LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – The Cam Newton Carolina Panthers deal will be worth $23 million, claims reports. Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers are close to reaching an agreement today, reports NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora. He indicates that the deal will be a four year contract excluding a team option, valued at $23 million. Moreover, all the money will be guaranteed, claims the report.

The Panthers’ selection of Newton as the first overall draft pick was no surprise earlier this year. Newton is unmatched at closing games. From week to week in December 2010, Newton was consistently cold in his first half but delivered second halves that shocked the senses.

Newton will now attempt to show if his years of unmatched training have paid off. Trained under Urban Meyer, Dan Mullen, and finally Gus Malzahn, Newton got aid from private quarterback coach George Whitfield Jr. before the Combine. Whitfield last worked with Ben Roethlisberger during his 2010 suspension.

While today’s contract may not prove that Newton is an “entertainer and icon”, massive endorsement deals are still expected. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock once said of Newton that he’s “got a big arm, better mechanics than Vince Young or Tim Tebow.”

• Comments (0)

ST LOUIS (LALATE) – Did Vince Young sign with the Eagles? Vince Young Eagles reports have muddied an original report that did not state that Young has been signed. On Friday, Doug Farrar of Yahoo News wrote “The signing was first reported by Albert Breer of the NFL Network.” But Breer never said that. Or did he? As of this hour, the Eagles have yet to confirm any news. But sources close to Young says he is expected to sign with the Eagles, but still hasn’t.

“To clarify, I did NOT say Vince Young signed with the Eagles” wrote Breer on Twitter. “I said he’d agreed to go there”. But in his report, Breer wrote Young “Now he’ll serve as a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles after reaching a one-year deal with the team Thursday, according to a source close to the quarterback.”

From there, other reports suggest that Young “may” or is “expected” to join. Clark Judge of CBSSports.com used the word “expected”. “The Eagles are expected to add Young”. But he adds “Looks like they’re following through, with Young a virtual certainty to join the team.”

ESPN is reporting the same. Dan Graziano and Adam Schefter repot that the Young “has been eyeing” the move as “a potential destination”.

• Comments (0)

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – The Darren Sproles Saints deal didn’t just aid Drew Brees but reunites him with his former Chargers teammate. The Darren Sproles deal comes less than twenty-four hours after the Reggie Bush deal. It’s the latest in a series of pivotal, well orchestrated, moves for the Saints following the 2011 NFL Draft.

In 2011, the Saints selected first round talented running back Mark Ingram. For Reggie Bush, that sent a message that he was out in New Orleans. Within moments of the draft pick, Bush took to Twitter to thank New Orleans’ fans. Two hours later he thanked Ingram and said  “He will be a great addition to the Saints backfield just as he was in Alabama.”

Bush was set to earn nearly $12 million this coming season, the final season of his rookie season. But the Saints and Bush agreed to trade him, with a substantial contract restructuring. He will instead make less than that amount, in two seasons, with $5 million this year.

Sproles, however, today as a free agent was signed in a huge deal. The contract will pay Sproles $14 million over four years with $6 million guaranteed, John Clayton of ESPN reports.

Of note, Ingram is still unsigned. The Saints have signed three of the six draft picks as of Thursday. Johnny Patrick, Greg Romeus and Nate Bussey are signed. Martez Wilson, Cam Jordan and Mark Ingram remain unsigned.

• Comments (0)

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Louis Felix, Jr. has taken hostage four persons in Tucson, Arizona this morning. Louis Felix, Jr.’s hostage situation started inside a Studio 6 motel Friday morning; Pima Regional SWAT Team negotiating with Felix currently.

The hostage situation began this morning when two bails bondmen tried to take Felix into custody. Officers from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department responded at 2:11 AM after reports of gunfire. It remains unclear if the bails bondmen were shot.

The motel is located in the 4900 Block of S. Outlet Center Drive. After law enforcement arrived, Felix locked himself in the room. By 5:50 am, officers were able to commence negotiations with the suspect over the phone.

Felix’s hostages are three young children an adult female. Traffic has been re-routed of I-10 near the situation. Felix was wanted for felony burglary. “The Pima Regional SWAT Team alone with negotiators have arrived to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the situation” said a news statement by PCSO PIO Dawn Barkman this morning.

• Comments (0)

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Naser Abdo aka Naser Jason Abdo or Nasser Jason Abdo (photos below), according to Fort Hood officials, was not on the base when he was arrested. As to Naser Abdo’s arrest, Fort Hood today said “The incident … did not occur on Fort Hood and the Soldier was not a Fort Hood based Soldier.” Abdo was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, specifically, Company E, 1st Brigade Combat Team (Rear Provisional) of the 101st Airborne Division, confirmed Fort Hood officials in a news statement moments ago.

Despite initial news reports, Abdo is now in the custody of civilian authorities. Army officials have yet to determine if he will face other military charges including AWOL.

Naser Jason Abdo refused to deploy to Afghanistan. He later allegedly had pictures of children on his government computer. But on Wednesday, he was picked up during a routine traffic stop. This came after he purchased alleged bomb making materials at a local gun shop. The same facility had sold items to Nidal Hassan, charged with the shooting deaths of thirteen people in the 2009 Fort Hood massacre.

Naser Jason Abdo Pictures
Naser Jason Abdo Photo 1
Naser Jason Abdo Photo 2
Naser Jason Abdo Photo 3
Naser Jason Abdo Photo 4

Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, the House Army Caucus Chairman, applauded the gun shop, Guns Galore, for its tip to local police. In a news statement to CNN, Carter said today “We now have an example of what works to prevent these type attacks, and as the coming days reveal more details about this attempt, we can determine better ways to thwart similar efforts in the future.”

Abdo was arrested at a local motel. Within his possession were ammunition, weapons, and bomb making materials. Abdo made news in 2010 by calling the war in the Middle east an “unjust war”. He added that “Any Muslim who knows his religion or maybe takes into account what his religion says can find out very clearly why he should not participate in the U.S. military.”

He wrote on his Facebook account in June this year “As god says, ‘The end is ultimately with the believers’ Quran.”

A spokesperson for the Killeen Police Department has given conflicting reports of the nature of Abdo’s initial charge. One report claims he was arrested for an outstanding warrant relating to the child images; another report claims he was arrested for possession of bomb making materials.

• Comments (0)