<![CDATA[0xbt: liny's blogs]]> https://0xbt.net/blog/owner/liny195?offset=405 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/66937/rams-head-coach-sean-mcvay-said-that-he-expected-to Tue, 14 May 2019 07:18:32 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/66937/rams-head-coach-sean-mcvay-said-that-he-expected-to <![CDATA[Rams head coach Sean McVay said that he expected to]]>  see running back Todd Gurley back to his old form after a poor outing in the NFC Championship Game White Rob Gronkowski Jerseys , but things didn’t quite turn out that way.Gurley didn’t play much in the first half and wound up with 10 carries for 35 yards and one catch for a loss of one yard, which led to another round of questions after the game about whether his knee was bothering him. Gurley missed two games at the end of the regular season with a knee injury, but insisted he was fine after the win over the Saints and said the same in Atlanta after the 13-3 loss to the Patriots.“I know there been a lot of concern about my knee but I really am fine Rob Gronkowski Jerseys 2019 ,鈥?Gurley said.Gurley said he had an MRI after the team’s Week 15 loss to the Eagles that didn’t turn up anything that would have led to a longer absence from the lineup and that he does not expect to have surgery this offseason. He credited the Patriots defense for coming up with a better effort, which is impossible to argue with whether Gurley is 100 percent or not. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Don’t. Even. Joke.New England Patriots fans who forgot that Monday is April Fools’ Day might have been panicking when quarterback Tom Brady tweeted that he had decided to retire.The six-time Super Bowl champion has joined Twitter and his first post said simply: “I’m retiring. In my spare time White Tom Brady Jerseys , I’ll be tweeting.” An email from a Twitter spokeswoman confirmed the account, but it also referred to the fact that the tweet came on April Fools’ Day.About an hour later, Brady sent out a second tweet that said Tom Brady Jerseys 2019 , “Was this a bad joke?”Brady is a 41-year-old, three-time NFL MVP who has to stop playing some time. But after leading New England to the title last year, there’s no indication that he’s slowing down.And anyway Rob Gronkowski Jersey , is this how he would announce it?Even tight end Rob Gronkowski, who actually retired last month, did so with a lengthy Instagram post.Neither Brady’s agent nor the Patriots immediately responded to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment.]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/66936/chad-wheeler-film-study-did-the-giants-make-the-right-choice-at-right-tackle Tue, 14 May 2019 06:45:01 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/66936/chad-wheeler-film-study-did-the-giants-make-the-right-choice-at-right-tackle <![CDATA[Chad Wheeler film study: Did the Giants make the right choice at right tackle?]]>  The New York Giants made waves early on the third Sunday of the 2018 season when it was announced that they were benching right tackle Ereck Flowers in favor of second-year UDFAChad Wheeler.There was much rejoicing among the fan base Sunday morning when the news hit. And at first blush the victory over the Houston Texans Jonathan Stewart Jerseys 2019 , weighed against losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys, gives credence to the Giants’ decision.But it still bears asking whether the Giants’ choice was the right one going forward. To answer the question, let’s look at the tape.Pass protectionFirst quarter, 5:37, first-and-10, Houston 29 The Giants start the play in the shotgun with their 11-personnel set. Odell Beckham is the lone receiver to the offensive right, with Evan Engram inline next to Wheeler, while Sterling Shepard is in the slot and Cody Latimer is out wide at the X position. The play is supposed to be a quick screen pass to Wayne Gallman, but it is sniffed out and blown up almost immediately Tyrann Mathieu, but that isn’t what we are here for. The Texans are in their 4-2-5 nickel set, with J.J. Watt lined up at left defensive end, at the 7-technique outside of the right tackle. Watt takes an outside route to the quarterback right from the start, and Wheeler quickly gets into his kick slide to meet and usher him around the pocket. However, just as the two are about to make contact, Wheeler lunges, opens his hips away from Watt, and lets his hands go wide. The wide hands and open hips give Watt an opening to use a rip move White Nate Solder Jerseys , gaining leverage and turning Wheeler’s back to the line of scrimmage.Manning is just able to get the pass off before the diving Watt can bat it down, but he still takes the big defensive end’s leg to the back of the knee. The play went nowhere, but thankfully Manning got up quickly.Play 2 Third quarter, 8:35, first-and-10, Giants’ 9-yard lineOnce again the Giants are in their 11-personnel, shotgun set. This time, Rhett Ellison is the tight end and he is attached on the left side of the line, while the two receivers are on the offensive right.The Giants use play-action to fake a run to the right. The play-action is sold well, sucking in the linebackers and moving the defense away from Sterling Shepard in the slot. Unfortunately, safety Kareem Jackson is drawn in to the passing lane and deflects the ball. Once again Watt is lined up on the defensive right, outside of Wheeler’s outside shoulder. Unlike the previous play, the Giants’ run-action fake freezes Watt slightly, forcing him to play the run instead of rushing the passer all-out. Watt is still easily able to win Wheeler’s chest plate and establish leverage, and would have discarded the block to make a play on Barkley if he had the ball. However, Wheeler does a good enough job of staying in Watt’s way and selling the run block that he isn’t able to impact the play. It’s part scheme and part player, and except for a good play to knock the ball down by Jackson Nate Solder Jerseys 2019 , the would be a win.Run blocking Building off of a play-action pass, let’s take a look at Wheeler’s run blocking.First quarter, 7:42, first-and-10, Giants 39-yard lineThis is the fifth play of the game for the Giants’ offense. The team comes out in their 12 personnel package (two tight ends), with Evan Engram attached to the left side of the line while Rhett Ellison attached on the right side of the line. “Smash mouth football” and “spread offense” aren’t usually spoken together, but that’s what this is. The Giants have their wide receivers both lined up out wide, and with Ellison, Engram, and Barkley on the field, the threat of the pass is definitely present. That keeps the Texans from crowding the line of scrimmage. And this isn’t true “power” football, with Ellison and Engram both releasing into routes. However, the alignment and routes combine to keep Texans’ defense from keying on the run completely and ignoring the pass. As a result, what looks to be an 8-man box is effectively a six-man box and a favorable run look.The play is made by a good block from John Greco at center and a straight mauling by Will Hernandez at left guard. Wheeler isn’t a huge factor in the play at all, but given Watt’s speed into the back field, sealing the back-side is important none the less. Wheeler does a good job of getting in Watt’s way, actually winning the hand battle for a moment — plenty long enough for Barkley to run through the gaping hole to the left. Watt is eventually able to discard Wheeler’s block and rallies to the ball White Kareem Martin Jerseys , but not before Barkley is down for a 13-yard gain.A quick look at FlowersThis is an attempt to convert a third-and-13 on the Giants’ second drive in their week 2 match-up against the Dallas Cowboys. Flowers was far from perfect in this game, but he showed significant improvement in his second start at right tackle since 2012. Dallas runs a slot blitz under a Cover 2 shell, meaning that not only does Manning not have much time to get the pass off, nothing comes open down the field until he decides to take the check-down to Wayne Gallman. Demarcus Lawrence rushes the right B-gap, but Flowers easily passes him off to Omameh and Greco after the linebacker threatening to blitz that gap drops in to coverage. Flowers actually does a great job to go from defending the B-gap to getting out to pick up the blizting slot corner. Between the block of Lawrence and picking up the blitzer, Manning has a pocket to step up in to and gets the ball to Gallman. The running back isn’t able to pick up the first down and the Giants have to punt.Final thoughtsI don’t say this to dump on Wheeler, but it was difficult to find positives in his game this past Sunday. Granted, he was lined up against one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, but even Whitney Mercilus gave him problems. His best reps, and the second play featured was among them, came when the rusher used an outside move. On those plays he was generally able to force them around the pocket.But he proved consistently unable to deal with inside moves. Any time a rusher rushed through the right B gap between Wheeler and Omameh, he barely slowed them down. Each time, the lunge, open hips, and wide hands he showed in the first play proved to be his undoing. By turning perpendicular to the line of scrimmage too early, Wheeler was essentially opening a door for the rushers and making it almost impossible to for him to gain leverage on the rusher. A tendency for his hips to rise into contact only compounded the problem.The Giants won Sunday because were able to scheme around the weaknesses on their of offensive line. By using quick passes, misdirection Kareem Martin Jerseys 2019 , and getting Eli Manning out of the pocket — not to mention Manning playing much, much better than the previous week — the team was largely able to function in spite of the Texans’ talented front seven.It doesn’t get easier for Wheeler, however. This coming week the team will host the New Orleans Saints and defensive lineman Cameron Jordan. Like Watt, Jordan is a big, long, powerful, and athletic defensive lineman who lines up predominantly on the right side.The win likely means that the right tackle job is Wheeler’s to lose, and the Giants have to hope that he will improve in the role. Things won’t really get easier from here on out, from Jordan next week to Ryan Kerrigan in Washington to the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive front, to Khalil Mack and the Bears. The line has its work cut out for it, and the scheme that the Giants used in Houston is on tape for their opponents to study.New York Giants depth chart: What the depth chart looks like after roster makeover With the regular-season here the New York Giants have released their official depth chart. Technically, it is a revised official depth chart. The team released it, made some roster changes, and had to update it.You probably need a program to know who all the players are, anyway, since there are so many new faces. Here is a look at that depth chart. Vote in the poll at the end and let us know if you think the recent roster shuffle has helped or hurt the team.OffensePositionFirst TeamSecond TeamThird TeamPositionFirst TeamSecond TeamThird TeamDefensePOSFIRSTSECONDTHIRDPOSFIRSTSECONDTHIRDSpecial TeamsPOSFIRSTSECONDTHIRDPOSFIRSTSECONDTHIRDThe changesHere are all the moves the Giants have made since setting their initial roster on Saturday.OutQB Davis WebbRB Robert MartinTE Jerell AdamsOL John JerryDL Josh BanksDB William GayWR/KR Hunter SharpOLB Romeo OkwaraInOL Spencer PulleyWR/KR Kaelin ClayDL Mario EdwardsDL John JenkinsDB Antonio HamiltonDB Kamrin MooreDB Michael JordanLB Nathan Stupar
 
 
]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/66934/josh-allen-jerseys-2019 Tue, 14 May 2019 06:13:56 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/66934/josh-allen-jerseys-2019 <![CDATA[Josh Allen Jerseys 2019]]> Bills Links Josh Allen Jerseys 2019 , 9/26: Should they be concerned with Kelvin Benjamin? An area of concern for Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills early this season has been the inconsistent play of Kelvin Benjamin. As the No. 1 receiver on the team, he has dropped multiple passes throughout three games—including two would-be touchdown passes. McDermott addressed his concerns about the dropped passes, which is available in today’s links.There is also plenty of additional player and personnel coverage from Sunday’s game including: Josh Allen, Ryan Lewis, Brian Daboll and Tremaine Edmunds.Bills coach Sean McDermott: Kelvin Benjamin drops are 'concerning' | NewYorkUpstate.com McDermott: "Josh Allen counts on Kelvin Benjamin and will continue to count on him moving forward."Week 3 power rankings: Buffalo Bills leave the power ranking basement | NewYorkUpstate.comThe Buffalo Bills climbed various power rankings following their win at Minnesota.OBL 9/25: Ryan Lewis on his season debut; Peter King goes around the NFL; Brian Baldinger’s love for Josh Allen - BuffaloBills.comBuffalo Bills cornerback Ryan Lewis talked about joining the Bills and playing in Sunday’s game against the Vikings White Tremaine Edmunds Jerseys , while NBC Sports’ Peter King recapped Week 3 around the league.[BN] Blitz newsletter: Breaking down Josh Allen’s performance in the Bills’ upset win – The Buffalo News"Bills rookie quarterback had decent numbers Sunday in his first career win, completing 15 of 22 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown."Buffalo Bills Studs and Duds: Week 3 vs. Vikings | Cover 1"In the most improbable game of the season so far, the Bills did it. Buffalo dominated the opposition playing a smash mouth type of football and trashing the Vikings at their home turf, 27-6."8 things we learned about the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills' Week 4 opponent | NewYorkUpstate.comThe Packers are looking for their first win since Week 1.Daboll: Allen's footwork Tremaine Edmunds Jerseys 2019 , eye control, timing all improving | WGR 550 SportsRadioThe Bills' offensive coordinator addressed the media on MondayBills film room: How Brian Daboll and Josh Allen together mastered the offensive game plan – The AthleticBills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is known for his success with young quarterbacks, and Sunday's surgical breakdown of the Vikings showed why. (Subscription required.)Tremaine Tracker: Edmunds bounces back in Bills’ win over Vikings – The Buffalo NewsEdmunds was utilized sparingly as a blitzer but was efficient pressuring the quarterback. (Subscription required.)Featured on Buffalo RumblingsRecapping the Buffalo Bills upset win, Josh Allen’s clutch performance against Minnesota Vikings - Buffalo RumblingsNobody saw that shocking upset coming. These were the keys to Buffalo’s win!Fantasy football waiver wire: Add Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in fantasy football this week over Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen - Buffalo RumblingsBye weeks Color Rush Thomas Sweeney Jersey , quarterback injuries, and quarterbacks benched for performance create the perfect stormBuffalo Bills fantasy football recap: believe in Josh Allen - Buffalo RumblingsThe rookie is improving rapidlyBuffalo Bills snap counts vs. Minnesota Vikings: Defensive pressure packages theme of day - Buffalo RumblingsWho contributed and how much as the Buffalo Bills upset the Minnesota Vikings Entering his fifth year, the 26-year-old is coming off another injury"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections NewsNotesOpinionAnalysisDiscussionPodcastNFL DraftSalary CapNFL Free AgencyNews2019 Buffalo Bills free agencyBuffalo Bills agree to terms with former Bengals TE Tyler Kroft on three-year dealNew,108commentsEntering his fifth year, the 26-year-old is coming off another injuryEDTShareTweetShareShareBuffalo Bills agree to terms with former Bengals TE Tyler Kroft on three-year dealTimothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY SportsThe Buffalo Bills add another body to the tight-end room Youth Thomas Sweeney Jersey , agreeing to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals TE Tyler Kroft. According to his agent, Mike McCartney, Kroft signed a three-year deal with the Bills. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has the details of the contract.Kroft is coming off a foot injury that caused him to miss 11 games of the 2018 season—and which landed him on the season-ending injured-reserve list. 2017 was someone of breakout year compared to his two years prior with 42 catches for 404 yards and seven touchdowns. Kroft was primarily used as a blocker during his time with the Bengals but at 6’6” 250 lbs his potential as a legitimate red-zone threat for Josh Allen and the Bills offense is undeniable. Three years and $18.75 million seems a bit rich for Kroft, but fills a void nonetheless.]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/56480/we-have-the-62nd-prospect-on-the-ggn-big-board Mon, 29 Apr 2019 08:56:13 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/56480/we-have-the-62nd-prospect-on-the-ggn-big-board <![CDATA[We have the 62nd prospect on the GGN Big Board!]]>  And the winner is: Darnell Savage Joe Namath Jerseys Stitched , S, Maryland! With Savage taking the 62nd spot, our crowd sourced Big Board now looks like this:Nick Bosa, Edge,..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Jets StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Jets NewsYahoo Jets Team PageYahoo Jets ReportYahoo Jets Depth ChartYahoo Jets TransactionsYahoo Jets PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub 鉁旴uilding A GGN Big Board: Prospect #63EDTShareTweetShareShareBuilding A GGN Big Board: Prospect #63Chuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsWe have the 62nd prospect on the GGN Big Board! And the winner is: Darnell Savage, S, Maryland! With Savage taking the 62nd spot, our crowd sourced Big Board now looks like this:Nick Bosa, Edge, Ohio StateQuinnen Williams, DL, AlabamaJosh Allen, Edge, KentuckyJonah Williams, OT, AlabamaClelin Ferrell, Edge, ClemsonRashan Gary, Edge, MichiganEd Oliver, DT, HoustonDevin White, LB, LSUGreedy Williams, CB, LSUDwayne Haskins Youth LaDainian Tomlinson Jerseys , QB, Ohio StateD.K. Metcalf, WR, MississippiT.J. Hockenson, TE, IowaJawaan Taylor, OT, FloridaKyler Murray, QB, OklahomaN’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona StateJachai Polite, Edge, FloridaMontez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi StateAndre Dillard, OT, Washington StateBrian Burns, Edge, Florida StateCody Ford, OT, OklahomaGarrett Bradbury, OC, North Carolina StateNoah Fant, TE, IowaByron Murphy LaDainian Tomlinson Jerseys Stitched , CB, WashingtonChristian Wilkins, DT, ClemsonDevin Bush, LB, MichiganGreg Little, OT, MississippiMarquise Brown, WR, OklahomaDexter Lawrence, DT, ClemsonJosh Jacobs, RB, AlabamaDeandre Baker, CB, GeorgiaA.J. Brown, WR, MississippiDrew Lock, QB, MissouriHakeem Butler, WR, Iowa StateJeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi StateDalton Risner, OL, Kansas StateKelvin Harmon Youth Joe Klecko Jerseys , WR, North Carolina StateIrv Smith, Jr., TE, AlabamaNasir Adderley, S, DelawareChris Lindstrom, OG, Boston CollegeElgton Jenkins, C, MississippiJerry Tillery, DL, Notre DameChase Winovich, Edge, MichiganAmani Oruwariye, CB Penn StateErik McCoy, C, Texas A&MJJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, StanfordRock Ya-Sin, CB, TempleDeebo Samuel, WR, South CarolinaDaniel Jones, QB, DukeDeionte Thompson Joe Klecko Jerseys Stitched , S, AlabamaZach Allen, DL, Boston CollegeJaylon Ferguson, Edge, Louisiana TechChauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, FloridaYodny Cajuste, OT, West VirginiaJohnathan Abram, S, Mississippi StateAndy Isabella, WR, UMassMack Wilson, LB, AlabamaTaylor Rapp, S, WashingtonTrayvon Mullen, CB, ClemsonJuan Thornhill, S, VirginiaMichael Dieter, OG, WisconsinDavid Montgomery, RB, Iowa StateDarnell Savage Youth Curtis Martin Jerseys , S, Maryland?From now until mid April I’ll be putting up a daily poll asking GGN to vote on the best available player from a rolling list of 15 candidates. The idea here is to build a generic Big Board reflecting the community’s view of this year’s draft class regardless of the Jets’ (or any other team’s) particular needs. So for instance, the Jets do not need a QB this year, but that should not prevent you from placing a QB high on the Big Board. Each day we will close the previous day’s poll and the candidate with the most votes will be added to the GGN Big Board. In the event of a tie vote the tie will be broken by surname in alphabetical order. By the time the draft rolls around we should have enough players on our Big Board to cover two rounds of the draft.In the event I have made an egregious omission and a name you think should be on the poll is not there you can write in candidates in the comments section. If a player gets support in the comments section I’ll add him to the next day’s poll.Try not to get overly frustrated if your guy isn’t being voted to the top of the board. We all have different views and what we’re looking for here is a composite of the best players in the community’s collective mind. Your views may or may not coincide with the community’s, and either way that’s OK.So let’s get to it. Today we vote for the #63 prospect on the 2019 crowd sourced GGN Big Board. Who will it be? Vote early, vote often, and let’s hear who you think are the best players in this draft.Jets vs. Giants: Five Bold Predictions Week 3 of scintillating preseason football and it’s time for some more Bold Predictions. This week is actually somewhat interesting football, as we’ll get to see extended playing time from the probable starters. Disclaimer: A Bold Prediction is not something that is likely or probable to happen. Bold Predictions are blind guesses that are laughably optimistic beyond what anyone can reasonably expect to happen, but not so far as to be virtually impossible. Saying that Leonard Williams will get a sack is not a Bold Prediction, nor is saying that Bilal Powell will run for 650 yards. By definition, Bold Predictions are unlikely, but not impossible, to occur. Since this is a Jets site, they are also pro-Jets predictions. As always, the Final Score prediction is meant to be realistic, not a Bold Prediction.Let’s take a look at how we did last week.Ummm ... on second thought, let’s not. In fact, last week never happened. Bold predictions? What bold predictions? I don’t remember any bold predictions. And we shall never speak of this again.Here are my five Bold Predictions for tonight’s game:1.Brandon Copeland will stake his claim to a big role on the edge, with 1.5 sacks and a defensive turnover.2. The Jets will limit the Giants first team offense to a passer rating below 60 and zero points while the first teamers are in the game.3. Teddy Bridgewater will continue to do his best to stir up a quarterback controversy, throwing a pair of touchdown passes.4. Marcus Maye will celebrate his return with an interception and a long return of 40+ yards.5. Chris Herndon and Neal Sterling will combine for 100+ receiving yards and a touchdown.And a bonus prediction: Darron Lee will not look lost and will do something, anything, to justify his continued starting role in the Jets defense.Final Score: Jets get back on the winning side of things in the games where winning doesn’t count, dominating their crosstown rivals on both sides of the ball. Jets 26, Giants 13.]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/56478/the-patriot-way-there%E2%80%99s-no-correct-answer-or-definition-for-it Mon, 29 Apr 2019 08:42:24 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/56478/the-patriot-way-there%E2%80%99s-no-correct-answer-or-definition-for-it <![CDATA[The Patriot Way; there’s no correct answer or definition for it]]>  White Duron Harmon Jerseys , but its along the lines of showing up on time, doing your job, putting the team before yourself and just carrying yourself in a positive manner.Julian Edelman embodies what it means to be a Patriot and follow “The Patriot Way.”However, it never came easy for him.You know the story: No scholarship offers out of High School, went to JUCO, played quarterback at Kent State, wasn’t invited to the combine, drafted in the seventh round, never played receiver or special teams until the NFL all the way to a three time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP and Tom Brady’s go-to guy and best friend.We have seen some interesting receiver stories the last two decades in the New England Patriots organization. From Wes Welker to Chris Hogan to Troy Brown Duron Harmon Jerseys 2019 , the Patriots have had their fair share of success stories. However, none of them quite reach Julian Edelman’s.Edelman may have been doubted throughout his life but it was never for his work ethic, that went unmatched according to his father, Frank.It was the summer of 2010, following Edelman’s rookie season and he was searching for trust and a closer relationship with Tom Brady.Edelman’s agent found him a spot back home in California, which happened to be close to where Brady would be that off-season, that way Edelman could be there for Brady’s throwing sessions — but mainly to gain the trust he needed from #12.Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY SportsOnce the Patriots decided to let Wes Welker walk and he signed with the Denver Broncos after the 2012 season, it opened up an opportunity for Edelman after catching just 69 passes in his first four years in the league. Edelman did what he did his entire life; took the opportunity and ran with it.Edelman would rack up 105 catches for 1,056 yards in his first full season playing receiver on a consistent basis, and Tom Brady didn’t have to look any further than right next to him when trying to find his next ‘go-to guy.’The friendship and circle of trust took off as Edelman became Brady’s stall mate White Marcus Cannon Jerseys , go-to man, little brother and best friend. The duo has combined for records that we haven’t seen before as Brady and Edelman have the most receptions (115) and receiving yards (1,412) in postseason history.The hard-work and determination came to a full circle after Edelman was named MVP of Super Bowl 53 with 10 catches for 141 years. He came to a knee and got a bit emotional, soaking it all in before being greeted by teammates and his third Lombardi Trophy.Edelman represents what it’s like to be a Patriot, but he really shows what it’s like to be a true professional and to continue to work hard even through adversity or doubt. Not only did New England receive two third-round picks, but their four total compensatory picks tied for the most.The Cardinals and Washington also each received four compensatory picks.In all, 15 teams received additional selections after losing more or better compensatory free agents (CFA) than it acquired last year based on a formula using salary, playing time and postseason honors.The Patriots lost Danny Amendola, Johnson Bademosi, Malcolm Butler Marcus Cannon Jerseys 2019 , Cameron Fleming, Dion Lewis and Nate Solder as CFAs, according to the NFL. They signed CFAs Adrian Clayborn and Jeremy Hill.The Patriots’ extra picks are in the third round (No. 97 overall and No. 101 overall), sixth round (No. 205) and seventh round (No. 252).Washington received four extra picks for losing Will Compton, Kirk Cousins, Ryan Grant, Spencer Long, Trent Murphy and Niles Paul, while signing Paul Richardson, according to the NFL.Washington’s extra choices are in the third round (96th overall) White Brandon Bolden Jerseys , fifth round (173rd), sixth round (206th) and seventh round (253rd).The Cardinals lost Jaron Brown, John Brown, Blaine Gabbert, Kareem Martin, Drew Stanton and Tramon Williams as CFAs, while signing Justin Pugh and Andre Smith, per the NFL.Their extra choices are in the sixth round (No. 207) and the seventh round (248, 249, 254).The Bengals Brandon Bolden Jerseys 2019 , Rams and Vikings each received three compensatory choices each, while Atlanta and Philadelphia gained two each. Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas, Indianapolis, Kansas City, the Giants and San Francisco each gained one.That totals 32 extra picks awarded in the 2019 draft.]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/56460/can-the-giants-defense-give-the-offense-a-chance-against-houston Mon, 29 Apr 2019 08:26:17 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/56460/can-the-giants-defense-give-the-offense-a-chance-against-houston <![CDATA[Can the Giants' defense give the offense a chance against Houston?]]>  The New York Giants have started yet another season 0-2. Historically speaking Odell Beckham Jerseys 2019 , at this point they should be more concerned with whether they will be drafting in the top 10 than if they are playing in January. The onus for their record, however, is on the offense, not the defense. Over the first two games, the Giants' defense has given up a paltry 33 points, or just 16.5 per game. If your defense is doing that, it is doing enough to win games in the NFL. Will the Giants' defense once again do enough to put the offense in position to win this Sunday against the Houston Texans?Stats at a glanceTexans’ offenseRushing yards: 157.5 ypgPassing yards: 223.5 ypgTotal yards: 381.0 ypgPoints: 18.5 per gameGiants' defenseRushing yards: 137.5 ypgPassing yards: 164.0 ypgTotal yards: 301.5 ypgPoints: 20.0 per gameContaining Deshaun WatsonThe Giants can defend the run when it is the running back who is carrying the ball. Despite some missed tackles, Ezekiel Elliott still only managed 74 yards on the Giants' defense last Sunday. However, the team has been repeatedly gashed by quarterback runs. In Week 1, Blake Bortles picked up 42 yards on four carries against the Giants, and Dak Prescott picked up 45 yards on seven runs this past Sunday.Deshaun Watson is a talented passer who processes information quickly and can put the ball where he needs to, as well as extend plays and throw on the run. That all makes him dangerous enough, but that same athletic ability also allows him to hurt defenses as a runner. Watson typically scrambles to throw White Saquon Barkley Jerseys , but he is fully capable of running the read-option or picking up yards on his own when plays break down. So far this season, Watson has picked up 84 yards on 10 carries. His intelligence, as much as his athletic ability, make him dangerous with the ball in his hands. Defending the read-option is a tricky proposition. It takes away a defense's natural numbers advantage and forces the defense to slow down. There are schematic ways of countering the read-option, such as forcing a desired read by the quarterback. However, even if they are able to force the read, they must be able to secure the tackle so they aren't allowing chunk plays. The key for the Giants, both in the run game and in the pass game when Watson tries to scramble, will be discipline. Replacing Eli Apple?Eli Apple was part of the questions regarding the Giants' 2018 season, and after a disastrous 2017 season, the questions were understandable. But the young corner stepped up and answered those questions. First with his words with the media in the off-season, then with his actions on the field in camp. So far both Bortles and Prescott tried to pick on Apple for long gains, but every time he stepped up and denied them. Through the first game and a half of the season