Tag: NFL

NFL community rips Dolphins over Tua Tagovailoa injury

Controversy hovered over Tua Tagovailoa even taking the field Thursday night. It grew exponentially louder just a few hours later.

Tagovailoa was stretchered off the field near the end of the first half of the Dolphins’ “Thursday Night Football” matchup with the Bengals with head and neck injuries. He was sacked by Josh Tupou, and his head forcefully slammed against the ground as he was brought down. After the hit, his fingers could be seen crooked as he remained on the ground, which broadcasters Kirk Herbstreit and Al Michael said is likely a result of neurological shock.

Just four days ago against the Bills, Tagovailoa similarly slammed his head on the ground after a hit. He tried to get up and remain in the game, but collapsed after taking a few steps and was helped off the field. He returned and helped lead the Dolphins’ to a comeback win, but many were skeptical to how he was allowed back in the game, particularly after everyone saw him collapse.

The Dolphins claimed Tagovailoa passed the NFL’s concussion protocols after the Week 3 hit, which are conducted by an independent third party and includes both physical and phycological tests. In addition, despite the team initially ruling him questionable to return with a head injury, the team and Tagovailoa announced after the game that it was indeed his back that forced him to collapse on the field.

Part of the league’s protocols that would result in a “no-go” for a return to the field include gross motor instability. The Dolphins and the league’s independent third party ruled that Tagovailoa’s gross motor instability — his collapsing on the field — was a result of his back.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins is sacked by defensive tackle Josh Tupou #68 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Tua Tagovailoa lies on the ground after his scary hit.
Tua Tagovailoa lies on the ground after his scary hit.
Screengrab
Medical staff tend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins.
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Medical staff tend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins.
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Immediately after that game, on Sunday, the NFL Players Association launched an investigation into the processes that allowed him to return. After Tagovailoa exited Thursday night’s game, the NFLPA again expressed their ongoing investigation into Tagovailoa’s injury, and subsequent clearance, from Sunday’s game.

“Player health and safety is at the core of the union’s mission,” the NFLPA tweeted Thursday night. “Our concern tonight is for Tua and we hope for a full and speedy recovery. Our investigation into the potential protocol violation is ongoing.”

On a short week, Tagovailoa was questionable to play Thursday against the Bengals, and there was skepticism that he should even be allowed to take the field.

Before kickoff, Ph.D. Chris Nowinski, CEO of Concussion Legacy Foundation, tweeted “If Tua takes the field tonight, it’s a massive step back for #concussion care in the NFL. If he has a 2nd concussion that destroys his season or career, everyone involved will be sued & should lose their jobs, coaches included. We all saw it, even they must know this isn’t right.”

With another scary injury, the microscope on the Dolphins and their decision making has only intensified.

The NFL Players Association retweeted multiple players sending their regards to Tagovailoa.



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Giants’ Kenny Golladay blows much-desired opportuntiy

Kenny Golladay said all he wanted was an opportunity to make plays. 

And, in one of the biggest moments of Monday night’s NFC clash with the hated rival Cowboys — a 23-16 Giants loss at MetLife Stadium — the controversial receiver got one. 

A big one. 

And, consistent with the way his Giants career has gone since he was signed to that ball-and-chain $72 million contract, Golladay dropped the ball. 

Literally. 

The Giants had just fallen behind the Cowboys 20-13 with 8:30 remaining in the game and they faced a critical third-and-12 from their own 22-yard line. Quarterback Daniel Jones put a pass right onto Golladay’s hands at about the 30-yard line with room to run for more yardage and perhaps gain the first down and keep the drive alive. 

Kenny Golladay reacts during the second half of the Giants’ loss to the Cowboys.
USA TODAY Sports

But Golladay, who has been an unwanted Giants story this season for how little he’s been playing despite his massive contract, didn’t look the ball into his hands and left it on the MetLife Stadium turf. 

