Anthony Rizzo inspired the Cubs by channeling Rocky Balboa

Imagine for a minute that you’re Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Your team is down 3-1 to the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. You have to win Game 5 on Sunday, or the season is over and you’ll have to wait until next year. You need something to fire up your teammates, to give them the fighting spirit they need to never, ever give up. So what do you do?

David Ross said Anthony Rizzo turned on the Rocky theme, put the movie on every clubhouse TV & danced around in his boxers before the game.

— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) October 31, 2016

If you’re Anthony Rizzo, you channel “Rocky,” one of the greatest inspirational sports movies in film history. Rizzo is a fan, and he’s taken the movie to heart.

Anthony Rizzo on his Rocky fascination: "I keep saying … we got to go the distance now. We got to believe in it."

— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) October 31, 2016

Rizzo wanted inspiration, and “Rocky” was definitely the right choice. It’s weird to think of the 2016 Cubs as the underdog in any situation, since they won the most games in Major League Baseball this year and were the World Series favorite before a single postseason pitch was thrown. But they were down 3 games to 1 before Sunday night’s game, and the moment called for an inspirational underdog. Enter Rocky Balboa and his iconic, unforgettable underdog story.

Anthony Rizzo channels Rocky Balboa after hitting a double in Game 5 of the World Series. (AP Photo)

The Cubs are pretty well versed in “Rocky.” When they went to Philadelphia in June, a few of them (including David Ross and Anthony Rizzo) took part in two celebrated tourist activities: running the Art Museum steps and posing with the Rocky statue.

Morning workout at "Rocky" steps with the boys! @ARizzo44 pic.twitter.com/2HPrV6Qu69

— David Ross (@D_Ross3) June 7, 2016

The Champ! pic.twitter.com/cvojkYtk4V

— David Ross (@D_Ross3) June 7, 2016

If for some reason you’re wondering what the Philadelphia Art Museum steps have to do with “Rocky,” I invite you to watch one of the most inspirational training montages of all time. And even if you already know, watching this is guaranteed to make your day better.

If you’ll excuse me for a minute, I’m going to run ten miles at top speed and then break through a brick wall. That montage is pure, unfiltered awesome, and I’m guessing that’s one of the clips he had on the clubhouse TVs. He probably also showed Rocky’s first fight with Apollo Creed, in which Rocky goes the distance against Creed, fighting all 15 rounds and refusing to be knocked out. (Rocky loses the fight in a split decision, but that’s not really the point here.)

Rizzo didn’t just show clips and channel Rocky before the game. He found a way to incorporate the movie and the man into the game itself.

Rizzo using "Rocky" music for 1st at-bat. #cubs

— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) October 31, 2016

The Cubs won Game 5 by a score of 3-2 and staved off elimination on Sunday. Between the movie, the music, and Rizzo fake-boxing in his underwear, Rocky probably helped just a little bit.

Andrew Miller breaks postseason strikeout record for a reliever

Cleveland Indians reliever Andrew Miller is on the verge of postseason immortality. With Cleveland just one win away from a World Series title, Miller is quickly approaching “never have to buy another drink in this town again territory.”

The 31-year-old reliever has been one of the, if not the, biggest reason Cleveland finds itself in this position. Game after game, Miller comes in and completely baffles opposing hitters for an inning or two. He never gets tired. His stuff is always sharp. And no one can hit him.

That dominance continued Saturday in Game 4 of the World Series. Miller pitched two more innings during Cleveland’s 7-2 win against the Chicago Cubs. He struck out two during the effort.

With the outing, Miller set the record for most strikeouts by a reliever in a single postseason.

Andrew Miller now has the most postseason strikeouts all-time for any reliever with 29. #WorldSeries #Indians

— Dan Hayes (@CSNHayes) October 30, 2016

That surpasses Francisco Rodriguez’s 28 strikeouts during the Los Angeles Angels’ postseason run back in 2002. Miller managed to break the record despite throwing one fewer inning than Rodriguez. Miller reached the milestone in the eighth inning. With one out, he struck out Anthony Rizzo to tie Rodriguez’s mark, and then surpassed it by striking out Ben Zobrist on five pitches to end the frame.

The scary thing is, Miller can still add to his record. While he’s pitched in two straight games, there’s not really any doubt Miller will make himself available for Game 5 against the Cubs. And if Chicago finds a way to extend the series, that just gives Miller more opportunities to make a mockery of Rodriguez’s mark.

In fairness, it wasn’t tough to see this coming. It became apparent pretty early on that Miller had reached another level this postseason. Just two games in the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, he was already putting up insane stats. Since then, he’s only added to those eye-popping numbers.

Saturday’s record-setting outing didn’t come without a small bump in the road, though. Miller lost his incredible postseason scoreless streak in the eighth inning on a Dexter Fowler solo home run. It was the first time Miller looked human during the playoffs. He quickly decided that wasn’t for him, and returned to dominance, picking up his record-tying and record-breaking strikeouts later in the inning.

Prior to Fowler’s home run, Miller had thrown 24 1/3 scoreless innings in his postseason career. Over those 24 1/3 innings, Miller had given up just eight hits and five walks. He struck out 37 batters. That performance nearly set another record.

.@a_miller48‘s 24.1 scoreless #postseason innings to begin his career are 2nd-most EVER (Jonathan Papelbon, 26.0). pic.twitter.com/Nwq8YBARVe
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) October 30, 2016

Following Fowler’s solo shot in the eighth, Miller now has a 0.36 ERA over a total of 25 1/3 postseason innings.

With Cleveland on the verge of a World Series championship, Miller could be the first reliever since 1999 to win the World Series MVP award. New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera was the last relief pitcher to accomplish that feat.

