1 » During an interview with the Boomer and Carton Show on WFAN and CBS Sports Radio, New York Jets wide receiver David Nelson was asked about former teammate Aaron Hernandez and whether he ever had an inkling that the former tight end was be capable of going off the rails. “You know, there was definitely some tendencies – I’d be lying to you if I said there wasn’t – but it was a huge surprise,” he said. “It really shocked me. Because this is a guy I saw get into a fight in practice and [he was] crying 15 minutes later because he had just hurt his teammate. So this was a guy who was extremely sensitive, he was extremely vulnerable, but the thing is, he was who he hung out with. So if he was hanging out with somebody he was very influenced.

Nelson corroborated what has been reported elsewhere, that members of the Florida Gators were worried about Hernandez going home to Connecticut and hanging out with his old crowd. He also noted that head coach Urban Meyer purposely put Hernandez around himself and Tim Tebow to help improve his character. “You saw some issues with him in college, but they were minor – some drug stuff and that was about it – but nothing to this extreme,” Nelson added. “So he started to hang out with the wrong crowd, get a lot of fame, a lot of money, start to get that ‘I can do whatever I want’ invincible kind of mentality a lot of NFL guys get. And I think you saw him make a really bad mistake.”

Continue Reading » 4 BITS: Nelson, Andrews, Jordan, Summer League

Florida Gators fans across the state of Florida and country can rest easier as ESPN and the SEC Network announced Friday that they have reached a deal for the channel to be distributed by Comcast at launch on Aug. 14.

An agreement is also reportedly in the works with DirecTV.

Already set to be available on AT&T U-Verse, DISH Network, Google Fiber, Cox Communications and a variety of local cable carriers, SEC Network will now be in approximately 22 million more homes across the country by reaching a distribution agreement with Comcast.

“We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with ESPN to deliver the SEC Network to Xfinity TV customers on multiple platforms,” said Matt Strauss, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video Services, Comcast Cable in a press release. “Whether in the home or on the go, Xfinity TV customers will be able to watch their favorite Southeastern Conference teams in more ways than ever before.”

According to Kristi Dosh, SEC Network will be carried on Comcast’s Digital Starter tier in the 11 states that are part of the Southeastern Conference footprint (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas) and on the Digital Preferred tier across the rest of the country.

Comcast tells me SEC Network will be carried on Digital Starter plan in SEC states and Digital Preferred in the other markets.
An flyer marked “For Internal Use Only, 7/14″ leaked on Thursday evening when “a source at Comcast” shared it with AwfulAnnouncing.com.

Continue Reading » ESPN, SEC Network reach agreement with Comcast Xfinity, closing in on DirecTV

1 » Minor surgery to address a “core muscle injury” has kept Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee off the USA Basketball men’s national team as it reports to training camp from July 28 to Aug. 1 ahead of the 2014 World Cup of Basketball in Spain. However, two former Florida Gators have made the 19-player training camp roster with Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal and Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons both being given the opportunity to make the 12-man team. As it turns out, Parsons was not one of the 28 players who made the original pool as announced on Jan. 22. His tremendous play last season, coupled with Lee’s inability to compete, opened up a spot for the man who just signed a three-year, $46 million contract. It is the third-straight season that Lee has undergone surgery in the offseason; he averaged 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in 2013-14.

2 » Two former Florida golfers – instead of three as previously scheduled – are competing at The Open Championship but only one is currently above the assumed cut line after the first round. Billy Horschel shot a +1 (73) on Thursday and is currently tied for 66th at seven shots behind the leader, Rory McIlroy. Coming in nearly 20 places behind Horschel is Matt Every, who stroked a +3 (75) and is in a 19-way tie for 105th. Unfortunately, former British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, who looks forward to the event each year, had to withdraw from the event due to travel issues. “Right now I thought I’d be on [the] 3rd hole of mini practice [round] at the Open!! Best we could do is a flight to West Palm Beach,” wrote the 54-year-old 1989 winner on Twitter. “Totally depressed I can’t be at my fave tourney in the world!! American Airlines killed us for no reason weather was fine #dontgetit” As a prior British Open champion, Calcavecchia qualifies for an automatic spot each year until he turns 60 years of age, meaning he only had the opportunity to play in seven (now six) more British Open events. He currently plays on the Champions Tour, which is restricted to golfers over 50.

Continue Reading » 4 BITS: USA Basketball, PGA, Tebow, Shanahan

1 » FOX Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews was dealt a tough task on Tuesday when she interviewed St. Louis Cardinals hurler Adam Wainwright in the dugout just hours after he admitted/joked about throwing a gimmie pitch to New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. Wainwright attempted to assure the public that he was simply being lighthearted with his comment while clarifying that he did not groove a pitch to Jeter, and Andrews did not press him on the subject considering Jeter was the one being honored on Tuesday night. Dennis and Callahan Morning Show cohost Kirk Minihane took Andrews to task for joking with Wainwright that his comments blew up due to social media, unleashing an offensive verbal tirade at her on the air.

”What a bitch! I hate her! What a gutless bitch! Seriously, go away. Drop dead. I mean, seriously, what the hell is wrong with her? First of all, follow-up. Secondly, the guy admitted he did it. He admitted he told reporters he threw a couple of pipe bombs. How is that social media’s fault? Seriously, I hate her. I seriously hat her so much! … Shut up. Shut up. I shouldn’t call her a ‘bitch.’ I’m sure she’s a nice person, but she’s…she’s probably a bitch. I freaking hate her. … And this bimbo says, ‘Don’t you love social media?’ I’m going to get in trouble for this.”

