Indianapolis Colts LB Josh McNary Charged with Rape, Criminal Confinement with Bodily Injury and Battery (Update: Mc Nary Denied Allegations)

Another black eye for the NFL …

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Josh McNary has been charged with rape,  criminal confinement with bodily injury and battery resulting in bodily injury stemming from an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of December 1, 2014. According to Fox 59, the victim told Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) sex crimes detectives that she met an unknown man at a downtown bar and went to his apartment when a fight broke out before McNary allegedly raped her. Talk about bad PR for the NFL. Ahead of the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts, the Colts brass, players and coaches have to deal with this alleged incident by one of their own. Some call it a distraction, we call it rape.

Click HERE to watch VIDEO via ESPN (pic screen grab ESPN)

Indianapolis prosecutors have filed rape, criminal confinement with bodily injury and battery resulting in bodily injury charges against Indianapolis Colts linebacker Josh McNary.

Two Indianapolis police officers said a 29-year-old woman accused an unknown man of attacking her in the early morning hours of Dec. 1. That man later determined to be McNary.

According to the report, police determined the man was McNary after investigating a cellphone the woman claimed she took from the man’s apartment.

UPDATE I: Indianapolis Colts linebacker accused in rape case due in court Thursday.

Court documents reveal that she said “I didn’t have the strength to push him off.” She also described “being in and out of consciousness.”

She took his cell phone when leaving his apartment.

A hospital examination revealed that the woman suffered injuries, including dried blood behind her ear. She told police she scratched her attacker. The victim told police that when she scratched McNary, he said, “Look what you did to me.”

Police used the cell phone to make the connection to McNary. When police arrived at his apartment, McNary told them, “I know why you are here.”

He said he preserved the bedding from the encounter and presented some of the woman’s clothing to police. McNary had also taken photos of the bedding, showing blood stains and other soiled areas.

UPDATE II: Colts linebacker Josh McNary ‘unhesitatingly’ denies rape allegations.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Joshua McNary denies the allegations that he raped a woman after a night of drinking at a Downtown bar.

On Thursday morning, McNary’s attorney, Edward F. Schrager, released the following statement on behalf of his client:

“Joshua McNary unhesitatingly denies all accusations made against him. Following the public release of these allegations, Joshua immediately reported to law enforcement officials in a respectful and peaceful manner.

“The charges and affidavit publicly disseminated on Wednesday afternoon are not evidence of wrongdoing, but simply one side’s story.”

UPDATE III: Indy Colts Ask NFL Commissioner to put McNary on Exemption List.

The Indianapolis Colts have requested that commissioner NFL Roger Goodell immediately place linebacker Josh McNary on the League’s Commissioner Exemption list.

If the request is granted, McNary — who was charged on Wednesday with rape — would be ineligible to practice or attend games but would receive his playoff share of $44,000 for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

The NFL investigation is likely to follow, after which McNary could be suspended for a minimum of six games.

“That designation will permit the investigation provided by the League’s Personal Conduct Policy to run its course and will afford Josh the opportunity to focus on his defense against the charges,” the team said in a statement.

Dartmouth College Cheating Scandal … 64 Students, Including Many Varsity Athletes, Charged with Honor Code Violations Following Widespread Cheating Allegations in a Sports Ethics Class

CAN YOU SAY IRONY … DARTMOUTH COLLEGE CHEATING SCANDAL IN SPORTS ETHICS CLASS.

You just cant make this stuff up … 64 students at Dartmouth College, including many varsity athletes, have been charged with “Honor Code” violations following a widespread cheating scandal. The course in question that is at the forefront of the cheating scandal, hold it … hold it …. hold it … Sports ethics. UM, REALLY? How bad is it when you have a cheating scandal in a course created at an Ivy League school intended to help student-athletes, who sometimes had trouble with the coursework at Dartmouth. In other words, the course was intended to inflate scholarship athletes grades point averages. Is is a kin to cheating at basket weaving 101. Maybe the professors will give the cheaters an “A” for effort in cheating ingenuity?