Saquon Barkley Jerseys 2019 , Apple played up to his draft spot, showing off his physical tools and a poised mastery of his craft that he hadn't possessed before. The third year player finally seemed to be maturing and coming in to his own. Then he left Sunday night's game with a groin injury, putting his status for Sunday's game in doubt (as of this writing). The loss of Apple could be a significant one for the Giants' defense. Not only is the position thin behind Apple and Janoris Jenkins, but the defensive scheme is built around blitzing out of man coverage. From a straight matchup perspective, the Giants best chance might be to use Jenkins and Curtis Riley to double-cover DeAndre Hopkins, while using Apple's size and speed to try and lock down the fast but undersized Will Fuller.If Apple is out, the Giants will likely look to B.W. Webb to cover Fuller, but he doesn't have the physical tools that Apple does.If the Texans are able to force the Giants out of their defensive scheme to account for the loss of Apple, perhaps by playing two safeties deep to counter both Fuller and Hopkins, it will likely spell trouble for the defense. Where is the pass rush? Perhaps the defense's biggest Achilles heel has been their utter lack of a pass rush without Olivier Vernon. Vernon suffered an ankle injury in practice before the fourth preseason game, and has yet to get back on the field. Without Vernon, the Giants have been unable to muster any kind of a pass rush or consistently pressure quarterbacks. When they are able to pressure passers, it is usually through some sort of blitz package White Phil Simms Jerseys , which could be compromised if Apple misses the game. The best option, obviously, would be for a healthy return by Vernon. The Giants could also stand to get rookie edge rusher Lorenzo Carter more involved with the defense as well. Carter is lightning quick off the snap and has speed that not even Vernon can match, as well as length to engage and defeat blockers first. Carter is still raw and developing as an NFL player -- his incredible athleticism allowed Georgia to use him in a wide variety of roles, but that kept him from developing as a more specialized player might. But despite that, his explosiveness needs to be utilized by the defense, even if Vernon does return. With the secondary possibly weakened by injury, and Curtis Riley still learning the free safety position, the Giants need to find a way to pressure the quarterback, if at all possible without blitzing. Being able to do so might change the entire complexion of the defense. Dan and Chris react to the first day of legal tampering"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections New York Giants NewsGiants Training Camp 2016Giants vs. Eagles 2015, Week 17PodcastsBig Blue View RadioGiants Free Agency 2019[Podcast] Dan and Chris react to quiet start for Giants in free agencyNew,25commentsDan and Chris react to the first day of legal tamperingEDTShareTweetShareShare[Podcast] Dan and Chris react to quiet start for Giants in free agencyGeoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsThe 2019 NFL Free Agency is underway — well, almost. We are in the “Legal Tampering Period” in which teams can talk to (soon to be) free agents and come to agreements on contracts Phil Simms Jerseys 2019 , but are not yet allowed to put pen to paper. Things have been quiet for the New York Giants, who, to our knowledge, have not yet legally tampered with any free agents. However, there have already been some big moves made and eye-opening numbers thrown around elsewhere in the NFL. And unfortunately for the Giants, some of those names and numbers impact free agents fans have targeted to be options to fill holes on the roster in advance of the 2019 NFL Draft. So with Giants’ adjacent news afoot, Dan and Chris reacted. In this podcast: All quiet on the Giants frontThe boom in the safety market - Landon Collins- Tyrann Mathieu- Adrian Amos The Giants’ remaining options at safety, and what interest they might have. - Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix- Antoine Bethea - Tre BostonEDGE rushers getting big money- Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith to Green BayThe Giants’ options to replace Olivier Vernon - Markus Golden- Shaq Barrett - Nick PerryBig-money being thrown around at offensive tackles - Trent Brown- Ju’waan James - Bobby HartWhat will happen with Daryl Williams? You can listen to the episode of the podcast here or with the embedded player below:The Big Blue View Crew will be back to bring free agency news to you and react to it as we get it. There could be multiple podcasts over the coming days, so subscribe to get them as we release them!Where to subscribeYou can find and subscribe to Big Blue View radio from the show’s home page.You can find all the shows on our Big Blue View Radio Hub Page.You can also find the shows and subscribe on all your favorite podcast apps:Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSSFinally, be sure to check out the home page for all of the shows across the expanding Vox Media Podcast Network.]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/56451/2019-ed-oliver-jersey Mon, 29 Apr 2019 08:12:54 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/56451/2019-ed-oliver-jersey <![CDATA[2019 Ed Oliver Jersey]]> ORCHARD PARK 2019 Ed Oliver Jersey , N.Y. (AP) — Coach Sean McDermott knows the Buffalo Bills aren’t going to win too many more games if they keep allowing opponents to start drives at midfield — or beyond.“That wasn’t part of the game plan, for them to start at the 48,” McDermott said, sarcastically.Three turnovers by rookie quarterback Josh Allen, coupled with a series of special teams coverage breakdowns led to the Bills squandering a 14-3lead in a 27-23 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.Though the Jets took their first and only lead on Elijah McGuire’s touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 1:17 remaining, McDermott said the trouble began much earlier when the Bills kept providing New York opportunities.Allen’s first two turnovers on a lost fumble and an interception committed inside Bills territory, not only ended Buffalo scoring opportunities, but led to a Jets field goal.And then there were Buffalo’s special teams meltdowns, which led to Andre Roberts finishing with 176 yards on five kickoff returns.“There’s a recipe to winning in this league and it starts by taking care of the football, giving yourself a chance with good field position,” McDermott said. “We were shooting ourselves in the foot. That’s really the story of the game right there.”Buffalo dropped to 4-9 and will finish with a losing record for just the second time in five seasons, and a year after making the playoffs to end a 17-year postseason drought. Expectations were lower for the Bills this season, given the commitment they made to rebuilding through youth last offseason.The lack of experience has shown for a team starting five first- or second-year players on offense, and four more on defense.Each time the Bills appeared to gain momentum, they handed it back to the Jets.After Isaiah McKenzie scored on a 15-yard run to put Buffalo up 14-3, Roberts followed with a 51-yard kickoff return, which led to Jason Myers hitting a 21-yard field goal.After Buffalo’s Stephen Hauschka hit a 31-yard field goal to regain the 14-point edge, Roberts burst up the right sideline for an 86-yard return, which set up Trenton Cannon’s 4-yard touchdown.And after Hauschka hit a 36-yard field goal with 2:31 left to put Buffalo up 23-20, Roberts not only returned the next kickoff 22 yards to New York’s 34, but the Jets picked up another 5 yards due to an illegal formation penalty called against Buffalo.Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold then proceeded to march the Jets on a nine-play, 61-yard drive to win it, including a perfectly placed 37-yard pass to Robby Anderson White Tremaine Edmunds Jerseys , who made an over-the-shoulder catch up the right sideline.Members of the Bills’ defense blamed themselves for allowing the Jets to score.And yet, Buffalo limited New York to 248 yards offense and 15 first downs. The difference was the Jets having eight drives start at their 35 or better, including five inside Buffalo territory.Allen blamed himself.“I’ve got to be smarter with the football,” said Allen, who now has nine interceptions and two lost fumbles, versus five touchdowns passing and five rushing.Allen’s first interception came when he was scrambling to his right and, rather than throwing the ball away, floated a pass back toward the field and was easily intercepted by Trumaine Johnson. Allen’s second interception came on Buffalo’s final drive, when he tried to force a pass to Zay Jones, only to have it picked off by Johnson.“Yeah, he’s got to learn from those,” McDermott said. “At times, he’s tried to do too much. That’s tough living there.” Heading into the 2019 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills have 15 players with expiring contracts. Those 15 free agents have varying ability to test the free market, and two of those players have already announced their retirement from football. With nearly $84 million in free salary cap space at present, the Bills definitely have financial flexibility for the first time in a few years. With plenty of positions in need of upgrading, that financial flexibility will be tested quickly. Of the Bills’ free agents, which should the team consider bringing back into the fold? Often, re-signing players becomes an off-season priority; however, on a 6-10 team, it’s possible that general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott will want to go in a different direction at multiple positions. Even with that in mind, the Bills do have a few free agents worth re-signing.Here is an informal ranking of those 15 players who hit free agency this off-season.The Not-Quite-Free AgentsDE Eddie YarbroughLS Reid FergusonBoth of the aforementioned players are exclusive-rights free agents (ERFA), meaning that they only become free agents if the Bills choose to non-tender them. Given the fact that the tender is equivalent to the league-minimum salary for the player’s age Josh Allen Jerseys 2019 , it’s rare that teams don’t tender their own ERFAs, as they at least serve to fill rosters and offer good competition in training camp. Both Yarbrough and Ferguson offer more than that, and while Yarbrough’s job is one that might be up for grabs, Ferguson is safe. Both should be tendered contract offers, which they will then have to sign.CB Lafayette PittsP Matt DarrTE Logan ThomasThese three are restricted free agents (RFA), which is a bit different than an ERFA. Restricted free agents are players with exactly three years of NFL service time (service time is at least six games on a 53-man roster; practice squad time does not count). These players can be tendered contracts by their teams, and if they choose to sign a deal with another team, their former club has the right to match the deal or let them go. If the player leaves his old team, then draft-pick compensation goes from the player’s new squad to his old one.There are three levels of tenders for restricted free agents. A first-round tender (estimated at $4.429 million by OvertheCap.com) means that the player’s new team gives his old one a first-round pick in exchange for signing him. A second-round tender ($3.11 million) and an original-round tender ($2.035 million) mean what their names suggest, as well.Given the level of production, or lack thereof, from all three players, offering even an original-round tender seems wasteful on Buffalo’s part. Pitts is a solid special-teams player, but he isn’t worth $2 million, and since he entered the league as an undrafted free agent, there would be no draft pick compensation coming to Buffalo if he were to sign elsewhere. The same goes for Matt Darr, who was pretty dreadful in a short stint in Buffalo. Logan Thomas was initially drafted in the fourth round as a quarterback, but I doubt that a team would forfeit a fourth-round pick for him as a tight end, and I don’t think the Bills should pay him $2 million to be the team’s third tight end. All three of these players should be elsewhere in 2019.As a note of clarification, Spotrac lists Logan Thomas as an unrestricted free agent, but we believe this to be an error. Thomas has only appeared on a game roster in three seasons—2014, 2017, and 2018—so he is not unrestricted White Josh Allen Jerseys , even though he has technically been in the NFL since the 2014 NFL season. He spent 2015 and 2016 on practice squads (with the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Bills) or inactive on game days (with the Dolphins in 2015 and the Bills in 2016), but did not accrue enough time in either season to add an extra year to his service time.Moving OnCB Vontae DavisSpotrac still lists him with the Bills, which makes—(In Vontae’s honor, I quit halfway through writing that sentence. I just didn’t think I could write it to my full capability. I hope you’ll understand. Meanwhile, I will look to capitalize on it via FanDuel).G-C Ryan GroyG John MillerT Jordan MillsYes, I’m suggesting plenty of turnover with the offensive line, a group that usually functions best when playing as a cohesive unit. That cohesion takes time to build, so advocating for so much change may seem foolish. However, there is one thing more important than cohesion, and that’s talent. Buffalo needs a serious upgrade up front, and none of these three played well enough in 2018 to justify coming back in 2019. Mills has started 48 consecutive games at right tackle for Buffalo (49 if you include the Wild Card playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars last year), but he has never graded out as better than average. He struggles in pass protection, often losing against quicker rushers on the edge, and he was part of a unit that saw a massive dip in rushing effectiveness this season. Miller lost his starting job last season to Vladimir Ducasse, only to gain a starting gig this year thanks to Richie Incognito’s release. After a terrible rookie season, Miller bounced back to have a solid second year. His third and fourth seasons have been plagued by inconsistency. It’s time for Buffalo to move on.Groy played well in relief of Eric Wood during the 2016 season, well enough to earn a two-year contract extension after the Los Angeles Rams signed the restricted free agent to an offer sheet. Buffalo matched the deal and used Groy as a backup. He was far less effective this season in relief of the injured Russell Bodine than he was playing in Wood’s place. I expect that the Bills will allow the veteran to leave this year.WR Deonte ThompsonBrought back mid-season for his third stint with the Bills, Thompson was ineffective when in the lineup, catching only three of ten targets on the year. The 30-year old receiver could not crack the lineup when it was full of veterans like Andre Holmes and Kelvin Benjamin, and when the team decided to go young at the position, it was clear that Thompson is not in the team’s future plans.Think About ItRB Taiwan JonesThe special-teams captain suffered a gruesome injury in a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers Kyle Williams Jerseys 2019 , and he was placed on injured reserve a few weeks later. Jones does little for the team offensively, and his contributions on special teams are replaceable. However, the coverage unit definitely suffered this season, and if the coaching staff decides that his absence was a big part of that, he may come back. We’ll have to wait and see.OL Jeremiah SirlesWith Groy set to depart via free agency, the Bills could make use of a competent, versatile veteran such as