Arizona State Bill 1062, passed by the legislature last week, would allow businesses, like restaurants and retail stores, to deny service to anybody based on the owner’s religious beliefs. Gov. Jan Brewer has yet to sign it.
The NFL has already pulled the Super Bowl out of Arizona once, in 1993, in reaction to the state’s refusal to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a state holiday. The switch was part of a long-term, widespread economic boycott of the state, including by the NBA’s All-Star Game and league meetings and several college football teams.
Back then, they made their move from Tempe’s Sun Devil Stadium to the Rose Bowl two years in advance. Now, Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale is less than a year away. However, the league proved this year that it was prepared to drastically alter its Super plans on short notice had weather forced a postponement at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
A statement issued by the NFL Monday said it is “following the issue in Arizona and will continue to do so should the bill be signed into law,’’ but would not comment on how it might act if it is.
However, its statement included this: “Our policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness, and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard.’’
The Arizona host committee — run largely by the same group that hosted the game in Glendale in 2008 — was even more decisive, likely giving the NFL a lot to follow in the coming weeks. Its statement in full, released Monday:
“We share the NFL’s core values which embrace tolerance, diversity, inclusiveness and prohibit discrimination. In addition, a key part of the mission for the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee is to promote the economic vitality of Arizona. On that matter we have heard loud and clear from our various stakeholders that adoption of this legislation would not only run contrary to that goal but deal a significant blow to the state’s economic growth potential. We do not support this legislation.
“Instead, we look forward to continuing to promote the NFL’s values while focusing on the economic momentum apparent in Arizona and capturing the positive worldwide attention associated with hosting Super Bowl XLIX.’’
RAIDERS IMPRESSED BY MANZIEL
Stop the presses: The Oakland Raiders fell in love with a draft prospect who showed outstanding speed and athleticism at the 2014 NFL Combine. It just happens to be that player is a quarterback this year: Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel.
According to Sirius XM NFL Radio, Raiders officials came away "very impressed" with Manziel in Indianapolis, including owner Mark Davis. Although Manziel did deliver with a Raiders-pleasing 40-yard dash, his meeting with the team also went well.
Oakland holds the No. 5 overall pick in May, and quarterback is the organization's most pressing need. Depending on what Houston, Jacksonville and Cleveland do ahead of it, it's a real crapshoot whether Manziel would still be available there. The Jaguars and Browns seem more intent on getting a QB early, so if the Raiders really want Johnny Football, they might need to make a big football move up to get him.
HARDWOOD TO COMBINE
Any NFL team looking to draft the best former college basketball point guard available, got some good news at the combine Tuesday.
Baylor cornerback Demetri Goodson worked out with the defensive backs in Indianapolis, and his agent, Erik Burkhardt tweeted positive developments: a 4.4 time in the 40.
That is, in fact, the same Demetri Goodson who played three years for Gonzaga from 2009-11, making the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament as a freshman and starting at point guard as a sophomore and junior. No fewer than five teammates eventually made the NBA. He appears to be the only one from those teams with a chance at the NFL, though.
The 6-foot Goodson, the younger brother of Jets running back Mike Goodson, is expected to go late in the draft, if at all, but the Houston Chronicle's Brian T. Smith reported Sunday that every team had spoken to Goodson and three teams had shown "extra interest."
The Texas native decided in his junior year that he wanted to go back to his first favorite sport. Because Gonzaga does not field an intercollegiate team, he transferred to Baylor, missed most of 2011 and 2012 with injuries, got a redshirt year last season and started 10 games with three interceptions.
"I always knew I could do it," Goodson told USA Today in December. "I had started to think about my future plans. There are only two rounds in the NBA draft compared to seven for the NFL."
GROSS RETIRING
Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross is saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons.
The Panthers confirmed Tuesday the three-time Pro Bowl left tackle will announce his retirement at a news conference on Wednesday at the stadium.
"Jordan has been a great Panther and he will be missed," Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said Tuesday in a text message.
Gross, 33, was a first-round pick by Carolina in 2003 and started 167 games — all for the Panthers. He went to his third Pro Bowl this past season as an alternate.
Gross' contract had expired with the Panthers this offseason, but there was still some question as to whether he might agree to return with a new contract. He went on vacation with his family last week in Utah to contemplate whether or not to retire.
LATTIMORE CLOSE TO 100 PERCENT
Marcus Lattimore feels close to 100 percent and is counting down the days until he can run free and easy for the San Francisco 49ers.
The former South Carolina tailback is back in his home state speaking to church groups and running youth clinics and camps. And through it all, he's got April 21 circled in red — that's when the 49ers open workouts, and when Lattimore has the green light to run as he did in 2012 before the second of two devastating knee injuries during college.
"The left knee, it feels like nothing ever happened," Lattimore told The Associated Press by phone. "The right knee, it feels great. Both feel balanced. I've got my speed and I rarely get any soreness" after workouts.
For Lattimore, that's major progress after facing questions following his injuries while at South Carolina. He was one of the Southeastern Conference's rushing leaders in 2011 when he tore ligaments in his right knee in a game at Mississippi State and missed the Gamecocks' final six games.
After surgery and a furious rehab regimen and saw him return to the practice field a month ahead of schedule, Lattimore was ready for his junior season. That ended in October against Tennessee when he got hit on his left knee, again needing surgery to repair ligament damage.
Lattimore again worked to rehab, not only to get back on the field but to prove to NFL teams he was worth drafting. The 49ers agreed and selected Lattimore in the fourth round last spring and told him not worry about rushing back to play last season.
It wasn't easy, but Lattimore understood the patient approach would prove fruitful down the road.
"I was just so grateful they believed in what I could do," Lattimore said.
HERNANDEZ FIGHTS
Aaron Hernandez was involved in a fight with another inmate at Bristol County Jail, an official told the Boston Globe.
Hernandez, who is reportedly in isolation due to his celebrity status, was walking in an isolated hallway when he came into contact with another inmate, according to TMZ
The report alleges that the unidentified man that Hernandez came into contact with had been "harrassing Aaron nonstop" before Hernandez attacked him and "beat him up pretty badly."
It is unclear if Hernandez will face criminal charges for the alleged incident.
Contributors: Rana L. Cash, David Steele, Vinnie Iyer, Kami Mattioli, The Associated Press
