NFL
NFL great Earl Campbell to Undergo Nerve Treatment
Written by Paul J. Weber, AP Sports Writer Wednesday, 19 September 2012 09:19
NFL Hall of Famer Earl Campbell said Tuesday he is undergoing nerve treatment after doctors ruled out concerns that he might have Lou Gehrig's disease.
Campbell, 57, will receive treatment and testing in Austin this weekend aimed at trying to "trigger the nerves a little faster," said Tyler Campbell, his son. He said his father was otherwise doing well but acknowledged the process will affect the former Heisman Trophy winner's recent physical rehabilitation to move around quicker.
Earl Campbell, who uses a walker, underwent knee surgery last year and has other health problems from a punishing football career spent as one of the game's great power running backs. He said he suspects the nerve damage was also the result of his playing days.
"I did something to my body to get that, and you know what I did," Earl Campbell said. "I think some of it came from playing football, playing the way I did."
Campbell revealed his upcoming treatment while announcing scholarship winners through his Campbell Project for MS, which raises awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis. Tyler Campbell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007 while playing football at San Diego State.
"It's not that something is horribly wrong with him," Tyler Campbell said of his father. "He's doing awesome."
Earl Campbell said doctors described his nerve problem as "C.O.I.D.P." — perhaps meaning CIDP, or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. According to the National Institutes of Health, the condition is a neurological disorder that can cause gradually declining strength and sensory function in the legs and arms.
Campbell said he recently underwent testing in Houston at the urging of his neurologist. Doctors there diagnosed him with the nerve issue but not Lou Gehrig's disease, which Campbell's neurologist thought was a possibility, according to Campbell.
Lou Gehrig's disease is a fatal degenerative nerve condition.
Campbell spent almost his entire eight years in the NFL with the Houston Oilers before retiring after the 1985 season. His playing days were cut short by the toll of his punishing playing style and, nearly 30 years later, he continues to feel the effects. He does physical therapy work with the football team's strength coaches at Texas, where he was a college star in the 1970s.
When the two scholarship winners Tuesday posed for pictures with Campbell, he slowly rose from his chair after waving off his son's offer to help. Player safety in the NFL and the long-term impact the game leaves on players has taken on heightened exposure in recent years, but Campbell said he believes the league is taking the right steps.
"They are doing a lot of good things in trying to prevent guys from just getting all beat up to where they can't live a productive life," Campbell said.
Atlanta Falcons RB Michael Turner arrested for DUI
Written by Russ Bynum, The Associated Press Tuesday, 18 September 2012 11:09
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner was jailed on charges of drunken driving and speeding early Tuesday, just hours after he scored a touchdown in the team's win over the Denver Broncos.
Turner, 30, of Suwanee, Ga., was booked into the Gwinnett County jail in metro Atlanta just after 5 a.m. Turner spent barely two hours behind bars before he was released on $2,179 bond, jail records showed.
A Gwinnett County police officer pulled over Turner's black Audi R8 on Interstate 85 northeast of Atlanta after clocking the car at 97 mph — 32 mph over the speed limit, said Cpl. Edwin Ritter, a police spokesman.
"The officer made contact with the driver who identified himself as 30-year-old Michael Turner of the Atlanta Falcons," Ritter said in a news release. "The officer could smell an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the driver and proceeded to conduct a DUI investigation."
Ritter said the officer arrested Turner after a field sobriety test. The police incident report was not immediately available.
Hours before his arrest, Turner and the Falcons celebrated a 27-21 home victory over Payton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
"We are aware of the situation involving Michael and are in the process of gathering more information," the Falcons said in a statement. "Because this is now a legal matter, the club will have no further comment at this time."
Turner scored the Falcons' first touchdown after jumping over a pileup of Atlanta and Denver linemen in the first quarter. It was Turner's 51st touchdown for the Falcons, a franchise record.
Turner, who played at Northern Illinois during his college career, joined the Falcons in 2008 after four seasons with the San Diego Chargers. Last year, he rushed for 1,340 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Junior Seau's Calif. Home Sold for Nearly $2M
Written by The Associated Press Monday, 10 September 2012 20:00
The beachfront home where former NFL linebacker Junior Seau killed himself has been sold for nearly $2 million.
The North County Times reports the two-story, three-bedroom home in Oceanside was recently sold for $1.97 million. It was listed in late July for almost $2.3 million.
Seau bought the house for $3.2 million in 2005.
The former San Diego Chargers linebacker was 43 when he shot himself in May at the home. By law, the seller must disclose that a suicide occurred on the property.
Chad Johnson Released by Dolphins
Written by Steven Wine, AP Sports Writer Sunday, 12 August 2012 20:13
As the Miami Dolphins took the field for practice Sunday, Chad Johnson was getting out of jail.
Hours later, he was out of work.
