News — NFL

Retired NFL player Brett Favre recently weighed in on the circumstances surrounding the death of George Floyd, saying he finds it “hard to believe” former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin meant to kill Floyd.

Floyd, 46, passed away after Chauvin knelt on his neck for over nine minutes despite repeatedly telling him he couldn’t breathe. The incident also happened in the full glare of bystanders who could be heard pleading with Chauvin to remove his knee from Floyd’s neck and also offer him some medical assistance. However, Chauvin and his other colleague officers did not budge.

“I find it hard to believe, and I’m not defending Derek Chauvin in any way, I find it hard to believe, first of all, that he intentionally meant to kill George Floyd,” Favre said on the Bolling with Favre podcast on Wednesday, according to New York Post.

“That being said, his actions were uncalled for. I don’t care what color the person is on the street. I don’t know what led to that video that we saw where his knee is on his neck, but the man had thrown in the towel.”

On Tuesday, a jury found Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in the May 25 death of the African-American father. Favre’s recent comment comes after he was criticized last week for saying athletes who kneel during the national anthem to protest against racial injustice have “created more turmoil than good.”

“It’s really a shame that we’ve come to this,” the retired quarterback said on The Andrew Klavan Show on April 11, USA Today reported. “Something has to unify us, and I felt like the flag, standing patriotically — because Blacks and whites and Hispanics have fought for this country and died for this country. It’s too bad.”

The 51-year-old doubled down on his sentiments and responded to the criticism on Wednesday’s podcast, saying: “I just gave my opinion. I’m certainly not a racist in spite of what some people might think, and you know, I’m for unity and I just feel like there’s a better way to unify our country. That being said, there’s a lot of things that need to stop.”

When Darryl Sharpton first joined the National Football League (NFL) in 2010, he was tipped as one of the promising stars to look out for. Unfortunately, injuries got in his way and he had to end his career in 2015. 

“I was miserable,” he said of his series of injuries that derailed his career in an interview. “I couldn’t take it.” He finished his career playing 47 games for the Texans recording 176 tackles and one sack. 

After quitting the NFL, Sharpton went into entrepreneurship, establishing e-commerce furniture companies Edloe Finch in 2017 and Albany Park in 2019 with his wife Jessica. He told CNBC that his companies have Amazon and Wayfair as wholesale buyers.

According to Sharpton, Albany Park is a sofa in a box brand that ships to buyers within three days. He and his wife design the furniture and have them manufactured in China and Malaysia. Edloe Flinch, on its website, says its “mission is to manufacture chic modern furniture without the typical industry mark-ups. Edloe Finch operates exclusively online with no retail stores, showrooms or salespeople — passing the savings to you!” 

Going into entrepreneurship, especially within the e-commerce space, was nothing out of the blue for Sharpton. It was a passion he had since his days at the University of Miami where he studied finance. He got an opportunity to sell furniture after purchasing a sofa from Craigslist.

After five years playing in the NFL, there is no gainsaying that the former linebacker is supervising a thriving business. He witnessed a boom in online sales occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic as many countries and states imposed lockdown measures to contain the spread of the virus.

Last year, Sharpton said his companies estimated to make $10 million in sales, up from $3.9 million in 2019. However, because of the pandemic, the revenue projection was pushed to $20 million. It could reach $100 million in 2022, he said. “With Covid-19, the online shopping trends have accelerated five years into the future,” Sharpton told CNBC. “We happen to be in a good space at a good time.”

The road has not been smooth sailing for the former NFL player. He recalled facing discrimination and racism while attending furniture fairs. He remembered taking an unusual step to use his wife’s face on the site so that his business wouldn’t suffer because he is Black. His wife is Asian and White, and a former oil and gas consultant.

“Today, I can’t imagine being in that place mentally but definitely at the time I was [unsure] if people would feel comfortable with buying furniture from me where they would maybe question everything – the quality, the validity,” Sharpton said.

The 34-year-old is looking to expand his business by accepting investors although he is torn between potential acquisition offers. 

Offensive lineman Justin Herron, who just finished his rookie season with New England Patriots, is being hailed a hero after saving a 71-year-old retired schoolteacher from being sexually assaulted in a public park last Saturday.

