1 » Georgia-based football agent Terry Watson of Watson Sports Agency, who is facing 14 felony counts for violating North Carolina’s athlete agent law, may have made payments to Shelby, North Carolina-native linebacker Brandon Spikes, potentially while he was a student-athlete playing for the Florida Gators. According to the Raleigh News & Observer, which cites interviews and court documents relating to the state’s case against Watson, “athletes at three schools other than UNC have been named in court papers” including one from the University of Florida.

Relating specifically to Spikes, the paper sources Patrick Jones, listed as a “close friend of Watson’s,” who “recalls wiring money to Brandon Spikes” but is unable to pinpoint an exact date. “One affidavit appears to document Jones providing Spikes with $212 in March 2011,” which is nearly a year after he was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

2 » In related news… Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley is one of 65 athletic officials whose name appears at the end of a nine-page memo calling for major changes to agent laws. According to the Associated Press, the memo pushes “for changes that would include broadening the law to cover agents, runners, financial advisers, marketers or anyone else who tries to sign athletes or provide gifts to jeopardize their eligibility” and was sent Thursday to a United States government “committee that will meet later this month in Chicago to consider updates to the Uniform Athlete Agents Act.” The law, which currently exists in 41 states along with the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands, was adopted in 2000 by the Uniform Law Commission.

Tags: Brandon Spikes, Draft, Jeremy Foley, New England Patriots, NFL

1 » The names of a few former Florida Gators popped up on the NFL transaction wire this week. Defensive end Jermaine Cunningham and wide receiver David Nelson were signed by the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets, respectively, on Tuesday. Cunningham was released by the New England Patriots after never even suiting up for the team during the offseason, and Nelson was cut by the Cleveland Browns after his knee flared up during the preseason.

On the other side of the coin, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived safety Ahmad Black (who started for them this season), and the St. Louis Rams cut offensive tackle Max Starks, who was signed just two weeks ago.

2 » ESPN’s Andy Kats noted on Wednesday that Gators head coach Billy Donovan has decided not to take advantage of the NCAA pushing up the start of basketball practice and will instead begin Florida workouts on Friday, Oct. 11. He opines that the move is being made to give senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin extra time to get back in the team’s good graces. Though that may have an ounce of truth to it, the actuality is Donovan would prefer to have his team practice more in a shorter period of time rather than three total hours per week over an additional month. “[He] likes to hold double sessions over weekends and you only have 30 practices over 42 days before [the] season opener,” correctly noted The Gainesville Sun’s Kevin Brockway.

CLICK TO EXPAND and read two more BITS in this post.

Tags: Ahmad Black, Billy Donovan, Chandler Parsons, Cleveland Browns, David Nelson, Houston Rockets, Jermaine Cunningham, John Mooney, Max Starks, NBA, New England Patriots, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1 » Former Florida Gators running back Jeff Demps is active on an NFL regular season roster for the first time in his career as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to bring him aboard on Monday, the cut-off date established by the league for Demps’s roster exemption. Demps was traded by the New England Patriots to Tampa Bay in April but did not put on a helmet until after the preseason concluded as he spent the entire summer and offseason running track. Now officially a member of the Bucs, Demps will likely handle kick return duties and play sparingly on offense. He has not played a snap of meaningful football since Jan. 2, 2012.

2 » Out of work since being cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason following an arrest (on a charge that was later dropped), RB Chris Rainey has received a couple of workout opportunities over the last few months. His latest was with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. According to ProFootballTalk.com, Rainey ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash during the workout, but “the Chiefs have decided that they currently don’t have a spot for him.”

“Ran a 4.29 in the 40 and kill the workout too. Waitin on the Kansas City chiefs to get back at me or Watever team now. God is Good!!!” Rainey tweeted on Monday.

