Post by TheShadow on Jan 4, 2004 14:23:29 GMT -5
From: Mike N. (palindrome(spam)@cablespeed.com)
Newsgroups: alt.sports.football.pro.baltimore
NFL League Office investigating tampering leads
The Associated Press
Friday, December 26, 2003; 11:10am
Sources inside the NFL League Office have admitted the league is
investigating charges that several Cleveland Brown and Pittsburgh Steeler
players are involved in a plot to throw games in favor of the Cincinatti
Bengals attempts to make the playoffs. Players from both teams were publicly
quoted favoring the Bengals to make the playoffs over the Baltimore Ravens.
"I'd rather have Cincinnati go than Baltimore," Ward said about the
playoffs. "Just for [Bengals coach] Marvin Lewis' sake. He's done a
tremendous job in Cincinnati. I'd rather have Cincinnati than Baltimore. ...
It would be more exciting than watching those guys [the Ravens].
League sources have confirmed, however, that several members of the Browns
defense and Steeler offense booked a group vacation junket for the week of
the AFC Championship Game as early as mid-August. This revelation has
caused members of both teams' front offices to question their teams'
respective disappointing records. It was initially assumed that the players
were commenting on the race between the Bengals and Ravens for the AFC
North Division title, but sources indicate the league believes the teams
prefered the Bengals to go to the playoffs over even their own respective
teams - this prior to the start of the 2003 campaign.
When alerted to league suspicions, Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher reportedly
spit, "Darn it all. Come along week 14, I thought something was funny."
Sources at the NAMBLA Travel Agency confirm a large ticket purchase to the
Sri Lankan beach resort of Bendovaboy, fronted through ficticious fan clubs
affiliated with the Browns and Steelers franchises, were reportedly
discreetly arranged for the players before the season started. One report
has stated that had one of the two teams somehow still managed to make the
playoffs, the tickets would be exchanged for an off-season group getaway at
Fire Island, in New York.
When confronted with the charges, Pittsburgh's Hines Ward commented, "The
charges are ridiculous. I don't even like the beach."
The situation has larger ramifications for the Browns, in light of Ravens
running back Jamal Lewis recently taking ownership of the franchise. The
League is withholding official word on what action should or could be taken
if it discovered that Lewis' new team actually tried to throw a game to hurt
the chances of the team that Lewis still plays for, the Ravens.
Said Lewis of the situation, "I know if I find out they was throwing games
for Marvin Lewis benefit, I would probably be ok with that, because I have a
lot of love for Marvin. But I would still line up the defensive line and
make them try to tackle me for three straight hours - for no pay."
Newsgroups: alt.sports.football.pro.baltimore
NFL League Office investigating tampering leads
The Associated Press
Friday, December 26, 2003; 11:10am
Sources inside the NFL League Office have admitted the league is
investigating charges that several Cleveland Brown and Pittsburgh Steeler
players are involved in a plot to throw games in favor of the Cincinatti
Bengals attempts to make the playoffs. Players from both teams were publicly
quoted favoring the Bengals to make the playoffs over the Baltimore Ravens.
"I'd rather have Cincinnati go than Baltimore," Ward said about the
playoffs. "Just for [Bengals coach] Marvin Lewis' sake. He's done a
tremendous job in Cincinnati. I'd rather have Cincinnati than Baltimore. ...
It would be more exciting than watching those guys [the Ravens].
League sources have confirmed, however, that several members of the Browns
defense and Steeler offense booked a group vacation junket for the week of
the AFC Championship Game as early as mid-August. This revelation has
caused members of both teams' front offices to question their teams'
respective disappointing records. It was initially assumed that the players
were commenting on the race between the Bengals and Ravens for the AFC
North Division title, but sources indicate the league believes the teams
prefered the Bengals to go to the playoffs over even their own respective
teams - this prior to the start of the 2003 campaign.
When alerted to league suspicions, Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher reportedly
spit, "Darn it all. Come along week 14, I thought something was funny."
Sources at the NAMBLA Travel Agency confirm a large ticket purchase to the
Sri Lankan beach resort of Bendovaboy, fronted through ficticious fan clubs
affiliated with the Browns and Steelers franchises, were reportedly
discreetly arranged for the players before the season started. One report
has stated that had one of the two teams somehow still managed to make the
playoffs, the tickets would be exchanged for an off-season group getaway at
Fire Island, in New York.
When confronted with the charges, Pittsburgh's Hines Ward commented, "The
charges are ridiculous. I don't even like the beach."
The situation has larger ramifications for the Browns, in light of Ravens
running back Jamal Lewis recently taking ownership of the franchise. The
League is withholding official word on what action should or could be taken
if it discovered that Lewis' new team actually tried to throw a game to hurt
the chances of the team that Lewis still plays for, the Ravens.
Said Lewis of the situation, "I know if I find out they was throwing games
for Marvin Lewis benefit, I would probably be ok with that, because I have a
lot of love for Marvin. But I would still line up the defensive line and
make them try to tackle me for three straight hours - for no pay."