Considering this has been the postseason of the reliever, that would be a fitting end for Miller. No player has better personified the 2016 playoffs like Miller. No player has been more dominant and has pitched more often. Miller’s performance has already earned him a spot in the history books. With one more win, it becomes the stuff of legends.

Cubs-Indians World Series 2016: Strat-O-Matic predicts score of Game 6

Game 6 of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians is a day away. As such, this is as good of a time as any to ask the serious questions -- like who does Strat-O-Matic predict to win?

Fortunately, the game's website provided the answers by simulating the series. Strat-O-Matic came awfully close to nailing the first game, as it pegged a 4-0 victory for the Indians. Cleveland won by a 6-0 score. The simulation for Game 2 picked the right winner (Chicago) and was correct about Trevor Bauer exiting early and Kyle Schwarber having a big night. Impressive. Then Strat-O-Matic nailed Game 3's 1-0 final -- and predicted that the Indians would win Game 4 with help from a home run by Carlos Santana. And, yeah, of course Strat-O-Matic pegged the Game 5 winner, too -- accurately predicting Jon Lester would throw a gem and the Cubs would win a tight one.

What does Strat-O-Matic see happening on Tuesday night? Let's take a look.

Game 6 projected score

Team	Runs	Hits	Errors
	2	10	1
	7	7	0

That's right, Strat expects the Indians to finish things off in Game 6, winning by a five-run margin. Cubs starter Jake Arrieta disappointed in the simulation, walking six batters in 2 2/3 innings. Danny Salazar, meanwhile, made an impressive relief appearance for the Indians -- allowing one baserunner in 1 1/3 innings. Jose Ramirez was the offensive hero for the Indians, driving in a pair of runs. Oh, and the final out? A Dexter Fowler fly out to Coco Crisp.

Will Strat-O-Matic get this one right? We'll find out soon enough.

Packers cut RB Knile Davis

The Green Bay Packers are still figuring out all their options at running back, but one they won't consider is Knile Davis.

Sent to the Packers from Kansas City for a conditional 2018 seventh-round draft pick on Oct. 18, Davis was released Monday.

"Obviously, we appreciate everything that Knile did," offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett said. "Outstanding work ethic and really good young man, so we wish him the best."

The Packers dealt for Davis after they realized starter Eddie Lacy's ankle injury was worse than they thought and running back James Starks would be out several weeks due to knee surgery.

In two games, Davis was barely used, carrying five times for 5 yards, catching two passes for 4 yards and returning one kickoff for 18 yards.

At the same time they traded for Davis, the Packers also signed Don Jackson from the practice squad and began using receiver Ty Montgomery as more than just a fill-in. Then, against Atlanta, fullback Aaron Ripkowski emerged as a viable option, carrying six times for 34 yards.

"He did a nice job," Bennett said of Ripkowski. "You go back and look at some of the positives coming out of the game and he did a really nice job running the football, broke some tackles, finished moving forward, played with really good pad level.

"And then you look at our offensive line, the way they covered the football and pushed the pile and finished. Those are a lot of positives we can build on."

The release of Davis also could be a sign that Starks is getting closer to a return. Last week, he worked out on the side during practice for the first time since having surgery Oct. 16.

But Bennett said that he still expected Jackson to be part of the running game despite six carries for 16 yards in two games.

"It’s more about opportunities and, certainly, it started last week and he’ll get more this week," Bennett said. "It just comes down to making the most of the opportunities."

As a result of releasing Davis now, the Packers won't owe the Chiefs a draft pick because he wasn't on the roster long enough to meet conditions of the trade, a source familiar with the deal said.

Chicago Bears reportedly hiring consultant to evaluate John Fox and team’s football operation

The Chicago Bears were a pretty average football team during the Jerry Angelo- Lovie Smith regime, consistently ranking in the middle of the pack from a statistical and win/loss perspective each year. Sure, they had a few peaks and valleys, but for the most part, Angelo was an average general manager, Smith an average head coach, and the team had an average roster.

When the McCaskeys decided to make a change in 2012, they let Angelo go and brought in renowned talent scout Phil Emery to head up the football operation. The McCaskeys were familiar with Emery, who had previously worked for the Bears as a scout from 1998- 2004, and in 2012, they decided to hire him as their next general manager.

Of course, that led to an abysmal series of events, coaching hires, and drafts, which in turn created an historically bad three seasons of Chicago Bears football.

Fast-forward to the current regime: Ryan Pace was hired as the next GM, and widely respected around league circles as an up-and-coming star in the National Football League. His hire of John Fox as head coach was a no-brainer, and they quickly went to work in rebuilding a roster and culture that the previous regime had left for dead.

A couple of impressive drafts, free agent acquisitions, and coaching hires, and the Bears were seemingly being set up for success for 2016. But the worst-case scenario happened right at the outset of the season, when injuries to key players started rolling in en masse.

Currently, the Bears are sitting at 1-6 on the season, and seem to have digressed from a season ago where they were at least competitive in many of their losses.

Things have gotten so bad that the McCaskeys have brought in outside consulting to evaluate John Fox and the entire football operation.

With the franchise heading in the wrong direction, the team's brass has begun a full examination of the football operation from top to bottom, according to several sources briefed of their process.

They've tapped what is being described as an outside consultant to help.

At 1-6, everything is up for review. It's clear Fox's footing beyond 2016 is shaky. As for the front office and general manager Ryan Pace, the current view from inside is that two years is far too quick to judge those tabbed with acquiring talent, especially with the 2016 draft class showing flashes of being a strong one.

