Rumor: Houston Texans GM Charley Casserly Fired - Profootballtalk.com

According to today's Profootballtalk.com, Houston Texans GM Charley Casserly has been fired. Here's their report, with a link to it at the title of this post.
CASSERLY OUT IN HOUSTON

A league source tells us that the Texans and G.M. Charley Casserly officially have parted ways after a six-year relationship, which preceded by more than two full years the team's official arrival to the NFL.

For now, we don't know whether the move is being characterized as a resignation or a termination. Our guess is that it will be described to the media as voluntary.

Several weeks back, we reported that Casserly would be fired after the draft. Our report prompted a strong denial from the team and from owner Bob McNair. Our prediction at the time was that all parties were hoping to preserve the appearance that Casserly's ultimate departure was not in any way forced.

His name has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Art Shell in the league office, but we've heard that the rumors of Casserly's candidacy for that specific position trace not to the Park Avenue, but to Casserly himself.

And based on things we're hearing it now appears that the Texans will make a run at Broncos assistant G.M. Rick Smith before moving on to other candidates. Some league insiders believe that the Broncos would never give Smith permission to leave, and other league insiders believe that the Texans don't (or at least shouldn't) want Smith given his close relationship with new head coach Gary Kubiak.

Randy Moss Fires His Agent Over Drug Charges - AP

Moss drops agent facing drug charges

Associated Press and Fox Sports

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss has dropped an agent who is facing drug charges in Florida.

Charleston lawyer Dante DiTrapano, his wife Teri, and three others were arrested March 14 at a St. Petersburg, Fla., hotel. Police there said they recovered 73 pieces of crack cocaine and 21 grams of powder cocaine. All five were charged with felony possession of crack cocaine.
Moss signed an agreement on April 20 designating another Charleston lawyer, Tim DiPiero, as his sole agent, the NFL Players Association told The Charleston Gazette for a story in Tuesday's editions. DiPiero confirmed the agreement on Monday but he told the newspaper that he would not comment on the reasons.

DiTrapano and DiPiero are members of the same law firm, DiTrapano, Barrett & DiPiero PLLC. The law firm has removed DiTrapano's name from the sign outside its Charleston offices.

DiPiero has represented Moss as an agent and attorney since 1995, when Moss was accused of kicking a classmate at DuPont High School. Moss later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery.

Seahawks, A&M reach deal on 12th man phrase - AP

Seahawks, A&M reach deal on 12th man phrase
Associated Press


COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - The fight over the "12th Man" is over and both Texas A&M and the Seattle Seahawks will be able to use the phrase.

Texas A&M and the Seahawks said Monday they had reached a deal settling the university's lawsuit over the nickname for their fans.
As part of the agreement, the Seahawks acknowledge Texas A&M's ownership rights of the trademarked phrase. However, the NFL team may continue using it under license. Neither side admitted any fault or liability.

The Aggies hold a federal trademark rights to "12th Man." They wanted to halt Seattle from using "12th Man" earlier this year.

In February, the university filed a lawsuit in Brazos County over the Seahawks use of the trademark. Days before Seattle faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, a restraining order was issued calling on the Seahawks to halt any usage of "12th Man," or "12th Mania."

Origins of the term "12th man" aren't exactly clear, but the traditions in Seattle and College Station date back decades.

The Aggies trace their use to 1922, when an injury-plagued roster led the team to pull E. King Gill from the stands and suited him up to play. Gill never took to the field, but the legend strengthened campus-wide commitment to support the team. The words "Home of 12th Man" adorn the stadium and the entire school is considered the 12th Man.

The Seahawks retired the number 12 in 1984 to honor fans who made the old Kingdome one of the noisiest stadiums in football. It hangs alongside Hall of Fame receiver Steve Largent's No. 80.

David Blaine - Why Do I Care?

Look. Why do I care that this David Blaine is off doing some weird stunt? It's all just another way to get noticed. I've never known of this guy until last week. I'd prefer he just go into investment banking.

