Michael Vick to lobby for law protecting pets left in hot cars

Michael Vick may seem an unlikely enforcer of animal rights, but the NFL quarterback is now heading to the Pennsylvania statehouse to lobby legislators on a bill that would help protect pets against the torture being left alone in hot cars.

Vick was a star quarterback for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons when he pleaded guilty in 2007 to being part of a dog fighting ring and ended up serving 21 months in prison. 

A spokesman for the 35-year-old backup quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, says Vick plans to meet with Democratic lawmakers Tuesday about legislation nicknamed the "Pets in Cars" bill.

PA House Bill 1516 would allow first responders to break into cars to rescue dogs or cats in distress without fear of being held liable for damages.

"I know that I'm an unlikely advocate," Vick said through a spokesman to ESPN. 

"I was part of the problem. Now, my perspective can help reach people that activists can't reach. I can help others become agents of change." 

Vick will be accompanied to the state legislature by a group of schoolchildren from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, according to his spokesman.

Since his 2009 release from prison, Vick has worked on a number of animal rights issues. Even so, a local animal advocacy group protested Vick's signing with the Steelers outside of the team's facility in late August. 

"All animals require kindness and respect," Vick said. "They depend on us, like children depend on us. Many animal welfare bills across the nation do not get enough attention to pass. We can change that."

Vick publicly supported the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which President Barack Obama signed in 2014. 

Steelers' James Harrison makes sons return participation trophies, saying they didn't earn them

Pittsburgh has long had the reputation as a working class town and when it comes to upholding that blue collar mentality, James Harrison believes it applies to all aspects of life — even on the home front.

And as proof of that, the Steelers linebacker is bringing up his kids with those same values in mind.

Here's his reaction to his two sons getting participation trophies at school, via his latest Instagram post:

"I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy. #harrisonfamilyvalues"

I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy. #harrisonfamilyvalues

A photo posted by James Harrison (@jhharrison92) on Aug 15, 2015 at 10:09am PDT

Whether you call it tough love or mean dad, Harrison makes a good point. Life lessons start early and kids should be taught about hard work, competition and earning the rewards of excellence before they get into the real world.

But confiscating the trophies after the boys won them? That's a harsh way to say that not everyone is going to get accepted to Princeton or play football at Alabama.

James Harrison rips ESPN's Adam Schefter for posting Jason Pierre-Paul’s medical report

The status of Jason Pierre Paul’s condition after a Fourth of July fireworks accident left everyone — including the New York Giants — wondering how serious his hand injury was.

That was until ESPN obtained a copy of the defensive end's medical report and Adam Schefter posted Pierre-Paul’s medical record confirming that the defensive end had his right index finger amputated.

And the ESPN reporter not only wrote about it, he posted JPP's actual medical record on Twitter for the world to see.

ESPN obtained medical charts that show Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul had right index finger amputated today. pic.twitter.com/VI5cbS1uCw

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 8, 2015

There was some dismay from the media and other NFL players after Schefter's post and Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker James Harrision was one of those who was angriest.

.@AdamSchefter You're a real piece of sh*t for putting that picture up!

— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) July 9, 2015

I'm going on a hunch here but I'm pretty sure that those medical docs obtain by ESPN are a violation of some sort. Not the smartest but...

— Justin Tuck (@JustinTuck) July 9, 2015

The real questions here are who the source was — which might be hard to find out — and the legality of handing out copies of personal medical records. And, now that it's out there, questions about doctor/patient confidentiality and the media are something the players have put in play.

If a medical provider leaked JPP medical information, that's a big HIPAA violation. Media like @AdamSchefter are not subject to those laws.

— David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) July 9, 2015

Sounds like this has opened an important legal issue for the player's union.

Noted neurosurgeon says football is safer than riding a bike: Report

A renowned Pittsburgh Steelers neurosurgeon who advises the NFL on head, neck and spine injuries told the NFL Network on Wednesday that football "has never been safer" and that youth football is safer than riding a bike or a scooter or using playground equipment. He also downplayed the risk of CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, based on current data.

"I think the problem of CTE, although real, is it's being over-exaggerated and being extrapolated to youth football and to high school football," Dr. Joseph Maroon said. He added that CTE is a "rare phenomena."

"We came up with 63 total cases of CTE (in former NFL players) and in the last two years a few more," he said of research on the disease, a progressive degenerative brain disease related to head trauma. "But there have been 30-40 million kids who have played football during that period of time . . . Can we improve? Yes. We have to do better all the time to make it safer."

