November 2014 ~ Acantha Sports

Unknown / 4:23 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Saints likely to can DC Ryan amid Payton rift

There is a growing disconnect between coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. (USATSI)

The relationship between Saints head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has been rapidly deteriorating this season, with it privately acknowledged within the team's headquarters that the men strongly dislike each other and a change is inevitable this offseason.

There have been several animated sideline discussions between them, including again in Monday night's defeat, and sources said that is reflection of their growing disconnect and contempt that has been obvious to many within the team for quite some time. Ryan is generally well liked within the team, but Payton demands much from his coordinators and assistants and the defense has regressed rapidly this season (albeit with injuries and personnel deficiencies clearly part of the problem as well).

Ryan helped the unit improve considerably in 2014, his first year on the job, but the results this season have been disastrous.

Some sources went so far as to use the word “hate” to describe their frayed relationship, and Payton has gone through several defensive coordinators in recent years, from Gregg Williams to Steve Spagnuolo to now Ryan. The Saints have $160M committed currently to the 2015 cap, more than any other team, and several of the higher priced veterans on that sagging defense are not expected back. The team has sunk considerable resources in the draft and free agency into bolstering the defense in recent years, with middling results at best.

New Orleans enters play Week 13 with a 4-7 record, which ties them for first in the woeful NFC South despite three straight defeats.

NFL Hot News

Former Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice wins appeal

Free agent running back Ray Rice has won the appeal of his suspension and has officially been reinstated to the NFL. Rice is now eligible to sign with any team. Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USJAX-NONE /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Rice was suspended indefinitely after video evidence of him hitting his then-fianceacute;e was released to the public. The act led to the NFL suspending the three-time Pro Bowler indefinitely for violation of the league's personal conduct policy.

Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USJAX-NONE /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The 27-year-old RB must have sighed in relief when the judge ruled in his favor today. Rice, whose career was in jeopardy, is now cleared to sign with any NFL team. Finding a suitor will be a major task as the team that signs him will likely have to deal with a public relations nightmare. Rice may get his second chance, but he will not be on the fantasy radar this season. Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USJAX-NONE /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

Unknown / 2:43 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Rams ride 38-point half to 52-0 rout over Raiders

ST. LOUIS (AP) Everything was ridiculously easy for the St. Louis Rams, a team that's had more than its share of struggles.

They just kept getting into the end zone Sunday against the hapless Raiders.

Tre Mason scored two long touchdowns and Shaun Hill accounted for three TDs in an out-of-nowhere 38-point first half that tied for second-most in franchise history in the Rams' 52-0 rout.

The Rams had zero hangover from a stinging three-point loss at San Diego last week. Hill was intercepted by Marcus Gilchrist at the goal line in the final minute of that defeat.

Mason had 113 yards rushing on six carries in the half with an 89-yard score, plus a 35-yard jaunt on a screen pass that opened the scoring. Hill was 12 for 15 for 178 yards and two TDs and ran for a 2-yard score.

The Rams (5-7) scored touchdowns on their first five possessions, then got a field goal on the sixth midway through the second quarter to top their previous-best scoring total for a game this season. The 38-point halftime lead was the largest in franchise history, one more than against Green Bay in 1980.

The Raiders (1-11) had three extra days of rest after knocking off the Chiefs but were never competitive and committed five turnovers. Derek Carr threw two interceptions in the opening half, resulting in the Rams' final 10 points before the break.

The St. Louis defense was dominant, forcing five turnovers and getting six sacks, three by Robert Quinn. The shutout was the Rams' first since 2006 , 20-0 at Oakland.

The Rams outgained the Raiders 203 yards to 34 in the first quarter. Oakland opened the game with three straight three-and-outs.

Trumaine Johnson had two interceptions for St. Louis, returning the second, against Matt Schaub, for a 44-yard score that made it 52-0 in the fourth period.

In an apparent show of solidarity for Ferguson, Missouri protesters five St. Louis players stood with their arms raised before trotting onto the field for pregame introductions. A Rams spokesman said the team was not aware the gesture had been planned.

After Tre Mason scored on an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter, he and Britt raised their hands together.

Additional security measures at the game included members of the National Guard toting firearms.

---

AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

NFL Hot News

Unknown / 2:38 PM / basketball, sports / No comments

Cuban jabs Fisher 2 years later over Mavs exit

Derek Fisher's time in Dallas was not memorable. (Gettyd)

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is still a little salty over the way that Derek Fisher left the Mavericks after signing with them before saying he needed to "spend time with his family" only to then sign with Oklahoma City in 2012. From the New York Daily News after the Knicks' trip to Dallas this week:

Cuban still appears to harbor some ill-will toward first-year Knicks coach Derek Fisher, who requested his release after playing nine games for Dallas in 2012-13 to spend more time with his family before resurfacing later that season with Oklahoma City.

Asked if he's worried about Fisher's commitment level with a struggling Knicks team, Cuban fired back, “No. I'm more concerned with his health and welfare. I know how hard it is for him to fly and travel and be away.”

via Mark Cuban still bitter of Derek Fisher leaving Mavericks - NY Daily News.

Cuban tends to hold grudges this way, and Fisher's whole situation was pretty, er... Fishy. He often found his way into whatever situation afforded him the best chance of winning a title, regardless of prior commitments. But then, given the way that players are treated by owners, and Fisher's first-hand experience with that as head of the union until last year, can you really blame him?

Also, overplaying Fisher became a problem for Thunder coach Scott Brooks, so maybe the Mavericks dodged a bullet either way. Still, the jab was pretty lighthearted compared to some of the ways Cuban has ripped folks through the years.

Topics: Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Giannis Antetokounmpo scores after pulling off a Eurostep from three-point line (VIDEO)

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the game’s longest players. And that characteristic, along with his ability to handle the ball, makes him a deadly threat on the offensive end of the floor.

We’ve seen him cover an incredible amount of ground before while using the smallest amount of steps possible. But this move, where he pulls off a Eurostep from the three-point line before finishing with a finger roll, might be his most impressive yet.

Oh, and shoutout to the Milwaukee Bucks Twitter people for dubbing this move the Gyro-step, which (when pronounced correctly) is a clever nod to Antetokounmpo, who is of Greek descent.

The Giannis Gyro-Step FORVER » http://t.co/GaBvuH37Xc pic.twitter.com/zc6fFuJXuT

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 29, 2014

Unknown / 7:37 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Report: Seahawks RB Lynch mulls retirement?

NFL Hot News

Unknown / 3:38 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Browns’ Cameron out

NFL Hot News

Unknown / 9:38 PM / basketball, sports / No comments

Rose has big 2nd half to help Bulls past Celtics

Basketball Hot News

Players’ union’s Michele Roberts “adamantly opposed” to raising age limit

It wasn’t surprising NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he wanted a harder salary cap.

What was surprising: the question Silver was answering:

If you could instantly change anything about the NBA, without having to negotiate the terms or compromise your position, what change would you make?

Repeatedly since becoming commissioner, Silver has described raising the age limit as his top priority. Talking about a hard cap first was a real shift for him.

Of course, Silver added his age-limit plans at the end of his response.

It’s still an important issue to Silver, one that will certainly come up as the next Collective Bargaining Agreement gets negotiated.

It’s also important to National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts

Roberts, via Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated:

“I’m adamantly opposed to [raising the age minimum],” Roberts said. “I’ve been practicing law for 30 years. One of the beauties of being in that job is that I can practice until I lose my mind or die. That is not the case with athletes. You have a limited life to make money as a basketball player. Anything that limits those opportunities is distressing to me. I view [the age minimum] as just another device that serves to limit a players’ ability to make a living.”

Roberts and Silver are staking out their positions before the 2017 work stoppage, and this might just fit with the other rhetoric designed to move where the compromise is met. But this seems like something more.

“Adamantly opposed” is not a soft phrase. Roberts really sounds, well, adamant.

