Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Man who arranged teenage girl to have sex with Taylor sentenced to seven years


NEW YORK -- An ex-con was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison after a teenage girl recounted how he forced her to have sex with NFL legend Lawrence Taylor last year in a hotel just outside of New York City.
The woman, now 18, said she was assaulted by Rasheed Davis before he dropped her off at Taylor's room. She was 16 at the time.
"I told Lawrence Taylor it was my first time and that I did not feel comfortable," she said while reading from a prepared statement. "He went ahead anyway and had sexual intercourse with me. ... I had tears coming down my face, and still had my black eye and bloody nose."
She added, "Every day I look in the mirror and know that I am not the same. It was a nightmare that should never have happened to me and it should never happen to any other teenage girl."
Davis, 38, had pleaded guilty to transporting a minor for paid sex, but has objected to being labeled a pimp. He choked up and apologized to both his family and the girl before hearing the sentence in federal court in Manhattan.
"I'm sorry for what happened," he said.
Prosecutors had sought up to 10 years for Davis, saying he lured the girl off city streets and into prostitution by first telling her she could make good money as a stripper.
"He sold her body like it was his property. ... He worked as a pimp," prosecutor Amanda Kramer said Wednesday.
Earlier this year, Taylor pleaded guilty in state court to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute and was ordered to serve six months of probation.
The former linebacker admitted paying the girl $300 after the encounter in Ramapo, about 30 miles northwest of the Bronx. But he said he didn't know she was a minor.
The woman told the judge that Davis had instructed her to lie and tell Taylor her name was Carmine and she was 19. She also said the defendant made her give him the pile of cash.
Davis, 38, was released from state prison in 2008 after serving time for a manslaughter conviction for firing a gun into a crowd and killing a bystander.
The woman, who's represented by high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred, had spoken out publicly before to complain that the punishment for Taylor was not harsh enough. She read her entire statement to reporters outside the courthouse Wednesday before the sentencing began.
Taylor led the New York Giants to Super Bowl titles in 1987 and 1991.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.


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Eagles swoop in on Steve Smith

Source NFL Network

The Philadelphia Eagles have taken a flier on the injured former New York Giant.  Steve Smith is still on the road to recovery from his knee injury last year, but he is young and has already been a pro bowler prior to his injury.

This could be a huge pickup for the Eagles, even though it probably won't pay off for a few months at the earliest.

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Warren Sapp calls Josh Freeman an MVP candidate


Josh Freeman, Joey PorterAP
Warren Sapp won a Super Bowl ring during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but after spending time around the Bucs today, he said he’s jealous of what the current Bucs team has.
Specifically, Sapp said that Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman is better than any quarterback Sapp ever had for a teammate in Tampa Bay.
“The one thing this team has that I never had is a franchise quarterback,” Sapp told the Tampa Tribune. “They have a franchise quarterback and I see the kid as an MVP candidate this year.”
Freeman has obvious physical tools, but Sapp is more impressed with Freeman’s leadership qualities.
“This young man, there’s something about him,” Sapp said. “Watching this kid grow and watching the young men around him grow with him, he commands them.”


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Logan Mankins and Patriots wrap up a new 6yr deal


bos_g_mankins_200Getty Images
After more than a year of acrimony that saw Logan Mankins skip much of last season and lend his name to the players’ lawsuit against the owners, he has now reached a deal that could see him finish his career in New England.
Mankins has signed a new six-year contract with the Patriots, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
The signing comes just hours after Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he wanted to make Mankins a “Patriot for life.”
Mankins was the Patriots’ first-round draft pick in 2005, and he has started every game for the Patriots since then, with the exception of the first seven games of last year, when he was refusing to sign the team’s one-year tender offer. The new deal for the 29-year-old Mankins may mean he and the Patriots will never have another contract dispute.


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Logan Mankins and Patriots closing in on a long term deal


Logan Mankins, Robert Kraft, Matt LightAP
Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke with reporters on Wednesday, getting emotional at one point when he talked about how the Myra Kraft Giving Back Scholarship fund has already raised more than $3 million in honor of his late wife.
Before that happened, Kraft broke a little news.
The Patriots owner said a deal that would make guard Logan Makins a “Patriot for life” could be finished “soon” according to multiple Boston writers on the scene.  We can’t imagine Kraft would say this publicly considering the history with Mankins unless the deal was essentially done.
If a deal happens, it’s a reminder that ugly contract talks can always end well if the player is good enough.
UPDATEHere’s the quote:  ”Probably you’ll see our good friend Logan Mankinswill be signed up soon, hopefully to be a Patriot for life.”


