Clan-Members » Last year I took a lot more hits and didnt real

NEW ORLEANS -- Former Saints star Will Smith was executed by an irate driver as Smiths wounded wife lay nearby during the chaos that followed an April 9 traffic accident, a prosecutor told a New Orleans jury Sunday during closing arguments in the shooters trial.But a defense attorney said the defendant, Cardell Hayes, 29, was the victim of a rushed investigation by police reacting to the death of a beloved football star. And he insisted Hayes fired in self-defense.This young man tried his best, trying to avoid doing what he had to do, John Fuller shouted during a thundering closing argument. He reminded jurors not to be star-struck by the parade of Smiths famous former teammates who attended the weeklong trial.Hayes, 29, was on trial for second-degree murder in Smiths death, and attempted second-degree murder in the wounding of Smiths wife, Racquel. A jury was expected to begin deliberations Sunday.Saints coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees, and former running back Deuce McAllister were among those who attended to show support for Smiths widow -- a witness and daily front-row spectator. Former Saints safety Steve Gleason, battling Lou Gehrigs disease, watched closing arguments Sunday from his wheelchair in the courtrooms middle aisle.Racquel Smith was hit first when gunshots rang out on the night of April 9, a bullet tearing through her leg, Assistant Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Napoli told the jury as he recounted the crime in his closing argument.She then listened as the love of her life, the father of her children, was executed, Napoli said, noting that Hayes pumped eight .45-caliber bullets into Smith -- one in the side, seven in the back.Napoli dismissed defense claims that a drunken Smith was the aggressor and that Hayes was defending himself in accordance with Louisianas stand your ground law.That law doesnt apply, Napoli said, because Hayes was the aggressor and was engaged in a criminal act, having armed himself after he purposely rammed his Hummer into Smiths Mercedes SUV.Hayes took the stand Saturday, insisting that he only fired after Smith struck him several times and grabbed a gun from his damaged Mercedes -- and after he heard what sounded like a gunshot.I knew for a fact that I was going to get shot, Hayes told the jury.No other witness said Smith was armed. Prosecutors said the loaded gun remained untouched inside Smiths damaged car.Fuller told jurors that Hayes was the victim of an incomplete investigation. He said police failed to take a DNA sample from a cup found on the crime scene. (Hayes said Smith had thown a drink cup at him at the beginning of their confrontation).Fuller also said investigators failed to obtain video from a bar and two restaurants that Smith had visited prior to the shooting, video that might have helped in gauging Smiths temperament that night.A pathologists report showed Smith was legally drunk after spending time at the citys annual French Quarter Festival. He was driving with a group of friends traveling in several cars when his SUV appeared to lightly bump Hayes Hummer -- a bump captured on surveillance videos. Smith then drove off, with Hayes in pursuit.Hayes vehemently denied that he intentionally rammed Smiths vehicle several blocks later. He told the jury that he was trying to dial 911 and didnt realize how close they were as he tried to report a hit-and-run.Hayes is a former semi-professional football player who said hes an admirer of Smith. He said he didnt realize the man he killed was Smith until hours after the shooting, while he was in police custody. Cheap Air Max 720 . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. China Wholesale Nike Air Max 90 .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/cheap-max-97-shoes.html . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Kobe Bryant Shoes Clearance . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Fake Air Max 90 For Sale . PETERSBURG, Fla. COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Perry Hills leads the Big Ten in completion percentage and has proven to be invaluable for Maryland as a passer, rusher and senior leader.All of those positives are wasted on Hills, who cant help lamenting the injuries that prevented him from thoroughly enjoying his final season with the Terrapins.Hills has missed two games and was knocked out of two others. Thats his takeaway from a season in which he has thrown 10 touchdown passes and carried Maryland (5-6, 2-6) to the brink of bowl eligibility.Its been pretty rewarding, Hills said Tuesday, but the frustration sets in because you keep saying, `What if? What if?Coming off a season in which he threw 13 interceptions compared to eight TD passes, Hills won the starting job over the summer for first-year coach DJ Durkin. The Terrapins got off to a 4-0 start before Hills hurt his right shoulder in the first half at Penn State.Maryland lost that game, then fell at home to Minnesota with an injured Hills watching from the sideline.Hills returned to beat Michigan State, but two weeks later was injured at Michigan. He started the following week against Ohio State but left in the first quarter with a left shoulder injury.I went in the locker room and said, `Man, God must not want me to play. Im already going through one bad shoulder and hes going to go out and try and give me another, Hills said. It was definitely heart-wrenching. Its like, anything that can go wrong has gone wrong. What on earth?Hills could not recover to face Nebraska last week , and his status for Saturdays home game against Rutgers (2-9, 0-8) is uncertain.I look for Perry to continue to improve this week, get him back healthy and hopefully go out there and help our senior class go get a win, Durkin said.All five of Marylands victories this season have come with Hills in the starting lineup, whicch says as much about his effectiveness as his 66.dddddddddddd7 percent completion percentage.As goes Hills, so go the Terps. Three other quarterbacks have stepped in during his absence, combining for three TD passes, five interceptions and nary a victory.If Hills had stayed healthy, who knows? Maryland probably would have already sewn up a bowl berth and Hills could look back on his final college season with no remorse.Hes certainly fought through a lot of things, Durkin said. You wish he was healthier throughout the whole year. His year would be way more reflective of the type of player and young man he is. In many ways our team and our season would have reflected that, too.Funny thing is, with the exception of a torn ACL as a freshman, Hills has been impervious to injury at Maryland -- until this year.Its definitely been frustrating, he said. Last year I took a lot more hits and didnt really get injured.On a day Maryland bids farewell to its seniors and seeks to earn a bowl berth, his teammates want Hills in the huddle.I came in with Perry and Ive seen him grow so much over the past five years, offensive lineman Michael Dunn said. Hes been through a lot over that time. To have the opportunity to finish his career off with a win over Rutgers and go to a bowl game, that would be a special moment.Hills heads toward the weekend uncertain exactly when his career will end -- or if hes already taken his last snap in a game situation.Nothings given, he said. So you just have to go out and enjoy every second that you get in practice and workouts. Even though it can be really hard sometimes, Im going to really miss it.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. ' ' '