Former LB Seau drives off road, hospitalized with injuries
Six-time All-Pro linebacker Junior Seau was hospitalized after his car went off a cliff Monday morning in Carlsbad, Calif., hours following his arrest for domestic abuse.
Police said they responded to a 911 call after Seau's white Cadillac sport utility vehicle veered off the road and onto the beach, department spokeswoman Fiona Everett said in a telephone interview. Police and fire units found Seau conscious behind the wheel.
Seau was taken to Scripps La Jolla Hospital. There was no evidence of alcohol or drugs in the car or on Seau, and an investigation into the accident continues, Everett said. Details of Seau's injuries weren't released.
Seau, 41, was arrested about eight hours earlier in Oceanside, the town adjacent to Carlsbad on the California coast about 37 miles (60 kilometers) north of San Diego. Oceanside police went to Seau's apartment following a call from his 25-year-old live-in girlfriend alleging that Seau assaulted her during a verbal argument, Lieutenant Leonard Mata said in a news release. Seau was arrested just after midnight, posted bail and was released, Mata said.
Head games:
Aiming for the head or leading with the helmet to deliver a blow could soon cost NFL players game time as well as money.
The league is considering suspending players for illegal hits in an effort to help prevent serious injuries, NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson told The Associated Press on Monday, one day after several scary collisions in games.
“There's strong testimonial for looking readily at evaluating discipline, especially in the areas of egregious and elevated dangerous hits, he said in a phone interview. “Going forward there are certain hits that occurred that will be more susceptible to suspension.
Anderson, a member of the league's competition committee and one of its loudest voices on the need for enhanced player safety, said the NFL could make the changes immediately, with Commissioner Roger Goodell's approval. League officials would consult with the players' union, but he didn't expect any opposition.
“Obviously suspensions would be a much bigger deal than fining guys, said Colts center Jeff Saturday, the team's player representative. “But if guys are headhunting out there to knock a guy out of the game, that's the only way to take care of it.
On Sunday, the Eagles' DeSean Jackson and the Falcons' Dunta Robinson were knocked out of their game after a frightening collision in which Robinson launched himself head first. Both sustained concussions.
Ravens tight end Todd Heap took a vicious hit from Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather that Heap called “one of those hits that shouldn't happen. The team was in contact with the league about the tackle.
“The thing we try to coach our players to do is basically hit in the strike zone, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Try to make an effort to do that and keep your head out of it. It's not just the safety of your opponent, it's safety for yourself. When you throw your head in there like that you put yourself at risk. It's just not good football.
Steelers linebacker James Harrison sidelined two Browns players with head injuries after jarring hits. An NFL spokesman said one of the tackles, on Joshua Cribbs, was legal. The Browns were more upset about Harrison's hit on Mohamed Massaquoi, which the league is reviewing.
“The one against Mohamed was illegal, Browns tight end Benjamin Watson said. “I can't judge his character, I can judge his conduct. It was an illegal hit. He led with his head. He hit Mo right in the head. He dove at his head. Whether he meant to hurt him or not, I can't comment on that. It was illegal and the league should take care of him with the max, whatever it is.
Harrison defended those hits after the game.
“If I get fined for that, it's going to be a travesty, Harrison said. “They didn't call (a penalty) on that. There's no way I could be fined for that. It was a good, clean legit hit. ... I didn't hit that hard, to be honest with you. When you get a guy on the ground, it's a perfect tackle.
Holding on Haynesworth:
The Washington Redskins insist Albert Haynesworth will remain with the team through Tuesday's trade deadline. Coach Mike Shanahan said Monday there's “a pretty good chance that Haynesworth won't be sent elsewhere, even though the two-time All-Pro has missed three of six games and has clashed often with the coach this year.
“God, I'll be so glad when that's over with so I don't have to talk about this anymore, Shanahan said. “I've answered this question for the last six months, every day. You'll just have to wait and see.
Panthers go back to Moore:
The winless Carolina Panthers benched struggling rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen on Monday, turning over the NFL's worst offense back to Matt Moore.
Coach John Fox announced the move in a statement through a team spokesman after Carolina (0-5) returned for a light workout and meetings following its bye weekend. Moore, who was benched after 6 turnovers in the first two games, will start Sunday against San Francisco (1-5).
“We have struggled on offense since the beginning of the season, said Fox, whose team is averaging 10.4 points a game. “Sometimes it helps to step back and watch, and Matt has had a chance to do that.
Moore, who said he was told of the change in a morning meeting with Fox, had watched Clausen fail to get Carolina out of its offensive funk the past three games. The second-round pick from Notre Dame has completed just 47 percent of his passes with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. Clausen has fumbled seven times, losing three.