Media by Associated Press – Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (22) takes part in drills at Paul Brown Stadium Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
The one-shell rule that the National Football League instituted in 2012 has been lifted for the upcoming season, and the Cincinnati Bengals have already revealed a snippet of what’s to come. The organization released an Instagram video with the words “White Bengal” to indicate a white shell helmet is coming for the reigning AFC champions.
Fans have been clamoring for the White Bengal helmets and now will get them, though no design was shown, and there isn’t any indication of when they may debut the new lids. Earlier this week, the Houston Texans revealed an Battle Red helmets that they will use as secondaries.
Former first round pick dies
Rashad Anderson, a former first-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, died at age 45, his alma mater, Jackson State University, announced.
He played corner at the HBCU school from 1996 to 1999 before being selected 23rd overall in the 2000 NFL Draft.
“Today is a sad day for the JSU family,” Jackson State vice president and athletic director Ashley Robinson said in a statement. “Rashard was one of the best players in the history of our football program and an outstanding person. … Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”
Anderson played in 27 games across two seasons with the Panthers before being suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy in 2002. Once he was reinstated, no team picked him up.
Attorney: No basis to subpoena owner
Congress continues its investigation of a workplace culture within the Washington Commanders organization, and as people have been testifying – including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell – Commanders owner Dan Snyder has yet to do so.
On Wednesday, his attorney sent a letter to Congress stating Snyder intends to testify virtually on July 28 and that there is no basis to subpoena the owner.
It comes as a rebuttal to Tuesday’s announcement from Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., that the committee accepted Snyder’s offer to testify but that the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform intends to carry out the subpoena “to ensure that Mr. Snyder’s testimony will be full and complete and will not be restricted in the way it would be if the deposition were conducted voluntarily,” the Associated Press reported.
The NFL did not release their independent investigation reports, which resulted in a $10 million fine to the organization.
A fighter’s chance?
Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers great running back Le’Veon Bell is transitioning from the gridiron to the ring, he said earlier this week. The veteran running back will fight fellow star back Adrian Peterson at Crypto.com Arena on July 30, and it appears it won’t be Bell’s last fight as he pursues a boxing career.
The three-time Pro Bowler said;
“Last year, I almost sat out the whole year to try to focus on boxing because I kind of knew that was what I wanted to transition to. This year, I know I’m not going to be playing this year because I want to focus on boxing.”
He may not be the only former star competing in a ring. Longtime New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski said his retirement, this time, is final.
“I’m done with football,” he said on Tuesday in Boston, according to ESPN. “Love the game. Definitely blessed with all the opportunities the game of football has given me, and relationships … . But done with football and stepping my feet into the business world, business ventures and just seeing what’s out there and where I can find my place.”
Gronkowski’s brother, Chris, started the company Ice Shaker, and the group of brothers previously appeared on Shark Tank, making a pitch for an investment deal. He could team up with his family for that business and potentially others.
Another area Rob Gronkowski has dabbled with is World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He hosted WrestleMania 36 and won the 24/7 championship from his friend, Mojo Rawley, while hosting. It is both an entertaining and well-known business that he could be alluding to.
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