The interview was, in part, a reaction to news earlier in the week that 49ers linebacker Chris Borland is retiring. Borland told ESPN that he was leaving the game after one season and at age 24 to protect himself from the risk of future brain injuries.

"When an athlete is fearful of any injury, it's time to get out," Maroon said. "You can't play with apprehension in any sport and be as good as you can be. He obviously came to that conclusion himself . . . However, I really believe it's never been safer in terms of the sport."

Later in the day, while appearing on PFT Live, Jeff Miller, the league's senior vice president of health and safety policy, said Maroon's opinions "deserve respect" but are not NFL policy.

'Jets rebuilding since 1969' banner flies over MetLife Stadium before game (PHOTO)

A little less than two hours before kickoff between the Jets and Steelers on Sunday, a small plane flew over MetLife Stadium with a banner that read "Jets rebuilding since 1969."

It was the second time in five days, a disgruntled New York Jets fan took to the sky to express disappointment with the current state of the team. 

A slightly clearer picture of today's banner. pic.twitter.com/Z6VfY8GRvw
— Seth Walder (@SethWalderNYDN) November 9, 2014

Although there wasn't a "Fire John Idzik" banner in the sky — like the one that made news last Wednesday — a fancy billboard with the same sentiment turned up near the stadium.

Considering that Jets ended a seven-game losing streak with Sunday's 20-13 win over the Steelers, it's easy to call this a banner week for Gang Green.

Steelers fan wears jersey with mixed messages about 'your mom' (PHOTO)

This photo of a Steelers fan wearing a jersey with a few slightly mixed messages was posted Monday on Reddit with the caption: "I bet he gets all the ladies."

And it's hard to figure where this guy's sentiments are.

The No. 69 with "YOURMOM" across the back seems so wrong until you notice the little Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon tacked to the back of the collar — which sort of renews your faith in the guy.

Still not sure.

It's difficult to know what this dude is trying to say but, keep your mother away just the same.

Steelers lineman sued for herpes, blames sores on 'zipper malfunction': Report

Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Cam Thomas is being sued for allegedly giving his ex-girlfriend genital herpes and reportedly lying to her about it.

The woman known as "Adrienne" claims the 27-year-old Thomas said the "puss-filled bumps on his buttocks and inner thigh" were the result of sweat buildup and that the noticeable sores on his penis came from a zipper accident, in a report filed in San Diego and obtained by TMZ Sports.

Thomas — who started 10 games for Pittsburgh last year — has vehemently denied the allegations through his legal team, who say the woman is only after money.

Either way, this is just TMI about STDs from TMZ.

Adrienne claims she dated Thomas in 2010 when he played for the San Diego Chargers
and that the two would often have unprotected sex.

According to the lawsuit, she had a health check up in December 2010 and the results were all clear.

Then in February 2012 she tested positive for genital herpes.

Adrienne maintains Thomas is the only person that she could have contracted the disease from.

In her suit, Adrienne also claims Thomas was physically abusive during their relationship.

However, she never went to police to file a complaint.

She's suing for sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud through intentional concealment and negligence.

Adrienne is seeking unspecified damages. Thomas said he will fight the claims in court.

Cameraman takes nut shot from Packers QB Matt Flynn (GIF)

During the Steelers 38-31 victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, one television cameraman got sacked by a quarterback.

Throwing from behind the Packers end zone, Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn tossed the ball away out of the end zone — but inadvertently connected with the man's groin.

The guy didn't go down or drop the camera after the direct hit, but earned the utmost respect of Hans Moleman — the star of "Man Getting Hit By Football."

Troy Polamalu prays on sidelines during 55-31 loss to Patriots (Video)

Troy Polamalu is one of the most spiritual players in the NFL but even a direct line to who art in heaven (and not Art Rooney) could have helped the Steelers avoid a 55-31 thrashing by the Patriots.

That didn't stop the Pittsburgh defensive back from making the sign of the cross more than a few times while on the pew bench at Gillette Stadium as the game was winding down.

Maybe he was just signaling for the Father, the Son and the Galloping Ghost.

[blackonlinesports]

Mark Sanchez merchandise already 50% off at MetLife Stadium

How soon they forget The Butt Fumble. Sign seen at MetLife Stadium store before Jets-Steelers game: "SALE: ALL SANCHEZ MERCHANDISE: 50% OFF.

Geno Smith sales suddenly pretty brisk too.

Seen at Metlife Stadium yesterday: Store with sign: "SALE: ALL SANCHEZ MERCHANDISE: 50% OFF"... Take a look: http://t.co/srogUFUfho #nyj
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) October 14, 2013

Steelers declare ping-pong and pool off-limits to younger players

When your team goes 0-2 for the first time since 2002 you start looking around your house for reasons. Is there a lack of sweat in the weight room, too much shuteye in the film room or discord in the locker room?