I wonder how her constituents feel about that. Though the union’s principled stance is against a higher age minimum, it would actually help current players – the only players voting on the CBA. If 19-year-olds can’t join the league, that protects the jobs of players already in the NBA.

In practicality, the age limit makes sense as an area the players would concede – especially if doing so betters the deal for them elsewhere. But how will the “adamantly opposed” Roberts negotiate this issue?

Unknown / 4:30 PM / basketball, sports / No comments

Looking at lines

Coach, are we going to lose ever again? (USATSI)

There are approximately 10,000 games on the NBA schedule Friday as the league picks up again after the holiday, so you get a pretty wide array of choices. It's too early to see much of anything with sustainability but a few early trends have emerged. Here's a quick hit look a some of the games Friday.

For all of Friday's picks, click here.

Bulls at Celtics (+1): Don't go near the Bulls right now. Derrick Rose is basically an unstable nuclear device, not something to juggle. Pau Gasol played back to back heavy minutes, but that was two days ago. Taj Gibson's probably not back, and who knows with Joakim Noah. They're 3-7 ATS as as a favorite, and 5-10 ATS overall.

I pick every game, so I'm taking Chicago, because this is the last game of a frustrating road trip for them, they had three full days off since Tuesday's loss to Denver, and well, Rose could play, right? But you should consider them radioactive.

Warriors at Hornets (+8): Oh hey, the Warriors are in "always bull-rush" land and the Hornets in a "fade like a high-top" zone. This ain't rocket science. The Warriors are 3-1 vs. the East ATS this season, Charlotte's 2-7 vs. the West and reeling. This ain't rocket science, trust the Dubs.

Mavericks at Raptors (-3.5): It's just enough to sucker you in, to make you go in either way. I'll ride the Raptors, based on Dallas' recent troubles. (Overtime vs. the Knicks? Really?). Dirk should absolutely feast in this game, as should Chandler Parsons (but then, Parsons has been a mess this year.) But Kyle Lowry has been lethal, especially in the post, and Lou Williams (LOU WILLIAMS?!) has been out of his mind scoring for the past two weeks.

Toronto's bound to come back to Earth at some point, and the Mavericks are as good as any, but the Raptors have beaten the last two West opponents to step into The North or whatever, and 3.5 is easy to do with free throws late... which the Raptors have been great at drawing.

Knicks at Thunder (-6.5): The Knicks are frisky, even without Melo, and the Thunder with their injuries, are unreliable. But then, why is the line so big? Makes you think the rumors of Russell Westbrook's imminent return could be true.

Kings at Spurs (-6): The Spurs have been on a roll, but are still just 2-4 vs. the spread at home. The Kings manage to be in every game, and toppled San Antonio earlier this month. Six is just a big too high, no matter how impressive the Spurs have looked vs. scrubs lately.

Grizzlies at Blazers (-3.5): This seems pretty sweet, given that, you know, Memphis is the best team in the league right now. But Portland is 6-2 at home as a favorite. The Grizzlies are 3-0 as road dogs, but Portland at home is another sort of beast.

Timberwolves at Lakers (-5.5): What's that? The Lakers are favored in a non-Sixers game? By more than two points? Pardon me while I run over literally every human being in my way to get to a book.

YOUR NOPE OF THE WEEK: Pelicans at Hawks (-2.5): Nope, not even a little bit. Not even a slice. Not even a nibble of this one. Two teams that will drive you absolutely guano. Stay. Away.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE: The Pacers are 7-0 as a road dog against the spread this year. Seven-and-oh. Something to keep in mind next week.

HEADS UP, THE EAST SUCKS: Eastern Conference teams are 21-47 vs. Western Conference opponents ATS this season.

Topics: Chandler Parsons, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Kyle Lowry, Lou Williams, Pau Gasol, Russell Westbrook, Taj Gibson, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Monty Williams wants Anthony Davis to take at least 20 shots per game

Anthony Davis is making the leap we all expected him to make, becoming a superstar and taking the NBA by storm. Pelicans coach Monty Williams wants to make sure Davis gets plenty of touches, saying he wants the Brow to take at least 20 shots per game.

From the Times-Picayune‘s John Reid:

”Anthony cannot be in a game and not touch the ball,”Williams said after his meeting with players. ”We have to have an effort to get him at least 20 shots every night. ”And that’s on me too. As much as I draw up plays for him, run the offense through him, the guys on the floor has to know it. When they don’t do it, I’ve got to make sure they get him the ball. Because he’s not a selfish player, he’s going to make the right plays. And our guys know that.”

So far this season, Davis is averaging 17.7 shot attempts per game through 13 games. His numbers have been ridiculous: 25.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 3.4 blocks per game. If the Pelicans make the playoffs, he will likely be the frontrunner for the league’s MVP trophy. Nobody in the NBA is playing better than him this season, period.

It’s good that Williams recognizes that and wants him to get the ball more.

Unknown / 7:33 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Eagles roll over Cowboys 33-10 for NFC East lead

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) LeSean McCoy threw open his arms just before crossing the goal line on a touchdown run that essentially put away another big win over the Dallas Cowboys.

While Philadelphia didn't walk off with a playoff berth in hand after beating the Cowboys 33-10 on Thursday, it was a sweet Thanksgiving for McCoy, Mark Sanchez and the Eagles.

McCoy ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, Sanchez had his first scoring run in almost three years and the Eagles rolled in a matchup of NFC East co-leaders on the field where McCoy clinched last season's rushing title and Philadelphia won a playoffs-or-bust finale.

''This really felt like last year,'' said McCoy, who had a season-high 25 carries. ''It really did.''

Tony Romo wasn't around for that game because he was two days removed from back surgery. This time he was trying to play a quick turnaround for the first time, and after yet another back injury. He looked ragged as the Cowboys (8-4) lost their third straight home game.

''It was definitely short just from the Sunday night coming to here,'' said Romo, who threw two interceptions without a touchdown, snapping a streak of 38 straight games with at least one TD toss. ''I don't really think that had much to do with the outcome of the game. I think they just played better than us.''

The Eagles (9-3) opened with quick drives of 80 and 88 yards for touchdowns. They took sole possession of the division lead with four games remaining, including a rematch in less than three weeks.

''We're not into statements,'' Eagles coach Chip Kelly said. ''We've given ourselves the opportunity to play meaningful football in December, and in this league, every week is a whole different deal, a whole different animal.''

McCoy, who led the NFL with 1,604 yards last season, had his fourth 100-yard game in the past seven after going without one the first five weeks and secured his fourth 1,000-yard season since 2010.

Although his deficit to Dallas' DeMarco Murray in the rushing race is probably insurmountable, McCoy outgained Murray, who was held under 100 yards for just the second time this season.

Murray finished with 73 yards and Dallas' only touchdown on 20 carries, the last a 6-yard loss when he was dropped by Mychal Kendricks on fourth-and-1 early in the fourth quarter.

''I don't really compare myself,'' McCoy said. ''I just try to be me. I don't really get into that whole, especially during the season, `Who's this. Who's that' thing. In the big picture, we're trying to win games.''

Making his fourth start since Nick Foles was sidelined by a broken collarbone, Sanchez was 9 of 11 for 99 yards in the first quarter. That included a 27-yard scoring pass to Jordan Matthews when Sanchez hit the rookie in stride on a crossing route for a 14-0 lead.

Sanchez finished 20 of 29 for 217 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions two years after he was the starter for the New York Jets and infamously ran into the back side of one of his offensive linemen for a fumble that New England returned for a touchdown in a 49-19 Thanksgiving rout.

''It is like my favorite holiday, so that's not cool,'' Sanchez said. ''It was a bummer. The game plan was to try not to do that. And we accomplished that.''

