Category Archives: New England Patriots

New England Patriots

New England Patriots

Texans’ Reid says time with brother gave him jump start

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Stanford’s defensive back Justin Reid runs a drill during Pro Day in Stanford, Calif. Reid of the Houston Texans used to frequent his older brothers house to watch NFL game film and study game preparations. The visits while he was at Stanford gave him a behind-the-scenes look at the NFL life of his older brother, Eric Reid, who was thriving with the San Francisco 49ers. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File More HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Reid used to frequent his older brother’s house to watch NFL game film and study game preparations.

The Texans rookie safety was at Stanford then, and the visits gave him a behind-the-scenes look at the NFL life of his older brother, Eric Reid, who was thriving with the San Francisco 49ers. On Friday afternoon, Justin Reid was looking forward to calling his brother back in the Bay Area to talk about Day 1 of his own NFL journey with Houston.

He is expected to compete with Andre Hal at free safety next to strong safety Tyrann Mathieu, who played alongside Eric Reid at LSU. Coach Bill O’Brien praised Justin Reid for his size, speed and smarts. Reid raised eyebrows at the NFL combine with a 40-yard dash time of 4.40 seconds, second-fastest among safeties.

Instead, the Saints want to be smart about utilizing the NFL’s reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The mistake would be that Alvin gets 15 more carries and that’s not the direction we would expect to go, coach Sean Payton said Saturday at the team’s rookie minicamp. I don’t think that is wise.

Saints running backs coach Joel Thomas echoed Payton on the dangers of projecting more carries for Kamara during the first four games of the season.

I think it would be a disservice to him, Thomas said. Let’s be honest here — he’s excelled with the ratio he’s had, whether it’s the carries or the combination with the catches, as well.

It’s almost a number that you want to get to that he’s still getting the touches that he’s had in the past. But maybe they occur through two, three or four more carries, and two or three less receptions. By all means, we don’t want to sit there and run the tread off the back with him early in the season because this thing it’s a marathon, 16 games. Four games there, I think we’ve got the talent — offensively and in the backfield — to go ahead and push through this little process. colts_013

New England Patriots

The Patriots and Eagles last March were in different places.

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The Patriots were champs probing ways for an encore. The Eagles were stinging and assessing a 7-9 season.

In one instance, their blueprints overlapped.

He does not break open games. His longest carry in 15 games this season went for 27 yards, and he had just three runs of more than 20 yards. Among the league’s top backs, only Indianapolis’ 34-year-old Frank Gore had a shorter season-long run, and 26 backs had more runs of 20-plus yards.

Although it is often said Bell possesses receiver skills so exceptional he could operate as an extra wideout, he rarely functions in that role. His receptions consisted primarily of check-downs by Ben Roethlisberger and produced an average gain of 7.7 yards. Among backs who caught at least 50 passes, that figure tied for eighth place.

Most damning, though, is that Bell does not impose his will upon the defense. He averaged 4.0 yards per carry in 2017, tied for 10th among the league’s top 15 rushers. He carried 321 times, and fully 15 percent of those attempts went for no gain or negative yardage. Add in those that produced fewer than 3 yards — and subtract his three 1-yard touchdowns and six converted first downs — and the share of failed runs rises to 39 percent.

Belichick was there a full day. He actually had a contract, the same one he had as the team’s defensive coordinator. All set to take over from Bill Parcells, who would remain with the team as the operations guy, Belichick had meetings scheduled with the front office and personnel people to plan for the year ahead and another with the medical staff to discuss injured players.

McDaniels didn’t even make it to Indianapolis to deliver a resignation at his introductory press conference.

All of this language is in the CBA. Garoppolo isn’t getting paid because of anything specific to the contract he’d signed with the Patriots before they traded him.

Players only qualify for the full payouts listed in the CBA if they’ve been on their team’s active or inactive list for at least three previous games that season (regular or playoff). If a player’s been on the roster for less than that, he gets half the share.nike_49ers_955

New England Patriots

If there was anything that could steal the spotlight from what went on before the game, it’s what happened just before halftime.

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We have a new clubhouse leader for play of the year. The Steelers were trailing 14-7 with six seconds to go in the first half. Chris Boswell’s 35-yard field goal was blocked by Sherrick McManis and recovered by Marcus Cooper at the 29.

But on third-and-short plays that Super Bowl, the Niners suddenly no longer had to worry about Stanley Wilson. Mind-blowing, still.

