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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Bus service connects Grants Pass, Medford Book festival expected to draw regional authors Summer of 2014 continues to set records Blaze south of Prospect tops 2,200 acres Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Blaze south of Prospect tops 2,200 acres Fire torches vacant home under renovation Community blog: Volunteerism=Stuart Skeele Emergency Services Politics and Elections Just one seat will be contested for Central Point council Gold Hill mayor faces challenger; other races have one candidate each Medford proposes new rules for pawn shops to help nab thieves Lack of incumbents, pot issue draws 10 for Medford council races Council members in Gold Hill dodge voter recall Education Back-to-school shopping can add up RCC program helps prepare Latinos for college SOU launches leadership degree program Medford charter school opens with many changes, including its name Superintendent welcomes staff to a new school year Environment Elusive owls get new home in Cascades Judge won't block release of water Ashland marchers won't give up on climate change message OR-7 could be recollared next month Deadly deer virus may be spreading State news Nation - World Obituaries James (Jim) Michael Giancarlo Janie Sparks Georgia A. Lind Shirley Helen Beal Roberts Lorraine Antcha Dimoff Mattos Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Dizzy in heat, Bouchard out of upset-heavy US Open Hamels, 3 Phils relievers combine to no-hit Braves Kirk rallies to win the Deutsche Bank Trenchard dominates Lon Skinner Memorial Ducks shift attention to Spartans Varsity 541 College Sports Ducks shift attention to Spartans Mariota, Oregon steamroll South Dakota SOU comes up short against Menlo 'It's about the win' for Oregon State SOU splits on final day of Merced tourney Pro Sports Dizzy in heat, Bouchard out of upset-heavy US Open Hamels, 3 Phils relievers combine to no-hit Braves Kirk rallies to win the Deutsche Bank 49ers made this mess Barry fires back into SOGC finals Community Sports Barry fires back into SOGC finals Super seniors strong at SOGC Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC Murphy claims victory in Stroke Play Championships South Korea downs Chicago for World Series title Business Latest Stories Earlier than normal pear harvest coming up short of expectations Blog: Who Loves Coffee? 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People in Business New Mercedes-Benz dealer is luxury car fan Brammo plans to keep jobs in Rogue Valley Real Estate News Median residential housing prices rise 10.7 percent, but may begin to level out People In Business Transportation Agriculture Earlier than normal pear harvest coming up short of expectations Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Sept. 1 Catherine Rampell: The one fight to have before your wedding Charter schools prove to be option not obstacle George Will: Paul Ryan's way forward vs. progressivism Dana Milbank: America's real ice bucket challenge Editorials Charter schools prove to be option not obstacle Blistering lawsuit filed in Cover Oregon fiasco Other views: OLCC operates with little oversight Our View: A vote for common sense in Gold Hill Our View: It's not the gear; it's how the gear is used Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 1 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 29 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 28 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 27 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 26 Guest Opinions Wilderness for Kalmiopsis has served us well The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch The power of local philanthropy Who I am and why I want to serve on the City Council Lifestyle Latest stories Backpacking is glorious in the "Oregon Alps" Hot tips for a cool (shade) garden 'Super-Agers' are coming fast Columnist for a Day: The collection-plate formula still works Shift into the Rose City spirit Food What does 'natural' really mean? 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NW Raw Kelly's Crepes Basil & Berries Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Firefighting will close part of Lost Creek Lake over Labor Day weekend ... Wind shifts should rid Rogue Valley of smoke ... Saturation patrols planned this weekend ... Firefighting will close part of Lost Creek Lake over Labor Day weekend ... Wind shifts should rid Rogue Valley of smoke ... Saturation patrols planned this weekend ... NFL Champ Bailey, Michael Sam among cuts By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 30, 2014 @ 6:04 pm By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 30, 2014 @ 6:04 pm » Social News For the first time in his career, Champ Bailey was told he isn’t good enough. Jettisoned by the New Orleans Saints after a difficult training camp, the 12-time Pro Bowl cornerback was the most notable name when NFL teams trimmed their rosters to 53 active players Saturday. A close second was Rams rookie Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team. The seventh-round draft pick, watched as closely as any rookie in the league this summer, couldn’t make