Check out four more Florida Gators news BITS (two videos)…after the break!
Continue Reading » SIX BITS: Demps, Beal, Murphy, Horschel, Easley

Tags: Billy Horschel, Bradley Beal, Chris Rainey, Dominique Easley, Draft, Jeff Demps, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, NFL, PGA, Pittsburgh Steelers, Steve Spurrier, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tyler Murphy, Washington Wizards

1 » A nugget of news was buried deep in a well-written Yahoo! Sports feature on Florida Gators redshirt junior linebacker Ronald Powell. According to Eric Adelson, Powell revealed that there have been internal discussions about him seeing some time at tight end once it is determined that he is fully healthy. “Once I’m feeling good,” he said, “I’m sure they’ll work something in for me.” Powell was recruited by then-Florida head coach Urban Meyer at both defensive end and tight end and told he would have the opportunity to play both. Once Meyer left and head coach Will Muschamp took over, Powell transitioned to the BUCK position and the Gators simply did not have a need for him on offense with Jordan Reed still on the roster. But with Florida now struggling to find playmaking ability among its current tight ends and Powell finally healthy, his versatility may very well be utilized by the coaching staff this year.

2 » According to Peter King of TheMMQB.com, quarterback Tim Tebow turned down an “inquiry” from an NFL franchise to join the team’s roster at a different position. King reported this nugget Thursday night on NBC, noting that the player remains focused on playing quarterback in the league. “I will remain in relentless pursuit of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback,” said Tebow in a prepared statement after being released by the New England Patriots.

Tags: New England Patriots, NFL, Ronald Powell, Tim Tebow

1 » It has been three weeks since Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper (due to the vile word he uttered) has been in the news, but he made headlines on Thursday for getting into a fight with cornerback Cary Williams during practice. The two began to scuffle following a tackle with Williams going after Cooper again after the teammates were separated. Starting quarterback Michael Vick stepped between the two and Williams was escorted away. After the incident, Cooper said he did not believe the fight had anything to do with the prior controversy surrounding him. Williams refused to speak with reporters and noticeably ignored Cooper in the locker room later that day.

2 » The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson investigated the reason that such a high profile game between the No. 9/12 Florida Gators and No. 24 Miami Hurricanes was being played in the extreme heat of high noon when so many other television slots that day were filled with sub-standard games. The reason? As hard as ESPN tried, the network simply could not fulfill Miami’s request to have the game at any other time – even on a different station – due to a number of different restrictions.

3 » Former Gators catcher Brian Jeroloman got absolutely crushed during a recent minor league game. Playing for the Harrisburg Senators, a Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, Jeroloman was waiting at home plate for a relay throw when Brandon Douglas plowed through him and knocked the ball free.

Check out three more BITS (and a bonus video)…after the break!
Continue Reading » SIX BITS: Cooper, ESPN, Jeroloman, Tebow, Miami

Tags: Abby Wambach, baseball, Brian Jeroloman, Erika Tymrak, FOX, Harrisburg Senators, Heather Mitts, Jeremy Foley, Miami Hurricanes, MiLB, New England Patriots, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Riley Cooper, soccer, Tim Tebow

For the third time in an NFL career that has spanned as many full seasons, former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow has been dismissed by the franchise to which he was under contract as the New England Patriots decided to release the former Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday as they were forced to cut 22 players in order to whittle their roster down to 53 players ahead of the 2013 season.

ESPN‘s Adam Schefter first reported Tebow’s release via Twitter.

It took one month after being waived by the New York Jets for Tebow to be signed by New England, the team that always seemed like the best fit for his unique talents.

The Patriots acquired Tebow as a quarterback and waived Mike Kafka in order to bring him into the fold. In joining New England, he reunited with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who selected him with the No. 25 overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft while serving as head coach of the Denver Broncos.

But McDaniels’s desire to give him an opportunity and owner Robert Kraft’s affection for him as a person were simply not enough to keep Tebow on the 53-man roster.

In 2011, during his second year with the Broncos, Tebow was a mid-season replacement at starting quarterback and set the league on fire by leading his team to numerous come-from-behind victories and seven wins in eight games from Weeks 7-14. He also threw a game-winning overtime touchdown against Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round of the 2012 NFL Playoffs, going went 10-of-21 for 316 yards with two passing touchdowns while carrying the ball 10 times for 50 yards and a rushing score.