This time, had his first scoring run since Dec. 24, 2011, with the Jets - a 2-yarder after faking the handoff to McCoy in the zone read. McCoy set up the game's first touchdown with a 38-yard run.

The Cowboys looked a little sluggish following a kickoff that came about 90 hours after their dramatic 31-28 victory at the New York Giants on Sunday night.

Murray had room to run at times but couldn't break one longer than 9 yards. Romo had plenty of time early in the game, but one time in the first half tossed a third-down pass to nobody in particular, giving the ball back to the Eagles when the Cowboys were having trouble stopping them.

''We didn't respond as well as we needed to when we were on offense,'' Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. ''We were never able to kind of keep ourselves in this game and certainly that's a disappointment.''

Romo looked skittish at times, essentially sitting down in the pocket with nobody in position to sack him on a third-down play after Jeremy Mincey recovered McCoy's fumble at the Philadelphia 13 on the second play of the second half.

The Cowboys had to settle for a field goal, and Philadelphia answered immediately on McCoy's 38-yard scoring run, putting the Eagles up 30-10 on their third touchdown drive of at least 80 yards.

NOTES: Jeremy Maclin secured his first career 1,000-yard season with 108 yards, including a 58-yarder to set up one of Cody Parkey's three second-quarter field goals. ... Dez Bryant set up Murray's 1-yard touchdown run with a 38-yard catch and had 73 yards on four receptions. ... Parkey had four field goals total, the longest from 31 yards.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler

NFL Hot News

Redskins benching QB Robert Griffin III; Colt McCoy to start

NFL insider Adam Schefter is reporting that the Washington Redskins will start Colt McCoy at quarterback in their Week 13 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. In three games since returning from an ankle injury which had sidelined him since Week 2, Griffin has been less than effective. In those games, Griffin has averaged just 188 yards passing, thrown just two touchdowns and turned the ball over four times.McCoy has played in two games this season, two of the team's three wins. In the first, he took over for Kirk Cousins in Week 7 versus Tennessee and led the Redskins to a 19-17 come-from-behind victory. In Week 8, McCoy got the start and engineered a 20-17 overtime win at Dallas. He threw for 299 yards in the game, ran for a touchdown and did just enough to get the team in position to kick a game-winning field goal to pull off the upset.

At this point, about the only Redskin you can use and know what you'll get from him is RB Alfred Morris. This is a case of the head coach not believing in the guy the front office has dubbed their "franchise quarterback". The front office, largely made up of egos and personalities that likely have a hard time admitting they made a mistake with a first-round pick, has been unwilling to waver from their insistence that RGIII is "their guy". After last week's abysmal performance, they're finally starting to see the error of their ways.The whole, "Robert is still a part of our long-term, future plan" line is nothing more than them trying to maintain he has some value, in case they try to trade him.Regardless, from a fantasy perspective, McCoy isn't that good. Any Washington pass-catcher you may have, including WRs DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, as well as TEs Jordan Reed and Niles Paul, should be downgraded.

Unknown / 1:34 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Berry waiting on test results for mass in chest

Eric Berry, the Chiefs' first-round pick in 2010, is a three-time Pro Bowl selection. (Getty Images)

Chiefs safety Eric Berry is resting with friends and family in Atlanta on Thanksgiving and is awaiting word on results from a battery of tests he underwent this week after a mass was found in his chest.

Berry's agent, Chad Speck, said the former first-round pick was flown immediately to Emory Hospital in Atlanta on Monday -- in transit while the team was conducting a briefing with the media -- to begin a series of tests aimed at diagnosing his situation.

The fear is that Berry has a form of lymphoma, but doctors informed him they did not know how they would attack the problem until they had a full assessment of the situation and had an exact diagnosis. Berry underwent screening Tuesday and Wednesday with the doctors being very aggressive in hopes of having a full diagnosis determined by early next week, and with the probing conducted before Thanksgiving.

Berry has remained in good spirits, Speck said, and doctors are enthused about his tremendous shape and conditioning, which help fortify his body in what could be a long recovery. Berry was placed on the non-football injury list by the Chiefs. The organization and Berry's medical team have acted proactively since the mass was discovered with the hope that early detection will aid his recovery.

Doctors informed Berry that they hope to have a course of treatment prescribed to him soon after all the results are in, and he will know much more about what he is up against by Monday or Tuesday.

NFL Hot News

Browns TE Jordan Cameron expected to return in Week 13

According to ESPN Cleveland's Browns analyst Tony Grossi, "all signs look like a go", for tight end Jordan Cameron in Week 13. Cameron has missed the past four games due to a concussion. The 26 year-old from USC has caught just 13 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown on the season.

After posting a stat line of 80-917-7 in 2013, Cameron entered 2014 as "the next tier", below TEs Jimmy Graham, Julius Thomas, and Rob Gronkowski. He has not lived up to that hype, missing these four games for the concussion and another one with a shoulder injury earlier in the season.The fact remains, the tight end position is very weak this season. If you have Cameron and he practices this week, there's a good chance you should plan on using him Sunday. Even against a Bills team that allows just the sixth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends, he's one of the best in the league.

Unknown / 11:26 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Eric Berry: ‘Don’t worry, we’re #BerryStrong’

Chiefs safety Eric Berry remains in good spirits. (Twitter)

Chiefs safety Eric Berry was placed on the non-football injury reserve list on Monday after a mass was found in his chest. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported Thursday that Berry, who underwent a battery of tests in recent days, is resting with family and friends in Atlanta.

While the fear is that the former first-round pick may have lymphoma, doctors said they don't know how they will attack the problem until they have an exact diagnosis, which is expected next week. Berry remains in good spirits, and tweeted out this Thanksgiving Day message:

Happy Thanksgiving! Here is a message from the Berry Family #BerryStrong pic.twitter.com/RV1MDMZcom

— Chad Speck (@a3Chad) November 27, 2014

"At first I was in shock with the diagnosis on Saturday and did not even want to miss a game, but I understand that right now I have to concentrate on a new opponent," Berry said several days ago in a statement. "I have great confidence in the doctors and the plan they are going to put in place for me to win this fight."

NFL Hot News

Unknown / 10:36 PM / basketball, sports / No comments

Hornets coach Clifford: Stephenson ‘isn’t a star’

Lance Stephenson is struggling so far in Charlotte. (USATSI)

Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford has kept guard Lance Stephenson on the bench for the entire fourth quarter in two consecutive games, and after Wednesday's home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Clifford said that part of Stephenson's problem is that he'd already been annointed as a star before he'd earned it. From ESPN's Michael Wallace:

"To be fair, one of the things that's made it more difficult for him is that he came here and people proclaimed him as the next superstar," Clifford said Wednesday. "He's not a star. He's a guy that has talent to become a star. To be a star in this league, you have to do it over years."

…

"It's different. It's not easy," Clifford said of Stephenson. "He started two years before he got here. He played on a really good team, so everybody saw him play when no one else was playing. When Al Jefferson came here, he'd [averaged] 19 [points] and eight [rebounds] for like 10 years. You knew what you were going to get. And that's what Lance needs to become. In many ways it's not fair."

…

"I've told [Stephenson] this," Clifford said. "I've been fortunate. I've been around Kobe [Bryant] and [Tracy] McGrady. They were superstars. I was also around Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell. They were two-, three-year All-Stars. [Stephenson has] got a lot of work to get to that level. Everybody proclaimed him as this guy, and if you remember the first time we got him, I said he's got to develop into that."

Stephenson signed a three-year, $27 million contract with Charlotte in the offseason, and to say it hasn't been a perfect marriage would be an understatement. The Hornets have lost seven straight games and have a 4-12 record. Stephenson is averaging 9.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 33.6 minutes per game, shooting just 36.8 from the field and 20.6 percent from the 3-point line. It's been a more-difficult-than-anticipated adjustment, and lately Clifford has preferred to use role players in his place. Backup guard Brian Roberts played 32 minutes to Stephenson's 23 against Portland, and he scored 24 points. Rookie guard P.J. Hairson saw 21 minutes of playing time, too.