Fox has two more years left on a four-year deal, while Pace has three years left on a five-year deal -- both fully guaranteed.

While the Bears get set to play the Vikings on Monday, sources say there were some intense meetings this week in Chicago involving members of the front office and some coaches. It is clear everyone is not on the same page.

They'll start a quarterback in Jay Cutler on Monday that the front office and Fox clearly aren't including in their future plans. In fact, they kept him away from practice as Brian Hoyer started, clearing him right after Hoyer's injury. Grudgingly, Cutler is now back under center, knowing this organization has tried to trade him in the past.

How much blame should Fox get for the current state of affairs? The roster was solid at the start of the season, but when the injury bug hit, the roster was suddenly exposed as one with a lack of depth in nearly every area, on both sides of the football. Had injuries not occurred, the team would have competed with every team on their schedule, but when you suddenly have guys playing that otherwise would never be starting for an NFL team, you’re going to have issues.

Not to say that Fox is totally off the hook— he’s had several clock management issues this season, has a team that is committing excessive penalties this season, and has made some questionable personnel decisions along the way.

Ryan Pace is ultimately responsible for the roster. On one hand, he’s acquired some solid talent on both sides of the football, and made a lot of progress in two short years. There are some young guys on the roster who have been thrust into action too soon, but who the Bears should be excited about in coming years.

But the roster is also too thin at over a dozen positions, which is also Pace’s responsibility.

It’s hard to assign blame when injuries have piled up so badly... But is that the only reason the Bears are losing this season? That’s up to the consultant to decide.

Stay tuned...

Victor Oladipo, Thunder agree to $84M extension

Victor Oladipo has reached agreement on a four-year, $84 million extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources told The Vertical.

Oladipo and the Thunder made progress toward an agreement during the past week before finalizing it Monday, sources said. The Thunder also are making progress on a four-year, $100 million deal with Steven Adams.

Oladipo, 24, has established himself as part of the Thunder’s core alongside Russell Westbrook and Adams. In three games this season, Oladipo is averaging 17 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

The Thunder acquired Oladipo from Orlando in the draft-night trade that sent Serge Ibaka to the Magic in June. Oladipo has averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and four assists per game in his four-year career.

Oladipo was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft after three standout seasons at Indiana.

Rudy Gobert agrees to $102M extension with Jazz

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has agreed in principle to a four-year, $102 million contract extension, league sources told The Vertical.

The Jazz will avoid restricted free agency on Gobert in July, when he likely would’ve found an offer sheet for a four-year, $110 million maximum contract. Utah would’ve had the chance to match the deal and keep Gobert, but an agreement now gives Gobert financial peace of mind and could save the Jazz $8 million to $10 million over the course of the deal.

Gobert, 24, has been a remarkable story with Utah, which drafted him 27th overall in 2013. Gobert, a native of France, has developed into one of the dominant shot-blockers and rebounders in the NBA. He’s part of a significant young nucleus with the Jazz that includes Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood, Derrick Favors and Alec Burks.

Dak Prescott is winning hearts in Dallas but minds are still giving Tony Romo a shot

More than three weeks ago, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones needed to rethink the Tony Romo Must Start mandate, since making an arbitrary change in the face of significant winning momentum would be foolish. That sentiment shouldn’t change much, particularly after two more meaningful wins later – a road victory over the Green Bay Packers and Sunday night’s thriller against the Philadelphia Eagles.

It’s still hard to see why anyone would tinker with the substantial chemistry that has blossomed with Dak Prescott leading the Dallas Cowboys.

Dak Prescott hasn’t lost as a starter since Week 1 for the Cowboys. (Getty Images)

As with Tom Brady versus Drew Bledsoe in 2001, my gut says ride out Prescott’s streak as long as possible. And if that means the end of Romo’s career in Dallas, so be it. But my brain? Well, I got a call about Romo from someone I greatly respect in the Cowboys organization last week. And during the conversation, it was hard for me to argue against the central point about Romo: That if Dallas was heading toward a decision on Romo’s long-term future with the team this offseason (and I believe the Cowboys are) it’s in the best interests of the Cowboys to see what he looks like inside this version of the offense.

That Dallas might actually consider parting ways with Romo is no small thing. Three things will make that a serious consideration this offseason: Prescott’s development as the starting quarterback; the ability to spread Romo’s salary cap hit over two seasons via a post-June 1 cut; and the respect the coaching staff and ownership has for the remainder of Romo’s NFL career. If Prescott’s reign starts now, Romo can still go elsewhere and play a few more quality years, similar to Peyton Manning’s departure from the Indianapolis Colts prior to Andrew Luck’s arrival.

But getting to that point – actually deciding to let Romo go – is far easier to do if the Cowboys feel like they’ve taken one last look. After my conversation with a Cowboys source last week, I don’t think the Dallas brain trust feels they’ve had that look, yet. There’s a very good chance Romo ends up starting on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 13.

Could the Cowboys’ offense be better with Tony Romo? (Getty Images)

Could that timeline have changed after the dramatic victory over the Eagles? Certainly. Nothing gets the neurons in Jerry Jones’ gray matter firing more than wins over hated division rivals, particularly those of the breathless variety. Just seeing the emotion of Jones Sunday night was striking. First jumping for joy in his owner’s box and hugging son and team CEO Stephen Jones, and then emerging in the bowels of AT&T Stadium in full-throated celebration.

“Holy smokes!” Jones yelled as he followed his team to the locker room following Prescott’s game-winning overtime touchdown pass. “How ’bout that one, boys?!”

With Jones, that kind of display shouldn’t be taken lightly. He operates on emotion and loyalty. And Prescott is stoking the flames of both right now in all corners of the franchise.

