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    • NFL: Montee Ball Placed On Injured Reserve

    The Denver Broncos placed Montee Ball on injured reserve, ending a disappointing season for the once-heralded running back. The Broncos needed to create roster space in order to activate linebacker Danny Trevathan from injured reserve/designated to return, prompting the team to place Ball on season-ending IR. Ball has not played since aggravating a groin injury in a loss to the Rams. He originally suffered the injury against the Cardinals.

    Ball, who entered the season as Denver's top running back, appeared in just five games this year, rushing for 172 yards and one touchdown on 55 carries. C.J. Anderson recently has emerged as a productive lead back for the Broncos, rushing for 393 yards and four touchdowns in Denver's last three games. Juwan Thompson and Ronnie Hillman, who has been sidelined with a foot injury but hopes to return by Week 17, also have provided depth at the position for the Broncos. A second-round draft pick in 2013, Ball also missed two preseason games after undergoing an emergency appendectomy in August. The Broncos also placed safety Quinton Carter on season-ending IR with a knee injury and signed tight end Dominique Jones to their practice squad.
    • NFL: Montee Ball Placed On Injured Reserve
    • 1,002 views
    Midnight Man

    NFL Executive Denies Adrian Peterson’s Appeal

    All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson’s appeal of a league suspension for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy has been denied. Peterson's appeal was heard by former NFL executive Harold Henderson last week in Washington, D.C. Henderson was appointed by commissioner Roger Goodell as arbitrator to hear the sides' cases and issue a ruling. In upholding the NFL’s initial ruling, Henderson concluded that Peterson "has not demonstrated that the process and procedures surrounding his discipline were not fair and consistent." He wrote: "He was afforded all the protections and rights to which he is entitled, and I find no basis to vacate or reduce the discipline."

    Peterson said in a phone interview, "I feel like they're handling the situation absolutely wrong," he said. "I think I've been made an example out of. It kind of baffles me how -- I have nothing but love for Ray Rice, I'm happy he has the chance to play. But it's like, how did Ray Rice get reinstated before me, a team has a chance to pick him up, but I don't have the opportunity to come back until April. When has that happened in any other case in the NFL, ever?" Peterson said he has considered retiring. He also said he will appeal the decision in federal court. "I don't really know," he said when asked whether he thought the decision to pursue legal action would delay his reinstatement. "That's something I have to sit back and talk to my team about. I haven't talked to anyone today. To this point, any type of process with the NFL is not the way to go. It's a business; the outcome is going to be in their favor no matter what. Did they appoint Harold Henderson to Ray Rice's case? No. They knew the situation and the facts about that case and what was going to come out. They clearly wanted to get an arbitrator that would rule in their favor." According to a person with direct knowledge of the situation, a lawsuit will be filed against the NFL on Peterson's behalf in federal court in Minnesota as early as Monday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the lawsuit had not yet been filed.

    "The NFLPA expected this outcome, given the hearing officer's relationship and financial ties to the NFL," the union's statement read. "The decision itself ignores the facts, the evidence and the collective bargaining agreement. This decision also represents the NFL's repeated failure to adhere to due process and confirms its inconsistent treatment of players. Our union is considering immediate legal remedies." Peterson, the 2012 NFL MVP, hasn't played for the Minnesota Vikings since Week 1 after he was charged with child abuse in Texas. He was placed on paid leave while the legal process played out, and he pleaded no contest Nov. 4 to misdemeanor reckless assault for injuring his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch. He avoided jail time by reaching the plea deal.

    On Nov. 18, Peterson was suspended without pay by Goodell for at least the rest of the season. He will remain suspended and won't be considered for reinstatement before April 15, though he will get to keep the money accrued while on the exempt list. However, Peterson will not serve a three-game suspension at the start of the 2015 season as was initially reported. Rather, he will be charged three additional game checks on this season's salary for a total of six games. Peterson will have the choice of paying the salary back now, or having his wages garnished in 2015 if he plays. The docked game checks are based on this year's salary of $11.75 million and amount to $4.15 million, game payments are based on 17 weeks, not 16 games.

