Bounties in Pop Warner Football
Outside the Lines (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET, ESPN2)

Earlier this year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell came down hard on the New Orleans Saints for an alleged “bounty” program that allegedly included cash incentives to knock opposing players out of games. Earlier this month, the national office of Pop Warner Football suspended an entire coaching staff from Tustin, Calif. for this season and next after an investigation into allegations that players were paid bounties. A former assistant coach and several players’ parents tell reporter Tom Farrey that coaches offered the 10- and 11-year old boys between $20-50 to deliver punishing hits, and promised extra money to knock opposing players out of the game. Bob Ley hosts.

“I’m telling you there was no bounty, that I would never run a program like that, that my coaches would never be a part of a program like that.” — Darren Crawford, who last year led a team of 10- and 11-year-olds to the national tournament

“I saw coach Crawford give money to a player that delivered a hit and gave a kid a concussion in the game. And, I don’t know if it was directly related to that hit, but it certainly didn’t appear right. And so at that point, I told Darren, ‘It needs to stop.’” — John Zanelli, Crawford’s assistant coach

 

Surviving Sandy
Monday Night Countdown (Monday, 6:30 p.m. ESPN)

New York Giants fans Mike Iann and his father Tony figuratively saw their team “survive life-and-death struggles” to win Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. Last month Mike was literally in that situation when Hurricane Sandy made landfall in Toms River, N.J., and the tide surge swept him from his grandparents’ bay-front home into the icy waters of the bay. With the streets completely flooded, Mike fought to stay alive by swimming to a neighbor’s vacant home. Rick Reilly reports on Mike’s tale of survival, including a chilling goodbye letter he wrote to his father.

“I call up my dad and said, ‘Listen, I screwed up. I never should have stayed here. I don’t think I’m going to make it. The water right now is about at least eight feet. I’m on top of the car holding onto the windshield wiper.’ And I couldn’t hold on too much longer.’ — Mike Iann, on the phone call he made to his father during the storm

“It’s the most horrible feeling you’re going to feel because you had no control. If I was there, and you’re together — you’re going to make it together, you’re going to die together, that’s one thing. But you’re helpless. The only thing you could do is just sit there in silence. It’s the worst thing. It’s the worst thing.” — Tony Iann, on what he felt after receiving a desperate phone call from Mike

 

Bulldog Bounces Back
College Gameday (Saturday, 9 a.m. ESPNU; 10 a.m. ESPN)

https://youtu.be/4Z_ovxH3GfI

Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones’ aggressiveness has made him one of the best defensive players in the country. But when that tenacity was unharnessed, it nearly ruined him. Jones was 15-years-old when his older brother was murdered, a death that created anger and uncontrollable rage in Jones and led to him being expelled from several schools. But, the intervention of one woman changed Jones’ path and helped make him the man he is today. Gene Wojciechowski reports.

“I held that against myself for a long time, and that’s what, I think, built up the most anger, where all my anger came from, because I felt like I could have prevented it (the murder). When my brother asked, ‘Do you want me to stay here or leave?’ I felt like if I’d have said

‘Stay here with me’ it probably never would have happened. So, I kind of blamed myself for a long time for it.” — Jarvis Jones, Georgia linebacker

“It was crazy, just thinking about becoming another, a dropout, not being able to ever go back to school. I thought I was going to be another statistic.” — Jones, on his lowest point after being expelled from several schools

 

Ndamukong Suh
NFL Countdown (Sunday, 10 a.m. ESPN)

On Wednesday, the NFL fined the Lions Ndamukong Suh $30,000 after an on-field incident with Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub on Thanksgiving Day. Merril Hoge conducts an exclusive one-on-one with the Detroit defensive tackle

 

LeBron’s Encore
ESPN The Magazine (“Interview Issue” on newsstands tomorrow)

MVP, NBA champion, Olympic gold medalist — what is next for LeBron James? Michael Wilbon talks with the Heat forward about how he will transform his game.