List/Grid Monthly Archives: December 2017
Chargers fought for L.A. and won some battles in the proccess
Standing in an emptying locker room, Antonio Gates was asked to speculate how the Chargers would have performed in the postseason. The delivery of his words was measured. The statement…
Lou Williams scores 40 points as Clippers top Hornets for third straight win
They all serenaded Lou Williams in the locker room after the game, the group of Clippers finding joy in yelling “Looou! Looou! Looou!” Williams’ 40-point masterpiece was worthy of all…
Dose: Week 17 Review
Ryan McDowell recaps all the happenings from each game of the NFL’s Week 17 in Monday’s Dose. Powered by WPeMatico
NFL offensive production falls despite record for Brady
Passing production was down league-wide to levels not seen in several seasons, rookie running backs shined, and Tom Brady added another record to his brilliant career. The NFL’s offensive surge…
Patriots playoff opener Saturday, Jan. 13 at 8:15 p.m. at Gillette
The Patriots AFC Divisional Round playoff game will be Saturday, Jan. 13 at 8:15 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. Powered by WPeMatico
2018 NFL Draft order: First 20 picks set, Browns have two picks in the top four
The first 20 picks of the 2018 NFL Draft are officially set, and the Cleveland Browns will pick twice inside of the top four if they don’t make any trades…
Alabama secondary hopes to stop Clemson’s ‘giant killer’
It’s a play that haunts Alabama’s defensive backs nearly a year later. With just six seconds remaining on the clock, top-ranked Alabama had just two yards and one final defensive…
Report: ESPN’s Gruden will return to coach Raiders
Jon Gruden will leave the ESPN booth to return as coach of the Oakland Raiders, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Powered by WPeMatico
Woe-for-16: Browns finish winless season with loss to Steelers
The Cleveland Browns completed their woe-for-’17 season with an oh-for-16 finish. The Browns became the second team in NFL history to go 0-16, losing 28-24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on…
Winners and losers: Bills finally catch a break
Buffalo is finally back in the playoffs after 18 long years. As for the Eagles, well, they’re probably not feeling so good after Sunday. Powered by WPeMatico
NFL playoffs scenarios for Week 17
The top seed in the AFC is still up for grabs while multiple teams are simply fighting for their playoff lives on Sunday. Powered by WPeMatico
Mike Mularkey may be coaching for his job today, and even next week
If the Titans win today, they’re going to the playoffs. If they lose, it may be Mike Mularkey’s last day as head coach. Mularkey could be out if the Titans…
Tom Brady bringing back his scuba suit to combat frigid temps in finale
Mike Reiss ESPN Staff Writer Close Covered Patriots since 1997 Joined ESPN in 2009 Follow on Twitter FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts around the New England Patriots and NFL: 1….
Todd Bowles extension shows Jets’ new way of doing business
Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Close Longtime Jets beat writer for New York Daily News Syracuse University graduate Follow on Twitter FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A look at what’s happening around…
NFL playoff positions on the line in season finales
There’s no question the NFC has been the dominant conference this season, with the South being the top division. The NFC won 41 of the 64 head-to-head matchups against the…
Ex-NFL Star Jamal Lewis: Peyton Manning Changed My Life, Showed Me Hard Work
Ex-NFL Star Jamal Lewis Peyton Manning Changed My Life … Showed Me Hard Work 1 12/31/2017 12:55 AM PST Ray Lewis. Shannon Sharpe. Ed Reed. Jamal Lewis played with a bunch…
Ducks almost at full strength as they prepare for Coyotes
Now that the Ducks are close to full strength, they can begin to develop some chemistry. Of course, Corey Perry still needs to return from a lower-body injury and reoccupy…
Sam Darnold isn’t the only Trojan with a big decision to make
Sam Darnold strode into a news conference following USC’s pounding in Friday’s Cotton Bowl under his own power. But he might as well have been carried in on a shield….
Report: Dean Pees to retire
The Packers aren’t the only team that will be looking for a new defensive coordinator. After the season. Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees is expected to retire, according to ESPN….