    "The facts in this appeal are uncontested," Henderson wrote. "The player entered a plea which effectively admitted guilt to a criminal charge of child abuse after inflicting serious injuries to his four-year old son in the course of administering discipline. No direct evidence of the beating was entered in the record here, but numerous court documents, investigative reports, photographs and news reports, all accepted into evidence without objection, make it clear that Mr. Peterson's conduct was egregious and aggravated as those terms are used in the Policy, and merits substantial discipline. "His public comments do not reflect remorse or appreciation for the seriousness of his actions and their impact on his family, community, fans and the NFL, although at the close of the hearing he said he has learned from his mistake, he regrets that it happened and it will never happen again. I reject the argument that placement in Commissioner Exempt status is discipline."
    At the crux of the NFLPA's argument for reinstatement was what NFL executive vice president for football operations Troy Vincent told Peterson last month when the dispute was at its height. Vincent told Peterson he would receive a two-game ban if he attended a hearing on Nov. 14 with Goodell. Peterson declined to meet that day with Goodell, citing uncertainty about the NFL's intent to question him. Goodell then announced on Nov. 18 that Peterson would be suspended for the six games that remained for the Vikings at the time and not be considered for reinstatement until April. A recording and a transcript of what Vincent told Peterson was presented by the NFLPA to Henderson, who oversaw a hearing on Dec. 2. Peterson attended that and listened via telephone as the hearing continued Dec. 4, when Vincent was questioned.
    • NFL Executive Denies Adrian Peterson’s Appeal
    • 3,086 views
    Midnight Man

    Creed Front Man May Have Threatened The President

    Scott Strapp, the former front man of the alternative rock band Creed, may have made some disturbing comments that might be the result of a psychotic episode. Stapp's wife Jaclyn Stapp called 911 to tell authorities that Stapp claimed to be a CIA agent and was on a mission to kill President Barack Obama. Stapp's sister-in-law was also on the call and told the police that Stapp had been shirtless and riding a bicycle around the neighborhood with a backpack full of hundreds of printed-out CIA documents that Stapp had found online.

    "He thinks he's part of the CIA," Jaclyn says on the 911 call. "He thinks they're trying to kill him and he has a bunch of paperwork in his backpack that says he's a CIA agent and he was supposed to assassinate Obama." Stapp's wife and sister-in-law pleaded with authorities to place Stapp in psychiatric hold, but police determined Stapp did not show enough troubling behavior to be taken to a psych ward.

    The Secret Service said, "We are aware [of the incident] and we'll take appropriate action”. The bizarre behavior comes a few weeks after Stapp posted a video on Facebook saying that he was completely penniless and homeless, and accused his record label and others of stealing money from him. Jaclyn recently filed for divorce from Stapp, claiming the ex-rocker was delusional from abusing drugs, and was awarded sole custody of their three children on Friday.

    Get Creed's Greatest Hits Now: just click here
    • Creed Front Man May Have Threatened The President
    • 2,651 views
    Midnight Man

    Criminal Minds To Have Another Spin-Off

    CBS is taking another stab at expanding its popular Criminal Minds franchise. The network is developing a new spin-off series that will first air as an episode of Criminal Minds in February. If ordered to series, it would become the second planted spin-off from Criminal Minds. The first, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior aired in 2011 but was canceled after a single season.

    Criminal Minds executive producer Erica Messer will write the episode and executive producer with Mark Gordon and Nick Pepper. The episode, and subsequent series, will focus on a division of the FBI that helps Americans in trouble abroad. No casting is attached yet to the project. Planted spin-offs are a popular way to film a series pilot while utilizing the episodic budget of the series from which it is spawned.

    Suspect Behavior starred Forest Whitaker, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Kelly, Beau Garrett, Matt Ryan and Kirsten Vangsness, who did double duty with the mother Criminal Minds ship. Criminal Minds is currently in its tenth season; Messer has been with the show since it began. Her credits also include Charmed, The OC and Alias. ABC Studios, CBS Television Studios and The Mark Gordon Company are behind the show and the potential new spin-off.

