HEAV
06-01-2005, 11:33 AM
Ricky Williams' return to the Dolphins could be hindered by a salary
question: Is he due to make a $3.7 million base salary next season or the league
minimum, $540,000? The $3.7 million figure would be far too much for the
Dolphins to handle under the salary cap this season and could force the team to
cut Williams. The $540,000 figure would be easy for the Dolphins to deal with.
Agent Leigh Steinberg declined to discuss the matter other than to say, ``I
don't see Ricky playing for that [$540,000] figure.'' Steinberg said Tuesday the
plan for Williams, still living in California, is to return to South Florida
''soon.'' Williams has sold both his homes in South Florida and will have to
rent an apartment.
The Saints brought in free-agent receiver Az-Zahir Hakim for a visit Tuesday as
they continue to search for veteran help at wide receiver. "He's a good
player, so we're just kind of exploring it and he's exploring us, and we'll just
see where it leads," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said. Hakim is a
seven-year veteran who has been mostly a third receiver and return specialist
for the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams. Loomis said Hakim has not been offered
a contract.
The Browns' chance to sign free-agent linebacker Peter Boulware comes Thursday.
Boulware will fly into Cleveland this afternoon and will spend Thursday visiting
the team's facilities. Boulware, 30, is scheduled to visit the Seattle Seahawks
late Thursday, but he is prepared to cancel the visit if he likes what he hears
in Cleveland.
Koren Robinson has been charged with DUI and reckless driving following a May 6
incident in Medina, perhaps foreshadowing the troubled receiver’s release from
the Seattle Seahawks. Robinson, 25, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the
misdemeanor criminal charges filed in Kirkland Municipal Court, and he is due
back before Judge Albert Raines on July 18, documents show. The Seahawks were
not available to comment Tuesday night, but team sources previously indicated
that Robinson had run out of second chances following a troubled four-year run
with the team. Robinson has acknowledged as much.
The Washington Redskins apparently aren't ready to give up on linebacker Mike
Barrow just yet, but return man Chad Morton could be on his way out when the
post-June 1 period of free agency opens late today. Although Redskins officials
remain mum about their plans, a source familiar with the club's thinking said
Barrow likely won't be released until the team gets a better gauge on his
rehabilitation from acute tendinitis in his knee.
Steve Feldman, the agent for safety Rodney Harrison, yesterday dismissed a
report in a Boston paper that his client is peeved with the Pats. The report in
the Boston Herald said on Sunday there were "rumblings" that Harrison
is unhappy with his contract and alluded to his staying away from passing camp
to work out in Atlanta. Harrison does indeed make middling money among the
league's safeties -- probably less than what the leader of the two-time
defending Super Bowl champs could command if he was on the open market. But
Harrison himself has said on more than one occasion that, while he'd love to
make more, he signed for what he signed for. When asked about the intimation,
Harrison said simply, "They didn't talk to me."
Brian Westbrook's situation remains the most mysterious. Two weeks ago, it
appeared as if he was going to change agents, sign the Eagles' restricted
free-agent offer of $1.43 million, and report today. However, there has been no
official change of agents and no word whether Westbrook will be on hand.
Washington remains in the hunt for cornerback R.W. McQuarters, who has done well
returning kicks. McQuarters was believed to be visiting the Miami Dolphins
yesterday after taking trips to Washington and the New York Giants last week. It
is unclear whether he has others scheduled.
All is currently quiet on the new contract front for wide receiver David Givens.
This isn't cause for major alarm. Givens, who's currently working under the
one-year medium tender of $1.8 million, won't be an unrestricted free agent
until next March and the Patriots will certainly get to the table. The other
possible renegotiation of note would be with defensive end Richard Seymour. His
agent, Eugene Parker, hasn't returned calls from the Journal.
Mike Doss, who won't know until early next week if he'll be indicted on
gun-related charges by an Akron, Ohio, grand jury, could face further sanctions
by the NFL if he's convicted in the courtroom. The Indianapolis Colts, though,
have no intention of dragging their feet when it comes to disciplining their
starting safety. Colts coach Tony Dungy emphasized that the organization is
disappointed that Doss had run afoul of the law and promised a punitive response
"will be sooner rather than later." "We have team regulations
that in this case have been broken," Dungy said. "We're going to look
into it and get the facts and we're doing to deal with it very, very swiftly,
and we're going to try to do our best to make sure this doesn't happen
again."