Raiders will reportedly chase Jon Gruden with offer including ownership stake in team
Black Monday is just a few days away, and when it comes, there will presumably be several NFL head coaching jobs that open up. It’s possible that one of those…
Report: Dom Capers out in Green Bay
It’s a better-late-than-never move that some Packers fans thought would never happen. After nine seasons with the Packers, defensive coordinator Dom Capers is not expected to return in 2018, according…
Week 17 NFL picks against the spread for the Sun’s handicapping contest
It’s somewhat surprising NBC canceled this week’s Sunday Night Football for the first time in 11 years, because even though it’s New Year’s Eve, there was a clear game to…
National Football League roundup
(The Sports Xchange) – Dave Gettleman wasted no time making changes on his first full day on the job as the New York Giants’ general manager. On Saturday, Gettleman and…
Jim Schwartz will interview for Giants head coaching job: report
The Giants are already making moves to assure 2018 is better than 2017. Big Blue will interview Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for their head coaching job next week, according…
Tim Brown: Here’s what Cowboys WR Dez Bryant needs to do to get back on track
Brown: “Well, when you look at his catches on a one-on-one coverage-type situation over the last five or six, seven weeks or maybe ever longer, you’ll see that he’s only…
Welcome to Judgment Day! Why the Falcons Are a Playoff Team, Cam Newton in the Faux-MVP Debate, Seahawks Offense Disappears at the Wrong Time
1. If you’re only going to watch one game today, make it the VHS of my family’s 1991 Thanksgiving football game. But if you can’t get your hands on that,…
College football coaches poised for NFL jobs
Assuming Nick Saban still isn’t interested and Jimbo Fisher isn’t leaving Texas A&M after signing a $75M deal, where do you go? Powered by WPeMatico
After ugly bowl loss, Sam Darnold says he’s undecided on the NFL draft
If Friday night’s Cotton Bowl was the last game of Sam Darnold’s college career, it was an inauspicious ending. Darnold, the USC quarterback viewed as a potential first overall pick…
This Lakers season can’t end soon enough, or free agency begin soon enough
The Lakers will sign LeBron James and another free agent to maximum contracts in the summer. Or they won’t. And, really, that’s what will determine how quickly, or slowly, the…
Huma Abedin Emails: What Was in the Messages Found on Disgraced Ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner’s Laptop?
The State Department Friday released thousands of emails from Hillary Clinton’s former senior aide Huma Abedin that federal agents discovered on the laptop of her husband—disgraced former New York Congressman…
What was in the Huma Abedin emails found on disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner’s laptop?
The State Department Friday released thousands of emails from Hillary Clinton’s former senior aide Huma Abedin that federal agents discovered on the laptop of her husband—disgraced former New York Congressman…
Giants aim to go into offseason with a W
The Giants are looking to end the season on a good note and come out with a win on Sunday: EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –The Giants’ season finale tomorrow against…
Clippers forwards Blake Griffin, Wesley Johnson return, but Austin Rivers strains his Achilles during game
Day by day, the Clippers have inched closer to almost becoming a complete team, the return Friday night of Blake Griffin and Wesley Johnson from the injured ranks improving their…
Friday’s Sports in Brief
The NFL and the players’ union announced a series of changes to the way potential concussions are handled during games following an ugly incident in which Texans quarterback Tom Savage…
Chargers know Marshawn Lynch and the Raiders are ready to exploit their biggest weakness
The numbers are not eye-popping by Marshawn Lynch standards. The burly Oakland Raiders running back, whom the Chargers must corral Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive, has rushed 188…
National Football League roundup
(The Sports Xchange) – The New York Jets extended the contracts of coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan on Friday despite the team’s lackluster 5-10 record. The deals…
Jets’ camera-shy owner stands with his players … on and off the field
Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Close Longtime Jets beat writer for New York Daily News Syracuse University graduate Follow on Twitter FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Since taking over day-to-day control…
Ravens leery of Bengals RB Giovani Bernard’s ‘Le’Veon Bell tendencies’
The Ravens run defense already got its fill of Le’Veon Bell in the regular season and will not face the Pittsburgh Steelers running back unless the teams meet in the…
During trying season, market falls for Ravens’ personal seat licenses
The Ravens have an opportunity Sunday to brighten a stormy year by securing a postseason berth. The team’s late-season turnaround could mean not only a playoff run, but an improved…
Geno Smith believes he’s still a starting-caliber quarterback
With the offseason nearly upon us and a number of teams about to enter the market, one guy wants to make sure the league doesn’t forget about him as an…
49ers bummed Rams resting star players
Here’s how quickly things change in the NFL. The Rams are good enough that they’re parking starters this week in anticipation of the playoffs. And the 49ers are disappointed to…
Patriots won’t feed hype machine after signing James Harrison
Mike Reiss ESPN Staff Writer Close Covered Patriots since 1997 Joined ESPN in 2009 Follow on Twitter FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — There are certain weeks over the course of the NFL…
Buoyed by banner season, Terrell Suggs doesn’t feel end of Ravens tenure drawing near
Take a moment to peruse the roster of the 2003 Ravens. That team’s in-his-prime superstar, Ray Lewis, played his last game five years ago. Daring safety Ed Reed followed Lewis…
New York Giants Coach: Who Will New GM Dave Gettleman Choose to Replace Ben McAdoo?
