Your NFL Strike Update Update: It Still Ain't Over...

The judge in St. Paul is telling both sides that she's going to take a few weeks to decide what she's going to decide...

Here's the Twin Cities coverage...
((HT: MyFoxTwinCities))

Lockout | NFL Players & Brass Meet in St. Paul: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

And from KARE-TV as well...

Your NFL Strike Update: Going legal on your ass (Rich vs. Rich--Day 24)

Drew Brees/Courtesy: funcrunch.com

Tomorrow is the day, and at the risk of blowing up our potential preview story tomorrow morning, we decided today might be a good day to explain the legal issues about the face Federal Judge Susan Nelson's court in Minneapolis come tomorrow (Wednesday).

Not that we totally understand them, but we are pretty sure we aren't supposed to.

Here's your primer from Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post explaining things RIGHT HERE

1st off, the question of what the NFLPA (Not a union anymore), actually is. As we all know, they decertified themselves so that they could justify filing a lawsuit and to call the owners "Lockout" in to play as being illegal.

Since we are nowhere near legal scholarship level, we have no idea how this "Technically" will play out. However the only difference it seems between the NFLPA a month ago and the NFLPA today is that the word "Union" isn't supposed to be applied.

The rest of the claim from Mr. Brady, Brees, Manning, Miller and 7 others is all open to interpretation. We are somewhat of the belief the players will win in court, they seem to always win in this particular Federal Court in Minneapolis.

However what it means if they do....is anybody's guess.

We should add, the latest court development is that Judge Nelson will allow a separate suit filed by NFL Alumni to be combined with the current players class action. The alums filed suit to try and cover themselves in case this drags out for a year. If for some stupid reason it did: They'd lose their benefits.

Meanwhile, back at stately Wayne Manor, we come across an argument, debate or just a plain name calling battle that is apparently being waged between NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff and New Orleans Saints quarterback and NFLPA Plaintiff Drew Brees.

Mr. Huff is apparently offended that Brees is one of the players "Front men", because of some comments Brees made to USA Today back in 2009.

Read his story from the Washington Post RIGHT HERE

We have to say that Mr. Huff makes a really good point here. And while we've continually said that the players need to be more responsible for their money, we probably should clarify that statement by adding "Current" or "Recent" players in front of it.

Players from Mr. Huff's area are the one's who need the most help and there is a reason for that. They didn't enjoy the astronomical salaries that todays generation of NFL Player does. They played because they loved what they did. And it took a toll physically on them, much like the current players. But when you make $60,000 in a season as opposed to $600,000 in a season, it's a lot easier to understand why the older alumni need the help they are asking for.

Let's hope the two preening groups (Owners and players) can agree to take care of those guys, they deserve it. As for the current generation: If you make $1 million a year and can't afford health insurance, then maybe, just maybe, you are doing something wrong.

If want to know a little more about Mr. Huff, then check out this NFL Films video:

Drew Brees wins Sportsman of the year: We Agree

Drew Brees/Courtesy: SI.com

I'm not sure we could think of a better candidate this year if we tried. Really, think about it. The guy is not only a Saint on the field, in New Orleans, he's a Saint off of it too.

In no short order, he made the Saints relevant. Heck, he got them a Super Bowl win. More importantly, he's embedded himself in the culture and fabric of a not-too long ago wrecked city. He's helped give a city without hope, hope.

Are we saying he's a miracle man? No. But we are saying that he's the true definition of a "Leader". He's the guy on his team who sets the tone. He's the guy who makes them tick. And, quite honestly, he's the guy, who if he chose to do it, would be voted the Mayor of the City....if he wanted to do it.

Here's the video story from the people who choose this, Sports Illustrated:

Drew Brees on Madden 2011 Cover...City of New Orleans really nervous

Your Madden Cover//EA Sports

Is there any truth to the Madden curse? Is it like the Sports Illustrated curse only with injuries? Enquiring New Orleans Saints fans want to know.

Why do they want to know? Because the 2011 version of the all-knowing, immensely popular video game was released Tuesday morning....and Saints Quarterback Drew Brees is on the cover.

More from wwl.com RIGHT HERE

And of course neworleans.com RIGHT HERE

Bleacherreport.com explores the Madden curse RIGHT HERE

Sure, there is much celebrating that goes along with this honor, but you might want to add consternation to that list. 

Why? Because traditionally, the cover boy doesn't have such a great year. Some have been injured and missed the season and some have just had bad season, but since 1999, almost nobody has done well.

