Seeing Zach Ertz cry to refs on film gave Stephon Gilmore added confidence

Stephon Gilmore throws a little shade at Zach Ertz after the game.

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore saw something on game film that gave him supreme confidence in his matchup against Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz.

Gilmore spotted Ertz “crying” to referees in a previous game, according to NESN’s Doug Kyed. Gilmore said after the Patriots’ 17-10 win on Sunday that emotional outburst was reason enough for the cornerback to believe he could get the tight end rattled. While Gilmore handled coverage duties on a number of different Eagles’ pass-catchers on Sunday, he moved to coverage on Ertz on third downs to take away quarterback Carson Wentz’s go-to target in those situations.

The results were good: the Patriots held the Eagles to just 10 points. The Eagles were just 3 of 13 on third downs. Ertz, meanwhile, enjoyed a nice night (9 catches, 94 yards), though his successes came mostly without Gilmore in coverage.

Gilmore, of course, saw more than just emotional appeals to offcials during his film study — the cornerback is a film junkie, and is extremely thorough. He explained what his plans were for his matchups with Ertz, who is an unusual matchup for Gilmore, a cornerback that has spent the entire season on top receivers.

“He’s a tight end. He’s not as fast as some of the guys I cover. If he has a step on me, I can recover real fast. I’ve got to slow myself down a little bit to play him tighter, because I’ve been playing faster guys. So that’s what I did,” Gilmore told reporters, adding that he tried to avoid a physical battle with Ertz, via CLNS’s Evan Lazar. “You’ve got to let him run, because if you fight too physical with him, he’s going to push off. That’s what he’s good at, so you’ve got to be smart.”

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DeAndre Hopkins calls out the NFL over terrible no-call on obvious pass interference

DeAndre Hopkins wants someone else in NYC deciding on these calls.

The NFL has a big problem on it its hands – nobody knows what pass interference is, especially the refs who get paid to make such calls.

While Denver Broncos fans couldn’t believe nothing was called on the final play of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Houston Texans star wide receiver DeAndrew was so mad that he called out the NFL after what seemed like an obvious pass interference call wasn’t made in the Texans’ loss to the Ravens.

What made that no-call even more incredible is that the Texans challenged the call, it was reviewed, and the league said it was not pass interference.

It sure looked like PI:

Hopkins thought so, too, saying the league needs someone else in New York to decide on these calls.

Oh, and look at this call in the Cardinals-49ers game:

Yup, this is a mess.

 

4 takeaways from Eagles 17-10 loss to the Patriots

4 takeaways from Eagles 17-10 loss to the Patriots

The Philadelphia Eagles are now 5-5 on the season after blowing a 10-point lead against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.

The Eagles defense showed up in full force and looks to be rounding into form after battering Tom Brady during a dominant first half by Philadelphia. After a late second-quarter touchdown, The Eagles scored zero points and are now a full game behind the Dallas Cowboys in the win column.

With the Seahawks coming to the Linc next Sunday, here are four takeaways from the Birds 17-10 loss to the Patriots.

***

1. Eagles aren’t a serious playoff contender without deep threat

Nelson Agholor had four catches for 40-yards, while Zach Ertz led the Birds with nine catches for 94 yards, deep passing yards were hard to come by. The Eagles went away from Miles Sanders after a strong first half. Even with Alshon Jeffery back, this Eagles offense works too hard to gain big chunks of yards.

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Watch: Falcons DE Vic Beasley talks about team’s defensive execution

Atlanta has turned things around, in no small part to the production of guys like Vic Beasley and Adrian Clayborn. The two defensive ends have combined for 5.5 sacks during the team’s two-game winning streak.

The Falcons’ defensive line dominated for the second straight game, recording five sacks as the team came away with a 29-3 victory on Sunday afternoon in Carolina.

Atlanta has turned things around, in no small part due to the production of guys like Vic Beasley and Adrian Clayborn. The two defensive ends have combined for 5.5 sacks during the team’s two-game winning streak.

Beasley talked about the Falcons’ execution and unselfishness sparking the team’s defensive turnaround. Watch below per this tweet from ESPN’s Vaughn McClure:

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Tua Tagovailoa flying to Houston to further treatment

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be airlifted to Houston in order to continue seeking treatment for his hip injury, which he sustained in the Crimson Tide’s game against Mississippi State. Tagovailoa’s hip injury, which has been diagnosed as …

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be airlifted to Houston in order to continue seeking treatment for his hip injury, which he sustained in the Crimson Tide’s game against Mississippi State.