    Get Criminal Minds Now: just click here
    • Criminal Minds To Have Another Spin-Off
    • 2,347 views
    Midnight Man

    Fox News Reporter Commits Suicide

    Fox News reporter Dominic Di-Natale has been found dead of an apparent suicide, he was 43. Di-Natale's body was found Wednesday in Jefferson County, Co., where Di-Natle owned property, after a friend reached out to officials about Di-Natale’s state of mind. According to Fox News, the international correspondent had been struggling with undisclosed health issues.

    "We were extremely saddened to learn of Dominic's passing and send our deepest condolences to his family and friends," said a statement from a Fox News spokesperson. "He was an esteemed journalist and an integral part of our news coverage throughout the Middle East."

    Since joining Fox News in 2007, Di-Natale covered some of the most major news stories, including the death of Osama Bin Laden and the Ferguson protests. Most recently, he had been freelancing for the network in Los Angeles until he resigned on Nov. 30.
    • Fox News Reporter Commits Suicide
    • 3,009 views
    Midnight Man

    Tyra Banks Being Sued By Top Model

    Angelea Preston, who competed on Cycle 14 of the reality show before returning and winning Cycle 17, has filed a lawsuit against Tyra Banks. Preston alleges in her suit that she never received her grand prize because she was disqualified for previously having been an escort. She is suing for breach of oral agreement, breach of written contract, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress, the latter because she claims the show withheld medical treatment for at least 10 minutes when she had an anxiety attack to make for better TV.

    Additionally, Preston is suing for failure to pay minimum wage, failure to pay overtime wages, failure to provide meal and rest breaks and unfair business practices, citing working conditions for the show's contestants. She is suing for damages on all eight accounts and says she believes she is owed at least $3 million. The CW issued the following statement in response to Preston's suit: "As noted during the broadcast of the America's Next Top Model finale in 2011, information about Angelea was learned after production wrapped on that cycle that led to her disqualification from the competition. We are confident that her lawsuit has no merit."
    • Tyra Banks Being Sued By Top Model
    • 1,901 views
    Midnight Man

    Actor From Sons of Anarchy Eats Rabbit

    Actor Dimitri Diatchenko was recently arrested and charged with allegedly killing and eating his ex-girlfriend's pet rabbit and threatening to do the same to her. Diatchenko, 46, faces one felony count of cruelty to an animal with the use of a knife and another felony count for allegedly making criminal threats, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said in a statement to the site Thursday. He is due to be arraigned on Dec. 30.

    In the famous 1987 film, Glenn Close's character breaks into the home of Michael Douglas character and kills his daughter's pet rabbit and boils it on the stove after he ends their extramarital affair. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office's statement, Diatchenko and his ex continued to live together for some time after the end of their relationship. When she said they shouldn't live together anymore, the actor then killed, skinned, cooked and ate half of her rabbit on Dec. 7 when she was not home. He then sent her pictures of each of the various acts. When she returned, he allegedly threatened to do the same to her.

    Diatchenko was taken into custody that afternoon and released almost 24 hours later after posting a $50,000 bond. If convicted, he faces a possible maximum sentence of four years and eight months in jail. Diatchenko played a Russian gangster on two Season 4 episodes of Sons of Anarchyand portrayed a character named Dimitri Romanov on Bones earlier this year. His other credits include 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, Burn Notice, and Perception as well as films like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Get Smart.

    Watch Sons of Anarchy Now: just click here
    • Actor From Sons of Anarchy Eats Rabbit
    • 2,729 views
    Midnight Man

    Law Suit Against Bill Cosby

    Bill Cosby is being sued for defamation, as another former supermodel has come forward saying he abused her. Supermodel Beverly Johnson says Cosby attempted to assault her after she auditioned to be an extra on The Cosby Show in the 1980s. "I needed a big break badly and appearing on The Cosby Show seemed like an excellent way of getting Hollywood's attention," she writes. "Cosby asked what I wanted from my career going forward. He seemed genuinely interested in guiding me to the next level. I was on cloud nine."

