QB’s haircut clinches deal for wideout
Contract negotiations, particularly those involving star professional athletes, often can come down to a ton of money and exhaustive arguments over the most minute details.
In the case of wide receiver Stevie Johnson's new deal with the Buffalo Bills, the final piece of the puzzle was a haircut.
Johnson, a prolific tweeter, took to his Twitter account and posted a screen cap of a text message conversation with Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Harvard graduate had texted Johnson asking to be kept informed about the negotiations and added, "Don't make me beg."
Johnson responded 10 minutes later with instructions on how Fitzpatrick could ensure Johnson returned to the Bills.
"If you get a Mohawk mullet with the beard and a design on the left side I'll sign TODAY! If you don't think about everyone in the billsmafia you'll be letting down The ball is in your court! Don't be selfish!"
Fitzpatrick said he was looking up barber shops and just needed the design.
Three days later, on Monday, Johnson tweeted he had signed with the Bills. He also posted a picture of Fitzpatrick with a mohawk mullet, his trademark beard and "He's back" shaved into the side of his head.
"My man Fitzmagic came thru for me & all of you. Had to sign...check it out. 13 (Johnson's number) isn't anything w/out14 (Fitzpatrick's number), now you see why," Johnson posted.
It doesn't take a Harvard degree to know that if you want to have success as an NFL quarterback, you might want to keep the star receiver happy.
Now if only shaving a design in your head could ensure a playoff spot, the Bills would be in luck.
■ FORE!-TY CALIBER -- Hell Bunker at St. Andrew's and Rae's Creek at Augusta National have nothing on the hazards facing golfers at Mission Del Lago Golf Course in San Antonio.
According to KENS-TV, a stray bullet struck a 30-year-old golfer in the chest as he played the 12th hole at the course Sunday afternoon. The man was taken to a hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.
Police have yet to determine the shooter, but in a dazzling bit of investigative work, they suspect the bullet came from the nearby shooting range.
The course was built in its current location after plans to construct it on an active nuclear dump full through.
■ NOT SO FUNNY -- One of the first sponsors to pull advertising from Rush Limbaugh's radio show in the wake of his most recent controversy was retail mortgage lender Quicken Loans.
The Detroit-based company was ahead of the curve. The list of companies that pulled ads from the show after the conservative host launched a hate-filled attack on Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke is now more than 25.
Quicken is owned by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who probably should know a thing or two about saying things in the heat of the moment you probably wish you could take back.
Perhaps Gilbert would have been more comfortable with Limbaugh's comments if instead of saying them out loud, Limbaugh would have unleashed his thoughts in a memo written in Comic Sans font.
COMPILED BY ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
