NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I wouldn't call them the same. Bertuzzi held his jersey and then drove Moore to the ice. Gronk jumped on his back and drove a right arm into his ribs.

 

They sound pretty much the same to me, including the cheap shots tot he head/neck area that you didn't mention.

 

Dr. Anthony Alessi, who consults with the NFL Players Association, told Michele Steele‏ of ESPN that although he hasn’t examined Shazier, he does believe that Shazier’s spinal stabilization surgery is a procedure that indicates a very serious injury.


Although reports on Monday night indicated that Shazier suffered a spinal contusion, Alessi said the surgery means that’s not the case.

“This is a much more severe situation on our hands than we thought,” Alessi said.

The Steelers have not said whether Shazier has any movement in his legs, or whether they expect him to recover from his injury.

 

It feels so weird liking someone for bad news.

 

Don't necessarily like the news, just recognizing and supporting the input as it is appreciated... That's my take anyway.

 

Browns hire John Dorsey as General Manager

Hours after firing Sashi Brown, the Cleveland Browns have hired his replacement.

John Dorsey, who was fired as General Manager of the Chiefs this year, has been hired for the G.M. job in Cleveland.

The hiring will raise immediate questions about whether the Browns complied with the Rooney Rule, which requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for all head-coaching and G.M. jobs. The Browns had clearly decided on Dorsey, who is white, before they even fired Brown.

“We are thrilled to have John Dorsey lead our football operations,” said Dee and Jimmy Haslam in a statement. “John has been immersed in the NFL for 26 years, won two Super Bowls, built sustainable winning football teams and is highly respected for his football acumen. We know we have a critical and very positive opportunity ahead of us to profoundly impact the foundation of this football team. Bringing in someone of John Dorsey’s caliber, his track record of success and his experience, significantly strengthens our opportunities to build a winning football team and that has been, and continues to be, what we want for our fans.”

Dorsey will have a wealth of draft picks and cap space to work with as he attempts to dig the Browns out of the deep hole the franchise is in. (PFT)

 

The Falcons’ playoff hopes are alive.

They somehow, someway beat the Saints 20-17 in one of the most entertaining — and crazy — games of the season.

Both quarterbacks — two of the best in the NFL — committed “what-were-you-thinking” interceptions. Both coaches — both with NFC championships — made “what-were-you-thinking” decisions in the final two minutes.

The Saints fell to 9-4, now only a half game ahead of the Panthers (8-4) and one game in front of the Falcons (8-5). Atlanta has won four of its last five, while New Orleans has lost two of its past three.

 

Sean Payton unleashes “choke” sign at Falcons

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton put his right hand around his neck and appeared to yell “choke” in the direction of Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman early in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s game.

With 12:40 remaining, Freeman took a toss to his left into the Saints bench area for no gain. As he returned to the field of play, it appeared as though Freeman and Payton each began chirping at each other with Payton shown on the broadcast grasping at his neck and twice yelling “choke” in Freeman’s direction.

“I don’t remember that,” Payton said during his postgame press conference.

Freeman did.

“I saw it,” Freeman said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “That man don’t know nothing about choking. He ain’t from where I’m from.

“He’s a good competitor so the competin’ probably came out. But you don’t let that bother you. He don’t know nothing about choking.”

While the broadcast picked up faint parts of the exchange, it’s difficult to make out the exact comments shared between the two. Payton’s reference would almost certainly be a shot at last year’s Super Bowl, where the Falcons watched a 28-3 advantage evaporate before the New England Patriots won in overtime.

Payton may not remember it, but it’s pretty obvious he did it.

The two teams meet again in just 16 days. (PFT)
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Very unsportsman-like of Payton. You would think a Head Coach would know better.

 

WOW !

 

I personally like it! Ok, not really...I do agree that there was some karma, but I don't like the taunting and thats what the shirt is celebrating. I hear Burfict missed practice time, haven't heard his status for the game Sunday. While I don't hope for injuries (even for Burfict), won't lose any sleep for him missing a game. He's been responsible for injuries to Bell and Brown in the past, so there is some karma coming around to him.

 

Bengals have the option of getting the same shirt with the word suspended added on it.

 

As in Burfict, the Steelers have suspended him for what he has done to their players

 

Meh, weak.

 

Please tell me that is a joke. If not wow just wow SMH.

 

Browns’ Shon Coleman fined $30,387 for pushing official...

Marcus Peters fined $24,309 for flag-throwing incident...

Daniel Sorensen fined $18,231 for roughing the passer...

 

Cleveland Browns cut Kenny Britt... promote Justin Currie to take Kenny Britt’s roster spot.

 

Oakland Raiders...

Norton firing sent strong message to Raiders defensive players...

Several members of the Oakland Raiders defense weren’t happy with the decision to fire defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. But they also realized that, if it happens to him, it could happen to them.

“Guys saw the Norton situation, and that kind of got guys fired up, I would say, and more focused,” linebacker Bruce Irvin recently told NBC Sports California. “Once again, I think guys are looking at that situation and thinking, ‘Man, we can get fired, too.’ It’s not only coaches. It falls on the players, too. It was a wake-up call for us, and guys really started to hone in and get in their books. We’re practicing better, and it’s starting to translate on Sundays now.”

That wasn’t Irvin’s first reaction. The former Seahawk was mad that Norton was let go.

“Ken Norton’s like a father to me,” Irvin said. “He has changed my life in so many ways, not only on the field but off the field. It was a tough situation. I basically came to Oakland for him, and he was let go.”

Irvin tweeted “BULLSH-T” after Norton was fired.

“The tweet was just me,” Irvin said. “I’m a very outspoken person, anyway. I’m going to say what I want to say when I want to say it. I was mad at the moment, but I talked to Jack and he understood. He didn’t hold anything against me. He just gave me a few days, and it blew over.”

It blew over, and the end result has been a defensive improvement. They’ll need it on Sunday; the last time they faced the Chiefs, Kansas City scored 30 points. And while the Raiders scored 31 in that same game, it’s always easier to win if the opposing offense is producing less. (#Analysis.)

However it plays out, Sunday’s rematch at Arrowhead Stadium feels like an elimination game, with the loser falling to 6-7 and likely out of the hunt of the AFC West crown.

 

Nathan Peterman part deux.

 

Zach Ertz, Robert Woods expected to miss today’s Eagles-Rams game... according to PFT.

I got Rudolph waiting on my bench, was hoping Ertz could go tho.