Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 4-10-18

Sports
Former NFL
Suspended NFL
Jameis Winston Says He Will Make Better Use Of DeSean Jackson In 2018
JAMEIS WINSTON AND DESEAN JACKSON
The Tampa Bay Bucca- neers invested a lot in wide receiver DeSean Jackson last offseason. He didn’t have the best season, and his quarterback seems to believe he’s at least partly to blame.
On Friday, Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Win- ston vowed to do better by Jackson, responding to an article questioning Jack- son’s future with the organ-
ization with a defiant pledge. Jackson made $12.5 million last year, but deliv- ered only 50 catches, 668 yards, and three touch- downs. Only his injury-hit 2015 was worse from a sta- tistical standpoint. For his part, Jackson has voiced a willingness to work things out with Winston as well, so it seems that will be a pri-
ority heading into 2018.
Giants Pleased With ‘Show Of Commitment’
From Odell Beckham
Odell Beckham Jr. says he is planning to show up to the start of the Giants’ volun- tary offseason program on Monday, and the team re- portedly views that as a posi- tive sign going forward.
The Giants and their new coaching staff and front office view Beckham’s decision to join his teammates as “im- portant.”
There have been reports that Beckham does not plan to step foot on the field until he has a contract extension, so the fact that he is not com- pletely avoiding the team during the offseason is a pos- itive sign. While his atten- dance at voluntary workouts does not necessarily mean that he won’t holdout, it’s better than the alternative.
With the Los Angeles Rams having traded for
ODELL BECKHAM, JR.
Brandin Cooks, one poten- tial Beckham trade suitor is off the board. There’s still a possibility he could be dealt leading up to the draft, but the chances get slimmer by the day.
And given what we have heard about New York’s ask- ing price, a trade probably was unlikely in the first place.
Player Sues
Linebacker Aldon
ESPN For
Smith Arrested Again
Defamation
Former Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers line- backer Aldon Smith is in jail and being held on $500,000 bond, according to San Fran- cisco Sheriff's Department records.
Smith was taken into cus- tody Friday evening for violat- ing conditions of his electronic monitoring stemming from a previous arrest.
The former All-Pro had turned himself in to police March 23 after violating a re- straining order issued earlier in the month.
Smith, who hasn't played since 2015, was arrested March 6 on suspicion of do-
A former NFL player is not happy with how ESPN re- ported on his arrest and court- room conduct in 2017.
Dimitri Patterson, a for- mer Miami Dolphins corner- back, is claiming that ESPN defamed him by reporting that he injured two police of- ficers while trying to escape from a courtroom last August in a bid to avoid arrest.
ESPN’s original article cited police and was one of many media outlets to report on the events. Patterson, acting as his own lawyer, claims he has court video footage to disprove ESPN’s re- ported version of events.
Patterson is seeking $50 million in damages from ESPN.
ALDON SMITH
mestic violence after police said he "fled the scene" fol- lowing an incident three days earlier. Smith was booked and released that day on $30,000 bond.
Online records show Smith is due in court Wednesday.
Panthers' Davis Reveals
Four-Game Suspension
Cam Newton
For PED Violation
Involved In
Carolina Panthers line- backer Thomas Davis was issued a four-game suspen- sion for violating the NFL's policy on performance-en- hancing substances, but the three-time Pro Bowl selection said he did not try to "cheat the game."
Davis broke the news Fri- day in a video posted to his Twitter account, saying it was an estrogen blocker that trig- gered a positive test. He indi- cated that he intended to serve the ban rather than appeal.
Davis, 35, is a longtime Panthers captain and the fran-
Collision While
Driving Ferrari
CAM NEWTON
Cam Newton was in- volved in a car accident in At- lanta on Thursday, but Carolina Panthers fans can breathe a sigh of relief know- ing the collision was nowhere near as severe as the star quarterback’s last one.
Newton was driving his black Ferrari F12 when he was involved in some sort of collision with a dump truck. Atlanta police confirmed that there was an accident but said neither party wanted to file a report, and a photo did not show any obvious damage to either vehicle. That’s a good thing, as the car Newton was driving is valued at over $300,000.
Newton was spotted walking around his car look- ing for damage, and it’s un- clear how the collision happened or who was at fault.
THOMAS DAVIS
chise's all-time leading tack- ler. Though he said in January this would be his final season, he teased in the video that "maybe" it now wouldn't be.
Josh Norman Says
Rival Dez Bryant ‘Has
A Lot Left In The Tank’
It’s safe to say Josh Nor- man and Dez Bryant have always had an extensive on- field rivalry, but as many question the Dallas Cowboys receiver, Norman is coming to his defense.
In an appearance on Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed, Nor- man thinks Bryant can re- turn to being one of the NFL’s best — if he can overcome some mental hurdles.
“He has a lot left in the tank. It’s what he gets out of it, that’s the thing,” Norman said, . “I mean he can be what- ever he wants to be.
DEZ BRYANT AND JOSH NORMAN
Norman has traded barbs with Bryant in the past, but the wide receiver has let them go lately. Now Nor- man’s praising him. Maybe relations are thawing.
PAGE 14 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018