To his credit, Stephenson is not complaining about this development. He said he just needs to work harder and "it's Coach's decision" to sit him. If Charlotte is going to turn things around, though, Clifford will have to integrate Stephenson more successfully. While he's right that Stephenson has more to prove on this level, this shouldn't be the norm. Stephenson has a rare combination of strength, speed and size, and he is skilled with the ball in his hands. He can help the Hornets, even if he hasn't.

Fortunately for Charlotte, a slow start in the Eastern Conference is hardly a death sentence. Brooklyn is in eighth place with a 6-8 record. Stephenson and the Hornets have been disappointing, but there's time to turn things around.

Topics: Brian Roberts, Lance Stephenson, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Kings coach calls DeMarcus Cousins NBA’s best big man

DeMarcus Cousins is dominating.

He’s averaging 23.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. If you’ve been paying attention, you should have seen this monster production coming, but that doesn’t diminish how incredible Cousins has been this season.

Kings coach Michael Malone had some pretty high praise for his center.

Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee:

Malone admits he's biased but said Cousins is the best big man in the game.

— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) November 26, 2014

I wouldn’t expect Malone to pick anyone else as the NBA’s best big man. As he noted, he’s biased.

But Malone didn’t have to address the issue. He could have deflected the question.

Instead, he chose to bring more attention to Cousins, and that’s what interests me. Cousins hasn’t always handled everything well while in the NBA limelight, and in what seems like it will be his first All-Star season, he’s getting even more attention.

It would have been reasonable for Malone to downplay expectations and keep pressure off Cousins. But this endorsement shows an implicit trust in the 24-year-old Cousins’ maturity.

And for the record, Anthony Davis is the NBA’s best big man.

Unknown / 8:27 PM / basketball, sports / No comments

Melo (back) doesn’t expect being out ‘too long’

Basketball Hot News

Derrick Rose confident he can start playing more regularly

The Chicago Bulls have been beset by injuries lately, not only to Derrick Rose but also to Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah. Rose exited Tuesday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets at halftime, and the official explanation was hamstring tightness, but coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game that he just decided to take Rose out as a precaution and because of the pace of the game.

Fortunately, things seem to be looking up for the Bulls health-wise as they prepare to cap off a seven-game road trip with games this weekend in Boston and Brooklyn:

Thibs said Rose and Noah went through all of practice. Still unsure if they will play Friday but was happy with the way they practiced.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 27, 2014

Rose still very confident he’ll be able to string some games together. “You’ll see,” he said. Says he’s feeling better.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 27, 2014

Taj Gibson is expected to rejoin the Bulls later today. Still unclear when he will be able to play again because of his left ankle injury.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 27, 2014

Noah hopes he’ll be able to play tomorrow. Says both his knee and his eye are feeling better.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 27, 2014

Rose on playing tomorrow: “If I’m ready to go, I’m ready. If not, just really pay attention to my body …”

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 27, 2014

Rose (cont.) “But the plan is that I want to play. So hopefully I’ll be out there playing.”

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 27, 2014

Rose, on if he’s still confident he can string some games together: “You will see. I know I’m going to be all right.”

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 27, 2014

Rose: “It’s just that I’m getting a bad hand right now. I’m going through tough times, but I know it could always be worse.”

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 27, 2014

Rose: “And I know that I always got faith in myself and faith that somebody’s looking over me.”

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 27, 2014

After the long road trip, the Bulls have a home-heavy schedule in December that should make it easier for Rose to put a string of games together. He has to hope that his body won’t break down on him again, but all the making are there of a better stretch for him than he has had so far this season.

Unknown / 2:23 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Raiola fined $10K for unnecessary roughness

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Can Bulls rely on oft-injured PG Rose for future?

Derrick Rose hasn't put injuries behind him, yet. (USATSI)

DENVER -- Derrick Rose's latest return lasted just 1.5 games, just 33 minutes across a back-to-back in Utah and Denver.

The Chicago Bulls star has become must-watch, but not for his athletic assaults on the rim or stunning ability to take over the game that made him an MVP three years ago. (Seriously, it's been that long; time flies except it also feels like Rose has been out a decade.) His every move, limp, wince, brick, make and comment is watched over closely, as the entire world holds its breath in fear that he'll fall, as he did in what was supposed to be a comeback season last year.

And so it was Tuesday night in Denver, where after a rough first half, coach Tom Thibodeau spoke with his star at halftime, and recognizing that the Bulls were in a tough spot (they haven't won in Denver since 2006, and before that not since 1998), told Rose he wanted to sit him down for the second half. The Bulls quietly announced Rose would not return with "hamstring tightness" and despite Jimmy Butler's ascension as a legitimate star, the Bulls lost to the Nuggets again.

After a tough game in which his short-handed squad, which was without Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, fought to make it a game late, the line of questions for Thibs were all about Rose. Again. Not about adjustments or pace, or what lost them the game that night. There were a few questions about Butler ("He's a star," Thibodeau said) but in whole, roughly four out of five questions were about Rose.

So it goes with a team built around a superstar who's being scrutinized closely after last year's debacle which compounded the year-long debacle before that, a team whose hopes hinge on Rose just being able to stay on the floor, let alone reach the awesome level of impact he had in 2011.

“It was really nothing that happened other than I didn't want to take any chances,” Thibodeau said. “The way the game was going, the way we were going, I just wanted to go a different way. He didn't re-injure it. I just didn't want to take a chance.”

Rose had missed four games due to a hamstring injury before returning on Monday vs. Utah. Then, despite all the concerns and caution the Bulls have shown with Rose and Pau Gasol who missed time with a minor injury as well, both started the game in Denver on the brutal back to back.

Rose didn't look right from the get-go, with Ty Lawson picking his pocket and going coast-to-coast for an easy layup. He never looked like the star that Chicago needs him to be in April. And part of the caution the Bulls are showing is in pursuit of that. That's the dominant argument Wednesday as two very polarizing sides develop about Rose. One side says, as Joakim Noah put it, "people need to chill out," that it's OK for Rose to miss time, that they're being cautious and that's good.

But there is starting to be a question of what it's going to take for Rose to be able to provide quality minutes every night, the way he has to in the playoffs. There are individual plays, nights where he looks like both the lightning and hammer he was at his peak. But too often those are followed by either disappointing evaporations, or missing games entirely.

There's no way to know who's right, whether concern over the Bulls' future as an Eastern Conference powerhouse is warranted, or whether everything's going to be fine and dandy, that there's no reason Rose can't get past his injuries ... other than the fact that he hasn't yet. The hamstring he's dealing with isn't related to the traumatic knee injuries he suffered in 2012 and 2013. For some, that's reason to sit back, relax, and have faith in Rose. For others, it's reason for concern, for honest evaluation that the Bulls are again spinning their wheels with a taxing regular season playing ridiculous minutes towards a playoff run in which they will be short on firepower again.

Each player is different, every team is different, but there are patterns that arise with players, with career arcs, and I can't help but relate this Bulls team to another team of great promise that was eventually forgotten and fell due to injuries. Everyone throws Greg Oden or Brandon Roy comparisons to Rose, but those aren't accurate. But when you look at this Bulls team and you compare them to the late-2000's Rockets ... some alarming similarities emerge.

The Rockets had what at the time looked like a superstar stable. Tracy McGrady, after his MVP-caliber years in Orlando, joined the team along with Yao Ming, and the combination of the two's superb athleticism and skillset made them a force to reckon with in the West year after year. But McGrady began to suffer breakdowns physically after the heavy toll he played earlier in his career. He played 78 games in Houston that first season in 2005, and played 71 in 2007, 66 in 2008. But after that first year, he started dealing with injuries that would continually keep him out for longer than expected. He was never the same. Yao Ming on the other hand would suffer with foot injuries that held him back after some of the best seasons of any big man in that decade.

