Say What?

Manziel suspected of hitting his girlfriend

Johnny Manziel, who has a history of social misbehavior, had an argument last week with his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, who told police the Cleveland Browns quarterback hit her “a couple of times.”  A witness said Manziel was speeding in a white Nissan, and as the car slowed, his wallet was thrown out of it.  CBS reported that when police arrived at the scene, Crowley was sitting in a ditch.  A dashcam  showed Crowley crying.  Manziel is heard saying he grabbed her arm but did not hit her.  No charges have been filed, but police – and the NFL – will investigate further.  Police released a recording of a 911 call in which Crowley says, “I’m in fear of my life.”  She had an abrasion on her wrist, and she told police that Manziel pushed her head against the glass of the car.   Another issue: Manziel admitted the couple had been drinking, and that probably would be a violation of his rehabilitation program.  Manziel last spring voluntarily checked himself into a substance-abuse rehab clinic.

Seahawks squabble as defense breaks down

As the Seattle Seahawks were losing to Carolina to go 2-4, the unity for which they’re famous came into question.  On the winning touchdown, Carolina’s leading receiver, Greg Olsen, was left uncovered by All-Pro defensive backs Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman, who exchanged words after the 26-yard play.  Sherman apparently had not relayed a call from the sideline.  Coach Pete Carroll said: “We made a mistake on the call.  Guys got confused on the signal.”  Sherman said the coaching staff delivered conflicting orders.  Thomas said:  “We got half the defense playing this and half the defense playing that.  This is what happens when you don’t communicate. . . . I want to say a lot of things but I can’t.” 

Between the Lines: He said enough to indicate there are  fundamental problems with the much esteemed Seattle defense.  Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator who became head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, is missed in Seattle.

Panthers’ Davis says Graham puts stats above winning

Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis feels he knows Jimmy Graham well, having played in the same division for the five years the Pro Bowl receiver was with the New Orleans Saints.  After the Panthers beat Seattle 27-23 on Sunday, with Graham catching 8 passes for 140 yards, Davis told the Charlotte Observer: “He’s probably one of those guys who is excited about his production and not worried about his team losing.”

Ex-Giants safety Tyler Sash overdoses on pain meds

Former New York Giants safety Tyler Sash, who played for the Super Bowl champions in the 2012 season, died at 27 at his home in Oskaloosa, Iowa, from accidentally overdosing on pain medications, methadone and hydrocodone.  He was treating chronic shoulder pain from a football injury, which apparently led to addictions to alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs.  Last year he was arrested for public intoxication and for obstruction after he fled from police.  At the time of his arrest the former Iowa Hawkeye admitted to having six alcoholic drinks in one hour.  An investigation, which may take eight months, is continuing to determine if Sash also suffered from brain disease caused by concussions from football.

Odom collapses, brothel owner spars with Kardashian

Khloe Kardashian, estranged wife of Lamar Odom, lashed out at a Nevada brothel owner after the former NBA star was found unconscious in his room and subsequently was hospitalized in intensive care.  She complained publicly that Dennis Hof did not speak with her about the incident.  “Why didn’t they call me?  . . . What can you tell me, Dennis, that can help the doctors?  That’s the call I wanted to get.”  Odom, 35, apparently ingested 10 herbal sexual enhancement pills called Reload, washing them down with a bottle of cognac, during his five days and nights at the Love Ranch, a legal brothel owned by Hof.  There also were reports of Odom using cocaine during his stay which ended with him in a coma.  He has since regained consciousness after being treated for kidney failure.  Kardashian asked Hof to stop talking to media, to which he replied: “Tell Khloe Kardashian to go to hell.”  Kardashian also inquired about Odom’s belongings left in his room.  Hof has reported that they are missing.  Odom is the son in law of Kris Jenner, the former Olympian Bruce Jenner, who underwent transgender surgery to become (mostly) female.