Page 27 - Florida Sentinel 3-18-16 Edition

Sports
Lovie Smith Disappointed
Buccaneers Sign CB Josh Robinson
JOSH ROBINSON
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers introduced CB Brent Grimes on Monday morning and then gave him a new part- ner in the secondary in the af- ternoon, signing former Vikings CB Josh Robinson to a one-year deal.
Robinson’s signing fol- lows those on Friday of cor- nerback Grimes and defensive end, Robert Ayers, the former of whom met with the media on Monday morn- ing in an introductory press conference. While Ayers pro- vides the Buccaneers with some much needed pass-rush help up front, Grimes and Robinson give the secondary a significant boost of talent and experience. The Bucca- neers also re-signed safety Chris Conte on Sunday.
Ex-Vikes WR Mike Wallace Joins Ravens
MIKE WALLACE
Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Mike Wallace said he signed with the Balti- more Ravens on Tuesday be- cause Baltimore offers a better opportunity and a better quar- terback.
Wallace, who was released by the Vikings last week, chose the Ravens over a handful of interested teams, saying he wanted to play for a quarter- back like Baltimore’s Joe Flacco who could play to his strength and throw the ball deep.
While Wallace didn’t men- tion Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater by name, he did seem excited about a change of scenery and a change of quarterback.
A source stated that the deal is for two years and is worth $11.5 million.
Ravens’ Eugene Monroe
Over Bucs’ Firing:
Donates $10,000 To
‘I Thought We Had A Plan’
Marijuana Research
The Tampa Bay Bucca- neers opted for a substantial change in leadership heading into this offseason, firing head coach Lovie Smith after just two years at the helm.
Though Smith has since landed a lead job in the col- lege ranks, officially taking over at Illinois this past week, he’s admittedly disap- pointed about the quick hook he received after a relatively productive second year with the Bucs.
“When you make a change, it takes a while,” Smith said on FOX Sports Radio. “We made progress from Year 1, and I thought the team was set up to really take off in Year 3. I can live with that. I’m pretty confi- dent in my abilities, and nor- mally when things like that have happened to me, I’ve been met with another great opportunity, and that’s what I have here with the Univer- sity of Illinois.”
Smith went on to speak of a lack of patience from upper management in making the decision to let him go, and that he felt as though he had
LOVIE SMITH
the club on the right track. “Disappointed is what I would say,” he explained. “I was surprised. Didn’t see it coming. I thought we had a plan and I was a part of that plan.IfeltlikeIputalotof things in place for the Bucca- neers to be successful in
years to come.”
After a debut season in
which his team managed just two wins, Smith led a much- improved Bucs team to a 6- 10 mark in 2015.
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter stepped in as the head coach shortly after his dismissal, earning the promotion due largely to his impressive work with rookie quarterback Jameis Win- ston.
Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Eugene Monroe urged NFL players to donate to marijuana research on Tuesday morning, a day after an NFL official acknowledged a link between football-re- lated head trauma and chronic traumatic en- cephalopathy.
Realm of Caring Founda- tion is an organization com- mitted to researching the health benefits of marijuana and educating the public about this form of therapy.
Monroe stated last week that the NFL needs to change its stance on marijuana and take a look at the drug’s pos-
EUGENE MONROE
sible benefits as it relates to pain relief and possibly con- cussions.
Monroe tweeted that he has donated $10,000 to mar- ijuana research and will give more if “nobody steps up.”
Broncos Match Offer Sheet To C. J. Anderson
Pats Trade Chandler Jones
The Denver Broncos on Tuesday matched the offer sheet that running back C.J. Anderson signed from the Miami Dolphins last week.
Anderson said that he was “surprised” the Broncos decided to match the offer sheet and that the Chicago Bears had actually offered him a larger contract.
“Being low-tendered from the beginning, you just never know what is going on. If it was about the money, I would have went to Chicago because they actually offered more.
Anderson told reporters he had “mixed emotions” when he was informed he would be staying with the Broncos.
“I felt disrespected, of course, but that’s what put me in the position I’m in today. You know, always
C. J. ANDERSON
grinding and always working hard for that opportunity.”
Anderson, 25, will get a guaranteed $5.25 million signing bonus, and his base salary of $675,000 is also guaranteed. In addition, $1.7 million of his $2.9 million base salary in 2017 is guaran- teed. Anderson’s base salary of $4.5 million in 2018 and 2019 are not guaranteed. He will have to be on the Broncos’ roster to earn his base salary in those years.
CHANDLER JONES
The New England Patriots have traded Pro Bowl defen- sive end Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round draft pick.
The Cardinals announced the blockbuster deal Tues- day, saying it will be com-
pleted pending physicals for both Jones and Cooper.
Jones recorded a career- high 121⁄2 sacks last season and should bolster the Cardi- nals’ pass rush; Arizona reached the NFC Champi- onship Game despite rank- ing 20th in the NFL with 36 sacks.
In separate tweets Tues- day, Jones said he looked forward to joining the Cardi- nals and thanked the Patriots and their fans.
Jones was scheduled to earn $7.79 million as part of the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. He is one of several core defenders whose contracts were set to expire after the 2016 season.
Former Michigan St. Star Faces Sex Assault Charge
DETROIT — Prosecutors on Tuesday charged former Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves with sexually assaulting a 24-year- old woman who said she was driven to a Michigan motel and attacked.
Arrangements were being made for Cleaves, 39, to turn himself in to authorities, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a state- ment.
Cleaves was expected to be arraigned Thursday.
Defense attorney Frank J. Manley said the charges filed against Cleaves are “false’‘ and are “catastrophic’‘
MATEEN CLEAVES
to Cleaves’ career.
Manley also told The As-
sociated Press that Prosecu- tor Worthy chose to charge Cleaves Tuesday to “bring special attention’‘ to the case at the start of the NCAA bas- ketball tournament this week.
The alleged crime hap- pened in Sept. 2015.
PAGE 14-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016