North London 40

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BREAKING NEWS: DOUG WHALEY HIRED AS BILLS GENERAL MANGER, FIRST MINORITY HIRED THIS OFFSEASON - The Buffalo Bills didn’t want long to find Buddy Nix’s replacement after he walked away from the team. The team announced early this morning that the team has hired Doug Whaley, the first African-American hired in the NFL this offseason. This move was completely expected. It was reported back in January that Bills president/CEO Russ Brandon set up a succession plan from Nix to Whaley as one of Brandon’s first orders of business in his new role. The transition happened sooner than some folks expected, but it was only a matter of time. Whaley’s hire ends a long streak this offseason for no minority hiring this offseason. The first 15 head coach and GM-level jobs were not filled by minority candidates. Whaley is African-American, starting his scouting career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He moved to the Bills in 2010, where he has held titles as assistant general manager, director of pro personnel and director of player personnel. Whaley biggest task is to try to end years of instability with the Bills. The team tries a new defensive scheme almost every year, a new coach every three seasons and still is looking for a quarterback to replace Jim Kelly. It’s hard to imagine Whaley didn’t have a huge role in the Bills’ 2013 NFL Draft because the organization surely knew this change was coming. (Photo via BuffaloNews.com)

BREAKING NEWS: DOUG WHALEY HIRED AS BILLS GENERAL MANGER, FIRST MINORITY HIRED THIS OFFSEASON - The Buffalo Bills didn’t want long to find Buddy Nix’s replacement after he walked away from the team. The team announced early this morning that the team has hired Doug Whaley, the first African-American hired in the NFL this offseason.

This move was completely expected. It was reported back in January that Bills president/CEO Russ Brandon set up a succession plan from Nix to Whaley as one of Brandon’s first orders of business in his new role. The transition happened sooner than some folks expected, but it was only a matter of time.

Whaley’s hire ends a long streak this offseason for no minority hiring this offseason. The first 15 head coach and GM-level jobs were not filled by minority candidates. Whaley is African-American, starting his scouting career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He moved to the Bills in 2010, where he has held titles as assistant general manager, director of pro personnel and director of player personnel.

Whaley biggest task is to try to end years of instability with the Bills. The team tries a new defensive scheme almost every year, a new coach every three seasons and still is looking for a quarterback to replace Jim Kelly. It’s hard to imagine Whaley didn’t have a huge role in the Bills’ 2013 NFL Draft because the organization surely knew this change was coming. (Photo via BuffaloNews.com)

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KLUWE TO JOIN RAIDERS - Former Minnesota Vikings Punter Chris Kluwe wasn’t out of work very long. The self-proclaimed best Punter in Vikings history says he’s heading to Oakland.

Kluwe told Brendan Ayanbadejo, now writing for FoxSports.com, that he’s joining the Oakland Raiders. The deal is for one year and the league minimum.

“I’m excited to be an Oakland Raider and be playing in California,” Kluwe said. “Now, my family can actually come to games.”

The UCLA graduate has a long history of being outspoken on many issues, especially same-sex equality. Kluwe says he has an eye on Proposition 8 in California, a state measure that does not recognize same sex marriages and currently is being discussed by the Supreme Court.

“I’m still going to be myself socially and continue to tweet and interact with my fans,” Kluwe said.

Al Davis is gone, but it’s somehow comforting to see the Raiders still finding a home for one of the league’s most colorful characters. Davis also led the way in many minority hirings. (The first female NFL CEO Amy Trask resigned last week.) Kluwe is not a lock to make the team, but he’ll have a good chance competing against Marquette King. (Article via Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com, photo via Zimbio.com)

winstonwolfe:

nationalpostsports:

Is this the best way to share your feelings? Yes. Yes, it is.

Philadelphia Eagles guard Evan Mathis responds to the recent IRS scandal by urinating (or fake urinating) on an IRS sign. This is how you change the world, people.
That’s going to result in an audit. Just a guess.

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- RAIDERS SIGN FORMER BROWNS WR/KR JOSH CRIBBS –

Former Cleveland Browns return specialist / wide receiver Josh Cribbs has signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders according to an ESPN report. Financial terms of the contract are unknown at this time.

Cribbs couldn’t find a job early in free agency because his health was in question after he had offseason arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection visited the Raiders on Monday and was set to visit “several” more teams, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday. But after passing his physical the Raiders put an offer on the table and Cribbs accepted the terms today.

