POSTED 9:36 p.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

BUSH CLAIMS HE'S DONE "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG"

At a time when his interests are far better served, in our opinion, by saying nothing at all regarding suspicions that his family lived at little or no rent in the house of a prospective marketing agent during all or part of the 2005 season, Reggie Bush has opted to speak out.

"When this is all said and done, everybody will see at the end of the day that we've done nothing, absolutely nothing wrong," Bush said in a live ESPN interview on Monday.  "My parents leased the house, just like any normal family would.  It's kind of funny how this whole story is getting blown out of proportion."

Pressed on the question of, you know, who actually paid the rent, Bush declined to answer.

Declined to answer?  Ding ding ding ding ding!  In a case that might never produce a smoking gun, Bush' failure to state unequivocally that the rent came from the wages or savings of either his mother or his stepfather could be the closest thing to unequivocal proof that his family wasn't actually paying fair value to live in the house owned by Michael Michaels.

The next closest piece of ammo could be Bush's suggestion that his family's sudden move out of the house, which came within 24 hours after reporters started asking questions about the arrangements, was coincidental. 

Here's the deal.  When the Pac-10 and/or the NCAA and/or anyone else is trying to sort through what actually happened, the extent to which members of the Bush family are offering up statements that contradict the objective facts  could influence the extent to which the powers-that-be give any credence to their overall version of the events.  So if there's no proof that the move was previously planned, folks will be less inclined to believe anything that Bush of his family has to say.

Regardless of what Bush or anyone in his family might eventually say, they gain nothing at all by discussing the matter now.  Reggie should politely say "no comment," and that the lawyer, David Cornwell, has asked that all questions be referred to him.  Better still, Reggie should flash that million-dollar smile, exude some confidence, and offer up a sound bite that might prompt a chuckle from the journalists.

"Reggie Bush's family doesn't live in a house that someone else paid for.  You must be thinking of George Bush's family."

Instead, it appears that Bush and those around him are puckering right now.  And whenever someone is puckering, it's usually because he has a reason to pucker.

POSTED 4:48 p.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

PANTHERS WON'T MATCH MANNING OFFER

The Carolina Panthers will not match the offer sheet signed on Friday by cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. with the Bears.  This means that the terms Manning signed on Friday become a binding contract, and he is a member of the Bears.

The Panthers receive the Bears' third-round selection in the 2006 draft as compensation.

Manning was arrested over the weekend in Los Angeles for alleged assault with a deadly weapon.  (Scroll down for more.)  As we explained, the pending charges do not permit the Bears to back out of the offer.

POSTED 4:18 p.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

USC UNLIKELY TO FORFEIT GAMES

Joe Schad of ESPN.com reports that the NCAA is not likely to strip the USC Trojans of any victories earned, even if it's proven that tailback Reggie Bush was ineligible for all or part of the 2005 season.

"[B]ecause it was not an 'institutional violation' and USC received no competitive advantage, it is not likely that the school would have to vacate victories," Schad reports, citing an unnamed source.  Schad also says that it is unlikely that the school will lose scholarships or future bowl games.

Because Bush has left USC, any punishment likely would involve the vacating of records that he set, according to Schad.  But then there's also that little thing known as the Heisman Trophy, which Schad reports could ultimately be taken from Reggie.

Lawyer David Cornwell wisely is clamming up about the situation, since in our view nothing good can come out of this situation between now and the draft on Saturday.

"At this point, I'm not going to get into the particulars of the transactions between the family and Mr. Michaels," Cornwell told Schad. "It is inappropriate to presume that the Griffins did anything wrong."

Schad also explains that the Bush camp is "expected to argue that the NCAA rules legislating 'extra benefits' are not applicable in this case, because Michael Michaels [who owned the house in which Bush's family lived] was not involved in the marketing of Bush."

That's a weak argument, in our opinion.  The reality is that Michaels apparently wanted to handle the marketing of Bush, and that in an apparent effort to get his foot in the door, he gave them the keys to the whole place.  The fact that Bush went with someone else shouldn't matter.

Any other rule would permit the families of high-profile student-athletes to pocket money and other benefits from prospective agents without consequence, as long as the student-athlete eventually hires someone else.

And the biggest red flag, in our opinion, remains the fact that the Griffins high-tailed it out of the house within 24 hours after reporters started asking questions.  Absent evidence that they already had lined up a move, and that the timing of the arrival of the reporters was thus coincidental, we think that the abrupt vacancy cries out that they knew they were getting benefits that they should not have gotten.

The deeper question is whether anyone else knew, specifically from the USC football program.  Although Schad's report paints a rosy outlook for the Trojans, it's our understanding that the program can be in hot water if it "knew or should have known" about any irregular living arrangements.  The key here is the "should have known" standard.  If, in the end, the evidence is that the Griffins blatantly were living in a house owned by someone else, the program arguably should have asked a few questions.

