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Giants Trade Odell Beckham Jr.

Jaclyn MarrLeave a comment

The New York Giants have traded star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. Yes, you read that right.

In a shocking move that broke Tuesday night, the Giants agreed to send OBJ to the Browns in exchange for safety Jabril Peppers and the Browns’ first (No. 17 overall) and third round (No. 95 overall) picks in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft.

Trade rumors had become a speculation around Beckham and the Giants these last couple of seasons. After another poor Giants’ season and more incidents regarding Beckham’s behavior, the team listened to offers in exchange for their top receiver.

Just last month, however, Giants’ general manager Dave Gettleman said, “We didn’t sign Odell to trade him. OK?”

The Giants had just resigned Beckham, 26, less than a year ago to a five-year worth up to $98.5 million. The contract made OBJ the highest-paid receiver in the NFL at the time, seemingly setting his place on the Giants’ roster.

Now, the Cleveland Browns have become a threat in the league as they work toward playoff contention for the first time since 2002.

Beckham will join former LSU teammate Jarvis Landry in Cleveland and coach Adam Henry – current Browns’ receiver coach.

The receiving duo of Beckham and Landry might have just become the top one-two in the league – with second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield under center.

Meanwhile, the rebuilding New York Giants have to make smart draft decisions to prove that this trade was a success for them. Right now, it’s hard to grasp that this is a win.

 

 

Steelers Send Antonio Brown to Raiders

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The Antonio Brown saga is finally done in Pittsburgh.

Once a star for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the relationship turned strained and it became clear that both the organization and Brown wanted to part ways. Trade talks began in January.

“Well, obviously things fell apart at the end of the season,” Drew Rosenhaus, Brown’s agent, said to ESPN. “Antonio wanted to play in the last game against the Bengals, it didn’t work out that way.”

“There were a lot of things said that, really it was just a divorce,” he continued. “Antonio had nine great years. Sometimes in life, whether it’s sports or business, you have a great relationship, but things happen and you have to move on.”

Brown recorded 837 receptions, 11,207 yards and 74 touchdown catches in nine years in Pittsburgh. He had six consecutive 100-catch seasons, which was an NFL record.

Now, he will bring that talent to the Oakland Raiders. According to ESPN, Brown signed a three-year deal that is worth up to $54.125 million with $30.125 million guaranteed.

He had three years and $38.9 million remaining on his Steelers’ contract and none of that money was guaranteed. With this trade, Pittsburgh is left with $21.12 million in dead money against their salary cap – reported to be the largest dead money charge for a single player in one season in NFL history.

Things are going to be interesting next season. Oakland becomes more of a threat with Brown and Derek Carr whereas Pittsburgh is left to find a new star player.

Giants’ Backup QB Arrested En Route to Practice

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As if this Giants’ season couldn’t get any worse.

Backup quarterback Kyle Lauletta was arrested Tuesday morning for a traffic violation on his way to practice. He reportedly failed to obey the police officer’s orders and almost hit the officer with his car.

“We were made aware of the situation this morning and we have been in contact with Kyle,” coach Pat Shurmur said at practice. “We are still in the process of gathering information. This is obviously very disappointing.”

Lauletta, selected by the Giants in the fourth round of this year’s draft, has become the fans choice of starting QB rather than Eli Manning in hopes of making this season a little less dreadful.

The Giants currently stand at 1-7 on the season, coming off a loss to the Washington Redskins. They share the worst record in the league with the San Francisco 49ers, who they meet next on Nov. 12 after their bye week.

“We’ll see,” Shurmur said of keeping Manning as the starter. “But, yeah, I think Eli is our quarterback. I did say, again I know what you’re all trying to tease a headline out of, at this point Eli is our quarterback and we’re looking at all areas to improve. So that is where it’s at.”

This bye week comes at a perfect time where the organization can really evaluate everything.

However, we’ll have to wait and see how the organization handles the unexpected Lauletta incident.

 

Rihanna Declined Super Bowl Halftime Show

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One thing is for sure, Rihanna stands for what she believes in… no matter what.

News broke that the singer had declined the NFL’s offer to perform at the 2019 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Atlanta. Her decision is reportedly in support of Colin Kaepernick.

“The NFL and CBS really wanted Rihanna to be next year’s performer in Atlanta,” a source told Us Weekly. “They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn’t agree with the NFL’s stance.”

Kaepernick was the first NFL player to take a knee during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality and police brutality. He started the movement in the 2016 season and he has been an unsigned free agent ever since.

In November 2017, he filed a grievance against the league and its owners that accused them of colluding to keep him off the football field.

There was a similar report last year that suggested Jay-Z had also turned down the gig in solidarity with Kaepernick. According to The Source, an insider close to the rapper said that Jay-Z “really has no plans to do the halftime show.” He then showed his support of Kaepernick by giving him a shout out during a performance in New York City.

If the reports about both artists are true, that really says a lot about what they stand for. While the Halftime Show isn’t a paid opportunity, you can’t get bigger exposure anywhere else. Rihanna and Jay-Z apparently didn’t want it, but for good reason.