“I missed one opportunity, which I wish I had back,’’ Golladay said afterward. “Just not looking [the ball] in. I was trying to make a play for the team. Running before you secure the ball, that’s pretty much all that was. Stuff that can’t happen — especially when ‘8’ (Jones) is doing everything to get us the ball and put us in position to win the football game. 

“I want to be a guy that can make that play, so I put that on myself. It was third down and that can’t happen.’’ 

Golladay drew headlines for having played only two snaps in the season opener against the Panthers and calling out the coaches for more playing time and opportunities. After Monday’s game, he didn’t want to make any excuses about his limited playing time having any effect on his drop. 

“It’s very difficult,’’ he said. “I’m beating myself up about it. I definitely wish I could have it back. Whether you’re in rhythm or not, you’ve got to be locked in and be ready.’’ 

Golladay, who was the fourth receiver in the rotation on Monday despite the fact that Kadarius Toney didn’t play because of a hamstring injury, was also part of a key play late in the first half when he caught a pass for a 21-yard gain from Jones to put the Giants in field-goal range in the closing seconds. The Giants trailed 6-3 at the time. 

Kenny Golladay drops a pass during the Giants’ loss to the Cowboys.
Bill Kostroun/New York Post

But the play, a third-and-13 from the Giants 42-yard line that put the ball at the Dallas 37, was nullified when receiver Sterling Shepard was called for a pass interference penalty that appeared on replay to be incidental contact with Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs while Shepard was running his route. 

“That was huge,’’ Golladay said. “It would have put us in field-goal range. That was a bad call. I wish it didn’t happen, but stuff like that is going to happen and you’ve got to fight through it.’’ 

Late in the game, Shepard crumpled to the turf on the Giants’ final offensive play with an apparent non-contact knee injury. Golladay said he “choked up’’ when he saw Shepard go down. 

“It definitely hurt me when I saw him go down and grab his knee,’’ Golladay said. “It still hurts. It almost choked me up a little bit, to be totally honest, because I’ve grown a relationship with him and I know how much he’s put in to coming back [from last season’s Achilles injury] and cares about it.’’

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Baker Mayfield’s wife, Emily, celebrates first win with Panthers

This “Victory Monday” is extra sweet for Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield and his wife, Emily.

One day after Carolina topped the New Orleans Saints, 22-14, to claim its first win of the 2022 season, Emily took to Instagram to commemorate the occasion.

“Victory Monday,” Emily captioned the post, which featured Mayfield’s biggest fan at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday.

Emily Mayfield, the wife of Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield, cheers on the Panthers.
Instagram/Emily Mayfield
Emily Mayfield and Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Instagram/Emily Mayfield

Mayfield, who was traded to the Panthers this summer after four years with the Browns, completed 12 of 25 attempts for 170 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions in the NFC South matchup. Though happy about the victory, Mayfield said postgame there’s still “a lot of stuff to work on.”

“We’ll take wins whenever we can get them,” the 27-year-old quarterback began. “They don’t have to be pretty. Still have a lot of stuff to work on obviously. Just the way the defense played and special teams, it’s pretty great. The way we ran the ball honestly. The mood in the locker room is great. Get that first win, kind of a relief. That weight lifted off your shoulders. Just need to build on. Guys need to get use to this feeling and continue to chase it.”

Mayfield’s postgame sentiments mirrored those of Panthers coach Matt Rhule, who entered Sunday’s contest with a 10-25 record.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield (#6) warms up ahead of the Panthers-Saints game on Sept. 25, 2022.
AP
Panthers head coach Matt Rhule looks on from the sideline on Sept. 25, 2022.
AP
Quarterback Baker Mayfield walks off the field after the Panthers’ win over the Saints on Sept. 25, 2022.
AP

“It’s not a perfect game. A lot of things we still have to improve upon. A lot of things that showed up in the first couple games are still there. But I thought our guys competed,” Rhule said.

Hours before kickoff Sunday, NFL Network reported that Panthers owner David Tepper planned “to be patient rather than reactionary” in regard to Rhule’s job status, but that “wins must come and improvement must be evident.”

