Florida Sentinel Bulletin

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots have agreed to terms with Olympic silver medalist Jeff Demps, who played running back at Florida,but was not drafted by an NFL team because he said he wanted to focus on his track career.

Patriots player personnel director Nick Caserio said in his meeting with reporters on Friday that the team had nothing to report. But later in the night, after reports began to surface, the Patriots issued a press release, announcing the signing of the 22-year-old sprinter.

Demps earned the Olympic silver medal in the 4×100 relay as part of the team that finished second to Jamaica at the London Games last week. His football agent, Daniel Rose, said that several NFL teams were interested in the former running back from Florida.

Tampa Bay and the New York Jets were among the teams that confirmed an interest. Caserio confirmed that the Patriots scouted Demps, but he went undrafted after saying he was giving up football to focus on track and the Olympics.

NEW ORLEANS  — Former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu has entered a drug rehabilitation program in Houston since being dismissed from the Tigers, according to a television report.

Mathieu’s adoptive father, Tryone Mathieu, says that the 20-year-old star cornerback and punt returner known as the “Honey Badger” has been at the Right Step recovery center and is being counseled by former NBA player John Lucas.

Tyrone Mathieu says his son is committed to restoring his health and won’t play football until he is confident that his rehab is complete. That may rule out the possibility of Mathieu transferring to a school at the FCS level and playing this season, after which he would be eligible for the NFL draft.

OKLAHOMA CITY  — The Oklahoma City Thunder took a big step toward sticking around as an NBA championship contender.

The Thunder and general manager Sam Presti still face difficult decisions in the team’s quest to remain a title threat for the long haul after reaching the NBA Finals last season, but reaching a contract extension with blocks leader Serge Ibaka is certainly a good start.

Ibaka came to terms on the deal on Saturday as the Thunder locked up another key member of their nucleus while also putting into question whether the small-market team can afford to keep Sixth Man of the Year James Harden beyond next season..

Ibaka posted on Twitter that he was happy for the chance to play for the Thunder for five more years.

Tonight’s (Friday) game at Raymond James Stadium between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans has been blacked out.

On Tuesday, the Bucs confirmed they had failed to sell out the game, despite their use of the NFL’s new 85% threshold.

The league changed its blackout policy this year, allowing teams to avoid blackouts and declare sellouts if 85% of non-premium seats are purchased 72 hours before kickoff. The Bucs did not reach that threshold.

The game is scheduled for live telecast at 7:30, and will be aired on a delay basis on WTSP at 11:35 p. m. Friday, and noon Sunday. The game will also be aired on the NFL Network 10 a. m. Sunday.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – With the fall football season quickly approaching, Florida A&M University (FAMU) announces an enhanced football experience and halftime entertainment for fans of FAMU football.

This 2012 football season takes on a special meaning as the university celebrates 125 years of excellence.

The season, which kicks off September 1 in Nashville against Tennessee State University, includes four home games, each with a different game experience that fans will appreciate and get excited about.

“We have a promising team this football season ready and excited to showcase their talent on the gridiron,” shares Derek Horne, FAMU athletics director. “Our guys have been putting in extra time with drills over the summer, and adding the excitement of the enhanced halftime experience is sure to make this a very exciting football season as FAMU celebrates 125 years.”

The FAMU Athletics program takes on a brand new energy this season unveiling a new theme – “Our Team, Our Time. Respect the Game.” In addition to the new theme, each game this season includes a halftime entertainment production that includes the voice of  FAMU football, Joe Bullard, serving as game MC and an Old School vs. New School DJ set to keep fans excited and energized throughout the entire game. The halftime segment for each game is tight lipped for now, but fans can expect special performances from major recording artists and a contest to win a meet and greet with the artists.

In addition to the game experience, FAMU Athletics is partnering with Visit Tallahassee to create sports travel packages that include hotel stay and a game ticket. The entire marketing program will be focused on driving game attendance and overnight stay during home games while creating value and an enhanced game experience for fans.

