Tennessee dining chain offers Peyton free pancakes to sign with Titans

A Nashville-based restaurant chain has stacked the deck in favor of Peyton Manning signing with the Tennessee Titans— more like stack the plate with pancakes.

Shoney's, the popular southern dining spot, wants to sweeten the team's offer and will give the free agent quarterback and former-University of Tennessee legend a free stack of the griddle cakes every day throughout his career in Nashville if he signs with the Titans, according to a press release and ad placed in the The Tennessean last week.

The sign reads: "Peyton, Sign here and Tennessee Would Really Be Stacked" in white letters with a picture of a stack of pancakes dripping with syrup and butter.

Below the pancakes, the ad says "Shoney's CEO wants to sweeten the deal.  Sign with our hometown team and you'll receive FREE PANCAKES EVERY DAY throughout your career here in Nashville.  Let's win.  And Let's Eat."

If Manning does sign with the Titans, the offer would stand for any of the Nashville area Shoney's only.  But with the Titans owner Bud Adams offering the sought after quarterback a $60 million contract, I don't think limiting the number of Shoney's where Manning could scarf down the wheat cakes covered in maple syrup would be a deal breaker.

A follow-up ad is being considered but the company had better hop to it.  I hear a San Francisco restaurant chain is offering Manning a lifetime supply of sourdough bread if he signs with the 49ers.

NFL Will Not Fine Players For Wearing 9/11 Tribute Gear On Anniversary

The NFL players who wear special cleats and gloves to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks this weekend will not have to shell out a fine for breaking uniform rules according to Yahoo! Sports.

Players from Redskins tight-end Chris Cooley to Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who had tweeted photos of the colorful Reebok gear, expected to pay fines for wearing the special cleated shoes and gloves in Sunday's games.

On Friday afternoon, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said that the players would not be fined for wearing the tribute gear, despite breaking the league's strict uniform policy.

"We have extensive plans for Sunday to respectfully recognize the significance of the day," Aiello said.

All NFL players, coaches and sideline crews will be wearing special 9/11tribute ribbons on their apparel during the opening Sunday of the season.

The colorful equipment was spotted inside the New York Jets locker room this week and center Nick Mangold and tight end Dustin Keller said they plan to wear the cleats and gloves.

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs posted on his Twitter account about the possibility of having a fine levied against him for donning the red, white and blue gear.

"So once the breast cancer game is played, players can wear pink gloves and shoes as much as they like," Briggs tweeted.  "For the anniversary of 9/11 game, why is it if I wear shoes and gloves that are the colors of our nation's flag...I will be fined by the league."

"Reebok did a great job on these gloves and shoes...looks like I'm getting fined this week.  Lol!"

All the players who chose to wear the gear in honor of the day won't have to worry about getting fined this week, but let's see what happens after all the ceremonies and tributes are done.

Chris Simms Hands-Off Pot Bust Blame to Backseat Pal

Tennessee Titans quarterback Chris Simms is passing his smoking-and-driving pot bust to a friend who was in the back seat of the car when it was pulled over last summer.  Simms, the son of popular former-New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, smelled like marijuana and refused to take a blood test, according to the arresting officers.

Yesterday, Simms' lawyer said that the 30 year-old QB--who was driving a Mercedes SUV back from a party in a with his wife Danielle, friend Charlie Granitell and another man in the back seat--noticed Granitell starting to toke up.

"Get rid of that stuff!" Simm's lawyer told the jurors Simms screamed at Granitell right before they were pulled over at a Manhattan DWI checkpoint on July 1.

Police Officer Francisco Acosta said Simms was pulled over for speeding and driving erratically and testified that Simms admitted he had smoked marijuana.

Acosta said, " He [Simms] was out of it, like a zombie.  He was very, very unsteady on his feet."

The QB's defense attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said the officer got it wrong and that Simms said his friend, Granitell,  had been smoking the weed.

Granitell will take the stand today in Simms defense of the misdemeanor stoned-driving charge and admit he was the guilty party according to Steinberg.

Simms' wife, who was eight months pregnant at the time of the arrest, will also testify.

Acosta told jurors, "She [Danielle] was telling him, 'Don't say a word!  Don't tell them anything!  Don't take any tests!'" during the arrest.

Simms is facing one misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs.  He claims he was not stoned and would not jeopardize his wife and unborn baby by driving while impaired.

Simms faces a year in jail and a fine if convicted.  He is not expected to testify.

If he can pass the blame to his friend, it might be the biggest completion of his career.