TMZ rant lands Marc Tyler on suspension at USC

Marc Tyler finally forced USC's hand.

The senior running back will miss USC's season opener after making inappropriate comments to TMZ about, well, a variety of things and none of them good or flattering toward USC.

When asked why USC has so many running backs, Tyler responded:

"Cause we're RBU, that's how we get down. We all win our Heismans, we all gonna ball, and we all get in Kim Kardashian."

Tyler, who appeared severely intoxicated and whose friends tried to block him from the cameras by telling him he'd get in trouble for talking to TMZ, didn't stop there. He also said USC pays its players.

The TMZ cameraman asked if USC players were getting paid more at USC or if they were in the pros and Tyler responded: "USC. They breaking bread."

Even TMZ considered Tyler's comments to be a joke -- Tyler's dad came out and said his son is not getting paid by USC -- but for a program that's already on probation for giving improper benefits to one of its star players -- a running back, no less -- coach Lane Kiffin didn't see the humor.

"I was very disappointed when I learned of Marc Tyler's inappropriate comments that were captured by the media last week," Kiffin said in a statement. "That is not the way that we expect our players to represent USC and our team.

"Although Marc may find this punishment severe, it is imperative we continue to have a high standard for player behavior. Marc needs to work hard to show us that he can meet the standards of being a USC football player."

Tyler's punishment came after spending the past few months waiting for the school to hand down disciplinary action stemming from two alcohol-related incidents in April.

Because of this latest incident, Tyler's discipline could go from a couple educational classes to something far more serious, including suspension or expulsion. That discipline will come down form USC's Office of Student Judicial Affairs.

But USC athletic director Pat Haden was pretty clear on where he stands in a statement issued by the school.

"We have very high expectations for all of our student-athletes at USC. While the vast majority of our student-athletes act appropriately, Marc did not and stepped way out of line. He did not represent himself, his university or his team the way we expect. Marc has a lot to do to prove he belongs on our team. We hope Marc learns from this and comes back a changed and better person."

Tyler, who has released more statements this summer than any other college football player, once again apologized for his behavior and how it affected the university.

"I want to apologize for embarrassing USC, my teammates and coaches. I am disappointed that I let down all the people who have supported me as I have been working through some personal issues. After meeting today with Mr. Haden and Coach Kiffin, I realize how my behavior and my statements, even though I was joking, can reflect poorly on so many people. As a veteran player, I should know that my job is to be an example for the younger guys. I accept my punishment, and I regret that I will miss the opening game of my senior year. I am committed to doing everything the right way so that I can be reinstated to the team."

This was definitely an ugly incident for a program that needs to distance itself from any type of controversy. Tyler needs to learn how to control his booze or at the very least, keep out of possible compromising situations when drinking.

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ABOUT THAT CASEY PACHALL THING

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Heisman on the run: ?05 trophy back with Bush?s parents

In what has been one of the more ridiculous stories covered this summer, Reggie Bush's Heisman has found its way home.

No, not the Heisman Trophy Trust, but rather the home of Bush's parents Lamar and Denise Griffin, who took the trophy back from the San Diego Hall of Champions on Friday. But what they're planning to do with the trophy remains yet another mystery.

According to "The Dan Patrick Show," the family has said nothing publicly about returning the trophy even though the Heisman Trophy Trust put in a request to the San Diego Hall of Champions last week to have the trophy sent back to its offices in New York.

All of this started back in June when it was discovered that Bush had not returned his Heisman to the Heisman Trophy Trust last September, despite issuing a statement saying he would. Bush was stripped of the trophy after it was determined he had taken illegal benefits.

Many assumed the Heisman was missing after a San Diego Hall of Champions denied knowing where the trophy was. A couple days later, the San Diego Hall of Champions amazingly found the trophy and put it back on display.

By July 1, no one wanted the trophy. The Bush family, who had loaned it to the San Diego Hall of Champions, seemingly abandoned it there and the Hall of Champions had been storing it in the basement waiting for someone to pick it up. Bush didn't seem to care about its whereabouts and neither did the Trophy Trust until the media piqued its interest.

Now, for all we know, the Heisman could be wrapped in a blanket in the backseat of a car crossing state lines or buried in the Griffin's backyard.

And still we are left wondering what will become of the hunk of bronze that just can't find a home.

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Graham Watson is on Twitter: Follow her @Yahoo_Graham.

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Yes, the NCAA is still investigating Cam Newton. And no, Gene Chizik isn?t happy about it

With the white-hot focus on Ohio State, Oregon and North Carolina lately, it's easy to think of The Scandal of the 2010 season as ancient history, if you think of it at all. True, the charges that Auburn quarterback/�bermensch Cam Newton was shopped by his father to the highest bidder as the nation's most coveted juco recruit in 2010 came in last November like a tidal wave no college football fan can forget. But they receded again almost as quickly after the NCAA declared Newton eligible to play in the SEC and BCS championship games, leaving no apparent damage. No harm, no foul, right? Auburn passed the test, right?

