Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Melvin Gordon has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos, stepping into a backfield that has a great history.
Melvin Gordon has switched his allegiance from the Los Angeles Chargers to the Denver Broncos. Going from one AFC West team to another means he will face the Bolts twice a season. It also means he joins a team that has had many running backs who have had 1,000-yard seasons. A high bar for Gordon, who has one 1,000-yard season to his credit, to maintain.
Chase Young talked Thursday about his love for Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis, while revealing he talks with Dwayne Haskins all the time.
If you are good at reading between the lines, then you might have come away with one key takeaway from Chase Young’s media session on Thursday — the OSU pass-rusher wants to play for the Redskins.
He didn’t out-right say it, but he said enough.
When asked on Thursday morning about his potential draft position, and if he had thought at all about where he would like to play in the NFL, Young went with the chalk answer, saying that he will play wherever he is asked to play. He also mentioned that the Redskins potential meeting with Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow doesn’t worry him. He knows that the Redskins want him, and he seemingly wants them, a familiar team from his childhood growing up in the D.C. area.
Chase Young: ‘I always watch the Redskins, I grew up around them.’ Said he liked Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis growing up. pic.twitter.com/xh2XVKNX3U
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) February 27, 2020
Young added that his favorite players to wear the burgundy and gold were Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis, which feels fitting. He also mentioned that he has been in constant contact with Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins, who was his college teammate at Ohio State.
“Me and Dwayne, we talk all the time,” Young said, via NBC Sports Washington. “I’ve known Dwayne since high school. He definitely loves the organization and obviously, he wants me to come play with him. I just think we’ll see how this whole thing turns out.”
Even if this were a recruiting trip, and Young got to choose which NFL team he wished to play for, you might get a feeling that he would consider the Redskins. When you factor in that Washington can have him if they want him, and they seemingly want him, this should cool a lot of doubts for Washington fans.
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Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay is the first undrafted player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.
Last year, Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay made NFL history by becoming the first undrafted rookie to earn a Pro Bowl berth. Lindsay earned the All-Star nod after totaling 1,278 yards from scrimmage and scoring 10 touchdowns.
Lindsay made more history against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Lindsay went into the game needing 42 yards for a second-consecutive 1,000-yard season. Lindsay surpassed 50 rushing yards in the fourth quarter, breaking the century mark for the second time in his career.
Lindsay became the first undrafted player in league history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. Lindsay is also Denver’s first running back to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Clinton Portis (2002-03).
The Broncos signed Lindsay as a college free agent out of Colorado following last year’s draft. He quickly won the team’s starting job and has been one of the team’s best offensive players over the last two seasons.
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Clinton Portis self-surrendered to authorities.
Former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis surrendered to authorities in North Carolina after being charged alongside more than 10 others in an alleged attempt to defraud the NFL’s retired players healthcare program.
The United States Department of Justice confirmed the development in the case, per Fox 5 DC.
Portis is one of 12 former NFL players charged in the case, which alleges players used fraudulent claims to the program.
Portis last played in the NFL in 2010 and earned north of $43 million over the course of his career. Back in 2017, a profile detailed how he fell into debt after his playing career.
Joe Bruno of WSOC added more detail to the current case:
Portis is facing conspiracy, wire fraud and healthcare fraud charges. He surrendered to the FBI this morning. His attorney appointed to him today indicated Portis will later seek additional travel permission to NC and FL so he can visit his children @wsoctv
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) December 13, 2019
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Former Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter charged in health care fraud indictments
In a move that’s certain to put further strain on the relationship between players and the league, former Philadelphia Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter is among 10 retired NFL players charged with defrauding the league’s retiree health care benefits plan, according to ESPN.com via indictments.
Buckhalter, 41, along with other former players, allegedly sought reimbursements for expensive equipment that they never purchased. The grievance comes from the players using the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan to obtain these tax-free reimbursements for out-of-pocket medical care expenses.
“As a result of the fraud, more than $3.9 million in phony claims were submitted to the Plan, and the Plan paid out approximately $3.4 million on those claims between mid-2017 and mid-2018,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski, of the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The equipment purchased in the fraudulent claims, included hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ultrasound machines and electromagnetic therapy devices designed for use on horses, according to prosecutors.
The refund was typically in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 each, Investigators said using fake invoices from medical supply companies along with forged letters and prescriptions from medical care providers.
The players named in the indictment include:
Clinton Portis
Robert McCune
John Eubanks
Tamarick Vanover
Ceandris “C.C.” Brown
James Butler
Fredrick Bennett
Etric Pruitt
Carlos Rogers
Correll Buckhalter
Additional charges are expected to be filed against former Saints receiver Joe Horn and former NFL receiver Reche Caldwell.
Buckhalter was a fourth-round selection of the Eagles back in 2001 and spent 8 seasons with the team.
Retired NFL running back Clinton Portis is among 10 former pro players charged with health care fraud by the United States Department of Justice.
Retired NFL running back Clinton Portis is among 10 former pro players charged with health care fraud by the United States Department of Justice.
The charges filed this week alleging that the group of NFL retirees fabricated documents like prescription orders and invoices from medical equipment companies to defraud the NFL’s health care program for retired players.
The Washington Post reports that the group submitted $3.9 million worth of fraudulent claims and that the NFL program paid out more than $3.4 million for those claims between June 2017 and December 2018.
Charges have been filed against Portis, Carlos Rogers, Robert McCune, John Eubanks, Tamarick Vanover, Ceandris Brown, James Butler, Frederick Bennett, Correll Buckhalter, and Etric Pruitt.
Former wide receivers Joe Horn and Reche Caldwell are expected to be charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Former New Orleans Saints WR Joe Horn was charged with Pro Bowl RB Clinton Portis and several peers by the U.S. Department of Justice.