We're not suggesting that every D-I program has an obligation to babysit all of its football players and their families.  But as to the handful, at most, of guys who are likely to be wooed each year by potentially unscrupulous characters, we think that every school has a duty to keep tabs on the high-end prospects, and their families.

One reader suggested that, if push comes to shove, the Trojans will pull the Sgt. Schulz routine and hope for the best.  But playing dumb might not be good enough, especially if the evidence ultimately shows that plenty of people in and around the program knew what was going on.

POSTED 3:45 p.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

RON MEXICO SETTLES HERP SUIT

The lawsuit filed in 2005 against Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, in which a former girlfriend alleged that he gave her the gift that keeps on giving, has been settled.

"The case is resolved," said V. Lawrence Woodward, Vick's attorney. "That's all I can say."

It's all that Woodward can say because settlement agreements in civil cases routinely contain a confidentiality provision, which prohibits the plaintiff from talking about how much money the plaintiff received.  Secrecy is requested for various reasons.  Big companies that get sued don't want other plaintiffs to think that they can get a pay day merely by filing an action. High-profile guys like Vick don't want the general public to assume that the magnitude of the payment connotes legal responsibility.

Of course, it's also a good idea for the plaintiff to agree to confidentiality, since the last thing the plaintiff needs is a bunch of friends and family members to show up with their hands out on rent day.

The complaint filed against Vick alleged that he has herpes, and that Vick passed it to the plaintiff, Sonya Elliott.  Elliot also claimed that Vick uses the alias "Ron Mexico" in connection with treatment for the condition.

The lawsuit initially was reported by thesmokinggun.com and generally ignored by the mainstream media for several days.  We heard at the time from multiple readers who had purchased personalized Falcons jerseys with the name "Mexico" on the back.  The league's merchandising arm later refused to process the transactions.

POSTED 1:53 p.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

HEISMAN TRUST LOOKING AT STRIPPING TROPHY?

Though we can't yet find anything about this on the 'Net, the Heisman Trophy Trust is looking at the situation involving 2005 award winner Reggie Bush, and the highest honor on the NCAA totem pole could ultimately be stripped.

In a Monday appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Joe Schad of ESPN.com reports that the Heisman committee is meeting to discuss what could or should happen.  Schad says that the Heisman ballot specifically says that the winner must be in complete compliance with all relevant NCAA bylaws.

Schad also told Patrick that attorney David Cornwell says that the Bush family will "cooperate fully" with any Pac-10 or NCAA investigation. 

POSTED 1:20 p.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

CORNWELL SPEAKS REGARDING REGGIE

After ducking inquiries from Jason Cole of the Miami Herald for much of the last week, attorney David Cornwell has issued a statement regarding the controversy that is now engulfing USC tailback Reggie Bush.

The fact that the Griffins apparently fled once the feces his the ceiling fan just looks bad.  If they weren't doing something that they shouldn't have been doing, why run away?

POSTED 11:18 a.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

BEARS' HANDS TIED ON MANNING

Reggie Bush isn't the only guy with SoCal ties making news on Monday morning.  Former UCLA defensive back Ricky Manning Jr., who signed on Friday an offer sheet with the Bears, has been arrested in Los Angeles and charged with assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly knocking a man unconscious at a Westwood Denny's.  Manning and four or five of his friends reportedly were teasing the man because he was (drum roll, please) working on a laptop computer.

(Man, this sounds like a deleted scene from Crash.  Or Playmakers.)

The man reportedly asked a Denny's employee to intervene, and then Manning reportedly hit the man in the face.  The others then began to kick him and beat him.  Allegedly.  The men fled when an employee called the police.

Manning's Range Rover fit the description given by witnesses, and then the alleged victim identified Manning.  Of course, Manning has told his agent that he didn't do it.  (If he goes to jail, he'll fit right in, 'cause none of those guys who are locked up did it, either.)

The bigger question is whether Chicago can now revoke the offer sheet that, if not matched by the Panthers, will make Manning a member of the Bears.  According to Article XIX, Section 3(d) of the old CBA, an offer sheet can be revoked only upon the written consent of the player.  (This specific provision was not affected by the term sheet generated in connection with the "new" CBA; thus, the language of Article XIX, Section 3(d) likely controls.)

If ultimately convicted, Manning faces possible discipline under the league's Personal Conduct Policy.  For persons merely charged with crimes, however, the league can only require a "clinical evaluation and, if appropriate, additional counseling or treatment as directed."