The New York Giants will end a miserable season on Sunday against the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium assured of no more than three wins—the team’s worst year since 1983. On…
No decision yet for Browns tackle Joe Thomas on playing future
Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas has yet to make a decision on whether he intends to return for a 12th season next year. According to Tom Withers of the Associated…
Camping World Bowl score: Mason Rudolph, James Washington show off for NFL scouts
NFL scouts have been high on Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph and Biletnikoff Award-winning wide receiver James Washington for a long time, and their finale in the Camping World Bowl…
Todd Gurley doesn’t mind taking this one off, even if it costs him rushing title
Before and during the season, Rams running back Todd Gurley jokingly lamented about how fantasy football team owners besieged him on social media with commentary about his performances. He did…
Thursday’s Sports in Brief
Saints rookie running back Alvin Kamara says the NFL has fined him $6,079 for wearing Christmas-themed red cleats with white trim during last Sunday’s victory over Atlanta. Many players, including…
Jonathan Vilma Says Patriots ‘Definitely’ Signed James Harrison Just for Intel
Jonathan Vilma Pats Only Signed Harrison for Intel 1 12/29/2017 12:07 AM PST Jonathan Vilma ain’t mincing words when it comes to the Patriots’ James Harrison pickup … saying Steelers…
Tom Morello Says Colin Kaepernick Is NFL’s ‘Man of the Century’
Tom Morello Forget Man of the Year … Kaepernick Is Man of the Century!! 1 12/29/2017 12:03 AM PST Colin Kaepernick’s done so much good this past year … the…
Week 17: Deep Sleepers and DFS Bargains
Yahoo Fanalyst Liz Loza believes he’ll do just enough for bargain hunting DFS players in Week 17. Chances are, if you won your FF Championship last week then you probably…
NFL DFS Week 17: Best DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football picks
For Week 17 of the 2017 NFL season, the daily fantasy sports site DraftKings is running a $4 million 80th Million Dollar Special. FanDuel is running a $1.2 million Sunday…
Stretching for touchdown can backfire into costly fumble
Caption Close OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Derek Carr would do it all over again: stretch the ball toward the goal line for a potential winning touchdown, even though he knows…
Vikings on the verge doing something no Super Bowl host team has ever done
The Super Bowl has existed for 51 years and in that time, no team has ever gotten to play the game in their home stadium. However, that streak could finally…
Lions’ Dwight Freeney ‘could be’ facing last game of great career Sunday
Dave Birkett and Carlos Monarrez give their predictions for Sunday’s season finale between the Lions-Packers game. With 125.5 career sacks, Freeney likely is headed to the Hall of Fame after…
Vegas pick’em: NFL Week 17 winners against the spread
Week 17 of the NFL is tame in some years, with the vast majority of the playoff puzzle solved, and wild in others, when there’s still much to be decided….
Andy Reid: Patrick Mahomes has “come a long way” since preseason
With the Kansas City Chiefs locked into the four-seed in the AFC playoffs, the Chiefs can take advantage of a free look at rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes Sunday against the…
Chargers receiver Mike Williams works on finding his comfort zone during rocky rookie season
“Now this looks like the kind of receiver Philip Rivers will love.” That was the sentiment of NFL draft evaluators after the newly relocated Los Angeles Chargers selected Mike Williams,…
Daily Dose: Week 17 Updates
In Friday’s Daily Dose, Jeff Brubach updates numerous notable situations presenting challenges to fantasy owners as Week 17 approaches. Powered by WPeMatico
Five bold predictions for NFL Week 17
Alas, the final week of the NFL regular season is here. Several teams are fighting for their playoff lives, perhaps none more surprising than the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks,…
Some Bengals players sound like they want the team to keep Marvin Lewis as coach
After 15 seasons on the Bengals sideline, there’s a good chance that Sunday’s game against the Ravens will be the final time that Marvin Lewis takes the field as the…
WR Marshall eyes Giants return, Hall of Fame
Jordan Raanan ESPN Staff Writer Close Follow on Twitter EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Wide receiver Brandon Marshall wants to return to the New York Giants next season. He thinks there…
Has Jets’ Marcus Maye outperformed Jamal Adams this season? Or vice versa?
