He was getting dressed in the visiting …
Matt Babcock, owner of Babcock Hoops …
Can the Jags find a way to trade Nick Foles in 2020 if they had to?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have their minds made up to see if rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II can bring some life to their offense, and they seem to be willing to roll with him to close the season. However, the fact that the Jags had to bench …
The Jacksonville Jaguars have their minds made up to see if rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II can bring some life to their offense, and they seem to be willing to roll with him to close the season. However, the fact that the Jags had to bench veteran Nick Foles has caused fans to wonder about his future as a Jag and the best method to get his contract off their hands sooner or later.
At this point, it’s clear what Shad Khan needs to do with his current staff in the front office and the coaching department: let them all go. It also would be wise to rebuild on top of that because the salaries they are paying out don’t match the results they are getting. Foles, unfortunately, fits into that category of not living up to his salary.
If Khan knows he can no longer take half measures and simply needs to reset everything, it appears Foles’ fate could be in the hands of another regime. Most front offices start by distancing themselves from the mistakes of their predecessors, and in Foles’ case, some are thinking that could lead to a trade in 2020.
If Khan takes the right route and resets his front office, trading Foles (if they can) would help tremendously towards the salary cap. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract (or at least it hasn’t been reported) like some veteran quarterbacks who have big-time deals around the league, so that means he is moveable.
Of course, the issue with trading Foles is that his play has been lackluster in the time we’ve seen him, and his contract isn’t one that will appeal to a majority of the league. Simply put, if the Jags can find a suitor, it would be one with a lot of salary cap and one in need of a veteran quarterback. It’s inevitable that comparisons are drawn with Brock Osweiler, who the Houston Texans signed to a huge deal in March of 2016, but found a way to dump his salary ($16 million) on the Cleveland Browns in 2017 by trading them the veteran and draft picks (a second and sixth-rounder).
Suitors that come to mind are the Miami Dolphins, who should be loaded with cap space next season, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals and perhaps the Indianapolis Colts as pointed out by our comrades at For the Win, although it would take a great deal of desperation from the next front office.
Now, we’d like to hear from you all at home through our first-ever Jags Wire forum post. Do you all think trading Foles is even a possibility? If so, who do you think would take him? Or do you believe the Jags will flat out release or keep him under new management? Let us know in the forum.
Report: Celtics rookie center Vincent Poirier assigned to Red Claws
Vincent Poirier may make his NBA G League debut today, as the Maine Red Claws are set to face the Wisconsin Herd at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Per an announcement from the Boston Celtics, rookie center Vincent Poirier — who the team signed to a two-year contract in the offseason — has been assigned to the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s NBA G League affiliate.
Only suiting up for seven contests this season, the Frenchman has averaged just 1.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.3 blocks per game, shooting 44.4% from the field. As you might expect, these numbers pale in comparison to the ones he put up last season (10.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game), when he was suiting up for Kirolbet Baskonia.
We have assigned Vincent Poirier to the @maineredclaws #FlywireTeamTransactions
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 5, 2019
Maine will play against the Wisconsin Herd on Thursday (on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET), so Poirier may make his G League debut today.
*All stats gathered from Basketball Reference and RealGM
Throwback Thursday: Giants blank Eagles, 20-0, in 1998
In the latest Giants Wire Throwback Thursday, we get in the time machine a visit 1998, when the New York Giants shut out Philly at home.
The New York Giants won the NFC East in 1997 with 10-5-1 record and appeared to be ready to build on that success in 1998. They got off to a 3-4 start and then lost three straight games after their bye to fall to 3-7.
Believe it or not, the perfect elixir for that losing streak was a home jaunt against the 2-8 Philadelphia Eagles, who after back-to-back 10-6 seasons were headed into a tailspin under head coach Ray Rhodes.
The Giants were hoping that Danny Kanell, the quarterback that led them to the playoffs in 1997, could do it again in ’98. He could not, he was benched in favor of Kent Graham after running up a 3-7 record.
Graham then led the Giants to five wins in their final six games beginning with the 20-0 shutout win on November 22 over the Eagles at Giants Stadium.
Graham was only 10-21 for 153 yards, but threw a touchdown pass to Tiki Barber. Gary Brown had 96 yards rushing and the other touchdown. Brad Daluiso kicked field goals of 49 and 40 yards and the defense sacked Bobby Hoying six times (two by Tito Wooten). Phillippi Sparks had both Giant interceptions.
Here is some footage from the game, which was broadcast on FOX with a very young Kenny Albert calling the action along with Tim Green.
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Colts WRs have favorable matchup vs. Bucs secondary
Colts WRs could have fantasy value in Week 14.
The Indianapolis Colts passing attack hasn’t had many encouraging outings over the last month or so, but some of that could change Sunday when they travel to Raymond James Stadium to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Facing a Buccaneers defense that is allowing the second-most receiving yards per game to opposing offenses (303.2), the Colts wide receivers could find success in real football and in fantasy football.
Outside of running back Marlon Mack, there haven’t been any consistent fantasy producers from the Colts in 2019. Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton has dealt with injuries, tight end Eric Ebron was non-existent compared to his 2018 season and quarterback Jacoby Brissett hasn’t thrown for multiple touchdowns since Week 7.
As the fantasy football playoffs approach, mitigating risk should be avoided where it can. But not all teams in the postseason can play it safe. Sometimes upside is needed and there’s a duo of Colts wide receivers that could find some success against the Buccaneers poor passing defense.
