Taliaferro, 1st black draft pick, dies at 91
Steelers WR Brown faces two lawsuits
GEORGE Taliaferro, a three-time All-America running back at Indiana who became the first black player to be selected in an NFL draft, died Monday night in Mason, Ohio, at the age of 91.
The Chicago Bears picked Taliaferro in the 13th round of the 1949 NFL Draft, but he decided to stick with his earlier decision to play for the Los Angeles Dons of the AllAmerica Football Conference.
Mark Deal, an assistant athletic director for alumni relations at Indiana whose father Russ was Taliaferro’s teammate with the Hoosiers, said the running back didn’t think he had a chance to play in the NFL because of his race.
“The way George told the story,” Deal told the Chicago Tribune, “he was eating dinner when someone came in and told him the Bears had drafted him. He said, ‘That can’t be right’.”
Hearing otherwise, Taliaferro decided he wanted to join the Bears, but his mother wouldn’t allow it.
“She told him, ‘You’ve already made a commitment to the Dons, you are going to play there,’” Deal said.
After one season with the Dons, Taliaferro joined the NFL in 1950, playing for the New York Yanks (1950-51), Dallas Texans (1952), Baltimore Colts (1953-54) and Philadelphia Eagles (1955).
The three-time Pro Bowl player (1951-53) gained 2,266 rushing yards on 498 carries in his pro football career with 15 rushing touchdowns, 1,300 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches.
Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981, Taliaferro helped lead Indiana in 1945 to the only undefeated season (9-0-1) in the history of the program and its only outright Big Ten title.
On Twitter, Indianapolis Colts owner called Taliaferro “a trailblazer and true gentleman.”
In a press release, Indiana University president Michael McRobbie added that Taliaferro “was a true trailblazer in every sense of the word and an individual of the greatest integrity, whose impact will be forever felt at IU and throughout the Hoosier state.”
According to a statement from the school, Indiana football players will wear Taliaferro’s No. 44 on their helmets on Saturday against Iowa. Flags
In this Oct 27, 1993 file photo, San Diego Chargers owner Alex Spanos gestures after the NFL announced that San Diego secured the 1990 Super Bowl. (AP)
will also be flown at half-staff on the Bloomington campus.
Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown is facing two lawsuits stemming from an alleged incident in April, according to multiple reports Tuesday. The lawsuits are for “damages in excess of $15,000,” according to ESPN.
Brown is accused of yelling at security and throwing items from off the balcony of a South Florida apartment. The 30-year-old was allegedly upset over $80,000 and a gun he reported missing. Brown accused building security of being behind the theft, according to police reports.
Los Angeles Chargers owner Alex Spanos died Tuesday at age 95.
The team announced Spanos’ passing in a statement Tuesday morning.
Spanos purchased controlling interest of the Chargers for $70 million in 1984. He surrendered day-to-day control of the team to his eldest son, Dean, before the 1994 season.
Dean Spanos currently serves as the Chargers’ controlling owner and team chairman and was integral in moving the team from San Diego to Los Angeles. Alex Spanos’ grandsons, A.G. and John, took over dayto-day operations in 2015.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran running back Jamaal Charles, the team announced.
The Jaguars also promoted tight end David Grinnage from the practice squad and signed running back Dave Williams off the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. Austin Seferian-Jenkins (core-muscle surgery) and running back Corey Grant (foot) were placed on injured reserve, and running back Brandon Wilds was released.
Offensive tackle Ereck Flowers, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, was waived by the New York Giants.
Offensive tackle Brian Mihalik was signed off the practice squad to replace Flowers on the roster.
Flowers was selected in 2015 to play right tackle but moved to left tackle after Will Beatty tore a pectoral muscle during offseason workouts. After two starts in 2018, Flowers was benched in favor of Chad Wheeler. In last week’s game at Carolina, Flowers played only 12 snaps, all on special teams.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and guard Ali Marpet reached agreement on a five-year extension.
According to the NFL Network, the extension is worth $55 million and includes $27.13 million in guarantees.
Marpet, 25, is now signed with Tampa Bay through the 2023 campaign. His four-year rookie deal was set to expire after this season.
Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson will get a second opinion on his injured right shoulder, the NFL Network reported.
Peterson said he dislocated the shoulder late in the first half during Monday night’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. Redskins coach Jay Gruden said after the contest that Peterson would undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday.
The Kansas City Chiefs placed starting left guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and safety Armani Watts on injured reserve.
Per ESPN, Chiefs coach Andy Reid believes Duvernay-Tardif will return at some point this season after suffering a broken left fibula during Kansas City’s 30-14 win over Jacksonville on Sunday.