Grand jury indicts Hernandez
ATTLEBORO, Mass. — Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was indicted Thursday on first-degree murder and weapons charges in the death of a friend whose bullet-riddled body was found in an industrial park about a mile from the explayer’s home.
The six- count grand jury indictment charges Hernandez with killing 27-year- old Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player from Boston who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s girlfriend.
Hernandez, 23, pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges in June, and he is being held without bail.
He had a brief court appearance in Attleboro on Thursday afternoon. Afterward, his attorney Michael Fee said the defense was pleased to be on a path to a jury trial and was looking forward to testing the prosecution’s evidence.
“There has been an incredible rush to judgment in this case,” and the state doesn’t have enough evidence to prove the charges, he said.
Hernandez last summer signed a contract worth $40 million but was cut by the Patriots within hours of his June 26 arrest, when police led the handcuffed athlete from his home as news cameras rolled. He could face life in prison if convicted.
PRESEASON GAMES
Panthers 34, Ravens 27 at Baltimore: Ted Ginn Jr. returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown and the Carolina defense scored three times in a preseason victory over the mistakeprone Baltimore.
Drayton Florence took an interception 71 yards into the end zone, Thomas Davis scored on a 2-yard fumble return and linebacker Luke Kuechly picked off another of Joe Flacco’ passes late in the second quarter to set up a 54-yard field goal by Graham Gano for a 24-7 lead.
Flacco, the Super Bowl MVP, played into the third quarter and went 18 for 24 for 169 yards and a touchdown. In three preseason games, he has two TD passes and three interceptions.
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton completed 10 of 19 passes for 99 yards.
Lions 40, Patriots 9 at Detroit: Reggie Bush had five catches for 103 yards to help Detroit rout New England.
The Patriots’ first-team offense, which was precise and efficient in the first two games of the exhibition season, was anything but in preseason game No. 3. Tight end Zach Sudfeld and running backs Brandon Bolden and Shane Vereen lost fumbles and Tom Brady threw an interception in four of New England’s first five possessions. The other possession was a three-and-out that ended with Zoltan Mesko’s punt.
DEVELOPMENTS
Smith gets chance to lead Jets: It’s Geno Smith’s turn to try to prove he should be the New York Jets’ quarterback this season.
In a move that was expected for several days, Rex Ryan announced Thursday that the second-round draft pick will start over Mark Sanchez in the Jets’ preseason game against the Giants on Saturday night.
“Also on Thursday, the Jets signed veteran wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi to add depth to their receiving corps.
Briefly: Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for wearing unauthorized apparel, a T-shirt with “Operation Patience” on it. ... The San Francisco 49ers have added another quarterback to the competition to be Colin Kaepernick’s backup, signing nine-year veteran Seneca Wallace to a one-year contract Thursday.