Well around the Pittsburgh Steelers compound, it's apparently because players are having too much fun in the rec room.

After dissecting game film and looking over the roster, the Steelers have discovered the reason for their dismal 0-2 start — and they are blaming it on the kids playing too much ping-pong and pool.

As reported Thursday afternoon by KDKA-TV’s Jory Rand, Steelers veterans have decided to ban anyone with less than four years of pro experience from picking up a paddle or a cue stick at the team’s South Side training facility during “business hours.” According to 12th-year NFL safety Ryan Clark, this was decided in a meeting of the Steelers’ more tenured players Wednesday and the restrictions were prominently posted on the wall.

Rand posted this on Twitter:

I asked Ryan Clark if the signs were new. "Did you see them there yesterday?" He would only add it was their meeting not a public meeting.
— Jory Rand (@JoryRand) September 19, 2013

Isaac Redman, who is in his 4th season, thus barely qualifying him to play, was happy to tell me he enjoyed a game of pool this morning.
— Jory Rand (@JoryRand) September 19, 2013

Later, Rand reported, those signs were taken down. But the message still permeates throughout the locker room.

"Young guys can't play pool, ping pong or shuffleboard. Sucks to be a young guy, I guess," Redman said later. "We need to win a football game here before guys are coming in worrying about who's first on the pool table. So that eliminates that."

Instead of a public spanking in front of the media, couldn't the Steelers’ veterans just have easily informed their younger teammates in private? It sounds like bad parenting.

'Now we're murderers' T-shirts mocking Patriots are for sale in Pittsburgh

A T-shirt for sale at a place called Yinzers in Pittsburgh is emblazoned with "New England: We used to be cheaters, now we're murderers" on the front.  It's a crude reference the Aaron Hernandez murder case and takes liberties with clumping the rest of the Patriots team in with the accused killer.

The tee might be funny to many NFL fans and tasteless to some, but was probably meant to just mock the Steelers' AFC rival and Hernandez in particular.

Bill Belichick isn't going to like this one bit — at least the cheating part.

Great shirt being sold in Yinzers in Pittsburgh @darrenrovell @Deadspin pic.twitter.com/3StJFphonk
— Jimmy Crivella (@BSJimmy) September 2, 2013

Cruz explains shortened salsa dance: 'It's just preseason, so I didn't want to two-step'

New York Giants wideout Victor Cruz missed almost everything the team did this off season because  he didn't have a contract and, according to head coach Tom Coughlin, came to camp a little "rusty."

Now Cruz has a $43 million contract but might still have a little lingering rust in his joints — at least when it comes to his post-touchdown dancing.

After completing 57-yard TD catch-and-run from Eli Manning, Victor Cruz started his salsa celebration and then waved his hands and cut short the dance. It had fans wondering what gives?

"Yeah, it’s just preseason so I didn’t want to two-step, I didn’t want to give it the full gambit just yet just because it’s the preseason,'' Cruz said after the Giants' 18-13 preseason opening victory over the Steelers. "The salsa is still going strong.''

The vintage catch-and-run by Cruz spiced up what was a pretty pedestrian outing by the G-Men.  Even though Cruz' dance lacked his usual flair, he looked like he's shaken off most of the rust otherwise.

"I think [Polamalu] was thinking I was going to break off the route, so I just went vertical and Eli threw a great pass to me that I was able to take in for the touchdown," Cruz said. "It’s great to be on the same page with your quarterback, and Eli and I work hard on that. When things are clicking, you really get the results you want."

Cruz can do the Charleston for all Giants fans care — as long as he and Eli still waltz together like that a couple times a game.

Bill Cowher blindsided in Manhattan car crash

Bill Cowher took a hard hit Sunday afternoon when the Super Bowl-winning former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers got into a car accident on Manhattan's Park Ave., hitting another vehicle that then crashed into scaffolding in the ritzy neighborhood.

Cowher, 56, was driving north on Park Ave.in his black Mercedes-Benz when a woman driving a Ford Fusion going in the same direction cut him off attempting to turn onto E. 92nd St. about 1:10 p.m., according to police and witnesses.

Cowher’s Mercedes hit the Fusion, which veered into scaffolding, cracking a pole and sending construction material tumbling down.

About half a dozen rescue vehicles and firetrucks showed up at the scene but nobody was hospitalized, police said.

Cowher currently works as an analyst for CBS’ “The NFL Today.” He coached the Steelers for 15 seasons, ending in 2007.

