Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 3-22-16 Edition

Sports
Bucs Add LB Daryl
Colts To Honor Peyton Manning By Retiring Jersey, Building Statue
PEYTON MANNING
INDIANAPOLIS -- The In- dianapolis Colts are retiring Peyton Manning's No. 18 jersey and building a statue of the quarterback in front of Lucas Oil Stadium, owner Jim Irsay announced Friday.
"It'll be a destination spot for all of our fans, a destina- tion for cans of Budweiser," Irsay said laughing. "It's not too often you build statues of people. We're really excited about putting this iconic statue outside of Lucas Oil Sta- dium, where it'll stand many, many years. So deserving."
Manning announced his retirement from the NFL after 18 seasons on March 7, but Irsay wanted to personally honor the quarterback who helped turn the franchise around when the Colts made him the No. 1 overall pick in 1998.
James Starks Agrees To Two- Year Deal Worth $6M With Packers
JAMES STARKS
The Green Bay Packers and running back James Starks have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth $6 mil- lion.
Starks, 30, has been with the Packers for his entire ca- reer and was their starting running back in Super Bowl XLV.
When the Packers soured on Eddie Lacy for his poor conditioning last season, they made Starks their starter once again.
Although he set a career high with 601 yards (on a 4.1- yards-per-carry average) and scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving), he fumbled his way out of the job. His five fumbles doubled his career total.
Robert Griffin III Concludes Two- Day Visit With Cleveland Browns
Smith To Defense
The Cleveland Browns tried to get quarter- back Robert Griffin III once. Now they’re consid- ering it again.
The team had RG III in for a two-day visit that wrapped up Saturday, news that was almost as surprising as Joe Haden's ankle sur- gery announcement Friday.
In 2012, Mike Holm- gren tried to pull off a block- buster deal before the draft to acquire the pick from the Rams that turned into Grif- fin (Indianapolis took An- drew Luck first).
Washington outbid Cleve- land. The Browns can now sign Griffin as a free agent if they choose.
As the Browns continue to search for that elusive quar-
On Thursday, the Bucca- neers announced that they had agreed to terms with veteran linebacker Daryl Smith.
Over the course of 12 sea- sons in Jacksonville and Bal- timore, Smith has started 172 of the 174 games in which he has played, includ- ing all 48 for the Ravens over the last three years.
The signing of Smith comes on the heels of three other additions on defense in defensive end Robert Ayers and cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Josh Robinson. All three will, at the very least, compete for starting positions on the Buccaneers' defense, and there is an opening on that
DARYL SMITH
depth chart for Smith, as well.
While Pro Bowler Lavonte David and rookie sensation Kwon Alexan- der would seem to have the weakside and middle line- backer positions locked down, the Bucs are in need of a new starter on the strongside after releasing Bruce Carter and not re- signing Danny Lansanah.
ROBERT GRIFFIN III
terback, the team evidently figures it should talk to every- one. And there’s no harm in doing so.
Griffin does have the same arm he had when he left college, but he brings the same kind of media circus the Browns just eliminated when they cut Johnny Manziel. Griffin also runs a lot, which has led to him dealing with significant injuries in his four seasons in the NFL.
Ravens Mourn Loss Of 23-Year- Old Cornerback Tray Walker
We Never Considered
Pittsburgh Steelers GM:
Cutting Martavis Bryant
The
Steelers have not considered releasing Martavis Bryant after learning of the receiver's one-year suspen- sion, his second ban in as many seasons.
General manager Kevin Colbert told reporters Sun- day at the NFL owners meet- ings in Boca Raton, Florida, that the franchise has had "none whatsoever" thoughts about cutting the talented Bryant, who has 17 touch- downs in 23 NFL games but has struggled away from the team. Bryant served a four- game suspension in 2015 for multiple failed drug tests, and his one-year ban involves
Pittsburgh
Baltimore Ravens corner- back Tray Walker died Fri- day, one day after being critically injured in a dirt bike accident in Liberty City, Florida. He was 23.
The Ravens announced the news after speaking with Walker's godmother. Walker's agent, Ron But- ler, also confirmed his client's death.
"Tray was a young man with a good and kind heart," Ravens coach John Har- baugh said in a statement. "He was humble and loved everything about being part of the Ravens' team. He loved his teammates, the practice and the preparation, and that showed every day. He was coachable, did his most to improve and worked to become the best. I'll never forget that smile. He always seemed to be next to me dur- ing the national anthem; then we would give each other a big hug. May he rest
TRAY WALKER
in the Peace of Christ Jesus forever."
Said receiver Steve Smith, Sr.: "Times like this make you hug your kids tighter. A mother lost her son today, and a family lost their brother, including us, his extended family. Tray had a bright future ahead of him outside of football and wasaguywholitupthe room with his personality. I will miss seeing him every day and seeing that bright smile he always wore. I pray that his family can find peace. Rest well, Tray."
MARTAVIS BRYANT
drug testing, according to a source.
Bryant had planned to ap- peal the suspension but that plan was dropped effective Monday, when the league of- ficially announced the sus- pension.
The Steelers are putting the ball in Bryant's court.
Matt Barnes Gets One-
Game Ban For 'Verbally
Challenging' John Henson
The NBA suspended Mem- phis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes for one game with- out pay for attempting to enter the Milwaukee Bucks' locker room and "verbally challenging" forward John Henson.
Barnes served the punish- ment Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. The suspension will cost Barnes nearly $40,000 in salary.
Barnes and Henson were both ejected during the late stages of Milwaukee's 96- 86 victory on Thursday at the Bradley Center.
Henson blocked a Barnes shot with 5.5 sec- onds left in the game and was assessed two technical fouls for taunting, which resulted
JOHN HENSON And MATT BARNES
in his ejection. Barnes also received a technical foul as part of the incident and was ultimately ejected for a "con- tinuing use of obscenities," according to the league's news release.
Barnes told the Los Ange- les Times that he didn't try to get into the Bucks' locker room but was led astray by an arena worker.
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