Tagovailoa’s hip injury, which has been diagnosed as a dislocated hip with a posterior wall feature, is one of numerous injuries he has had to deal with while at Alabama.

However, this is the first one that will cost him a season, and likely a whole lot more.

Recovery time for an injury like this will be a while, and while many rule out a return to the collegiate level, it would not be a wild idea to believe he would.

“For the past 24 hours our medical team has consulted with multiple orthopedic experts across the country, who specialize in hip injuries and surgeries,” said team doctor Lyle Cain, “Based on that research, Tua is being flown to Houston tonight to be evaluated and is scheduled to have hip surgery Monday,” Cain said.

As ESPN reported, this is Tagovailoa’s second surgery of the season, the first one being the tight-rope surgery to repair a high ankle sprain he suffered during Tennessee.

This surgery on his hip will be more serious and come with a much longer recovery time.

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Draymond Green to take over point guard with D’Angelo Russell out

Something that makes Draymond Green special is his ability to play all over the court. His latest test will be to see if he can take over as the Warriors’ primary point guard.

It’s something that’s hard to fathom, but six of the Warriors’ eight guards are injured, with only rookies Jordan Poole and Ky Bowman currently available in the backcourt. Steve Kerr will have to be creative with who handles the ball during their injury-riddled road trip—enter Draymond Green.

Luckily for the Warriors, the former center of the “death lineup” can handle the rock nicely. Saturday night in New Orleans, Coach Kerr said “Draymond is really good in a facilitating role, so Draymond will handle the ball quite a bit,”

Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported the Warriors will start Draymond Green at point guard versus the New Orleans Pelicans. During the former Michigan State Spartan’s career, he’s started at center, power forward and now at point guard.

Earlier this season, Kerr said he needs to find ways to feature Green more on offense and this is the perfect opportunity.

Green’s always had an eye for passing over his career, averaging 4.9 assists. Green had a career-high 16 assists back in 2017, but the confidence in Green to take over point guard responsibilities doesn’t just come from his passing skillset.

Green is a floor general even if he’s not playing true point guard. He’s always been able to push the ball up the floor in his career, but even in half court sets, he can control the Warriors offense.

The biggest difference for Green will be the players surrounding him. He won’t have players like Kevin Durant, Curry and Thompson to dish the rock too, so the offense will have to go through him alone.

When Green makes his debut at the point, the Warriors will have started five different players at point guard through only 14 games this season. Green’s switch will mark the Dubs’ 10th different starting lineup this season according to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Green leading the way at the point will give the Warriors their biggest lineup of the season with him surrounded by Willie Cauley-Stein, Eric Paschall, Alec Burks, and Glenn Robinson III. No player in the starting lineup will be listed under 6-foot-6.

The big lineup should give the Warriors league-worst defense a boost versus the Pelicans, who are also dealing with an array of injuries.

Joseph Parker still hoping deal with Derek Chisora can be made

Derek Chisora’s manager, David Haye, is targeting Oleksandr Usyk for his fighter but Joseph Parker remains in the running.

Joseph Parker is holding out hope that he’ll fight Derek Chisora yet.

Parker, the former titleholder from New Zealand, was set to fight Chisora on Oct. 26 but pulled out because of what he said was a spider bite. Chisora went on to stop David Price in London, giving him some momentum in his quest to fight for a title.

David Haye, Chisora’s manager, says he wants his fighter to face Oleksandr Usyk next but Parker still wants Chisora. Both Chisora and Parker are promoted by Eddie Hearn.

Parker told Sky Sports that he expects to learn his fate this week.

“He hasn’t won a world title, Chisora, so I think they are trying to look for the fastest and the best way of getting there, and they think Usyk is the best way of getting to a world title,” said Parker, who is ranked No. 4 by one sanctioning body. “But, firstly, it doesn’t make sense, because he’s not ranked and there’s a lot of guys ranked before him. I’m not sure why they want that fight. Obviously the fight was locked in for us both, and I couldn’t control what happened with the illness, but I want to reschedule the fight.