Javon Walker is still in a contract standoff with the Packers' front office and
Bubba Franks is a transition-tagged player, who without an offer for a one-year
contract yet hasn't participated in off-season team activities. General manager
Ted Thompson said he wasn't sure whether Walker would have a change of heart and
decide to participate. "I haven't heard that he is," he said. With
regards to Franks, Thompson said, "I know that we have had some
conversations with Bubba's representatives, but I don't know that there's any
news there." Thompson didn't want to discuss any progress made on the
contract front with Walker.
Tackle Todd Steussie, running back Charlie Garner and guard Matt Stinchcomb are
among the players who might be cut by the Bucs if they can't find another way to
create the cap space they'll need to sign their draft picks. There's no
guarantee they won't remain active in free agency, either. The Bucs are believed
to have some interest in signing free-agent cornerback R.W. McQuarters, and
other free agents entering the pool could become targets.
Safety Lance Schulters doesn't have to flip his calendar to June 1 today to
realize his days with the Titans are almost certainly numbered. His agent said
yesterday "it is a probability'' that Schulters will be released by the
Titans soon, though he doesn't think it will be today, when other veterans
across the NFL are cut loose by their respective teams for salary cap reasons.
The Falcons, Lions, Rams and Cowboys are among the teams who may be interested
in Schulters if he hits the open market.
Several key veterans, including linebacker Mike Barrow and wide receiver Rod
Gardner, are considered prime candidates to be released, but the Redskins do not
have to make any moves immediately tomorrow -- when teams can begin cutting
players to spread the cap hit over multiple seasons -- and are not expected to
do much.
The Seahawks don't begin their final minicamp until Monday, but team management
still has some decisions to make before then regarding at least three players.
At the top of the list is veteran defensive back Bobby Taylor, who was signed to
a four-year, $11.3 million contract in free agency last year only to miss the
second half of the 2004 season with a knee problem that began bothering him in
training camp. Also in play are former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Peter
Boulware and safety John Howell, a free agent from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Patriots linebacker Roman Phifer has been silent since the end of the season.
The 36-year-old's return doesn't appear likely but, as we learned last week with
Troy Brown, things can change.
While conventional wisdom suggests Dolphins defensive end David Bowens could be
cut today for salary-cap reasons, his agent doesn't think that will happen.
"Well, No. 1, we're in negotiations right now to restructure his deal, add
more years on," Harold C. Lewis said. "And No. 2, they already gave
David a very large bonus. "I would be a little bit surprised; I know he's
been playing very, very well in mini-camps. But in the NFL, anything is
possible." Lewis is seeking a three-year extension for Bowens, who would be
an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season.
The Saints are planning to release linebacker Orlando Ruff, according to Coach
Jim Haslett. Ruff, a six-year veteran, would have earned $1.1 million in the
final year of his three-year contract this season. After he is released, he will
count $125,000 against the Saints' salary cap -- one-third of the signing bonus
he received in 2003.
The Bucs hope to rework the deals of some of their most notable defensive
players. Linebacker Derrick Brooks, who already has discussed and turned down a
proposal to rework a contract that carries a $9 million cap figure, again might
be the target of a restructure offer. Defensive end Simeon Rice, whose contract
carries a $10 million cap figure, and defensive tackle Anthony McFarland ($4
million cap figure) also might be approached, if they haven't been already.
Free agent cornerback R.W. McQuarters visited the Dolphins on Tuesday, but there
were no contract talks with agent Tom Condon. McQuarters will visit Detroit
today and has already met with Washington and the New York Giants.
In Terrell Owens' absence, Donovan McNabb will be left to answer more questions
about the Eagles' star receiver. Rumblings that the two men talked about their
differences at the May 19 Hollywood premiere of The Longest Yard were incorrect.
According to a team source, McNabb attended the post-movie party but not the
actual movie premiere. Owens was at the movie premiere, but the source said the
players did not see each other in Hollywood.
