line- backer Robert Brazile was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
That’s a phone call I’d been waiting on for years, to say that I’m being considered to go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Brazile told AL.com back in January. “It means so much to metotrytosumitupinone word, I just can’t do it. I get all types of emotions with it, feel- ings that normally I don’t have. I’m so excited, and not just for Robert Brazile. This award is going to touch the city of Mo- bile, my children, my family, my coaches, my teammates, my college. It’s a lot of people involved in it.”
Brazile, 64, becomes the fourth player from Jackson State to represent the school in
the Hall of Fame, joining
Jackie Slater, Walter Pay- ton and Lem Barney.
“When I think of Jackson, I think of the championships and the group of guys I played with,” Brazile said. “I played with two guys — Jackie Slater and Walter Payton — that are already Hall of Famers. And I think we had more Pro Bowlers and Hall of Famers on that team. People don’t know this, but at one time with the Houston Oilers, we had four guys from Jackson State. Two guys from Mobile – Richard Caster and myself — Vernon Perry and Leon Gray.”
Selected in the first round of the 1975 draft by the then- Houston Oilers, Brazile — nicknamed “Dr. Doom” — played ten seasons in the NFL, being named the NFL Defen- sive Rookie of the Year, making seven Pro Bowl appearances and picked to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team.
Trade With Rangers
Butler Denies
Missing Curfew
The New England Patriots' shocking decision to bench cor- nerback Malcolm Butler for their Super Bowl loss to the Ea- gles on Sunday has sparked controversy, outrage, confu- sion, and reports that Butler broke team rules before the game. Finally, on Tuesday, Butler himself addressed the incident. In doing so, he denied the reports that he missed cur- few.
In a message posted on Twitter and Instagram, Butler thanked Patriots owner Robert Kraft, his coaches, his teammates, and Patriots fans. Then, he shot down the rumors that claimed he was benched for missing curfew. He con- cluded by apologizing for using explicit language when speak-
MALCOLM BUTLER
ing with reporters in the imme- diate aftermath of the game.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady liked Butler's post on Instagram and commented, writing "Love you Malcolm. You are an incredible player and teammate and friend. Al- ways!!!!!!"
Yankees Acquire
Russell Wilson In
Giancarlo Stanton isn't the only superstar newcomer who will be making an appear- ance at the New York Yankees' training camp this spring.
The Texas Rangers on Wednesday traded Seattle Seahawks quarterback Rus- sell Wilson to the Yankees for future considerations. Wilson, a four-time Pro Bowler, is expected to appear at the Yankees' Grapefruit League camp in Tampa, Florida, sometime in February or March.
Wilson, 29, has no plans to emulate Deion Sanders or Bo Jackson and try to
RUSSELL WILSON
reinvent himself as a two-sport athlete, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN. But he's maintained his love for baseball and wants to continue his ties to the sport.
Williams Signs Extension With LA Clippers
Lou Williams, who had been one of the most pursued players heading into this week's NBA trade deadline, signed a contract extension with the LA Clippers on Wednesday.
The sides reached a three- year deal that includes a team option for the third season.
The contract is worth $24 million, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. The third year is guaranteed for $1.5 million
LOU WILLIAMS
that becomes fully guaranteed if he's not waived by July 15, 2020.
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