CLEVELAND — The Browns are giving a jersey to the family of a fan who asked for six players to serve as pallbearers at his funeral.
Scott E. Entsminger, 55, of Mansfield, Ohio, died on July 4 at his home. In his obituary in the Columbus Dispatch, Entsminger, a lifelong Browns fan, requested “six Cleveland Browns pallbearers so the Browns can let him down one last time.”
Browns spokesman Zak Gilbert said Monday that the team contacted Entsminger’s widow, Pat, and found out that his favorite player was Hall of Famer Lou Groza. The team will present a Groza No. 76 jersey with Entsminger’s name on the back to the family Tuesday
Entsminger’s obituary also said he “wrote a song each year and sent it to the Cleveland Browns as well as offering other advice on how to run the team.”
Broncos executive
arrested on
suspicion of DUI
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. — Denver Broncos director of player personnel Matt Russell apologized for his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
State troopers said Russell was arrested Saturday after rear-ending a Breckenridge police officer’s SUV that had stopped on the shoulder of Colorado 9 to pull over Russell, who was suspected of driving drunk. Russell and the officer were taken to hospitals and released.
Giants, Cruz agree
to long-term deal
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants star receiver Victor Cruz has signed a five-year contract extension that runs through the 2018 season.
Cruz was a restricted free agent with three years in the NFL. Last month, he signed a one-year, $2.879 million tender with the Giants, but a long-term deal was already in the works. The Giants could have matched any offers Cruz received from other teams — so he didn’t get any.
The new deal is worth $43 million, according to media reports.
Training camp opens July 26. Cruz skipped all of New York’s offseason program.
Former NFL player
sues Redskins
over knee injury
WASHINGTON — A former NFL player is suing the Washington Redskins, saying his career-ending knee injury resulted from a bounty program in which the team’s coaches encouraged players to intentionally injure opponents.
Barrett Green played linebacker for the Detroit Lions and New York Giants between 2000 and 2005. He says a career-ending knee injury during a game on Dec. 5, 2004 was the result of an “unusual, outrageous and an obvious cheap shot.”
The lawsuit also names former Redskins player Robert Royal, the player who hit Green, and former assistant coach Gregg Williams.