The Rockets never were able to fulfill their promise, despite an MVP-caliber wing, a legit big man, great defense, and the work of a tremendous coach in Jeff Van Gundy. Sound familiar?

There are questions to be asked about how the Bulls are handling it. Why is Pau Gasol at his age playing 39 minutes in Utah in his first game back then playing in the back to back in Denver? Why is Rose playing in back to backs at all? Why don't the Bulls simply do what the Spurs do, and say a player is out in an email a good day in advance of the game, and if his status upgrades, upgrade him? (No coach will mind, they all plan for any player who is even a "maybe" to play anyway.)

Beyond all of this is the fact that none of this is Rose's fault. He's not skipping games with minor injuries, he's trying to avoid being hurt for months at a time instead of weeks. He's suffering and hurting with the pain of the injuries and the frustration of not being able to play. His teammates have his back. There's no reason to blame Derrick Rose for any of this. It's just unfortunate.

But something being unfortunate doesn't make it any less true. And right now, there's concern about the durability of Rose and whether, after three full years of being unable to stay on the floor with injuries (remember that before the ACL tear in 2012, he missed much of that season with a variety of ailments), he can be the guy Chicago needs him to be, the guy they built a championship run around. We can evaluate and analyze the Bulls' championship odds without putting a gravestone over Rose's career. He's already overcome so much to make it this far. It doesn't make him weak for suffering injuries, and it doesn't make us monsters or panicking over-reaction-izers to ask the questions. There's a lot on the line for this Bulls team.

Rose isn't doomed, and he's not absolutely, certainly "going to be fine." But he has become a question mark, for his team, for the fans, for the league, and for the legacy of what his career will be defined by. Here's hoping he breaks away from the history of players who were never the same again after injuries beset them, and instead stands as a testament to the triumph of willpower and work ethic over physical setbacks.

Topics: Chicago Bulls, NBA

Basketball Hot News

LeBron James, Cavaliers have kind of game they need to replicate blowing out Wizards

LeBron James was in attack mode from the opening tip — he got to the free throw line eight times in the first quarter on his way to 12 points and 5 assists in the first 12 minutes. He set a tone and the rest of the Cavaliers got in line by playing defense and the Wizards wilted and turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter.

Cleveland went on a 15-2 run and was up 31-18 after one quarter. That was pretty much the ballgame.

The Cavs cruised 113-87 win behind a big game from James — 29 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. It was one of the best games the Cavaliers have played this season, it got them a little revenge from five days ago by the Wizards. The win also brings the Cavaliers up to .500 at 7-7.

The Wizards were without Nene and they are not the same defensive team without him. And they really could have used him against the Cleveland bigs — Kevin Love dropped 21 points on the game and Anderson Varejao was part of the hot first half for the Cavaliers as he started 5-of-5 from the floor.

If you are a Cavaliers fan here is what you should like best out of this game — they played really good defense.

They held the Cavaliers to 94.9 points per 100 possessions and they got good defensive possessions from Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, and Dion Waiters. John Wall shredded the Cavs to the tune of 28 points, Irving said he wanted to guard him and in the end Wall had six points on just six shots. Wall can take over a game and the Cavaliers didn’t let him.

If the Cavs can defend like that on a regular basis they will be a lot more, well, like the Cavaliers we expect. This is the kind of the effort they need to replicate.

Unknown / 8:40 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Report: Not all on board with Jets’ QB changes

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Bears WR Brandon Marshall (ankle) limited Tuesday; expected to play Thursday

Bears all-pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall was again limited in practice Tuesday, nursing a sore ankle. He should still be a full go when Chicago takes on Detroit in the first of Thursday's Thanksgiving Day triple-header. Marshall has put together an atypical season, hauling in just 52 passes for 618 yards and eight touchdowns.

Marshall appeared to be getting it going after back-to-back games of more than 25 fantasy points in PPR leagues in Week 10 and Week 11. However, he regressed in what should have been a favorable matchup with Tampa Bay in Week 12. His season stat line ranks him 23rd among receivers in PPR leagues. While that's not terrible, it's nowhere near what you expected when you took him in the first or second round of your draft.The fact remains, as long as he's healthy, you still use him. He has the ability to get you 25 to 30 points any given week. His biggest negative is that his quarterback can't decide if he's Bart Starr or Bart Simpson. When Cutler plays well, Marshall benefits. We can only hope that this week, on national television, Cutler doesn't embarrass the entire city of Chicago.

Unknown / 8:27 AM / basketball, sports / No comments

Curry, 3s too much for Magic; Warriors win 111-96

Basketball Hot News

PBT’s Wednesday NBA Winners/Losers: Ettore Messina making history for Spurs

Every night the NBA can be a cold hard reality — there are winners, there are losers. It’s the nature of the game. We know you are busy and can’t keep up with every game, so we’re here to bring you the best and worst of the NBA each week night. Here’s what you missed while getting ready for your family’s annual Thanksgiving touch football game…

Ettore Messina. Gregg Popovich was out for the night after what the team called a “minor medical procedure” — let’s hope Pop is more forthcoming with his doctors than sideline reporters — which means his lead assistant had to step up. And that marked a little bit of history: Ettore Messina became the first European-born coach to be a team’s head coach for an NBA game. Thing is, in a few years he’s going to get his own NBA team and that is going to be really interesting.

Cleveland Cavaliers. I’m not about to say they turned the corner, but I will say this: Wednesday night’s easy 113-87 win over Washington was the best I’ve seen them play this season as a unit. LeBron James set an aggressive tone early (eight trips to the line in the first quarter and 12 points, five assists) but what really mattered was the Cavs played good defense, forcing turnovers and shutting down John Wall (six points on six shots) and getting revenge for a loss five days before. It is a step in the right direction.

Chase Budinger. We weren’t going to have any losers the night before Thanksgiving but… Chase, what was that?

Donatas Motiejunas. No Dwight Howard and the Rockets had to face the Kings and DeMarcus Cousins, who has been a beast this season.That smelled of trouble. And Cousins put up numbers — 29 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, three blocks — but the Rockets took the game and their reserve big man Motiejunas was key to that. He had 21 points on 15 shots and provided the needed inside balance to go with James Harden and Isaiah Canaan from the outside. That got the job done.

Unknown / 5:35 AM / basketball, sports / No comments

Trail Blazers win 9th in a row, top Hornets 105-97

Basketball Hot News

Report: Wizards willing to give Bradley Beal max contract extension if necessary

The Wizards went 7-2 without Bradley Beal and just 2-2 since his return from injury.

But make no mistake, they’re much better with him.

And they know it.

Shams Charania of RealGM:

As league executives believe in Beal’s ability to command a maximum salary extension, the Wizards have made clear around the NBA that they’ll do whatever necessary to secure Beal’s long-term deal, sources told RealGM.

Beal, 21, is already one of the NBA’s top shooting guards. As important as his ability is, his age puts his value on a whole other level. There just isn’t anyone at Beal’s position who nears his combination of production and potential.

Think about what James Harden was doing four years ago and Klay Thompson three years ago, when they were Beal’s age. Beal is on a special track, and his value is magnified by the relative dearth of quality shooting guards league-wide.

However, Beal will be eligible next summer for a contract extension that begins in 2016-17 – the first season of the new national TV contracts. Based on salary-cap projections, a max extension for Beal would pay more than $118 million over five years.

Beal seems like a max player based on the current cap climate, but the calculus on contracts is changing. Washington will have more revenue to pay Beal, but that’s still a sizable commitment.

If the Wizards are truly willing to give him a max extension next summer – when they’ll know the 2015-16 cap will skyrocket, but won’t know exactly how high – they’ll be showing quite a bit of faith in Beal. Understandably.