    Johnson says Cosby invited her to his brownstone to rehearse lines and offered her an espresso that he had prepared in his personal machine. "I knew by the second sip of the drink Cosby had given me that I'd been drugged, and drugged good," she writes, adding that she immediately began yelling at the comedian. "I recall his seething anger at my tirade and then him grabbing me by my left arm hard and yanking all 110 pounds of me down a bunch of stairs as my high heels clicked and clacked on every step. I feared my neck was going to break with the force he was using to pull me down those stairs."

    Johnson says she remembers Cosby shoving her into a taxi, and that she woke up in her own bed the next day with no memory of how she got home. According to Johnson, she decided to confront Cosby about the incident and called his house a few days later, but backed off after his wife answered and said it was too late for them to take calls. She eventually decided to let the issue drop. "In the end, just like the other women, I had too much to lose to go after Bill Cosby," she writes. "I had a career that would no doubt take a huge hit if I went public with my story and I certainly couldn't afford that after my costly divorce and ongoing court fees." At the same time, another of Cosby's alleged victims, Tamara Green, is suing the actor for defamation. A lawyer for Tamara Green says Cosby's flat denials of her claims that he drugged and raped her in the 1970s in effect mean he has "publicly branded Plaintiff Green a liar."

    Read about The Life And Times Of Bill Cosby: just click here
    • Law Suit Against Bill Cosby
    • 2,798 views
    Midnight Man

    2015 MTV Movie Awards Will Be Hosted By Amy Schumer

    Amy Schumer will host the 2015 MTV Movie Awards in April. "Wickedly funny and sharply insightful, Amy Schumer is perhaps the most ascendant talent in comedy today and she's on the brink of an epic year," MTV President Stephen Friedman said in a statement. "We are thrilled to work with Amy to create an unpredictable and hilarious showcase for Hollywood's biggest blockbusters and brightest stars in what promises to be the most combustible Movie Awards ever. I am honored to be hosting the awards. I will carry the audience with me like a teen mom #breaktheinternet #breakmywater."

    Season 3 of Inside Amy Schumer will premiere on Comedy Central in April. In July, Schumer's comedy Trainwreck, which she wrote, developed and stars in, will hit theaters. The 2015 MTV Movie Awards will air live on Sunday, April 12 at 9/8c. Do you think Schumer is a good choice to host?
    • 2015 MTV Movie Awards Will Be Hosted By Amy Schumer
    • 1,582 views
    Midnight Man

    Sons Of Anarchy’s End Was Inevitable

    The conclusion to the seven-season journey of Sons of Anarchy had a certain sense of inevitability to it and that's exactly what the show's creative team intended. In other words, the finale, which saw Jax Teller tying up a lot of loose ends for both the club and in his personal life before ultimately sacrificing himself to give his kids hope for a life away from the bullets and blood was always going to end with Jax dead, but even though Jax's fate was seemingly written in the stars, what about those he left behind? Will Jax's grand gesture be enough to save his boys from becoming outlaws? And will the club go back to the simpler organization it was originally intended to be? The creators always saw it as a tragedy in the Shakespearean sense. So they wanted to close out the story of Jax Teller in particular in a way that was satisfying for the audience and satisfying for the rules of a really good tragedy. A really good tragedy tends to end with a hero's death because that's what Shakespeare said and he's usually right. How it actually happened was much discussed. What you finally saw was the product of a lot of hours and weeks of agonizing to make something that would be true to the character and also resolve a lot of the problems that Gemma made and the lies that she spun. So, there's a lot of cleanup to do in that ending but also a lot of resolution. They didn't want to leave you hanging. They didn't want to give you a full Soprano; they wanted to give you something that felt like it was a real closure.

