The shots heard around our world

Fred Lane Jr. beat the odds by rising from tiny Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee to become the NFL Carolina Panthers' career rushing leader(1997 to 2000) before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts in the Spring 2000.

The former Carolina Panther had just returned home from visiting relatives in Tennessee in July 2000, after training with his new team, when he was shot to death in the door of his Charlotte home, ambushed by his wife, Deidre Lane.

Fred Lane's killing 10 years ago created another shock to Charlotte pro sports.

Ten years ago today, Fred Lane died just inside his home in south Charlotte, shot twice by his own wife. Police found his body just inside the front door. His keys still hung in the door lock, a detail that haunts me a decade later. It was a horrifying moment in Charlotte's sports history. If you lived here then, you probably remember where you were when you heard of the shooting of Lane, a former Carolina Panthers starting running back. I certainly do - it was one of the oddest, saddest days of my journalism career.

Lane, 24, was killed by his estranged wife Deidra Lane at their South Charlotte home. She shot her husband twice at close range with a 12-gauge, pump-action shotgun. The first blast struck his chest. The second hit the back of his head. Deidra Lane ultimately pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2003 in connection with her husband's death. She was released from prison in 2009. Deidra and Fred Lane had a newborn daughter who was seven days old at the time of the shooting. That child had her 10th birthday last week.

Deidra Lane, the widow of slain former Carolina Panthers running back Fred Lane.

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SCSU's Young running route toward Panther position

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Graduating as the all-time leader in career receptions and yards at South Carolina State got Oliver "Tre" Young noticed by the Carolina Panthers. At least that's the opinion of his college head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough. "You know, that is always going to be one of the factors, the statistical information that people gather," Pough told PanthersInsider.com. "That's what they sometimes use in the evaluation process. I think they also look at his size, strength and athletic ability. I think it's a combination of things along with stats. When you look at him play, you think this is a guy who might have a shot at being good."

#3 Oliver "Tre" Young

The 6-2 undrafted free agent also understands those school-record numbers (135 receptions, 2,156 receiving yards) alone will not allow him continue his NFL career within proximity of his port city hometown. "We pretty much know that we have to prove ourselves," Young said. "For me, coming from a small school, I'm a little bit behind the 8 ball so I think that my level of play will have to be above and beyond."

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Grambling State's James 'Shack' Harris hired as senior exec with Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew announced today the hiring of James Harris as Senior Personnel Executive. He will assist Mayhew with the day-to-day management of the player personnel department, and he will assist in the player evaluation process for college and pro talent. Terms of his contract were not disclosed. Harris joins the Lions player personnel department after spending the past six seasons (2003-08) as the Jacksonville Jaguars vice president of player personnel. While directing the Jaguars player personnel area, he oversaw all player acquisitions, including: college draft, free agency, undrafted player signings and the scouting of players in other professional leagues.

Known affectionately as "Shack," Harris brings 34 years of NFL experience to the Lions' front office, with the past 22 years working in player personnel and scouting. Harris originally began his front office career in 1987 when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a scout, a position he would hold for six years (1987-92). He then moved on to the New York Jets and served as the team's assistant general manager from 1993-96. In 1997, Harris was named the director of pro personnel for the Baltimore Ravens. He was a member of the Ravens' player personnel department from 1997-2002, and he earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens as the team claimed a world championship with a victory in Super Bowl XXXV.

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Harris' exit from NFL's Jaguars was all about the green

James “Shack” Harris, the local quarterbacking hero, found a pursuer he couldn’t outrun this season. Harris, vice president of player personnel for the Jacksonville Jaguars since 2003, was ousted last week after the club stumbled amid Super Bowl expectations. Not the starting passer. Not the coach. Those guys own new goal-mine contracts. It was Harris, somehow, who got the shaft.

Granted, it’s true this was one of the NFL’s most confusing turnarounds. Jacksonville came into 2008 having posted an 11-5 mark and a playoff victory over Pittsburgh the year before. With principal rival Indianapolis struggling, the Jaguars were a trendy pick to go all the way. But pre-season predictions like that are based on talent – something put in place by the front office, where Harris sat.


Photo Gallery: Memories of Doug and Shack

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Dolphins/Former HU Pirates Kendall Langford Unfiltered

Dolphins rookie DE Kendall Langford attempts to knock the snot out of Bills QB J.P. Losman in road game several weeks ago.

Kendall Langford has stood tall all season, anchoring one end of the Dolphins' front line. The Hampton University product, who has contributed 31 tackles, two sacks and three pass deflections this season has been one of the Dolphins' four rookie starters who have held their own this season. His steady play as a run stuffer has not only provided hope for the future, but the present looks pretty bright.

During this unfiltered Langford, the Dolphins' third-round pick, explains why he wouldn't do anything different with his football career if he had to do it all over again, he breaks down the other rookie contributors, and he talks about his team's storybook turnaround.

I'm disappointed to inform you that Langford did dodge my bar fight question, calling it a "trap." Considering he beat out Matt Roth for the starting spot during training camp it's hard to believe he's scared of the team's resident tough guy. But exactly how am I going to force a guy twice my size to answer a question. I tried, but much like this season, Langford held his ground.

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Colts cut QBs Lorenzen, (FAMU) Gray

Former FAMU Rattlers Quinn Gray is out of an NFL quarterback job tonight, with his cut from the Colts Roster.

The Indianapolis Colts reached the NFL’s regular-season limit of 53 today by waiving 20 players, including quarterbacks Jared Lorenzen and Quinn Gray (Florida A&M University), and placing two projected starters on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.