[jwplayer tDwi1MnH-ThvAeFxT]
Former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Horn found himself in hot water on Thursday, when the U.S. Department of Justice charged a group of 10 retired NFL players with defrauding a league health care plan. Unlike the other former players in this group, Horn is being charged with a bill of information after agreeing to cooperate with government authorities. Other names on the list include former Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis and his Washington Redskins teammates Carlos Rogers, Robert McCune and John Eubanks. A handful of other ex-NFL players round out the group.
According to the charges detailed in the DOJ report, retired NFL players including Horn submitted fraudulent claims totaling $3.9 million, with the league reimbursing $3.4 million of them between June 2018 and December 2018. Claims were made for expensive medical equipment in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 such as cryotherapy saunas, hyperbaric chambers, and electromagnetic therapy devices, but that equipment was never purchased.
Horn is charged along with the other defendants on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, but nine individual counts of wire fraud and nine different counts of health care fraud are also on the table. Penalties for these counts are as steep as 20 years in prison and up to $250,000.
It’s a developing story, and one worth watching as prosecutors proceed forwards. Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski held a press conference to announce the charges, saying, “Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multimillion-dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-of-pocket medical expenses. Today’s indictments underscore that, whoever you are, if you loot health care programs to line your own pockets, you will be held accountable by the Department of Justice.”
This is certainly a disappointing turn for Horn, who played 103 of his 165 career NFL games with the Saints. He was one of the team’s most prominent players in the early 2000’s, though he lasted only 10 games once Saints coach Sean Payton was hired in 2006.
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Two former Houston Texans were indicted on charges by a federal grand jury in a scheme to defraud the NFL’s health-care plan.
Two former Houston Texans players have been indicted on charges of defrauding the NFL’s health-care plan.
According to USA TODAY’s Kevin Johnson, former Texans safety C.C. Brown and defensive back Fred Bennett were among 10 former NFL players a federal grand jury charged with defrauding the NFL’s Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan — the retiree health care benefits plan. The other eight players include Clinton Portis, John Eubanks, Tamarick Vanover, Robert McCune, James Butler, Correll Buckhalter, Etric Pruitt, and Carlos Rogers.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it will seek charges against former NFL receivers Reche Caldwell and Joe Horn. However, it appears that Horn is cooperating with the feds.
Joe Horn is the ex-Saints player in the NFL medical fraud scheme. He is being charged through a bill of information because he is cooperating with the government.
— CJ Mordock (@CJMordock) December 12, 2019
According to the indictments, nearly $4.0 million in false or fradulent claims were submitted to the plan, and nearly $3.5 million was paid out from June to December of 2018.
“Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multimillion-dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-of-pocket medical expenses,” Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski said in a press conference via Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar. “Today’s indictments underscore that, whoever you are, if you loot health care programs to line your own pockets, you will be held accountable by the Department of Justice.”
All 10 defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud based on the accusations that they faxed reimbursement forms for such things ranging from muscle timulator pule massagers to CryoSauna tanks. In addition, there are nine separate counts of wire fraud and nine different counts of health care fraud.
Counts 1-10 can be penalized by imprisonment for not more than 20 years, a fire of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, and also supervised release for not more than three years.
Counts 11-19 can be penalized by imprisonment for not more than 10 years, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, and supervised release for not more than three years.
Allegedly the players fabricated letters from health care providers regarding the use of the medical equipment, concocted fake prescriptions that were allegedly signed by health-care provides, and even created fake invoices for medical equipment as a proof of purchase.
According to the release via CNN, McCune and Buckhalter even called the health benefits phone line impersonating other former players to check the status of the claims.
More indictments could be on the way as several of the players named allegedly reached out to other ex-players to be a part of the scheme with kickbacks up to $10,000.
A money judgement has been weighed against Brown, Bennett, and the other defendants. That means if the equipment in question can’t be located, is in possession of a third party, or has diminished in value, “the Unites States of America shall be entitled to forfeiture of substitute property.”
Ten former NFL players – including two-time Pro Bowler Clinton Portis – have been charged with health care fraud by the United States Department of Justice.
Ten former NFL players – including two-time Pro Bowler Clinton Portis – have been charged with health care fraud by the United States Department of Justice.
The former Washington Redskins are among 10 former NFL players accused in a scheme to defraud the NFL health care program for personal gain.
Former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis is one of 10 former NFL players who face charges for allegedly defrauding the league’s health program and using it for personal gains, USA TODAY reports.
An indictment released Thursday says the former players are accused of filing more than $3.9 million in fraudulent claims, of which more than $3.4 million were paid from June 2017 to December 2018.
In addition to Portis, three other former Redskins are implicated in the scheme: Carlos Rogers, Robert McCune and John Eubanks.
A statement from Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski explains how the con allegedly worked.
“Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multimillion-dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-of-pocket medical expenses,” Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski said. “Today’s indictments underscore that, whoever you are, if you loot health care programs to line your own pockets, you will be held accountable by the Department of Justice.”
When asked to comment on the situation, Portis told ESPN’s John Keim, “I don’t have any comment on that,” but his lawyer expressed that the former running back had no knowledge that he was involved in this scheme.
Clinton Portis attorney, Mark Dycio, says the former running back is innocent. Via @jjouvenal: “Clinton Portis had no knowledge that his participation in what he believed to be an NFL sanctioned medical reimbursement program was illegal.”
— Rick Maese (@RickMaese) December 12, 2019
According to the indictment, some of the players involved would recruit other former players to join the scheme. It was often carried out by fabricating letters from health-care providers about the use of medical equipment and fabricated prescriptions that created fake invoices from companies in an effort to prove that the equipment was purchased.
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