But Jones isn’t the only voice in the room anymore. He’s still the most important one, but when the adrenaline dies down, he’s more capable of being influenced than ever before. That’s how the remaining days (or continuing days) of Romo will be determined. Coach Jason Garrett’s stance will matter. The vantage point of Stephen Jones will matter. And the thought process of director of player personnel Will McClay will matter.

And while my gut says they’ll ride Prescott, my brain says they’re not done with Romo. My brain says they still want to see him at least one time behind that offensive line, with Ezekiel Elliott behind him, Dez Bryant on the outside, Cole Beasley in the slot, all weapons accounted for.

Not because they don’t believe in Prescott but because they don’t believe in making a decision on Romo’s future without seeing him on the field one more time. All four of those men have a nagging suspicion that Romo might still have the ability to take this offense to another level. And I also believe all four think Romo is the best option to win in January, though that feeling may have lessened after seeing Prescott bounce back in overtime against the Eagles’ nonstop pressure on Sunday night.

Of course, there is a financial component to all of this that will factor. The Cowboys have to be conscious of their salary cap, although it’s arguably never as bad as it looks in Dallas. In reality, the Cowboys capologists have a roadmap that could provide any needed cap savings necessary over the 2017 and 2018 seasons. It would take some financial gymnastics, but the opportunity is there. Cutting Romo post June 1 would also allow the team to spread his dead money over two years, too – with $10.7 million falling into 2017 and $8.9 million into 2018. The team also may be resolved to losing some of its free agents that it believes might get surprising contracts elsewhere, namely cornerback Morris Claiborne, wide receiver Terrance Williams and offensive guard Ronald Leary.

This still boils down to the next 10 weeks vs. the next 10 years. Prescott has gone a long way toward making the Dallas brain trust feel like the next decade at quarterback may have been secured. And that decade of Dak may have already started. But Romo is still sitting there behind him. And the decision makers are still wondering what this offense would look like with him at the helm.

That may be enough to put Romo back into the driver’s seat. Maybe for only a few more months but certainly enough to know whether it’s time to move on this offseason.

DeMarcus Cousins fined $25K for throwing mouthpiece, walking into stands

DeMarcus Cousins makes his way back down from the not-at-all-cheap seats. (AP)

It’s like my grandmother always used to say: “It’s not a party until something gets broken, and it’s not an NBA season until DeMarcus Cousins has run afoul of league-office law.” Good news, everybody: it’s officially an NBA season!

The Sacramento Kings’ All-Star center, who last season tied a career-high with 17 technical fouls, has been dinged for the first time in the 2016-17 NBA campaign, and it took just three games. The NBA on Monday slapped Cousins with a $25,000 fine for “throwing his mouthpiece and entering the spectator stands,” which Boogie did late in the fourth quarter of Sacramento’s Saturday night meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden 1 Center:

With just under 40 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a nip-and-tuck battle between the Kings and Wolves, Minnesota rookie guard Kris Dunn scooped up a loose ball and knifed into the lane, hoping to cut Sacramento’s four-point lead to a one-basket advantage. Cousins, perennially among the league leaders in charges taken, slid in front to try to draw an offensive foul that would give the Kings back to the ball and help close the door on a home win.

After the two collided, though, referee Tony Brothers called the play a blocking foul on Cousins rather than a charge against Dunn. Not only would that send the rookie to the line for a pair of free throws that could get the Wolves within two points, but it was also Cousins’ sixth foul, eliminating him from the game with less than one minute remaining in a close contest. That, combined with the fact that Cousins had picked up his fifth on an offensive foul call against him just 13 seconds earlier, riled the famously volatile big man up to the point that he decided to tear out his mouthpiece and chuck it before stomping into the stands.

Boogie eventually stomped back onto the court and to the sideline, where he saw Dunn miss both of his free throws. (We assume he was invoking the name of our site as he watched.) From there, Cousins watched his teammates survive multiple Wolves attempts to knot things up in the final 20 seconds, allowing Sacramento to come away with a 106-103 victory that gave the Kings their first win in their brand new gym.

Before his walkabout in the bleachers, Cousins had been his dominant self, scoring a team-high 29 points on 9-for-16 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and a steal in 32 1/2 minutes of work. Earlier in the evening, though, he received his first technical foul of the year after pleading his case on a foul against rising Wolves star Karl-Anthony Towns. To his credit, he responded to that whistle with a bit less bluster and bombast than you might’ve expected, smiling at referee Lauren Holtkamp and offering a quick shoutout to Larry Sanders:

… but, with the game in the balance and his evening reaching an abrupt end, Boogie wasn’t quite so smiley and retiring. Hence the outburst; hence the fine. Cousins was also retroactively assessed another technical foul on the play. (What’s one more for the career total, anyway?)

Cousins is just the latest in a long line of NBA players to receive a $25,000 fine for whipping their mouthguards in frustration. Kirk Hinrich, then of the Chicago Bulls, wrote his check in April 2007. Aaron Brooks, then of the Kings, got his in November 2012. Enes Kanter, then of the Utah Jazz, received the same penalty for the same offense in December 2014. Most famously, Stephen Curry received the same fine for throwing his mouthpiece and hitting a fan after picking up a disqualifying sixth foul in Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

The good news, I suppose: Boogie finds himself in pretty decent company on this list. The bad news: he’s still out $25,000. The lesson: no matter how frustrated you are, just keep your mouthpiece in your mouth, guys. It can be costly, and besides that, nobody wants to have your spit whipping around, anyway.

Trade surprise: Patriots reportedly send LB Jamie Collins to Cleveland

One of the big storylines in New England this season has been when – and how – the Patriots will pay three of their young star defensive players: linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins, and cornerback Malcolm Butler.

