NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Green Bay Packers...

Packers’ Lance Kendricks was cited for marijuana possession in September...

For the second time this week, we’ve learned of a Packers player getting busted by police earlier in the season.

This time the word comes from TMZ that Packers tight end Lance Kendricks was cited for having marijuana in his car in September.

Kendricks was initially pulled over for driving 81 mph in a 70 mph zone. The officer who pulled him over reported “a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.” Kendricks initially denied having any drugs but then admitted he had marijuana in his glove compartment.

News also broke this week that Packers running back Aaron Jones was arrested in October under similar circumstances, with an officer pulling him over for speeding and Jones admitting he had smoked marijuana.

Both Packers will come under league scrutiny for potential discipline.

 

Kyle Long fined $9,115 for unnecessary roughness

The NFL fined Bears right guard Kyle Long $9,115 for unnecessary roughness.

Long pushed Lions defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson in the back, knocking him to the ground, after rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky ran for 15 yards.

Officials penalized the Bears 15 yards. Trubisky fumbled on the next play, with D.J. Hayden returning it for a Lions touchdown.

Long also drew a penalty for an ineligible player downfield on a screen pass.

 

Kiko Alonso fined $18,231 for hit on Ryan Fitzpatrick

The NFL fined Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso $18,231 for unnecessary roughness.

The play was similar to the hit Alonso had on Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco earlier this season. The NFL fined Alonso $9,115 for the hit that knocked Flacco out of the game with a concussion.

Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was scrambling to his right, and, as Alonso came flying in, Fitzpatrick slid and threw an incompletion as Alonso hit him.

Officials flagged Alonso for unnecessary roughness.

The NFL fined Bucs safety T.J. Ward $9,115 for taunting.

 

Carson Wentz fined $9,115 for low block

The NFL fined Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz $9,115 for a low block in Sunday’s victory over the Cowboys.

During a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, Wentz threw a pass to tight end Zach Ertz, who was ruled to have fumbled before crossing the goal line. (It appeared Ertz didn’t complete the catch, but since he didn’t score, the play wasn’t reviewed.) Cowboys linebacker Justin Durant picked up the loose ball and began running the other way.

Wentz took out Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence below the knees during Durant’s attempted return.

Officials penalized the Eagles 15 yards on the kickoff.

 

Darrelle Revis not expected to play Sunday

 

Pittsburgh 31, Packers 28

When in doubt, the Steelers know they can just throw it up for Antonio Brown.

The veteran wide receiver was unstoppable, again, in Pittsburgh’s 31-28 win over the Packers.

Brown had 10 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns, with a couple of the kind of unbelievable catches we’re accustomed to seeing from him.

The last one helped put them in position for Chris Boswell‘s 53-yard field goal to win it with no time left, and showed Brown’s acrobatic ability, as he was at full extension and dragging his feet as he went out of bounds. The win was their sixth straight, and improves them to 9-2.

The Steelers offense wasn’t perfect. Ben Roethlisberger threw a pair of interceptions, there were some dropped passes, and their running game was just good (not great).

But Brown’s the ultimate bailout position for them, and they know they can throw it in his general direction, and he’s generally going to make defenses pay.

 

NFC Playoff Picture - Updated...

LEADERS
1. Eagles (10-1): The view hasn’t changed for the Eagles in a while, but road games against the Seahawks and Rams could shake things up for the NFC East leaders.

2. Vikings (9-2): Their win on Thanksgiving made it seven in a row and kept Minnesota in striking distance of the No. 1 seed.

3. Rams (8-3): In addition to getting a leg up on the Saints, the Rams ensured they still have an edge on the Seahawks in the NFC West.

4. Saints (8-3): Their eight-game win streak is over and now they’ll try to hold onto their NFC South lead.

5. Panthers (8-3): The Panthers can leapfrog the Saints with a win, but a Week 14 date with the Vikings looms as another test.

6. Falcons (7-4): Atlanta has tiebreakers over Seattle and Detroit, which helps in the Wild Card race even as they vie for a division crown

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
7. Seahawks (7-4): Beating the 49ers means a Week 15 date with the Rams still looks like it will decide the division title.

8. Lions (6-5): The Lions need a winning streak while the teams in front of them beat each other up.

9. Packers (5-6): They put up a good fight on Sunday night, but they need victories more than encouraging signs.

10. Cowboys (5-6): A loss on Thursday night will leave them at the end of their rope.

11. Washington (5-6): See Cowboys and repeat.

12. Cardinals (5-6): A win over the Rams next Sunday might help the Seahawks more than it will help Arizona’s faint hopes.