a team stacked with pass-rushers. He still has a chance to get picked up by another team or to make the Rams’ practice squad. Coach Jeff Fisher repeated over and over that cutting Sam was purely a football decision. “I will tell you this: I was pulling for Mike,” Fisher said. “I really was, and I don’t say that very often. Mike came in here and did everything we asked him to do.” On Twitter, roughly an hour after he was cut, Sam wrote: “The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy, this is a lesson I’ve always known. The journey continues.” He also thanked the Rams and city of St. Louis on Twitter, adding that he looks forward to a long and successful career. The Rams selected Sam, the SEC co-defensive player of the year at Missouri, with the 249th overall pick out of 256 overall. Fisher called the draft pick a “second historic moment” for a franchise that signed running back Kenny Washington in 1946 as the league’s first black player in the modern era. Ultimately, he wasn’t good enough to make the Rams’ roster. Generally, players such as Sam with fewer than four seasons in the league are subject to waivers. Those who clear waivers and have practice squad eligibility can sign today when teams fill out their 10-member developmental units. Vested veterans who were released this weekend are free agents who can sign with anybody. But some might have to wait to get scooped up because their full 2014 salaries are in effect guaranteed if they’re on a roster in Week 1. It just might be the end of a stellar career for Bailey, who said after the Super Bowl that he wouldn’t retire “because I still know I can play this game.” Only seven players in NFL history have more Pro Bowl selections than Bailey, who signed with the Saints following his release from the Denver Broncos in the spring only to spend much of training camp dealing with nagging injuries. “Well, whatever happens to him now in the short term is not going to change his legacy,” Broncos GM John Elway said. “He’s still going to go down as one of the greatest corners to ever play the game and will always in our minds be a Denver Bronco.” Bailey missed 11 games last season after hurting his left foot in the preseason. He returned for Denver’s stretch run and reached his first Super Bowl, but clearly wasn’t the same player. In his prime, Bailey wasn’t often challenged by quarterbacks yet he still managed 52 interceptions, more than any active cornerback. Elway said it was difficult to let Bailey go this offseason as he retooled his defense following Denver’s Super Bowl dud against Seattle. Elway also dreads cut-down day. “Today is obviously the toughest part of my job,” Elway said. “It’s hard breaking dreams.” Among the players he dismissed Saturday was nine-year defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson, who started 25 games for the defending AFC champs over the past two seasons. Vickerson was beaten out by Marvin Austin, the latest veteran whom Elway signed to a one-year, no-bonus deal for a shot at resurrecting his career with the Peyton Manning-led Broncos. Elway also cut third-year safety Duke Ihenacho, who was the odd-man out in a crowded defensive backfield featuring free agent acquisition T.J. Ward. Other notable players who were either waived or released this weekend, depending in their experience level, included: — Jets WR Stephen Hill, a 2012 second-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech who failed to follow in the footsteps of fellow alumni Demaryius Thomas and Calvin Johnson. He finished the past two seasons in IR. — Bengals RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the team’s top rusher the past two seasons who was made expendable when the team drafted LSU’s Jeremy Hill in the second round. — Browns WR Nate Burleson, an 11-year veteran who was slowed by a hamstring injury in camp. The Browns are thin at wide receiver after Pro Bowler Josh Gordon was suspended for the entire 2014 season for another violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. — Jets CB Dimitri Patterson, ending a bizarre week that began when he left the team before its preseason game against the Giants on Aug. 22, leading to a suspension. — Saints Ks Shayne Graham and Derek Dimke. The Saints did not immediately indicate what their intentions were at kicker after cutting both the veteran Graham and the rookie Dimke. But they could have in mind one of a number of proven kickers cut by other clubs, including Ryan Succop, who was cut by Kansas City, or Jay Feely, recently cut by the Cardinals. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 30, 2014 @ 6:04 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Raiders' Fantasy Outlook with Car as QB Sep. 1, 2014 at 7:49 pm Fantasy Outlook for Texans QBs in 2014 Sep. 1, 2014 at 2:11 pm Fantasy Football Mock Draft Tips, Position Rankings Sep. 1, 2014 at 2:00 pm Week 1 Waiver Wire: Derek Carr, Travis Kelce Highlight Pickups to Know Sep. 1, 2014 at 10:00 am Positional Fantasy Rankings, Top Sleepers to Target Sep. 1, 2014 at 7:00 am Cam's Week 1 Fantasy Status After Rib, Ankle Injuries Sep. 1, 2014 at 6:24 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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