Kind of reminds me of the “business ethics” question from the movie ‘Billy Madison’.

 Dartmouth College has charged 64 students, many of them varsity athletes, with honor code violations following allegations of widespread cheating in a sports ethics class.

Department of Religion Chairman Randall Balmer, who in November accused some of his students of misrepresenting their class attendance, said that “with a few exceptions, most of the students were suspended for a term.”

The college’s head of judicial affairs, Leigh Remy, declined to comment, though spokeswoman Diana Lawrence confirmed the number of students facing possible sanctions.

Lawrence said that the college would not make detailed comments on the judicial proceedings until the appeals process ends in mid-January.

According to Balmer, in late October, students who failed to attend class passed off handheld devices known as “clickers” to classmates. Those students then used the gadgets to answer questions on the absent students’ behalf to make it appear as though they were present in class, Balmer said.

Though Balmer said that 43 students — less than the total number of students facing sanctions — handed off their clickers to their peers, some others confessed to him that they had helped their friends cheat.

The course in question was originally intended to help student-athletes, who sometimes had trouble with the coursework at Dartmouth, Balmer said. After a popular first run last year, the fall term’s class swelled to more than 280 students, and attendance and cheating became a problem.

NFL Divisional Playoffs: No Luck for Denver … Colts Shock Broncos 24-13, Is this the End of Peyton Manning’s Career?

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS DEFEAT DENVER BRONCOS 24-13!!!

There will be no rematch of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in the AFC Championship game next week. There was a ‘Mile High’ upset this afternoon in the final Divisional playoff game of the weekend as the Denver Broncos were stunned at home by the Colts 24-13. For those who watched the game, it was not even that close. Sorry, but unless you are a Colts fan or a friend and relative of Andrew Luck, no one saw this one coming. Colts QB Andrew Luck outplayed Manning and it is now official, Luck is officially out of the shadow of Peyton Manning. Luck is the new kid on the block to Championship Sunday as all of the remaining QB’s Brady, Wilson and Rodgers all have Super Bowl wins.

Manning said following the game, ‘I didn’t play well enough’. Ya think?

“My mindset right now is just disappointment after (Sunday’s) game … I’m disappointed, I kind of need to process this game, we’ll meet (Monday), I’m disappointed I need to process this game,” Manning said following the loss.

Asked if he could definitely say he was still planning to return to the Broncos next season, Manning said, after a short pause:

“Uh, yeah, I guess I just can’t give that simple answer. I’m processing it. I can’t say that. I could not say that.”

Click HERE or on PIC to watch VIDEO from NFL.com

NFL.com:

The Colts (13-5) advanced to the AFC conference championship next weekend in New England. The Patriots (13-4) rallied past Baltimore 35-31 Saturday in the other AFC divisional playoff.

The Broncos (12-5) were left to deal with the hangover of yet another playoff debacle – and maybe questions about Manning’s future and that of coach John Fox, as well.

The pundits said that the Indianapolis Colts were not supposed to win in Denver, the Colts were not supposed to be able to run against Denver, the Colts were not supposed to be able to pass protect against Denver … but they did all three, won the game and advanced to next week’s AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. Let’s give kudos to the Colts, but the question that needs to be asked is what the hell happened to the Denver Broncos? They appeared sluggish and somewhat unprepared to play. Their QB seemed very slow, very old and appeared to have lost his fire. No, I am not talking about Hillary Clinton, I am referring to Peyton Manning. Folks, not just old, damn old. Manning continually overthrew receivers all day and many throws had the folks at Duck Dynasty salivating as they prepared to shoot the fluttering ducks.

Peyton’s future plunges into uncertainty.

After watching today’s game and how Manning finished the 2014 season, I think this is going to be Manning’s last year. His last best chance to win a Super Bowl was last year when he got throttled by the Seahawks. Manning had a miraculous season, but for anyone to think that would continue year after year was wishful thinking. With free agency, loss of coordinators, it would appear the Super Bowl window has shut in Denver.

With the Broncos losing at home on Sunday to the Colts, the most obvious question is whether quarterback Peyton Manning will return next year.