The waiving of Lorenzen and Gray indicates the team is confident its top two quarterbacks – Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi – will be healthy for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears. Manning did not play in the preseason after undergoing surgery on his left knee July 14. Sorgi was held out of the last two preseason games after injuring his right knee.

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McBride under microscope at Eagles camp

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — One of just four receivers in camp so far, Shaheer McBride knows every play in which he's involved gets noticed – especially the ones he'd like to forget. The former Delaware State receiver made a nice catch in traffic across the middle in 7-on-7 drills in today's morning session of training camp, but had the ball jarred from his grip after he came crashing to the ground.

"You gotta squeeze it," barked coach Andy Reid as McBride ran back to the huddle. Reid later praised McBride during his press conference, but the dropped pass still lingered for the Chester, Pa., native. "You can't just be able to process it and be done with it.," McBride admitted. "Someone tells you that they'd be lying to you."

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Ex-NFL linebacker, Disney Sports exec Reggie Williams fighting to save his leg

Battling infection takes ex-NFL star to New York

NEW YORK - Reggie Williams got in his car two months ago and headed north. He said goodbye to the swans and almost nobody else. He'd come to know them on his walks around Lake Eola. They'd take his mind off the pain as he circled the lake. Now the gnawing in his right knee had become too much.

Williams packed his Lexus with a few clothes and an iPod loaded with 18,226 songs. He did not know when he'd get back to Orlando, but the ex- NFL linebacker was certain of one thing. "This was all or nothing," Williams said.

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S.C. State's Lee makes the cut with Cleveland Browns

Photo: OT James Lee.

BEREA, OHIO - The jersey number 78 is what Cleveland Brown free-agent signee James Lee wore at South Carolina State University and briefly at the University of Georgia.
Aside from the different color scheme, there’s one feature which makes this particular jersey more awe-inspiring than any the former All-American offensive lineman has ever worn - an NFL logo.

“I was just real excited, ready to go and show the world what I had,” Lee said. “It was just a great feeling.” They were really impressed, especially after talking to them and after everything was over, they told me to keep working out and keep working on my sets and when I come back on (May 15th) to be ready to go.”

Another good sign for Lee was the fact he was the only offensive lineman retained out of the three signed by Cleveland during draft weekend. The Browns cut Robert Powell of Purdue and Eric Young of Tennessee, while signing Clemson’s Nate Bennett, one of seven tryout players kept on the roster.

NFL After-Party Signings

Photo: Morgan State University All-American RB, Chad Simpson signs a free agent contract with the Colts.

The 2008 NFL Draft is not an exact science; the reason for all the free agency signings after the big two day draft party. Like always, the majority of the MEAC and SWAC players that are provided an opportunity to make the league are picked up on the cheap at the day after signing party. This year is no different than prior years, with the exception that a few of these players will make the final rosters.

The 2008 free agent signings that will be reporting to mini-camps this Friday are:

Jacksonville Jaguars
Clyde Edwards, WR; Grambling State University
Brian Witherspoon, CB, Stillman College

Arizona Cardinals
Thaddeus Coleman, T, Mississippi Valley State University
Jason Banks, DT, Grambling State University

Seattle Seahawks
DeMichael Dizer, CB, Grambling State University

Dallas Cowboys
Marcus Dixon, DE, Hampton University

Indianapolis Colts
Curtis Johnson, DE, Clark-Atlanta University
Chad Simpson, RB/KR, Morgan State University

Cleveland Browns
James Lee, OT, South Carolina State University
DeShawn Baker, RB, South Carolina State University

Detroit Lions
Rudy Hardie, DE, Howard University
Bobbie Williams, DB, Bethune Cookman University

Philadelphia Eagles
Shaheer McBride, WR, Delaware State University

Buffalo Bills
Jason Jones, WR, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff

St. Louis Rams
Vernon Bryant, DT, Hampton University

Washington Redskins
Bryan Wilson, LB, Morgan State University

Tennessee Titans
Eddie Williams, WR, Lane College

San Diego Chargers
Lamar Divens, DT, Tennessee State University

It's official: Backup QB Quinn Gray signs with Texans

Photo: Former Florida A&M University/NFL Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray signed today with the Houston Texans.

As expected, free agent quarterback Quinn Gray signed a one-year contract with the Texans today. Gray, who played his first five seasons with Jacksonville, signed a one-year deal for the $605,000 minimum and a $40,000 signing bonus.

Gray was 2-2 as a starter last season, including victories over Tampa Bay and Tennessee and losses to New Orleans and the Texans. Gray arrived in Houston on Sunday and he is spending today at Reliant Stadium, meeting with head coach Gary Kubiak and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

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Alabama State's Coach Barlow says NFL can wait

Photo: Coach Reggie Barlow interviewed for Denver Broncos receivers coaching postion on Monday in Denver.

Reggie Barlow said Tuesday that he expects to return as Alabama State's head coach next season and will not accept a possible job offer from the Denver Broncos. Barlow spent Monday in Denver interviewing with head coach Mike Shanahan for a job as the Broncos' receivers coach, but said Tuesday that he didn't think now was the best time to make the jump to the NFL.

"Do I ultimately want to coach in the NFL? Yes," Barlow said. "But I just don't think right now is the time for that. I've brought in some good coaches here, and I sat in a lot of living rooms and made promises to kids. It's a very, very tough decision. But I think I'm content here at Bama State. That's what I told my wife. That's what I've told (ASU officials)."

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