Rhule, 47, was hired as the Panthers’ head coach in Jan. 2020, agreeing to a seven-year contract worth $62 million.

The Panthers will try to improve to 2-2 this coming Sunday when they host the Cardinals.



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Giants’ Cor’Dale Flott set to face Cowboys elite receivers

Learning to ride a bike comes with the expectation of a fall or two.

Consider that an analogy for playing cornerback in the NFL as a rookie, like the Giants’ Cor’Dale Flott, who held his own for a half last week against a three-time 1,000-yard receiver. The Giants stuck top cornerback Adoree’ Jackson on Panthers deep threat Robbie Anderson and left Flott in his first career start against D.J. Moore, who ultimately broke free for a 16-yard touchdown when Flott got twisted and slipped to the ground.

“I learned a lot of lessons just from being out there,” said Flott, who allowed just that catch on three targets. “It shows the trust the coaches have in me, which I respect a lot.”

With starting cornerback Aaron Robinson (appendix) again sidelined, the Giants’ plan for covering the Cowboys’ trio of CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup (in his season debut) and Noah Brown is unknown, but Flott figures to have a prominent role. He had his “best week of practice” after finding out he was going to be a starter, coordinator Wink Martindale said.

Veteran Fabian Moreau finished the game last week in place of Flott (who had cramps, according to Martindale), and is expected to be elevated from the practice squad for the third straight week.

Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott
Noah K. Murra

“The Cowboys have elite receivers, so I’m preparing to execute,” Flott said. “At LSU, there are no training wheels at all. I’m used to it.”

Flott was drafted out of LSU to play in the slot, but Darnay Holmes won that job early in training camp.

“I’m comfortable on the outside, too, so whichever is available and wherever I’m needed, I’ll be there to play,” Flott said. “Fabian knows the game as much as anybody in our room. If he’s out there, I’ll be a good teammate and support him.”

WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring) and DL Leonard Williams (knee) did not practice Saturday and are listed as doubtful on the final injury report. OLBs Azeez Ojulari (calf) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (sprained MCL) both are officially considered questionable, but appear to have a green light to play barring a setback. Neither played in the first two games after being listed as doubtful.

“I think they are much better than they were the week before,” Daboll said. “We’re moving in the right direction with those guys.”

OL Jon Feliciano (shin) and DBs Dane Belton (clavicle) and Jason Pinnock (shoulder) were upgraded to full participants and cleared to play.

WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee) and CBs Justin Layne (concussion), Nick McCloud (hamstring) and Aaron Robinson are out.

QB Tyrod Taylor was not at practice Saturday for personal reasons, but is expected to rejoin the team in time to be available for the game.

During a film breakdown on “NFL Live,” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said the Panthers were tipping run/pass against the Giants, based on whether Christian McCaffrey lined up next to Baker Mayfield in the shotgun or one yard behind him. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule disagreed with the assessment, but were the Giants clued in?

Daboll didn’t definitively say, but, as a former offensive coordinator, he is aware of tipping plays.

“You’re always trying to gain a competitive advantage,” Daboll said. “You can go through a scouting report and talk about tendencies. In the heat of the battle, do I think it’s important? Yeah. But unless something is 100 percent or in the high, high, high 90s, 80s [percent-wise], you can tell a player too much, where they’re thinking, ‘Look for this. And remember this. Do this.’ You want to let them go use their skill-set and play fast.”

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Zach Wilson is Jets future, but Robert Saleh must ride Joe Flacco

Robert Saleh understandably wanted no part of the question on Wednesday. 

The Jets coach has just gotten past the whole “keeping receipts” quote from last week and was not looking to create any more headlines … so when asked if there is any scenario where Joe Flacco can keep the starting quarterback job once Zach Wilson is healthy, Saleh gave an answer that sounded like he practiced it in front of a mirror before his press conference. 