So thought Tiger fans, and according to the New York Times' Pete Thamel, so thought Tiger coach Gene Chizik. Or at least he did, until an NCAA rep set the record straight during last month's SEC meetings in Destin (emphasis added):

Julie Roe Lach, the N.C.A.A.'s vice president for enforcement, made a presentation to the group, which included every men's basketball coach, football coach and athletic director in the conference. When she opened up the room for discussion, Auburn's football coach, Gene Chizik, raised his hand first.

He peppered Roe Lach with a flurry of questions about the N.C.A.A.'s investigation into Cam Newton and why the N.C.A.A. had not publicly announced that the investigation was over. Chizik complained that the inquiry's open-ended nature had hurt Auburn's recruiting and he followed up at least three times, leading to a testy exchange.

"You'll know when we're finished," Roe Lach told Chizik, according to several coaches who were at the meeting. "And we're not finished."

Three SEC hoops coaches at the meeting confirmed the exchange on the record, including Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings, who told Thamel that Roe Lach was "serious," and that the NCAA in general is trying to send a message to "bad elements in college athletics" that it's "bigger and more aggressive" about enforcement than it's been in the past.

What no one has suggested, however, is that the NCAA (or anyone else) has actually uncovered new evidence that might lead to a different verdict than the "all clear" it gave Newton in December despite finding Cecil Newton guilty of soliciting a six-figure payment from Mississippi State for his son's services. Then, the decision was based on three improbable conclusions:

a) There was no evidence or direct allegations that Cam Newton knew he was being shopped by his father or anyone else;
b) There was no evidence or direct allegations that Cam or Cecil Newton solicited Auburn for anything;
And, despite the elder Newton's alleged overtures to Mississippi State, c) there was no evidence or direct allegations that Cam or Cecil were actually paid anything by anyone.

To many, many observers, that looked like a copout, or hypocrisy, or ?�at best ?�an outrageous loophole that somehow tolerates asking as long as it doesn't lead to accepting. But all these months later, the bottom line is the same: Unless evidence emerges that Cam Newton knew he was being shopped, that he or his father solicited Auburn or that he actually accepted improper benefits, the "all clear" verdict will stand.

At this point, we still don't have any way of knowing whether the NCAA has made any headway along any of those lines. But even if he picked the wrong setting, it's hard to blame Chizik for wondering how long it plans to keep looking.

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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Headlinin?: LSU, Cal put Oregon?s Willie Lyles fee in perspective

Making the morning rounds.

? Sounds like a bargain. LSU paid $6,000 for 32 DVDs of legitimate recruiting film from Willie Lyles, the Houston-based scout who was paid a whopping $25,000 by Oregon for a shoddy, out-of-date scouting report he claims was meant to cover for the Ducks' efforts to improperly exploit his influence with several key recruits. LSU released copies of the DVDs Thursday to the (Portland) Oregonian, which found that they included exactly what Lyles said they did. Cal also paid Lyles $5,000 for a scouting report, and like LSU, believes it has nothing to worry about from the NCAA. LSU has even passed the materials on to investigators.

Then again, respect the depths: Lyles has also been connected to former LSU star Patrick Peterson, on whose behalf he allegedly requested a five-figure payment from Texas A&M in 2008. [The Oregonian, San Jose Mercury News, Associated Press]

? Yeah, I'd probably fire me, too. Irascible L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke lays out the minimum standard for Rick Neuheisel to save his job at UCLA beyond the upcoming season: Finish .500 or better and play in a bowl game. And Rick Neuheisel basically agrees. "I hate talking like that, but, as an alumni, I would say absolutely yes," Neuheisel said Thursday. "Obviously, I've had a number of conversations like, 'Hey, you're on the hot seat, you're the No. 1 guy on the hot seat.' ? A friend of mine said to me, 'You were a great coach, you won a lot of games, what did you do? Do what you do!' " [Los Angeles Times]

? This is not what we mean by "Fighting" Illini. Illinois signee Chris Jones, a 310-pound defensive lineman from Jacksonville, Fla., pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony aggravated battery. Jones was charged in a July 3 attack on two men who claim Jones shouted anti-gay slurs and assaulted them for their sexual orientation, leaving both with facial injuries. [Chicago Tribune]

? What about Dr�? SEC coaches released their preseason all-conference team Thursday with no surprises, except one: Alabama cornerback Dr� Kirkpatrick, a former five-star recruit and possible top-10 draft pick next April, is relegated to third team by the same coaches who voted him second-team All-SEC last December after his first season as a starter in one of the top secondaries in the country. One possible explanation: With 10 other 'Bama players on the first and second teams, they were just trying to spread the wealth. [SECSports.com]

? Hey, I know we said we needed you over here, but... The premature departures of leading rushers Washaun Ealy and Caleb King has forced Georgia to move linebacker Richard Samuel back to running back, where he spent his first two seasons in Athens in 2008-09. The move is strictly for depth ?�incoming freshman Isaiah Crowell is the starter from the moment he sets foot on campus ?�and will probably force Samuel to drop the 15-20 extra pounds he added in the original switch. [Atlanta Journal Constitution]

Quickly? ESPN is moving Mike Bellotti up in its announcer rotation. ? Florida State picks up a commitment from one of the fastest teenagers in America. ? Austin Scott isn't giving up his legal fight against Penn State just yet. ? Chaz Ramsey continues his legal crusade against Auburn. ? Dismissed Tiger running back Eric Smith still hopes to return to the team. ? Nu'Keese Richardson has been arrested again. ? Miami players are getting into police cars voluntarily. ? When is Michigan going to retire Desmond Howard's number already? ? And if these are the best entries to the Detroit Free Press' Wolverine mascot contest, I'd hate to see what was rejected.