Unknown / 5:26 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Gruden benches RG3 for McCoy

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Giants WR Odell Beckham (back) a full participant at Wednesday practice

Giants rookie wide receiver, Odell Beckham was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. He had been injured after taking a knee to the back in Sunday night's loss to Dallas.Beckham missed the first four games of the season, but has become the most dangerous weapon in the Giants' passing attack. Through his first seven NFL games, he is averaging just fewer than seven catches and 90 yards per game and has caught five touchdowns. The Week 12 game at Dallas was, to date, his best NFL game. He caught 10 balls for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including a 43 yard bomb from QB Eli Manning on one of the most impossibly difficult catches in recent memory.

Not that it was a huge concern, but gettting confirmation that he's practicing and will be ready for Sunday's game versus Jacksonville is good news for his owners. Beckham is turning into an every week must-start. He's got a great matchup with the Jags this week and should be used in all formats.

Unknown / 11:34 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Foster to start?

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Suh on contract talks: Money not everything

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Report: Dolphins RB Lamar Miller will suit up vs. Broncos

Despite being limited in practice and suffering a knee injury during the week, Dolphins running back Lamar Miller will play this afternoon against the Broncos. That's what a source has confirmed to the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero. Miller played through his shoulder sprain against the Bills in Week 11, gaining 98 yards on 17 touches.

Miller looked spry versus Buffalo, and now he'll have another tough task against the Broncos' second-ranked run defense. Rams rookie RB Tre Mason topped 100 yards against Denver in Week 11, but it's still a pretty fierce group, especially at home. Miller is far from full strength and is at risk of sharing carries with Damien Williams. But since he's going to be active, he's worth starting as a risk-reward RB2

Unknown / 8:26 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Peterson compares his indictment to Ferguson

Adrian Peterson remains suspended by the NFL until at least the end of the season. (USATSI)

On Monday, a grand jury in Ferguson, Mo., declined to indict Darren Wilson for the shooting of Michael Brown, causing riots in and around the city throughout the night.

Many sports figures took to Twitter to comment on the situation, including Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who -- for whatever reason -- decided to liken the situation to his own off-field problems.

The GRAND JURY DECIDED NOT TO INDICT ME TOO! But that changed a week LATER! MAYBE,BUT NOT LIKELY N THIS CASE #PUTyourTrustNGODnotINtheWORLD!

— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) November 25, 2014

While there might be some legal connection here, it's tenuous at best.

And it's pretty thoughtless of Peterson to compare the two situations, especially in the heat of the moment with the press conference and looting/burning going down in Ferguson.

NFL Hot News

Lions RB Reggie Bush (ankle/back) limited Tuesday

Lions running back Reggie Bush was limited in practice again Tuesday, nursing injuries to both his ankle and his back. Bush has missed three of the Lions past four games and four games on the season. He's been largely ineffective when he does play, rushing for just 191 yards and one touchdown on 53 carries. He's contributed just 26 receptions for 169 yards in the passing game.

Plain and simple, Bush isn't getting it done. And, it doesn't matter what "it" is. Joique Bell is clearly the No. 1 running back in Detroit. No. 3 running back Theo Riddick has looked better than Bush when he's gotten to play. If Bush does play Thursday, he's a reach as a flex play. His main value is as a pass-catching back. In PPR leagues, he's averaging fewer than 10 fantasy points per game. That's just not something you want to rely on in Week 13, when most fantasy leagues are either into their playoffs or wrapping up the regular season, with playoff berths on the line.

Unknown / 11:24 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Eagles’ Maclin miffed about Cooper’s comments

Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper have a mini beef. (USATSI)

The Eagles signed Riley Cooper to a big contract this offseason, but he's hardly been a No. 1 receiver following the departure of DeSean Jackson to the Redskins. Lucky for the Eagles, Jeremy Maclin's having a career year.

In fact, Cooper's seen a significant dip in his playing time lately. Per the Philadelphia Inquirer's Zach Berman, Cooper's snaps went from 91 percent the first five games to 76 percent the last six games.

The resulting dip -- as well as a non dip for Maclin -- caused Cooper to recently comment on Maclin's contract status (coming off an ACL injury, Maclin bet on himself and a one-year deal).

"Maclin's trying to get a contract so he's probably not going to try and come out of the game," Cooper said.

That's awkward. You never really want to go public with someone else's contract chatter, you know?

Naturally Maclin wasn't thrilled with the quote.

Maclin: "That was not a very smart for Coop to say." Asked if it's true, Maclin said, "No." Said each side has different rotation.

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) November 25, 2014

On Tuesday, Cooper said he was "joking" when it came to his contract comment previously (too late!) and pinned it on Maclin being a better player.

Cooper: "I'm supposed to sub every 4,5 plays and that's what I do. Maclin, I guess, is a lot better player than me, so he doesn't have to."

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) November 25, 2014

The honest truth? Maclin IS a better player. It's why he's staying on the field. If there were anything related to his contract to deal with the Eagles would keep him off the field to keep his value suppressed.

NFL Hot News

Newly acquired Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount to split carries with Jonas Gray

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com has reported that running back Patriots LeGarrette Blount, who was cut by Pittsburgh on Tuesday and signed by New England on Thursday, will be active for the team's Week 12 game and will see action. It is expected that he'll split carries with Jonas Gray. At this time, it's unclear how that split will break down.

I don't expect Blount or Gray to be overly effective against Detroit this week. It will probably be a 65-35 split between the two on any carries the team has. However, the games in which RB Shane Vereen has been the most utilized and effective have been games against solid defenses. The Lions have that. They allow the fewest points per game (15.6) and the fewest rushing yards per game (68.8) in the NFL. Expect Vereen to be the best fantasy back for New England this week.

Unknown / 10:38 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Report: Broncos sign K Barth, waive McManus

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Report: NFL will not fine/suspend Lions’ Raiola

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Cowboys WR Terrance Williams (broken finger) limited in practice; expected to play Thursday

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams, who suffered a broken fingertip in Sunday's win over the New York Giants, was limited in practice on Tuesday. He is still expected to play in the Cowboys Thanksgiving afternoon showdown with the Eagles, likely wearing a splint on the finger.Williams has 28 catches for 444 yards, with six touchdowns, on the season.

Williams started the season off extremely well, but has slipped of late. He put up a goose-egg against a terrible Jacksonville team, then followed that up with one catch for 18 yards in Week 12. He was only targeted twice in each game.The matchup is inviting this week, as the Eagles allow the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers on the season. Even with that, I think T-Will is a risky play. His recent lack of involvement plus the injury he's dealing with likely means lots and lots of Dez Bryant.

Unknown / 5:36 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Manziel’s agent disputes account of incident

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Ravens make second-half push to beat Saints

NEW ORLEANS (AP) With a stutter step and shoulder fake to his right, Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett seemed to throw New Orleans' defense off balance for a moment.

That was all he needed to burst through a hole to his left and sprint 20 yards untouched for a game-sealing touchdown.

''The offensive line did a great job of making those lanes open for me,'' Forsett said. ''I just tried to seize the moment.''

Forsett rushed for a career-high 182 yards and two touchdowns, and Baltimore beat New Orleans 34-27 on Monday night to hand the Saints their third consecutive loss.

Will Hill had a 44-yard interception return for a go-ahead score in the third quarter. Steve Smith caught four passes for 89 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown, and the Ravens (7-4) stayed within a half-game of AFC North leader Cincinnati (7-3-1).

Forsett, whose 5.4 yards per carry coming into the game led all NFL running backs, averaged 8.3 yards per rush. His first scoring run went for 13 yards in the second quarter.

''Justin - awesome job, obviously, all year. The work he's putting in, the results he's getting and what he's doing for this team was huge,'' said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who passed for 243 yards and a touchdown. ''He's not letting the guy tackle him in the hole with his arms or anything like that. He's breaking those little things.''