“Zach’s the future of the organization. We all know that,” Saleh said. “As soon as the doctors clear him, we’ll get him on the field.” 

Really? Has Wilson earned the right to have the starting job handed back to him? 

Saleh surely does not want to deal in hypotheticals, but we do. Let’s play this out a little bit. Flacco goes out Sunday and has another 300-yard, four-touchdown performance and the Jets beat the Bengals to improve to 2-1. You’re telling me Monday morning, Saleh is taking the keys out of Flacco’s hands? 

Joe Flacco passes the ball against the Browns during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland last Sunday.
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Joe Flacco threw for four touchdowns and over 300 yards against the Browns.
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I wouldn’t. Saleh should ride the hot hand and that is Flacco. 

Now, the scenario I laid out is unlikely. The Jets are an underdog against a desperate 0-2 Bengals team on Sunday. But what if? What if Flacco does it again? What if the Jets pull off another shocker? 

Saleh should then come out Monday and say Wilson’s surgically repaired knee needs another week of rest and Flacco will start Week 4 against the Steelers. Keep going until Flacco’s 37-year-old wheels fall off. 

No one is saying Flacco looked like Aaron Rodgers last week. But there was some magic at the end of the game. Sure, the Browns handed the Jets a chance they should have never had, but Flacco made the most of that opportunity. He hit a wide-open Corey Davis on a 66-yard touchdown pass and then executed a masterful final touchdown drive after the onside kick. 

Everyone calls Flacco “Joe Cool” and it was on display on that final drive. He looked like he was in total control and was a calming presence for a young team.

“I think Joe’s a really good quarterback. He’s seen everything,” Saleh said. “[By] the fourth quarter, the game plan has already been revealed. They know how they’re playing everything. When we got that onside kick, he knew exactly where he needed to go with the ball because he already knew what was going to happen. The great ones can see that so in those fourth quarters when you have a good quarterback who’s armed with all the knowledge he needs, that’s hard.”

Could Wilson have led the Jets back? Maybe. But he does not have the knowledge that Saleh spoke about. Flacco has been there and done that. Wilson has one fourth-quarter comeback on his résumé. Sunday was Flacco’s 19th. Sunday was the 37th time Flacco has thrown for 300 yards in an NFL game. Wilson has yet to hit that mark. 

The postgame reaction from Flacco’s teammates show how much they love the man many watched star for the Ravens when they were children. In the video the Jets tweeted out Flacco was in the middle of the room, surrounded by jumping Jets and you could see how popular he is in the locker room. 

But it was not just the magic of Sunday’s comeback. Flacco has played well when given time by the offensive line and the receivers don’t drop passes. PFF has him rated as the third-best quarterback in the NFL, trailing just Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts. They have credited him with zero turnover-worthy plays. He is third in the NFL with 616 passing yards. 

Will it last for a season, a month, two more weeks? Who knows? But Saleh owes it to the Jets players, coaches, front office, owners and fan to find out. 

So, is there any chance Flacco can stay in the job?

Robert Saleh speaks to the media before practice in Florham Park.
Bill Kostroun/New York Post
Zach Wilson, center, has been on the sideline for the Jets since undergoing knee surgery in August.
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“I don’t want to be a broken record,” Saleh said. “I’ll be happy to answer that question a million times over when Zach is healthy and ready to go. Zach is the future of the team.” 

No one is going to argue that the 23-year-old is not the future. But that does not mean the 37-year-old, if he continues to play well, can’t be the present. 

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NFL Power Rankings for Week 3: Logjam emerges behind elite

Maybe the legacy-minded members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins will be able to celebrate a little earlier this season. 

The alums from the NFL’s only perfect team always breathe a little easier after the last undefeated team loses each year. It took eight weeks last season. 

Well, after just two weeks of the 2022 season, the group of unbeatens is down to six. In fact, there are more winless teams (seven) remaining. For the non-math wizards, that means 19 of 32 teams have split their first two games. 