Looks like he missed that right turn out by the Meadowlands by a longshot.

Steeler fan's self-tattoo is the worst team tribute ever

It's hard to know what this guy was thinking — or drinking — when he decided to honor the Pittsburgh Steelers by (presumably) giving himself a tattoo of the NFL team's hallowed logo on some part of his body. If he paid someone to ink this monstrosity, he deserves to look at it forever.

There's never a good reason to give yourself a team tattoo unless you're in for life or a Browns fan. This is especially true if you have the coordination — and spelling bee skills — of a pre-schooler.

Case in point: This dude's misspelled and totally illegible tribute to what we can only assume is his favorite team.

Next time the "Steeers" are in town, we'll call you.  Maybe not.

[Via sportsgrid.com]

Josh Brent watches game from Cowboys' sideline

Just one week ago, Josh Brent was starting to face the reality of being charged with intoxication manslaughter after a late-night car accident killed Jerry Brown Jr., his Dallas Cowboys teammate.

On Sunday, Brent watched his team face the Pittsburgh Steelers from the Cowboys' sidelines with his other teammates.

The awkward scenario played out at Cowboys Stadium while the team paid tribute to Brown by wearing his No. 53 on the back of their helmets.

The Cowboys said they would support Brent as a teammate even though it had been reported that his blood-alcohol level (0.18) was more than twice the legal limit when he crashed the car with Brown as his passenger.

The team held a memorial for Brown — who was reportedly Brent's best friend — and the deceased man's mother had forgiven Brent for the result of his awful lapse in judgement.  But it seems to be a fine line that the team is crossing — especially so close to the accident.

Still, it's hard to pass judgement because who knows what was said by all parties involved before the decision was made to accommodate Brent on the field.

Tom Coughlin calls Giants defense 'soft'

After Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said his team was "mushed" around by the Steelers offensive line after third-string running back Isaac Redman plowed through Big Blue's defense for a career- high 147 yards.

Head coach Tom Coughlin was more straightforward in his assessment of the team and used the "S" word to describe the Giants defense.

"It was soft, no question," Coughlin told the Star-Ledger on Monday.

"It was soft early," he said.  "We came back and played a little bit better and they had their breakout there at the end of the game."

Tuck didn't disagree with his coach that the defense was more pliable than a roll of Charmin.

"Not to the point where they were more physical than us," said Tuck.  "But to the point where you got a guy in the gap and Redman was just behind his guard, behind his guard, and a guy jumps out of his gap trying to get around to get Redman and he kind of like filters forward for three more, four more yards, and that's just us got to do a better job of escaping blocks and getting to the ball carrier."

Granted, the Giants were without three linebackers including Chase Blackburn — who spearheads the defense.

"We had some poor tackling, I think," observed Blackburn.  "Even the runs that were hit for 3-4 yard gains, we hit them at minus one or one yard or at the line of scrimmage and he [Redman] just continued to roll forward a little bit."

The Giants travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals on Sunday.  The Bengals have lost four straight but — as history will attest — the Giants have lost on five straight road trips to Tigerland since 1972.

The Giants run defense is ranked 19th in the NFL at 118 yards per game.

"It's so correctable and that's the frustrating thing," said Tuck.  "Most times you'd rather just get your butt whipped up front and say, 'Well, I did my best and they still beat me.'  we had some things that we could've easily corrected."

The "S" word.  Good for describing babies' behinds or Kenny G's rock but not the Giants D.

Coughlin wants more from Eli 'in a hurry'

Uh oh, here comes the New York Giants second half swoon right on schedule.  The tell-tale signs have been there for weeks but, come Game 9 every season, it becomes official.

On Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Giants hoped to create a three hour diversion to Hurricane Sandy for Giants fans dealing with the aftermath of the storm.  Looking back, Big Blue's fans mostly diverted their eyes from the poor play on the MetLife Stadium field.  The only heroes on yesterday's turf came in the pre-game ceremony honoring the storm's first responders.

The Giants — somehow — actually led 20-10 going into the fourth quarter despite another middling game from Eli Manning.  The Giants, who have become accustomed to Manning's heroics, got none,  and blew the lead before losing, 24-20.

Up front and most prominent has been Manning's slump over the past four games. He was 10-for-24 for only 125 yards Sunday and looked more flustered than usual.

"We've got to get him back on track," said Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.  "He is our guy and we have to get him back playing the way he was a couple of weeks ago.  And we have to do it in a hurry."

Coughlin, already emotional that the team had let down all of the fans in the tri-state area picking up from the storm, hoped the Giants could be an inspiration.

