Daily Commentary – Wednesday, February 4, 2015 – Superbowl on NBC Scored a Ratings Touch Down!

• It was the most watched TV show ever! Now that the NFL has our attention, it’s time to focus on improving it’s image.

Cleveland Brown’s Johnny “Football” Manziel Enters Rehab … Remember Manziel Saying, “I’m not going to change who I am”

JOHNNY FOOTBALL OFF TO REHAB …

ESPN is reporting that Cleveland Brown’s QB Johnny Manziel entered treatment on Wednesday; however, it was not said for what he entered rehab for.

ESPN’s Skip Bayless is owed an apology from many in the media and elsewhere. Bayless called Johnny Football’s issues a while ago, when many others in the media had the asme information, but were too afraid to say it. Skip Bayless said on ‘First Take,’ “I am so proud of you, Johnny Manziel, for having the guts to do this. It’s not easy.”

Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel entered treatment on Wednesday, adviser Brad Beckworth told ESPN.com on Monday.

“Johnny knows there are areas in which he needs to improve in order to be a better family member, friend and teammate, and he thought the offseason was the right time to take this step,” Beckworth said.

“On behalf of Johnny and his family, we’re asking for privacy until he rejoins the team in Cleveland.”

Manziel is expected to be in rehab at least a few weeks, but the amount of time depends largely on what doctors recommend, according to a source close to Manziel.

A source said the Browns are tentatively expecting Manziel to participate in training camp but are not placing any timetables on other offseason activities as he works through the treatment process.

The quarterback is voluntarily entering treatment as a direct result of his lifestyle away from the field, and he informed people in his circle last week that he wants to “figure out his value system,” a source said.

Remember when Johnny Football arrogantly said, “I am not changing who I am.” Hmm, really … you better and you better be serious out rehab. The world is filled with failed NFL players who washed out and did not take their job or the unique position they have been afforded seriously.

“I’m not gonna go to change who I am for anybody. I’m growing up and continuing to learn from my mistakes and trying not to make the same ones over and over again,” Manziel said. “But am I gonnna live in a shell, or am I just going to hide from everybody and not do anything? I don’t think that’s the way I should live my life and I’m not going to do it. I am here, I am very committed to football, I’m committed to my job, but on the weekends I’m going to enjoy my time off. I mean, I think I deserve it.”

Johnny Manziel: ‘I’m not going to change who I am’

Daily Commentary – Tuesday, February 3, 2015 – Hopefully All the Superbowl Hype About Deflated Balls is Over

• Now the NFL should concentrate on their PR problem and on the image the players and teams have on children

NFL Hall of Famer and NFL Network Warren Sapp Arrested For Solicitation of Prostitution & Assault (Update: Sapp Sacked … NFL Network Fire Sapp)

Yet another black eye for the NFL … Maybe current and former NFL player should just avoid being awake in hotels after 1 AM …

NFL Hall of Famer and current NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp has been arrested in in Arizona early Monday morning at the Renaissance Hotel for solicitation of prostitution and assault. According to reports, two women were at the hotel “as escorts” (aka prostitutes) and went to Warren Sapp’s room, where an argument broke out over money. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Sapp had been arrested. The police picked up Sapp at the hotel early Monday morning and charged him with the two misdemeanors.

As reported by TMZ, RUT-ROH, this can’t be good, the NFL Network has removed Sapp’s bio from the official “On-Air Talent” section of the website. Sapp has also been suspended indefinitely from the NFL Network without pay pending the outcome of the investigation … so says NFL Network spokesman Alex Riethmiller.

William Pitts of NBC 12 in Phoenix reports that the Phoenix police say they were called to Sapp’s room at a hotel when a woman reported an assault. There were two women in the hotel room and there was an argument going on over money.

“While there [Sapp] was questioned and admitted involvement in the act of prostitution, but denied assaulting the females,” police said.

TMZ reports both women received citations — one for prostitution, the other for a violation of the City’s escort permit requirements — and were released. They also reportedly received injuries “consistent with a struggle.”

Sapp has been suspended indefinitely from his job at NFL Network.

UPDATE I: Not the First Time Sapp has been in trouble.

Sapp was arrested February 6, the day before Super Bowl XLIV, for allegedly choking a woman in his Florida hotel room. Sapp was also arrested for an alleged domestic battery in Miami in 2014.