As it stands now, Hilton likely isn’t going to play Sunday. There are concerns he might not even return this season with four games remaining. This leaves Zach Pascal as the WR1 in Week 14.
Pascal has enjoyed a quasi breakout in 2019. He’s stepped up into bigger roles as the season has progressed and even has a pair of 100-yard games under his belt. So the upside for him to have a big game is certainly there, but his floor is a goose egg like he did in Week 12 against the Texans.
Still, Pascal is beloved by the coaching staff and should see a healthy dose of targets against the Bucs. The game script is also likely to be in the favor of a passing game given Tampa Bay’s strength in stopping the run and their ability to score on the offensive side of the ball. He has also seen at least six targets in four of the last five games.
With Pascal sitting as a flex-worthy option with WR2 upside in fantasy, there is another name that could be intriguing to fantasy managers looking for upside. However, there is some major risk involved as well.
Rookie wide receiver Parris Campbell has a chance to return to game action this week and could be heavily involved in the passing game. Having missed the last four games with a fractured hand, Campbell practiced in full to begin the week.
The speedy second-round pick has gotten two starts this season (Weeks 4 and 9). In those two games, Campbell was heavily involved. He saw eight targets against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4 and had eight touches during the Week 9 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Colts love Campbell and have been extremely high on him since drafting him with the No. 49 overall pick. He is a perfect fit for the offense they want to run and would likely benefit from Brissett’s lack of desire to push the ball downfield.
Campbell certainly brings more risk than Pascal—who should be viewed as the WR1 in the offense in Week 14. The rookie has been spotty for most of the season and the passing offense has left much to be desired, but the matchup is there and the Colts are desperate for wide receiver production.
With four games remaining and their season likely over, developing Campbell should be a top priority.
Sometimes the fantasy football playoffs call for a bold move. In a pinch, Pascal and Campbell could pay off big time as the Colts travel to Tampa in Week 14.
Broncos QB Drew Lock heard from Archie and Peyton Manning after first NFL win
Archie and Peyton Manning both reached out to Broncos quarterback Drew Lock on Sunday after he helped Denver defeat the Chargers.
Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock made his NFL debut on Sunday and helped lead Denver to a 23-20 win over the Chargers. After the game, Lock received many positive text messages from family and friends. Lock’s favorite message came from former NFL quarterback Archie Manning.
“Archie Manning [said], ‘You can’t win them all if you don’t win your first,'” Lock said Wednesday. “That gave me a good giggle and gave me a good laugh. He’s so right. You can’t win them all if you don’t win your first. It was pretty cool to get a text from him and Peyton [Manning] as well. Being able to hear from those guys meant a lot.”
Peyton played in Denver from 2012-2015 and won the AFC West four straight times, helping the Broncos reach the Super Bowl twice. Peyton and his brother Eli help their dad, Archie, with the Manning Passing Academy each offseason. Lock got to know the Manning family as a counselor at the camp in 2018.
“It goes back to that camp,” Lock said of his relationship with the Mannings. “Getting close with them there, and then of course coming to Denver, that just amped the relationship up a little more.”
Lock completed 64.3 percent of his passes in Sunday’s game for 134 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception. He will start again against the Texans on the road in Week 14.
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Two Raiders land in top-5 NFL.com rookies of 2019
Two Raiders land in top-5 NFL.com rookies of 2019
With four picks in the top 40 of the draft, you’d figure the Raiders would be the most likely team to have multiple rookies at the top of the rankings. However, one of the rookies Daniel Jeremiah puts in the top five was not among those Raiders selected in the top 40. Here are his top five rookies and his thoughts on Josh Jacobs and Maxx Crosby:
2. Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders
Jacobs has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark and looks to be getting stronger as the season winds down. I love his contact balance between the tackles.
5. Maxx Crosby, Oakland Raiders
Crosby, a fourth-round selection, has been the best value pick in the entire draft. He uses his length and athleticism to generate consistent pressure in the passing game.
As they say; one of these things is not like the others. That would be Maxx Crosby. He is the only rookie in the top five who was not a first-round pick. He was selected at pick 106 in the 4th round. And he currently leads the team with 7.5 sacks and only Josh Allen (9.0) and Nick Bosa (8.0) have more. among rookies.
(Jeremiah did a top 25 overall rookies. No other Raiders made the list.)
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Alex Morono vs. Dhiego Lima added to UFC 247 in Houston
A matchup between streaking welterweights Alex Morono and Dhiego Lima is the latest addition to UFC 247.
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Ask and you shall receive.
After picking up a unanimous decision win over Max Griffin in his most recent outing, [autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag] said he wanted [autotag]Dhiego Lima[/autotag] next in early 2020. That’s exactly what he got.
Morono (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) gets a home fight at UFC 247 against Lima (15-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC), UFC officials announced Wednesday. UFC 247 takes place Feb. 8 at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card, featuring two title fights, airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Since joining Fortis MMA, Morono has three in a row and looks to continue his climb toward inclusion in the 170-pound rankings.
Two-time “Ultimate Fighter” finalist Lima also is on a three-fight winning streak. Most recently, he beat Luke Jumeau by split decision at UFC 243.
With the addition, the UFC 247 lineup includes:
- Champ Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes – for light heavyweight title
- Champ Valentina Shevchenko vs. Katlyn Chookagian – for women’s flyweight title
- Ilir Latifi vs. Derrick Lewis
- Mirsad Bektic vs. Dan Ige
- Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ryan Spann
- Andrea Lee vs. Lauren Murphy
- Juan Adams vs. Justin Tafa
- Dhiego Lima vs. Alex Morono
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