Despite reports that Carolina has until Friday to make up its mind as to whether to match the offer, we noticed in Article XIX, Section 3(b) of the CBA a requirement that the intent to match be communicated "within seven days from the date the Prior Club receives an Offer Sheet, but not later than four days before the Draft."  

Under this language, it appears that the deadline for matching is noon on Tuesday, April 25.

We won't hold our breath. 

POSTED 8:54 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:29 a.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

CARAVANTES ADMITS THAT MICHAELS WAS TRYING TO SCORE HIM SOME BUSH

The San Diego Union-Tribune has now chimed in on the major scandal that unfolded in its own backyard, and that two journalists from other locales broke before the paper of record for the city of San Diego.

Agent David Caravantes tells the Union-Tribune that the owner of the house in which the Bush family lived (possibly for free) was trying to get Caravantes included in the pool of potential representatives for Bush.

"They were trying to get me in front of [Bush] during the interview process, which I was never a part of,” Caravantes said. "They didn't try to recruit him for me.  They thought it would be a good idea to have everything in San Diego. I think their concept was that they were going to deal with marketing, and they [needed] an agent.

"If things worked out, we were going to try to put something together [to become business partners].  But everything was in waiting to see if they landed (Bush) to do the marketing.  Nothing came of it."

Though Caravantes claims that "[t]hey didn't try to recruit him for me," the rest of his quote indicates that that's precisely what they were doing.

And the "they" here is the owner of the house, known both as "Michael Chief Michaels" and "Michael Pettiford," and Lloyd Lake, who currently is in federal prison.  According to the Union-Tribune, "Michaels was arrested under his Pettiford name in October 1999 on felony charges of making terrorist threats and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner in an incident involving current Sycuan Tribal Chairman Daniel Tucker," but the charges were dropped in 2000 due to lack of evidence.

Caravantes' statements suggest that there is no relationship between himself and New Era.  This conflicts with the information that our tech guy Sean found on Sunday, which indicates that offensive lineman Jabari Levey of South Carolina is represented by New Era Sports & Entertainment -- and David Caravantes.

The strangest thing about the article in the Union-Tribune is that the paper apparently has known about this issue for a while.  So we wonder whether the U-T ever would have said word one about this matter if its hands hadn't been forced by other journalists.

After all, the U-T will be angling for access to its native son as he launches his NFL career.  And there's nothing like exercising a little editorial restraint in order to unlock a stream of inside information regarding Bush and his journey in pro football.

TMQ RETURNING TO ESPN

We've learned that Gregg Easterbrook's popular Tuesday Morning Quarterback column is heading back to ESPN.com, after an extended stay at NFL.com.

Easterbook's witty and insightful (and incredibly detailed and prolific) take on each weekend's slate of games, and all sorts of other stuff, landed on the league's official site after ESPN.com severed ties with Easterbook in the wake of some unfortunate comments regarding Jewish movie executives.

Easterbrook's return will come on Tuesday, April 25, with his annual mocking of the mock draft process.

Our suggestion for pick No. 3?  "Michael Michaels a/k/a Michael Pettiford, the only guy who has shown that he might be able to take down Reggie Bush."

SOMEBODY IN MINNESOTA "GETS IT," THANKFULLY

Major kudos and other indicia of respect and admiration to Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune for calling out Vikings director of player personnel Fran Foley for his multiple resume inaccuracies.

"One clerical error, one oversight, one mistake, even one small embellishment might be understandable," writes Souhan.  "For Foley to inflate his importance even at insignificant junctures of his career should be worrisome to the Vikings brass. . . .  Foley was chosen over internal candidates Scott Studwell and Jeff Robinson.  As far as we know, Studwell and Robinson are, if nothing else, competent known quantities with many years of service to their franchise on their uninflated resumes. . . .

"Maybe [Foley's] a swell guy who will do a great job, but I'm surprised an organization that is trying to portray itself as pristine and savvy would do so little research on a major hire, or would offer so little public reaction to the Star Tribune's stories on Foley."

Amen, Jim.

Frankly, we're amazed that neither the AP nor any other national outlet picked up the Star Tribune's Friday night story containing information regarding four additional errors in Foley's bio.  And Foley promptly should send to USC tailback Reggie Bush a fruit basket (or, you know, a whole house), since it is the Bush family fiasco that will keep Foley's foibles off of the national radar screen.

POSTED 8:25 a.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

BUSH BROUHAHA BUILDS

On Sunday morning, a search of the terms "reggie" and "bush" in Google News generated nothing but articles regarding the draft.

It's less than 24 hours later, and man has the world changed.

Reports of the family of USC tailback Reggie Bush possibly receiving benefits from a prospective agent in violation of NCAA rules have exploded, with links to the story on newspaper web sites throughout the country.  The item also appears on the front page of ESPN.com and Foxsports.com.  There was a story about it on SportsCenter, too.

