NFL NOTEBOOK
Published 11:30 pm Tuesday, June 24, 2008
LAS VEGAS — One man was arrested and a second was sought Tuesday in a robbery and beating that left Oakland Raiders receiver Javon Walker unconscious on a side street after a long night of partying at Las Vegas nightclubs.
Police said Arfat Fadel, of Las Vegas, was accused of multiple felonies, including kidnapping, robbery, battery and conspiracy in a June 16 robbery. Lt. Clinton Nichols said Walker lost about $3,000 in cash and $100,000 worth of jewelry in the robbery.
The loot has not been recovered, he said.
“Mr. Walker was in town to have a good time, as many of our visitors to Las Vegas do,” Nichols said. “As he will readily admit, he probably had a little too much to drink and he did not pick up on the clues that Mr. Fadel was someone he probably should not have been with.”
Police released a booking photo of the 30-year-old Fadel and a black-and-white surveillance videotape image of the other alleged assailant who they said they believed was still in Las Vegas.
“The suspects knew who Mr. Walker was. He did not know who they were,” Nichols said. “Whether they were part of his entourage or not remains to be seen.”
Nichols said Walker got out of one vehicle he was riding in with friends and got into Fadels’s black Range Rover with Fadel and the other man before he was assaulted and robbed.
“He willingly got in the vehicle on his own,” Nichols said of the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Walker. “We’re unsure why.”
Nichols said during a news conference the two men were seen in some of the crowded nightclubs where Walker was shown on surveillance videotapes partying from about 9 p.m. June 15, until shortly before he was found unconscious at 7:19 a.m. the next morning about a block east of the Las Vegas Strip.
Police said Walker was hospitalized for treatment of a moderate concussion and significant facial injuries.
Walker was released by the Broncos last February and was signed by the Oakland Raiders to a six-year, $55 million deal.
Notes
TELEVISION: Within minutes of his introduction as the newest member of Fox’s NFL pregame show, Michael Strahan was spouting his opinion on Plaxico Burress’ contract dispute, debating the issue with Jimmy Johnson, and trading barbs with Terry Bradshaw about their respective divorces.
Fox executives David Hill and Ed Goren leaned back in their chairs and grinned during Tuesday’s news conference. That’s the sort of personality and chemistry they hope the recently retired New York Giants defensive end will bring to the show.
Known for his charisma and candor as a player, Strahan insisted he won’t be afraid to criticize former teammates or friends within the league.
“I look at it as I’m on this team now,” he said. “I have to speak objectively and tell the truth of what I see, regardless of if I was in the locker room last season or not, if those guys are my friends or not.”
GIANTS: Quarterback Andre Woodson and linebackers Bryan Kehl and Jonathan Goff were signed by the New York Giants on Tuesday, leaving the Super Bowl champions with only three draft picks to sign before the opening of training camp next month. Safety Kenny Phillips, cornerback Terrell Thomas and receiver Mario Manningham, the Giants’ top three draft picks, remain unsigned.
TITANS: Tennessee’s Jevon Kearse wouldn’t talk about being charged with drunken driving, saying instead that he is trying to concentrate on practice. The 31-year-old defensive end was stopped at 4:42 a.m. Sunday by Vanderbilt University police after they saw the SUV he was driving weave across the road.