Manning publicly has said that he certainly plans to play, but Jim Nantz of CBS said during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s broadcast that Manning explained during their pregame production meeting that it’s no longer a sure thing.

“He actually told us that ‘I’m gonna wait and see, I can’t really in my heart tell you anything for sure right now,” Nantz said.  “My intention is to play, but things have changed since I last said that.’”

One major change looming over the franchise is the potential departure of offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who has been interviewed for multiple head-coaching positions elsewhere.  Then there’s the possibility that coach John Fox won’t be back — along with the possibility that Peyton wants to see changes made.

Perhaps Peyton wants Gase to become the head coach of the Broncos.

Apart from whether Peyton chooses to play is the question of whether the Broncos believe based on his current performance and production that he’s worth $19 million in salary for 2015.  It would be considerably cheaper to hand the reins to Brock Osweiler, and the gap between Manning and Osweiler may not be as big as it was in September.

Is this the end for Peyton Manning? After ugly loss, it feels like it.

Years ago, when I first met Peyton Manning, this would have been one of those days all about football, unable to let it go, heartbroken about the loss. This time, it didn’t feel that way. This felt different.

Maybe it’s because he knows it’s time. Maybe it’s because he knows the end is here.

On the podium, following his team’s 24-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, his former team, in the AFC Divisional Playoff game Sunday, Manning was asked if he would be back to play his 18th season. He was non-committal. When I asked him about it again later, he said he would take some time to figure out.

In the past, Manning would have simply said he was coming back, which is why in my heart I think this could be the end of the Manning era. If it is, it’s a bad way to go out.

If it is, we should all be sad.

The story for another day is whether Peyton Manning, who will obviously be elected to the NFL Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot, is the best QB ever. Sorry, the answer is no. Overall, Manning is 11-13 in the postseason and today’s game was one of his worst playoff performances of all, except maybe the 43-8 Superbowl blowout and maybe a couple of losses against the Patriots were he was beat up badly. Manning has gone one-and-done in the playoffs a record nine times in his otherwise stellar career. That’s hardly best ever stats for a QB. Manning was brought into Denver to win a Superbowl and although his regular season record was 38-10, he is just 2-4 in the playoffs. Peyton Manning may be the best Fantasy football hall of fame QB, not the one on Canton, Ohio.

ESPN Sports Anchor Stuart Scott Has Died Age 49 after Battle with Cancer … However, He Will Always Be “As Cool as the Other Side of the Pillow”

It is a sad day in sports today, ESPN’s Stuart Scott has passed away at the age of 49 …

The longtime ESPN anchor Stuart Scott died Sunday morning after an extended battle with cancer, he was just 49 years old. Scott joined the ESPN in 1993 as the network was ramping up to launch ESPN2. That was just the launching bad for Scott as he steadily grew into one of ESPN’s most well-known, well liked and respected personalities … “Boo-Yah.” I remember the founding of ESPN in 1978, let along the launch of ESPN2 and let me just say Stuart Scott brought an energy and a fun and off the wall perspective to the broadcast that you truly looked forward to watching it. It is not very often that sports highlights were must-see TV, but that is the talent that this man had. Stuart Scott did the best thing that any sports anchor could do, he provided us with an escape from the real world and made sports fun. He talked about the games, plays and highlights like we would with our friends. God bless you Stuart Scott, our prayers go out to your family and friends … thank you … rest in peace.

REST IN PEACE STUART SCOTT

Stuart Scoot was first diagnoses with a rare form of cancer in November 2007. He took the vile disease publicly as he allowed us to share in his battle. So many of us either have been in Scott’s shoes or know some one personally who is. Stuart Scott helped us all deal with cancer in our own lives as he battled his. Scott was a beacon of light and remained so positive in his fight against cancer. One of the greatest lessons Stuart showed us all was to not let cancer paralyze you. He lived his life to the end on his terms and that meant being an ESPN sports anchor and commentator to the best of his ability. Please watch the VIDEO below of Scott’s moving speech, it is one of the best ever. For 7 years Scott battled cancer and kept the attitude that “fighting was winning, not quitting, not saying I have cancer, I can t do anything. ” Scott maintained the only way you lose against cancer is to not fight it and to just lay down and have a pity party for yourself.