Sirles, who slotted in as the team’s sixth offensive lineman for much of the season. Just as Groy was, Sirles is a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type of offensive lineman who is best in a reserve role. If he can be had for the veteran’s minimum, he would be worth keeping around for next season. If the Bills decide that they’d rather turn the page and go with a full-on youth movement at the position, then Sirles is gone. However, he’s at least worth considering.Sign Me UpDT Jordan PhillipsThe former second-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins was a bust in South Beach. After his release, the Bills claimed him on waivers, and he added depth to an already solid interior defensive line. With veteran Kyle Williams set to retire, retaining Phillips should be a priority. Keeping him with Star Lotulelei and Harrison Phillips would give the Bills a solid trio on the inside, thereby mitigating the need to add to that position via the draft. If the team can spend its draft capital on other areas of greater need (offensive line, wide receiver, tight end), it will be tremendously helpful. Phillips had 19 tackles, two of which went for a loss, and three passes defended. He played no fewer than 17 snaps in a game this season and no more than 34, so he performed fairly well given his limited role. Having Phillips around to maintain a similar snap count into next season would be worth it for the Bills.LB Lorenzo AlexanderThe venerable veteran proved that he still has plenty left in the tank in 2018. Alexander played in all 16 games White Kyle Williams Jerseys , combining to make 74 tackles. He also added 6.5 sacks, ten quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, two fumbles forced, nine pass breakups, and two interceptions. He played linebacker, he played on the defensive line, he covered kicks, and he led the locker room. A one-year deal that’s fair for both sides (maybe a slight raise from his 2018 cap number, which was $3.6 million) should be sufficient to keep one of Buffalo’s defensive leaders in the mix. He’s definitely worth it, and he wants to be back. Management wants him back, as well. Make it happen, One Bills Drive!...Pretty Please?DT Kyle WilliamsAh, we can dream. Good luck in retirement, Meatball—thank you for representing the organization in a top-notch way for 13 seasons, and thank you for giving your all. As a fan, it was a joy to watch your career!]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50233/white-brandon-copeland-jerseys Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:59:04 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50233/white-brandon-copeland-jerseys <![CDATA[White Brandon Copeland Jerseys]]> Thursday Night Football White Brandon Copeland Jerseys , Week 10. Tonight the Carolina Panthers travel north to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.This is an interesting matchup of teams that are clones in some ways and polar opposites in others. The 5-2-1 Steelers come into the game hot, having won four straight. They currently sit atop the standings in the AFC North. The 6-2 Panthers also come in hot, winners of five of their last six games and sitting in second place in the NFC South.These two teams are very evenly matched. The Steelers are ranked 12th in the NFL in yards allowed per game; the Panthers are ranked 11th. The Steelers are ranked 21st in passing yards allowed per game; the Panthers 19th. The Steelers are ranked 6th in rushing yards allowed per game; the Panthers, 8th. The Steelers are ranked 15th in points allowed per game; the Panthers are ranked 12th. It’s like looking in a mirror for these two defenses. On the other hand, the offenses couldn’t be more different. The Steelers make their living through the air Brandon Copeland Jerseys 2019 , with the 4th most passing yards but only the 22nd most rushing yards in the NFL. The Panthers run and run and run some more. They have the the 2nd most rushing yards but only the 22nd most passing yards in the NFL.Two teams, mirror images on defense, complete opposites on offense. This should be a fascinating clash of two of the NFL’s better teams. It’s the Panthers and the Steelers in an intriguing matchup in tonight’s Thursday Night Football action. Enjoy the game everybody. Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan spent some time looking ahead to 2019 during a media session on Thursday by referencing the ability to use voluminous cap space to make moves that can “springboard this thing forward.”Maccagnan wasn’t only talking about next year, however. He also discussed the current team, which has a 3-5 record while breaking in rookie quarterback Sam Darnold. Maccagnan said that the team isn’t happy with that record, but that it may be an unavoidable part of developing Darnold.“I don’t know if you go in with the mindset of White Trumaine Johnson Jerseys , ‘Hey, we’re just going to write this one off,'” Maccagnan said, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. “We’re like everybody else: We want to win football games. … It’s not enjoyable to go out and lose games every week. I think anybody who has gone through that, or is currently going through that, it’s not a great experience. That’s not what we get paid to do. But I do think that you’re going to have to go through that maturation process at some point in time with the quarterback.”Darnold has thrown 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 55.2 percent of his passes Trumaine Johnson Jerseys 2019 , so there have been more than a few lumps during that process. Maccagnan raved about Darnold’s approach to the game, “his passion to be good and his competitiveness” during the chat with reporters, however, and it’s clear that the Jets believe his future is very bright.]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50232/new-england-patriots-links-90518-pats-work-on-broken-play Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:51:25 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50232/new-england-patriots-links-90518-pats-work-on-broken-play <![CDATA[New England Patriots links 9/05/18 - Pats work on broken-play]]>  recovery White Danny Shelton Jerseys , dealing with unknowns of Week 1 TEAM TALKGame Preview: Texans at Patriots. Broadcast info, Series history, Tale of the tape; More.Patriots announced today that they have re-signed OL Brian Schwenke to the 53-man roster and released WR Amara Darboh.Erik Scalavino shares the practice news, notes and locker-room buzz from Tuesday at Gillette: Patriots’ LT Trent Brown has an excused absence; he will return Wednesday and play Sunday, per source.Paul Perillo tackles this week’s Ask PFW Mailbag: Breaking down the roster.Press Conference transcript: Rob Gronkowski.Conference call transcript: Bill O’Brien.Angelique Fiske reports the epilogue of ‘Tom vs. Time’ will air today at noon on Facebook Watch.Press Pass: James White and Stephon Gilmore talk Texans. (1 min. video)LOCAL LINKSMike Reiss mentions the Patriots using TE coach Nick Caley as a ‘broken-play coach’ to help the offense stay on the same page when Tom Brady needs to extend a play. /Interesting.Nicole Yang notes Texans coach Bill O’Brien thinks Brady is moving better now than ever. “I think he’s actually improved.”Matt Dolloff passes along some nuggets from Tuesday’s practice: Trent Brown missed his second practice, but according to Adam Schefter those were excused absences.Matt Dolloff talks about the unique steps the Patriots are taking to prep for the dynamic Texans.Tom E. Curran hears from Devin McCourty who says Week 1 is all about dealing with the unknown.Ryan Hannable is concerned over the amount of uncertainty surrounding the team heading into the season. /Especially when every other team is so many certainties.Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) What will the 2018 Patriots unveil Sunday?Michael Hurley explains it’s time to take the Houston Texans seriously.Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) A look back at Patriots-Texans 2017.Matt Vautour believes the Patriots will see a healthy, motivated Deshaun Watson on Sunday.Andrew Callahan wonders if Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel will both play on Sunday.Rich Thompson sees the Patriots backfield taking the committee approach once again.Kevin Duffy presents his 2018 Patriots preview and the path to another title.Phil Perry notes Rob Gronkowski insists he’s ‘super satisfied’ with new incentive-laden contract.Kevin Duffy talks about the Week 1 matchup between Stephon Gilmore and DeAndre Hopkins.Stephen Hewitt reports Stephon Gilmore is relishing having a leading role.Matt Vautour ranks Patriots 2018 games from easiest to hardest.Mike Reiss shares this primer on his personal blog - First step for a reporter covering a team: Get familiar with opposing depth chart. /Good read.Ryan Hannable recaps Patrick Chung on WEEI: Bill Belichick has gotten nicer over the years.Ryan Hannable highlights WEEI guest Boomer Esiason who predicted the 2018 Patriots will go ‘somewhere around 10-6, 11-5 at worst’.MassLive experts make NFL season picks.Stephen Hewitt points out that all NFL dynasties come to an end, and so will the Patriots.Kevin Duffy Patriots Notebook: Trent Brown has ‘excused absence’ from practice.CBS Boston reports Merriam-Webster adds GOAT to the dictionary and references Tom Brady.NATIONAL NEWSAndy Benoit (SI) What’s there to doubt? 10 Thoughts on the 2018 Patriots.Cameron Filipe (FootballZebras) Week 1 referee assignments. Texans at Patriots: Tony Corrente.Bill Barnwell (ESPN) How every team can win Super Bowl LIII: Making the case for all 32.Cynthia Frelund (NFL.com) AFC win-total projections.Rick Gosselin (TalkOfFameSports) Who will be the NFL MVP?Andrew Brandt (SI) Recent NFL superstar contracts have eye-popping numbers, but aren’t really groundbreaking.Tom Mead (InsideThePylon) Is team turnover in the playoffs predictable?Conor Orr (SI) Hard Knocks finale: We laughed, we cried, we learned about insider trading.Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) The NFL misses Peyton Manning. Their upset win over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI turned the New England Patriots and especially their quarterback into superstars. But while the team shined bright off the field, it failed to do the same on it. Due to this, the defending Super Bowl champions finished the 2002 season with a 9-7 record, and losing a playoff spot on a tie breaker.Heading into 2003, changes were needed and the most notable came at the safety position. In March, the Patriots signed veteran free agent Rodney Harrison, in September — five days before the season opener — they released team captain Lawyer Milloy. The move was widely questioned and, coupled with a 2-2 start, led to speculation about the players’ relationship with their coach.However, the Patriots bounced back and went on to win their final 12 regular season games to earn another playoff berth. The team then proceeded to eliminate the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts before traveling to Houston to take on the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers.Super Bowl XXXVIII: Carolina Panthers vs. New England PatriotsDate: February 1 Danny Shelton Jerseys 2019 , 2004Stadium: Reliant Stadium, Houston TXFinal Score: Carolina Panthers 29, New England Patriots 32Houston’s Reliant Stadium — nowadays is named NRG Stadium — saw the two best teams in the NFL deliver a game for the ages. Early on, it did not look like that would be the case: Almost the entire first half was dominated by defense. The Patriots still had a chance to take the lead on their first drive but Adam Vinatieri missed 31-yard field goal attempt. This was the closest either team came to scoring in a first quarter that saw six punts and four 3-and-outs.The slugfest continued in the second quarter. After punting on the first possession of the quarter, and subsequently forcing another 3-and-out, the Patriots were again in prime position to take the lead. And once again Vinatieri missed a field goal attempt, as his 36-yard try was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Three plays later, though, linebacker Mike Vrabel sacked Panthers’ quarterback Jake Delhomme, who fumbled the ball. It was recovered by Richard Seymour, who set up New England’s offense with a first down at the Carolina 20-yard line.Four plays after the takeaway, Tom Brady connected with wide receiver Deion Branch to give the game its first points with 3:10 to go in the first half. Carolina had amassed -8 yards of offense when the Patriots took the lead. Yet, the NFC Champion began driving down the field, tying the game with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Delhomme to Steve Smith.New England responded with a touchdown of its own: The Patriots drove 78 yards in 36 seconds, capped by Brady’s second touchdown pass of the day. This time, Houston-born David Givens was on the receiving end of it.The first half was still not over, though. After a Vinatieri squib kick, which was returned to the Carolina 47-yard line, the Panthers’ Steven Davis ran for a 21-yard gain to set up John Kasay’s 50-yard field goal. Thus, the Patriots entered halftime up 14-10. After a scoreless first 27 minutes, the game saw 24 points being scored within a three-minute span.The second half began like the first one: Neither team was able to move the ball effectively. At the end of a scoreless third quarter White Josh Gordon Jerseys , however, the Patriots found themselves deep in Carolina territory. Two plays into the final period, Antowain Smith rushed for a touchdown to give New England a 21-10 lead – and kick off some of the most spectacular 15 minutes in NFL history.The game, which had started as a defensive battle, turned into a shootout. The Panthers, down 11, answered the Patriots’ touchdown with an 81-yard, two minute drive that ended with a 33-yard DeShaun Foster touchdown run. A two-point conversion failed; the score remained 21-16.New England’s offense responded with another long series, going from its own 27 to the Carolina 9-yard line in nine plays and four-and-a-half minutes. However, the team once again failed to end a drive on the scoreboard as a Brady pass intended for tight end Christian Fauria was intercepted in the end zone.To make matters worse, the Panthers were able to take the lead three plays later. Jake Delhomme connected with wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad on a 85-yard touchdown pass to give head coach John Fox’s team a 22-21 lead (another two-point attempt failed).Once again, the Patriots answered with a touchdown: After a four-minute drive, Tom Brady found linebacker/tight end Mike Vrabel in the endzone with 2:55 left in regulation. A two-point run by Kevin Faulk was successful and the Patriots were up 29-22.The game, however, was still far from over. The Panthers drove 80 yards in 1:30 to tie the game at 29. Then came the kickoff. John Kasay kicked the football out of bounds setting up the Patriots on their own 40-yard line with 1:08 left in the game. Brady then completed four of five pass attempts to set up a 41-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal attempt. When the pressure was highest, Vinatieri delivered and the Patriots went ahead 32-29 with only nine seconds left in the game.The Panthers failed to get back into field goal range and New England won its second Lombardi Trophy.Super Bowl XXXVIII had all one could have hoped for: great play and great drama. While the game started slow, both teams combined to still gain 868 yards of offense (Patriots 481, Panthers 387). In the end, New England made just a few plays more than its opponent and thus secured a second World Championship in three years.