Continue Reading » Patriots release Gators QB Tim Tebow; others cut

Tags: Chas Henry, Cleveland Browns, David Nelson, Denver Broncos, Earl Okine, Frankie Hammond, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Jaye Howard, Jermaine Cunningham, Kansas City Chiefs, Max Starks, New England Patriots, New York Jets, NFL, Omarius Hines, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tim Tebow, Washington Redskins, Xavier Nixon

1 » A post on RollingStone.com detailing six revelations from an upcoming Rolling Stone magazine investigation into former Florida Gators and New England Patriots tight end Aaron Herndez alleges that then-Florida head coach Urban Meyer “may have helped cover up failed drug tests, along with two violent incidents – an assault and a drive-by shootout outside a local bar.” Though both of these incidents – the assault outside The Swamp Restaurant in April 2007 and shooting in Sept. 2007 – have been public knowledge for quite some time, the magazine appears to be taking the story a step further by noting that Meyer may have been heavily involved in ensuring Hernandez did not get in trouble for his actions (admitted in the case of the assault and alleged in the case of the shooting). Other tidbits from the story include Hernandez being a “heavy user of angel dust” who was on the verge of being cut by the Patriots.

UPDATED Aug. 28 at 10:45 a.m.: In the story, which can be read in full by clicking here, writer Paul Solotaroff simply recounts Hernandez’s time at Florida sourced by a “local reporter who was covering the team.” Regarding Meyer and any potential cover-up to Hernandez’s misdeeds, nothing new is reported but the contention is made that Meyer covered up multiple failed drug tests in order for Hernandez to retain his eligibility to play in games, an allegation that Meyer and Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley have both previously denied.

RELATED from June 25: Foley defends Florida’s handling of Hernandez
RELATED from July 6: Urban Meyer: Florida did not enable Hernandez

2 » Speaking of New England, team owner Robert Kraft said Tuesday that he is “rooting … big-time” for back-up quarterback Tim Tebow to make the team out of training camp. “He’s a very special young man. He’s been a real joy to have around here,” Kraft said, according to the Boston Globe. Though the decision will be up to head coach Bill Belichick and the player has been anything but impressive thus far during practice and preseason action, Tebow should have an opportunity in the team’s final preseason game when he is expected to play the entire second half.

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Jeremy Foley, New England Patriots, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

From time to time, OGGOA will come across a plethora of news and notes that we wish to share – too much to fit into one of our truncated BITS segments. When stories like these fall through the cracks, we catch and wrap them all up with Gator Bites.

» Over the last few days, some new NCAA-related products have been announced including scented candles from Yankee Candle and JELL-O with a jigglers mold kit. Both companies are offering versions featuring the Florida Gators, as you can see below. Pictures via Darren Rovell (ESPN) and Andrew Giangola (IMG)

» A new company has been started specifically to sell “collegiate fragrances.”

» The only Gators basketball player on ESPN insider Chad Ford’s first Big Board ($) for the 2014 NBA Draft is not even currently enrolled at Florida. Five-star forward Chris Walker (Bonifay, FL), who is hoping to be cleared by the NCAA in time for the spring semester, is descried as an “upside player” who is “blessed with elite athletic abilities and length.” Ford believes Walker will need to make the transition from the four to the three and play small forward in the professional ranks.

» Florida mic’d up new defensive line coach Brad Lawing during a practice last week. Scott Carter of UF’s website also wrote an interesting feature (Q&A included) on Lawing and how he is bringing “old-school ways to new adventure.”

Check out NINE more bites of Florida Gators news…after the break!
Continue Reading » 13 Gator Bites for Tuesday, August 13

Tags: Al Horford, Billy Horschel, Brad Lawing, Brian Gay, Chris Walker, Cody Riggs, Draft, Eli Carter, FIBA, FIBA Americas Championship, Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars, Loucheiz Purifoy, Marcus Roberson, Matt Every, Miami Heat, NBA, NCAA, New England Patriots, NFL, Patric Young, PGA, PGA Championship, Rex Grossman, Tim Tebow, Trey Burton, Tyler Murphy, Udonis Haslem, Washington Redskins