But in a stunner, they’ve taken one of those names out of the equation.

The Patriots traded versatile linebacker Jamie Collins, seen here getting an interception earlier this year, to Cleveland.

The Patriots traded Collins to the Cleveland Browns. According to the Browns website, New England will receive a conditional draft pick. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that it would be a compensatory third-round pick, but there’s no guarantee that the Browns will get one of those – compensatory picks are awarded by the league based on big-name players lost to other teams in free agency. The Browns lost three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack to the Atlanta Falcons, and he could be deemed worthy of a third.

Keep in mind, if the Patriots were to receive the Browns’ natural fourth-round pick, they almost certainly would have to forfeit it: as the very last condition of the franchise’s punishment for deflate-gate, they must give up their highest fourth-round pick in 2017. With Cleveland winless at this point, they’re on track to pick first in each round.

It’s surprising to see the Patriots part ways with Collins, the 52nd overall pick in the 2013 draft. The 6-foot-4, 250 pound Mississippi native is an athletic freak, and in his time at Southern Miss played safety, linebacker and defensive end. With the Patriots, he did a little bit of everything – in 50 games, he had 10 forced fumbles, 10.5 sacks, five interceptions and 20 pass break-ups.

Less than two years ago, as Collins was starting to come into his own as a versatile playmaker on a young defense, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked if Collins might become the prototype for future defensive players, and Belichick made it clear that the up-and-comer was a special talent.

“Look, Jamie Collinses don’t – it’s not like there’s two or three dozen of them in the draft every year. We’re lucky to have one. Was Lawrence Taylor a prototype outside linebacker? Where’s the next Lawrence Taylor? Those guys don’t grow on trees,” Belichick said in December 2014.

According to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, things weren’t going well between New England and Collins in terms of a new deal, so the team shopped him instead:

Source says Patriots were "having a lot of trouble" in negotiations w/ Collins for a long-term contract. Set to be a free agent this spring

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 31, 2016

Former Cleveland general manager Michael Lombardi, who spent a few years with the Patriots in a nebulous role before leaving earlier this year, tweeted that he’s not surprised to see New England trade Collins, saying the fourth-year player hasn’t been playing well; on the second play of Sunday’s game with Buffalo, Lombardi said Collins did whatever he wanted and it allowed the Bills to gain 28 yards. “Been happening all year. It was not going to continue.”

Belichick is not new to shipping big-name players elsewhere; this is the same man who traded potential Hall of Famers Richard Seymour and Logan Mankins to Oakland and Tampa Bay, respectively. But when they were traded, Seymour was nearly 30 years old and Mankins was 31. Collins just turned 27 on Oct. 20.

If the Browns are acquiring Collins, they likely have every intention of keeping him around long term. But the player is in for a big change: New England is an NFL-best 7-1, while the Browns have yet to win a game.

New interviews reveal more coverups of sexual assaults at Baylor

Another layer will be added to the sexual assault scandal at Baylor University on Tuesday when 60 Minutes Sports airs a special report delving into the coverup of sexual assaults involving football players.

The interview, which will air at 8 p.m. ET on Showtime, has an exclusive interview with Reagan Ramsower, the man in charge of public safety at Baylor. Ramsower, who had never before spoken publicly, said the Baylor Police Department, which he oversees, had a long history of burying sexual assault complaints and noted that a gang rape which allegedly involved football players Tre’Von Armstead and Shamychael Chatman in 2013 was one of those cases. The Baylor police was contacted, but no charges were ever brought and the case sat idle for more than a year.

Armen Keteyian also interviewed Patty Crawford, the former Title IX coordinator, who resigned from the university after feeling like she wasn’t able to do her job properly because of interference from higher-ranking officials at the university. In the interview, Crawford paints her former employer in a grim light.

“There were a lot of people like me at the university that did not want these things happening and were fighting for it, but they didn’t have the power or the authority and they were not heard,” Crawford said. “That is institutional. What drives a culture? It’s the top. And that was the hardest thing for me to come to grips with was after all of this, this report’s released, after all of this, the discrimination became so clear even against me. That’s power and that’s control. What is rape about? Power and control.”

It seems like new information regarding the depth and breadth of one of the biggest sexual assault scandals in U.S. history comes out monthly as people continue to step forward and tell their stories of the misdeeds and inattention of both the athletic department and the university as a whole.

It’s a wonder when and if all of the improprieties will be revealed.

TODAY IN HISTORY - OCTOBER 31ST

1827 – Richard Morris Hunt, American architect, designed the New York Tribune Building (d. 1895) is born.

1860 – Juliette Gordon Low, American scout leader, founded the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (d. 1927) is born.

1864 – Nevada is admitted as the 36th U.S. state.

1903 – The Purdue Wreck, a railroad train collision in Indianapolis, kills 17 people, including 14 players of the Purdue University football team.

1912 – Dale Evans, American singer-songwriter and actress (d. 2001) is born.

1913 – Dedication of the Lincoln Highway, the first automobile highway across United States.

1913 – The Indianapolis Streetcar Strike and subsequent riot begins.

1926 – Magician Harry Houdini dies of gangrene and peritonitis that develops after his appendix ruptures.

1936 – Michael Landon, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1991) is born.

1938 – Great Depression: In an effort to restore investor confidence, the New York Stock Exchange unveils a fifteen-point program aimed to upgrade protection for the investing public.

1940 – Craig Rodwell, American businessman and activist, founded the Oscar Wilde Bookshop (d. 1993) is born.

1941 – After 14 years of work, Mount Rushmore is completed.

