NFL News:

• 

  One day after being cut from the Cowboys for being nothing but trouble (& not named Ezekiel), Lucky Whitehead has had all charges dropped by Virginia police.

  • The cops original warrant was based on comparing the DMV photo of Whitehead to the guy they had in custody, later discovering “that Mr. Whitehead’s identity was falsely provided to police during the investigation.”
    • The man who was arrested didn’t have identification with him. He verbally provided the name, date of birth and Social Security number of Rodney Darnell Whitehead Jr. to police officers, who checked the information through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles database.
      • It’s actually kind of impressive this guy pulled all that out of his ass after being arrested.
  • Now, I’m not a lawyer, but methinks Mr. Whitehead might have a case for damages, since his arrest led directly to his being fired from his job.
    • But in a county where the population trends 63% white, he may want to ask for a judge trial.
    • Plus, his agent is “confident” he’ll be signed elsewhere soon, as “3 or 4” teams have already expressed interest.
  • Prior to Whitehead’s release, Jason Garrett offered this telling statement:
    • Garrett also had this to say on Whitehead’s maturity: “When you have someone in your program, in this environment, in this structure, and they don’t grow and develop and they make the same mistakes over and over again, it’s time to move on.”
      • Sounds like this was a convenient excuse, regardless of actual innocence.

• That excited clippity-clop you may have heard last night was John Elway celebrating his new contract.
  • The deal will keep him in his paddock place until 2021.
  • Also good news for the Broncos is that Gary Kubiak is rejoining the team as a Texas-based scout.

• Boltman must be sleeping: RGIII is going to Carson for a workout / tryout.
  • He doesn’t have enough kids to be their starter, but maybe he can adopt before the season starts.

• A little Canadian content: Canadian rugby-7s star Adam Zaruba has signed a three-year deal with the Eagles as a tight end.
  • He hasn’t played football since high school, when he played for North Vancouver’s Carson Graham Eagles.
    • It’s just a kilometre from my house!
    • previous Carson grads to play pro football are Jerome Pathon (NFL), Paris Jackson (CFL) and Glen Suitor (CFL).
  • FYI: The two school logos.

Left is the football team. Right is the official, won’t-get-sued letterhead logo.

Finally, your (depressing) long read of the day comes from ESPN, and is about how 90% of the donated brains  received at the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank – CTE Center | Boston University show signs of CTE.

• The study does note that the incidence may be high because:
  • Many donors or their families contributed because of the players’ repeated concussions and troubling symptoms before death; and
  • Uncertainty if some players’ lifestyle habits — alcohol, drugs, steroids, diet — might somehow have contributed to their condition.
• Of note:

CTE was diagnosed in 177 former players — nearly 90 percent of brains studied. That includes 110 of 111 brains from former NFL players; 48 of 53 college players; nine of 14 semi-professional players, seven of eight Canadian Football League players and three of 14 high school players.

I only mention this because I am “Beerguyrob”: As was noted last night in the Open Thread, Peter King has “produced” a comprehensive list of all the beers he has enjoyed over the years as a travelling clown journalist spewer of words.

• He glosses over Oregon & doesn’t mention Washington. Therefore, this list is irrelevant. Typical East Coast bias.
  • So. Many. White beers. If he didn’t constantly tell you he’s from the Northeast, you’d swear he enjoys his pints under a white hood.
• Plus, no Kansas? Wichita alone has 8 distinct breweries alone, based on a quick Yelp* examination.
  • Hopping Gnome (great name) and Third Place Brewing sound delightful, and the blandly titled Wichita Brewing Co & Pizzeria sounds like the perfect PK joint.

Tonight’s sports:

• Futbol:
  • International Champions Cup Soccer:
    • Tottenham vs. Roma – 8:00PM | ESPN
• Beisbol:
  • A’s at Jays – 7:00Pm | Sportsnet
  • Red Sox at Mariners – 10:00PM | Sportsnet1
•  WWE:
  • SmackDown – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360
    • Jinder Mahal is still your World Heavyweight Champion.
• Golf:
  • World Long Drive Tour Golf:
    • Mile High Showdown – 7:00PM | GOLF

Finally saw Spider-man today. Michael Keaton – great villain. Can’t wait for a Val Kilmer Marvel cameo.

I’M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY, HAWKEYE!