Cribbs met with the Arizona Cardinals earlier in the offseason, and a contract reportedly was close. The Cardinals, however, backed off because of Cribbs’ health.

sbnation:

A better look at those new Jaguars’ helmets. Awesome.

(All photos via Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports)

- RON JAWORSKI OFFERS TIM TEBOW A JOB WITH ARENA LEAGUE TEAM -
Tim Tebow is out of a job after being released by the New York Jets, and so far the former Heisman trophy winner hasn’t had any of the 31 other NFL teams show up and ask him to …sign on the dotted line. But former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and current ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski has stepped in with an opportunity for Tebow. Jaw’s is the co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul, an Arena League team and the Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that he wants Tebow to join his team. “If Tim Tebow decides he wants to play in the Arena Football League,” Jaworski told the Daily News, “I’d love to have him on the Philadelphia Soul.” According to the report, Jaworski and Soul coach Clint Dolezel sent Tebow a list of plays they had drawn up for him. Most of them are goal-line plays, but they’re hoping Tebow likes what he sees and decides to sign with the team. So far, Tebow hasn’t responded to Jaworski’s offer. “I haven’t heard back from him and I’m not going to push it,” Jaworski said. “If he decides he wants to play Arena Football, we’ll make a spot for him.” If Tebow does decide to accept the offer he still wouldn’t be the starter. But Jaworski said the experience could be a good thing for Tebow and help bolster his NFL resume. “One [criticism] of Tebow is that he is slow and methodical,” Jaworski told the paper. “He would be forced to quicken it up in this league and it would be good training for him. You can learn a lot in this league. It’s about processing information and getting the ball out … or you get whacked.”

- RON JAWORSKI OFFERS TIM TEBOW A JOB WITH ARENA LEAGUE TEAM -

Tim Tebow is out of a job after being released by the New York Jets, and so far the former Heisman trophy winner hasn’t had any of the 31 other NFL teams show up and ask him to …sign on the dotted line.

But former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and current ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski has stepped in with an opportunity for Tebow. Jaw’s is the co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul, an Arena League team and the Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that he wants Tebow to join his team.

“If Tim Tebow decides he wants to play in the Arena Football League,” Jaworski told the Daily News, “I’d love to have him on the Philadelphia Soul.”

According to the report, Jaworski and Soul coach Clint Dolezel sent Tebow a list of plays they had drawn up for him. Most of them are goal-line plays, but they’re hoping Tebow likes what he sees and decides to sign with the team.

So far, Tebow hasn’t responded to Jaworski’s offer.

“I haven’t heard back from him and I’m not going to push it,” Jaworski said. “If he decides he wants to play Arena Football, we’ll make a spot for him.”

If Tebow does decide to accept the offer he still wouldn’t be the starter. But Jaworski said the experience could be a good thing for Tebow and help bolster his NFL resume.

“One [criticism] of Tebow is that he is slow and methodical,” Jaworski told the paper. “He would be forced to quicken it up in this league and it would be good training for him. You can learn a lot in this league. It’s about processing information and getting the ball out … or you get whacked.”

kickoffcoverage:

THE NEW VIKINGS STADIUM

It’s less “writing about football” than “business reporting that smells like filthy jockstrap,” and it carries the same vernacular of confidence games, tautological assumptions of confidence, and backroom rumor leakage. And like business reporting, it rarely sees fit to correct itself even in the face of mounting evidence that someone, despite holding a title and a position of importance, might be utterly and evidentially incompetent. There is not an NFL studio crew commentary that doesn’t start a discussion of a coach without mentioning what a good man he is; there is not a GM who doesn’t “get it.

“

—	Spencer Hall, with a question that needed to be asked, Why does the NFL make for such bad media? (via dailybunch)

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- BUDDY NIX STEPPING DOWN AS BILLS G.M.

- The Buffalo Bills have announced, via the teams’ official website, that Buddy Nix is stepping down from his general manager position, but will remain with the team in a new role as special assistant…

The Bills have not announced who will replace Nix. But according to several reports, the team has spent much of the offseason grooming assistant GM Doug Whaley to take over.

Nix, 73, just completed his third season as the Bills general manager. (Photo: USA Today Sports)

cbssports:

West Virginia debuted these new colorful camouflage uniforms.