Youth is fleeting for Joey Harrington. In his fourth season with the Lions,
Harrington has become the team's old hand at quarterback, in terms of tenure
with the team. Harrington has achieved seniority fairly quickly. He was a rookie
in 2002 on a team that had Ty Detmer and Mike McMahon on the depth chart.
Harrington was the starter in his third game. Harrington seems comfortable with
his senior status -- at the ripe age of 26, and with 44 NFL starts. "It's
an interesting position," Harrington said Tuesday as the Lions began two
weeks of mini-camp workouts. "This is the type of position you want to be
in as a quarterback, where guys are looking to you for answers. It's slowly been
changing to where it is now. "Every quarterback wants to get into the
huddle with guys he's been working with for a while, guys he feels he can grow
and improve with."
Quarterback Brett Favre will not participate when the Green Bay Packers open
their final minicamp Wednesday. Favre has been conditioning with a personal
trainer in Mississippi and is in the process of moving his Green Bay residence.
He was excused from the last minicamp to take a break from football after two
difficult seasons off the field, and coach Mike Sherman announced Tuesday that
he had excused Favre again for this minicamp. Sherman said he had talked to
Favre's trainer, who said the 15th-year quarterback had been working hard and
following a strict diet. Sherman also said he expected Favre to be around
Lambeau Field on Friday to talk to the team, get caught up with coaches and meet
new players, which is fine with him. But as far as participating in practice,
Sherman won't have it.
All Giants players are required to attend, meaning tight end Jeremy Shockey will
be on the scene, as will Plaxico Burress, acquired as a free agent receiver.
Those two players, key offensive cogs, spent most of the offseason working out
in Miami, much to the chagrin of Tom Coughlin. "It's about me wanting to
win games and getting back to a championship level," Shockey said by way of
explanation of his Florida stay. "Point blank, that's it."
Progress on a $500 million stadium for the Indianapolis Colts hinges on
brokering a lease and other agreements with the team by the end of June, leaders
of a new state construction board said Tuesday. For months, city and Colts
officials have been negotiating a 30-year lease, which would spell out details
of the team's commitment to Indianapolis. If the contract is not signed by July
1, state officials said, the project could be off.
Free agent cornerback R.W. McQuarters, who visited Redskins Park last week and
drew significant interest, was scheduled to meet with the Miami Dolphins
yesterday. McQuarters has also visited the New York Giants, and could visit
Tampa Bay.
A warrant for the arrest of former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress
remained active Tuesday as his attorney gathered paperwork that he said will
show his client is current on his wage taxes. Attorney Chuck Potter said Burress
did not have to pay taxes to Moon Township and Moon Area School District because
the wideout -- who now plays for the New York Giants -- was an official resident
of Florida even when he lived in Moon.
Steelers RB Duce Staley had an excused absence from yesterday's workout to be in
Columbia, S.C., with his father, who is terminally ill with cancer.
Bucs All-Pro LB Derrick Brooks has a way with children, especially those
involved in his ``Brooks Bunch'' charity. He literally has traveled around the
world with them, and Brooks and company on Tuesday departed for South Africa,
where they will tour such sites as Cape Town and Johannesburg for 10 days. The
beginnings of the ``Back to Africa'' trip were sparked last summer when Brooks
decided he wanted to return. He took a group, including 20 children from local
Boys & Girls clubs, to Africa in 2000. Brooks knows he can take only so many on
the trip, but he hopes they will educate many more with their experiences.
The NFL's free agency flea market begins tomorrow, but the Steelers have no
plans to sell or buy. What once was called the league's second wave of free
agency has flattened out to become almost an afterthought for most teams. June 2
is the first day teams can release a player, usually an overpaid veteran whose
value has faded, and delay the hit on their salary cap into future years.
The settlement awarded to Mike Webster's estate has grown by 30 percent -- to
$1.49 million -- after lawyers from both sides agreed to the principal balance
and interest, though the final figuring isn't yet complete. Lawyers concurred
late last Friday, before a deadline imposed in a April 26 ruling in U.S.
