POSTED 11:41 p.m. EDT, April 16, 2006

PACMAN ADMITS TO LOANING CAR TO SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER

Omitted from Saturday's published reports in the Tennessee media regarding the possible connection between Titans cornerback Pacman Jones and suspected drug dealer Darryl Jerome Moore was any reference whatsoever to a WKRN-TV report from Friday night in which Jones admits that he loaned his Cadillac XLR with "Pac-Man" stitched into the seats to Moore, an aspiring rapper, for the making of a music video.

Jones says that he doesn't know what happened to the car, which lists at more than $70,000, after giving it to Moore.

The video of the WKRN story is available right here.  And although there's still no evidence to link Pacman to any illegal activities, Jones once again shows off his turdish tendencies by verbally berating the reporter who tried to question him from a public driveway near Jones' house.

Here are some of the more colorful quotes from Pacman.  (The expletives were bleeped by WKRN, but it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure out what he was saying.)

1.  "This is private property.  Don't you see that [sh-t]?  Private [f--king] property."

2.  "Don't put that -- don't turn that [camera] on on me.  If you turn that on, I'm gonna snatch it."

3.  "I don't give a [f--k] what you do, man.  You ain't got no proof to do nothin'."

4.  "I don't give a [f--k] who told you what."

5.  "Next time you come on my property . . . we gonna get to fightin'."

Jones' admitted link to Moore contradicts statements from his lawyer and agent to the Nashville Tennessean, and it's amazing to us that the Tennessean would allow petty local rivalries between media outlets to prevent the newspaper from providing to its readers with the whole story.

We also wonder why the video hasn't made its way into the national media, such as ESPN.  Frankly, we're beginning to suspect that maybe the editors in Bristol might now turn a blind eye to some of the player behavior that might alienate the average fan, in order to protect and defend the network's $1.1 billion-per-year stake in the NFL's main product.

If that ultimately occurs, it would be extremely ironic.  After all, who would think that the network responsible for a fictional portrayal of pro football that was too close to the mark for the NFL's liking would thereafter exercise editorial discretion in a manner aimed at making the league appear that it isn't populated by a certain segment of thugs, wife beaters, and general buttholes? 

POSTED 11:48 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 12:59 p.m. EDT, April 16, 2006

PRICE TAKING THE LEAD IN TEAM LEINART

The source that has been feeding us all sorts of interesting tidbits regarding the recent upheaval in the representation team handling USC quarterback Matt Leinart tells us that, while Leinart will replace Leigh Steinberg with Tom Condon of Creative Artists Agency, relative novice Chuck Price has strengthened his position significantly, and could be listed as the lead agent.

Indeed, it was Price's growing influence over the situation that prompted Matt Leinart and his father, Bob, to take a close look at adding a replacement other than Condon.  Most observers believed that Leinart's existing relationship with CAA made the choice of Condon a no-brainer, but we're hearing from multiple sources that Ryan and Bruce Tollner, who currently are colleagues of Steinberg, also were under consideration for the Leinart representation.  Steinberg, we're told, made a strong push to keep Leinart, and at least one other firm was in the mix.

Word is that the Tollners would have partnered up with Price, if Leinart had chosen to add the Tollners to the team.  In fact, we hear that there's a still a possibility that the Tollners will join Price's shop.  Some league insiders believe that, if this happens, there's a possibility that the Tollners will carry with them Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.  (Of course, the Tollners might want to have a brief chat with David Dunn before trying to leave Steinberg's shop and taking with them one or more of Steinberg's existing clients.)

The winner to date in this process is Price.  Widely regard as a wannabe, Price successfully has parlayed relationships with Steinberg and Leinart's personal quarterbacks coach, Steve Clarkson, into the prime spot in the representation team.  We're told that Clarkson has now surprisingly been cast aside, too.  Some league insiders are convinced that Price intentionally worked to undermine Clarkson with an eye toward getting him dumped.

We're also told that CAA has paid a six-figure sum to Steinberg in order to get him to go away without a fight.  In theory, Steinberg could have filed an NFLPA grievance against CAA and/or Condon for tortious interference with the Steinberg-Leinart relationship.  There's talk in league circles that Steinberg already has exercised his prerogative to file such a claim against Gary Uberstine, based upon the recent decision of USC offensive tackle Winston Justice to switch from Steinberg to Uberstine.

We've been trading phone messages with Steinberg over the past couple of days, and we hope to talk to him on Monday in order to clarify some of these issues.  Stay tuned.

NOTE TO INCOMING PLAYERS:  TURN OFF THE CELL PHONES

As more and more Americans migrate through life with a rectangular solid pressed against one of their ears, it's more important than ever for us all to realize when to turn off the cell phones -- or, at a minimum, to set them to "silent."

One of the most important times to remember this is during a job interview.

We mention the topic because we've heard that a first-round draft prospect who was recently visiting with a NFL team had his cell phone ring not once but twice while meeting with the head coach.

The incident, along with other things that occurred during the session, prompted one source with the team to tell us that the player was "the biggest asshole we've ever brought in."  We've opted not to name the kid for now because, based on information we've obtained from other sources, it appears that he simply was having a bad day.

Good day or bad day, though, it's critical to turn off the damn phone.  Especially after the thing goes off for the first time at a bad time.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS

Gino the Ginny lives!  Kudos to our tech guy Sean for saving the Mike Grieco a/k/a DJ Dirty Sanchez myspace.com profile before the Google cache of it was unplugged.

Chargers LB Donnie Edwards wonders whether he is a pawn in the rift between G.M. A.J. Smith and coach Marty Schottenheimer.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden hopes that his three wideout draft picks from a year ago will step up in 2006.

This year's Bucs are driven by their playoff loss in January.

Maybe if Ravens coach Brian Billick had heeded his own words regarding mentor Bill Walsh, the Ravens wouldn't be stuck with QB Kyle Boller:  "There is a reason why Bill Walsh never took a first-round quarterback," Billick said.  "If you're going to crapshoot, don't do it in the first round."

Two days after word broke that Matt Leinart will visit the Saints, the New Orleans Times-Picayune has a total of six quarterback-related draft stories in its Sunday edition.

Did the NFL stick it to the Bills when scheduling 2006 games?

The Ravens are eyeballing several defensive backs.

The Meathead's brother reportedly has interviewed for a position with the Vikings (we didn't know they had any openings in the ticket office).

Can anyone explain to us why the NFL Network isn't on every single cable system in the country?

The Titans have offered to pay QB Steve McNair to work out somewhere other than at the team facility.

Can anyone explain to us why Rich Gannon is covering NFL games for CBS?

Randy Moss and Chad Pennington will serve as coaches for the Marshall spring game next week.

A tight end hasn't been picked in the top five since 1972.

Oregon QB Kellen Clemens is climbin' the ladder.

The Vikings still might send the No. 17 overall draft pick to Atlanta for QB Matt Schaub.

CB Ty Law currently is talking with four teams.

Former NFL FB Jon Ritche is working as an analyst for NFL Europe games -- from New Jersey.

A New York congressman wants hearings on whether the new CBA violates antitrust laws.