1950 – John Candy, Canadian actor, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1994) is born.

1951 – Nick Saban, American football player and coach is born.

1961 – In the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin's body is removed from Vladimir Lenin's Tomb.

1963 – An explosion at the Indiana State Fair Coliseum (now Pepsi Coliseum) in Indianapolis kills 74 people and injures another 400 during an ice skating show. A faulty propane tank connection in a concession stand is blamed.

1981 – Mike Napoli, American baseball player is born.

1984 – Indira Gandhi, Indian politician, 3rd Prime Minister of India (b. 1917) dies.

1993 – River Phoenix, American actor and singer (Aleka's Attic) (b. 1970) dies.

1999 – Yachtsman Jesse Martin returns to Melbourne after 11 months of circumnavigating the world, solo, non-stop and unassisted.

2002 – A federal grand jury in Houston, Texas indicts former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow on 78 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to the collapse of his ex-employer.

Cubs stay alive in World Series thanks to heroic save by Aroldis Chapman

For a World Series like the 112th edition to end in five measly games, to withhold the tension and intrigue that befits a matchup between two teams that have suffered a collective 176 years of pain, would not have been right. Cleveland understands great things do not come easy. Chicago, and particularly the North side, can vouch. Whoever wins this World Series will have earned the championship and celebration that comes with it.

Either way, after the Chicago Cubs’ tension-filled 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 5 at Wrigley Field on Sunday night, a new champion will be crowned at Progressive Field, where the series will shift for the sixth game Tuesday and, if necessary, a seventh Wednesday.

The sides will take off Halloween following a fitful – and, at times, frightful – performance by Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman, who in the longest outing of his career notched the final eight outs to lock down the first World Series win at Wrigley in 71 years. With a career-high 42 pitches, almost all of which were 100-mph-plus fastballs, Chapman served the role the Cubs anticipated when they traded for him in July – and held up the three-run fourth inning that staked the Cubs their runs for the night.

A second-inning Jose Ramirez home run off Jon Lester had given Cleveland a 1-0 lead, and the Indians hadn’t lost this postseason when scoring first. Title dreams danced through the head of Clevelanders, 2016 the year that may not have erased past misery but certainly did its part in sending it to the trash where it belonged.

That didn’t last too long, Clevelanders being Clevelanders, Cleveland being Cleveland. Kris Bryant homered off Trevor Bauer to tie the game, the first of four consecutive hits that led to the Cubs’ three runs. Cleveland’s bullpen shut out the Cubs over the next four innings, while Chicago bent but didn’t break, sneaking out of precarious situations to preserve its season.

Kris Bryant’s solo home run started a three-run fourth inning for the Cubs. (Getty)

Cleveland, used to clawing and scraping for runs, cobbled one together in the sixth off Lester with a Rajai Davis single, a stolen base and a Francisco Lindor RBI single. After bluffing on the first pitch to Mike Napoli, Lindor took off on the second, trying to thieve a base against Lester, whose yips throwing to first make him particularly susceptible. David Ross’ perfect throw and Javier Baez’s just-as-good swipe tag nailed Lindor and helped Lester out of the jam.

Chapman had a pair of his own. First Cubs manager Joe Maddon summoned him with a runner on first and one out in the seventh, and he stranded a pair after hitting Brandon Guyer with a 100-mph fastball. In the eighth, Chapman forgot to cover first base with Davis running, and he advanced to third with two outs. Lindor stared at a 101-mph fastball for strike three.

Even as Chapman’s pitch count eclipsed his career high, the ninth wasn’t nearly as troublesome, and now the Cubs get a full-rest Jake Arrieta in Game 6 against Josh Tomlin, going on three days’ rest for the first time in his career, with Kyle Hendricks looming for Game 7 against Corey Kluber, the star starter of the postseason for Cleveland, going on three days’ for the third time this series.

It’s a toss-up, really, as are most games at this juncture, where two evenly matched teams get to play at least one more game of baseball filled with the tension and gravitas this World Series most certainly deserves.

Jimmie Johnson wins at Martinsville to clinch chance at 7th championship

Jimmie Johnson will be racing for a record-tying seventh championship at Homestead in three weeks.

Johnson won Sunday’s race at Martinsville to automatically advance to the winner-take-all race of NASCAR’s Chase at Homestead on Nov. 20. Johnson won his sixth championship in 2013, the last year before NASCAR changed the format of the Chase to eliminate drivers and create a four-way race for the championship on the final weekend of the season.

“I’ve been trying to ignore this conversation about seven and now I can’t,” Johnson said.

Only Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty have seven championships. Johnson already has a claim to be considered the best driver in Cup Series history. It gets stronger if (or when) he ties the sport’s two icons.

“I’ll probably lie to all of you guys and say I’m not going to think about it at all,” Johnson said. “But it’s inevitable. Fortunately, I don’t have to think about it for three weeks. But we’re going to enjoy this and savor it..”

It’s Johnson’s ninth win at Martinsville and it came during a race that will be remembered more for a 29-lap caution with less than 150 laps to go.

Carl Edwards blew a right front tire and hit the wall as green-flag pit stops were happening. Since Edwards caused a caution as many teams had already stopped for tires, NASCAR attempted to sort out what drivers and cars were laps down and just where they were in the running order.

The problem was compounded when Johnson lost fuel pressure during the caution before he headed to pit road. He stopped on track before he was able to get his car refired and lost positions. But since so many cars were a lap down because they had pitted, Johnson didn’t lose too many spots.

He ultimately restarted fourth, though there was a ton of confusion as to what drivers should start where. AJ Allmendinger was the race leader at the time of the caution and he lapped Matt Kenseth just as Kenseth exited the pits. But Allmendinger had a similar issue to Johnson’s and he too stopped on track. So Kenseth ultimately got his lap back and restarted third.