 

Buffalo Bills Investigating Allegations Against LeSean McCoy

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Disturbing allegations were brought against Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy on Tuesday in an Instagram post. The post accuses McCoy of domestic violence, steroid use, child and animal abuse.

It shows a graphic photo of a woman brutally beaten. A friend of McCoy’s girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, submitted the post and claims the woman in the photo is Cordon and writes the accusation that McCoy is responsible for them.

The post then claims that McCoy beat his dog “into kidney failure” and Cordon would have to stop him from “viciously beating his son for small things like peeing in the bed.”

The Bills have yet to make a statement of their own. However, ESPN’s Dianna Russini tweeted that the team is “aware” of the situation and that they are looking into it.

Shortly after the news broke, McCoy took to both Twitter and Instagram to make his statement, fully denying the allegations.

“For the record, the totally baseless and offensive claims made against me today on social media are completely false,” the statement read. “Furthermore, I haven’t had direct contact with any of the people involved in months.”

While this is all speculation right now, it needs to be taken seriously. The Buffalo Bills and NFL must handle it immediately.

 

Senators’ Mike Hoffman Traded Twice Amid Fiancée Controversy

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Forward Mike Hoffman found himself being traded twice on Tuesday, about a week after reports surfaced that his fiancée harassed teammate Erik Karlsson and his wife Melinda online.

At first, the Ottawa Senators shipped Hoffman to San Jose and before being traded to the Florida Panthers just two hours later. Ottawa and San Jose exchanged defenseman prospects Cody Donaghey and Julius Bergman, in addition to fifth- and sixth-round 2020 draft picks respectively.

“Today’s trade showcases our determination to strengthen the future of the team by improving chemistry, leadership and character in the locker room and on the ice,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. “We are confident it is a step in the right direction for the long-term success of this organization.”

Then, Florida received Hoffman and a seventh-round pick in the 2018 draft while San Jose acquired a fourth- and fifth-round pick in 2018 and a second-round pick in 2019.

“Mike is a skilled, consistent and hard-working player who has proven himself to be a talented goal scorer in the NHL,” Panthers president and GM Dale Tallon said in a statement. “His speed, experience and offensive abilities will bolster our top-six group.”

Just last week, reports surfaced that Melinda Karlsson had filed an order of protection against Hoffman’s fiancée, Monika Caryk. Karlsson claimed the online harassment was more than 1,000 negative and derogatory statements. remarks about the death of their child, who was stillborn in March.

“Monika Caryk has uttered numerous statements wishing my unborn child dead,” Melinda Karlsson said last week. “She also uttered that she wished I was dead and that someone should ‘take out’ my husband’s legs to ‘end his career.’”

Hoffman made a statement denying everything, claiming there was a “150 percent chance that my fiancée Monika and I are not involved in any of the accusations that have been pursued.”

However, multiple wives of Senators players have taken to Twitter to come to the defense of Karlsson and backed up her claims.

“Her fixation with Mel has always been unhealthy,” Kodette LaBarbera, wife of former goaltender Jason LaBarbera tweeted. “Then it became scary. So glad Mel is protecting herself. No team will welcome this girl to the room.”

The Senators were quick to fix this controversy. However, trade rumors are revolving around Karlsson and it will be interesting to see whether or not this was the team showing a commitment to their captain.

Kim Kardashian West to Discuss Prison Reform at the White House

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Here’s some news most were probably not expecting to hear: Kim Kardashian West will visit the White House to discuss prison reform.

The reality star has been advocating for 62-year old great grandmother Alice Marie Johnson, who has been serving a life sentence for a first-time drug offense. A source told Vanity Fair that Kardashian West learned about Johnson’s story on Twitter and reached out to Ivanka Trump, who connected her with senior adviser Jared Kushner.

“I’ve been in communication with the White House and trying to bring her case to the president’s desk and figure out how we can get her out,” Kardashian West said to Mic.com earlier this month. “That’s such a huge step from where we started with that not even being on their radar.”

After several discussions over the phone, the face-to-face meeting is set for today with a special meaning.

Alice Marie Johnson

Johnson has served more than 21 years of her life sentence after being imprisoned for her involvement in a low-level, non-violent drug operation. Her only chance at being released is to be granted clemency from the president.

Mic featured her in a video back in October 2017. The video tallied over four million views and 19,000 shares on Facebook. It was also featured on Twitter, where Kardashian West viewed it.

Kardashian West told Mic that it was their video that inspired her to help Johnson get released in any way she can, admitting that her priorities in life have changed and she wants to use her fame to help those in need. She has since brought on her attorney Shawn Chapman Holley, who worked with Robert Kardashian during the O.J. Simpson trial.

Johnson’s Story

Johnson describes her story in the Mic video. She was convicted for her role in facilitating communications in a cocaine trafficking operation in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. She told Mic that her involvement was due to financial hardship.

“I went into a complete panic and out of desperation, I made one of the worst decisions of my life to make some quick money,” Johnson said.

The lead-up to her involvement in the drug operation was her divorce, her son being killed in a motorcycle accident and losing her job. It was one thing after another that caused her to make one bad choice.

“If you think about a decision that you’ve made in your life and you get life without the possibility of parole for your first-time nonviolent offense, there’s just something so wrong with that,” Kardashian West said to Mic.