Herron, 25, who is training for the offseason in Arizona, and Phoenix resident Murry Rogers, who was also at the park for his daughter’s 15th birthday party, heard screams from the victim and rushed to the scene of the assault.

“At that moment, I was in shock,” Herron said at a press conference Wednesday, according to reports. “I wish I could tell you what I was thinking, but I could just tell someone needed help. All I could do was rush myself over there to make sure I could help the victim and I could comfort her and be the best person I can be.”

The retired teacher was going for her daily walk in Kiwanis Park in Tempe when the assailant, identified as Kevin Caballero, 30, jumped her to the ground and attempted to take off her pants, per a police report.

Herron, who is 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, intervened, not wanting to be “too aggressive” when he pulled the assailant from the victim.

“I’m a football player, I’m kind of big,” he said at the news conference. “I try not to be too aggressive with people knowing I could potentially hurt somebody. I do have a loud voice. I yelled, told him to get off of her, and then yanked him off and I told him to sit down, and I told him to wait until the cops come.”

Herron said he always thought these sorts of things happen in movies and he never expected to experience this. Both he and Rogers were presented with Outstanding Service Awards by the Tempe Police Department.

“If not for the swift actions of Mr. Justin Herron and Mr. Murry Rogers, this vicious attack could’ve been much worse,” Tempe Police Detective Natalie Barela said.

The two got the chance to meet up with the woman briefly before their press conference. She was grateful they came to her aid when she was most vulnerable. “She thanked us. She called us her angels,” said Rogers. “I’m a little bit of a crier, so it was very emotional.”

According to the police, the victim suffered “minor injuries” and was immediately treated by the crisis unit for any emotional trauma from the attack.

“My parents always talked to me about it, if there’s someone in need, make sure you can help them and be the best you can be,” Herron said. “I don’t want this to happen again, I don’t want to have to save someone else’s life again, but I’m glad I was able to save someone’s life on Saturday.”

Caballero has been taken into police custody and faces charges of attempted assault and kidnapping, according to the police.

Women have been breaking glass ceilings and rightfully taking up spaces that have otherwise been presumed to be for only men. In NFL’s 101-year history, Maia Chaka has become the first Black female in the league’s official officiating roster, the NFL announced in a statement.

Chaka put in years of hard work to finally make history for not only herself but the many women who also aspire to be recognized in the league not because they are women and Black but because they have put in the needed work.

Like many have done before her in their various fields, Chaka believes her new position in the NFL is more than a personal achievement for all the work she put in, but a win for everyone, especially women.

“I am honored to be selected as an NFL official,” Chaka said in a statement. “But this moment is bigger than a personal accomplishment. It is an accomplishment for all women, my community, and my culture.” 

She has always had a love for sports and impacting the lives of others by dedicating herself to enhancing the lives of children throughout her professional career. Currently, she works with at-risk children as a health and physical education teacher in the Virginia Beach public school system.

Chaka earned her bachelor’s in education at the Norfolk State University in 2006. Not long after graduation, she began laying the pipes for what has become the highlight of her career.

She took up officiating high school games and leveled up to college games after a few years. Chaka joined the NFL’s Officiating Development Programme in 2014. This program is a hub for top collegiate officiating talent and gives them the needed exposure that simulates the work done by the NFL officials.

“Maia’s years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance – including as part of the NFL Officiating Development Program – have earned her a position as an NFL official,” said Troy Vincent, Sr., NFL executive vice president of football operations.

Recently, Chaka made history as one of the first women officials to work an FBS bowl game – the Fight Hunger Bowl between Washington and BYU. She has also had stints in the NFL preseason games, Pac-12 Conference, and Conference USA and now she will be an NFL official being a part of the 2021 official games roster.

The news of her upgrade to the official roster came just in time for Women’s History Month. Her mentor Wayne Mackie, NFL vice president of officiating evaluation and development, broke the news to her which rendered her speechless because she thought it was a prank. “I thought he was just calling to give me some advice on something else or to look at some film,” Chaka said. “I wasn’t expecting to get a call to be hired.”