Here are The Post’s power rankings for Week 3, sorting through the logjam in the middle: 

1. Buffalo Bills 2-0 (Last week: 1) 

What was more impressive? An offense that scored 41 points and threw for 313 yards, with Stefon Diggs catching three touchdown passes? Or a defense that held two-time NFL rushing champion Derrick Henry to 25 yards and limited the Titans to seven points? Hard to believe the Bills lost to the Titans each of the last two years. 

Josh Allen and the Bills improved to 2-0.
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2. Kansas City Chiefs 2-0 (2) 

There has been a lot of talk about an improved defense to go with the explosive offense. Not a lot of it focused on rookie seventh-round draft pick Jaylen Watson, whose 99-yard interception return for a touchdown broke a fourth-quarter tie and sparked a win against the Chargers. Justin Watson (no relation) caught a touchdown pass. 

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-0 (4) 

Tom Brady threw a tablet to the ground in the bench area when it looked like the Buccaneers were headed to a fifth straight regular-season loss against the Saints. But then he threw a touchdown to Breshad Perriman during a decisive 17-point fourth-quarter outburst after his favorite receiver, Mike Evans, was ejected during a brawl. 

4. Los Angeles Chargers 1-1 (3) 

Two concerns moving forward: First, Justin Herbert suffered a fracture to his rib cartilage that severely limited his mobility — but not his ability to throw darts — late in the loss to the Chiefs. Second, head coach Brandon Staley punted twice on fourth-and-2 near midfield. The NFL’s biggest fourth-down gambler looked conservative in a 27-24 loss. 

5. Philadelphia Eagles 2-0 (7) 

If Jalen Hurts plays as well as he did in a 24-7 win against the Vikings, the Eagles are the NFC’s best team. Hurts completed 26 of 31 passes for 333 yards, ran for 57 yards and combined for three touchdowns. After years of cycling through cornerbacks, Darius Slay and James Bradberry make a formidable pair. 

Jaylen Watson runs a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Jon Robichaud/Cal Sport Media/Si

6. Los Angeles Rams 1-1 (6) 

After a poor performance in the Super Bowl and a worse season-opener going against Ja’Marr Chase and Diggs, respectively, Jalen Ramsey redeemed himself with an end-zone interception to preserve a 31-27 win over the Falcons. The Rams nearly blew a 28-3 lead built on Cooper Kupp’s 11 catches and two touchdowns. 

7. Miami Dolphins 2-0 (13) 

Three years after a humiliating 59-10 season-opening loss to the Ravens, the Dolphins exacted revenge in equally stunning fashion. Tua Tagovailoa threw six touchdown passes, including four in the fourth quarter to erase a 21-point deficit and win, 42-38. The fastest duo in the NFL — Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle — combined for 22 catches for 361 yards and four touchdowns. 

8. Minnesota Vikings 1-1 (8) 

The stinker laid Monday in Philadelphia might have been worse than the one there in the NFC Championship game in January 2018. Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook combined for 84 yards from scrimmage, and Kirk Cousins threw three interceptions. That Week 1 rout of the Packers feels like a long time ago. 

9. Green Bay Packers 1-1 (10) 

Some things never change. Aaron Rodgers improved to 24-5 all time against the Bears, though he had plenty of rushing and defensive help in a 27-10 whooping. Some things change: The Packers are one win away from tying the Bears for most wins in NFL history (784) — a record held by Chicago since 1921, according to Elias Sports Bureau. 

Tom Brady
Getty Images

10. Baltimore Ravens 1-1 (5) 

Maybe the Ravens should’ve thought twice before letting go of defensive coordinator Wink Martindale after last season. Passes were flying over the head of defensive backs as the Dolphins piled up 233 yards in the fourth quarter alone. It negated Lamar Jackson’s remarkable performance (318 passing yards, 119 rushing yards, four total touchdowns). 