We'll see if the curse lives with Brees. Of course the other issue that he may need to deal with is the Saints and the Super Bowl hangover. Most teams also don't do really well after that either. 

Either way monitor and prepare...and if you are playing Fantasy Football and draft Brees...get a backup.

For the gamers...here is a review of the Demo from IGN LIVE. Thanks IGN Entertainment/YouTube:

Saints Visit Louisiana Coast, Raffle For Rings To Benefit The Coast

((HT: WWL-TV))

The New Orleans Saints announced during a visit to areas affected in the Gulf of Mexico that it will hold a raffle for a chance to win one of their Super Bowl rings. Proceeds will go to help coastal renewal.

The team toured Fort Jackson, where animals covered in the weathered crude are being cleaned and nursed back to health.

Tickets for the raffle are $2 with a minimum ticket order being $10, QB Drew Brees said. The winner will be announced prior to the team’s September 9th home opener against Minnesota.

The website to purchase tickets will be www.saintsgulfcoastrenewal.org, according to Brees.

Here's coverage of their visit...

Oprah Not Up On Her Drew Brees Anatomy

((HT: Sporting Blog/Harpo Productions))

Apparently, Oprah is not up on her Drew Brees history...

The New Orleans Saints quarterback has a rather large birthmark on his right cheek.

When he made his post Super Bowl appearance on her Friday show, she thought someone had been amorous with him in the green room...

Oops...
Here's the opening of the segment...

Mina Brees Dies At 59

((HT: Austin American-Statesman/Robbins, Sanders, Schwartz))

Mina Brees ((pictured, thanks Brian K. Diggs/American-Statesman)), a prominent Austin attorney and former president of the Austin Bar Association who was recently subpoenaed by the Texas attorney general's office, died Friday in Colorado, a family member said. She was 59.

Marty Akins, Brees' brother who is also a lawyer and former University of Texas quarterback, said he was told Friday morning that Brees died in Colorado, where she was visiting her son Reid. Akins said he did not know the cause of her death.

"It's my understanding that she was at her girlfriend's house," Akins said. "That's all I know. I just know that she passed away, and I loved her very much."

Brees, the mother of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, a former Westlake High School standout, had her business records subpoenaed Tuesday after she sent letters informing a number of prominent Austin and Houston restaurants that they had lost the legal right to use their business names but could get them back for up to $25,000 each.

The mailings, bearing the letterhead of Brees' law office and dated July 20, said Brees represented a company, Chicksports Inc., that had assumed ownership of the restaurant names because the current owners neglected to reserve them or failed to renew them under Texas business codes.

The letters did not mention that Brees was the president of Chicksports or that the corporation shared her law office's address and phone number.

The Texas Restaurant Association, however, alerted its members to Brees' activity, saying there was no reason for restaurants to pay Chicksports for continuing to use their names.

Brees received the Austin Bar Association's 2005 professionalism award for legal ethics and professionalism. In 2006, she came within 22,168 votes of being elected to the state 3rd Court of Appeals in 2006, losing to Republican incumbent David Puryear by 4.5 percentage points. Brees ran as a Democrat.

Brees' campaign was hurt when Drew Brees asked his mother to stop using his likeness in campaign ads. He said his relationship with his mother had soured and was nonexistent.

Drew Brees, who could not be reached for comment, left training camp with the New Orleans Saints on Saturday and did not participate in the team's annual Black and Gold scrimmage.

Coach Sean Payton said he was unsure when he would return to practice.

News of Brees' death was met with shock and sadness within Austin's legal and political communities Saturday. "She was one of those lawyers everyone in the local bar (association) knew about because she was someone who gave so much to the community," said former Austin City Councilmember Brewster McCracken. "She organized other lawyers in volunteer efforts and played a big role in getting people to volunteer."

Martha Dickie, a past president of the Texas Bar Association, said Brees was a popular figure in Austin's legal community. "She was viewed as a high-energy advocate," she said. "She was an interesting person."

On Tuesday, the attorney general's office issued a subpoena indicating that Brees was being investigated for possible violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act.

Travis County records show Chicksports reserved the name of 34 restaurants in January, including Threadgill's, Fonda San Miguel, Stubb's barbecue, Chez Nous, Hyde Park Bar & Grill, Eastside Cafe, Shady Grove and Matt's El Rancho.

Such "assumed name" filings cost about $14 each and are valid for 10 years.

It was not known whether all 34 establishments received a letter from Brees, a lawyer for nearly 30 years.

But records show that Chicksports abandoned its claim on all 34 restaurant names July 28 — the same day the Houston Chronicle reported that scores of similar letters had been sent to Harris County restaurants, generating a spate of negative publicity.