All things considered, this has been a productive season for Jets rookie safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, whom the organization drafted in Rounds 1 and 2, respectively. But who has performed…
Will Sunday be last game in green for these Jets players, including Bryce Petty and Muhammad Wilkerson?
New York Jets NFL: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets Powered by WPeMatico
Detroit Lions should honor high standard Jim Caldwell set, fire him
Lions coach Jim Caldwell on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, says his job when he was hired in 2014 was to win it all. The Lions are 0-2 in the playoffs…
The Most Dominant Season of “Sunday Night Football” Ends
The twelfth season of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” finished as the number one primetime television show for the seventh straight year. And yet, the numbers for “Sunday Night Football” took a…
Holiday Bowl recap: Michigan State stomps WSU, 42-17
Another physical Big Ten team, another embarrassing loss for the Washington State Cougars in the Holiday Bowl. Missing four starters — including injured quarterback Luke Falk and suspended (for a…
Jim Bob Cooter has no answers for wayward running game
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions were 30th in rushing last season. So Jim Bob Cooter devoted his offseason to figuring out what went wrong. He’s a former quarterback, after…
Stanford Loses Alamo Bowl, 39-37, Bryce Love Breaks Christian McCaffrey’s Single-Season Rushing Record
Stanford came close, but lost to TCU, 39-37. Despite the loss, Bryce Love broke Christian McCaffrey’s single-season rushing record, and became the sixth Stanford player to eclipse 3,000 rushing yards….
Chargers rookie Isaac Rochell eager for action after months on practice squad
COSTA MESA — Isaac Rochell made his professional debut on Monday Night Football. He spent most of the next three months on the Chargers’ practice squad. Such is life for…
Browns release cornerback B.W. Webb
B.W. Webb’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns was a short one. The veteran cornerback was waived by the Browns on Thursday after spending just over a week with the team….
Chargers receiver Keenan Allen has long been a star in the making
Green Bay Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt once kept a running list of elite receivers, a who’s who he tallied to keep his own players on their toes. There was…
Writer’s Blocks: The Risks & Rewards Of Week 17, And Dez Bryant’s Future
FRISCO, Texas – The playoff implications might be gone, but the intrigue never really goes away. I shouldn’t be shocked to learn that lesson at the tail end of my…
Steelers might have just opened the door for Browns to pick up their first win
The Browns have been so bad this year that fans in Cleveland are actually planning a parade to “celebrate” in case the team goes 0-16. Unfortunately for those fans, though, it’s…
Niyo: Browns’ woes recall futility of 0-16 Lions
In fact, for Dan Orlovsky, the last man standing at quarterback for the Detroit Lions in that winless 2008 season — and maybe the best man to ask about this…
Arians prepares to take the Cardinals to their “home field”
The Cardinals finish the 2017 season in Seattle. Or, as their coach calls it, their “home field.” That’s what Bruce Arians told his players after Sunday’s win over the Giants….
Brees not surprised Saints were able to overcome slow start
Playoff-bound New Orleans can clinch its first NFC South championship in six years by beating the last-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a prospect few envisioned when the Saints opened the season…
Who won, and who lost, the year’s major trades
The NFL isn’t Major League Baseball when it comes to player movement, but there were some significant trades made that impacted the 2017 season – and beyond. Powered by WPeMatico
Jets’ Kelvin Beachum defends ex-teammate James Harrison
Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Close Longtime Jets beat writer for New York Daily News Syracuse University graduate Follow on Twitter FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Kelvin Beachum considers former teammate…
Where to Watch, Listen & Follow: Jets-Patriots
Kickoff is set for Sunday, Dec. 31 at 1:00 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium. Watch on TV New York Metro Area: CBS, Channel 2 Broadcasters: Jim Nantz (Play-by-Play), Tony Romo (Analyst), and Tracy Wolfson (Sideline). Watch Online Jets fans in…
Ravens look to revive pass rush vs. Bengals QB Andy Dalton
Considering that Jacoby Brissett had been sacked an NFL-high 49 times after 14 games, the Ravens’ two sacks of the Indianapolis Colts quarterback in Saturday’s 23-16 win at M&T Bank…
Patriots vs Steelers: Has James Harrison’s Move Tilted a Potential AFC Championship Game Towards New England?