Apparently not. As of press time, Minihane has not been disciplined for his completely misogynistic and hateful comments, though he did issue an apology.

“This morning on the radio I used a series of words to describe Erin Andrews’ work at the All-Star Game. My choice of words was wrong; I was wrong to have used them. To all whom I offended — particularly Ms. Andrews — I apologize. There is no place for what was said. It was immature and completely uncalled for. I am often critical of media members and their work and recognize here that I’ve made the kind of mistake I would call out if it was done by another sportscaster or writer. Again, to all involved, I’m very sorry.”

FOX Sports released the following statement on Wednesday: “Comments such as these are beyond inappropriate and inexcusable. It is unfortunate that one of the best sports talk radio stations in the country would allow and condone such low-class behavior from one of their on-air personalities.”

Continue Reading » 4 BITS: Andrews, ESPYS, Milton-Jones, softball

What is this?

This is something I have wanted to bring to OnlyGators.com for a while, a weekly column combining opinion, entertainment and information. Seeing as this is still the offseason – and today also happens to be my birthday – I felt there was no better time than the present to begin The Silver Lining, which will be posted every Wednesday right here on OnlyGators.com. The format may change as the concept develops, and suggestions are both respected and appreciated.

Unprecedented success

The “football school” tag was removed from the Florida Gators long ago, but it is nevertheless noteworthy how much of an impact head basketball coach Billy Donovan has made not just on the school but the NBA as well.

Consider this: On Tuesday, forward Chandler Parsons officially became the best-paid former Florida basketball player in school history (based on average salary) when he signed a three-year, $46 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. He will earn $14.7 million next year, $15.4 million in 2015-16 and $16.1 million in 2016-17; the latter two salaries are the highest ever scheduled to be paid to a player out of UF.

Consider this, also: During the 2014-15 season, the Gators will have four players earning $12 million or more from their respective NBA teams including Parsons, Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee ($15.0 million), Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah ($12.2 million) and Atlanta Hawks F/C Al Horford ($12.0 million).

Continue Reading » The Silver Lining for Wednesday, July 16

1 » Former Florida Gators forward Mike Miller, after struggling with his decision for nearly a week, has decided to continue his 15-year career alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to ESPN.com’s Chris Broussard and Jeff Goodman, Miller will sign a two-year deal, $5.5 million with the Cavaliers with a player option after the first season. He chose Cleveland and the ability to chase championships with James over Houston and a better monetary offer from Denver after originally seeking a three-year deal worth $12-15 million. Miller will be joining his sixth NBA team following two stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and one each with Orlando, Minnesota, Washington and Miami. Last season, he averaged 7.1 points in 20.8 minutes per game while shooting 45.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Continue Reading » 4 BITS: Miller, Pounceys, Calathes, SEC Network

More than once this offseason – including at the 2014 Southeastern Conference Media Days on Monday – Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp called this season’s roster the most talented he’s had during his tenure at the school.

While corroborating that statement before the season is difficult considering Florida has lost a ton of top-end defenders in consecutive seasons and enters the 2014 campaign with its underwhelming specialists unchanged, the Gators certainly do possess a rebuilt stable of offensive talent.

Yet while Florida’s veteran wide receiver (redshirt senior Quinton Dunbar, incoming pass-catching tight end (redshirt senior Jake McGee) and three starting-caliber running backs (sophomore Kelvin Taylor, redshirt senior Mack Brown and redshirt junior Matt Jones) were all mentioned by the contingent in Hoover, Alabama, on Monday, it was a talent who frustrated and underwhelmed as a freshman that got the most praise.

“You heard it here first. He is that good,” sophomore cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III – a third-team Associated Press All-American, unanimous first-team Freshman All-American and unanimous first-team All-SEC nominee – said of the player.

Hargreaves was speaking to FOX Sports reporter Bruce Feldman about Florida sophomore wideout Demarcus Robison, the four-star prospect who was supposed to be a game-changer and big-time playmaker for the Gators as a freshman.

Continue Reading » Hype train rolls on for WR Demarcus Robinson

Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp, redshirt junior quarterback Jeff Driskel, junior defensive end Dante Fowler, Jr. and sophomore cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III represented the team on Monday by participating in the 2014 Southeastern Conference Media Days at the Winfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama.

Below are highlights primarily from Muschamp’s sessions with the media.

BETTER THAN EXPECTED

If anyone is to believe in the possibility of Florida turning things around in 2014, rebounding from its worst season since 1979, it is going to start on the offensive side of the ball. Muschamp knew this and brought in offensive coordinator Kurt Roper to employ a spread offense and make the Gators a more dynamic playmaking team.

Not only will Roper’s offense put redshirt junior quarterback Jeff Driskel back in the shotgun, where he is more comfortable and capable, it should give Florida more space to make plays. Muschamp is already extremely impressed with how much UF has been able to get accomplished in such a short period of time.

“I went back and looked at our numbers from 2012 when we were in the shotgun as opposed to being under center. When Jeff was in the shotgun, our yards were better, our explosive plays were better in both the run and pass game. He was recruited to Florida to be a gun quarterback,” he explained.

“In making that change, I felt like Kurt Roper was a great hire for us from a standpoint of a guy that philosophically is on the same page with me as what we want to be, that’s a balanced offense. …

“In our 15 days of springs, we got a lot more done than I thought we would. He’s an outstanding fundamental football coach, very positive. It was good to see our offensive kids having fun again on the field. Really excited about that. Probably what excites me the most is this is probably the most talent we’ve had on offense in my four years at Florida.”

Continue Reading » 2014 SEC Media Days – Will Muschamp pleased Florida’s roster, progress made in spring