At least "a dozen members" of the Chiefs organization attended yesterday's memorial service for Kasandra Perkins, who was killed by Chiefs LB Jovan Belcher in a murder-suicide last Saturday. The Chiefs contingent consisted of "at least 10 players," including RB Jamaal Charles and LB Derrick Johnson, as well as team CEO Clark Hunt and GM Scott Pioli (USATODAY.com, 12/8).
On the heels of the tragedy in K.C. and this week's USA Today front-page feature examining gun ownership among NFL players, many columnists offered further commentary on the issue this weekend:
SPORTS ON EARTH's Shaun Powell writes NFLers such as Belcher and Josh Brent "are tremendously gifted at what they do for a living, and just as incredibly clueless about almost everything else" (12/9).
The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER's Ron Green Jr. details the Panthers' gun-safety program, and the team's history of gun-related incidents (12/9).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Michael O'Keeffe reports William Focazio, the founder of an NFL concussion treatment program, "says he received phone calls after the Kansas City tragedy from former NFL players who fear they are also powder kegs" (12/9).
The DETROIT FREE PRESS' Drew Sharp writes NBC's Bob Costas and musician Ted Nugent were both "right in courageously taking a controversial stand" on gun issues in the U.S. (12/9).
The FREE PRESS' Mitch Albom on Costas: "You bring up guns, you step on a landmine" (12/9).