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Preseason Power Rankings

Here is the first set of NFL Power Rankings by ESPN

2011 Power Rankings: Offseason

RK (LW)
TEAM
REC
COMMENT


1 (9)
10-6
While other teams stockpiled free agents, the Packers stood pat. Are the defending champs still preseason favorites? (Walker)


2 (1)
14-2
Too bad "Hard Knocks" couldn't film the daily Albert Haynesworth-Chad Ochocinco show. (Clayton)


3 (7)
10-6
Only one thing will make this season a success -- winning the franchise's first Vince Lombardi Trophy. (Fox)


4 (5)
11-5
Saints will find out whether Reggie Bush was an underrated contributor after all. (Sando)


5 (3)
12-4
With off-field distractions behind them, the reigning AFC champs are focused on getting back to the Super Bowl. (Walker)


6 (2)
13-3
Adding Ray Edwards quiets draft-day criticisms about ignoring pass rush. (Sando)


7 (8)
11-5
So far, they have replaced Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith with only Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason. (Clayton)


8 (10)
10-6
Provided Peyton Manning is healthy, don't write off the Colts. They have healed up and even added outsiders. (Kuharsky)


9 (4)
12-4
The Ravens can go as far as fourth-year QB Joe Flacco is willing to take them. (Walker)


10 (14)
9-7
Every year looks promising, then they wind up short of expectations. It's time for Philip Rivers to be grouped with the elite. (Kuharsky)


11 (12)
10-6
Missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year is not an option for Tom Coughlin. (Fox)


12 (13)
10-6
It starts with the quarterback, and Tampa Bay has a good one in Josh Freeman. (Sando)


13 (6)
11-5
The loss of longtime center Olin Kreutz will hurt Chicago's running game. (Walker)


14 (11)
10-6
Big breakthroughs are often followed by a step back. Can the Chiefs buck that trend? (Kuharsky)


15 (17)
7-9
Sam Bradford, Josh McDaniels a compelling combination for the Rams. (Sando)


16 (18)
6-10
It will be interesting to see Rob Ryan's effect on the Cowboys' defense. (Fox)


17 (21)
6-10
Always a darling preseason pick. Could it be the year? Sure. Could it be another failure with people getting fired? Sure. (Kuharsky)


18 (24)
6-10
The Lions have "sleeper" written all over them, but only if quarterback Matthew Stafford stays healthy. (Walker)


19 (19)
7-9
Sidney Rice, Zach Miller give Seattle needed weapons in passing game. (Sando)


20 (20)
6-10
Don't buy that they will be contenders for Andrew Luck. Mike Munchak will squeeze something out of the Titans. (Kuharsky)


21 (28)
5-11
Kevin Kolb's arrival restores hope at quarterback, but time will tell whether Kolb's the answer. (Sando)


22 (16)
8-8
Defense will be better for sure. The question is whether David Garrard can play with consistency. (Kuharsky)


23 (15)
8-8
The Raiders are on the rise if Jason Campbell can play consistently. You have to like Hue Jackson's energy. (Kuharsky)


24 (22)
7-9
If the Dolphins can't get Brett Favre to challenge Chad Henne, maybe they can ask Dan Marino. (Clayton)


25 (23)
6-10
Minnesota actually got younger at quarterback by acquiring 34-year-old Donovan McNabb. (Walker)


26 (25)
6-10
Widespread changes on defense raise questions about 49ers' short-term prospects. (Sando)


27 (29)
4-12
I fear the first year of the John Fox regime will be a long, ugly one filled with Tim Tebow-related controversy. (Kuharsky)


28 (27)
5-11
If QB Colt McCoy isn't the answer, it will be another long season in Cleveland. (Walker)


29 (26)
6-10
In a few more weeks, Mike Shanahan might wish he had kept Donovan McNabb. (Fox)


30 (32)
2-14
Carolina came out swinging in free agency, but future hinges on Cam Newton. (Sando)


31 (30)
4-12
The Bills' offensive line can't afford an injury, but it would look better had it added Tyson Clabo. (Clayton)


32 (31)
4-12
The Bengals are moving on from the Carson Palmer-Chad Ochocinco era, but expect plenty of growing pains with young players. (Walker)



The rankings were determined by a poll of five voters on ESPN.com's NFL staff: writers John Clayton (AFC East), Ashley Fox (NFC East), James Walker (AFC North, NFC North), Paul Kuharsky (AFC South, AFC West), and Mike Sando (NFC South, NFC West).

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