Football mad fan arrested for bomb threats

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - A Michigan man has discovered that taking football too seriously can have heavy consequences.

Shawn Payton, of Jackson, Michigan, was arrested on Monday and charged with phoning bomb threats to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on January 7, when about 70,000 people were watching the New Orleans Saints pummel the Detroit Lions in an NFL playoff game.

Lions fan Payton, 34 - not to be confused with Saints head coach Sean Payton - was watching the game on television from his home when the lopsided second half of the game became too much for him.

He called the Superdome and told a receptionist that there was a bomb in the stadium, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office in New Orleans. A second call came in about 45 minutes later, Letten's statement said.

The FBI later obtained a recording of the call from the Superdome Information Technology Department in which a male caller stated: "Hi, I want you to relay a message to the sideline, if your stupid Southern team keeps winning, there will be reper ... severe consequences, okay?"

The Saints went on to beat the Lions 45-28.

The FBI was able to track the calls to Payton, who made his initial appearance before a federal magistrate in Detroit on Monday. He was released on bond and ordered to appear in federal court in New Orleans on February 14.

A phone number for Payton was not working on Tuesday.

If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

(Reporting By Kathy Finn; Editing by Corrie MacLaggan)

View the original article here at Yahoo News!

Football Player Brett Favre

Comments 0

Brett Lorenzo Favre is an American football quarterback who officially retired on January 17, 2011. He is renowned in the world of football for being the only quarterback to have thrown over 70,000 yards, and over 500 touchdowns, and over 300 interceptions, and most of all over 10,000 pass attempts. He was born on October 10, 1969 in Gulfport, Mississippi. He attended the  Hancock North Central from where he rose as a football star. he started at the quarterback position when he was recruited from High School for the University of Southern Mississippi and his next four years were spent in the football field rising as a star. He, during his college years also earned a teaching degree with a special emphasis on special education from the same university. His professional career started as a quarterback in the fourth game of the Packers in the year 1992. He stayed with that team till the year 2007 when was traded with the New York Jets. In 2008, he played the quarterback of the Vikings. Today he holds the NFL record for two hundred and ninty seven consecutive starts. He holds the honor of leading his team to victory in division championships in the years 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2009.

View the Original article