District Court in Baltimore, on the amounts Judge William D. Quarles Jr. ordered
that the NFL Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Retirement Plan owed the late Steelers Hall
of Famer in disability payments from 1991 through 1996. They agreed on
disability back pay of $1,142,875 and interest totaling $352,333.96 through the
date of Quarles' ruling. That brings the award figure to $1,495,208.96.
question: Is he due to make a $3.7 million base salary next season or the league
minimum, $540,000? The $3.7 million figure would be far too much for the
Dolphins to handle under the salary cap this season and could force the team to
cut Williams. The $540,000 figure would be easy for the Dolphins to deal with.
Agent Leigh Steinberg declined to discuss the matter other than to say, ``I
don't see Ricky playing for that [$540,000] figure.'' Steinberg said Tuesday the
plan for Williams, still living in California, is to return to South Florida
''soon.'' Williams has sold both his homes in South Florida and will have to
rent an apartment.
The Saints brought in free-agent receiver Az-Zahir Hakim for a visit Tuesday as
they continue to search for veteran help at wide receiver. "He's a good
player, so we're just kind of exploring it and he's exploring us, and we'll just
see where it leads," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said. Hakim is a
seven-year veteran who has been mostly a third receiver and return specialist
for the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams. Loomis said Hakim has not been offered
a contract.
The Browns' chance to sign free-agent linebacker Peter Boulware comes Thursday.
Boulware will fly into Cleveland this afternoon and will spend Thursday visiting
the team's facilities. Boulware, 30, is scheduled to visit the Seattle Seahawks
late Thursday, but he is prepared to cancel the visit if he likes what he hears
in Cleveland.
Koren Robinson has been charged with DUI and reckless driving following a May 6
incident in Medina, perhaps foreshadowing the troubled receiver’s release from
the Seattle Seahawks. Robinson, 25, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the
misdemeanor criminal charges filed in Kirkland Municipal Court, and he is due
back before Judge Albert Raines on July 18, documents show. The Seahawks were
not available to comment Tuesday night, but team sources previously indicated
that Robinson had run out of second chances following a troubled four-year run
with the team. Robinson has acknowledged as much.
The Washington Redskins apparently aren't ready to give up on linebacker Mike
Barrow just yet, but return man Chad Morton could be on his way out when the
post-June 1 period of free agency opens late today. Although Redskins officials
remain mum about their plans, a source familiar with the club's thinking said
Barrow likely won't be released until the team gets a better gauge on his
rehabilitation from acute tendinitis in his knee.
Steve Feldman, the agent for safety Rodney Harrison, yesterday dismissed a
report in a Boston paper that his client is peeved with the Pats. The report in
the Boston Herald said on Sunday there were "rumblings" that Harrison
is unhappy with his contract and alluded to his staying away from passing camp
to work out in Atlanta. Harrison does indeed make middling money among the
league's safeties -- probably less than what the leader of the two-time
defending Super Bowl champs could command if he was on the open market. But
Harrison himself has said on more than one occasion that, while he'd love to
make more, he signed for what he signed for. When asked about the intimation,
Harrison said simply, "They didn't talk to me."
Brian Westbrook's situation remains the most mysterious. Two weeks ago, it
appeared as if he was going to change agents, sign the Eagles' restricted
free-agent offer of $1.43 million, and report today. However, there has been no
official change of agents and no word whether Westbrook will be on hand.
Washington remains in the hunt for cornerback R.W. McQuarters, who has done well
returning kicks. McQuarters was believed to be visiting the Miami Dolphins
yesterday after taking trips to Washington and the New York Giants last week. It
is unclear whether he has others scheduled.
All is currently quiet on the new contract front for wide receiver David Givens.
This isn't cause for major alarm. Givens, who's currently working under the
one-year medium tender of $1.8 million, won't be an unrestricted free agent
until next March and the Patriots will certainly get to the table. The other
possible renegotiation of note would be with defensive end Richard Seymour. His
agent, Eugene Parker, hasn't returned calls from the Journal.
Mike Doss, who won't know until early next week if he'll be indicted on
gun-related charges by an Akron, Ohio, grand jury, could face further sanctions
by the NFL if he's convicted in the courtroom. The Indianapolis Colts, though,
have no intention of dragging their feet when it comes to disciplining their
starting safety. Colts coach Tony Dungy emphasized that the organization is
disappointed that Doss had run afoul of the law and promised a punitive response
"will be sooner rather than later." "We have team regulations
that in this case have been broken," Dungy said. "We're going to look
into it and get the facts and we're doing to deal with it very, very swiftly,
and we're going to try to do our best to make sure this doesn't happen
again."