Wouldn’t such a session and so many others that could be inexpensively produced — be more grip-and-hold than boo-ya?

Perhaps during NBC News’s mirth-filled salute to the 25th anniversary of WWE’s weekly show “RAW,” which airs on NBC-owned USA, there was no time to list participating wrestlers who died, mostly of job-related drug overdoses, on Vince McMahon’s and Linda McMahon’s watch. Of course, such a necrological roll would’ve taken quite a while.

Mrs. McMahon now leads the Small Business Administration, a Cabinet-level position within the Trump administration. Her previous sense of business included the sale to kids of WWE T-shirts picturing an arrow pointed toward the crotch, the visible stamped message reading, “Suck It!”

Then there was the commerce attached to the indescribably pornographic in-ring skits which she and her husband planned and in which they participated for the enjoyment of kids.

Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown in an incident involved Vontaze Burfict, Adam Jones and Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter.

Beathard replaced the struggling Brian Hoyer late in the second half of last week’s loss to the Redskins, nearly leading the Niners back from a 17-0 deficit.

Ochocinco isn’t for the “act like you’ve been there” crowd. What was your favorite — or least favorite — Ochocinco touchdown celebration? He enraged some by putting a fake Hall of Fame jacket on after one of those scores. Johnson became more a side show later in his career, and he has faced legal issues since his final season with the Patriots in 2011.

You can’t put Favre much higher because he’s adored by just as many fans, especially in Green Bay. Yet those same Packers fans were tested when Favre played for the Jets, then the rival Vikings. The whole charade late in his career — from the constant waffling about retirement to the alleged texts to Jenn Sterger — cast Favre in a much different light. He became a parody fit for a Frank Caliendo impersonation. That’s why this spot feels about right.nike-youth-cardinals-076

New England Patriots

A two-time first-team All-AAC selection, Lawler played well at the East-West game.

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Justin Lawler, DE, SMU — He had one of three sacks of Barrett after tallying 9 1/2 sacks last season. Lawler sees the field well, understands angles and is a sure tackler.

Phillip Lindsay, RB, Colorado — Lindsay led all rushers Saturday with 51 yards on 12 carries. The shifty 5-8, 190-pound skat back has a good burst and runs with toughness despite his size. He cuts well and his excellent vision led to 1,474 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior.

He had more than 200 tackles over the last two seasons at Virginia Tech and finished his career with 32 1/2 tackles for loss and 11 1/2 sacks.

“He’s always ahead of the game. That doesn’t mean calling the plays every single time. There are roughly 130 snaps during a football game. If he was two or three times in a game to foreshadow exactly where the ball’s going to go, that’s a small percentage. I don’t think he ever got enough credit for the other 127 snaps that were taking place in a game. Because he was brilliant over all of those too, as far as his analysis.”

Point taken. That’s not to say Romo hasn’t made his share of rookie mistakes.

LT Halapoulivaati Vaitai vs. Vikings DE Everson Griffen: The Eagles haven’t been haunted much by the loss of injured left tackle Jason Peters. In their most important game of the season, though, they are likely to feel Peters’ absence over and over again.

Griffen is coming off a monster season with 13 sacks, and kept it going with a takedown of Drew Brees last week. Vaitai will be a turnstile and might force the Eagles to bring in tight end Brent Celek more at the cost of taking Agholor out of the game.

In Philadelphia, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie stood on the sideline during the anthem and safety Malcolm Jenkins, as he always does, raised his fist. Eagles players linked arms as did Giants players across the field.chargers_047

New England Patriots

Embiid, 76ers power past Bucks 116-94 and into 6th in East

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It’s only January, yet Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown wants his team keeping an eye on the standings.

“He mentioned that we could jump to sixth (in the Eastern Conference) if we won,” guard Ben Simmons said. “Obviously, it was a big game, and we did a really good job of closing it out.”

Bucks: Brogdon is expected back Monday. … Marshall Plumlee, signed to a two-way contact five days earlier, had six points and six rebounds in his team debut. “He was great,” Kidd said. … Milwaukee plays the Sixers three more times, including at Philadelphia on April 11 to end the regular season.

76ers: Rookie G Markelle Fultz participated in shootaround as he tries to regain his shooting form following a right shoulder injury. The No. 1 overall pick has missed 38 straight games. … Simmons didn’t attempt a 3-pointer for the 12th time in 13 games. He’s 0 for 10 from long range. … With the game in hand, fans turned their attention to Sunday’s NFC championship game with several “Eagles” chants. The Sixers are flying to Memphis earlier than usual Sunday so they can watch the game on TV.