Drew Brees passed for 420 yards and three touchdowns for New Orleans (4-7), which remained tied for first in its anemic division with Atlanta, a loser against Cleveland a day earlier. Now, the Saints and Falcons have the dubious distinction of being the first teams in NFL history to occupy first place in a division while three games under .500.

''We've got to make sure we've got enough thick skin and be able to have the mental and physical toughness to bounce back and get ready to play next week, because we're playing obviously an important game,'' said coach Sean Payton, whose club visits Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Jimmy Graham had two TD catches for the Saints, who had won 14 straight home night games.

Brees was sacked four times, and his pivotal interception came as he threw under pressure from Terrell Suggs. The pass was behind Graham, allowing Hill to snag it with nothing but open field in front of him. The play broke a 17-all tie, and New Orleans never recovered.

''I'd seen Brees in trouble. He's going to look for his No. 1 guy when he's under that duress,'' Hill said. ''As soon as he threw the ball, I'd seen that it was a little bit behind him, so I took that opportunity and ran with it.''

By the end of the game, the chants of ''Who-Dat,'' for which Saints fans are known were replaced by the opening riff to the White Stripes song, ''Seven Nation Army,'' which Ravens fans also sang in the Superdome after their 2013 Super Bowl triumph over San Francisco.

The Saints carried a 17-14 lead into halftime on Brees' 26-yard scoring pass to Marques Colston, who brought it in while leaping between two defensive backs.

Smith, a Saints nemesis during 13 seasons in Carolina, gave New Orleans fits again. His first-down catch in the third quarter precipitated a scuffle for which Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro was assessed a personal foul.

''He tried to tackle me. I tried to stiff-arm him to the ground,'' Smith said. ''He threw a punch so I kind of went after him after that.''

Baltimore's Elvis Dumervil had two sacks, and Suggs and C.J. Mosley each had one.

Brees' first scoring pass went for 10 yards to Graham. Brees also hit Graham for a 2-yard score with 40 seconds left, but an ensuing onside kick failed.

The Saints were in position to take an early lead after Joe Morgan's 67-yard run on an end around. It took defensive back Lardarius Webb's horse-collar tackle at the 2 to prevent Morgan from scoring.

The play gave New Orleans first-and-goal on the 1, but the Ravens stopped two runs by Mark Ingram and a scramble by Brees before stuffing Ingram again on fourth-and-goal.

Forsett then broke loose for a 38-yard gain to start a drive that culminated with Smith's touchdown catch as he crashed down backward at the left edge of the end zone.

That gave Smith 11 career touchdown catches against New Orleans, more than he has against any other team.

NOTES: Baltimore improved to 4-0 against the NFC South. ... Saints NT Brodrick Bunley left in the first quarter with a right leg injury. ... Morgan had a 62-yard catch, giving him 60-plus-yard gains the only two times he touched the ball. ... Baltimore finished with 215 yards rushing.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

NFL Hot News

Report: Lions RB Reggie Bush unlikely to play Sunday, aiming for Thanksgiving return

Reggie Bush said earlier this week that he would play against the Patriots, but it sounds like he has pushed his ETA back a bit. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora said Saturday that he's "hearing" Bush will be a "no-go" for Week 12 in New England. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported soon afterward that Bush actually has his eyes set on playing on Thanksgiving versus the Bears.Bush has been bothered by an ankle injury since Week 5. He practiced in limited fashion throughout this week, but it appears he will miss his fourth of the Lions' last six games.

Not that fantasy owners should be missing Reggie much at this point. He has just one touchdown and one game with more than 70 yards from scrimmage this year. His presence will pretty much wipe out Theo Riddick's fantasy value, but Joique Bell should remain Detroit's top RB. He was impressive in Week 11, gaining 115 total yards against the Cardinals, the team that has permitted the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season. He should be deployed as an RB2 in 12-team leagues versus the Patriots.

Unknown / 10:38 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Vick still starter?

NFL Hot News

Report: Browns WR Josh Gordon will play 20-30 snaps today

Josh Gordon is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He was the most productive WR in fantasy last season. He is the Browns' best offensive weapon by far, and he will be making his season debut today versus the Falcons as his 10-game suspension has ended. But if you believe ESPN's Adam Schefter and his sources, Gordon's talents won't be unleashed to the fullest extent this afternoon. Schefter tweeted this morning that a league source has told him Gordon is expected to be on the field for only 20-30 plays in Atlanta.

The Browns can give us the sense that they will be cautious with Gordon due to concerns over his conditioning or football shape -- he had not done any football activities with the team for almost three months before this week. But the Browns are in a (ahem) dog fight in the AFC North. They are technically in last place but are just a half of a game out of first at 6-4. Every game is critical for the Browns at this point, and I scoff at the notion that they will just ride with Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel when they've got a stallion in the barn waiting for the reins to be taken off.When Gordon returned from his two-game suspension in Week 3 last season, he played 70 of the team's 73 offensive snaps. He caught 10 passes for 146 yards and a score. He added a 22-yard rush for good measure. I know two weeks do not equal three months away from the football field, but there have been no reports stating that Gordon is out of shape. I'd be shocked if he played fewer than 30 snaps against a very vulnerable Falcons defense. And even if that is true, you can bet Brian Hoyer will be looking for his All-Pro receiver whenever he is on the field. I think Gordon is a top-20 fantasy wideout today, an easy WR2 in all leagues.

Unknown / 5:25 AM / basketball, sports / No comments

LeBron starts fast, Cavaliers dominate Magic

Basketball Hot News

James Harden with another defensive effort for the “highlight” reel (VIDEO)

I know Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey and coaches were frustrated after videos of James Harden‘s defensive lapses during Team USA’s run to gold this summer. They said this meme had taken over what has been an improving Harden defense. And they are right — this season Harden has played his best defense in years. He talked about putting in the effort in the preseason, he’s done that.

Then plays like this happen….

Come on now. You know we’re going to show that.

Harden was in a bad position and didn’t make the effort to get to a good one, he just waived like a matador as the bull ran past. All he needed was a red cape. It is just one play, but it’s one ugly play.

Unknown / 3:38 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Reiff out Thursday?

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Texans RB Arian Foster's chances of playing Sunday are 'very, very low'

ESPN's Texans reporter Tania Ganguli was asked Friday via Twitter what the chances are that running back Arian Foster will play Sunday against the Bengals. Her response: "Very, very low." As such, Foster, who has not played since Week 9 due to a groin injury, will likely be replaced in the starting lineup once again by Alfred Blue. The rookie did most of the heavy lifting for Houston out of its backfield against the Browns, rushing 36 times for 156 yards.

It all seemed so promising for Foster after head coach Bill O'Brien said following last week's win that he expected his star back to play in Week 12. Then he practiced on Wednesday of this week, and everyone was ready to roll with Foster again. Then there were back-to-back DNPs on Thursday and Friday and here we are. The team has said nothing about a setback, but you can't help but wonder, especially with an injury that is easy to aggravate (see: Montee Ball) and a player who has an extensive history of soft-tissue injuries.Blue is no Foster, but the good news is the Texans are obviously committed to the run and committed to Blue as their starter for the time being. He should see another large workload Sunday against a Bengals defense that has given up the third-most fantasy points per game to RBs and seven touchdowns to the position in its past five games.Jonathan Grimes got 13 carries last week, but that was based wholly on game flow. Grimes is just a chance-of-pace runner for the Texans and not a fantasy option.

Unknown / 10:36 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Belichick on Lions’ Raiola: ‘Tough day for him’

Dominic Raiola is now 0-4 lifetime against the Patriots. (USATSI)

With the Lions lined up and about to take a knee at the end of their 34-9 loss to the Patriots on Sunday, Lions center Dominic Raiola dived at defensive end Zach Moore's knees in what was widely described as a cheap shot.

Here's what happened ...