Javon Walker is still in a contract standoff with the Packers' front office and
Bubba Franks is a transition-tagged player, who without an offer for a one-year
contract yet hasn't participated in off-season team activities. General manager
Ted Thompson said he wasn't sure whether Walker would have a change of heart and
decide to participate. "I haven't heard that he is," he said. With
regards to Franks, Thompson said, "I know that we have had some
conversations with Bubba's representatives, but I don't know that there's any
news there." Thompson didn't want to discuss any progress made on the
contract front with Walker.
Tackle Todd Steussie, running back Charlie Garner and guard Matt Stinchcomb are
among the players who might be cut by the Bucs if they can't find another way to
create the cap space they'll need to sign their draft picks. There's no
guarantee they won't remain active in free agency, either. The Bucs are believed
to have some interest in signing free-agent cornerback R.W. McQuarters, and
other free agents entering the pool could become targets.
Safety Lance Schulters doesn't have to flip his calendar to June 1 today to
realize his days with the Titans are almost certainly numbered. His agent said
yesterday "it is a probability'' that Schulters will be released by the
Titans soon, though he doesn't think it will be today, when other veterans
across the NFL are cut loose by their respective teams for salary cap reasons.
The Falcons, Lions, Rams and Cowboys are among the teams who may be interested
in Schulters if he hits the open market.
Several key veterans, including linebacker Mike Barrow and wide receiver Rod
Gardner, are considered prime candidates to be released, but the Redskins do not
have to make any moves immediately tomorrow -- when teams can begin cutting
players to spread the cap hit over multiple seasons -- and are not expected to
do much.
The Seahawks don't begin their final minicamp until Monday, but team management
still has some decisions to make before then regarding at least three players.
At the top of the list is veteran defensive back Bobby Taylor, who was signed to
a four-year, $11.3 million contract in free agency last year only to miss the
second half of the 2004 season with a knee problem that began bothering him in
training camp. Also in play are former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Peter
Boulware and safety John Howell, a free agent from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Patriots linebacker Roman Phifer has been silent since the end of the season.
The 36-year-old's return doesn't appear likely but, as we learned last week with
Troy Brown, things can change.
While conventional wisdom suggests Dolphins defensive end David Bowens could be
cut today for salary-cap reasons, his agent doesn't think that will happen.
"Well, No. 1, we're in negotiations right now to restructure his deal, add
more years on," Harold C. Lewis said. "And No. 2, they already gave
David a very large bonus. "I would be a little bit surprised; I know he's
been playing very, very well in mini-camps. But in the NFL, anything is
possible." Lewis is seeking a three-year extension for Bowens, who would be
an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season.
The Saints are planning to release linebacker Orlando Ruff, according to Coach
Jim Haslett. Ruff, a six-year veteran, would have earned $1.1 million in the
final year of his three-year contract this season. After he is released, he will
count $125,000 against the Saints' salary cap -- one-third of the signing bonus
he received in 2003.
The Bucs hope to rework the deals of some of their most notable defensive
players. Linebacker Derrick Brooks, who already has discussed and turned down a
proposal to rework a contract that carries a $9 million cap figure, again might
be the target of a restructure offer. Defensive end Simeon Rice, whose contract
carries a $10 million cap figure, and defensive tackle Anthony McFarland ($4
million cap figure) also might be approached, if they haven't been already.
Free agent cornerback R.W. McQuarters visited the Dolphins on Tuesday, but there
were no contract talks with agent Tom Condon. McQuarters will visit Detroit
today and has already met with Washington and the New York Giants.
In Terrell Owens' absence, Donovan McNabb will be left to answer more questions
about the Eagles' star receiver. Rumblings that the two men talked about their
differences at the May 19 Hollywood premiere of The Longest Yard were incorrect.
According to a team source, McNabb attended the post-movie party but not the
actual movie premiere. Owens was at the movie premiere, but the source said the
players did not see each other in Hollywood.
Youth is fleeting for Joey Harrington. In his fourth season with the Lions,
Harrington has become the team's old hand at quarterback, in terms of tenure
with the team. Harrington has achieved seniority fairly quickly. He was a rookie
in 2002 on a team that had Ty Detmer and Mike McMahon on the depth chart.
