LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Robert Griffin III will declare for the NFL Draft 2012 next week, claims news. Robert Griffin III has decided to declare for the next NFL Draft, in advance of the January 15 deadline, claims news. When sought for comment by news, Robert Griffin III refused to confirm nor deny the report.

Chris Mortensen tells news moments ago that Robert Griffin III has already decided to declare for the draft, and will make the news announcement as early as next week. But his father tells David Ubben the decision has already been made; the only unresolved issue is when to actually make the announcement.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – The Mike Francesa Darrelle Revis interview this week ended in a hang-up. Darrelle Revis hung up on Mike Francesa after eight minutes of an interview that dealt extensively with a controversial play earlier this week. In the end, Francesa simply said “This is why I don’t talk to the Jets!”

The news interview started relatively calmly. But five minutes into it, Francesa asked “you want to go on the record and say that is not a penalty?” Revis was furious. “I will say what I want to say. That is not penalty.”

Francesa responded “Not a penalty?” “Did the ref throw a flag?” “No” said Francesa. “So, hence it is not a penalty” fumed Revis. Revis added “This is a game, brotha, what are you talking about. There are number of things that go on that you have no clue… so what are you trying to say?”

By the eighth minute of the interview, Revis was seconds away from hanging up. But first, he continued to repeat the same unexplained statement “the play is a play”.

Francesa remarked “Yes, they did not throw a flag.” Revis responded “Okay. So the play is a play.” “But that doesn’t mean you didn’t get away with one.” And yet again, Revis replied “The play is a play. The play is a play.”

After “the play is a play” line had been, well, played out, so had the news interview, with Revis hanging up. But first he added “That’s enough, stop. This is why no one wants to get interviewed with him.” Click HERE for the interview.

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ST LOUIS (LALATE) – Kent Hull, the former Buffalo Bills center, is dead at 51. Cause of death for Kent Hull has yet to be confirmed by local news. Hull died this afternoon, MSU officials confirm to news. In recent years, Kent Hull has reportedly spent his free time on his cattle farm. But with the Bills, Hull went to three Pro Bowls.

Hull was with the New Jersey Generals from 1983 to 1985 before joining the Bills for a decade. During that period, he went to three consecutive Pro Bowls starting in 1988. Kent Hull retired from the NFL in 1997 and moved to the Mississippi Delta. He is reportedly survived by his wife and two children.

Among other countless achievements, Hull made news leading his Bills team to four AFC titles; he played one hundred twenty-one consecutive games.

In an interview recently with Rod Walker, Hull said that the NFL has changed over the years. “It’s changed a lot. When I played, it was more about positioning, making contact and moving somebody.”

When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Hull said “That I played with some good players. Jim Kelly. Thurman Thomas. James Lofton. Andre Reed. Bruce Smith.” He added that “Without an offensive line, Jim Kelly, James Lofton and Thurman Thomas wouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame.” He remarked “Coach Marv Levy told me one day, ’son you’ll be in the Hall of Fame one day.’ I said ‘coach I am already in there four times. When James, Thurman, Jim and you went in, I went in.’ “

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – The Carson Palmer Raiders trade deal is reportedly being encouraged by Shaelyn Palmer (photos below), the quarterback’s wife. Carson Palmer and Shaelyn Fernandes Palmer are reportedly anxious to get back to California. With many reports suggesting that the Raiders could move to Los Angeles’ Farmers Field in 2012, the Palmers could soon be heading back to their roots next year.

Shaelyn Palmer was raised in San Jose. But she was a former swimmer when she met Carson Palmer at USC. The two reportedly have been anxious to get back to California.

A new report today indicates that Palmer could be traded to Oakland, with two first round picks going to the Bengals: a first round 2012 pick and a conditional first round 2013 pick, Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen report. There has been a sense of urgency by Raiders execs to make the move following the broken collarbone of Jason Campbell, the team’s starting quarterback.

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Where is Carson Palmer now? He is reportedly training here in So Cal with Ken O’Brien, the former Jets quarterback.

In July 2009, Shaelyn made news after comments by Ochocinco. The Dayton Daily News reported then that “Shaelyn Palmer wasn’t happy with rumors that Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco planned to stay with the family in July.” 85 had told press that he is going to be staying with Palmer and wife until July.

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Carson told news of Shaelyn’s reaction to the “threat” of living with Chad. “As soon as I walked in the door from work the other day, she just gave me that look. I’m like, ‘Whoa, calm down. It’s media stuff. It’s Chad being Chad.’ “I told her, ‘Don’t worry. I haven’t made any commitments to having to clear out the boxes in the (spare) room to make a bed for him. Don’t worry about that. It’s not going to happen.’ “

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Al Davis’ cause of death has not been released to news; Davis’ cause of death is expected to be disclosed during an official briefing Saturday afternoon, local news indicates. Davis’ death was confirmed by a news statement on the team’s websites raiders.com Saturday.

Saturday morning, the Raiders website had been converted to bare just a few words. “Al Davis July 4, 1929 – October 8, 2011. The Raider Family will issue a statement later today.” Davis died Saturday, the location of his passing has yet to be released to news.

Davis’ condition during a news conference in January of this year prompted concerns. It was his first public address in 16 months. As Ann Killion noted at the time, it was “only his second since breaking out the overhead projector while firing Lane Kiffin, and introducing Cable, whom he could barely identify.”

For Al Davis, questions about his health were nothing new. In 2006, Davis told news that he then hated using a walker due to a quadriceps injury. Davis said at the time that “no one” knew how to fix his injury, but he feels good.”

In January, with a bandage on his head, Davis looked injured but his spirit weren’t. He had fighting words for his competitors, Tom Cable, and new legal issue for the Raiders because of Cable’s alleged actions. The press conference was called to introduce Hue Jackson and address the firing of Cable. But it drew questions about Davis’ condition. Al Davis talked about “Kim Newton” instead of Cam Newton, “Lance Kiffin” instead of Lane Kiffin.

“I beat him because he lied. He’s a liar!” Davis said about Kiffin. Davis told news “Tom [Cable] had been told earlier in his career that he could have been fired without pay for the wrath he brought on the Raider organization.”

In a news statement this morning, the Raiders organization said “Based on personal achievement, team achievement and contributions to the game, no one has had a more profound and lasting impact on professional football.” Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Send your love.

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