Yeah, we told you there was a lot of confusion. There was no immediate explanation from NASCAR during the race as to what transpired during the caution.

And Johnson got a big break earlier in the race too. A caution flew on lap 200 for a torn banner on the backstretch wall. A couple laps before the caution, Johnson had contact with Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski (who finished second) and had significant smoke from a tire rub.

Without a caution, Johnson would have likely been forced to pit under green and lost multiple laps. Instead, he got to pit with the rest of the field and keep his spot near the front of the field. Per our review of the TV broadcast, the banner had torn in the vicinity of laps 192 and 193, meaning it flapped in the wind for about seven laps before the caution.

 

Here’s how the points standings currently look regarding the eight drivers remaining in the Chase.

 

1. Jimmie Johnson (won Martinsville)
2. Denny Hamlin (3rd), 3,039
3. Matt Kenseth (4th), 3,039
4. Kyle Busch (5th), 3,037
5. Joey Logano (9th), 3,033
6. Kevin Harvick (20th), 3,021
7. Kurt Busch (22nd), 3,019
8. Carl Edwards (36th), 3,005

Raiders set record for most penalties in a game, but win anyway

Fans have complained about referees taking over NFL games, and that chatter won’t die down after the Oakland Raiders broke a dubious record on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Despite setting a league mark by committing an NFL-worst 23 accepted penalties in the game, the Raiders won on the road in overtime in another thriller.

Jack Del Rio’s Oakland Raiders team set the record for most penalties in a game — and still won. (Getty Images)

You want to make the NFL fun again? Put the Raiders on prime time every week. They’re mistake-prone as all get out, but they’re fun. Not too many teams can win a game like the one they did Sunday. The Raiders committed those 23 for a whopping negative-200 yards — and actually had three more declined (two on one play).

The previous record for most in a game was 22, which happened most recently in 1998 by the San Francisco 49ers against the Buffalo Bills. The other two times it happened (both in regulation) were back in 1944. The 200 yards were the third-most ever. The Tennessee Titans racked up 212 against the Baltimore Ravens back in 1999, and the Cleveland Browns had 209 against the Chicago Bears in 1951. The previous mark for an overtime game was 191 by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1992 against the Seattle Seahawks.

And like those ’92 Eagles, this Raiders team found a way to win. One way they did it: outgaining the Bucs by a whopping 356 yards (626-270).

But when you think about the 200 they had marked off in penalty yardage, plus the 89 yards worth of offensive plays that were wiped out (including a touchdown and a 41-yard gain), it’s still a miracle they won. The Raiders also missed two potential winning field goals and lost a fumble. The Buccaneers had one-third of their 18 first downs via Raiders penalty. The odds of winning a game such as this have to be minuscule.

The Raiders lead the NFL in penalties and penalty yards by a wide margin. But they’re 6-2 and 5-0 on the road, even with outscoring their opponents by only 12 points this season, and results are what matter most. Jack Del Rio’s team might not be disciplined, but it is dangerous. To itself and to others.

Multiple pedestrians struck by vehicle in parking lot after Martinsville race

Numerous people were struck by a vehicle in a Martinsville Speedway parking lot following Sunday’s Sprint Cup race won by Jimmie Johnson.

Per NBC, 22 people were hit while a track spokesperson said none appeared to have life-threatening injuries. A witness told USA Today the car was lined up to leave the parking lot and pulled out of line.

Witness Roger Wolfe of Morgantown, W.Va., told USA TODAY Sports a driver in a black convertible was lined up in traffic waiting to exit the speedway. The driver pulled out of line, hit a Jeep, then struck “six or seven people and ran one person all the way over,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe said the driver appeared to be “out of it.”

Some of the victims were treated at the scene while others were taken to a nearby hospital. Motorsport.com reported the suspected driver was taken into custody.

This is behind Turns 1/2 … #nascar pic.twitter.com/WLU3EVLRxk

— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) October 30, 2016

pic.twitter.com/LCoSG439gj

— Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer) October 30, 2016

Hoping everyone is ok who were involved in the incident after the race today. ????????

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) October 30, 2016

Ezekiel Elliott could face suspension over domestic violence case

Ezekiel Elliott avoided charges earlier this year after he was accused of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend, but that does not mean the Dallas Cowboys running back is in the clear with NFL.

In fact, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the NFL is currently investigating the case on its own and could ultimately hit Elliott with a “lengthy suspension” if it determines he violated the league's policy on domestic abuse.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly tried to discuss the Elliott investigation with Lisa Friel, a former New York prosecutor who is in charge of dealing with domestic violence cases for the NFL, during the recent league meetings in Houston. Sources told La Canfora other league and team executives witnessed the exchange, and Friel did not respond to Jones.

No charges were brought against Elliott after five complaints were filed stemming from his ex-girlfriend accusing him of domestic assault back in July. The woman posted some disturbing photos on social media and claimed Elliott had been abusing her for months.

Of course, the NFL has come under fire once again for botching a domestic violence incident with Josh Brown. The New York Giants kicker was suspended only one game at the start of the season, despite the league vowing to have zero tolerance and institute a baseline ban of six games with such cases.

Elliott is currently second in the NFL with 703 rushing yards. He trails only DeMarco Murray, who has played two more games.

Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips collapsed on the sideline after being hit by Melvin Gordon

There was an unfortunate incident during the second quarter of the Chargers-Broncos game when a San Diego player ran into Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

Chargers running back Melvin Gordon was pushed into Phillips, who was standing on the sideline, at full speed.