“I’m healthy, I’m fit, I’m ready to go. I know I can smash him, I know I can beat him. He’s going to bring a lot of pressure, but I know I’ve got better boxing skill and better movement than the other guys he’s faced. I told him before that I will retire him and I’ll be his last fight. Lock in the fight, I’ll put in a great show. He will get his money that he wants, but I will put him into retirement. He’s had a good career.”

Parker’s manager, David Higgins, also hopes a Parker-Chisora fight will come together.

“We’ve been advised by Joseph Parker’s promoter Matchroom, led by Eddie Hearn, that we’re going to get some answers next week on who Joseph might fight next, where and when,” Higgins told Sky Sports. “We’re sitting tight, leaving that in the hands of Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. The obvious answer is Derek Chisora. There has been talk of Chisora-Parker for two years now. Chisora has been baying to make that fight happen. On our front, the deal is done. We have a three-fight contract with Matchroom, so the terms are all agreed. It’s an easy one. Chisora wanted it, Parker wanted it. The only thing standing in the way is the Machiavellian David Haye.

“Joseph Parker is an old-school boxer, who fights the guy in front of him and is fearless. I think Chisora is arguably the same, however, enter David Haye the master thief of heavyweight boxing. He was lucky to be heavyweight champion and ‘stole’ the belt in a bizarre spectacle against a giant, somewhere in eastern Europe.”

Haye reiterated that Usyk is his prime target.

“It was all scheduled, four weeks prior to the fight, he gets bitten by a spider and the fight doesn’t happen,” Haye told Sky Sports. “That was Parker’s opportunity for the fight. It could still happen, but for me, Usyk is definitely the frontrunner, the fighter that I want, the fighter that Derek wants.”

N’Keal Harry celebrates on Twitter after 1st career reception in win over Eagles

The Patriots rookie WR shared a few words of celebration on social media.

New England Patriots receiver N’Keal Harry took a moment to celebrate his first NFL reception on Sunday during his team’s 17-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.

Harry, who the Patriots drafted at 32nd overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, missed the first nine games of the season after starting the year on injured reserve, but debuted in Week 11 when he enjoyed his first reception, an 11-yarder on a slant route. He finished the evening with three catches for 18 yards. His role is sure to increase in the coming weeks as he grows more comfortable at NFL speed.

Bill Belichick has never drafted a receiver as high as the Patriots picked Harry, and so expectations have been high for the young pass-catcher. His performance wasn’t particularly special, but it’s a good sign that he’s on the field after being a healthy scratch in Week 9.

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6 takeaways from 49ers’ wild victory over Cardinals in Week 11

We took away quite a bit from the 49ers’ wild Week 11 win over the Cardinals.

There was no lack of excitement Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers emerged with a 36-26 victory over the Arizona Cardinals to move to 9-1 on the season.

Here’s what we took away from a wacky Week 11 contest:

49ers alone in first

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Sunday was a crucial game for San Francisco despite the fact Arizona isn’t in the playoff hunt. A loss would’ve moved Seattle into first in the NFC West and pushed San Francisco to the No. 5 seed in the NFC. A win keeps the 49ers a full game up on Seattle, New Orleans and Green Bay going into a six-game stretch where they play each of those teams once. The 49ers can’t be comfortable, but they’re in a much better spot now than they would’ve been had they lost.

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Texans officially give up 2020 third-round pick to Browns from the RB Duke Johnson trade

The Houston Texans officially will give up a 2020 third-round pick to the Cleveland Browns as part of the trade for RB Duke Johnson.

Not only the Houston Texans lose 41-7 to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium, but they also lost a 2020 third-round draft pick.

One of the conditions of the trade with the Cleveland Browns for running back Duke Johnson was that the Texans would give up a third-round pick if Johnson was active for at least 10 games in 2019. On Sunday, Johnson was on the game day 46. As a result, rather than giving the Browns a fourth-round pick, the selection was upped to a third-rounder.

The Texans may not have got good value out of Johnson on Sunday as he caught two passes for four yards and rushed six times for 40. However, he has been a key part of a dual attack in the Houston backfield alongside running back Carlos Hyde that has helped the club stay diverse in their offensive attack despite Pro Bowl running back Lamar Miller being out for the season with a torn ACL.

Houston doesn’t have a third-round pick as they dealt their third-rounder obtained in the Jadeveon Clowney trade to the Oakland Raiders for cornerback Gareon Conley.