His personality was infectious … Rest is peace Stuart Scott, you will forever be “as cool as the other side of the pillow.”

To all who have cancer, have known those who have cancer or currently know some one who is battling cancer, we need to remember the words that  Stuart Scott said during his speech after receiving the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS on July 16, 2014. Please make sure to watch his acceptance speech below.

“When you die, it does not mean you lose to cancer. You beat cancer in how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live. So live, live, fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight then lay down and rest and have some body else fight for you. That’s also very important. I can’t do this “don’t give up thing” by myself. I got thousands of people on Twitter and on the streets who encourage me.”

ESPN:

Stuart Scott, a longtime anchor at ESPN, died Sunday morning at the age of 49.

Among the features of the new ESPN studio in Bristol is a wall of catchphrases made famous by on-air talent over the years. An amazing nine of them belong to one man — from his signature “Boo-Yah!” to “As cool as the other side of the pillow” to “He must be the bus driver cuz he was takin’ him to school.”

That man is Stuart Scott, and his contributions to the sports lexicon are writ large. But they are only one aspect of his legacy. When he passed away, he left behind so much more. He inspired his colleagues with his sheer talent, his work ethic and his devotion to his daughters, Taelor, 19, and Sydni, 15. He defied convention and criticism to help bring this network into a new century. He spoke to the very athletes he was talking about with a flair and a style that ESPN president John Skipper says, “changed everything.”

“He didn’t just push the envelope,” says sports radio host and former ESPN anchor Dan Patrick. “He bulldozed it.”

Stuart Scott was honored for his fight against cancer at the 2014 ESPY Awards, where he became the latest recipient of the Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance. The award named for college basketball coach Jim Valvano, whose life was also taken by cancer in 1993, and who gave probably one of the greatest speeches in sports history that speaks to one’s everyday life, “Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up”.

Stuart Scott’s Moving ESPYS Speech, 

UPDATE I: Remembering Stuart Scott:

Steve Levy, who came to ESPN shortly before Stuart in August 1993 and served as his co-host for the first “SportsCenter” from the new studio last June, put it this way: “I think the audience recognized that when Stuart was on, there was going to be something special. And to his credit, he brought something special every night he was on.”

Tributes to Scott on Twitter, #BooYah

Remembering Stuart Scott’s first set at ESPN … muted colors in 1D!!!

He made us laugh … ESPN commercial with Stuart Scott and Maria Sharapova … “Can I get that can back?” Priceless!!!

UPDATE II: ESPN Colleagues Remember Stuart Scott. (VIDEO)

Chris Berman, Rich Eisen, Dan Patrick and Gus Ramsey look back on their time working with Stuart Scott

Cotton Bowl – Baylor & Michigan State: Hit of the Day During New Year’s Day Bowl Game … Baylor’s Kicker Christopher Callahan Gets De-Cleated

THIS IS WHAT JOHN MADDEN USED TO REFER TO AS A DE-CLEATTER …

Baylor Bear’s kicker Christopher Callahan got completely destroyed by a blind-side block after his FG attempt against Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl was blocked. To watch the video, one would have thought that the kicker was knocked unconscious, maybe even dead as he slumped over. However, next thing you know the play is over and the kicker is not on the field, nor is any medical staff. Where did he go? Tell me they did not just run him off the field.

Baylor kicker Chris Callahan was going to be the hero if he knocked through a field goal, but instead he got knocked out.

With the Bears hanging on to a 41-35 lead late in the fourth quarter, Callahan’s 43-yard attempt was blocked and opened the door for Michigan State to finish an importable comeback in the Cotton Bowl on Thursday.

Here is another angle

It would appear that Baylor  kicker Christopher Callahan was in better spirits after the game as he joked about the hit on Twitter. Dude, your mom also probably told you to look both ways before crossing the road.