Indianapolis Colt backup wide receiver LaVon Brazill has been suspended for one full year for his second violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. Brazill will miss the entire 2014 season for marijuana use. Brazill was suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for the same violation. LaVon Brazill is a Ohio University graduate and was the Colts 6th round draft pick in the 2012 NFL College Draft.
The 5’ 11”, 194 lbs. Brazill has appeared in 25 games for the Horseshoe and has caught a career total of 23 pass receptions for 347 yards and 3 touchdowns. In truth, there was some question that number #15 would be able to make the regular season roster. Wide receiver is a fairly deep position for the Big Blue with 11 candidates such as Reggie Wayne, T Y Hilton, Hakeem Nicks, Grif Whalen, Da’Rick Rogers, and rookie Donte Moncrief competing for 5 positions on the Colts roster. Brazill’s work on special teams has been noteworthy as a kick returner and open field tackler.
Are Lance Stephenson and Roy Hibbert Moving On?
The Pacers disappointing playoff performance left quite a few fans scratching their heads and the Pacer front office reviewing their options. Lance Stephenson is at the end of his current contract and is currently negotiating a new one. The talented but unpredictable 23-year-old guard has had some memorable performances for the Pacers that have won some games for Indiana, but he has also displayed a penchant for clowning around and immaturity both on and off the court that has distracted from his game and caused some embarrassment for the team.
Larry Bird has said that he wants to keep the current team together and that includes Stephenson. The Pacers have made Stephenson a $44 million contract offer over 5 years that the guard has rejected. The Pacers have not yet made a counteroffer. Stephenson’s agent says that the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks have all expressed an interested in Stephenson and although he has said that he wants to stay in Indianapolis because of his close relationship with the fans, he will go with the team that shows him the money.
There is another hot rumor that the Pacers are quietly shopping center Roy Hibbert around for a possible trade. Hibbert is their 7’ 2” center and before this season he was considered one of Indiana’s major stars. He is in the middle of a $30 million 4 year deal which could be a stumbling block for any potential trade. Hibbert has dual United States and Jamaican citizenship because of his Jamaican father. The Georgetown graduate came into the NBA in 2008 as the number one pick of the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers traded for his contract rights before the 2008 regular season started. Twice an NBA All Star in 2012 and again this year, Hibbert started out playing his best basketball, but in the last third of the season he simply disappeared for long stretches and his playoff performance (or lack of performance) was one of the chief reasons for the Pacers early exit. Hibbert has been fairly quiet but there is said to be some interest in the big guy if his contract can be restructured. That’s a big “IF.”
Danny Granger Heated Up
For all the Pacer fans who miss Danny Granger, do not fret, we will be seeing the former Pacer All Star again this coming season. Granger has signed a 2 year $4.2 million deal with the Miami Heat. He took a great deal less money than he was worth on the market in order to play with LeBron James and make a strong run for the NBA title and perhaps make life miserable for his former teammates.
Montoya Wins at Pocono
The 2014 Pocono 500 was truly the Juan Pablo Montoya show. The 38-year-old Colombian driver completed his Indy Car comeback with his first win in the series in 14 years. It was also the first time in this 2014 racing season that the pole winner has gone on to take the win. Montoya led a field of 22 cars in his Chevy-powered Team Penske Dallara. Montoya returned to Indy Racing after stints in F1 and NASCAR. After the 2013 Sprint Cup series, Montoya and Earnhardt/Ganassi parted company which cleared the way for the Colombian champion to return to the Indy Car circuit. He has top five finishes in five events so far and top ten finishes in two more. This currently puts him in fourth place in championship point chase.
Helio Castroneves finished second which puts him in a tie for first place in the Indy Car Championship Race with Penske teammate Will Power. Power was hit with a one lap block penalty on his teammate Montoya late in the race which cost him a chance to win and maintain his point lead. Russian rookie Mikhail Aleshin was the top finishing rookie with a 7th place and looks to be the 2014 Indy Car Rookie of the Year. The race went 158 laps without a caution. That’s the longest running under green in Indy Car history.
Montoya at age 23 was the 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner and his last Indy Car win was at the Motorola 300 in September of 2000. This could be the start of a championship run for Montoya — and who knows, maybe another trip to the victory platform at IMS.
snicewanger@yahoo.com