Afterward, Raiola explained his thought process, saying, "I cut him. We took a knee, so I cut the nose [tackle]. They went for six [a touchdown]. They went for a touchdown at two minutes. They could have took three knees and the game could have been over. It's football. He wants to keep playing football, let's play football. Not a big deal. It's football."

On Monday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked about the play, and he took this not-so-subtle jab at Raiola.

"Sure there was a lot of frustration there with Raiola. He's never beaten us. Tough day for him." - Belichick with subtle tweak of Lions C

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) November 24, 2014

Belichick, of course, is right. In his 14-year career, Raiola is 0-4 against New England. Making matters worse is this: According to the Pro Football Focus metrics, Raiola had a negative performance for Detroit -- his fourth-worst game of the season.

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Unknown / 10:29 PM / basketball, sports / No comments

Melo has back spasms

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Heat waive Shannon Brown, sign Hassan Whiteside

Yesterday, a report indicated that the Miami Heat were preparing to sign center Hassan Whiteside. Now, that move is official, and veteran guard Shannon Brown is the casualty:

Heat have waived Shannon Brown to make room for Hassan Whiteside.

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) November 25, 2014

In five games with the Heat this season, Brown was averaging 4 points in 17.8 minutes per game. The next team he joins will be his ninth team in an eight-year career, which has also included stints with—deep breath—the Cavaliers, Bulls, Bobcats, Lakers, Suns, Spurs and Knicks.

Whiteside has put up big numbers with the D-League’s Iowa Energy but hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2011-12 season.

Unknown / 5:36 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Browns: Gathering info on Manziel allegations

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'It would take a miracle' for Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald to play today

Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald didn't practice at all this week, and he is unlikely to play this afternoon in Seattle. Specifically, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that "it would take a miracle" for Fitzgerald to be active. Fitz suffered a fairly serious MCL sprain in his knee last week.

This news hurts the Cardinals more than it hurts fantasy owners. In four games started by Drew Stanton this season, Fitzgerald is averaging 3.5 receptions and 43.8 yards with no scores. He would have been a low-end WR3 if healthy for this game against the Seahawks. With Michael Floyd expected to see a lot of Richard Sherman, John Brown, who has shown a good connection with Stanton, is my pick to be the Cardinals' leading receiver today. Still, no one here is a confident start in standard 10- or 12-team leagues.

Unknown / 3:29 PM / NFL, sports / No comments

Harbaugh: No practice for LB Bowman this week

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Browns TE Jordan Cameron returns to practice, will not play in Week 12

Pat McManamon, who covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN.com, says tight end Jordan Cameron will not play Sunday, but he did return to practice on Friday. It was his first practice since Week 8.Cameron has missed the past three games due to concussion-related issues. He has posted 13 receptions for 250 yards and one touchdown in six games this year. With Cameron out again, Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge will see the bulk of the action at tight end.

If you've held onto Cameron this long, what's another week? With him practicing Friday, it bodes well for him to return to the field for Week 13.The Browns, who are in the thick of the AFC playoff picture at 6-4, will get a boost in the passing game this week with the return of WR Josh Gordon. If they can get past the Falcons and come out of Week 12 at 7-4, getting Cameron back is only going to help Gordon's and QB Brian Hoyer's fantasy value. Once Cameron returns, he's got to be seriously considered as a TE1 in any format. The position is super thin. Dray and Barnidge hold little to no fantasy value.

Unknown / 11:31 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Browns’ Hoyer: ‘Let the team down’ despite win

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Unknown / 5:34 AM / NFL, sports / No comments

Cowboys rally behind Romo, beat Giants 31-28

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) For awesomeness, Odell Beckham Jr.'s catch couldn't be topped.

For timely rallies, Tony Romo and Dez Bryant trumped it.

The Cowboys momentarily might have been in awe of Beckham's one-handed stab as he fell backward into the end zone while he was interfered with by cornerback Brandon Carr. When it came to making the critical plays to beat the New York Giants on Sunday night, though, Dallas had all it needed in Romo and Bryant.

Romo threw two touchdown passes to Bryant, the winner from 13 yards with 1:01 remaining, lifting the Cowboys to a comeback 31-28 victory.

''You gain an understanding that you're never really out of it,'' Romo said. ''You are comfortable being in uncomfortable situations. That comes from having been through it and going out and finding a way to win. Once you do that a few times, the team can believe in that.''

Romo could have written a book on winning drives while staging this one; he never was pressured in leading the Cowboys 80 yards to the winning score.

''Any time you're afforded the amount of time at the end of the game, it's huge,'' he said. ''They (the offensive line) are a special group of guys who work their butts off and deserve a lot of credit for this game and this season.''

Romo threw for two TDs in the third quarter and Barry Church's interception helped turn things in the Cowboys' favor. But the Giants (3-8), trailing 24-21, staged a 93-yard drive capped by Adrien Robinson's first career TD catch. That 1-yard score with 3 minutes remaining could have snapped New York's slide that now is at six losses.

Back came Dallas (8-3). Romo found Bryant in the back of the end zone to win it, setting up an NFC East showdown with Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Day for first place.

''Now we have another challenge coming up real quick,'' Romo said. ''Philly is playing great football so we're going to have to play better than we did tonight to win that game.''

Dallas, which was treated to chants of ''Let's Go Cowboys!'' in the second half from hundreds of fans in Cowboys garb, is 5-0 on the road. New York was eliminated from division contention.

Thanks to Beckham's incredible one-handed catch, one of the rookie's two first-half touchdowns, New York built a 21-10 halftime lead.

But Romo hit Cole Beasley with a short pass that he turned into a 45-yard score, and the quarterback's 31-yarder to an uncovered Bryant put Dallas on top for the first time.

Beckham left briefly in the fourth quarter with a back problem, but returned for the next series. He finished with 10 receptions for 146 yards.

League rushing leader DeMarco Murray managed his 10th 100-yard game this season with 121 on 24 carries for Dallas.

The Cowboys didn't get much going after falling behind 21-10 until reserve receiver Beasley took a short pass, eluded a tackle by Zack Bowman and sped untouched to the end zone midway in the third quarter.

When Manning overthrew a wide-open Preston Parker deep in Dallas territory, Church ran back the interception 45 yards. Four plays later, Romo hit an open Bryant and he squeezed into the end zone for the Cowboys' first lead.

Beckham's right-handed stab of Manning's 43-yard rainbow pass could be the catch of the year. The rookie, who regularly practices such receptions, outreached Carr at the goal line and tumbled backward into the end zone to make it 14-3.

''I have played this game for 10 years,'' Giants safety Antrel Rolle said, ''and that was the greatest catch I've seen.''

Beckham wants there to be plenty more of those.

''I hope it is not the greatest catch because with time I hope I can make more,'' Beckham said.

That catch already was dominating highlight reels by halftime and was his second TD of the game. The 80-yard drive to Beckham's first touchdown marked the second straight week the Giants got into the end zone on their opening possession after going 20 games without doing so.

Dallas' offense hardly sat still following Beckham's one-hander. Romo guided the Cowboys 77 yards and used a shovel pass to Jason Witten - yes, the tight end used two hands - from the 4 immediately after Beckham's stunner.

So the kid from LSU went right back to overwhelming the Cowboys. He made three catches for 32 yards on New York's next series, including a spin move that would make a figure skater proud. Andre Williams concluded that 80-yard march with a 3-yard run for a 21-10 lead.

In the first half alone, Beckham had eight catches for 125 yards, while Manning went 14 of 16 for 191 yards. But the second half belonged to Dallas.

NOTES: Manning threw five interceptions last week in a loss to San Francisco, but Church's pick was the only one Sunday night. He finished 29 for 40 for 338 yards. ... Murray has rushed for 1,354 yards. ... Romo was 18 of 26 for 275 yards and never appeared bothered by back problems that sidelined him for one of the Cowboys' defeats this year.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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