13. Buccaneers (4-7): The Fitzmagic of a two-game winning streak came to an end against the Falcons.

14. Bears (3-8): The John Fox watch takes the place of any playoff watch in Chicago.

15. Giants (2-9): The Giants haven’t been in the playoff picture for some time.

16. 49ers (1-10): Jimmy Garoppolo played! And threw a touchdown pass!

 

"Crap receiver" @SAS

 

I believe I called him a bum, technically. Term of endearment.

 

Also...

Week 8: 10 targets, 5 receptions, 70 yards, 0 TDs (versus 23rd ranked pass defense)

*crickets*

Week 12: 12 targets, 10 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TDs



C'mon, man.

 

Brown, when producing big (6 games): 79 targets 59 receptions, 917 yards (15.5 YPR), 7 TD, 74.7% catch rate. Elite.

Brown, when not producing big (5 games): 47 targets, 21 receptions, 278 yards (13.2 YPR), 1 TD, 44.7% catch rate. Kenny Britt.

 

Might be more a Roethlisberger thing. Of those 5 "not-producing" games, 3 came on the road, where Ben has struggled the last few years.

 

So a WR has to have at least 10-150-1 every single game they play in order to be elite?

 

Nope.

This guy gets it:

 

To be fair Ben has pretty much played like crap most of this year. The past two games he’s played much better. And like Axe said, Ben’s played pretty bad on the road the past few years....Still, even when Ben has played like shit Brown comes up with big plays. Maybe not stellar statistically, but a huge conversion in triple coverage type of play

 

Ravens force three turnovers in 23-16 victory over Texans

A trio of forced turnovers and just enough offense from the Baltimore offense allowed the Ravens to stay in the heat of the playoff hunt with a 23-16 victory over the Houston Texans on Monday night.

Javorius Allen and Alex Collins each reached the end zone on the ground and Justin Tucker converted three field goals to give Baltimore the win as the Ravens improved to 6-5 on the season. Baltimore was just 3-of-14 on third down for the game. However, they did convert twice on fourth down, including a fake punt that led to their first touchdown.

But with Tom Savage turning the ball over three times for Houston, the Ravens defense did what it needed to in order for Baltimore to take home the victory.

Houston had a final opportunity to tie the game with just under three minutes remaining only to have Savage intercepted by Anthony Levine. Savage was trying to connect with tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz only to have Levine get in the way and pick off the ill-advised pass.

The Texans had grabbed an early 7-0 lead as Lamar Miller scored on a 4-yard run to cap a 90-yard drive on their opening possession. It would be the only time Houston reached the end zone all night.

A 10-yard touchdown from Allen and 8-yard score from Collins gave Baltimore a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. Ka'imi Fairbairn converted three field goals as well but two interceptions from Savage and a lost fumble on a sack from Terrell Suggs was too much for the Texans to overcome.

Savage finished with 252 yards, completing 22 passes on 37 attempts with two interceptions and a lost fumble.

Joe Flacco passed for just 141 yards on 20-of-32 passing for Baltimore.

 

NFL suspends Michael Crabtree, Aqib Talib two games each

The NFL has come down hard on Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree and Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib after they fought on the field during Sunday’s game.

Both Crabtree and Talib have been suspended two games, a punishment harsher than most were suggesting, and one that makes a strong statement from the league office that on-field fights will not be tolerated.

NFL Vice President of Football Operations John Runyan told Crabtree in a letter, “First, you punched a Broncos opponent Chris Harris in the midsection, resulting in him being removed from the game. Then, on the subsequent play, you blocked a different Broncos opponent (Aqib Talib) into the sidelines beyond the yellow media border, well after the play was over. Your actions triggered a melee and endangered various sideline and League personnel, including one of our Game Officials who was injured trying to maintain control of the situation.”

Runyan wrote in his letter to Talib, “”You deliberately ripped your opponent’s chain from his neck just as you did last year when you played against him. Then, when the two of you went to the ground after a subsequent play, you aggressively removed his helmet and threw it in his direction, endangering him and various sideline personnel in the near vicinity. Finally, once you were momentarily separated from your opponent, you again engaged him and threw a punch.”

Both Crabtree and Talib are likely to appeal their suspensions.

 

2 things.
1. It's Jon not John (I know its copy and paste).
2. I thought Crabtree should not get as harsh a punishment but I didn't know about the Chris Harris punch. That changes things. That's a game for each offense.

P.S. it doesn't mean that Crabtree wasn't a bigger dick.

 

No it was crap receiver. And you doubled down earlier this year.