    It’s best to end something that's as mythological and as big as Sons of Anarchy in a manner that's poetic. So, the whole conclusion of the story was much more elegiac and it's slower-paced and really provided Jax some chance to close out his life. That's why they took the time to go to the graves of the people that he really cared about, to really bring them into the conclusion of it. They didn’t want to just get rid of August Marks and try to clean up the Irish question, but to also let Jax say goodbye to the people that he really cared about, especially to his children.

    It’s very tough, and it's not going to be satisfying for everybody because a lot of people just don't want to say goodbye to Jax Teller. When Jax says, "The bad guys lose," I think he's thinking a little bit about himself as well as the people who have actually caused him so much pain. But he did want to leave a legacy and the legacy that he wants to leave is one that allows his children to hate him, which is unusual because usually people want to leave with the children still loving them and having a fond memory of them. But Jax wanted to make sure that didn't happen. He was trying to break that cycle even in his last moments. That's what makes it a real emotional split, because in order for him to do that, he thought the best solution would be to die at his own hands, in his own peaceful manner. Mythologically, that's very satisfying as opposed to the cops shooting him or whatever. He sort of takes control and ended the way that he wants to end it.

    The plan will eventually work for Abel, in this moment, with what Abel knows, which is really very little, I think he's questioning and curious and he's been given a new toy. He's toying with it and he's looking out the window and wondering what the heck is going on. But as he grows up, I would think that the story would be told to him of who his father was and what his father meant. That's the instruction that Jax gave Nero, which will turn him away from that life, but maybe it is in the genes and maybe he is fated to be his father's son.

    Hopefully the club is on better footing, even though theoretically the biggest obstacles have been removed for the time being and there seems to be peace in the valley. Possibly, the choices Jax made in the end are going to end up being problems for the club that would cause it to be incapable of doing anything like what it's done before. The club is going to be a bit of an outcast club now that they have black members, which is going to be an issue. They're going to have the Irish to deal with. It's not perfectly aligned for everything to be perfect for the club; it could be a troubled path for them.

    Hamlet of Shakespeare was an obvious influence here and to end on the fact that a lot of these choices, even the choices that Gemma made, as twisted as they were, were made out of her own twisted sense of love and her own allegiance to her family and to the men in her life. Jax is very similar. A lot of the choices he made to avenge Tara's death, even though they were mistaken, were made out of how much he loved her. Love is the biggest force that works on Jax, despite the fact that other things come into it and color it and twist it. That's what he's driven by and that's why those words ended up being so appropriate.

    Watch Sons Of Anarchy Now: just click here
    • Sons Of Anarchy’s End Was Inevitable
    • 2,460 views
    Midnight Man

    NHL Scores For December 9, 2014

    BLACKHAWKS over DEVILS 3 to 2
    BLUE JACKETS over FLYERS 3 to 2
    SABRES over KINGS 1 to 0
    MAPLE LEAFS over FLAMES 4 to 1
    CANADIENS over CANUCKS 3 to 1
    CAPITALS over LIGHTNING 5 to 3
    WILD over ISLANDERS 5 to 4
    JETS over STARS 5 to 2
    PREDATORS over AVALANCHE 3 to 0
    SHARKS over OILERS 5 to 2
    • NHL Scores For December 9, 2014
    • 962 views
    Midnight Man

    NBA Scores For December 10, 2014

    HORNETS over CELTICS 96 to 87
    CLIPPERS over PACERS 103 to 96
    WIZARDS over MAGIC 91 to 89
    HAWKS over 76ERS 95 to 79
    BULLS over NETS 105 to 80
    TIMBERWOLVES over TRAIL BLAZERS 90 to 82
    MAVERICKS over PELICANS 112 to 107
    SPURS over KNICKS 109 to 95
    WARRIORS over ROCKETS 105 to 93
    NUGGETS over HEAT 102 to 82
    • NBA Scores For December 10, 2014
    • 961 views
    Midnight Man