The Dolphins terminated the six-time Pro Bowl receiver's contract about 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife.
Johnson had been released from jail on $2,500 bond earlier Sunday after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument in front of their home. Johnson was charged with simple domestic battery, a misdemeanor.
The confrontation came barely a month after Johnson married Evelyn Lozada, who is on the reality TV show "Basketball Wives." The 34-year-old Johnson had been battling for a spot on the team after a disappointing season with the New England Patriots in 2011.
Following Sunday's practice, coach Joe Philbin said he would meet soon with Johnson.
"We're going to deal with this," Philbin said. "We're not going to waste time. ... We're all in this thing together. Everybody that sets foot in this building, we're all held to a high standard."
Only five days earlier, Philbin said Johnson's roster spot could be in jeopardy if he didn't temper his freewheeling behavior. Johnson annoyed the coach by frequently using profanity during a session with reporters.
Johnson's defense attorney, Adam Swickle, said an order has been issued that prevents Johnson from contacting Lozada. Swickle declined to comment further.
Johnson — who recently changed his name from Chad Ochocinco — was arrested Saturday after Lozada confronted him about a receipt she found for a box of condoms, police said. According to an arrest affidavit, Lozada said she was taking groceries into their home when she found the receipt in the car trunk.
When the two were seated back in the car, they began talking about the receipt and their marriage. That's when Johnson got upset and head-butted his wife, the report said.
Lozada ran to a neighbor's house and called police. A responding officer said Lozada had a 3-inch cut on her forehead, according to the affidavit, while Johnson did not have any visible marks or bruises. When questioned by police, he confirmed there was an argument over the receipt, but said his wife had head-butted him.
Even before his arrest, Johnson was battling to salvage his career. He was released by the Patriots after totaling only 15 receptions last season. He dropped the lone pass thrown his way Friday night in the Dolphins' first exhibition game.
News of the arrest spread quickly Saturday, an off day for the team.
"I was shocked," tight end Charles Clay said. "Of course, you don't want things like that to happen."
Johnson has long been known for outlandish antics that annoyed his teammates as well as coaches. Philbin, a first-year head coach, talked with his players about Johnson's arrest before the player was released.
"I reminded them that on April 10 in our first team meetings, I said, 'Guys, I'd love to stand up here and tell you we're never going to have a problem here in Miami,'" Philbin said. "Do we want high-character guys? Yes. All 31 other coaches are going to say the same thing. But I specifically told them on April 10 that there will be problems that arise and you have to deal with them honestly and openly and directly. You've got to learn from mistakes and move on, and you can't hide from the problem."
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. He could also receive community service, probation or anger management classes.
Johnson was known as Ochocinco for the past four seasons but changed his name back to Johnson after his July 4 wedding. The name was a playful reference to his uniform No. 85.
Johnson and Lozada were prominent in the recent first episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins."
VH1's "Basketball Wives" is filmed in Miami and also features Shaunie O'Neal, the former wife of former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. Lozada is the former fiancee of NBA player Antoine Walker.
Dolphins' Chad Johnson Out of Jail on $2,500 Bond
Written by The Associated Press Sunday, 12 August 2012 12:21
Dolphins receiver Chad Johnson was released from jail Sunday on $2,500 bond, a day after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument in front of their Florida home.
Johnson, 34, had been charged with domestic violence. Broward County jail officials said he was released Sunday afternoon.
Johnson's defense attorney, Adam Swickle, said a no-contact order has been issued that prevents Johnson from contacting his wife, Evelyn Lozada, who is on the reality TV show "Basketball Wives."
Such orders are common in domestic violence cases.
Swickle declined to comment further.
Police say Johnson was arrested Saturday. Davie police Capt. Dale Engle said the argument started when Lozada confronted Johnson about a receipt she had found for a box of condoms.
According to an arrest affidavit, Johnson's wife said she was taking groceries into their home when she found the receipt in the car's trunk. When the two were seated back in the car, they began talking about the receipt and their marriage. That's when Johnson got upset and head-butted his wife, the report says.
Lozada ran to a neighbor's house and called police. A responding officer said he saw a 3-inch cut on Lozada's forehead, according to the affidavit.
Johnson did not have any visible marks or bruises. When questioned by police, he confirmed there was an argument over the receipt, but said his wife had head-butted him.
The officer, based on interviews and observations, charged Johnson with simple domestic battery.
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine, though he could also receive community service, probation or anger management classes.
He was known as Ochocinco for the past four seasons but changed his name back to Johnson after his July 4 wedding to Lozada. The name was a playful reference to the No. 85 he wore on his jersey.
Johnson and Lozada were prominent in the recent first episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins."
VH1's "Basketball Wives" is filmed in Miami and also features Shaunie O'Neal, the former wife of former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. Lozada used to be the fiancee of NBA player Antoine Walker.
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