 
 
]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50231/rookie-report-evaluating-the-giants-rookies-through-the-first-four-weeks Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:43:02 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50231/rookie-report-evaluating-the-giants-rookies-through-the-first-four-weeks <![CDATA[Rookie Report: Evaluating the Giants rookies through the first four weeks]]>  The New York Giants are a quarter of the way through the 2018 regular season already. While the 1-3 record is a bit of a disappointment White Michael Strahan Jerseys , there’s been some optimism around the rookie class. With that in mind, we can take a look at how each of the Giants’ rookies have performed through the first four weeks of the season.Saquon BarkleySo far the second overall pick has been as advertised. Barkley has been able to break a big play, but the Giants also have the fourth-highest rate of runs that have gained negative yards. He’s fifth in the league in touches and seventh in yards from scrimmage.Barkley is second in Football Outsiders’ rushing DYAR and sixth in DVOA, while the Giants’ offensive line ranks 31st in adjusted line yards and averages just 2.0 rushing yards before contact. His standard success rate, which uses the percentage of yards needed that were gained, is 43 percent per Football Outsiders, which ranks 23rd among 38 running backs with at least 32 carries. Barkley’s success rate by EPA — the percentage of runs that have positive expected points added — is just 35.6 percent.Through four weeks, the repeated sentiment from the offseason has held true — Barkley has been excellent, but it doesn’t matter without other pieces of a functional offense. He has at least 100 yards from scrimmage in all four games this season, but those yards haven’t been able to spark the offense single-handedly. Barkley’s win probability added totals negative-8.6 percent on running plays and just 3.9 percent on passing plays. He’s been worth minus-2.21 expected points added on the ground just 2.0 through the air.One place where Barkley’s usage could continue to improve is how he’s used in the passing game. If he’s used more in the slot or the outside or even just in front of the line of scrimmage, he could be put in more space to do more damage. Over half of Barkley’s targets have come behind the line of scrimmage and 83 percent of his targets have come no further than two yards down the field. That’s fine for a normal running back, but Barkley wasn’t drafted to be a normal running back. Instead of running the ball with Barkley on first down, throw it to him.These issues aren’t the fault of Barkley, but they come with trying to get the most efficient use out of a running back picked second overall.Will HernandezHernandez has gotten better each week. He was at fault for some of the pressures against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, but that could be said of all five offensive linemen who played in that game. Hernandez was expected to be a force in the run game, and that’s come already. Per Sharp Football Stats, Barkley’s highest success rate has come running behind the left guard.source: Sharp Football StatsThis holds up by EPA, too. Among the run gaps, Barkley only has positive EPA behind the right and left guards. But he’s been much better behind the left guard — eight carries, 6.1 EPA (0.76 average), and 62.5 percent success rate — than right guard — 10 carries, 1.17 EPA (0.12 average), and 40 percent success rate.But where he’s really developed is in the passing game, a welcome addition to a line that desperately needed it. Hernandez has been able to use his strength to keep defenders away from the quarterback, but his situational awareness has also been an important factor to his early success. He never looks lost on a play, again a welcome trait along this line.Take this play here against the Saints this past week. There’s pre-snap communication between Manning, Hernandez, center John Greco, and left tackle Nate Solder. They recognize a blitz is probably coming from No. 24 and they adjust the protection for it. At the snap, Hernandez kicked to his left — where two rushers are likely to come from, and they do — but he also prepared himself to adjust in case the defensive tackle to his right came at him. Still, he was able to take the defensive end who looped to him and kept him away from the quarterback.It’s something relatively simple — having clear communication and knowing the assignment — but there’s a low bar to be judged against for this offensive line. Though even without grading on a curve, Hernandez has continued to be excellent. Lorenzo CarterLorenzo Carter has been given a bigger role than previously expected because of the injury to Olivier Vernon through the first four weeks of the season. Carter has played 40.6 percent of the defensive snaps as the No. 3 edge rusher behind Kareem Martin and Connor Barwin.Carter has always been a good athlete — he had the No. 2 speed score and was No. 1 in SPARQ among this year’s class of edge rushers — but he hasn’t always been able to translate that athleticism into production. That was the case in college when he had just 14.5 sacks in four years and it still remains something to work on in the NFL.At Georgia, Carter had a role that was more of a traditional linebacker who could rush the passer. But so far with the Giants, Carter has transitioned to full-time edge rusher — he has just three snaps in coverage against the pass this season. When Carter can use his speed, good things can happen.Against the Houston Texans, Carter had a pressure by lining up in a wide-9 technique, running full speed at right tackle Julie’n Davenport and flushing Dashaun Waston out of the pocket.He got his lone sack of the season by fighting Davenport to the outside, then beating him around the edge.But there are still times when he doesn’t really have a move and can easily be stopped by an opposing tackle like he was in many cases against the New Orleans— here against Ryan Ramczyk.Carter is second on the team with three quarterback hits and he’s already matched his four-year college total with one pass breakup. He wasn’t supposed to get this much time on the field this early and we’ll see how or if his role changes with the return of Vernon, but there have been signs of development in this time with room for much more. B.J. HillThroughout training camp, Hill was a breakout star. He was treated as a clear-cut starter in the preseason and played limited snaps. He hasn’t really been given that role in the regular season, though. Through four games, he’s played just 32.8 percent of the defensive snaps.But, Hill has made an impact when he’s on the field. He leads the team with two sacks — one each of the past two weeks — and he’s done it from the interior and the edge. He also moves extremely well for a 300-plus pound lineman. Against the Saints Michael Strahan Jerseys 2019 , he got his sack when he and Dalvin Tomlinson were 2-on-1 against the center which eventually gave Hill a clear run to Drew Brees. It wasn’t beating a blocker like his sack on the edge against Houston, but there are not many interior defenders who would have been able to close on Brees as Hill did.Like Carter, Hill could see his playing time decrease even more with the addition of Josh Mauro, who is returning from a four-game suspension. But while that scenario could help Carter with his development, Hill has already shown he should be getting more playing time than what he’s already been given.The othersKyle Lauletta, the Giants’ fourth-round pick, has not been on the active game day roster yet, so he’s no immediate threat to take over at quarterback. But should the Giants continue to struggle on offense, it would not be a surprise to see him get a look during the second half of the season.Fifth-round pick R.J. McIntosh has been on the reserve/non-football illness list since the beginning of September. He likely won’t see any action until 2019.Sean Chandler, an undrafted rookie safety out of Temple, was a surprise player to make the roster out of training camp. He’s only been in on one defensive snap (he made a tackle) but has played over half of the team’s special teams snaps.Tae Davis, an undrafted linebacker out of Tennessee-Chatanooga, has not seen the field on defense, but has played on 36 special teams snaps. This game was something. Each week when this article gets put together, there’s one or two really big plays and the rest are meaningful but don’t have a massive impact on the result. That was not the case in the 33-31 New York Giants loss to the Carolina Panthers. There were numerous big plays and big swings, especially in the second half. These are the biggest plays in the game, by Win Probability Added (WPA) and Expected Points Added (EPA). Explainers here (WPA) and here (EPA).Both WPA and EPA presented from the perspective of the offense.Not so special teams - 14:21, second quarterEPA: -7.22 | WPA: -16.6 percentSo this happened.The Giants have struggled to find success on punt returns, so Odell Beckham Jr. got the call in this game. He had a 15-yard return early in the game, but this play was as bad as they get and Beckham wasn’t trying to return it. In an attempt to push the closest defender away and let the ball get into the end zone, the ball instead brushed off Beckham’s leg, bounced around, an in another comedy of errors with more Giants trying to jump on the ball, it ended up in the end zone in Carolina’s possession for a touchdown.When you need something done 鈥?- 6:48, second quarterEPA: 5.54 | WPA: 18.3 percentIn an interview with ESPN that aired pre-game, Odell Beckham said he was disappointed in the lack of deep passes for the offense this season. So he did it himself. On a second-and-18, Beckham took a backward pass from Eli Manning and unloaded a throw with a defender in his face across the field to an open Saquon Barkley for a 57-yard touchdown. Trick plays with wide receiver throws often create ample space for the throw, but the degree of difficulty on this throw was not easy. The play not only gave the offense a needed boost, it saved the Giants from a likely punt following a 2nd and 18.A poor defensive hold - 4:22, third quarterEPA: 3.08 | WPA: 10.7 percentCarolina lined up to punt on fourth-and-8 from the Giants’ 41-yard line, but an encroachment penalty on Kareem Martin moved it up to a fourth-and-3 and the Panthers chose to keep the offense on the field. The result of the play was initially incomplete, but a hold was called on B.W. Webb away from the throw. The five-yard penalty allowed the Panthers drive to continue and Webb’s extra 15-yard penalty for making contact with an official made it worse. Three easily avoidable penalties could have cost the Giants, but they ended up not mattering all that much because...Dueling interceptions, part 1Cam Newton to Curtis Riley - 3:44, third quarterEPA: minus-4.3 | WPA: minus-11.7 percent...three plays later Cam Newton threw an interception. After a holding penalty, the Panthers faced a second-and-20 at the Giants’ 26. Newton had time to throw and ripped a pass up the middle toward rookie tight end Ian Thomas, but the throw was off-line (or Thomas didn’t cut his route correctly) and the ball was placed perfectly into the waiting arms of Curtis Riley, who returned it for another 12 yards.Eli Manning to Mike Adams - 1:38, third quarterEPA: minus-5.94 | WPA: minus-12 percentBut not to be outdone, Eli Manning gave the ball right back to the Panthers on the following drive. This first-and-10 play looks like an RPO — the right side of the line plus a pulling Will Hernandez run blocked — with the read based on the pre-snap box count. With six men on the line and one more directly behind them, Manning decided to throw — not the wrong decision with one-on-one coverage outside. But at the snap, pressure got through on the right side and Mike Adams, one of the Panthers on the line, dropped back into coverage. With the need to get the ball out quickly White Will Hernandez Jerseys , Manning threw into what he thought would be an open window for Beckham one-on-one. But Manning never saw Adams drop back and the throw went straight to the defender. Catch CMC - 11:28, fourth quarterEPA: 3.39 | WPA: 13.1 percentCarolina went nine plays and 68 yards on the drive following the interception, capped off by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey. It was a beautiful play design by the Panthers to get McCaffrey into space. Carolina came out in shotgun with a 2x2 formation and McCaffrey in the backfield to the right. At the snap, the two receivers on the right side ran slants to the inside, which pulled all the defenders away from the sideline. That opened everything up for McCaffrey to take a swing pass, turn the corner, and score.The touchdown gave the Panthers a two-score lead, 27-16.Dueling interceptions, part 2Eli Manning to Mike Adams, again - 10:41, fourth quarterEPA: minus-3.74 | WPA: minus-11.3 percentIt didn’t get much better for the Giants on the next drive — one that lasted only two plays ended with another Eli Manning interception. After a 1-yard Saquon Barkley run on first down, the Giants faced a second-and-9. The Giants tried to go downfield again — something that worked well in this game — but Manning didn’t really step into the throw and the pass floated up the field instead of the sideline where Sterling Shepard was located. Again, Mike Adams was in perfect position for the interception.Cam Newton to Janoris Jenkins - 9:08, fourth quarterEPA: minus-5.86 | WPA: minus-22.1 percentBut, Newton would not be outdone. While Newton threw the first pick of the game and Manning answered on the following drive, the two switched roles in the fourth quarter. Three plays after the Panthers picked off Manning, Newton threw another interception intended for Ian Thomas. With pressure from Landon Collins in his face, Newton threw outside of Thomas and into the waiting arms of Janoris Jenkins, who turned into a punt returner and gained another 29 yards of zigging and zagging after the pick, down to the Carolina 34.Beckham gets one - 8:16, fourth quarterEPA: 3.65 | WPA: 13.1 percentIt only took the Giants two plays to find the end zone. The first was another one-yard run from Barkley. But the second was a 33-yard strike to Odell Beckham for his first receiving touchdown of the season. It was a perfect strike to Beckham in the end zone and the second-most improbable completion of the week across the entire league, per Next Gen Stats, with a completion probability of just 15.1 percent. Beckham came close to a receiving touchdown earlier in the game, but a great defensive play by James Bradberry knocked the ball out of Beckham’s hands. With Bradberry again in great coverage here, Beckham was able to hold on.The touchdown and the successful two-point conversion brought the Giants within three points — 27-24. All the Wright moves - 3:27, fourth quarterEPA: 3.02 | WPA: 5.8 percentOn the next drive, the Panthers faced a fourth-and-1 from the Giants’ 44. Carolina kept the offense out on the field and the Giants expected a QB sneak. They lined up seven players on the line of scrimmage and sent all of them. Christian McCaffrey ran to the flat out of the backfield, which pulled the shallow defender, Eli Apple. That left Jarius Wright wide open with Curtis Riley a step slow to cover. The deep pass gained 27 yards. Carolina would eventually kick a field goal to go up six points with just over two minutes remaining. Barkley breaks free - 1:15, fourth quarterEPA: 3.57 percent | WPA: 2.2 percentThere’s a theory for a leading team that it’s better to be up three late in the game, than up by four, five, or six points. With the typical timidness of NFL play-calling, a team trailing by three is more likely to play for a field goal to tie instead of playing aggressively for a touchdown to win. But a team down by four-to-six points knows it needs a touchdown will have no choice but to have that aggressive mentality.That’s what happened when the Panthers went from up three to up six and the Giants made sure to go down the field quickly. They went 75 yards in just four plays, the biggest of which was a 40-yard pass to Russell Shepard that gave the Giants a first-and-10 at the Carolina 15 with just over a minute remaining. Getting into that situation skyrocketed the Giants’ win probability, which is why the win probability for Saquon Barkley’s 15-yard touchdown catch looks so low compared to all the other plays listed.Barkley only got four targets in the game, but two of them were for the game’s biggest plays. The Giants sent Barkley out of the backfield and lucked out with defensive end Efe Obada in coverage. Obada started to rush the passer but turned in coverage once Barkley left the backfield and once that happened, it was too late. Barkley leaped into the end zone for a touchdown and the extra point gave the Giants a 31-30 lead.Gano is good - 0:06, fourth quarterEPA: 3.75 | WPA: 98.1 percentIf this game wasn’t weird enough, there was this final drive. There was the inside run on third-and-1 at the Giants’ 46 with 30 seconds left and no timeouts remaining. Even as the refs marked a first down, the Panthers didn’t have a lot of time push the ball further down the field. After a spike and incomplete pass, the Panthers stayed at the 46 and brought on Graham Gano for a game-winning 63-yard field goal — something you can see by the win probability added, didn’t have a real good chance at happening. But we all know what did happen and how this game improbably ended.]