Hacker Attacks Craigslist - Website Posting Disabled Due To Actions Of Kevin Mesiab

I found this guy's blog -- click the title of this post -- on Technorati. I'm surprised it wasn't picked up and sent around the blogsphere ealier. But if you look at it, he's figured out some kind of way to enter user accounts on CL. This happened on May 7th.

Maybe he wants a job with Craig Newmark? Whatever the reason, it's a terrible action on Kevin's part.

Oakland Raiders Mini Camp Under Art Shell: "Leadership" and "Accountability" Are Spoken Words

As reported by "RaiderDee" at Raiderfans.net the Oakland Raiders' first mini camp under new head coach Art Shell featured the players using words like "Leadership" and "Accountability" to describe the style of player behavior this year and the coaching staff' approach to player relations.

RaiderDee reports:

"The recurring themes at today's camp were 'everyone's on the same page' and 'this coaching staff let's us know where we all stand.' Offensive lineman Barry Sims expounded on these themes during today's afternoon break. He talked about how he approached coach Shell about being moved to left guard and how he felt he was a better left tackle. Then later, Shell explained that if the team needs him to be a guard, then he'll be a guard. Shell touched on that conversation between he and Sims and confessed that that was what he expected Sims to say. "Barry said, to his credit, he said 'look coach. I think I'm a left tackle. I can play the position, but if you or the team want me to move to guard, I'll do that.' So, that's a credit to him. If he didn't push back, I would be disappointed. He did push back a little bit, but he understands we're doing what we think is best for our football team. We're going to get the best five guys out there that can play."

Barry Sims also spoke about how different the coaching staff was compared to seasons past. The last few seasons, guys were too loose and lacked leadership. He went on to mention how everyone's being held accountable now.

After Art Shell was hired as the 2006 Oakland Raiders Head Coach, there have been many comments on whether or not he and his assistants have been away from the game too long. I would tell you that time away from the game means nothing! If you are a good coach, then you are a good coach. After what I have seen today, I am convinced that this team can make a dramatic turnaround. Today, I witnessed crisp and surprisingly energetic workouts for it to only being a mini-camp. There was a sense of personal pride and fierce competition amongst the players. Moss was pushing the young receivers, Sapp lending his knowledge, and a head coach understanding that mistakes are to be expected as he (Shell) bellowed out a laugh as he patted a rookie player on the back of his helmet a if he were saying, 'I've been there before…it's alright. You'll get the hang of it' finally, a Raider coach 'gets it' Making his players more productive without having to resort to yelling with a dirty scowl (Jon Gruden), chastising its players for every mistake they made and walking off the field between games (Bill Callahan), and without having a fish-out-of-water, confused, bewildered, and befuddled look of utter impotence (Norv Turner). Once again, there is structure, discipline, and focus.

Welcome to the Art Shell Era (part deux)."

Visit Raiderfans.net for more information.

2006 NFL Draft - More Sights And Sounds, And Bert Sugar

There's no NFL Draft video like the one you're about to see. It's a tour -- a walkaround, as I call it -- and it includes a stop by the NFL Network; we see ESPN's Chris Mortensen as he's preparing to go on the air; we meet such NFL staffers as Craig Ellenport of NFL.com and the people who staff the team tables, take the calls, and write in the names of the players who will become NFL stars.

But the highlight is my now annual meeting with HBO's Boxing Analyst Bert Sugar. Bert always attends the NFL Draft; I first met him last year, and after Bill Chachkes told me to go up, introduce myself, and get a cigar. But Bert's good for more than just expensive cigs, he's got a unique insight into boxing and what's wrong with it. He was not shy about sharing his opinion on that subject as well as how he told NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle that the NFL Draft was something people wanted to see. (Sugar said "Rozelle said 'Who wouild want to watch that?' Look now!")

We also see the first "walk" of all of the top draftees as they're introduced by Adam Schefter of the NFL Network: Reggie Bush, Vernon Davis, Matt Leinart, Mario Williams, D'Brickshaw Ferguson, and Vince Young.

In all, it's a great view of a fantastic event.

Here's the video: