The Early Lead - Where your daily sports conversation begins ... and never ends - November 14, 2010

Former Redskins QB Colt Brennan in serious condition with head trauma, broken ribs, clavicle

Former Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan is in serious condition in a Honolulu hospital with head trauma, broken ribs, and a broken left clavicle sustained in an auto accident, his father told a Honolulu television station Friday. "We know there's three...

By Cindy Boren | November 20, 2010; 5:48 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (23)
Categories: NFL, Redskins
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Former Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan injured in car accident

Updated at 6:40 p.m. Former Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan has face lacerations and possible head injuries, according to a Star-Advertiser update. He may be flown to Queen's Hospital on Oahu, a source tells the newspaper. Filed at 5:41 p.m. Former...

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 5:41 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: NFL, Redskins
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Baltimore Ravens guard Chris Chester hospitalized with a 'skin issue'

Baltimore Ravens right guard Chris Chester was hospitalized with a "skin issue" last night, Coach John Harbaugh said Friday. "We think he'll be there for Sunday," Harbaugh said, "but you never know with those things." Harbaugh said he didn't know...

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 1:09 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: NFL
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Big Ten decrees that only one end zone will be used for Wrigley Field football game

It wasn't the best fit to begin with, but the powers that be were determined to jam a football field into Wrigley Field for the game between Illinois and Northwestern on Saturday. Football at the Wrig used to be fairly...

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 12:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: College football
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Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl suspended by SEC for 8 conference games

Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl has been suspended by the Southeastern Conference for the school's first eight conference games because of NCAA violations. Pearl had admitted in September that he lied to NCAA investigators about a barbecue he hosted at his...

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 12:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: College basketball
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Eva Longoria, Tony Parker in 'Summer Nights'

It seemed like such a good idea at the time. Now, it's just the world's most unfortunate spoof of "Grease," starring Eva Longoria Parker and Tony Parker. Why not? So there, beneath the worst rug to not belong to Travolta,...

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 11:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NBA
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Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams charged with DUI

Updated at 1:21 p.m. Mike Williams will travel to San Francisco and will start against the 49ers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Filed at 11:16 a.m. Mike Williams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' leading wide receiver, was arrested for driving under the...

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 11:16 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: NFL
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Brandon Marshall commits 'downright stupid' penalty in Bears-Dolphins game

"That's just downright stupid." Joe Theismann is 10 trillion percent correct as Brandon Marshall draws a flag for failing to check himself before he wrecked himself in the Dolphins' loss to the Bears on Thursday night....

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 10:59 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NFL
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Funny Danny Rouhier weeps over Redskins' Week 10

OOF (Our Old Friend) Danny Rouhier, has his weekly meltdown/breakdown/heart attack/Nancy-Kerrigan-whhhhy-me moment over the Redskins....

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 10:04 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Redskins
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Cam Newton allegations complicate the Heisman Trophy process

Finally, someone is using the "S" word in connection with the whole play-for-pay scheme that is allegedly involving Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and his father, Cecil. Doug Zeit, a lawyer for Kenny Rogers, said it was "a stupid decision" for...

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 9:05 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: College football
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Former Indiana player A.J. Moye recovering from stroke in Frankfurt

A.J. Moye, the former Indiana University basketball player, remains hospitalized in Frankfurt, Germany, because of a stroke he suffered Monday after a head-on collision with a teammate. "It was what doctors consider a powerful stroke, although there are more serious...

By Cindy Boren | November 19, 2010; 8:38 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Michael Wilbon is leaving The Post

Michael Wilbon, who has graced The Washington Post with his writing for almost 32 years, is leaving us. Of course, the news isn't really a surprise; he became a big-cheese TV star a few years back and ESPN and Disney...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 4:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (168)

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Report: Mississippi State booster was offered payment plan designed to get Cam Newton to sign

The latest wrinkle in the Cam Newton investigation? A payment plan. Those can be so helpful. A Mississippi State booster told has ESPN.com that he was texted a payment plan, created with the purpose of bringing Newton to Mississippi State...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 2:41 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: College football
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Brian St. Pierre named Carolina Panthers' starting QB against Baltimore Ravens

Brian St. Pierre will be the Carolina Panthers' starting quarterback Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. I repeat. Brian St. Pierre will be the Carolina Panthers' starting quarterback Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. St. Pierre has thrown five passes in the...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 1:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: NFL
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With a little help from dad, DaVaris Daniels finds his way in football

DaVaris Daniels' dad watches his high school games on the internet (frequently tweeting his delight at what he's seeing and his frustration with the internet connection). Dad, who happens to be the Redskins' Phillip Daniels, won't have that problem next...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 1:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Redskins
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Peyton vs. Brady: If you had to pick one ...

Peyton vs. Brady. Brady vs. Peyton. Whether it's the greatest quarterback rivalry in NFL history is up for debate; what matters is that it's the one we have now, this weekend. poll by twiigs.com...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 12:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: NFL
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Report: Number of NFL players on injured-reserve list is up over 2009

Does it seem as if the number of injuries in the NFL is up this year? Being a Red Zone zombie might contribute to that perception. So might a day like Oct. 17, when there were a number of dangerous...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 11:06 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: NFL
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Rick Barry speaks on Eva Longoria-Tony Parker split; Tony Parker does not

What were the chances that Pro Basketball Hall of Fame forward Rick Barry -- the only player to win scoring titles in the NCAA, the NBA and ABA -- would enter into the conversation swirling about the divorce between Eva...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 10:17 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: NBA
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Calgary Flames general manager Darryl Sutter trades his own kid

There's nepotism and then there's Darryl Sutter, the general manager of the Calgary Flames. He traded his son to another team. Brett, who one week ago was jailed briefly after a fight outside an Arizona bar, and defenseman Ian White...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 9:42 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: NHL
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Tiger Woods: 'I'm so much better now because of this past year'

Tiger Woods took another step back into the spotlight with an interview on the "Mike and Mike" show on ESPN this morning. The conversation is another stop on his accessibility tour -- he has joined Twitter and written an essay...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 8:19 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Tiger Woods
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Greg Oden is out for the season, needs microfracture surgery on left knee

Greg Oden is 3-for-4, in a really awful way: that's how many of his NBA seasons have ended because of an injury. Oden, the Portland Trail Blazers center who was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, will...

By Cindy Boren | November 18, 2010; 5:21 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: NBA
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Texans quarterback Matt Schaub hospitalized with bursa sac injury in knee

Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was hospitalized Tuesday night because of a bursa sac injury in his knee. Coach Gary Kubiak, who said that Schaub was hospitalized as a precaution, expects him to practice Thursday and to be ready to...

By Cindy Boren | November 17, 2010; 3:04 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NFL
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Report: Eva Longoria files for divorce from Tony Parker

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker in September. (Reuters) Tony Parker is heading from a basketball court to a divorce court. "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria [not this person] has filed papers to end their three-year marriage in Los Angeles...

By Cindy Boren | November 17, 2010; 12:09 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: NBA
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Tiger Woods: 'I made terrible choices and repeated mistakes'

Tiger Woods' golf game was a work in progress, even in September. (Jamie Squires / Getty Images) As the first anniversary of The Thanksgiving Incident that Irreparably Changed His Life approaches, Tiger Woods chose to reflect on his very...

By Cindy Boren | November 17, 2010; 11:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Tiger Woods
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Duke's Kyle Singler has trick shots up his sleeve, including the 'Dick Vitale shot'

The Kyle Singler trick shots are fun and cool to watch. Just one thing: Please, Kyle, I'm begging you, stop with the Dick Vitale impression. One of him is enough....

By Cindy Boren | November 17, 2010; 8:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: College basketball
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With Chad Pennington, Chad Henne out, Dolphins move on with Tyler Thigpen and Wildcat

With only four days between their games this week, the Miami Dolphins have faced a compression of time that has forced them to fast-forward through the stages of loss and grief. Only Sunday they lost two quarterbacks, Chad Pennington (for...

By Cindy Boren | November 17, 2010; 8:03 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: NFL
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NFL is investigating spitting allegation concerning LaRon Landry and pregame fight

The NFL is investigating Philadelphia Eagles center Mike McGlynn's allegation that Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry twice spat at him in the teams' Monday night game at FedEx Field. The league is also looking into the teams' pregame dustup, an...

By Cindy Boren | November 16, 2010; 5:33 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: NFL, Redskins
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Michael Vick's jersey from game against Redskins is headed to Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, as it did with DeAngelo Hall after his four-interception game against the Chicago Bears, has requested the jersey Michael Vick wore in the Philadelphia Eagles' victory Monday night over the Washington Redskins. .bbpBox4651491537195009 {background:url(http://a3.twimg.com/profile_background_images/26886407/HOF_Twitter_New_1280_768_08.jpg)...

By Cindy Boren | November 16, 2010; 5:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Michael Vick, NFL
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Charles Barkley joins NCAA Tournament broadcasts

Now, this is just what March Madness needed: the measured, rarely controversial remarks of Charles Barkley. Barkley, along with Marv Albert and Kenny Smith from Turner, will be part of joint coverage of the NCAA Tournament by TNT and CBS....

By Cindy Boren | November 16, 2010; 2:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: College basketball
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NBA Commissioner David Stern goes one-on-one with Stephen Colbert

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cDavid Sternwww.colbertnation.comColbert Report Full Episodes2010 ElectionMarch to Keep Fear Alive When David Stern does an interview, the conversation naturally turns to flubber, fuzzy balls, the international game, a possible lockout, the Harlem Globetrotters,...

By Cindy Boren | November 16, 2010; 12:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NBA
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Steelers cut Jeff Reed, sign former Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham

The Pittsburgh Steelers have opted to replace their struggling kicker, Jeff Reed, with former Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham. Suisham, who was with the Redskins for parts of four seasons, made 81 of 101 field goal attempts. He was good on...

By Cindy Boren | November 16, 2010; 12:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: NFL
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Who had the best and worst weeks in D.C. sports?

Note: Show postponed till about 1:15 p.m. (Or, as some might wonder after last night's NFL contest, did anyone have a good week?) Among the choices for best: Gilbert Arenas, Jason Clark, John Erskine, Pe'shon Howard, Donovan McNabb, Alexander Semin,...

By Cindy Boren | November 16, 2010; 10:40 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Andy Reid's sons play a role in the success of Michael Vick with Eagles

Andy Reid, Michael Vick and Tony Dungy (Associated Press) There's a lot of talk at the moment, silly talk about how "if McNabb is worth a kabillion dollars, how much will Michael Vick be worth when he becomes a...

By Cindy Boren | November 16, 2010; 8:43 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: NFL
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Donovan McNabb's Redskins extension: Your first take

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 4:52 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Donovan McNabb, Redskins
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Poll: Is the contract better news for Donovan McNabb or the Redskins?

poll by twiigs.com...

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 4:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (49)
Categories: Redskins
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Report: Donovan McNabb agrees to 5-year contract extension with Redskins

Quarterback Donovan McNabb and the Washington Redskins have agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $78 million, according to ESPN's Michael Smith. Smith adds that $40 million is guaranteed and the contract could rise to $88 million with incentives. We'll...

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 3:24 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Redskins
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LeBron James, candidate for Time's Person of the Year (it's been that kind of year)

LeBron James of the Miami Heat is one of 25 candidates for Time's Person of the Year award and the only athlete, unless you count the Chilean miners because one of them finished the New York City Marathon, on the...

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 2:28 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: NBA
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Report: Chad Pennington out for the year

Chad Pennington will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury that could end his career, a source close to Pennington has told ESPN. Pennington, who has three times had surgery on the shoulder of his throwing arm...

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 1:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: NFL
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Report: Brett Favre will consult James Andrews about shoulder pain

Updated at 3:04 p.m. It's news to Minnesota Coach Brad Childress that Brett Favre plans to contact James Andrews. "I just talked with [Eric Sugarman, the head athletic trainer], who just had Brett in there," Childress said. "To paraphrase, he's...

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 11:14 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Brett Favre, NFL
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Blackout at Giants-Cowboys game 'was scary,' Umenyiora says

In Jersey, it's actually scarier when the lights go back on. (New York Daily News) The New Meadowlands was a pretty scary place when the lights went out Sunday evening during the Giants' game against the Dallas Cowboys. The...

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 10:44 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: NFL
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Eric Johnson, Jessica Simpson engagement generates sentiment. And snark.

The news that Jessica Simpson is engaged to former NFL player Eric Johnson is being greeted with just the kind of pure-hearted good wishes you'd expect throughout the blogosphere: .bbpBox4190350893649921 {background:url(http://a1.twimg.com/profile_background_images/16804258/si_twitter_back_6232.gif) #A1A9B6;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid...

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 10:18 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Report: Clinton Portis on early inactives list for Redskins

Clinton Portis is among the players on the early inactives list for tonight's game between the Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field, according to the NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora. Portis, who tore a groin muscle when the teams played...

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 9:35 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: NFL
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Philadelphia's take: the Eagles are better against the run

The view from Philadelphia shows that the Eagles team the Redskins will play tonight has significantly improved in at least one area since Nov. 4. Against the run, their defense has gone from ranking 27th in the league to 12th....

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 8:33 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Dolphins look at QBs (including Patrick Ramsey) after injuries to Chads

Updated at 5:15 p.m. The Dolphins have signed former Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey. Filed at 5:26 a.m. In addition to losing two Chads on Sunday, Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long separated his shoulder, an injury that will have ramifications...

By Cindy Boren | November 15, 2010; 5:26 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NFL
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The Early Lead: November 14, 2010 - November 20, 2010