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50230/footballphiladelphia-ap-%E2%80%94-carson-wentz-has-been Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:36:06 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50230/footballphiladelphia-ap-%E2%80%94-carson-wentz-has-been <![CDATA[FOOTBALLPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Carson Wentz has been]]> cleared to return and is slated to start for the Philadelphia Eagles against Indianapolis in Week 3.Wentz tore his left ACL and LCL on Dec. 10 White Andre Reed Jerseys , 2017 in a game against the Los Angeles Rams and had surgery three days later. Backup quarterback Nick Foles led the Eagles to their first NFL title since 1960 and was Super Bowl MVP in the 41-33 victory over New England.Wentz set a single-season franchise record with 33 touchdown passes last season. The final one came a few plays after he suffered his injury.The Eagles (1-1) lost 27-21 at Tampa Bay (2-0) on Sunday.THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Neary, a center on the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad, has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and damaging property.The Simi Valley Police Department said it received several calls about an erratic driver who had hit a bus stop sign, mailboxes and trash cans on Sunday night, about two hours after the Rams’ victory over the Arizona Cardinals.The police say they stopped Neary in the described car, and he had a blood-alcohol level of .17 percent, more than double the legal limit. Neary was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s East County Jail.Neary informed the Rams about his arrest early Monday morning, coach Sean McVay said. Neary had attended the Rams’ win at the Coliseum, standing on the sideline.CLEVELAND (AP) — Josh Gordon’s strange, stuttering career will start anew in New England.Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have a new offensive toy.The Browns severed ties for good with the problematic wide receiver by trading him to the Patriots for a fifth-round draft pick on Monday, ending a relationship the team did all it could to save.The deal came together two days after the Browns reached a breaking point with Gordon, who has been suspended numerous times by the NFL for drug violations since Cleveland drafted him in 2012.Gordon played in the Browns’ season opener against Pittsburgh, but he reported to the team on Saturday with an unexplained hamstring injury after practicing all week. The Browns decided to leave him behind when they traveled to New Orleans, and later said they intended to release him.CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears presented longtime linebacker Brian Urlacher with his Ring of Excellence for being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Urlacher was recognized at halftime of the Bears’ game against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. Lance Briggs, Matt Forte, Mike Brown and Adewale Ogunleye were among a group of Urlacher’s former teammates on hand for the ceremony.Urlacher was selected by Chicago with the No. 9 pick in the 2000 draft and helped lead the Bears to four division titles while spending his entire 13-year career with the franchise. He remains the Bears’ all-time leading tackler.ATLANTA (AP) — Lawyers for LeSean McCoy have asked a judge in Georgia to throw out a lawsuit in which the former girlfriend of the Buffalo Bills running back accuses him of failing to protect her from a violent home invasion.The lawsuit filed last month by Delicia Cordon alleges that McCoy failed to protect her after she was bloodied, beaten and had $133,000 worth of jewelry stolen by an intruder at a home McCoy owns in Milton, just outside Atlanta. Cordon also alleged that McCoy would “often brutally beat his dog,” and would also “aggressively, physically discipline and beat his young son.”Lawyers for McCoy responded to the lawsuit in court filings Thursday. They said there is no basis to hold McCoy responsible for harm Cordon suffered in the home invasion. They also said the lawsuit is filled with unrelated false, salacious allegations that are meant only to embarrass McCoy and cast him in a bad light.A lawyer for Cordon did not respond Monday to an email seeking comment on the court filings.SPORTS BUSINESSPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island town council has voted to ask its departments to refrain from purchasing Nike products, one of a handful of local governments or agencies that have called for boycotts in recent weeks.The North Smithfield Town Council passed the resolution on a 3-2 vote Monday evening, Council President John Beauregard said. The resolution is nonbinding.Beauregard, a former state trooper, is upset with Nike’s decision to use former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in an ad campaign. The town’s administrator didn’t know of any specific Nike products that municipal departments are currently using.The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island said the town could be held legally and financially liable for violating the First Amendment and told members of the council: “Just don’t do it.”ANTI-DOPINGThe potential reinstatement of Russia’s anti-doping agency drew further outcry Monday, this time from a worldwide group of drug-fighting organizations that portrayed it as the result of an eleventh-hour deal designed to appease a powerful nation.The Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations lashed out at a recommendation to end the nearly three-year suspension of RUSADA. In a news release, iNADO said World Anti-Doping Agency officials had told European government representatives as recently as last week that the issue would not be decided at Thursday’s meeting of the WADA executive committee.Last Friday, however, WADA released a statement saying that its compliance review committee had recommended RUSADA’s reinstatement and that the issue would, in fact, be decided at the upcoming meeting.A day after the compliance committee’s recommendation, a key member of the panel, Olympic champion cross-country skier Beckie Scott, resigned.COLLEGESBROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota State head football coach John Stiegelmeier says he regrets allowing his team to pile up 90 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.SDSU set a school record for points in its 90-6 victory Saturday night. The Jackrabbits had 926 yards of total offense — just shy of a Football Championship Subdivision record.Stiegelmeier in remarks after the game said he was excited about the win but disappointed in how he managed the game. He said he should have slowed his team down earlier and taken out all passing plays.Stiegelmeier said he should have been more respectful toward Arkansas Pine-Bluff and apologized.CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Duke and North Carolina will collect donations starting Tuesday for areas of the state affected by Hurricane Florence.UNC will collect requested items such as nonperishable food Andre Reed Jerseys 2019 , water and cleaning supplies in a parking lot near the Smith Center from Tuesday through noon Friday. UNC football coach Larry Fedora said Monday the program’s equipment truck would deliver donations.Duke will allow fans to buy a $5 general admission ticket for next month’s game against Virginia for every three items donated from the list of requested contributions by Sept. 29. Donations can be brought to Duke’s ticket office or to designated gates at Wallace Wade Stadium on game days.SOCCERSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Earthquakes have fired first-year head coach Mikael Stahre with the team sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.San Jose named Steve Ralston interim head coach Monday for the team’s remaining six matches while making the announcement of the coaching change. The team also dismissed assistant coach Alex de Crook.The Quakes, with forward Chris Wondolowski closing in on Landon Donovan’s MLS goals record, are 2-9-3 as the season nears its final month.MIXED MARTIAL ARTSLOS ANGELES (AP) — Hawaii will host its first major mixed martial arts event in 10 years when the Bellator promotion stages a show in Honolulu on Dec. 15.Bellator announced a partial lineup of fighters Monday for the card at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.Unbeaten Honolulu native Ilima-Lei Macfarlane will defend her Bellator flyweight title against No. 1 contender Valerie Letourneau in the main event.The card also will feature the Bellator debut of Lyoto Machida, the Brazilian veteran who briefly held the UFC light heavyweight title. Machida will fight former heavyweight champion Rafael Carvalho.VOLLEYBALLMADRID (AP) — A Brazilian volleyball player has been found dead at his home in Spain.The Spanish volleyball federation says the body of 26-year-old Vinicius Noronha da Silva was found in the eastern city of Teruel after he failed to report for his club’s trip for a preseason match.Club president Carlos Ranera told daily Marca on Monday that one of Silva’s teammates found him dead after going to his home to check on him.The club said Silva had successfully undergone a preseason physical. It’s been a while since the NFL flexed a game to Sunday night. The Bengals vs. Chiefs is a worthy choice.No games were moved from day to night last season, except for the final weekend, when all games are scheduled for the afternoon until the league and NBC figure out what is most attractive for prime time. Back in 2016, there were three flexed games, including Week 17. Not counting that, the last flex was Bucs at Cowboys on Dec. 18, 2016.So switching a pair of first-place teams made sense: Cincinnati (4-2) is at Kansas City (5-1).Some of the juicy plot lines involve offense, hardly a surprise in this year of points, points and more points. Kansas City has the league’s lowest-ranked defense and the Bengals rank 29th. Even worse, both are dealing with a slew of injuries on that side of the ball.So Patrick Mahomes throwing to Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt could fill the screen. So might Andy Dalton connecting with A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd.“Any time you want to be one of the great ones on the defense or you want your defense to have a statement-type game, you have to do it against the best offenses in the league,” Cincinnati defensive end Carlos Dunlap said. “And right now, they’re putting up those points like they’re one of the best offenses in the league. So you’ve got to go out there and put it on ’em.”There are some caveats to this matchup, however.Although the Bengals have won four straight in the series dating to Oct. 14, 2007, they are 3-15 on Sunday nights, losing eight straight. The Chiefs are 7-3 in games on Sunday nights.The weekend began with Denver’s 45-10 victory at Arizona on Thursday nightEmmanuel Sanders threw and caught touchdown passes, Denver returned two interceptions for first-quarter touchdowns and the Broncos snapped a four-game losing streak.Todd Davis returned rookie Josh Rosen’s deflected pass for a touchdown on the second play of the game and Chris Harris Jr. took another back 53 yards for a score with 2:02 left in the quarter as the Broncos (3-4) opened a 21-3 lead. Rosen threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball away twice on a rough night that began badly for him and never got better. The Cardinals (1-6), down 35-3 at the half, fell to 0-4 at home for the first time since 1979.Off this week are Seattle (3-3), Green Bay (3-2-1), Oakland (1-5) and Pittsburgh (3-2-1).New England (4-2) at Chicago (3-2)Seems like every week, the Patriots’ opponent is battered by injuries to key players. No one is more key in Chicago than edge rusher Khalil Mack, who is battling an ankle problem.Just what Tom Brady needs against one of the five teams he’s never lost to. Brady is 4-0 against the Bears; the others are Atlanta (5-0), Dallas (4-0), Minnesota (4-0) and Tampa Bay (4-0).While the Bears should be able to move the ball on New England, they’ll likely need lots of points for a chance in this one.New Orleans (4-1) at Baltimore (4-2)Just like Patriots-Bears, this is one terrific offense against defense matchup. New Orleans ranks third in total offense and Baltimore is first on defense.Led by Drew Brees, who set the yards passing career mark in a rout of the Redskins before their bye the Saints have won four in a row. Nobody is more balanced with the ball now that RB Mark Ingram is back from suspension to team with dynamic Alvin Kamara. Brees, who is 0-4 vs. the Ravens, this year has a 78 percent completion rate for 1,658 yards with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.The Ravens had 11 sacks last week against Tennessee and a league-most 26 overall. They are allowing an NFL-low 12.8 points per game and the fewest yards per game (270.8). Baltimore has four of the NFL’s past 14 shutouts since the start of the 2017 season.Carolina (3-2) at Philadelphia (3-3)An intriguing matchup of a solid running team in Carolina, led by Christian McCaffrey and QB Cam Newton, facing the second-stingiest rushing defense in a place where the Eagles are 17-4 under Doug Pederson.As for the air game, which seemingly everyone needs to succeed these days White Harrison Phillips Jerseys , Carolina is far too inconsistent.Meanwhile, Carson Wentz has thrown at least one TD in his past 19 games played, the longest streak in franchise history and second-longest active streak behind Andrew Luck (28). Wentz has thrown 133 consecutive passes without a pick. His longest streak is 135 passes.Tennessee (3-3) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2) at LondonThe Titans were humiliated at home by Baltimore and should welcome the long trip overseas. Then again, they have lost 10 of the past 11 to the Chargers and bring a sputtering offense into Wembley.Although Tennessee has a solid D, it faces an in-synch offense. The Chargers are 13-5 since starting last season 0-4 and QB Philip Rivers leads the AFC and ranks second in the NFL with a 115.1 passer rating. He has 13 TD passes and four interceptions in seven games vs. the Titans.Houston (3-3) at Jacksonville (3-3)The other AFC South leaders.After beginning the season with three defeats, the Texans have turned it around, albeit all their wins have been tight affairs, two in overtime.Defensive end J.J. Watt , perhaps the NFL’s best player when healthy, is back in form after missing most of the 2016 and ’17 seasons with injuries. Watt has seven sacks and three forced fumbles in the past four games.The Jaguars have a solid defense, too, particularly against the pass, where they ranked first in yards surrendered. But Jacksonville was outscored 70-21 in consecutive road losses, forcing coach Doug Marrone to return to training camp practices this week to emphasize fundamental football.Dallas (3-3) at Washington (3-2)Among pro sports’ most intense rivalries, this will be a physical and possibly low-scoring affair given the strength of both defenses and imbalance of the offenses.Dallas, winless on the road, will try to run with Ezekiel Elliott, second in rushing yards with 586 and third in yards from scrimmage with 752. Washington will counter with Adrian Peterson, who averaged 108.5 yards rushing in the past two home games.Minnesota (3-2-1) at New York Jets (3-3)The Vikings have never won at the Jets, going 0-5. To break that slump, the main weapon could be WR Adam Thielen. He had 11 catches for 123 yards last week, joining Houston’s Charley Hennigan (1961) as the only players in NFL history with 100 or more yards in each of his team’s first six games to begin a season. Thielen leads the NFL with 58 catches, the most by a player in the first six games in league history, and 712 yards receiving.Guess