Having worked hard for this very moment, Chaka felt it has been a long time coming and Vincent Sr. could not agree more. “As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Maia is a trailblazer as the first Black female official and inspires us toward normalizing women on the football field.”

The long-time mentor wants her role to inspire others to never stop pursuing their passion regardless of the limitations that may befall them. Chaka is also aiming at being the best referee she can be. “Just because the door is now open, that doesn’t mean that I can relax,” she said. “I still go through that football mentality. I still have that hustle, that dog mentality every single day — and that’s the grind.”

Former National Football League player Marshawn Lynch has announced the launch of a “premium, crafted cannabis brand-platform” named Dodi Blunts, which are 24kt diamond-infused blunts.

According to Forbes, Lynch is entering the cannabis business with “Oakland’s premiere craft blunt.” Dodi Blunt’s first product, THCa diamonds-infused blunts, is slated to go on sale at Bay Area dispensaries beginning next month. The blunt is made from an organically grown Zkittles marijuana strain curated by Lynch and his friends.

Lynch is also giving back with the launch of the product by becoming partners with the Last Prisoner Project.

According to the Dodi Blunt website:

“We are devoted to getting social equity “right” and creating opportunities that The War on Drugs annihilated for Black and Brown people. ESPECIALLY in Oaktown.

“To do this we are partnering with the Last Prisoner Project here in the Bay Area. The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cannabis-related criminal justice reform. Through intervention, advocacy, and awareness campaigns, the Last Prisoner Project works to redress the past and continuing harms of these inhumane and ineffective laws and policies. We will work together to raise money, build awareness, and drive significant, lasting change.”

“Dodi has always been a part of my life,” Lynch tells Forbes. “If I was going to have a marijuana company, I wanted to make sure I did it the right way.”

Former Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Chad Wheeler is facing a first-degree assault domestic violence charge after prosecutors in King County – Washington alleged he assaulted and strangled his girlfriend till she lost consciousness at their apartment on Friday, January 22.

The 27-year-old was also charged with unlawful imprisonment domestic violence and resisting arrest, The Seattle Times reported. He was taken into custody and booked into the King County jail on Saturday. He was, however, released on Tuesday after posting a $400,000 bail.

Per the police report of the incident, officers responded to a 911 call by the victim who said she was being “killed” and had locked herself in a bathroom after she got involved in a “physical fight” with her boyfriend. Upon arrival, the officers said they heard screams from the couple’s home, and they eventually found the two of them in the bathroom after having to break into the home and the bathroom as well.

Wheeler was uncooperative when the officers tried detaining him, with the charging documents revealing three Kent police officers had to resort to using hand strikes and Tasers before they were able to restrain him. The victim suffered a broken arm, dislocated elbow, and facial, eye, throat and lung injuries.

Wheeler weighs 350 pounds and is 6’ 7” while the victim weighs 145 pounds is 5’9”, according to the report.

The documents also stated the victim told the police Wheeler suffered from a bi-polar disorder and was not taking his medication, causing him to relapse on the day of the incident. She said Wheeler, who she described as being in a “dark place” that night, confronted her and asked her to bow to him. When she asked him what he was implying, Wheeler grabbed her neck and threw her on the bed before proceeding to strangle her until she lost consciousness, The Seattle Times reported. When she tried crawling away, he forcefully pulled her by the arm and strangled her the second time. She fled to the bathroom when she regained consciousness and got in touch with her friends to call for help.

The police report also stated Wheeler said, “Wow you’re alive?” when he realized the victim had regained consciousness. After authorities criminally charged Wheeler, the Seattle Seahawks released a statement on Wednesday announcing he had officially been waived from the team.

“The Seahawks are saddened by the details emerging against Chad Wheeler and strongly condemn this act of domestic violence,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and support are with the victim. Chad is a free agent and no longer with the team.” They also encouraged him to “get the help he needs.”

Wheeler also took to his Twitter to apologize for the “pain and suffering” he caused to the victim and her family, saying the incident happened as a result of a “manic episode.”

