Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY TED TAYLOR For the game designated as “Blackout Night” in which Florida A & M University wore black uniforms for the first time and the fans were encouraged to wear black, it turned out to be the appropriate theme as the Rattlers saw the season funeralized at the hands of the South Carolina State Bulldogs. The 27-20 overtime loss dashed any hopes of winning a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship with the second conference loss.

With an open date this weekend, FAMU has plenty of time to wonder what went wrong in a season that had high expectations. At 3-5, the Rattlers are at the doorstep of a losing season for the first time since 2007, so whatever fix is found, it better be quick and tight.

Pictured: Damien Fleming…Quarterback

MIAMI — The lingering backlash caused by Ozzie Guillen’s praise of Fidel Castro contributed to another Miami Marlins managerial shakeup Tuesday.

Guillen was fired after only one year with the team, undone by too many losses and one too many ill-advised remarks. A promising season began to derail in April with his laudatory comments about Cuba’s former leader. Six months later, the episode was a factor in the decision to fire Guillen, Marlins officials said.

Bears coach Lovie Smith had no issues with Ndamukong Suh’s hard takedown of Jay Cutler on Monday night. Neither did Cutler himself, nor the league, which said Monday that Suh would not be disciplined for the hit.

Chicago receiver Brandon Marshall, on the other hand is upset that Suh chased down a scrambling Cutler on the play in question, grabbed the QB’s sleeve, then slammed him to the turf as Cutler tried to spin free. Cutler stayed down for a moment, then later headed to the locker room for what the Bears called a rib injury.

People in the Tampa Bay area were excited to be able to sit at home, and watch Sunday’s game between the Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints. Even the sellout crowd at Raymond James Stadium was ready for a great game.

Although the Buccaneer offense and defense played pretty well, a series of mistakes cost the Bucs victory in a 35-28 defeat. The Bucs had a touchdown nullified, and were denied on four downs inside their opponent’s 5-yard line.

Quarterback Josh Freeman passed for 420 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. His counterpart, Drew Brees, passed for 377 yards, 4 touchdowns, and an interception.

Buccaneer rookie running back, Doug Martin, carried the ball 16 times for 85 yards, and had the crowd on their feet with his 36 yard scamper for a touchdown. The penalty yards the Bucs picked up show why victory was snatched away.

The Bucs won’t have much time to lick their wounds before traveling to Minnesota to face the Vikings and Adrian Peterson in a Thursday night contest. Kickoff will be at 8:20 p. m.

On Thursday, prosecutors dropped battery charges against former Tampa Bay Buccaneer tight end, Jerramy Stevens, from an incident in March 2011.

The State Attorney’s Office elected not to pursue felony and misdemeanor battery charges because two men Stevens allegedly assaulted weren’t consistent with their stories. State Attorney’s Office spokesman, Mark Cox, said the two men retreated and recanted from the original story they gave police.

In a statement from Stevens’ attorney, he said no witness, including the two alleged victims, testified that Stevens punched either victim. Police initially reported the two men were bouncers at the Hula Bay Club and Duke’s Retired Surfer’s Island. Both men worked at a marina next to the club. The two men had met Stevens months before the alleged incident because he docked his boat at the marina.

One of the men, William Russell, had reported that Stevens had broke his jaw, but no witnesses saw Stevens punch Russell. Russell later couldn’t say for certain that Stevens hit him. Stevens signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007 and was released in 2010 after his arrest for marijuana possession. The court date for that case is Tuesday.

Stevens has retired from the NFL, but still lives in Tampa.

JACKSONVILLE, — Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew will miss Sunday’s game at Green Bay, maybe more, because of a foot injury.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert has a chance to play despite an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Jones-Drew injured his left foot on the first play of Sunday’s 26-23 loss at Oakland. Gabbert injured his left shoulder on a sack in the second quarter.

Coach Mike Mularkey says he doesn’t have results of tests performed on Jones-Drew’s foot, but adds that the injury is serious enough that it could keep the running back sidelined for an extended period. Mularkey says team doctors haven’t ruled out the possibility of it being a Lisfranc injury.

In a curious case that is still unfolding, a Pittsburgh man was arrested last Thursday on charges he attempted to extort money from former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward.

Joshua Van Auker, 26, got himself on the radar of the Allegheny County district attorney’s office after sending a text message to Ward’s personal assistant, Raymond Burgess, Jr., with an ominous threat which had aims of ruining the four-time Pro Bowler’s image and reputation.

A criminal complaint written by investigators read that Van Auker was, “alleging that Ward committed the criminal offense of paying women for s-x, and thereby exposing Ward to ridicule or contempt.

Everyone knows that the Baltimore Ravens legendary linebacker, Ray Lewis, played his high school football at Lakeland Kathleen before going on to the University of Miami.

So, no one should be surprised that after the 2010 NFL draft, Lewis would notice a young free agent trying out for the team who just happened to also be a product of Lakeland Kathleen. No one knows for sure what role Lewis played, but the Ravens signed Albert McClellan to a contract as an undrafted free agent. Another talent McClellan shares with the Hall of Famer Lewis, is he also is a linebacker.

McClellan played his college football at Marshall University, and in 2006, was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. McClellan was a three-time All-Conference USA selection at Marshall. He redshirted in2007 after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season. That injury sidelined him for a year.

McClellan played as the fourth string middle linebacker behind Lewis, Jameel McClain, and Danell Ellerbe, but saw more playing time due to injuries. With an injury to Terrell Suggs, McClellan had a chance to compete for a starting outside linebacker spot.

McClellan got the start and has started 3 games so far.

MINNEAPOLIS — Seimone Augustus has always preferred to stay out of the public eye even as her basketball career has taken her to the heights of an Olympic gold medal and a WNBA championship.

With her adopted home state of Minnesota considering a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, the Lynx star is now becoming a vocal proponent of equal rights for gays. After all, she has her own wedding coming up, to longtime girlfriend LaTaya Varner.

“I felt like it was the perfect time for me, being on a platform where I can make a change with my voice and my situation.” “Maybe inspire someone else to come out and be comfortable with themselves. Or maybe someone else’s parents will see my parents saying that it’s OK to be with your child and love your child unconditionally regardless of your sexual preference.”

Pictured: Minnesota Lynx WNBA basketball star and Olympic gold medalist Seimone Augustus talks about her relationship and engagement to LaTaya Varner.