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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NFL Lockout: Roger Goodell Looks to Play Hero as Lockout Nears End

A lot of things have been said about Roger Goodell during his run as NFL Commissioner. The 52-year old head of the NFL has instituted some strict policies against players, has been overly-aggressive in punishments and has even involved himself in situations that no other Commissioner would have involved himself in, but he's all we have, for good or bad.

Some would say he's just doing his job, others, like James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers, despise him for his body of work.

Regardless of your opinion of Goodell, he inherited an insanely popular league just in time to stand in the trenches of it's biggest battle since 1987.

Now, in the spotlight of a potential 10-year CBA finally on the horizon, Roger Goodell is putting on his hero cape and opening up to doing "whatever is necessary" to get a deal done in the next week.

According to ESPN:

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will do "whatever is necessary," including traveling to Washington, where the NFL Players Association's executive committee is scheduled to meet this week, sources said, with the NFL closing in on a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement.

The big pieces of the agreement have already been made and now they are just looking to tie up the ends. If the deal is finally ratified, the league year could be begin as early as July 25th, just in time for teams to make their necessary free agency moves and get into training camp without missing a single pre-season game.

Things still remain unresolved - such as Tom Brady's antitrust lawsuit - but sources remain optimistic about everything getting taken care of sooner than later.

Now, I am not applauding Roger Goodell for doing "whatever is necessary" to get the job done, but I am saying that it is about time somebody is doing it.

Granted, and as I already said, things are mostly agreed upon already, but compliance and unquestionable cooperation from Goodell could be the final piece to this lockout puzzle that has gone on long enough already.

This statement of anticipated cooperation from Goodell may be interpreted as him piling onto the back end of deal that is ready to be made, but in the end it doesn't matter as long as there is football on Sundays.

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Carlos Beltran: New York Mets to San Francisco Giants? It's Time.

I will never forget the first time I saw Carlos Beltran in the flesh.

Just days after signing his seven year $119 million dollar contract with the Mets, I watched him on the jumbotron during a break in the action at Madison Square Garden during a Knicks game desperately trying to crawl and hide in his wife's purse. 

With the Garden faithful cheering him to acknowledge them and share their excitement with him joining the "New Mets", the man literally wilted. After a few more moments when it became clear he wasn't going to respond with any sort of flourish, the crowd found themselves lost in a truly awkward moment. 

"Who comes to New York and doesn't want THIS?" asked a friend rather indignantly. 

A fan in the next section half—joking uttered, "Just wait till they boo him at Shea."

Ultimately you only get one first impression in life and from then on it was hard not to keep a wary eye on the man.  

Fans in Kansas City and Houston may consider Beltran a fine ball player, by playing with grace as five—tool center fielder who made it all look easy.  However for the past seven seasons Carlos Beltran has proven to be a riddle for Mets fans.  Injuries aside, when healthy he has produced several solid seasons in Queens with numerous accolades and yet... 

Sadly for the Mets during the past seven years no one player ever managed to step up as the leader, which one could argue led to the pain and heartache of this stretch.  Beltran said, "Unfortunately, as players, we didn't do it, we didn't come through as a team." While one can sympathize with his lamenting when coupled with this statement of wanting to finish his career as a Met, it all struck me as hollow and awkward.

Did he really want more of an organization that has been in free—fall since he looked at strike three from Adam Wainwright in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS? 

Looking forward Beltran continued, "We need to improve as a team. We need to get better. We need to win ballgames against teams in our division in order to position ourselves better. But at the same time, David Wright being out, Ike Davis being out - I bet there is going to be a lot of pressure on the younger guys to step in and play better baseball. Only time will let us know what is going to happen."

Whether looking backwards, forwards, or at the present, he never seems to make himself accountable for the situation and even shifts pressure on others to deliver while doling out excuses.  

Fortunately for everyone the time has finally come for him to go.  

With the San Francisco Giants given their recent success Carlos would prove a fine complimentary piece as a power hitting corner outfielder they need in their push to repeat.  Even better for him, since the Giants already have a championship, the pressure shouldn't nearly be as intense as he can take on the role of hired gun before making his next move.  Hopefully he will remember to take his bat and leave the excuses.

For the Mets, one can only hope whatever package of prospects the team receives will pan out down the road whether they deal with the Giants or not as only time will tell. 

Finally for Met fans, tough times lie ahead.  With so much uncertainty it's hard to judge what should be done on several fronts, but this is a move that needs to be made to help turn the page and exorcise the demons of the past. 

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