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NFL

Simpson appearing before parole board

LOVELOCK, Nev. — Former football star and convicted felon O.J. Simpson is appearing before a parole board Thursday, pleading for his freedom on live TV.

Simpson was convicted in 2008 of an armed robbery involving two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room. The 70-year-old is asking the parole board to release him in October after serving the minimum nine years of a 33-year sentence.

He is seated at a plain wooden table and is appearing before the parole board from Lovelock Correctional Center via closed-circuit video. Appearing as inmate No. 1027820, Simpson is being accompanied by lawyer Malcolm LaVergne, prison caseworker Marc La Fleur, close friend Tom Scotto, sister Shirley Baker and daughter Arnelle Simpson.

The hearing is being chaired by Connie Bisbee, with Tony Corda, Adam Endel and Susan Jackson also in attendance via video conferencing from Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners headquarters in Carson City, Nevada. Commissioners Ed Gray and Michael Keeler monitored proceedings from Las Vegas.

If any of the four commissioners monitoring from Carson City vote to deny Simpson’s release, or there is a split, then Gray and Keeler will be asked to weigh in until there is a majority. The seven-member board has one vacancy and — should the vote end in a 3-3 tie — Simpson will have to return for another hearing in January 2018.

The same four commissioners watching from Carson City granted him parole during his last public appearance in 2013 on some of his 12 charges, leaving him with four years to serve before reaching his minimum term.

If he is granted his release, Simpson, who was convicted in 2008 of an armed robbery involving two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room, could be out of prison as early as Oct. 1.

His current sentence end date is Sept. 29, 2022.

Simpson appeared animated as he looked around the room as he entered, recognizing people in the room.

Bisbee mistakenly read that Simpson recently turned 90 years old before correcting herself, and Simpson seized the opportunity to make a joke.

“Feels like it though,” he said as laughter filled the room, helping to break the tension before Simpson was asked to recount his details about what happened during the armed robbery in 2008.

Four years ago, Simpson told the parole board he has kept a promise to stay out of trouble, coaches in the prison gym where he works and counsels other inmates.

Simpson has earned sentencing credits and time off for good behavior, cutting his 33-year maximum sentence by more than half.

He was convicted of enlisting some men he barely knew, including two who had guns, to retrieve from two sports collectibles sellers some items that Simpson said were stolen from him a decade earlier.

The robbery was a new low for Simpson, whose celebrity spanned sports, movies, television and advertising before his fall from grace during his highly publicized murder trial in 1995.

Simpson was found not guilty in the 1984 killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. In 1997, he was found liable in civil court for the deaths and ordered to pay $33.5 million to survivors including his children and the Goldman family.

The Goldmans believe Simpson got away with murder in Los Angeles, and many people felt the stiff sentence handed down in Las Vegas wasn’t just about the robbery.

Ron Goldman’s father and sister, Fred and Kim, were not part of Simpson’s parole hearing. A spokesman on Wednesday said the family was apprehensive about how, if Simpson were to be released, “will change their lives again.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NFL

Third tag wouldn't be a charm for Kirk Cousins, Redskins

The Kirk Cousins saga was briefly interrupted Monday when he and the Washington Redskins failed to strike a long-term deal. Barring the unlikely scenario of an in-season trade, the dance will resume in the offseason, with Cousins hitting free agency a strong possibility. Unless, of course, there’s another tag placed on him.

The lesson Washington must learn: If you truly want a player to re-sign, don’t wait until late in the game to make what would have been a strong offer a few months earlier. Cousins did debate countering but in the end he said he wanted to see how this season goes because of numerous changes to the organization.

Here are the four options in 2018 and, based on talking to numerous people, why they do or don’t make sense:

Kirk Cousins’ contract could occupy about 20 percent of the Redskins’ salary-cap space in 2018 if he is placed under the franchise tag for a third time. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

A third franchise tag: This would cost $34.5 million, which likely makes this an unrealistic scenario. The benefit, though, is that the Redskins would control his rights. If the Redskins feel there’s any shot at retaining him, they could tag him and negotiate without any future tag numbers impacting their talks, as has been the case. But if they don’t strike a deal, it’ll be a costly maneuver.

Or, they could tag and trade him. Cousins would have to work out a long-term contract with another team. But if there’s no trade — and no long-term deal — the Redskins would be stuck with a hefty bill that, if the salary cap rises by $10 million or so, would occupy nearly 20 percent of the space. That’s bad business. They also have 11 other key starters or backups in the last year of their deal, so if Cousins played a third year under the tag it would cost them the ability to retain multiple players.

The transition tag: This would enable Washington, which would owe Cousins $28.7 million under the transition tag, to match any offer from other teams. But there’s a problem: The offer could be too tough to match. The Redskins will have plenty of cap space — overthecap.com projects them at $54 million — so they could absorb a massive first-year hit on a new deal. However, as noted in the franchise-tag section, it would prohibit the Redskins from re-signing some of their other players. San Francisco, in need of a long-term starting quarterback, projects to have around $49 million in cap space. Those numbers don’t include possible carryover space from 2017 or players who could be released.

The 49ers — or another team — could make a heavily front-loaded deal with a player opt-out clause for the second year, much like the deal Alex Mack signed three years ago when under the transition tag with Cleveland. A year later, he opted out and bolted. If the Redskins matched such an offer, they would do so knowing Cousins could simply leave in 2019. It becomes an expensive one-year rental. However, if he opted out and signed elsewhere, the Redskins would receive a compensatory draft pick. If they fail to match the original offer, they wouldn’t receive compensation. If Cousins doesn’t get the offer he wants, or from the team he wants, he could always sign the tag and do this dance all over again in 2019.

