Floyd’s brother praises Raiders’ tweet

The brother of George Floyd thanked the Las Vegas Raiders for their support after owner Mark Davis issued a statement on Twitter that drew backlash following the murder conviction of a police officer in the death of Floyd.

Philonise Floyd issued a statement through the family’s attorney on Wednesday, a day after the tweet sent on the team’s official account saying “I CAN BREATHE 420-21.” George Floyd told officers “I can’t breathe” more than 20 times before he was killed when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck last May. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter on Tuesday for causing Floyd’s death.

“On behalf of our family, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Las Vegas Raiders organization and its leadership for their support of our family and for our nation’s ongoing pursuit of justice and equality for all,” Philonise Floyd said. “Now, more than ever, we must come together as one and continue on in this fight. For the first time in almost a year, our family has taken a breath. And I know that goes for so many across the nation and globe, as well. Let’s take this breath together in honor of my big brother who couldn’t. Let’s do it for George.”

The tweet drew backlash on Twitter. The phrase “I can breathe” was used by supporters of police in New York after the death of Eric Garner in 2014. Davis said he wouldn’t have used that phrase if he knew the history but chose not to delete the tweet.

Owners tweak rules

Owners approved eliminating overtime in preseason games and expanded selection of jersey numbers for receivers, running backs and defensive backs.

The league also will allow on-field officials to get certain “objective information” from the replay official and designated members of the officiating department “when clear and obvious video evidence is present.”

Also approved were ensuring enforcement of all accepted penalties committed by either team during successive extra-point attempts, and adding a loss of down for a second forward pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage and for a pass thrown after the ball returns behind the line.

Rams re-sign cornerback

Cornerback Darious Williams, a restricted free agent who the Rams put on a first-round tender, signed a one-year contract, the team announced.

Williams, 28, will earn nearly $4.8 million this season. Williams earned $750,000 last season when he intercepted a team-best four passes.

— Gary Klein

Etc.

Aldon Smith turned himself in to authorities Wednesday in Louisiana after an arrest warrant had been issued for the Seattle Seahawks defensive end. The St. Bernard Parish sheriff ’s department said Smith was booked on a second-degree battery charge Tuesday. Officials said Smith was released on $25,000 bond. Smith is set to be arraigned on July 14 . ... T.J. Ward, the walk-on at Oregon who became a key part of Denver’s famed “No Fly Zone” secondary that helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50, announced his retirement . ... The San Francisco 49ers signed free agent running back Wayne Gallman Jr..