Falcon's Facebook leads to fight
Associated Press
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Atlanta offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka is free on bond after being accused of fighting with his wife over his Facebook activity, police said yesterday.
Ojinnaka, a fourth-year reserve drafted out of Syracuse in the fifth round of 2006, was charged with simple battery, said police spokesman David Schiralli in suburban Gwinnett County (Ga.).
Police said Ojinnaka's wife confronted him about contact with a female friend on Facebook. Police said he tossed her down some stairs and threw her out of their house in Suwanee late Tuesday.
Ojinnaka, who has started seven of 30 career games, told police his wife began the fight by attempting to stab him with a pen.
Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said yesterday that coach Mike Smith had talked with Ojinnaka, but the team would have no further comment.
IN THE COURTS
NFLPA'S REQUEST DENIED BY JUDGE
A federal judge in Minneapolis denied yesterday a request by the NFL Players Association to put the suspensions of five players on hold while the case over use of a banned substance is being appealed.
However, NFLPA attorney Jeffrey Kessler said it doesn't necessary mean the players will miss any games at the start of the 2009 season because there could be action at the appellate court level before the season starts.
Further, he said, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson has sent some issues surrounding the suspensions of Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams back to the state courts.
Peter Ginsberg, attorney for both Vikings, said yesterday's ruling would not affect them because they have a stay on their suspensions from a state court.
"I don't think it effects our clients at all," he said. They will be back in front of a state judge next week.
The Vikings defensive tackles, who are unrelated, and three New Orleans Saints tested positive for a banned diuretic last year and were each given four-game suspensions for violating the NFL's doping policy.
FALCONS
SAFETY PAGE SIGNS FREE AGENT TENDER
Safety Jarrad Page has signed his restricted free agent tender with Kansas City.
The Chiefs announced the signing yesterday. Terms were not disclosed.
Page joined the Chiefs as a seventh-round draft pick from UCLA in 2006 and soon became a starter. Last year, he was a steadying influence for Kansas City's very young secondary.
Page has 185 tackles and 10 sacks in 48 games.
ELSEWHERE
Lions: Offensive tackle Jon Jansen says he will sign a one-year contract with Detroit if he passes a physical.
Jansen was cut yesterday by the Washington Redskins. He had two years remaining on a five-year, $23 million contract extension he signed two years ago.
He was limited to 11 starts last season.