Re-signing before free agency: This is tough to see happening. Real tough. Cousins said he wasn’t bothered by general manager Bruce Allen’s statement and knew it was coming, but suffice to say it went further than anticipated and did not sit well. If nothing else it stalled momentum from the previous two months that would have helped next offseason. Will that matter in February? Who knows. It could be viewed as a continuation of the perception of how things are handled in Washington. Regardless, how Allen continues to steer the franchise will matter. So will the relationship between Cousins and Gruden when it comes to how they mesh in the playcaller-QB dynamic. So will how the offense fares with two new prominent receivers. The season would have to go really well to the point both sides realize they’re better off together than apart in order to get something done. There are things both sides really like about the other; but it hasn’t been enough to work anything out to date. It’s not all on the Redskins, though. For them to pay the money it would take to sign Cousins pre-free agency, they’d have to see a whole lot this season — and the team had better reach the playoffs. The best guess here: He won’t sign at this point, opting to let them either use another tag or hit free agency. It’s not impossible for him to return, but a lot must break right.

Free agency: If neither tag is a great option and if signing before free agency would be considered a long shot (as of now), then this is the most likely (and desired) outcome. In this case, the Redskins would be bidding against multiple teams and, as you could imagine, there will be no hometown discount. Washington would not be out of the running, but the Redskins also wouldn’t be the favorite. Again, a lot depends on how the season unfolds. Cousins’ value would be set without the threat of a future tag. With good quarterbacks rarely hitting the open market, there likely would be multiple suitors. Yes, the 49ers would be one of them, but they won’t be alone. And it could reach numbers that make the dollar amounts bandied about in 2016 and ’17 seem like a bargain. If Cousins leaves in free agency, the Redskins’ parting gift would be a compensatory pick in 2019.

NFL

Cousins needs time, content with 1-year deal

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said a deal was closer than people realize, but ultimately he chose not to counter the team’s latest offer — and is content, once again, to play on a one-year deal.

During his paid appearance Tuesday on 106.7 The Fan, Cousins also said he wasn’t bothered by Redskins president Bruce Allen’s statement Monday. Cousins reiterated that his first choice would be to remain in Washington long-term. He also laughed off how Allen pronounces his first name, making it sound like he’s saying “Kurt” instead of “Kirk.”

2 Related

Ultimately, though, Cousins said he wants to use this season to gauge the direction of the franchise.

“I felt I needed more time,” Cousins said. “I want to get more information about the organization. There have been a lot of chances since the end of last season. I want time to help make this decision.”

Cousins will make $23.9 million under the franchise tag this season after the Redskins failed to secure a deal by the July 17 deadline. He becomes the first quarterback to play consecutive seasons on the franchise tag.

Cousins, who will turn 29 next month, said he still views Washington as the place he wants to be.

“One narrative is if I don’t sign a deal this July, I won’t be here beyond this season,” Cousins told The Fan. “I don’t believe that to be true.” Cousins said if the Redskins put together a successful season, “why would I want to look elsewhere?”

After the deadline, Allen delivered a statement that said the Redskins offered Cousins a contract with $53 million in fully guaranteed money — and $72 million guaranteed for injury. That guarantee included the money he’ll make this year under the tag. But, by playing on his one-year deal, Cousins could make a lot more in the future. Allen also pointed out how “despite our repeated attempts, we have not received any offer from Kirk’s agent this year.”

“I’ve been called Kurt my entire life. I remember having different teachers and instructors who would call me Kurt. It doesn’t matter. It’s not a big deal. Trust me, it’s probably not as big an issue as some make it out to be.”

QB Kirk Cousins, on pronunciation of name by Redskins president Bruce Allen

Cousins said he wasn’t bothered by the statement.

“I understand where they’re coming from,” Cousins said. “In his position, they have to do that and be clear where the offer was and that they did their part. It’s a great starting point. It’s a fair offer. I respect and appreciate Bruce’s approach. He communicated to me that they need to let the story be known and I said I totally understand that. I knew something like that was coming out. It didn’t offend or bother me.”

Cousins said that Allen’s way of saying “Kirk” doesn’t bother him either. A team spokesman said Allen simply says it that way because of his accent.

“I’ve been called Kurt my entire life,” Cousins said. “I remember having different teachers and instructors who would call me Kurt. It doesn’t matter. It’s not a big deal. Trust me, it’s probably not as big an issue as some make it out to be.”

NFL

Gettleman out as Panthers GM after 4 seasons

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers have fired general manager Dave Gettleman effective immediately, the team announced Monday.

“After much thought and a long evaluation of our football operations, I have decided to relieve Dave Gettleman of his duties as general manager,” team owner Jerry Richardson said in a statement. “I want to thank Dave for the role he played in our success over the past four seasons. While the timing of this decision is not ideal, a change is needed.”

The move comes nine days before the Panthers are scheduled to report to training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The team offered no immediate reason for Gettleman’s dismissal.

The NFL now has had two summer firings of general managers. The latest is the Panthers’ Dave Gettleman, coming a few weeks after the Chiefs parted ways with John Dorsey. The timing is unusual mostly because an NFL GM’s “busy season” is from February through June. Once training camp starts, roster-building is mostly complete. A new GM can’t do much now to change his team’s 2017 direction, and his impact on college scouting for the 2018 draft will be impacted by the fact that he’ll inherit his predecessor’s scouts. That’s why teams normally make GM changes at the start of the offseason, not the end.

Kevin Seifert, NFL Nation

The Panthers were 40-23-1 under Gettleman’s leadership, making the playoffs each season from 2013 to 2015, with the general manager being instrumental in the Panthers’ going 15-1 and reaching the Super Bowl during the 2015 season. But Carolina took a step back last season, going 6-10 and finishing last in the NFC South.

Gettleman has more than 30 years of NFL experience, mostly in scouting departments with the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos and New York Giants.

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