Free Republic

The Jaguars moved another step closer to purging Tom Coughlin's tumultuous tenure in Jacksonville. The team waived running back Leonard Fournette on Monday, a stunning decision many outsiders view as the latest in a series of head scratchers that could help the franchise tank the season and get the No. 1 draft pick. “If that’s the case, then the realization is if that happens, then I’m not going to be here," coach Doug Marrone said. "At the end of the day, if I don’t win enough games or do enough with this team, I don’t foresee me still being employed....

To save time and syllables, we’re going journo-green today. Thus “common sense” will be replaced by “it,” as in “getting it.” And that’s the point: “it” doesn’t matter, not anymore. It doesn’t matter that the absurd, the grossly inaccurate and the just plain stupid easily can be eliminated. It is what it is. And that’s it. There will be no deviation from, let alone elimination of, the ridiculous, no matter how self-evident.

FORT SMITH, Arkansas (Reuters) - Tom Coughlin, the former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) vice chairman who admitted to stealing thousands of dollars from the company, was sentenced on Friday to 27 months of home confinement. Coughlin, who joined Wal-Mart in 1978 and worked closely with legendary founder Sam Walton, had faced up to 28 years in prison and $1.35 million in fines after he pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud and tax evasion. Wal-Mart had accused Coughlin of misappropriating as much as $500,000 through misuse of gift cards and bogus invoices, and said he used the money to buy...

FORT SMITH, Arkansas (AP) -- A former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. vice chairman who was a protege of founder Sam Walton pleaded guilty to fraud and tax charges Tuesday, admitting that he stole money, gift cards and merchandise from the world's largest retailer. Tom Coughlin, 57, faces a maximum of 28 years in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. He also could be fined $1.35 million. The judge ordered a presentencing report that will take up to 14 weeks to prepare. Wal-Mart lawyers referred Coughlin to federal prosecutors...