Leadoff with Lee 1.10.15

By @cleeverizon

- It's unknown if Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will practice today. Earlier this week, it was discovered that the Green Bay starter has a torn and strained calf muscle. Despite his injury, he will make the start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. One team official said Rodgers won't be 100%, the bigger question is whether he will be 50% or 95% on game day. I expect the Cowboys to blitz more in this game than any other because of Rogers limited mobility.

- The NFL is investigating the Browns for allegations of using electronic devices on the sidelines for play calling. The rules prohibit smartphones and cellphones from being used in team areas, including sidelines and coaching booths from 90 minutes before kickoff and in locker rooms after kickoff. The restrictions on the devices end after games end.

"We are reviewing internally and will fully cooperate with the NFL on this matter.”, said a Browns spokesman on Friday.

- Former Browns head coach and current 49ers tight ends coach Eric Mangini will interview with the Washington Redskins for their open defensive coordinator position. Mangini was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator in 2005 after several years as a defensive backs coach and then was hired as the Jets head coach the next year. Randy Lerner then hired Mangini in 2009 after the firing of Romeo Crennel. Mangini spent time with ESPN a few years then, he joined the 49ers staff in 2013 as an offensive assistant and then moved to the tight ends job for the 2014 season.

- Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington has reportedly been suspended for failing a drug test, and he will miss the National Championship Game against Ohio State, Carrington reportedly tested positive for marijuana. In the voice of Stephen A. Smith, "Stay off da weeeeeeeda!" The Ducks will be missing their number 1 and 2 receivers for the game as Devon Allen is out with a knee injury.

- NCAA basketball official Karl Hess has resigned as a official in the ACC after allegations the official used an ethnic slur during a game between Wake Forest and Louisville. Hess' removal from ACC basketball games will not affect his ability to officiate games for other conferences, including the Southeastern Conference, American Athletic Conference and Colonial Conference.

Here is a copy of the tweet that Hess used to Mit Shah who is a former chairman at Wake Forest board of trustees and now a hotel mogul: Karl Hess to me at the Wake-Louisville game tonight..."When I'm older, I want to sit in your seat & watch your Egyptian ass ref a game" #Wow

- Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill has requested and been granted his release from the program and can transfer to any school of his choice. Hill replaced former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and was a early Heisman hopeful with a 511-yard, three-touchdown victory of fellow SEC opponent South Carolina to open the 2014 season. Hill started off the season 5-0 then was benched and suspended from the team for two-games for a violation of team rules and athletic department policy. Prior to the season beginning Hill also was suspended for the final part of spring practice in 2014 after an alcohol-related arrest.




- Former Dallas Mavericks center Roy Tarpley, whose star fizzled due to drug and alcohol problems, died Friday afternoon. He was 50. Cause of death was not immediately known although when the Mavericks arrived in Los Angeles for their game Saturday against the Clippers, several members of the traveling party had been informed that liver failure was at least partly to blame. 

The 6'11" Tarpley was the seventh pick in the 1986 draft by the Mavericks out of Michigan. In his second season, he was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, before drugs and controversy clouded the rest of his six seasons in the league. Tarpley would spend most of his career battling personal problems. He was suspended by the NBA after five games in the 1989-90 season after being arrested for driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. In 1991, he drew another suspension after a second DWI arrest and, a few months later, had a third violation and was banned from the league for violating the NBA’s drug-use policies. He returned to the Mavericks briefly in 1994 but then was permanently barred in December, 1995, for violating terms of his aftercare program. Tarpley’s abilities on the court were never a problem. In 280 games, he averaged 12.6 points and 10 rebounds. In the 1987-88 season, he averaged 17.9 points and 12.9 rebounds in 17 playoff games before the Mavericks lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals in seven games.

And last but not least the inductees of the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame were announced yesterday, led by former Ohio State couch Jim Tressel. 


Here is a full list of inductees:


Youngstown State and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth
Kansas State coach Bill Snyder
Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts
Arizona State linebacker Bob Breunig
Millsaps defensive end Sean Brewer from Division III
Pittsburgh offensive tackle Rugen Brown
Florida split end Wes Chandler
Notre Dame split end Thom Gatewood
Yale running back Dick Jauron
Michigan state halfback Clinton Jones
Washington offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy
Michigan running back Rob Lytle
Marshall quarterback Michael Payton
Texas Tech linebacker Zach Thomas
Kentucky defensive lineman Art Still

Leadoff with Lee 12.30.14 #Harbaugh #Michigan #Manziel #BlackMonday

By @cleeverizon

- Former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh will become the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He'll be signing a reported 6-year, $8 million dollar annual contract and becoming the highest paid coach in college football history. Michigan will also pay the consulting firm of Korn Ferry $80,000 for helping conduct the "search" for the new coach. This is the same firm that was used when they hired Brady Hoke, and we all know how that ended. The official press conference is scheduled at Noon today and I also expect Harbaugh to address the Michigan fans prior to the men's basketball game, ala Urban Meyer. The average Big Ten head coach salary in the 94-95 season was $132,800. Harbaugh made $50,000 in 2002 as quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders.

- Johnny Manziel had a "social gathering" at his apartment Friday night. Saturday morning he was set to seek treatment for his hamstring injury and was not able to be reached via phone. Browns security staff went to Manziel's apartment to search for him after he didn't return calls or show up to the team facility. Ultimately, Manziel was fined a undisclosed amount of money for his tardiness. In a season ending interview yesterday, "Money Manziel" apologized to Jimmy Haslam and his teammates. It was initially reported Justin Gilbert and Josh Gordon attended Manziel's "social gathering". Manziel shutdown rumors yesterday and told reporters neither of the players were in attendance. Justin Gilbert was inactive Sunday because he was late for a team meeting. The Browns suspended Gordon after he failed to show up for Saturday's walk-through. He'll finish with just five games active this season, which could prevent him from being eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016. The Browns nearly traded Gordon prior to the 2013 deadline and could shop him again this offseason. This means the Browns now have control of Gordon as he will then be a restricted free agent in the 2016 season and can match any offer made to him by any other team.

- Yesterday was #BlackMonday aka the time when most teams inform their head coaches they have been fired. The following #NFL head coaches and general managers were fired: Chicago Bears fired head coach Marc Trestman, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer and general manager Phil Emery. They hired consultant Ernie Accorsi to help them in the search of a new coach and general manager. The New York Jets fired Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik. Ryan is rumored to be the leading candidate for the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job, which became vacant after firing head coach Mike Smith. The Falcons hired, you guessed it, Korn Ferry to identify potential candidates for the position.

- Per Eric Garafalo, 49ers assistant Eric Mangini is slated to interview with the Raiders for their head-coaching job, source says.