He said the Giants "wanted emotionally so badly to win the game for all of our neighbors who are struggling and who need some type of inspiration.  Of course, we didn't provide it for them."

Manning, himself, was one of those people affected by the storm after his Hoboken, N.J. condo was flooded.  He didn't use his personal difficulties as an excuse for his poor play yesterday.

Over the past three weeks, Manning has been a shell of his former self.  He thrown for a grand total of 510 yards but doesn't think he's doing anything differently from early in the season.

"I don't feel off rhythm," said the quarterback.  "I don't feel like I'm throwing the ball inaccurately, I don't feel like I'm missing guys, so I think it's just a matter of just getting back offensively to where we're playing fast, making good decisions, guys are winning and we'll hit them."

Halloween over, clocks set back and a chill in the air.  Yup, it's time to sit back and see which second half Giants team will show up.

Cancer survivor Herzlich hopes Giants start inspires storm victims

New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich will be making his first start of the season — replacing Chase Blackburn at middle linebacker — when his team faces off against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium.

Herzlich's start — the third of his pro career — would not be so noteworthy if it were not for the circumstances surrounding Sunday's game.

Herzlich, an undrafted free agent who was signed by the Giants last year, is a cancer survivor who hopes the sight of him on the field can become an inspiration to all of the area residents who are still coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy's destructive path.

"It's about not giving up," Herzlich told The New York Post.  "That was my biggest thing.  I had to set a goal, and I had to stick to that goal — it was coming back and playing football again and being healthy.  And beating cancer.  And doing something people told me I couldn't do."

In 2009,  Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, right after he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year while he was at Boston College.  Months of soul-draining radiation and chemotherapy treatments forced Herzlich to put his dream of playing in the NFL on hold or, in a worst case scenario, out of his reach.

Last season, his first with the Giants, Herzlich started two games before an ankle injury sidelined him for the rest of the year which, ironically, brought Blackburn back to the team.

Herzlich ignored the naysayers and continued to pursue his dream.

"For people fighting cancer, that's very easy to relate to, because so many times you get told, 'You have cancer' ... kind of, 'You're screwed' ... What next? Your life is over.  And that's not the way it is.  And I think that for everybody around here recently, the main thing is the hurricane.  They have houses wiped out ... trains not running, nothing's working, no one has gas.  Now what do I do with my life?"

Emotions should be running high at MetLife Stadium as fans struggle to make it out to East Rutherford by any means possible.  The Giants players said their hearts and minds will be with the victims digging out of the storm.

"Set that goal and keep pushing towards it and you'll come out," said Herzlich.  "Your attitude will determine how you come out.

Lately, words have been thrown around like storm tossed boats during Sandy's wrath.   Herzlich is the physical embodiment that proves stricken residents will survive and go on when it is all said and done.

Now Justin Tuck says Steelers linemen have 'gotten away with murder'

New Jersey is still recovering from from the devastation left behind by Sandy but one sure sign that things are slowly getting back to normal is the sound of whining returning to the New York Giants locker room.

Giants players took some time off from complaining — maybe it was drowned out by the winds — after the teams' offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride was swiftly chastised by San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh three weeks ago for saying defensive tackle Justin Smith "gets away with murder."

Yesterday, Justin Tuck accused the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen of the same Class A felony.

"I hope we get some holding calls, because they have gotten away with murder," the Giants defensive end told ESPN.com on Thursday.  "They've done a very good job protecting Ben [Roethlisberger] — they don't hold on every play.  But we've seen a whole lot of it."

While the Todd Haley-schemed Steelers O-line has improved in protecting their quarterback significantly this season, the once-vaunted Giants pass rush has seen a drastic decline in sacks.  Tuck only has a total of one posted on his stat sheet through eight games this season.

"There's a reason why they call him Big Ben, but he's definitely a guy that does a great job of prolonging plays," said Tuck.  "Not necessarily with his feet — he's good that way, too — but you see guys get straight rushes, and he kind of sidesteps them and they kind of fall off of him, so we realize that's going to be a big obstacle for us, and we got to make sure we wrap up when we get to him."

Tuck and his fellow defensive linemen have had a lot of practice chasing around mobile quarterbacks this season.  Besides the hulking Roethlisberger, the Giants have met up with shifty scramblers like Cam Newton,  Tony Romo, Michael Vick and Robert Griffin III.

"It's no easy task being a Giant D-lineman this year," Tuck quipped.  "We've had some different animals out there, but you got to look at it as a great challenge for us."

Sounds like it's not as much of a case of "murder" as it is larceny — like Tuck being robbed of his sacks.