    NHL: Wild’s Keith Ballard Out Indefinitely

    Minnesota Wild’s Keith Ballard has been released from the hospital, diagnosed with multiple facial fractures and a concussion after colliding with the boards. The Wild announced Wednesday that Ballard will be out indefinitely. Ballard was hurt when he tried to turn away from Matt Martin as the left wing charged toward him. Ballard was driven face-forward into the dasher board, and his head bounced hard on the ice after he fell. At one point, Ballard appeared to be convulsing as medics hustled out a stretcher, but he was able to get up after a few minutes and walk slowly to the locker room with assistance. The Wild recalled defenseman Justin Falk from their AHL affiliate in Iowa to fill in.
    • NHL: Wild’s Keith Ballard Out Indefinitely
    • 1,667 views
    Midnight Man

    NHL: Funeral Of Jean Beliveau Attended By Hundreds

    Hundreds of fans, many clad in his famed No. 4 jersey, and a who's who of hockey stars and politicians paid an emotional farewell to Montreal Canadiens great Jean Beliveau on a snowy Wednesday. The afternoon funeral for Beliveau, who died last week at 83, was held at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral and featured affectionate eulogies from former Canadiens teammates Dickie Moore, Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard and Ken Dryden, as well as Canadiens owner Geoff Molson.

    "It is a tremendous honor to stand here for my teammate and friend, Jean Beliveau," Moore said. "Everyone has said so many wonderful words about him, words like strength, dedication, devotion and elegance. I was lucky to have been with Jean for many glorious years with the Canadiens, lucky to share amazing moments together, lucky to have him as a friend. "Would you rather be good or lucky? I was lucky. He was good." Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was among those who attended the service, along with Gov. Gen. David Johnston, former prime ministers Jean Chretien and Brian Mulroney, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, and former Quebec premiers Jean Charest, Bernard Landry and Lucien Bouchard. Montreal mayor Denis Coderre and federal opposition leaders Justin Trudeau of the Liberals and Thomas Mulcair of the NDP also attended. Moore was followed to the podium by Cournoyer, one of six pallbearers. Cournoyer spoke about Beliveau in revered tones as his "captain" and described what he called almost a father-son relationship with the late icon.

    "Oh captain, my captain, bon voyage," Cournoyer said, his voice choking. Dryden recalled being Beliveau's roommate toward the end of the 1970-71 season when the big goaltender was an NHL rookie. "He treated everyone with respect," Dryden said. "He said the right things and in the right way, in French and in English, because that's what he believed and that's what he was. He made every occasion better. He made everyone who was there feel that their town, their organization, their province, their country, their event mattered. That they mattered. "This is not the time to say goodbye," Dryden said in closing. "This is the time to say thank you." Molson spoke of Beliveau as an athlete, a friend, a champion and an example to follow. "He was a special man -- a Jean Beliveau like no other," Molson said of the star center, who won 10 Stanley Cups in 21 years as a player and another seven as a team executive. The other designated pallbearers were Savard and former Canadiens players Phil Goyette, Guy Lafleur, Robert Rousseau and Jean-Guy Talbot.
    • NHL: Funeral Of Jean Beliveau Attended By Hundreds
    • 1,494 views
    Midnight Man

    MLB: Dodgers Trade Matt Kemp To Padres

    The Dodgers have agreed on a trade that will send Matt Kemp to the Padres. Los Angeles will receive catcher Yasmani Grandal, pitcher Joe Wieland and another prospect, the source said, while the Padres get Kemp and catcher Tim Federwicz. The prospect is right-hander Zach Eflin, according to multiple media reports. The Dodgers will also send about $32 million to San Diego to cover part of Kemp's remaining $107 million salary. The trade helps alleviate a logjam of outfielders in the organization.

