NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Hopefully he plays this week and then serves his one game suspension the next week.

 

LOL. Well the appeal decision won't go past the deadline to play this week.

 

Scared, huh?

 

No, just want the home field advantage.

 

Steelers rally from 17 down to earn 23-20 victory over Bengals

Pittsburgh fell into a 17-0 hole late in the second quarter before rallying to steal a 23-20 victory over the Bengals on a 38-yard Chris Boswell field goal as time expired.

 

Steelers statement: Ryan Shazier “continues to improve,” will stay in hospital overnight

Early indications about the status of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier appear to be positive following a scary injury Monday night in Cincinnati.

Shazier was taken to the hospital immediately following a hit on Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone. Shazier instantly grabbed for the middle of his back following the hit and was strapped to a backboard before leaving the stadium. Head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t have an update on Shazier’s status immediately following the game but Kevin Colbert, the team’s General Manager and Vice President, released a statement regarding Shazier’s condition late Monday night.

“Ryan Shazier suffered a back injury and was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he had a CT scan and an MRI to evaluate the condition of his back.

“Ryan’s injury will not require surgery at this time, and he continues to improve. He will stay overnight to continue evaluations with the hopes of returning to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

“We will provide further updates at the appropriate time.”

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network had similar reports regarding the severity of Shazier’s injuries as well. The injury was referred to as a spinal cord concussion, or contusion, with swelling involved.

Former Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox had a similar injury in 2002 which forced him to miss just one game, leading to optimism within the team regarding Shazier’s status as well. With Shazier potentially able to return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, there appears to be many encouraging signs regarding Shazier’s health at this point. Hopefully that optimism remains tomorrow and Shazier continues to improve.

 

The interim tag has been removed from Hamilton Tiger-Cats Head Coach June Jones and he and GM Kent Austin have pretty much said they are signing Johnny Manziel once the CFL clears him.

 

That may put the CFL on the map for quite a few folks who are not in the know about the CFL. Interesting... I'll tune in just to see if he flops or just what he does.

 

AFC Playoff Picture...

LEADERS
1. Steelers (10-2): They have to deal with the surging Ravens before it’s time for the fireworks against the Patriots.

2. Patriots (10-2): Another division crown can be clinched with a win against the Dolphins or a Bills loss.

3. Titans (8-4): Winning both games on a two-game road swing through the NFC West will ensure they’ll at least play for the AFC South in Week 17.

4. Chiefs (6-6): Their fade continues, but they’d win the tiebreakers in the division as of now.

5. Jaguars (8-4): A visit from the Seahawks provides a good test as the Jaguars try to clinch a winning season.

6. Ravens (7-5): Sunday’s win was their third in a row and featured their best offensive performance to date.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
7. Chargers (6-6): They’ll be in Kansas City in Week 15 for a crucial matchup.

8. Bills (6-6): Nathan Peterman may be back in the saddle after Tyrod Taylor‘s knee injury.

9. Raiders (6-6): They can knock the Chiefs out of first place this week.

10. Jets (5-7): More wins than many expected, but still short of the postseason.

11. Dolphins (5-7): They snapped their losing streak just in time to face the Patriots.

12. Bengals (5-7): With the playoffs falling out of the picture, will this be Marvin Lewis’ swan song?

13. Texans (4-8): Houston will have to settle for a World Series champion.

14. Colts (3-9): They can hand the Patriots the AFC East by beating the Bills, which may be reason to tank this week.

15. Broncos (3-9): Eight straight losses and counting in Denver.

16. Browns (0-12): Josh Gordon looked good in his return, but the Browns still look like the Browns overall.

 

More Apologizing...

Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster injured Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict with an illegal block on Monday night, then added insult to injury by taunting Burfict as he lay motionless on the field. Smith-Schuster apologized afterward.

Smith-Schuster said he wasn’t singling Burfict out and didn’t even realize that’s who he hit.

“I didn’t know it was Burfict at first. All I saw was the first Bengal was going to tackle . . . and my instinct is I gotta block for my teammate,” Smith-Schuster said. “And me just playing ball, I hit him. After I seen the replay I think I should’ve held back a little bit more from blocking him. Also, I believe that that’s not me. I should’ve never stood over him. I apologize for that and with that being said, I hope he gets better.”

Burfict was carried off the field on a stretcher, but he reportedly got off the stretcher and was walking around in the Bengals’ locker room afterward. He is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Smith-Schuster will certainly face league discipline, both for the hit on Burfict and for taunting him afterward. (courtesy PFT)

 

he's out this week.

 

johhny who ?

 

Ryan Shazier has “some movement” in lower extremities

Last night’s encouraging update from the Steelers omitted reference to the question of whether linebacker Ryan Shazier has movement or feeling in his legs. Apparently, he’s not yet where he needs to be regarding that critical aspect of his overall recovery.

Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Shaizer “has some movement in his lower extremities.” Per Rapoport, “the next 24-48 hours are key for increased improvement.”

This implies that there has indeed been some type of spinal-cord injury that has limited full use of his legs, at least for now. Here’s hoping that improvement will continue, and that Shazier will fully and completely recover.

Said G.M. Kevin Colbert early Tuesday: “Ryan’s injury will not require surgery at this time, and he continues to improve. He will stay overnight to continue evaluations with the hopes of returning to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.” (PFT)

 

I was thinking that about the updates...nobody was saying whether he had feeling or movement in his legs. Good to hear! Once the swelling goes down they’ll know more

 

Shazier will play again this season.

 

FTFY

 

Steelers get waxed the next two weeks. End up as the 3 seed then get humiliated by the Jags in the divisional round.

 

^^^NESN is to New Englanders, as Fox is down south.^^^

Edit: Big crowing from a fan of a team with (1) Quality win all season.

 

Suspensions come quickly for Steelers and Bengals

The NFL just announced one-game suspensions for Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bengals safety George Iloka, after last night’s over-the-line hits.

Both were flagged last night for helmet-to-helmet hits, Smith-Schuster for dropping Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict and Iloka for hitting Steelers wideout Antonio Brown in the end zone.

They can appeal within the next three days, and those will be heard by Derrick Brooks or James Thrash.

While those suspensions are clearly justified, they were at least organic, unlike Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski‘s sneak attack, which also drew a one-game ban.

 

Guys Tommy Maddox had the exact same injury as Shazier and only missed one week.