11. San Francisco 49ers 1-1 (17) 

12. Dallas Cowboys 1-1 (20) 

13. Arizona Cardinals 1-1 (22) 

14. New York Giants 2-0 (23) 

The Giants are 2-0 for the first time since 2016 because kickers matter. They celebrated when the Titans missed a last-second 47-yard field goal in Week 1. They beat the Panthers in Week 2 because Graham Gano went 4-for-4 on field goals, including two from 50-plus yards. A defense mostly made up of rookies and journeymen is creating havoc. 

15. New England Patriots 1-1 (26) 

16. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-1 (9) 

17. New Orleans Saints 1-1 (14) 

18. Seattle Seahawks 1-1 (18) 

19. Denver Broncos 1-1 (19) 

29. Cincinnati Bengals 0-2 (11) 

21. Las Vegas Raiders 0-2 (16) 

22. New York Jets 1-1 (30) 

With 2:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Browns had a 99.8 percent win probability. Final score in regulation: Jets 31, Browns 30. After head coach Robert Saleh went out on a limb with his “taking receipts” rant, the Jets played hard for 60 minutes and needed every second for a miracle 13-point rally helped by an onside kick. 

23. Cleveland Browns 1-1 (15) 

24. Detroit Lions 1-1 (31) 

25. Washington Commanders 1-1 (21) 

26. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-1 (29) 

27. Chicago Bears 1-1 (25) 

28. Tennessee Titans 0-2 (22) 

29. Indianapolis Colts 0-1-1 (12) 

30. Houston Texans 0-1-1 (28) 

31. Carolina Panthers 0-2 (27) 

32. Atlanta Falcons 0-2 (32)

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Brian Daboll’s Giants not afraid of failure

Are the Giants succeeding because they are not afraid to fail? 

This might be too deep of a thought a day or two after the second game of the season and could be the basis for the introductory lecture in the class entitled “Overthinking 101.” But there might be something to this. 

The Giants are 2-0 and a fast start is already secured. It is too soon to stamp this as anything other than the byproduct of two inelegant wins over the Titans (21-20) and Panthers (19-16), but it is not too early to notice the way new head coach Brian Daboll is building his first Giants team. 

He is determined to get as many players involved as possible, regardless of age, salary, NFL pedigree, name, rank or serial number. He is pressuring the team to prepare the right way while refusing to harp on the final result. He said he was absolutely at peace with going for the two-point conversion in Nashville even if it failed. 

Daboll knows this is not the roster that will lead the Giants to big things in what he hopes is a prolonged stay as the man in charge. He likes his first team but understands the limitations. He is setting up the program to reflect his priorities and beliefs. He knows about the losing aura that hovered over the franchise he stepped into. Through two games, he has coached loose, not tight, coached to win, rather than not to lose. There is a difference. 

“The guys we have on our team aren’t afraid of failure,” safety Xavier McKinney said. “We’ve been at the bottom, we’ve experienced all that so we’re not worried about messing up. We know we’re gonna have a breakthrough at some point.” 

Brian Daboll and his Giants are enjoying their 2-0 start.
USA TODAY Sports

Is 2-0 a breakthrough? 

“I don’t know, I guess,” McKinney said. “We got to keep working. I’ve learned in this league things can go south really fast.” 

Adversity will hit at some point and when it does another line will be added to the Daboll résumé, referring to how he handles a loss, or two, or five. He has kept his ledger clean heading into Week 3, which is quite a feat. 

The way Daboll has rotated his wide receivers is further proof he is unafraid of the consequences of going against the grain. Richie James gets 42 snaps on offense in the opener and only seven for Kadarius Toney? David Sills gets 67 snaps against the Panthers and only two for Kenny Golladay? This is a head coach unencumbered by whatever criticism may come his way. 

True to the form he has shown, Daboll entrusted his defense to Wink Martindale, a grizzled veteran Daboll says “is not afraid of failure.” On cue, Martindale in Week 2 started rookie Dane Belton, making his NFL debut, on the back end of the defense, playing deep safety for 46 of the 58 snaps. The last line of defense, literally. Trepidation has no place at the table with Daboll and his staff. 

