MARIETTA, GEORGIA – Former San Diego Chargers and University of Georgia defensive back Paul Oliver committed suicide at his Atlanta-area home, a medical examiner said on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Oliver was found dead Tuesday night in Marietta, about 35 km northwest of Atlanta, Cobb County Medical Examiner’s investigator Tim Weaver said.
Oliver died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Cobb County police Sgt. Dana Pierce said.
Oliver was a 2007 fourth-round supplemental draft pick from Georgia after he was ruled academically ineligible his senior year. He played four seasons with the Chargers; his best year was 2010, when he started eight games and had 62 tackles along with an interception.
Oliver moved to the New Orleans Saints in 2011 but was released after training camp. He returned to San Diego for one more season.
“It’s sad to lose anyone, for that matter, but a guy that you played with — I can remember interactions with him like it was yesterday,” Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said.
Tight end Antonio Gates remembered Oliver as an easygoing teammate who kept mostly to himself.
“You just never know; life is so short,” Gates said. “My condolences and prayers go out to his family and kids.”
Oliver, a native of suburban Atlanta, also was remembered for his career at Georgia, where he played from 2004-06. He started all 13 games his final season and finished with seven interceptions and five forced fumbles in his college career.
One of Oliver’s best games at Georgia was holding Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson, then at Georgia Tech, to just two catches for 13 yards in 2006. The defensive back had an interception in the game’s final minute to preserve a 15-12 victory over the Yellow Jackets.
“It’s heartbreaking for me personally, for our staff, for the Bulldog Nation I’m sure, and obviously for his family,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
The university said Oliver was survived his wife, Chelsea, and two children. Funeral arrangements had not been finalized.
Bucs bench Freeman
AP
Less than five seasons after declaring Josh Freeman was the future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the struggling franchise is tying its hopes to another rookie quarterback.
Coach Greg Schiano benched Freeman in favor of untested Mike Glennon, two days after insisting the former first-round draft pick remained the starter because he gave the Bucs the best chance to win.
On Wednesday, Schiano said several times Glennon now gives the Bucs the best chance to win.
The coach said he changed his mind after meeting Tuesday with general manager Mark Dominik, and later discussing the situation with ownership — which signed off on the move.
“This is a performance-based decision,” Schiano said after practice Wednesday. “We’re not getting the job done on the field.”
The winless Bucs have lost their first three games, two on field goals in the closing seconds. Freeman has completed just 45.7 percent of his passes for 571 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Dating to last season, they’ve dropped eight and nine games, and the offense hasn’t played well throughout the stretch.
“There are a lot of reasons for it. It’s not just one guy,” Schiano said of Freeman, the franchise career completions leader who is in the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie. “But’s that’s a critical piece of it. . . . The quarterback touches the ball every play.”
The Bucs did not make Freeman, who’s 24-35 as a starter, available for interviews.
Glennon was drafted in the third round out of North Carolina State, where he spent part of his college career as a backup to Russell Wilson. He will make his first pro start Sunday at home against Arizona.
Douglas arrested
AP
Connecticut police say former NFL player Hugh Douglas has denied charges that he assaulted his girlfriend and told investigators that marks on her neck were from rough sex.
The 42-year-old former defensive end with the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars was charged with strangulation and assault early on Sunday at a Hartford hotel.
A police report says Douglas’ girlfriend alleged Douglas grabbed her throat in a hallway and slammed her into the walls while carrying her to their room.
Douglas, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, posted $50,000 bail and is due in court Oct. 21.
A man who answered a phone number for Douglas hung up without commenting Wednesday.
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