Reid joined Kaepernick in those protests and is among the players who have continued to protest during the anthem this season, drawing harsh criticism by President Trump and some fans. The defections of Reid and Thomas from the group of players dealing with the league seem to greatly reduce or eliminate the chances that the agreement will end the players’ protests entirely.

Representatives of the players met with owners and NFL leaders in October at the NFL’s offices in New York. The owners then held their regularly scheduled fall meeting and left without enacting a rule requiring players to stand for the anthem.

Goodell and owners said then that they wpatriots_007_ae2979ea23365ea8-180x180ant players to stand for the anthem. But they said that most owners were not ready to take action to require it. Goodell and the owners said they were focused instead on their discussions with the players about activism. They cautioned, however, that there was no explicit or implied agreement that league support of players’ activism necessarily would lead to all players standing for the anthem.

New England Patriots

NFL Media’s top news exec resigns amid complaints, Twitter scandal

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bengals_018David Eaton, the top news executive at NFL Media, has resigned effective immediately, Deadspin.com reported Wednesday evening.

He led the building of a dynasty San , the league’s smallest outpost, with uncommon dignity, a player of perfect fundamentals and pure substance.Making his first start since May 24 when he melted down Boston, De La masterfully mixed his split-fingered changeup with a fastball and curve, allowing only three hits – two of them the first inning.I thought I could be better playing the , but I didn’t know I was going to divert to playing football, it all helped, Ansah said.He is appreicative of for hiring him away from the Mariners organization, where he had managed their Class A Wisconsin farm club for two years.And then there’s Tank.

Feliz didn’t take walks, I wanted to put him into a trebuchet and send him into the Bay., ILB He hasn’t missed any game time from the injury.also has special guest Winger who is the Executive Director of the Recording Academy SF Chapter to talk about H.R.Soler is sidelined with a hamstring strain and isn’t eligible to come off the disabled list until 22.The influx of teenagers around the league has added speed and skill, but perhaps not the same attention to defensive detail as the veterans they’ve replaced.Devine was so impressed that he later told his wife: I’m gonna start Montana the final game.

It didn’t take long for Davis to see Adams’ frustration and he responded with an apology.

“I understand your frustration and I do apologize for the hit! In no way was I trying to hurt you. My first instinct was turn and make a block. In all sincerity I do apologize. I truly respect you as a player and I made a mistake!” Davis tweeted.

Jason of Bleacher Report reported could be getting range of per on the market as multiple franchises are looking into the guard.Good size for center with enough length and agility to project outside to guard for zone-blocking schemes.Martinez was solid two Division Series starts against the Athletics, but he was roughed up by the Yankees a contentious ALCS.Subscriptions can be home delivered print, or digitally read on nearly any mobile device or computer, and start as low as 25¢ per day.at lunch time, but there was no reference to any particular center.’s penalty was a bang-bang play.Again: There are never any timetables.

New England Patriots

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman officially out vs. Seahawks

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Falcons running back Devonta Freeman has been ruled out for Monday night’s game at the Seahawks because of a concussion.

Freeman’s absence was expected but became official when the Falcons released their injury report Saturday.

That’s a big spike in opposing quarterback production when one of those LOB stars leaves the field. This game against Atlanta on Monday night will mark only the seventh since 2011, counting playoffs, in which Seattle has played even a single snap with Thomas on the field while Sherman and Chancellor are off it. That includes only 11 pass attempts over the past four seasons and zero over the past two.

“Do they get radical and try to have Earl down [in the box] sometimes?” an opposing coach wondered. “Or do they play the same stuff and let it ride? The big thing is, Dan Quinn knows everything they are supposed to do — depth of alignments, footwork, techniques and what the disguises might look like if Seattle is going to try them, so it’s a little tougher situation.”

“Jeremy thinks he needs to have ankle surgery,” Lewis said. “I think he’s consulted a couple physicians, both said that this was something that could wait until after the season but he just felt like it was causing too much discomfort.”

Essentially, Lewis is saying Hill’s injury could have waited until the end of the season, and he seemed surprised the back opted for surgery. After all, just three days before his season ended, Hill was talking about how excited he was about playing in the upcoming game.

Marvin Lewis said Jeremy Hill opted to have ankle surgery. Lewis was surprised. Team thought he could wait til end of the season.