Phillips, 69, went down immediately, and was not moving. The Broncos’ training staff stabilized Phillips while players from both sides took knees and waited for him to be loaded onto the cart.

His eyes were open, and he was answering questions from the team’s medical staff. Phillips has been a coach not just for the Broncos’ staff, but was defensive coordinator for San Diego from 2004-06. He’s one of the more beloved coaches around the league.

 

	Houston Texans @HoustonTexans
Wishing you well @sonofbum. twitter.com/psmyth12/statu… 2:32 PM - 30 Oct 2016

Phillips left the stadium in an ambulance to a local hospital, but had movement in all of his extremities.

Thankfully, Phillips has seemed to be alright, as the Broncos indicated:

	Denver Broncos @Broncos
“[@sonofbum] is doing great. … He’s upbeat, watched the game. All indications are that he will be back quickly.”#SDvsDEN 4:51 PM - 30 Oct 2016

Phillips was released from the hospital, and the team expects him to be back at work tomorrow.

It’s not the first time Phillips has been hit while on the sidelines. Last year during the playoffs, he was run into by Steelers wideout Martavis Bryant, but was not injured in that incident.

Falcons' young defense struggles, but Matt Ryan bails it out with huge game

The Atlanta Falcons weren’t going to paint it as such, but this was a must-win game against the Green Bay Packers. And win the Falcons did — barely — as Matt Ryan once more delivered in the clutch and bailed out a defense that has turned for the poor again in a 33-32 Sunday thriller, which happened to be one of the better games of the season.

First, on Ryan: The fact that the Packers were down three defensive starters, including two cornerbacks and pass rusher Clay Matthews, can be used against the Falcons QB. But it’s rare to see a game ping-pong like this. The game’s scoring sheet shows just how back and forth it was:

Falcons, Packers, Falcons, Packers, Falcons, Packers, Falcons, Packers, Falcons.

The final “Falcons” was Ryan, who led the team on an 11-play, 75-yard drive in 3:27 to erase a six-point deficit built up by Aaron Rodgers, who was throwing darts on the other side. Matching Rodgers and handling the pressure, Ryan hit Mohamed Sanu for what would be the game-winner from 11 yards out.

When Ryan saw Sanu matched up on linebacker Jake Ryan, it was easy pickings. It would have been easy to force the ball into Julio Jones, who had a mere five targets all game, and maybe the pre-2016 Ryan might have done just that. But the quarterback went with the smart play and led his team to a victory following two tough losses.

That’s MVP-caliber stuff right there. That and his passing line from the game: 28 of 38 for 288 yards and three scores. The fact that the Falcons’ defense was in turnstile mode most of the game didn’t help.

It’s almost easier to count what Rodgers did have on Sunday than what he didn’t. Without Randall Cobb and sudden linchpin Ty Montgomery, tight end Jared Cook and his top two running backs, Rodgers made the most with what was around him. Of course, the Falcons made it too easy on him.

Rodgers’ first TD pass went to old friend Jordy Nelson, who had struggled following the bye and with whom Rodgers’ chemistry had not been vintage. His next TD toss: to undrafted rookie Geronimo Allison, who started training camp near the bottom of the team’s receiving ranks. No. 3 went to Trevor Davis, which was the fifth-round rookie’s third NFL catch. Oh, and the previous two came in this game.

The Falcons offered little resistance early and struggled to keep Rodgers (six rushes, 60 yards) in the pocket. He also threw for four touchdowns and had only three incompletions in the second half prior to the desperation possession in the final 31 seconds.

The Falcons have a young defense that still is growing. The past few weeks they’ve taken a few steps back after some encouraging progress. But the good news is that Atlanta won this game, avoided falling to .500 after a 4-1 start and have Ryan the veteran to bail them out in situations such as these. That’s the biggest difference between him this season and the past few years, when the force-it-to-Julio routine racked up yards but not the commensurate victories.

The Falcons have two straight on the road prior to the bye week, but one of them comes next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — a team the Oakland Raiders rolled up more than 600 yards of offense against and one the Falcons shockingly lost to in Week 1 in Atlanta. Here’s thinking Ryan likely won’t let that happen again.

How frustrated are Bills fans? Someone tossed a sex toy onto the field

Even in the annals of NFL history, this might be a first: a fan at the Buffalo Bills-New England Patriots game threw a sex toy onto the field.

It happened in the final minutes of the third quarter, at the tail end of a Tom Brady-to-Chris Hogan pass near the end zone. All of a sudden, an object came flying into the frame, near the end zone.

@shalisemyoung @MarkDanielsPJ pic.twitter.com/5MFfuFxAPV

— JP_Shanahan (@JP_Shanahan) October 30, 2016

And it brings up so many questions: how did the tossee get the offending phallus into the stadium? Was it hidden in a hoodie or did someone boldly carry it into the building in their NFL-mandated, clear purse?

Is there a reason it was thrown in the direction of Chris Hogan, who left Buffalo for New England in free agency this year?

What was noted fetishist Rex Ryan’s reaction?

Keep in mind, all of this happened not long after New England’s Rob Gronkowski scored his franchise-record 69th touchdown (you know what he means).

Naturally, Gronkowski had a comment about it:

Gronk on the dildo being thrown on the field. "I think it was for the Bills" #Patriots pic.twitter.com/tNcFHZyv6l

— Chad Amaral (@chad_amaral) October 30, 2016

In case you’re wondering, one of the officials had to clear the, ahem, offending debris off the field.

Dildo launch from @hub_nation ???????? pic.twitter.com/nfL4tI9UVG

— Dillon Hayes (@Dillon_Hayes) October 30, 2016