NFL News:

Your day may have sucked, but it went nowhere near as badly as Matt Patricia’s. 

• If I read the stories correctly:
  • He was on Spring Break at South Padre Island in 1996.
  • He & a fraternity brother apparently sexually assaulted a woman at a hotel.
  • She initially complained to police, and charges were brought.
  • The case was dismissed before trial & charges dropped due to the accuser withdrawing her allegation.
    • Because the alleged victim did “not feel she [could] face the pressures or stress of a trial.”

• All of which led to a delightful press conference today, where the following was said on the record:
  • “Twenty-two years ago, I was falsely accused of something very serious, very serious allegations. There were claims made about me that never happened. I am thankful on one level that the process worked and the case was dismissed. At the same time, I was never given the opportunity to defend myself or allowed to push back with the truth to clear my name. I was innocent then and I am innocent now.”
  • “I did nothing wrong and that’s all I’m going to say on that matter.”

It is now being dealt with in two separate courts:

1. The court of public opinion; and
2. The court of Roger Goodell

• It looks like he’ll keep his job, but the Lions have options if they’re forced to make a change.
  • From the Lions: “Based upon everything we have learned, we believe and have accepted Coach Patricia’s explanation and we will continue to support him.”
  • According to the esteemed legal minds at PFT, if they fire him there’s only two ways it can go:
    • As a matter of basic contract law, the Lions most likely would be forced to pay Patricia every dollar of his four-year deal if they decide to fire him.
    • Termination for cause, with no remuneration if he failed to disclose the 1996 indictment when they did their background checks. However,
      • “Coach Patricia was the subject of a standard pre-employment background check which did not disclose this issue.”

• To put sprinkles on this shit sundae, someone went & asked the Patriots about it, since he’d been there from 2004, and Grumblelord begrudgingly replied:

Statement from Bill Belichick regarding Matt Patricia:

“The New England Patriots were not aware of the matter which recently came to light. For 14 years in our organization, Matt conducted himself with great integrity and is known to be an outstanding coach, person and family man. We have always been confident in Matt’s character and recommended him highly to become the head coach of the Detroit Lions.”

Other news:

• ESPN officially introduced its new four-person team for Monday Night Football.
  • play-by-play voice Joe Tessitore,
  • analysts Jason Witten and Booger McFarland, and
  • reporter Lisa Salters.
  • The new Monday night team will debut when the Rams face the Raiders in Oakland in the late game of the Week One Monday Night Football doubleheader.

• One of the potential ownership groups for the Carolina Panthers is looking to add Peyton Manning to their roster.
  • He’d be joining the group led by Ben Navorro, in a $2.6 billion bid said to be favoured by the Richardson clan.
    • It’s hoped that that Manning’s limited involvement will help solidify their bid, as he’d be “the football guy” part of the equation.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Winnipeg at Nashville – 8:00PM | NBCSN / CBC
    • GAME 7, BAY-BAY!

• NBA:
  • no games scheduled
• MLB:
  • Mariners at Blue Jays – 7:00PM | Sportsnet1
  • Twins at Angels – 10:00PM | FS1
• NCAA Baseball:
  • Auburn at Mississippi – 7:00PM | ESPNU
• Fútbol:
  • Liga MX: Santos vs. América – 8:00PM | UNI

C’MON YOU JETS!