    The Dodgers' new front office has been looking to move bulky long-term contracts and to improve the atmosphere in the clubhouse, which was described as "dysfunctional" by several team sources last season. The glut of outfielders became a source of tension at various times throughout the season. Kemp, 30, looked rejuvenated this season after the All-Star break, hitting 17 of his 25 home runs and leading the major leagues in slugging percentage over that time period. Kemp finished second in voting for the National League MVP award in 2011, when he batted .324 with 39 home runs and 126 RBIs. He signed an eight-year, $160 million contract that winter. Injuries cost him more than 150 games over the last three seasons. He underwent a major shoulder operation after playing 106 games in 2012 and ankle surgery after playing 73 games in 2013.
    • MLB: Dodgers Trade Matt Kemp To Padres
    • 1,248 views
    Midnight Man

    NFL: Redskins Caught Fighting At Practice

    Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland and receiver Andre Roberts exchanged punches during the individual portion of practice, adding yet another layer of drama to the team's season. Breeland and Roberts were involved in a play in which the rookie corner broke up a pass to Roberts. It appeared as they fell to the ground that Roberts accidentally kneed Breeland in the groin. As Breeland stood up, he grabbed his groin, walked a few steps and bent over; Roberts' back was turned at the time. A minute or so later, close to the line of scrimmage, Roberts and Breeland exchanged words. Roberts slammed his helmet to the ground and threw a punch immediately before Breeland, who hitched up his pants right before the punch, threw one of his own. Breeland then tried to tackle Roberts. Neither player was wearing his helmet.

    The scuffle was broken up by a handful of players, including safety Ryan Clark, cornerback E.J. Biggers. Clark walked Roberts away, but then Roberts shoved him as well. Roberts and Breeland exchanged more words from about 10 yards apart. At that point, the practice became closed to the media; it is open for only 15 to 20 minutes, and the incident occurred near the end of the session. Both Roberts and Breeland declined comment. Roberts, however, addressed the incident in a tweet later Wednesday.
    • NFL: Redskins Caught Fighting At Practice
    • 2,242 views
    Midnight Man

    New Conduct Policy For The NFL

    NFL owners Wednesday unanimously approved a revised personal conduct policy, commissioner Roger Goodell announced. The new policy takes effect immediately. Among the key changes:
    • The policy embraces the use of independent investigations. To that end, the NFL will hire a special counsel for investigations and conduct who will oversee initial discipline.
    • The policy will implement an element of leave with pay during investigations of people charged with violent crimes.
    • The commissioner will maintain a role in the appeals process but also may appoint a panel of independent experts to participate in deciding an appeal.

    Goodell said Wednesday that the person hired to fill the special counsel role will be a "highly qualified individual with a criminal justice background. The person will oversee our investigations and decide the discipline for violations of the policy," he added.

    After the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson cases, a more extensive list of prohibited conduct will be included in the policy, as well as specific criteria for paid leave for anyone charged with a violent crime. A six-game suspension without pay for violations involving assault, sexual assault, battery, domestic violence, child abuse and other forms of family violence will be in effect, but with consideration given to mitigating or aggravating circumstances. "The policy is comprehensive," Goodell said. "It is strong. It is tough. And it is better for everyone associated with the NFL.

    "I have stated it many times: Being part of the NFL is a privilege. It is not a right. The measures adopted today uphold that principle." The NFL Players Association issued a statement in which it expressed its displeasure with not being able to collectively bargain changes to the policy. "Our union has not been offered the professional courtesy of seeing the NFL's new personal conduct policy before it hit the presses," the union said. "Their unilateral decision and conduct today is the only thing that has been consistent over the past few months." The union could consider Wednesday's vote by the owners as a violation of the collective bargaining agreement reached in 2011, giving the union cause to file a grievance.

    Among the union's options is pursuing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. The players could argue this policy is a change in terms and conditions of employment; the National Labor Relations Act says such changes in unionized situations are subject to collective bargaining. NFL executive vice president and general counsel Jeff Pash said the NFLPA's claim that it has not seen the policy lacks credibility because of the ongoing discussions between the league and the union. "The union knows every element of what we've been talking about because we've talked to them about it already," he said. "I respect the fact that they may not agree with everything that's been done, and I respect the fact that there's an unfortunate [need] to react: 'They say X, so we will say not X.' But I think that the best thing for everybody would be to take a step back and recognize the issues of reputation, of standards, of conduct."

