Pierre Garcon sues FanDuel for using his name and likeness for profit

Washington Redskins' Pierre Garçon sued the daily fantasy sports site FanDuel on Friday, alleging that the company "knowingly and improperly exploits" his name and performance for profit.

The wide receiver filed the class-action lawsuit against the billion-dollar fantasy sports site on behalf of all NFL players in the U.S. District Court for Maryland, charging that the site is improperly using the names and likenesses of NFL players for its own gain and not compensating the players.

"FanDuel routinely uses the names and likenesses of some of these NFL players without authorization to promote FanDuel's commercial enterprise, collecting huge revenues and entry fees," the release argues.

"FanDuel has taken the liberty to engage in these actions without my consent and without proper licensing rights," Garçon said in an accompanying statement. "As a result of these activities, FanDuel daily fantasy contests have shown increasing revenues leading to large profits. Therefore, on behalf of myself as well as any other players who are being treated unjustly, I chose to file a complaint."

In September, the NFL Players Association signed a licensing agreement with DraftKings, the largest daily fantasy site and FanDuel's chief rival in the industry. The agreement allows DraftKings to use NFL players in its marketing and promotional campaigns. 

This seems to be quite an audible for Garcon, who promoted FanDuel heavily on social media last year.

"Don’t forget! Enter my week 3 FANTASY league on Fanduel. $40K in prizes and a pair of free TIX to one entrant," he tweeted in September of 2014.

Don’t forget! Enter my week 3 FANTASY league on Fanduel. $40K in prizes and a pair of free TIX to one entrant. http://t.co/EqUNkAuIUD

— Pierre Garçon (@PierreGarcon) September 19, 2014

Garcon has played the last four years in Washington after starting his career with the Indianapolis Colts. The 29-year-old speedster had his best season in 2013, with 113 receptions for 1,346 yards.

He has a Bye Week.

Did referees' blunder cost Redskins chance at comeback?

The Washington Redskins were trying to drive down the field to get a win against the New York Giants late in the fourth quarter Sunday. But an unusual blunder made by the officiating crew might have put the kibosh on any Redskins chances to win the game.

On second and five from the Washington 41 yard line, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III threw a short pass to Pierre Garcon who fought for the first down. It looked like he was short and should’ve been ruled a third and one. They could’ve even brought the chains out to measure it. Instead, they signaled it was first down and moved the chains. They even changed the down box to a first down.

Thinking it was first down, the Redskins then threw a pass deep down the middle of the field to tight end Fred Davis for an incompletion. The referees then called the next play fourth and one, when the Redskins and head coach Mike Shanahan thought it was second down.

According to NBC play-by-play commentator Al Michaels after the game, Shanahan asked for a measurement from the sideline official who told him he didn’t need one because it was first down. Had they known it was third and one offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan likely would have called a different play. 

There were no playoff implications at stake but as Michaels' colleague Cris Collinsworth said moments after the Giants defeated the Redskins, "This is professional football, this is not supposed to happen."

"They really screwed this thing up," Michaels said at the time.

"You can't do that," Collinsworth added.

"Well, he just did," Michaels said, adding, "We saw it -- it was short of the first down, the chain gang moved to the first-down position, and then [Jeff] Triplette comes in after the play and says they didn't get the first down. I don't blame Mike (Shanahan) for being crazy about it."

"You can't do that!" Collinsworth interrupted. "You don't run that play if know what the down is -- you can't go back like that!"

"Absolutely," Michaels agreed. "(The officials) shouldn't have let the play go off before measuring."

When close like that, coach knows he needs to get his signal from R who always indicates down. Down box is never official
— Football Zebras.com (@footballzebras) December 2, 2013

The irony is that Triplette, considered one of the worst referees in any sport by many fans, was actually signally third down on the play in question (you can see him, in the Redskins' backfield, doing just that in the .GIF above). Why his crew completely ignored him is another matter entirely.

As for why Triplette didn't stop the clock when he saw the chains moving for a first down, well, maybe this explanation helps:

Triplette cannot -- CANNOT -- stop the clock in this case, b/c WAS gets free timeout. Triplette signaled 3rd down twice in the hurry-up
— Football Zebras.com (@footballzebras) December 2, 2013

RGIII on hit: 'I screamed ... like a man, of course'

Robert Griffin III left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter with what the Washington Redskins say is a right knee sprain.

The quarterback tried to continue playing against the Baltimore Ravens, but came out of the game after four plays and went to the locker room.

At the post-game press conference RGIII limped to the podium sounding a little disappointed but he still managed to get a laugh from the media gallery.

Describing the gruesome looking tackle RGIII smiled and said, "I knew soon as I got hit.  I screamed ... like a man, of course."

"When I came out after that play with my leg, I told [them] I was going back in.  They looked at me for a second," Griffin said. "I just wanted them to know that I wanted to go back in and I did for a few plays.  I made the throw to Tana [Santana Moss] and to Pierre [Garcon] down the field, but I knew I needed to get out at that point.  I couldn't move.  At some point you have to do what's right for the team.

"If I had played the rest of the game. I probably would have hurt myself even more. You've just got to trust those guys and trust yourself when you know enough is enough."

Griffin said he still felt positive despite the injury but realized he could go no further.

"I really couldn't do too much," he said.  "I had to get out."