Harrington was the starter in his third game. Harrington seems comfortable with
his senior status -- at the ripe age of 26, and with 44 NFL starts. "It's
an interesting position," Harrington said Tuesday as the Lions began two
weeks of mini-camp workouts. "This is the type of position you want to be
in as a quarterback, where guys are looking to you for answers. It's slowly been
changing to where it is now. "Every quarterback wants to get into the
huddle with guys he's been working with for a while, guys he feels he can grow
and improve with."
Quarterback Brett Favre will not participate when the Green Bay Packers open
their final minicamp Wednesday. Favre has been conditioning with a personal
trainer in Mississippi and is in the process of moving his Green Bay residence.
He was excused from the last minicamp to take a break from football after two
difficult seasons off the field, and coach Mike Sherman announced Tuesday that
he had excused Favre again for this minicamp. Sherman said he had talked to
Favre's trainer, who said the 15th-year quarterback had been working hard and
following a strict diet. Sherman also said he expected Favre to be around
Lambeau Field on Friday to talk to the team, get caught up with coaches and meet
new players, which is fine with him. But as far as participating in practice,
Sherman won't have it.
All Giants players are required to attend, meaning tight end Jeremy Shockey will
be on the scene, as will Plaxico Burress, acquired as a free agent receiver.
Those two players, key offensive cogs, spent most of the offseason working out
in Miami, much to the chagrin of Tom Coughlin. "It's about me wanting to
win games and getting back to a championship level," Shockey said by way of
explanation of his Florida stay. "Point blank, that's it."
Progress on a $500 million stadium for the Indianapolis Colts hinges on
brokering a lease and other agreements with the team by the end of June, leaders
of a new state construction board said Tuesday. For months, city and Colts
officials have been negotiating a 30-year lease, which would spell out details
of the team's commitment to Indianapolis. If the contract is not signed by July
1, state officials said, the project could be off.
Free agent cornerback R.W. McQuarters, who visited Redskins Park last week and
drew significant interest, was scheduled to meet with the Miami Dolphins
yesterday. McQuarters has also visited the New York Giants, and could visit
Tampa Bay.
A warrant for the arrest of former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress
remained active Tuesday as his attorney gathered paperwork that he said will
show his client is current on his wage taxes. Attorney Chuck Potter said Burress
did not have to pay taxes to Moon Township and Moon Area School District because
the wideout -- who now plays for the New York Giants -- was an official resident
of Florida even when he lived in Moon.
Steelers RB Duce Staley had an excused absence from yesterday's workout to be in
Columbia, S.C., with his father, who is terminally ill with cancer.
Bucs All-Pro LB Derrick Brooks has a way with children, especially those
involved in his ``Brooks Bunch'' charity. He literally has traveled around the
world with them, and Brooks and company on Tuesday departed for South Africa,
where they will tour such sites as Cape Town and Johannesburg for 10 days. The
beginnings of the ``Back to Africa'' trip were sparked last summer when Brooks
decided he wanted to return. He took a group, including 20 children from local
Boys & Girls clubs, to Africa in 2000. Brooks knows he can take only so many on
the trip, but he hopes they will educate many more with their experiences.
The NFL's free agency flea market begins tomorrow, but the Steelers have no
plans to sell or buy. What once was called the league's second wave of free
agency has flattened out to become almost an afterthought for most teams. June 2
is the first day teams can release a player, usually an overpaid veteran whose
value has faded, and delay the hit on their salary cap into future years.
The settlement awarded to Mike Webster's estate has grown by 30 percent -- to
$1.49 million -- after lawyers from both sides agreed to the principal balance
and interest, though the final figuring isn't yet complete. Lawyers concurred
late last Friday, before a deadline imposed in a April 26 ruling in U.S.
District Court in Baltimore, on the amounts Judge William D. Quarles Jr. ordered
that the NFL Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Retirement Plan owed the late Steelers Hall
of Famer in disability payments from 1991 through 1996. They agreed on
disability back pay of $1,142,875 and interest totaling $352,333.96 through the
date of Quarles' ruling. That brings the award figure to $1,495,208.96.