Hawks’ McCoy happy to be ‘normal’
Getting back to normal has been a long and arduous process for Anthony McCoy.
The Seattle Seahawks tight end has missed each of the last two seasons after suffering torn Achilles tendons during offseason workouts. McCoy tore his right Achilles during organized team activities in May 2013 then tore his left Achilles early in training camp last August.
So after two years of constant rehabilitation, normal is a pretty incredible thing.
“Honestly, (I feel) normal,” McCoy said. “And dammit it feels (good to be) normal. God it feels so good to be out here right now.”
Both tears were non-contact injuries that ended his seasons before they could get started.
“This is one of those things you can’t see coming,” McCoy said. “If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”
McCoy was cleared to return to football activities in July. Now he’s just working on getting back into game shape and rediscovering his rapport with Russell Wilson.
“I’m almost there. I’m working through the kinks and the cracks and stuff, just getting back into it,” McCoy said. “When you’re off the field for two years you’re probably going to be a little rusty in some areas, as I am. But I’m doing well. I’m back to 100 percent. Well, no one is really 100 percent, I’m back in the 90s right now.”
McCoy became a trusted contributor in Seattle’s offense during the 2012 season. He posted career highs with 18 catches for 291 yards and three touchdowns while starting five games for the Seahawks. He also posted the first 100-yard game of his career with three catches for 105 yards in Seattle’s 58-0 rout of the Arizona Cardinals.
McCoy is battling with Cooper Helfet for a chance to make Seattle’s roster as a third tight end.
NFL on hot seat
A federal judge in New York put the NFL on the defensive over its four-game suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, demanding to know what evidence directly links Brady to deflating footballs and belittling the drama of the controversy.
“What is the direct evidence that implicates Mr. Brady?” Judge Richard M. Berman repeatedly asked NFL lawyer Daniel L. Nash at the first hearing in the civil case in Manhattan federal court.
Nash responded there was “considerable evidence Mr. Brady clearly knew about this,” including records of text messages and phone calls between the quarterback and one of two Patriots employees implicated in the scandal known as “Deflategate.”
But he also said there was no “smoking gun” showing Brady had direct knowledge that the balls were underinflated for the first half of the Patriots’ 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC championship game Jan. 18.
NFL, UW launch institute
Dr. Stan Herring found a personal calling when he helped champion the first youth concussion law in the country in the state of Washington.
Similar laws were eventually enacted in all 50 states and during that process, Herring and Dr. Richard Ellenbogen started pondering the next steps in promoting the benefits of youth sports while helping to make them as safe as possible.
One of those steps was taken when the University of Washington launched the Sports Health and Safety Institute, tasked with advancing research, education and treatment of a variety of sports-related injuries.
The institute is being launched in part because of a $2.5 million donation from the NFL.
The primary focus will be on youth sports.
Bills claim Enemkpali
Rex Ryan won’t excuse linebacker Ikemefuna Enemkpali for a sucker punch that broke quarterback Geno Smith’s jaw in the New York Jets’ locker room.
That doesn’t mean Ryan – the former Jets coach who’s now coaching Buffalo – isn’t willing to provide Enemkpali a second chance with the Bills.
With new owner Terry Pegula’s blessing, the Bills claimed Enemkpali off waivers a day after he punched Smith and was released by the Jets.
“I think it’s clear it was a mistake,” Ryan said shortly before the Bills opened an evening practice. “But I also believe that he’s going to learn from this. And we’ll give him a chance to compete.”
Also the NFL announced that Enemkpali could face discipline under its personal conduct policy.
Palmer ready for return
Quarterback Carson Palmer will take a snap in an NFL game for the first time since tearing his ACL, but it will be a brief appearance.
Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said that Palmer will play one series in Saturday night’s game against Kansas City “whether it lasts one play, three plays or 10 plays.”
Kaepernick slams report
Earlier in the week, Jim Tomsula said 49ers players laughed at internet reports that a fight between Aldon Smith and Colin Kaepernick preceded Smith’s Thursday night arrest on suspicion of drunk driving and his subsequent release.
Kaepernick blasted the reports, one of which claimed that Smith struck Kaepernick’s Mercedes with his own car.
Kaepernick noted that he has a deal with Jaguar, not Mercedes, and that the day he and Smith allegedly had a confrontation, according to the initial reports, was a day off for the players and that no one was at the team facility.
“Along those lines, I feel that anyone who believes that and goes along with reporting that just doesn’t have the best integrity,” he said.