Sapp was arrested Feb. 6, the day before Super Bowl XLIV, for allegedly choking a woman in his Florida hotel room. At the time, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders player was working for the NFL Network as an analyst on its Super Bowl coverage, but was pulled off the air when his arrest came to light.

Sapp, who was not present in court Wednesday when the charge was dropped, said via text message: “The State Attorney’s office declined to file charges. BS is over!”

UPDATE II: Sapp Sacked … Warren Sapp has been fired from the NFL Network.

NFL Network spokesman Alex Riethmiller said, in a statement, “Warren Sapp’s contract has been terminated and he no longer works for NFL Network.”

According to a statement released by the Phoenix Police Department, “officers working security at a Downtown Phoenix hotel were investigating a noise disturbance when they were contacted by a female alleging she had been assaulted.” The alleged incident occurred in a guest room at the hotel early Monday morning where an argument ensued, allegedly over money. The altercation allegedly turned physical, spilling out into the hallway, per the Phoenix PD.

Sapp was then detained and transported to Phoenix Police Headquarters, where he admitted involvement in the act of prostitution, but denied assaulting either of the two involved females, per the Phoenix PD.

Nationwide 2015 Super Bowl Commercial, Make Safe Happen – Maybe One of the Darkest, Inappropriate Super Bowl Commercials Ever (VIDEO)

MAYBE ALL PR REALLY ISN’T GOOD PR … Nationwide Insurance delivered a gut-punch to all those watching Super Bowl commercials.

Although this is an important message and something all parents need to be mindful of when it comes to their children, the Super Bowl was not the place to show this commercial. The powers that be at Nationwide decided on the the following to be their 2015 Super Bowl Commercial, ‘Make Safe Happen’ . YIKES! It maybe one of the darkest, inappropriate Super Bowl commercials ever. There is nothing like “DEATH” to break the mood of people trying to enjoy their Super Bowl Sunday. If those who thought GoDaddy’s spoof dog commercial was inappropriate, which was pulled, I could only imagine the uproar over this one.

A Nationwide commercial for the 2015 Super Bowl was called “dark and depressing” and drew a ton of negative online reaction Sunday night.

The spot started off in a whimsical way, with a boy riding his three-wheeler: ”I’ll never learn to ride a bike,” he said.

Daily Mail:

Nationwide Insurance has sparked outrage after showing a ‘dark’ and ‘depressing’ commercial about a young boy who died in a preventable accident during the Super Bowl XLIX.

In the advert, the cherub-faced child talks about all the milestones he will miss out on after dying in an accident, including learning to ride a bike, receiving ‘cooties’ from a girl and getting married.

In a voice brimming with hope and potential, he says: ‘I’ll never learn to ride a bike or get cooties. I’ll never learn to fly or travel the world with my best friend. And I won’t ever get married.’

Speaking directly to the camera, he finishes: ‘I couldn’t grow up. Because I died from an accident.’

UPDATE I: Nationwide defends Super Bowl ad about child deaths.

In a press statement, the Columbus, Ohio-based company defended its ad, stating its intent was to inform the public about the prevalence of preventable accidents.

“The sole purpose of this message was to start a conversation, not sell insurance. We want to build awareness of an issue that is near and dear to all of us — the safety and well-being of our children,” the statement said.

“We knew the ad would spur a variety of reactions. In fact, thousands of people visited MakeSafeHappen.com, a new website to help educate parents and caregivers with information and resources in an effort to make their homes safer and avoid a potential injury or death. Nationwide has been working with experts for more than 60 years to make homes safer.

“While some did not care for the ad, we hope it served to begin a dialogue to make safe happen for children everywhere.”

Nationwide Responds to Super Bowl Reaction

February 01, 2015

Columbus, Ohio – Preventable injuries around the home are the leading cause of childhood deaths in America. Most people don’t know that. Nationwide ran an ad during the Super Bowl that started a fierce conversation. The sole purpose of this message was to start a conversation, not sell insurance. We want to build awareness of an issue that is near and dear to all of us—the safety and well being of our children. We knew the ad would spur a variety of reactions. In fact, thousands of people visited MakeSafeHappen.com, a new website to help educate parents and caregivers with information and resources in an effort to make their homes safer and avoid a potential injury or death. Nationwide has been working with experts for more than 60 years to make homes safer. While some did not care for the ad, we hope it served to begin a dialogue to make safe happen for children everywhere.