Two days later, Brees dissolved Chicksports' incorporation in a filing to the Texas secretary of state.

Here's coverage from KXAN-TV in Austin...
Shannon Wolfson is your anchor and explains what we just told you

Judge Freezes Assets Of Louisiana Film Studio

((HT: NOLA.com via Howard Bloom))

A judge Friday froze most of the assets of a movie studio at the heart of a $1.9 million investment dispute involving members of the New Orleans Saints.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Magner took the action against Louisiana Film Studios LLC, the target of an involuntary bankruptcy suit by several buyers of state movie industry tax credits peddled by studio chief executive Wayne Read.

The buyers were supposed to be paid $1.33 on March 31 for each dollar invested. But since then, state film office officials have said Read never even applied for the credits.

Magner set a hearing for Aug. 7 on whether to appoint a court-supervised financial overseer. Read, who was not at the hearing, signed an agreement late Thursday saying he would not dispose of any of the studio's assets.

Read has not hired an attorney for the studio, but lawyer William Patrick appeared at the hearing on the studio's behalf, saying he had not yet accepted a retainer. When attorneys said Read had been spotted at the federal courthouse complex, Patrick tried to reach him by telephone at the judge's order.

"I'd like to see the whites of this individual's eyes," Magner said.

Read never appeared. After that, Magner met with attorneys behind closed doors, then put the agreement Read signed into effect.

Among the current and former members of the Saints pursuing the bankruptcy suit are linebacker Scott Shanle, former Saints punter Mitch Berger and long snapper Kevin Houser, now with the Seattle Seahawks, who thought they were buying tax credits. Other buyers included Coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees and former star Archie Manning.

Read has said he ran into higher-than-expected expenses and lower-than-forecasted revenues in starting up the studio. He said the tax credits were never applied for at the end of 2008 because of confusion over what expenses qualified for credits. He has said he plans to pay back the buyers after finding other investors.

No criminal charges have been filed. Jimmy Castex, an attorney representing a construction company also pushing the involuntary bankruptcy suit, has said the FBI has contacted parties involved in the case.

Illinois court records show Read paid $452,000 on January 21 to settle a dispute over another failed investment involving the movie business.

Saints Players Sue Movie Studio

((HT: New Orleans Times-Picayune/Sayre))

A New Orleans Saints linebacker and two former players sued a film studio Thursday to try to get their money back from investments they say were never made.

Current Saints linebacker Scott Shanle, former punter Mitch Berger and recently cut Saints long snapper Kevin Houser are seeking the return of $468,750 invested with the studio's head, Wayne H. Read. Read ((pictured, thanks Kathy Anderson/New Orleans Times-Picayune file)) was not named personally in the petition. They filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Louisiana Film Studios LLC, located in a New Orleans suburb.

Coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees and Hall of Famer Archie Manning were among 27 people who bought what they thought were state film industry tax credits that promised a projected return of $1.33 for each dollar invested. A state official, however, said the studio never applied for them. The investments, which totaled $1.9 million, were due to be paid on March 31.

Also joining the lawsuit was a construction company half-owned by Houser's wife, claiming that the studio owes it $681,418 for work done on a renovated grocery warehouse that Louisiana Film Studios leases. Two other investors in the tax credits made claims totaling $134,000.

Under bankruptcy law, anyone with a claim against the studio can join the lawsuit. Under involuntary bankruptcy, creditors will try to obtain a court ruling that the studio is unable to pay its debts. After that, the case would be handled under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy law, which would require reorganization of the studio's debt and payment to its creditors.

Neither Read, who does not have a listed telephone number, nor his spokesman, Alan Katz, could be reached by telephone for comment late Thursday. A message was left with Katz. Read earlier said he intended to repay the investors after he finds other investors for his project or through tax credits purchased from a broker.

Read said money became tight because of higher-than-expected expenses and lower-than-expected revenue during the project's startup.

The head of the state office that promotes film industry development in Louisiana and administers the program, Sherri McConnell, earlier said the studio didn't have the credits to offer in the first place -- because it never applied for them.

Read has other financial problems from his venture into the movie business.

In addition to a lawsuit filed in state court by the construction company, St. John the Baptist Parish alleges that Read owes $100,000 for the use of its community center for a movie in 2007. Read has said he also intends to repay that money and settle with the construction company.

Manning earlier told The Times-Picayune of New Orleans that he had been contacted by the FBI. Houser said he had talked with a law enforcement agency that he refused to identify. Both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office have refused to confirm or deny an investigation.