NFL News:

• The Texans plan to release Brian Cushing prior to the new league year starting on March 14.
  • It’ll save them $7.6 million on the cap, and leaves them clear when he eventually picks up his third suspension for PEDs.
    • Because he totes learned his lesson this time, guys.

• Julius Peppers might be back in 2018.
  • He wants to see what money there will be.
  • He’s unlikely to sign with another team.

• Somebody in Tom Brady’s family went & sold their replica Super Bowl LI ring for $344,927.
  • “The ring, which has 265 diamonds compared to the 283 that Tom Brady’s actual ring has and is about 10 percent smaller, has the same engraving that Brady’s ring would have.”
    • It’s appraised value from Jostens is $29,700.
  • As of now, the seller is anonymous.
  • The previous record for a Super Bowl ring was Lawrence Taylor’s actual Super Bowl XXV ring, which sold for more than $230,000 in 2012.

• Today’s Crimebeat! thievery comes from the prison cell of Rae Carruth.
  • Ahead of his October release, 17 years after his conviction for conspiracy to commit murder, he has written an apology letter (of sorts) to the mother of his victim – the caregiver for his-now 18 year-old son.
    • I say “(of sorts)”, because this doesn’t sound like full contrition:
      • “I’m apologizing for the loss of her daughter. I’m apologizing for the impairment of my son,” Carruth said. “I feel responsible for everything that happened. And I just want her to know that truly I am sorry for everything, . . .”
    • If you want to read it, have at it.
  • The grandmother is concerned Carruth will try to obtain custody of the boy.
    • Mostly because he killed her daughter; partly because she’s concerned about how he’ll treat the boy’s disability fund – which isn’t much, but is supported by donations (& not the Panthers).
    • He used his time to become a certified barber in North Carolina, and will pursue that employment upon release.

In case you didn’t see it yesterday, here’s how it was done,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XBWZI6f-38

here’s what it felt like watching it,

https://youtu.be/y4c2KDLWpI0?t=7s

and here’s how it should have been done.

Oh yeah – put that into my veins. It’s not even my song, and I wanted to start waving the flag. That’s what you want out of an anthem performance.

I just don’t get why people think they need to “interpret” something like an anthem, which is just going to garner more criticism than compliments. She will never be able to undo that to her career, and she makes Josh Duhamel look smart for walking away.

And in case you think I’m being anti-American by focusing on Fergie, I refer you back to my feelings on the issue vis-a-vis Nelly Furtado

versus Sarah Maclaughlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IyxGO4v0yA

Her voice might be the sound of abused animal images, but she sings a darn-fine anthem. Because all people want is to listen, possibly sing-along, and then get the match underway.

Tonight’s sports:

• Olympics:
  • NBCSN
    • 7:00PM – Figure Skating: (ice dancing), Alpine Skiing
    • 10:00PM – Men’s Hockey Playoff : USA vs Slovakia
  • NBC | 8:00PM – Bobsled, Freestyle Skiing, Figure Skating
  • CBC
  • TSN
    • TSN1: 7:00PM – Figure Skating: Ice dancing Final
    • TSN2: 8:30PM – Snowboarding – Women’s Halfpipe Final
  • Sportsnet:
    • 7:00PM – Men’s Curling : Canada vs Japan
    • 10:00PM – Men’s Hockey Playoff : USA vs Slovakia

• NHL: no national broadcasts
• NBA: All-Star break
• NCAA:
  • Maryland at Northwestern – 7:00PM | FS1
  • Miami at Notre Dame – 7:00PM | ESPN
  • Howard at North Carolina Central – 7:00PM | ESPNU
  • Baylor at Texas – 8:00PM | ESPN2
  • Minnesota at Wisconsin – 9:00PM | FS1
  • Oklahoma at Kansas – 9:00PM | ESPN

Vancouver looked like this yesterday

Eight years later, we finally got snow during the Winter Olympics. THANKS A LOT, GOD!