Also, Hill had remained off of the team’s injury report until Week 9 when he was scratched from the Jaguars game. Lewis didn’t think the injury was too serious.flyers_1141326

New England Patriots

Three takeaways from Eagles’ impressive win over Redskins

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Carson Wentz did not throw four touchdown passes in a single game at all last season.

The second-year Eagles quarterback has done it twice this year after tossing four scoring strikes in Monday’s 34-24 win over the visiting Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field.

2. The Eagles are the team to beat in the NFC — The Eagles now have a season sweep over the Redskins (3-4) and own a win over playoff contender Carolina. Despite losing Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters on Monday, the Eagles never flinched once they took the lead before halftime.

3. Don’t count the Redskins out — The Redskins are 3-3, but were in charge of Monday’s game until multiple offensive line injuries disrupted the offense. Washington is hoping to get Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman back next week and, as long as the knee injuries to starting tackle Trent Williams and guard Brandon Scherff aren’t serious, the Redskins have enough talent around Kirk Cousins to make a playoff push.

Arizona could benefit this year from a new rule the NFL instituted in May that allows teams to bring two players off injured reserve in the same season.

Among the seven Cardinals currently on IR are Palmer and running back David Johnson, whom Arians has projected to return around Thanksgiving.

Those two could likely be the players Arizona designates to return this season. Arians called the decision on whom to bring back “tough.”

The Cardinals (3-4) will turn over the offense to backup Drew Stanton when practice resumes on Monday. The Cardinals have a bye this week.

Third quarterback Blaine Gabbert will become the backup. The Cardinals signed former Chargers and Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici to their practice squad.chargers_129

New England Patriots

Redskins’ Chris Thompson: I’ve warned family about rowdy Eagles fans

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Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson once prayed in the end zone before a game at Philadelphia when a fan shouted at him — in mid-prayer — that God wasn’t going to help him that day.

“I was like, dang, all right, that’s a little harsh,” Thompson told ESPN980 Wednesday afternoon.

But not as harsh as what Thompson heard sometimes happens in the stands, which is why he doesn’t want his family to attend Monday night’s game at Lincoln Financial Field.

Ben Roethlisberger said after the game, “maybe I don’t have it anymore.” It was more a stream-of-consciousness moment than a declaration, but what’s clear is Roethlisberger took his five-interception performance hard. He said he needs to improve “everywhere.”

While the comments could be swept under the rug, it certainly is an eye-opening statement from a quarterback who has never questioned his abilities at any point in his career.

This is when most fans will wonder about Roethlisberger’s overall desire to play after contemplating retirement this offseason, and it brings to mind what ‘The Emperor’ Chuck Noll once said about retirement.

Noll would always say when you start thinking about retirement, you are probably already retired.

No one but Roethlisberger knows just what he has, and doesn’t have, in terms of desire at this stage in his career, but the team desperately needs his play to improve if the offense wants to ever get off the ground and make a run not just in the division, but in the NFL.

Until next week, with a chance to improve his game, fans will be wondering if Roethlisberger “has it” anymore.
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New England Patriots

Indians, Edwin Encarnacion optimistic about DH’s status for Game 5

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Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion told ESPN’s Marly Rivera that he believes he will be in the lineup for the decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees on Wednesday.

Encarnacion has been out since Game 2, when he landed awkwardly while retreating to second base on a line-drive double play.

“I feel very good,” he told ESPN after Tuesday’s workout. “I ran, I hit, and did everything we deemed necessary to evaluate if I can play tomorrow. Me being in the lineup tomorrow is what we all want; it’s what I want. Tomorrow I’m coming in early to do my treatment and follow up and do everything I did today in order to be ready for the game.”

Speaking before the workout, Cleveland manager Terry Francona also said he was optimistic that Encarnacion would play.

What happened? Wallace started in Week 2 of the 2010 season after Jake Delhomme was injured and went 1-3 before being sidelined himself with a sprained ankle. He went 0-3 the following year before being released in the 2012 offseason.

The stakes: The Indians won 102 games. They had — by far — the largest run differential in the majors. They had that 22-game winning streak and finished the season on a 33-4 run. They haven’t lost three games in a row since Aug. 1. Jose Ramirez, the major league leader in extra-base hits, is 2-for-17 without an extra-base hit or an RBI. Francisco Lindor is 1-for-14, granted that one hit was a big one. They have the likely AL Cy Young winner going, but he’s coming off one of the worst starts in his career. They’re at home. Oh, and the franchise hasn’t won a World Series since 1948. I think Indians fans are already throwing up from nervousness.
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