James Harrison just left the Pittsburgh Steelers on the eve of a playoff run for a playoff run with one of the team’s bitterest rivals. Harrison’s ex-teammates don’t seem prepared…
Like Randy Moss, Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski dazzles in practice, too
Mike Reiss ESPN Staff Writer Close Covered Patriots since 1997 Joined ESPN in 2009 Follow on Twitter FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When wide receiver Randy Moss played for the New England…
Schmuck: The NFL throws the Ravens another curve, but it’s nothing personal this time
The NFL doesn’t really hate Baltimore. It just seems that way. The decision to “flex” the Ravens into a late-afternoon time slot for their regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals…
Tackling Tech: More, Better Post-NFL Careers Marked 2017
When it comes to building an off-the-field career, there’s no time like the present for NFL players to start, as the league, the players association and the sports-tech industry have…
Eric Dickerson Calls Out Jeff Fisher for Taking Credit for Rams’ Success
Eric Dickerson Calls Out Jeff Fisher Rams Sucked When He Left! 1 12/28/2017 12:45 AM PST Eric Dickerson says if Jeff Fisher thinks he left the Rams in good shape…
Judge dismisses motions seeking to end St. Louis lawsuit against Rams, NFL
A lawsuit against the Los Angeles Rams and the NFL by the city of St. Louis was allowed to proceed after a judge ruled against dismissal motions on Wednesday. According…
Chiefs visit Broncos with Mahomes at QB
The Denver Broncos are writing the closing chapter on a lost season. The AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs, locked into the conference’s No. 4 playoff seed, are doing what…
Redskins, Giants clash with nothing on line
The New York Giants and Washington Redskins are both headed to an early offseason thanks to their respective losing records. “I think a lot of people look into that and…
Ravens embrace ‘win-and-we’re-in’ mentality
The formula is simple for the Baltimore Ravens. With a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the regular-season finale Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens would clinch the fifth…
Pinstripe Bowl: Iowa comes from behind to snap four-year bowl losing streak
Drake Kulick fought for a 1-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter on his only carry of the game and Iowa beat Boston College 27-20 in the frigid Pinstripe…
Seahawks need win — and help — to reach playoffs
If the Seattle Seahawks are going to extend their streak of consecutive seasons in the playoffs to six straight years, they’re going to have to find a way to solve…
Texans, Colts finish seasons sabotaged by injuries
In addition to the speculation that their future standing with their respective franchises might be in jeopardy, Texans coach Bill O’Brien and his counterpart with the Indianapolis Colts, Chuck Pagano,…
Pete Carroll says Bobby Wagner “best he’s felt” with hamstring injury
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday Bobby Wagner‘s ailing hamstring is as good as its been in weeks. “This is a good week for Bobby,” Carroll said. “He’s continued…
‘Sound FX’: Marvin Lewis and Bengals win in final home game of season
Listen as Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is mic’d up against the Detroit Lions in Week 16 of the 2017 NFL season. Powered by WPeMatico
‘Sound FX’: Mitchell Trubisky shows toughness in snowy weather
Listen as Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is mic’d up against the Cleveland Browns in Week 16 of the 2017 NFL season. Powered by WPeMatico
Patriots look to wrap up No. 1 seed
The New England Patriots gave themselves a nifty Christmas present as they prepared for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the New York Jets. Coach Bill Belichick spent his Wednesday media conference…
Changing of the football guard starts at UCLA and players await to see what’s in store
The UCLA seniors, and possibly a handful of NFL-bound juniors, have played their final college game. The incoming recruits are on the way. As the Bruins officially embarked on coach…
Dose: Gordon’s Shaky Status
Graham Barfield checks in on Melvin Gordon, DeMarco Murray, the Chiefs’ and Rams’ playoff implications and more in Thursday’s Dose. Powered by WPeMatico
Vikings play for first-round bye vs. Bears
Much hung in the balance at halftime Oct. 9 in Chicago, with the Minnesota Vikings holding a tenuous 3-2 lead over the Bears and the road team’s season seemingly at…
