John Madden blasts Will Ferrell for playing in MLB spring training games

When Will Ferrell took the field for ten teams during an MLB spring training day stunt which benefited cancer research, most people found it to be a harmless diversion from what are normally considered warmup games.

Not so Hall of Fame NFL coach and legendary broadcaster John Madden who thought the actor should keep his sports comedy on screen and off the diamond.

The daylong stunt was part of a new HBO special from Funny Or Die — which is dedicated to the fight against cancer. Ferrell suited up for ten teams — including Madden's hometown Oakland Athletics — and played all nine positions during games in the Cactus League in Arizona on Thursday.

When Madden was asked about the stunt, he said it showed a "lack of respect."

The 78-year-old Madden called in to KCBS before Ferrell took the field with the A's to discuss the stunt.

"I hate it," he said.

"That's a lack of respect for the game and for what players have to do to get where they are."

In addition to the A's, Ferrell "played" for the Mariners, Angels, Cubs, D'Backs, Reds, White Sox, Giants, Dodgers and Padres. 

The Super Bowl-winning coach further explained that when he was coaching in Oakland, Golden State Warriors superstar Rick Barry said he wanted to practice with the Raiders during training camp.

Madden claimed he instructed his players to flatten the NBA star. 

"I'm in training camp in Santa Rosa. Rick Barry comes walking by and he was playing for the Warriors at that time," said Madden. "He was a friend of Al Davis' and he said he was going to go in and suit up and go out on the field and practice, to fool Al. 

"I swear this is true," claimed Madden. 

"Jack Tatum and George Atkinson walked by and I said, 'Look, if this guy comes out on the field, he's live bait and I want you to go after him the way you would go after any other player that plays on another team.'"

After Ferrell's duties on the field, his spring training statistics were posted on baseball-reference.com.

Welcome, Will Ferrell to the @mlb pantheon. http://t.co/HfM5F3wlF4 @CFCcharity pic.twitter.com/TB4EIcPihN
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) March 13, 2015

Ferrell is listed 11 times under the March 12, 2015, transactions section of baseball reference. 

Among the notable listings for John William Ferrell (Manimal) are: Traded to Chicago Cubs for a washing machine; Traded to Arizona Diamondbacks for a Churro Dog and D-Bat Dog; and claimed off waivers by Cincinnati Reds, Norm MacDonald released.

He's listed as becoming arbitration eligible in 2018 and can file for free agency in 2021. 

Rams executive denies apologizing to police for Ferguson protest by four players: Report

After five St. Louis Rams teammates joined in a "hands up, don't shoot" Ferguson protest before Sunday's home game at the Edward Jones Dome, a team executive appeared to apologize to police for the controversial moment.

But that executive, VP of football operations Kevin Demoff, later denied he said he was sorry.

The Rams issued a statement later on Tuesday to say there were "positive discussions" with Belmar and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Sam Dotson, though as FOX Sports' Mike Garafolo pointed out, there was no "apology" mentioned:

Here's the Rams' statement. The word you won't find is "apologize." Dunno what Demoff said to Dotson privately. pic.twitter.com/U0jC4iqfXa
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 2, 2014

The original report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch included an email from St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar in which he said Demoff "[took] the opportunity to apologize to our department on behalf of the Rams for the 'Hands Up' gesture that some players took the field with yesterday."

Regarding statements on an "apology" from Rams COO Kevin Demoff: Chief Belmar was contacted today by St. Louis... http://t.co/8pF5QAIi87
— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) December 2, 2014

On Tuesday, the NFL said the four players wouldn't be disciplined for their actions. So don't expect this issue to just go away.

Carson Palmer and Khalil Mack get stuck to each other in uncomfortable situation (GIF)

Carson Palmer and Khalil Mack seem to be stuck on each other — and not intentionally.

The Cardinals quarterback and Raiders linebacker tangled their cleats on a fourth-quarter pass play and had to be separated by a couple of offensive linemen.

A quick blast from a garden hose might have worked just as well too.

NY Giants jerseys will have a little extra flair this season (PHOTO)

The New York Giants will have a slightly different look this season. Their 2014 jerseys will have a patch on the left shoulder to commemorate their 90th season.

Tim Mara, father of Wellington and grandfather of John, founded the Giants in 1925 and the team will commemorate the milestone with the extra flair.

Here's a sneak peak at the patch:

In addition to the patch, the Giants will also go back to the white pants they wore last season against the Raiders and Cowboys. They will wear white pants (with stripes down the sides) for two home games in 2014 — against the Colts on Monday night and the 49ers two weeks later.

The Giants had worn gray pants (home and away) for the better part of the past 15 years.

Now if they could only go back in time and get No. 56 on the front and back of just one of their jerseys.

Raiderette cheerleaders suing Oakland Raiders for wage theft: Report

As if being an NFL defensive laughing stock on the field for the past decade wasn't enough, the Oakland Raiders are now being forced to defend themselves in the courtroom — against their own cheerleaders.

The Raiders organization is being sued by current and former members of the Raiderettes — claiming wage theft and other unfair employment practices.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Alameda County Superior Court alleges that the organization withholds all pay from the Raiderettes until the end of the season, does not pay for all hours worked and forces the cheerleaders to pay many of their own business expenses.

"The club controls our hairstyle and makeup, and we have to foot the bill," said the lead plaintiff, Lacy T., identified only by her first name, in accordance with Raiderettes policy, for security reasons. "We also have to pay the costs for traveling to all kinds of events, including photo shoots... I love the Raiders and I love being a Raiderette, but someone has to stand up for all of the women of the NFL who work so hard for the fans and the teams."

According to the filing, Raiders cheerleaders are paid $1,250 per season, which amounts to less than $5 per hour for the time they spend rehearsing, performing and appearing at events for which they are not compensated.

The suit claims they have been unfairly fined for bringing the wrong pom-poms to practice, wearing the wrong workout outfits or forgetting their yoga mats.

The team had no comment on the lawsuit.

Admit it though, isn't it really about Raider Nation anyway?