“I apologize profusely for the turmoil that I have caused to my family, teammates, fans and those closest to me. The most important thing right now is that [the victim] gets the care she needs and I get help.  Both are happening,” he said, adding: “It is time for me to walk away from football and get the help I need to never again pose a threat to another. I cannot express my sorrow or remorse enough. I am truly ashamed.”

Following the incident, some social media users shared photos of the supposed injured victim who is reportedly Black. Sports journalist Jemele Hill also questioned why the incident wasn’t being considered as a hate crime as well as attempted murder.

“I am not going to repost the pictures of Chad Wheeler’s victim, but if this horrible situation isn’t seen in the context of hate crime, journalists are being irresponsible. I’m also wondering why this isn’t considered attempted murder,” she tweeted.

In another tweet, she wrote: “My prayer is that this deserved and necessary outrage for Chad Wheeler is here all of the time for black women who have been abused.”

GNC will be featuring G.O.A.T. Fuel’s line of health-focused energy drinks in select locations across the United States. G.O.A.T. Fuel is available in Blueberry Lemonade, Tropical Berry, Peach Pineapple, and Pink Candy. It is now available to be purchased at GNC.com, goatfuel.com, and in addition to GNC stores nationwide.

“GNC is one of the world’s leading brands in sports nutrition (or health and fitness) which makes them the perfect partner for G.O.A.T Fuel,” Rice said in a written statement. “I’m very passionate about what I put into my body and share the same core values and beliefs as GNC to inspire others to Live Well by consuming health-forward products like G.O.A.T Fuel. We can’t wait to bring G.O.A.T Fuel to the world and motivate our community to become the greatest of all time.”

The energy drink is powered by cordyceps mushrooms, which is known to provide athletes with increased oxygen performance and a clean boost of energy. G.O.A.T. Fuel is powered with natural caffeine and green tea as well as branch-chained amino acids and 10 essential vitamins to improve recovery. The energy drink has no sugar and no preservatives. The drink is enjoyed by hip-hop mogul Snoop Dogg, NFL Legend Deion Sanders, NBA rising star Tyler Herro, and many more.

“GNC is thrilled to partner with Jerry Rice and the G.O.A.T. Fuel team to provide our consumers with the clean boost of energy they need to reach peak performance and work towards their wellness goals,” said Josh Burris, president of GNC. “For us, it’s not just about the results of a product, it’s also about what’s inside–and we’re confident through G.O.A.T. Fuel’s unique, healthy ingredients that we’re delivering the highest standards of quality and efficacy to our consumers.”

Former NCAA and NFL football player Justin Crawford has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

According to the Ledger-Enquirer, Crawford, 23, was facing up to 25 years to life in prison but reached a plea deal on Tuesday which saw three felony charges dropped.

He will also serve 8 years of probation after his release and will register as a sex offender, which will prohibit him from making contact with the victim or her family, as well as, anyone under 18, including his two children.

Columbus Police Detective Mark Scruggs, while testifying in a preliminary hearing in October last year, revealed that Crawford’s wife walked in on him in her living room, standing over the 12-year-old girl naked with an erection around 5 am.

After realizing his wife had seen him, he ran to the kitchen and covered himself. She subsequently went back to bed.

In a later conversation with the Ledger-Enquirer, his wife denied he had an erection but admitted his penis was exposed. She added that Crawford denied any wrongdoing after she confronted him, claiming that he ran to the kitchen because she scared him.

When his wife, however, took the victim to her mother and was asked about the incident, the 12-year-old said that she was sleeping when Crawford woke her up and forced her to perform oral sex on him. She added that they had intercourse afterwards.

Crawford denied any sexual activity with the victim when he was subsequently questioned by the police. He, however, later confessed to both acts, claiming that the intercourse was the 12-year-old’s idea, Scruggs said.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with incest, sodomy and enticing a child for indecent purposes, AJC.com reports.

Crawford’s attorney, Michael Eddings, claimed he wasn’t in the right frame of mind as a result of being depressed after missing out on an opportunity to join the Falcons team due to an injury.

Without using it as justification for Crawford’s actions, Eddings added that it explains his “mental state,” according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

“He’s going to carry this for the rest of his life,” Eddings said.

Crawford apologized to the victim, her parents and his family on Tuesday.