    Troy Vincent, the NFL executive vice president of football operations and a former president of the NFLPA, said he is "ready to move on from the union and the statements. They've had ample amount of time to contribute to where we're going. It's always been that way," he said. "Farce, you hear the term farce, unilateral decisions. They’ve been part of the process the entire time. "The people who don't like discipline are those who have committed a criminal act. Nobody likes to visit the principal. That's a small number of players every year. Those are the ones who have a problem, whether it's the process, it's the amount of discipline or the fine."

    Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, the team's player representative, echoed the union's criticism of the NFL's actions. "I think it's interesting anytime you make changes to a policy that we collectively bargained for and you don't collectively bargain for it," he said. "So, like the [players association], said, it's [the NFL] doing it by the seat of its pants and making it up as they go along. You would hope anything having to do with that the players, we would have some say-so in the policy and at least something we could agree on and everybody is comfortable with. Obviously, that isn't what they saw fit."

    Later Wednesday, Goodell sent a letter to fans on the new policy, also thanking them for their support of the league. "Our communities are the heart of our teams and we put everything into making a positive impact on them. While we are stewards of the game of football, we know that virtue isn't earned on the field alone. Character and values sits above everything else because we represent something that means so much to so many people," he wrote.

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    • New Conduct Policy For The NFL
    • 3,178 views
    Midnight Man

    Another Season For Rizzoli & Isles

    TNT announced today that Rizzoli & Isles has been renewed for a sixth season. The crime drama has been a mainstay as one of basic cable's top shows over the course of its run, with its current fifth season finishing this past summer as basic cable's #1 series. The remaining episodes in Season 5 will return this February, with Season 6 expected to premiere in summer 2015 with an 18 episode order.
    • Another Season For Rizzoli & Isles
    • 1,295 views
    Midnight Man

    Playing House renewed For A Second Season

    USA Network announced today that freshman comedy Playing House has been renewed for a second season. Written and executive produced by comic duo Jessica St Clair and Lennon Parham, who also star as its leads, the show's first season aired earlier this year to critical acclaim and healthy viewership. USA has ordered eight new episodes for Season 2 of Playing House, which will return in 2015.
    • Playing House renewed For A Second Season
    • 1,171 views
    Midnight Man

    Superman’s Home Planet Is Becoming A Prequel

    Faster than a speeding sloth, more powerful than a shopping cart, able to sleep long hours in a single sitting! Look! Up in the sky, it's Superman's grandfather! Syfy announced on Monday that it's developing Krypton, a one-hour drama that will follow one of the man of steel's forebears in order to "reveal a chapter of the DC Comics universe that has rarely been told." But don't get excited about seeing an old man enter a phone booth to change his clothes and then fall asleep inside, because Krypton is going to be a prequel. According to the project's official logline, Krypton takes place years before Superman is born and centers on his grandfather as the elder superdude brings the planet Krypton out of chaos, transforming it into a place that's "worthy of giving birth to the greatest Super Hero ever known." Well on behalf of Earth, excuuuuuuuuuse me. Syfy's press release didn't specify which one of Superman's grandfathers—Jor-El's father or Lara's father—the potential series will focus on.

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    • Superman’s Home Planet Is Becoming A Prequel
    • 6,486 views
    Midnight Man

    Mark Hamill To Play The Trickster, Again

    Mark Hamill will reprise his role as Jesse James/The Trickster on The Flash. Hamill first portrayed the villain on the short-lived '90s version of the series. This time around, there's a twist. The character on the CW version is an anarchist and terrorist con man serving a life sentence in Iron Heights who helps Barry and Det. West foil the city-wide attacks of a wannabe Trickster eagerly following in the original's deadly footsteps." The episode will air in 2015.

    "Having Mark reprise his role as The Trickster was on our original wish list when we were planning our version of The Flash," executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said. "Christmas and Chanukah came early for us this year when he said yes! We are beyond humbled and excited to have him joining us for another round of deadly trickery!" Hamill is the second original cast member to stop by. Original Barry Allen John Wesley Shipp now plays the father of Barry Allen.
    • Mark Hamill To Play The Trickster, Again
    • 1,263 views
    Midnight Man

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