what: New York’s secondary is banged-up and porous.The Jets are seeking their first three-game winning streak since Weeks 3-5 of 2017.Los Angeles Rams (6-0) at San Francisco (1-5)Keeping the NFL’s only perfect record shouldn’t be too challenging for LA, which has the most dangerous offense around. RB Todd Gurley ran for a career-high 208 yards and two TDs last week. The Rams are averaging 32.7 points per game despite scoring TDs on only 56.7 percent of red-zone trips. Los Angeles also leads the NFL with 7.64 yards per play on first down.San Francisco blew a game at Green Bay last week and Niners QB C.J. Beathard is tied for the NFL worst with seven turnovers in the past three weeks since Jimmy Garoppolo tore up his knee. The Niners have an NFL-worst minus-11 turnover margin.New York Giants (1-5) at Atlanta (2-4), Monday nightMore injuries plagued the Falcons, who placed top running back Devonta Freeman on IR. No team has been more damaged by injuries in 2018, most of them coming on defense.That means Atlanta needs shootouts to have a chance most weeks, and QB Matt Ryan leads the NFL with 1,432 yards passing and a 128.2 rating since Week 3.He is tied for first with 12 TD passes in that span.New York’s D is vulnerable and the offense is enigmatic despite the presence of sensational rookie RB Saquon Barkley, and firebrand wideout Odell Beckham Jr. The O-line should be dubbed the “Awful-Line.”Detroit (2-3) at Miami (4-2)The Lions are feeling upbeat following a victory over Green Bay and a week off, but that special feeling could turn sour because of their special teams.Lions coverage units rank last on punts and sixth worst on kickoffs. The Dolphins rank second in kickoff return average and third in punt return average.Miami is no powerhouse, though. The Dolphins are tied for the AFC East lead even though they’ve been outgained by 398 yards.Cleveland (2-3-1) at Tampa Bay (2-3)The Dawg Pound was silenced in Cleveland when the Chargers pounded the Browns last week. Tampa will be hitting the airwaves, trying to find mismatches for WRs DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans. It won’t hurt the Bucs that Browns Pro Bowl MLB Joe Schobert is out with a hamstring injury. This will be his first game missed — at any level — due to injury.The Browns do lead the NFL with 16 takeaways, three more than all last season. Tampa has 11 giveaways.Buffalo (2-4) at Indianapolis (1-5)Remember Derek Anderson, most lately the backup to Newton in Carolina. He has surfaced as the new starter in Buffalo with rookie Josh Allen hurting and Nathan Peterman an interception machine.On the positive side, the Bills‘ defense is tied for the league lead with seven fumble recoveries.The Colts will try for the fifth time to win game No. 300 since moving to Indy in 1984. And placekicker Adam Vinatieri needs 10 points to break Morten Andersen’s scoring record (2,544 points).]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50127/houston-ap-%E2%80%94-chris-sale-is-set-to-make-his-next Tue, 09 Apr 2019 02:14:16 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50127/houston-ap-%E2%80%94-chris-sale-is-set-to-make-his-next <![CDATA[HOUSTON (AP) — Chris Sale is set to make his next]]> scheduled start for the Boston Red Sox. And now Steve Pearce Jersey , he knows that will be in the World Series.Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Sale threw on flat ground again earlier in the day and was feeling better since a stomach illness led to him spending a night in the hospital.“So he’s ready for his next start,” Cora said before Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.Boston’s 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros put the Red Sox in the World Series for the first time since 2013. Sale is expected to start the opener Tuesday night at Fenway Park against the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers.Sale was initially slated to pitch Game 5 of the ALCS on Thursday, but was ruled out because the illness left him weak. If the Red Sox had lost, Sale would have been lined up to start a Game 6 back home on Saturday.Instead, his teammates closed out the series, and the lefty ace gets more time to rest and recover.Sale has been regaining strength since his release Monday from Massachusetts General Hospital, where he spent Sunday night for observation.The club hasn’t specified Sale’s ailment or treatment J. D. Martinez Jersey , though Cora has said it was nothing serious. The Philadelphia Phillies appear likely to sign one of either Manny Machado or Bryce Harper this offseason, as the market has been surprisingly cool for the pair of superstars. But the ultimate hope in Philadelphia, that the team will somehow sign both, remains a pipe dream.According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, "League sources insisted the Phillies have made this much clear during negotiations: They will not sign both players."There are obviously no guarantees that Philadelphia will land either player, though as Gelb reported, "multiple league sources indicated the Phillies' risk of losing out on both stars is mitigated by the apparent lack of interested teams throughout Major League Baseball and the club's financial wherewithal."In other words Paul Goldschmidt Jersey , owner John Middleton's comments in November have given the Phillies leverage."We're going into this expecting to spend money," Middleton told Bob Nightengale of USA Today. "And maybe even be a little bit stupid about it."That means both Machado and Harper are likely to check in on Philadelphia even if they get an offer elsewhere, to see if the Phillies will give them even more money. That keeps Philadelphia in the running for both players, and the Phillies to this point can essentially leverage Machado and Harper against one another.Why offer an obscene amount of money for one player while still in negotiations with the other? Why set the market high for either player when they could respond to the market as it develops?Of course, the team's leverage would diminish if one of the players signed with another team. Then, the Phillies would likely find themselves in a bidding war for the other player. And there's a risk in turning off either player by waiting rather than aggressively pursuing them with a big offer.The question remains which player would the Phillies pick between the two. According to Gelb, "The Phillies are believed to prefer Machado over Harper because he is an elite hitter and defender Richie Ashburn Jersey , but conflicting information has spread from team to team and agent to agent."Conflicting information is the name of the game this time of year.Bob Nightengale BNightengalePhiladelphia #Phillies emerge as clear-cut favorite to land Bryce Harper after 5-hour meeting. Optimism is high. 0j5B5Pu2GgBut at this point, the team could desperately use either player. The Phillies lack star power, for one, and while they have a solid team in place, they don't yet have a position player to truly build around. Either Machado or Harper would fill that role and then some, invigorating the fanbase in the process.The Phillies have largely been an afterthought since the heady days of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-pat-neshek-jersey , Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay. This winter, they're once again at the center of the baseball world.But for now, it's a waiting game. And as Gelb noted, it might remain that way well into February, to the chagrin of both the fans and players.
 
 
]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50125/with-a-chance-to-opt-out-of-his-current-contract Tue, 09 Apr 2019 02:00:18 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50125/with-a-chance-to-opt-out-of-his-current-contract <![CDATA[With a chance to opt out of his current contract]]> and hit free agency this winter http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-cliff-pennington-jersey , David Price appears to be in it for the long haul with the Boston Red Sox.The veteran southpaw was recently asked if he plans to test the open market after this season, and he made it clear that he doesn't see a point in doing so."Why would I think about that?" Price said, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "... Go to a lesser team. For what?Why would I leave here to go to a team that's not as good as this team? I came here to win. I don't worry about all the other stuff. Just come here to win. We're going to have a really good chance to do that."The 33-year-old still has four years and $127 million remaining on theseven-year, $217 millionmegadealhe signed back in December 2015.Price's time in Boston did not get off to a smooth start. While he went 17-9 in his first season in a Red Sox uniform, his earned run average ballooned to 3.99, the highest since his first full year in the majors. Then, he had a number of clashes with the Boston media, as detailed by Boston.com'sNikDeCosta-Klipa.To make matters worse, the $217 million pitcher has continued to struggle in the postseason. He is just 1-3 in seven playoff appearances with the Red Sox, with the lone victory coming in a relief outing. He is 0-8 with a 5.74 ERA in nine career postseason starts, numbers that have drawn the ire of Boston fans.However, Price is in the midst of the best season of his Red Sox career to date. He is 14-6 with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP while striking out 162 batters in 158.2 innings. Since the All-Star break, he is 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in eight starts.A hot stretch like that could tempt Price to see if he could cash in even more. But as he noted, he wants to win a World Series.With Price Reggie Sanders Jersey , Chris Sale,MookieBetts and J.D. Martinez leading the way, Boston (99-46) appears to be the favorite as it continues to run away with the best record in the majors. On Tuesday, the Red Sox became the first team to clinch aplayoffberth.A strong postseason performance that results in a championship could give Price something to think about. Then again, after many of last year's free agents struggled to find contracts, it may be tough for  cash in even more regardless of how he pitches the rest of the season. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — No one has tell the Houston Astros how good Charlie Morton can be.The 35-year-old right-hander was solid in his debut for the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night, pitching five innings and striking out eight against his former team in a 4-2 victory.“It was an awesome experience,” Morton said, noting it was every bit as “weird” as he envisioned facing the club he helped win a World Series two seasons ago.“It was the fact I was out there against my former team. I was a little emotional, and it was the first start of the season,” he added. “To get it out of the way and come out with a great team win, it was a big deal.”Morton (1-0) allowed two runs and three hits in his first outing since signing a $30 million, two-year contract as a free agent. In 2017 http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-cliff-pennington-jersey , he won Game 7 of the World Series and Game 7 of the AL Championship Series.Yandy Diaz lined an impressive solo homer off Astros starter Gerrit Cole (0-1), who also yielded three unearned runs in the third, when shortstop Aledmys Diaz’s throwing error paved the way for Tampa Bay. Diaz has two errors in two games filling in for injured regular Carlos Correa.Tommy Pham’s RBI single trimmed Houston’s lead to 2-1, and Ji-Man Choi followed with a two-run single to put the Rays ahead 3-2.Morton, who gave up a two-run double to Michael Brantley in the third, walked three and also hit a batter during an 85-pitch outing.“The same stuff we’ve seen for a couple years,” Astros manager AJ Hinch. “He had a really good breaking ball, a pretty good fastball. Mixed in some splits late, swing and miss breaking balls. He’s tough.”Cole was impressed, too.“He was sharp. He looks good. About right where we expected him to be,” the Houston pitcher said. “Worth every dollar of that 30-million contract.”Four relievers combined to pitch four scoreless innings for the Rays, with Jose Alvarado striking out Tony Kemp with two runners on in the ninth for his first save.It’s not the first time Morton faced a former team in his first outing with a new one. He also did it in 2009 after being traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Pittsburgh Pirates.The right-hander went 29-10 with a 3.36 ERA in 55 starts for Houston over the past two seasons. He was a first-time All-Star a year ago, when he won 15 games and posted a career-best 3.13 ERA.Cole allowed five hits and four runs — one earned — while striking out 10 over six innings.According to StatCast, the 420-foot Joe Morgan Jersey , sixth-inning homer he yielded to Yandy Diaz on a 2-0 count left the bat at 112 mph. The low liner to straightaway center field rose just enough to hit the top of the wall and skipped over.“I challenged Diaz with a fastball and lost that one,” Cole said. “It was out of a cannon, man.”BREGMAN’S STREAKWhen Houston’s Alex Bregman went 0 for 4 in Thursday’s season opener, it ended his 56-game road on-base streak. It was a franchise best and the longest of any player since Derek Jeter’s 59-game run in 2006-07. Bregman also had a 17-game hitting streak against the Rays stopped. The third baseman was 0 for 4 again Friday.THAT HURTSPlate umpire Dan Iassogna recovered quickly to a call a strike after getting hit by a pitch on the knee in the third inning. Iassogna briefly went down when Rays catcher Mike Zunino was crossed up and failed to catch a pitch from Morton to Jose Altuve. After taking a moment to collect himself, Iassogna got back to work and called the pitch a strike.TRAINER’S ROOMAstros: Correa missed his second straight game with neck stiffness and is not expected to play Saturday, either. “I think we’re getting to the point where he’s going to have to do a full workout before he’s ready to play,” Hinch said. “Hopefully that’s tomorrow, which makes Sunday more likely. I will wait a day too long rather than a day too short.”Rays: Alvarado rolled an ankle while running but was able to walk back to the clubhouse after sitting on the warning track in right field for several minutes.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Collin McHugh (6-2, 1.99 ERA in 2018) will start the third game of the four-game series Saturday night. He’s 1-4 with a 2.12 in seven career appearances against Tampa Bay, including five starts.Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (2-7, 4.27 ERA last season) faces Houston for the first time in his career. He made 11 starts for the Rays after being acquired from Pittsburgh last July, allowing one run or fewer in five of those outings.]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50123/houston-ap-%E2%80%94-throughout-their-five-game-losing Tue, 09 Apr 2019 01:47:08 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50123/houston-ap-%E2%80%94-throughout-their-five-game-losing <![CDATA[HOUSTON (AP) — Throughout their five-game losing]]>  streak Jake Smolinski Jersey , the Houston Astros failed time and again to get a big hit when they needed it.They didn’t have that problem Wednesday night.Evan Gattis and Tyler White hit two homers each, Yuli Gurriel added a two-run shot and the Astros broke out of their offensive slump in a huge way with a 12-1 win over the Colorado Rockies to end their skid.“We needed to have a little fun,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Obviously, nights like this produce that and the hits produce it. Hitters love nothing more than hits and runs.”Gerrit Cole struck out 12 and the defending World Series champions stopped a nine-game home losing streak with their first win in Houston since July 14, their last game before beginning a 10-game road trip. Houston’s five home runs were a season high, and the run total was more than the Astros managed in their last four games combined.The win, combined with Oakland’s loss to Seattle, helped the Astros extend their lead in the AL West to two games, with a series against the Athletics coming up next to start a nine-game trip.“It’s nice to finish a homestand that was disappointing on a high note,” Hinch said. “Happy flight (Thursday) for a really important and really long road trip.”Carlos Correa, who entered the game 1 for 15 since coming off the disabled list on Friday http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , added a three-run double for the Astros, who have been struggling to find their offense with AL MVP Jose Altuve on the DL for the first time in his career.