• Both TMZ and Deadspin have pointed out that Tim Tebow(notes) is using a hyperbaric chamber to aid in the recovery from minor injuries, but neither of them went with the headline, "Tim Tebow does something a lot of other NFL players do." Hines Ward(notes) does it, Darren Sharper(notes) does it, Maurice Jones-Drew(notes) does it, and I'm sure there are dozens, if not hundreds, more. Putting Tim Tebow in headlines is good for business, though. We might as well all get used to it.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, there's a little bit more to the Tebow/hyberbaric chamber "story," and it's actually got nothing to do with Tebow. According to a Tebow representative, the young QB didn't buy it, he rented it, and the hyberbaric chamber people actually photoshopped their logo on to the thing. Someone from the company said to TMZ, "It wasn't a well thought out process." It's never good when you have to admit that to TMZ.

• Jeff Garcia is UFL-bound. He now joins Daunte Culpepper(notes) on the list of guys

Whether or not he'll feel like playing well, I don't know -- that would be a nice change of pace -- but Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Merriman will be at Chargers training camp by this weekend.

Linebacker Shawne Merriman(notes) will join the Chargers this weekend.

A source said he is considering the team's off day Sunday to sign his $3.269 million tender and report to camp. Another source said it "could possibly be sooner."

What does Merriman say? This, via Twitter:

All reports of me reporting to camp this weekend would come from the team "San Diego Chargers" not "sources"

Acee's report does indeed quote "sources," and not the Chargers or Merriman himself, so while Merriman's Tweet does cast a bit of doubt, it's not exactly a denial, either.

Reports or no reports, Merriman doesn't have much leverage in the situation, and he's going to have to report sooner or later. If he stays away, he could miss a few weeks of the regular season, not to mention a whole

Between Dez Bryant's initial refusal to carry pads and Tim Tebow's wacky haircut, the subject of hazing has gotten a lot of attention this offseason.

It seems to be a commonly accepted practice around the league, and it seems like most teams either condone it, or are at least willing to look the other way.

Not all teams, though. There's at least one team out there that doesn't let rookie hazing happen. Would it change your mind at all about hazing if you knew that this haze-free team was an annual fixture in the playoffs and one of the league's model franchises for stability and consistency?

Peyton Manning(notes) talked to Fanhouse's John Oehser about hazing:

"You've seen all the highlights with the rookie hazing and haircuts," Manning said Tuesday. "We don't do that around here, because we don't treat the guys like rookies. We expect those guys to play this year and to play well."

[...]

"We're probably not very patient," Manning said. "We don't cut them a whole lot of slack. If

The agent for Darrelle Revis(notes) presented the Jets with a new contract offer Tuesday. That's good news, right? At least they're talking and getting things hammered out?

Not so much, as it turns out. Not only did the Jets reject the deal, but the whole process left New York Jets owner Woody Johnson feeling like a very sad bear. From ESPN New York:

"The answer is no," the Jets' owner said tersely, adding, "My impression is no progress ... no movement whatsoever."

Expanding on that sentiment, Johnson told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap Monday that he doesn't expect Revis to play for the Jets this season.

"My gut feeling is, I would say no," Johnson said.

As a fan of an AFC team that is not the New York Jets but also has Super Bowl aspirations, I'd just like to say: Hey, thanks, Jets.

Not that they couldn't be a good team without Revis. And despite what Mr. Johnson said, we're still a long, long way from the All-Pro cornerback actually sitting out the season.

But the guy is a legitimate

The Madden video-game franchise is in a pretty comfy spot.

It really can't be screwed up. The gameplay, graphics, animations, etc., are things it's been fine-tuning for literally decades. All the tweaks and adjustments and additions through the years have molded itself into a well-oiled, reliable virtual football engine.

You can buy the game and have complete confidence that it will look fantastic and it will play well. In that respect, it absolutely will not disappoint.

The 2011 iteration of Madden is no exception. The formula is still intact. It still works. It's still fun.

The downside to the consistent formula is that it's just not terribly exciting anymore. In years past, the Madden marketing team has had something new and different to sell you: superstar mode, franchise mode, a revamped passing system, the hit stick, something. Whether or not it turned out to be good, at least it was new. There was something to check out; something revamped or mind-blowing that would change

In most cases, the arrest of a reserve defensive lineman for public intoxication wouldn't make a blip on the radar. A public intox isn't the most scandalous of arrests, and it's not like the American public is clamoring for 'round-the-clock media coverage of John Gill(notes).

But when a gentleman is found passed out in a ditch, with no vehicle nearby, without shoes on, reeking of booze, unable to stand, slurring his speech, and is described by police as "disheveled and soiled," well, I say that takes it to another level.

Gill wasn't charged, and after sleeping it off, was released by local authorities the next morning.

So that's one release on the books for John Gill. Is another, courtesy of the Indianapolis Colts, coming soon? Not immediately. From wthr.com:

Colts President Bill Polian tells Eyewitness News that although the team still has to determine John Gill's status, he won't be playing anytime soon. Polian says the plan is to send Gill to rehab.

Yeah, that's probably best for

NFL practices this time of year are designed for maximum sweat production. Coaches are trying to build up stamina and endurance. Players push themselves to the limit, in pursuit of jobs and starting spots. It's also really, really hot.

And starting on Aug. 11, the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan, Minnesota Vikings safety Husain Abdullah(notes) will be going through these practices without the benefit of water. Or food. Or any other kind of hydration.

During Ramadan, observing Muslims like Abdullah will fast for 30 days; eating or drinking nothing while the sun is out. Food and drink are permitted after dark and before sunrise, but during the day, there's nada -- not a tiny little sip of water, or the smallest release of Powerade's mystic mountain blueberry. From the AP:

Even while sprinting in the heat and humidity during drills, sometimes in full pads, Abdullah is adamant about his faith. He will not allow himself so much as a cup of water until the sun sets and before it

I don't know if there's a garment in the world that's seen as many emotions as Michael Irvin's Hall of Fame jacket.

Of course, he wore the yellow blazer as he gave his touching Hall of Fame induction speech. In that speech, Irvin prayed, cried, lamented, confessed, praised, inspired and was overjoyed.

And then two days later, still wearing that same blazer ... well ...

Irvin, from the Chicago Tribune:

"I remember when I was inducted into the Hall of Fame and they gave me my Hall of Fame yellow blazer. I wore it for two straight days. Finally my wife was in bed and said she wanted to make love but that I had to take the coat off. I refused and kept the blazer on because I wanted to perform like a Hall of Famer on the field and off."

There's no word on the quality of performance he turned in.

Don't you ever change, Michael Irvin. Don't ever change.

Gracias, With Leather.