The latest?  According to the Los Angeles Times, the Pac-10 conference will conduct an investigation into the matter. 

But there already are signs that the powers-that-be will push this thing under the rug.

Ron Barker, the associate commissioner for enforcement of the Pac-10, said that the matter could be "tricky" because Bush has no eligibility left.  Barker also told the Times that "much would hinge on what, if any, cooperation Bush's family might provide."

What the hell is that?  So if the Bush family refuses to provide any info as to where they lived or what they paid, then the case is closed? 

We think that if the Bush bunch won't talk, then they should be presumed guilty, based on the media reports that already have been published.  Indeed, the onus should be on LaMar Griffin and Denise Griffin, Reggie's stepfather and mother, to prove that they paid at least fair market rent for the house owned by Michael Michaels, who apparently also owns New Era Sports & Entertainment, which as we reported on Sunday apparently is working with agent David Caravantes in the representation of at least one draft-eligible prospect, South Carolina offensive lineman Jabari Levey.

Of course, conducting a legitimate investigation might require the Pac-10 and/or the NCAA to stick a fork into the golden goose otherwise known as the USC football program.  And with the NCAA, the Pac-10, and/or USC earning millions from the success of the program (since, among other things, there's no pro football team in Los Angeles), the last thing that the NCAA and/or the Pac-10 ever will do is declare that Bush was ineligible for one or more games for 2005, that USC knew or should have known that Bush's parents were living in a $757,000 house on a possibly low-or-no-rent basis, that USC should therefore forfeit its 12 wins from 2005, and that the Pac-10 should surrender the money earned by virtue of USC's appearance in the Rose Bowl.

To justify a finding of ineligibility, the key will be to establish that the Griffins didn't pay fair value for their 2005 stay in the Michaels house -- and that Michaels was an "agent" at the time.  Defining "agent" could be challenging, since it's possible that Michaels was merely an aspiring sports marketing agent at the time. 

Based on Sunday's reports, however, it appears that there was some overlap between the 2005 football season and the launch of New Era Sports & Entertainment.

One of the key figures in this regard could be James Choe, who registered the newerasports.tv web domain.  Choe surely knows who hired him to set up the site, which as we reported on Sunday was registered on November 2, 2005, and Choe likely knows whether Michaels was involved in the business. 

Indeed, Choe has contacted us regarding the publication of his name and contact information in this space yesterday afternoon:

-------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------

We agreed to remove the information, in the hopes that Choe would provide us with some information regarding the persons who hired him to register the newerasports.tv domain -- and thereafter apparently failed to pay him.  But Choe clammed up, claiming in part that he's not aware of any of the details.

Still, he's surely aware of the names of the folks who hired him to perform work for New Era.  Although we won't re-publish Choe's contact info, we ask the NCAA to drop us a line if the organization is intent on conducting a real investigation.

And that's what we'll be watching most carefully going forward.  Will the Pac-10 and/or the NCAA delve into this matter as aggressively as the media has, or will the folks with jurisdiction over Bush and USC merely presume that the Griffins got out of the house so quickly last week due to an infestation of poltergeists?

POSTED 12:45 a.m. EDT, April 24, 2006

COLE CONFIRMS BUSH REPORT

Jason Cole of the Miami Herald confirms many of the details first reported on Sunday by Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports regarding Reggie Bush and the apparently free teepee in which his family was residing during the 2005 season.

New tidbits from Cole include a revelation that Bush has hired lawyer David Cornwell to handle the matter.  Cornwell has basically stonewalled Cole's efforts to get answers regarding the situation.

Cole also addresses the primary question regarding this situation:  What does it all mean to Bush, and to USC?

Citing NCAA bylaw 12.3.1 and an NCAA rules guide for student-athletes, Cole suggests that Bush might have been ineligible for the entire 2005 season.

The controlling language, based on our own review of the NCAA bylaws, seems to come from Rule 12.3.1.2(b):

As Dante suggested in the April 23 PFT PodCast, Bush likely will be screwed on this one if his family did not pay a fair rental price during their stay in the house owned by Michael Michaels, an aspiring sports marketing agent.  Cole indicates that, even if market value was tendered to Michaels, there still could be problems for Reggie due to the fact that the NCAA frowns on relationships between athletes and agents.

The consequences of a violation are still unclear.  If this situation had come to light during the season, Bush automatically would have been ruled ineligible -- and USC would have been required to petition for his reinstatement.  Even if Bush's family had paid over to Michaels the full value of the benefits received (if any), Bush might have missed a game, or more.

Now that the season has been finished, what happens?  It's a question that we and others will be considering very carefully over the coming days and weeks.

Meanwhile, Vince Young might want to start working on a belated Heisman pose.