Gumbel draws ire of union
Troy Vincent would have preferred Bryant Gumbel kept his views to himself rather than using his TV show as a forum to harshly criticize the NFL’s relationship with its players’ union.
Vincent, the NFLPA president and Buffalo Bills safety, Tuesday called Gumbel’s comments “inappropriate” and “detrimental.”
Gumbel created a stir during his closing remarks on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” last week when he suggested that outgoing NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue should show his successor, Roger Goodell, “where he keeps Gene Upshaw’s leash.” Gumbel then referred to Upshaw as a “docile head of the players’ union” and the commissioner’s “personal pet,” who maintains labor peace at the expense of his members.
Tagliabue responded Monday, calling Gumbel’s comments “uninformed” and “inexcusable.” Tagliabue also warned Gumbel’s status as an NFL Network play-by-play broadcaster this season is in jeopardy and will be determined by Goodell and Steve Bornstein, who runs the league’s in-house network.
Redskins trade for Duckett
Atlanta traded running back T.J. Duckett to the Washington Redskins as part of a three-team deal and acquired holdout receiver Ashley Lelie from the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos received Washington’s third-round pick in the 2007 draft as part of the deal, according to two officials within the league who spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been officially announced.
Simon remains out
Indianapolis defensive tackle Corey Simon is likely to miss a couple of more weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his injured left knee, but was hopeful he could return for the team’s regular-season opener.
Simon hasn’t practiced since banging his knee Aug. 4.
Toenail stops Panthers’ Smith
Steve Smith missed practice again, this time with an ingrown toenail.
Smith, who led the NFL in receiving last season, had already missed 17 days after straining his left hamstring on July 29, the first day of training camp. He returned to practice last week, but sat out Saturday’s game against Jacksonville and did not practice Monday.
Ward returns to sideline
Pro Bowl wide receiver Hines Ward sat out Pittsburgh’s afternoon workout because of a strained left hamstring.
Ward missed the practice a day after returning to workouts for the first time in more than two weeks.
Former receiver dies
Majure Blanks “Bill” Stribling Sr., a former NFL receiver with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles who caught Tom Landry’s only professional touchdown pass, died at 78.
Stribling died at his home of Rogers, Ark., on Monday. The cause of death wasn’t released.