Briefs
McNair’s parents want Durkin fired
The parents of offensive lineman Jordan McNair said suspended University of Maryland coach DJ Durkin should be fired.
McNair collapsed during a preseason conditioning drill May 29 and died two weeks later. Durkin was placed on administrative leave Saturday after ESPN reported that coaches had been bullying the players.
On Tuesday, the university said it takes “legal and moral responsibility” for the death.
Tanya Wilson and Martin McNair told ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday that Durkin should be more than suspended – he should be fired. McNair says Durkin “shouldn’t be able to work with anyone else’s kid.”
The parents said their son had been healthy for 19 years and never missed a practice. They’ve formed a charity to raise awareness about heat stroke.
Musk proposes new tunnel for Dodgers
Traffic-weary baseball fans could someday travel to and from Dodger Stadium on a public transportation system underneath Los Angeles – if Elon Musk’s latest bold plan comes to fruition.
The billionaire’s Boring Company tweeted a proposal Wednesday for autonomous, zero-emissions electric sleds that would run through a tunnel between the stadium and a location in the city’s Hollywood area.
The company said the so-called Dugout Loop system would be privately funded and not require tax money.
Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted that it’s exciting to see innovative ideas aimed at reducing traffic on LA roads.
A proposal to build a gondola from Union Station to Dodger Stadium was announced in April.
Musk is currently building a test tunnel from his SpaceX rocket plant to a point near Los Angeles International Airport.
No call for Kaepernick
John Elway might find himself in the market for a veteran backup quarterback soon, yet there’s one man who won’t be getting a call: Colin Kaepernick.
“Colin had his chance to be here,” Elway said Thursday when asked if the former San Francisco 49ers QB would be an option if he decides Case Keenum’s backup isn’t already on Denver’s roster.
“We offered him a contract. He didn’t take it,” Elway said. “And as I said at my deposition (in Kaepernick’s collusion lawsuit against the NFL) – and I don’t know if I’m legally able to say this – but he’s had his chance to be here. He passed.”
Kaepernick declined to take a pay cut from his $11.9 million salary to facilitate a trade to the Broncos in 2016 following Peyton Manning’s retirement.
Unable to get a discount from Kaepernick or a rebate from the 49ers, Elway moved up in the draft to select former Memphis QB Paxton Lynch in the first round of the draft that spring.
Lynch has been a flop and this week was demoted to third string behind Chad Kelly, last year’s “Mr. Irrelevant,” who missed his rookie season while recovering from knee and wrist surgeries.
Kaepernick contends he’s no longer in the NFL because he’s the one who started the protests during the national anthem that have engulfed the league ever since. At first he sat down, then later took a knee during “The Star-Spangled Banner” to highlight social injustices against minorities.