Unafraid to fail? Here’s one definition: 

“For a team, you just want guys to send it,” safety Julian Love said Monday. “You want guys to play fast, play free without worrying about being perfect. That’s something guys might have fallen victim to in recent years. Now, it’s just from top down, and it’s coaches too, being open and willing to send it and make mistakes.” 

Love played as a rookie for Pat Shurmur and then for Joe Judge. He did not say it but he certainly implied that there was a fear of failure the past two years. He thought of a play he made — eventually — in the first quarter, as he tracked down Christian McCaffrey on a screen pass after a 6-yard gain. Love, in pursuit, slipped and fell to the turf. He ended up making the tackle. 

“You just get up, you just play free,” he said. “Maybe in the past I might have thought, ‘My gosh, they’re gonna hate that on film,’ but there is none of that. You get up and you make a play because the team is depending on you to play loose and to play free.” 

Daboll wants his players to know he has their backs, as long as they adhere to his three tenets of being smart, tough and dependable. 

“You can get bogged down in this league pretty quick,” he said, “by making a mistake and letting it linger into the next play and the next play.” 

The only feeling Daboll hopes will linger is a familiarity with winning. Through two games, it is all these Giants know. 

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Las Vegas police investigating fan who smacked Kyler Murray in face

Police are investigating an incident in which Kyler Murray got smacked in the face.

After the Cardinals stunningly came from behind to beat the Raiders in overtime at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, the team was reveling on the field. Murray went and gave high fives to Cardinals fans sitting in the front row behind one of the end zones.

A video emerged of fan, presumably a Raiders supporter, appearing to smack Murray in the face right after these high fives.

Murray turned around and confronted the group of fans involved. Teammates quickly got between Murray and the fans to de-escalate the situation.

Kyler Murray appears to get smacked by a Raiders fan.
Cameron Cox/Twitter

Las Vegas police spokesman Larry Hadfield confirmed to the Associated Press that a battery complaint was filed. While he did not name Murray specifically, he confirmed the complaint involved “a spectator at the stadium [who] struck a professional football player.”

The game had very high stakes, as both the Cardinals and Raiders entered at 0-1. A 1-1 record is highly salvageable whereas starting the NFL season 0-2 really puts teams behind the eight ball.

The Raiders had a 23-7 lead headed into the fourth quarter before Murray went into video game mode, leading two touchdown drives capped by two-point conversions to tie the game.

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) carries the ball against the Raiders’ Amik Robertson (21) in Las Vegas on Sept. 18, 2022.
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Kyler Murray warms up on the Cardinals sideline during the first half of their game against the Raiders in Las Vegas on Sept. 18, 2022.
AP

The Cardinals won in overtime when Hunter Renfrow fumbled the ball and it was scooped up Byron Murphy and returned for a 59-yard touchdown.

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Dak Prescott could return by Week 3

Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones said Sunday Dak Prescott could return to the lineup earlier than most expected.

“He’s got a chance, maybe the third or fourth game,” the CEO said on 105.3 The Fan about Prescott’s recovery. “We’ll see what happens.”

Stephen Jones said Dak Prescott could make an early return to the field.
AP Photo/Gus Ruelas

Prescott fractured his thumb in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, leading to a diagnosis of 6-8 weeks out. Stephen Jones confirmed owner Jerry Jones’ comments about quarterback Dak Prescott’s speedy recovery.

The Cowboys owner said last Tuesday Prescott would not be placed on injured reserve, which would require him to miss a minimum of four games, because the Cowboys believed he could resume throwing sooner rather than later.

If the two Jones’ predictions are right, Prescott could return as soon as next Monday against the Giants.

Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy said he’s had to keep Prescott away from practice to not tempt him from rushing his recovery.

While waiting on Prescott’s return, the Cowboys are turning to quarterback Cooper Rush, who led the Cowboys to a 20-17 win against the Bengals Sunday.