“For me at least it was a relief, coming in from the DL … to come out with a double and three RBIs and give us the lead early, I think it was huge,” Correa said.The Rockies had trouble stringing hits together against Cole (11-5), who yielded five hits and one run in six innings to end a three-game losing streak and get his first win since July 14.After managing just three hits in a 5-1 loss on Tuesday, the Astros got going immediately in this one. Alex Bregman hit a leadoff double before Tyler Anderson (6-5) walked the next two batters to load the bases. Correa followed with his double to make it 3-0.Bregman drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second before Gurriel’s homer extended the lead to 6-0.The first homer by Gattis came with two outs in the third to make it 7-0.Cole had allowed just one single with two outs in the fourth when three straight singles, capped by one from Trevor Story, cut the lead to 7-1.White’s two-run shot pushed Houston’s advantage to 9-1 and chased Anderson with one out in the fifth.Anderson allowed a career-high nine runs on seven hits, all for extra bases, in 4 1/3 innings. He remained winless since July 4.“When he missed in the strike zone Chad Pinder Jersey , he missed down the middle. That’s a bad combination,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “You’re throwing balls and your strikes are sort of middle. That’s a tough night for Tyler.”Gattis sent one just over the short wall in right field with two outs in the fifth off Harrison Musgrave to put the Astros up 10-1.White added a second two-run homer when he connected off Musgrave with one out in the seventh.TRAINER’S ROOMAstros: Hinch said OF George Springer (sprained left thumb) will come off the disabled list Friday when he’s eligible, barring any setbacks between now and then. … Altuve, who has been out since July 25, took batting practice on the field for the first time since he’s been out. Hinch said that was an encouraging step, but he still isn’t sure when Altuve will return. … C Brian McCann, out since June 30 with a knee injury that required surgery, will begin an extended rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Fresno on Thursday.Ks ALL DAYCole’s 12-strikeout performance was the franchise-record 25th game this season in which a Houston pitcher struck out at least 10 batters. The previous record was 24 set in 1968, and the 25 double-digit strikeout games tie several teams for the second-most in AL history. The 1973 Angels hold the record with 32. Cole has 219 strikeouts this season, tied with Boston ace Chris Sale for most in the AL — and the most by an Astros pitcher since Nolan Ryan fanned 228 in 1988.UP NEXTRockies: RHP Jon Gray (9-7, 4.81 ERA) will start against Atlanta RHP Julio Teheran (8-7 http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , 4.33 ERA) in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night. Gray is 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA in his career against Atlanta.Astros: Off on Thursday before Charlie Morton (12-3, 2.88) starts the opener of a three-game series at Oakland. Morton took his first defeat since July 1 in his last start when he allowed seven hits and three runs in six innings of a 3-2 loss to Seattle. PHOENIX (AP) — Ender Inciarte failed to execute a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning. It worked out just fine for the Atlanta Braves.Facing a 3-2 count with two men on, Inciarte swung away and hit a go-ahead, three-run homer during a six-run rally, and the Braves went on to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-5 and increase their NL East lead to 4½ games.The Braves took advantage of a loss by Philadelphia to match their biggest division edge of the season. Atlanta took three of four in the series.“I was just trying to hit it hard up in the air somewhere, because I wanted to move the runners however I can and I didn’t want to hit a ball into a double play,” Inciarte said. “I got a good pitch to hit and I was able to hit the ball like that.”The third-place Diamondbacks have lost seven of nine. They stayed 2½ games behind NL West-leading Colorado.Atlanta didn’t have a hit until Ronald Acuna Jr. homered off Robbie Ray in the sixth. The Braves trailed 4-3 going into the ninth before Tyler Flowers and Ozzie Albies opened with singles off Brad Boxberger (2-7) and Inciarte, a former Diamondbacks fan favorite, went deep.“Fastball, just pulled it over the plate a little bit, and (Inciarte) was on it Blake Treinen Jersey ,” Boxberger said. “It’s definitely frustrating. Nothing is kind of going my way. Balls are being hit just out of the reach of our defenders and the ball is kind of bouncing the opposite direction of where I want it to go.”Braves manager Brian Snitker was glad he canceled the bunt order.“Bunting is easier said than done,” Snitker said. “After two strikes, the last thing I wanted him to do was foul a ball off. So I just took it off and thank God I did.”After Boxberger left to boos from the crowd at Chase Field, Lucas Duda greeted reliever Yoan Lopez with a long home run to right. Acuna then tripled and Johan Camargo hit his 18th homer.Lopez failed to record an out in his major league debut as Arizona’s bullpen imploded. Manager Torey Lovullo elected not to use a group of his preferred relievers to give them rest.“I know we have a very capable group down there who has pretty much done it all year long,” Lovullo said. “I believe in that group. They are going to get some big outs for us down the stretch.”Sam Freeman (3-5) got the win with an inning of scoreless relief.The Diamondbacks led 4-3 going into the ninth after Nick Ahmed and David Peralta delivered key hits in a four-run sixth inning.Acuna scored three runs and Touki Toussaint pitched 5 2/3 innings for Atlanta. Toussaint left with a 2-0 lead against the team that originally drafted him.“Had a lot of walks, but other than that felt pretty good,” Toussaint said.Ray lost his no-hit bid when Toussaint singled sharply to left with one out in the sixth. Acuna followed with an opposite-field homer to right.Braves reliever Luke Jackson faced four hitters and didn’t get an out, allowing two runs charged to Toussaint to score and two of his own.The Braves made it 4-3 in the eighth against reliever Jake Diekman. Freddie Freeman’s two-out single drove in Acuna.WALKING TO A RECORDArizona star Paul Goldschmidt drew a walk in the third inning, surpassing Luis Gonzalez for the Diamondbacks’ all-time record for walks with 651. Goldschmidt made it 652 with another walk in the seventh.POSITIVE SPINThe Diamondbacks are in the midst of a tough stretch, with the next five series against postseason contenders Colorado, Houston Chris Hatcher Jersey , the Chicago Cubs, the Rockies again and the Los Angeles Dodgers.“I still believe we’re in a really good spot,” Lovullo said. “We’re not that far off. We’re 2½ games out of first place? Sign me up. I would take that every day of the week.”TRAINER’S ROOMDiamondbacks: Peralta has a minor left ankle injury and was originally held out of Sunday’s lineup until coming off the bench to pinch hit.UP NEXTBraves: LHP Sean Newcomb (11-8, 3.92 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game set at San Francisco on Monday night. The Braves are 14-13 in his 27 starts this season.Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley (14-8, 4.51) opens a four-game series at Colorado on Monday. Godley is 4-0 with a 2.56 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies, including three wins at Coors Field.]]> liny https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50122/calif-ap-%E2%80%94-playing-with-a-sore-hand-and-a-banged-up Tue, 09 Apr 2019 01:34:35 +0000 https://0xbt.net/blog/view/50122/calif-ap-%E2%80%94-playing-with-a-sore-hand-and-a-banged-up <![CDATA[Calif. (AP) — Playing with a sore hand and a banged-up]]> ANAHEIM Robin Roberts Jersey , left leg, the Oakland Athletics‘ Jed Lowrie would be the first to confirm that winning ugly is way better than losing.Lowrie homered and moved over 1,000 hits for his career, and the Oakland Athletics held on for an 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, their ninth win in 11 games.Lowrie took no issue with a potential blowout turning into a nail-biter, a rare occurrence for Oakland’s bullpen.“Who cares?” Lowrie said. “We won.”The A’s took the series against the Angels by winning the last two games. Oakland, which currently occupies the second AL wild-card spot, moved within 2 ½ games of first-place Houston in the AL West. The Astros have lost four straight.Oakland is now 36-12 over its last 48 games, the second-best record in baseball over that stretch, behind the Boston Red Sox. The A’s have taken 13 of their past 16 series.Angels manager Mike Scioscia went with a bullpen day, but the strategy backfired when reliever Taylor Cole (0-3), making his first career start, allowed three runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.“It becomes more of a ‘Who’s fresh?’ game than a matchup game with the bullpen,” Scioscia said. “You try to do your best to put guys in good spots, but right now we’re not there. We’re looking at whoever’s available to give us innings. We try to line ’em up as best we can, but we’re not as efficient as it is if you have the functionality of having starters get to a certain point in the game, which right now we just don’t have.”Lowrie doubled to left field in Oakland’s three-run first inning, giving him 1,000 hits over 11 seasons. It was also the 250th double of his career. Lowrie’s 1001st career hit was his 18th homer this season, a two-run shot during a four-run fourth for the A’s.“It was a lot of hard work that has gone into (1,000 hits) Tug McGraw Jersey ,” said Lowrie, who took a grounder off his hand early in Sunday’s game and has spent the last month recovering from a bone bruise in his left leg. “It’s one of those big round numbers that is exciting and memorable, so it’s a pretty special moment.”Marcus Semien had three hits for the A’s and reached base four times, a day after hitting a pair of home runs. Lowrie also had a walk as he reached base three times.Los Angeles trailed by as many as four but pulled within a run in the eighth inning on Shohei Ohtani’s two-run single off Jeurys Familia. Blake Treinen struck out the side in the ninth for his 30th save in 34 opportunities. A’s pitchers matched a season high with 16 strikeouts.Rookie Francisco Arcia homered for the Angels. The homer, his third, came one day after Arcia pitched a scoreless mop-up inning. Justin Upton had two hits for the Angels, including an eighth-inning double that gave him an extra-base hit in five consecutive games.A’s starter Trevor Cahill allowed four runs on seven hits with a walk over 4 2/3 innings.“I think it was the first game this year when I didn’t have my changeup, which has been kind of my go-to and my savoir, especially if the fastball command isn’t there,” Cahill said.Fernando Rodney (4-2) pitched a scoreless inning in relief to earn his first victory for the A’s. Rodney has two scoreless innings with Oakland after being acquired from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.“Today is a day when you need a guy like him,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “We feel like we have a deep ‘pen, but on days like this is when you need an extended bullpen with that kind of depth.”OHTANI ON TRACKScioscia reiterated Sunday that he expects Ohtani to pitch again this season. While the two-way rookie from Japan has returned to designated-hitter duties, he has not pitched since June 6 because of a sprained right elbow ligament.Ohtani will have what will amount to a medium-intensity bullpen session Monday in San Diego, where the Angels will open a three-game series. He would then work higher-intensity bullpens, followed by pitching to hitters, before his return.Scioscia would not specify when he expects Ohtani to pitch again, but the likelihood is mid-to-late September.“The goal is pitching again this year and we feel that is attainable,” Scioscia said.TRAINER’S ROOMAngels: LHP Tyler Skaggs (left adductor strain) returned to the 10-day disabled list following his rough outing Saturday, when he gave up seven runs on 10 hits over 3 1/3 innings against the A’s. … SS Andrelton Simmons was a late scratch from the lineup with left knee soreness and is day-to-day. … C Rene Rivera (arthroscopic knee surgery) was expected to play in a game at Single-A Inland Empire on Sunday and Monday, with the Angels hoping he can return to the active roster during the upcoming road trip to San Diego, Texas and Arizona.UP NEXTA’s: LHP Sean Manaea (10-8 Drew Hutchison Jersey , 3.50 ERA) will take the mound Monday at home against the Seattle Mariners, having lasted just 2 2/3 innings in a start against the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.Angels: LHP Andrew Heaney (7-7, 3.96 ERA) will start Monday at San Diego, his first career appearance against the Padres. NEW YORK (AP) — The timetable for Yoenis Cespedes‘ return to the New York Mets will remain an unanswered question until after opening day.The 33-year-old outfielder was limited to 38 games last year. Dr. Robert Anderson operated to remove bone calcification from Cespedes’ right heel on Aug. 2 and from the left on Oct. 26.New Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, Cespedes’ former agent, has said it is too early to prognosticate when the All-Star slugger will be back in the lineup.“I don’t think we’ll have an idea during spring training,” Van Wagenen said on a sun-splashed, spring-like Monday while watching the team’s equipment truck leave for spring training. “I think that our expectation is that he can make progress every day, that we build him up in a smart fashion, that we’re not taxing him too soon, and we want to make sure that he’s 100 percent healthy when he comes back, whenever that day is.”Originally acquired from Detroit at the 2015 trade deadline, Cespedes hit .287 with 17 homers and 44 RBIs, helped the Mets reach the World Series for the first time since 2000. He became a free agent, agreed to a $75 million, three-year contract, then keyed the Mets’ offense by hitting .280 with 31 homers and 86 RBIs in 132 games.Cespedes opted out of the deal after $27.5 million and became a free agent again, only to stay with the Mets for $110 million over four years. Injuries limited him to 81 games in 2017, when he hit .292 with 17 homers and 42 RBIs.He batted .262 with nine homers and 29 RBIs last year, when he missed two months after a May 13 game at Philadelphia with what the Mets said was a strained right hip flexor. He homered at the New York Yankees in his return July 20, then surprised the Mets after that game by revealing the foot issues.Cespedes is owed $29 million in 2019 and $29.5 million in 2020.“We’re counting on him to make a contribution in ’19. We’re counting on him to make a contribution in ’20 Larry Bowa Jersey , and hopefully he continues to make progress,” Van Wagenen said.New York’s major moves were to acquire 36-year-old All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano and All-Star closer Edwin Diaz from Seattle, obtain outfielder Keon Broxton from Milwaukee and sign catcher Wilson Ramos, infielder Jed Lowrie, outfielder Rajai Davis and relievers Jeurys Familia and Justin Wilson as free agents.Van Wagenen has not pursued high-priced free agents, such as outfielder Bryce Harper and infielder Manny Machado. With the start of spring training a week away, dozens of free agents remain available during a second straight slow market.“There’s always been players available in February or March,” Van Wagenen said. “I think there’s been a higher volume of more-recognizable names than in the past. But I think for us, we set out to target a number of recognizable names, and we’ve been really excited that those players have chosen to come with us, and we’re excited that we can go into camp knowing that we’ve accomplished most of what we set out to do.”At this time last year, when he was co-head of CAA Baseball, Van Wagenen said behavior of owners in the free-agent market “feels coordinated, rightly or wrongly.” He claimed many team presidents and general managers “are frustrated with the lack of funds to sign the plethora of good players still available, raising further suspicion of institutional influence over the spending.”He has a new job with new perspective.“You’ve got to have your own vision, have your own plan and go do it. And hopefully as a sport we can be a compelling entertainment product in all the cities in which we work in,” he said. “I think sports in general should be about putting the best product on the field and trying to compete every day, and we’ll certainly do that here.”]]> liny