Month: December 2022

An arrest order has been issued for former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Brown is wanted for a misdemeanor battery charge related to an alleged domestic incident Monday afternoon in south Tampa involving the mother of Brown’s children. According to a Tampa Police Department spokesperson, police attempted to enforce the warrant at Brown’s south Tampa home on Thursday.

According to Tampa police, the former Steelers and Buccaneers star and a woman were involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical, with Brown allegedly throwing a shoe at the woman and trying to evict her from the home. Tampa police consequently sought a risk protection order Tuesday against Brown, but that request was rejected by Florida circuit court judge Denise A. Pomponio. Police alleged in the protection order request that Brown has access to two guns, including a handgun he carries.

This is just the latest in a string of legal troubles for the 34-year-old Brown. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery in June 2020 in Broward County, Fla., and received two years’ probation as a result. He also was required to undergo a psychological evaluation and take an anger management course.  He was released by the Patriots in 2019 after just one game with the team in light of allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and intimidation, and served an eight-game suspension as a free agent in ’20. He signed with the Buccaneers after serving his ’20 suspension, winning a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay in February ’21. The following season, he left the team in the middle of the regular-season finale, and was released from the Bucs.

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The Boston Celtics and veteran center Al Horford agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract extension. Horford was due to become a free agent after the 2022-23 NBA season. Horford’s agency Glushon Sports Management said on Twitter and Instagram that Horford’s new deal will start in 2023-24 and run through the 2023-25 season. He will make $26.5 million this season.

Horford averaged 13.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game over his first 968 career appearances. He earned five All-Star selections and was an All-NBA selection in 2010-11. The 6’9″ center has averaged 10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in 18 starts so far this season. Last season, the 36-year-old Hereford averaged 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 69 starts- his first season with the Celtics. The 16-year veteran joined the Celtics in a 2021 trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Celtics (18-4) will host the Miami Heat (10-12) at 7:30 p.m. EST Friday in Boston.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Wednesday that Kris Letang will be out indefinitely after suffering a second stroke. General manager Ron Hextall said the defenseman reported symptoms on Monday to the training staff and “was immediately taken to the hospital for testing … The test results were shocking to hear, but we are grateful that Kris is doing well. We are thankful to the medical staff and the physicians at UPMC. He is a warrior on the ice, but first and foremost, he is a son, father, husband and friend. His health is our number one priority.”  The Penguins said the stroke is not considered to be “career threatening” and that Letang “is not experiencing any lasting effects of the stroke and will continue to undergo a series of tests over the next week.”

The 35-year-old Letang suffered his first stroke in 2014, missing more than two months as a result. According to the Penguins, it was discovered through testing that there was “a very small hole in the wall of his heart,” which he was born with, and closes on its own in most cases.  Said Letang: “I am fortunate to know my body well enough to recognize when something isn’t right. While it is difficult to navigate this issue publicly, I am hopeful it can raise awareness. It is important for me that my teammates, family and the fans know that I am okay. I am optimistic that I will be back on the ice soon.”

Over the last eight years since his first stroke, Letang competed in 543 regular-season matchups and made 69 playoff appearances. This season, he leads the team for playing time and has tallied one goal and 11 assists.

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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald will miss a game due to injury for the first time in his NFL career.  Donald was ruled out of this Sunday’s Week 13 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks because of a high ankle sprain.  Donald injured his ankle early on against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12 but finished the game for Los Angeles.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that the team will take it week by week with Donald’s availability, and his ankle injury will not require surgery. McVay said of Donald finishing the game after being injured:“That’s what makes Aaron, Aaron. He’s unbelievable. I mean, to be able to play through that. The toughness. Everything that he embodies is what you love about Aaron Donald.” In 11 games this season, Donald has five sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, 11 quarterback hits and a forced fumble.

Donald has only missed two games in his career during the 2017 season: one was because his holdout ended the day before the Rams’ opener, and the other because McVay rested several players in the last game of the regular season.

In addition to Donald, the Rams are expecting to play without quarterback Matthew Stafford on Sunday, who is dealing with a neck injury and is in the concussion protocol. McVay said Stafford would not practice on Wednesday and said it’s “safe to say” he would not play against Seattle. Los Angeles will also be without wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who has a high ankle sprain, and wide receiver Allen Robinson, who has a stress fracture in his foot.

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