In Akron, Nate Ulrich notes Pro Football HOFer Jim Brown "will receive an increased role" with the Browns organization, "serving as a sounding board for coach Hue Jackson and a mentor to the players." Team Owner Jimmy Haslam III said of Brown, who was given the title of special adviser three years ago, "Jim will be around much more and in a much more significant way helping our players be not just better players but better men.” Ulrich notes Brown "hopes to take a more active role with players, especially those from tough backgrounds" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 6/3).
ISSUE AT HAND: Redskins officials on Wednesday said that they are working with the NFL and NFLPA to "notify thousands of players whose medical records may have been breached after a backpack containing electronic and paper files was stolen from the car of a team athletic trainer April 15 in Indianapolis." NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said that the league had been working to "'identify the scope of the issue,'" adding that the Redskins were "taking the appropriate steps to notify anyone whose private data was at risk" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/2).
THE MIGHTY QUINN: Lions Exec VP & GM Bob Quinn in a letter to season-ticket holders wrote that the team "won't turn into a consistent winner overnight, but he's 'very happy with the strides we've made in a short amount of time.'" Quinn wrote in part, "We value the commitment you've made to us in the past, so I felt it was important to reiterate to you my duty to build the Detroit Lions into a consistent, championship-caliber franchise" (MLIVE.com, 6/2).
GOOD NEIGHBORS: The Raiders on Thursday "took out a full page ad" on the back page of the sports section of the S.F. Chronicle in support of the Warriors. In the ad, Warriors Gs Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are "shooting jumpers back-to-back, with a completely black background." Below them is the caption, "Just Win Baby," echoing late Raiders Owner Al Davis' famous saying (CSNBAYAREA.com, 6/2).