Dak Prescott fractured his thumb during Week 1.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dak Prescott wore a cast on his hand during Sunday’s game against the Bengals.
AP Photo/Ron Jenkins

Rush went off, going for 19 of 31 with 235 yards and a touchdown. The backup also had a winning drive that eventually led to a game-winning field goal by kicker Brett Maher.

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Preview, predictions, what to watch for

An inside look at Sunday’s Jets-Browns Week 2 matchup in Cleveland.

Marquee matchup

Jets LT George Fant and RT Max Mitchell vs. Browns edge rushers Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney

The Ravens sacked Joe Flacco three times last week and hit him 11 times. It was not a good showing by the revamped Jets offensive line.

Now … they get to deal with one of the best pass-rushing tandems in the NFL: Garrett and Clowney. Garrett had two sacks last week against Carolina and Clowney had a half-sack.

Garrett is a major headache for any team that plays against him. He has already had four seasons with double-digit sacks, and his Week 1 performance made it looks as if he is primed to add a fifth season.

Fant did not play well in Week 1 after moving back to left tackle. Mitchell, a rookie, was OK in his first game, but this will be a much bigger test.

George Fant and Myles Garrett
Bill Kostroun; Getty Images

“Myles Garrett is an absolute problem. He’s a man on a mission,” Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “You could see it least week, you could see it last year. Jadeveon Clowney is always going to be a problem, having to play him in Seattle in 2019, the year [the 49ers] went to the Super Bowl. He wrecked our game. … They’re a problem.”

Costello’s call

Head coach Robert Saleh gave the Jets a rallying cry this week, and now we’ll see if they can prove their coach right that this team is different. A win over a talented Brown team would go a long way toward that. I think the Jets will play inspired defense and get just enough offensively to pull off the upset.

Jets 20, Browns 10

Four downs

On the run: It is no mystery what the Browns want to do on offense. They rushed for 217 yards last week, with Nick Chubb (141 yards rushing) and Kareem Hunt (one rushing touchdown, one receiving touchdown) carving up the Panthers.

The Jets did a good job slowing down Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ rushing attack last week. This will be another big challenge. The Jets surely will stack the box and try to force backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett to make plays to beat them.

“As far as the run game, we’ve got to go in with our big boy pads on because we know they’re going to run the ball,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said.

This is a different style of running game than the Ravens had, but the keys will again be whether the Jets can keep the backs from popping off big runs and whether they can set the edge against this team.

Long time coming: The Browns won their first Week 1 game since 2004 last week, and now they are trying to start 2-0 for the first time since they were the old Browns in 1993. That team was coached by Bill Belichick and quarterbacked by Bernie Kosar. So, it has been a while.

The Cleveland fans will be fired up for the home opener and the debut of Brownie the Elf as the midfield logo, something that was voted on by fans.

Jets quarterback Joe Flacco knows the Browns well. He is 17-3 in his career against Cleveland and 8-2 at FirstEnergy Stadium, with 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions there.

Hello Mr. Wilson: Jets coaches admitted this week they need to do a better job getting rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson involved in the game. Wilson had just six snaps in the first half last week before having a bigger role later in the game, when the Jets were playing catch-up. Wilson finished with four catches for 52 yards in his debut. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur praised the effort from Wilson.

“The game is just not too big for him,” LaFleur said. “You never know going into the first game, I had a pretty good idea of how he was going to react.”

Keep your receipts: Head coach Robert Saleh made big news on Monday when he promised to remember what critics say about the Jets by “keeping the receipts.” Now, the Jets have to back up their coach’s talk. A loss to the Browns and you can be sure fans will show up at MetLife Stadium next week waving receipts of their own.

Saleh is adamant that this team is different, but he knows the Jets need to prove it.

“This is not the same old Jets, but until we win, until we prove it, which is on us as coaches and on us as players, the shots will keep on coming,” Saleh said, “so we welcome them, keep bringing them, it’s not going to change our mission and that’s to bring this organization and this fan base a win.”

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