Amid Doubt, AFL's '09 Season a Go

Fellow players witness media circus

(NEWSER) - Newly-minted New York Jet Tim Tebow's locker room was open to reporters for the first time yesterday, and they pounced. "It’s like shark feeding, man," said Josh Baker, a reserve tight end who, possibly unfortunately, occupies the locker next to Tebow's. Surrounded by dozens of reporters, Tebow told the press that "there’s a lot that’s exciting about being a Jet," the New York Times reports. "I’m just trying to be a little piece to try to help this team win a few games." More»

Brain injuries associated with other players' early deaths

(NEWSER) - Doctors will inspect Junior Seau's brain for any evidence of injury from his football days, following an agreement with his family. Several early deaths among football players have pointed to brain injury, the Los Angeles Times notes. "The family was considering this almost from the beginning, but they didn't want to make any emotional decisions," says the San Diego Chargers chaplain. Finally, "they came to a joint decision that absolutely this was the best thing." More»

Championship team hit by tragedy time and time again

(NEWSER) - Junior Seau’s death is just the latest tragedy in the sad history of the 1994 San Diego Chargers. That team—the only Chargers team to make it to the Super Bowl—has seen seven other deaths. CNN has the rundown:

• 1995: Linebacker David Griggs, 28, dies in a car crash.
• 1996: Running back Rodney Culver, 26, dies in a plane crash.
• 1998: Linebacker Doug Miller, 28, dies after being struck by lightning.

Jonathan Vilma banned for the season

(NEWSER) - The NFL isn't just coming down on the coaches in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal : Four players were suspended without pay today, ESPN reports. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma is suspended for the entire season, while defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove (now a Green Bay Packer) received an eight-game suspension, defensive end Will Smith four games, and linebacker Scott Fujita (now a Cleveland Brown) three games. Vilma and Smith are alleged to have helped Gregg Williams create and fund the program, Fujita and Vilma are alleged to have pledged significant funds to it, and Hargrove—who eventually admitted to the NFL that he was a part of the program—is accused of obstructing the NFL investigation into the matter. More»

Stanford quarterback will head to Peyton Manning's old team

(NEWSER) - The Indianapolis Colts stuck to the plan tonight in the NFL draft and made Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck this year's No. 1 pick, reports the Indianapolis Star . ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted that he will get a four-year deal for $22 million. That's relatively modest by NFL standards, but Bleacher Report says it's part of a trend in which "rookies are no longer getting huge contracts." More»