Opponents for this year’s home games include Hampton University as the opening game on September 15, Savannah State University on October 13, South Carolina State University on October 20, and the homecoming game celebrating FAMU’s 125th anniversary on November 10 against North Carolina Central University.

For more information regarding the 2012 football season, visit FAMUAthletics-.com or call (850) 599-3868.

NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire is set to release a new book series for middle-school-aged children.

The books are to be published by Scholastic in a series called STAT: Standing Tall and Talented.

Co-written by Stoudemire with the Scholastic team, the New York Knicks captain’s first book of the series, Home Court, is about his life as a 6’11? middle school student who plays basketball, baseball and football with his friends in Lake Wales, the small Florida city where he grew up.

According to a Scholastic spokesperson, the series is likely to be ongoing, although just three books have been commissioned to date.

AKRON, Ohio— Michael Dokes, a former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, has died. He was 54.

The Rhoden Memorial Home in Akron said Dokes died Saturday. The boxer died in an Akron hospice from liver cancer.

Known as “Dynamite” Dokes because he packed a powerful punch, the fighter won the WBA title in 1982 by defeating Michael Weaver. He lost the title a year later when he was beaten by Gerrie Coetzee.

Dokes had a career record of 53-6-2.

A run of legal problems began late in his career. In 1986, Dokes was arrested in Las Vegas for cocaine trafficking and served two years’ probation.

In 2000, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to attempted murder, second-degree kidnapping and intent to commit sexual assault against his girlfriend. He was released in 2008.

It might be awhile before LeGarrette Blount or rookie Doug Martin is declared the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting tailback.

Coach Greg Schiano doesn’t see any urgency on that front.

Developing a running game is a top priority for the new head coach of a team that ran the ball fewer than 22 times per game last season, the least of any NFL team.

The Bucs traded into the first round to draft Martin, a quick and compact running back out of Boise State. That sent a message to Blount, who came to camp with his job on the line after losing five fumbles last season and experiencing a big dropoff from his 1,007-yard performance of 2010.

Schiano sent a message in the spring about the kind of offense he intends to run, first by drafting Martin and then by signing All-Pro guard Carl Nicks to a five-year contract. To the coach, establishing the ground game is a higher priority than deciding who will carry the football.

Friday, the Bucs beat the Miami Dolphins, 20-7.

As the Miami Dolphins took the field for practice Sunday, Chad Johnson was getting out of jail. Hours later, he was out of work.

The Dolphins terminated the six-time Pro Bowl receiver’s contract about 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife.

Johnson was released from jail on $2,500 bond earlier Sunday after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument in front of their home. Johnson was charged with simple domestic battery, a misdemeanor.

The confrontation came barely a month after Johnson married Evelyn Lozada, who is on the reality TV show “Basketball Wives.” The 34-year-old Johnson had been battling for a spot on the team after a disappointing season with the New England Patriots in 2011.

Following Sunday’s practice, coach Joe Philbin said he would meet soon with Johnson.

Only five days earlier, Philbin said Johnson’s roster spot could be in jeopardy if he didn’t temper his freewheeling behavior. Johnson annoyed the coach by frequently using profanity during a session with reporters.

Johnson – who recently changed his name from Chad Ochocinco – was arrested Saturday after Lozada confronted him about a receipt she found for a box of condoms, police said.

According to an arrest affidavit, Lozada said she was taking groceries into their home when she found the receipt in the car trunk.
When the two were seated back in the car, they began talking about the receipt and their marriage. That’s when Johnson got upset and head-butted his wife, the report said.

Lozada ran to a neighbor’s house and called police. A responding officer said Lozada had a 3-inch cut on her forehead, according to the affidavit, while Johnson did not have any visible marks or bruises. When questioned by police, he confirmed there was an argument over the receipt, but said his wife had head-butted him.