Bills’ Isaiah McKenzie: ‘I want to show I can make the big catch’

Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie has a big day ahead of him on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie has a big day ahead of him on Sunday.

After all, it is the “Isaiah McKenzie revenge game.”

The Bills claimed McKenzie, 24, off of waivers last year when the Broncos cut him. Over the past few weeks, he’s getting his best opportunity in the NFL to date.

After he was a healthy scratch against the Eagles, he’s now evolved into the Bills’ No. 3 wideout behind John Brown and Cole Beasley. It’s not there yet in terms of statistics, but the snaps certainly are.

He played in a season-high 78 percent of snaps on offense for the Bills last week. Despite all that playing time, he told the Buffalo News this week that he’s not going to let all that game action get to his head. He knows he has to keep improving.

“In Denver I didn’t play much receiver. So when I got here they gave me an opportunity. They gave me little plays here and there. But now I’m in the flow of the offense. I feel like each and every week I’m getting better running routes on the outside,” McKenzie said.

“I want to show I can make the big catch when Josh (Allen) throws it to me,” McKenzie added. “If I want more, I have to show them I can run routes, I can block”

McKenzie will certainly be motivated this week, but his lack of numbers should motivate him, too. Snap counts are great, but McKenzie only had three catches for 21 yards last week against the Dolphins. He did have one 16-yard grab which helped set up a score, but McKenzie himself will admit he wants a higher bar set for him.

Setting that bar is offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who’s made use of McKenzie in jet-sweep situations, using McKenzie’s explosiveness as a rusher. But whether or not McKenzie see another high-tick of snaps next week will depend on Daboll’s gameplan as the Broncos visit western New York.

If he does, that’ll be a lot of faith the coordinator is placing in Allen, who’s struggled against better defensive units this year. Denver sports the fourth-best defense in the NFL to this point.

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Avery Bradley (hairline fracture) out for at least another week

The Los Angeles Lakers starting guard for 10 games this season will miss their upcoming four-game road trip.

The Los Angeles Lakers are heading out on their first long road trip of the season without a key piece of their team and a starting player for 10 games early in the season.

Avery Bradley, who was expected to miss one-to-two weeks with a hairline fracture in his leg, will miss the team’s upcoming four-game road trip, after which he will be evaluated, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

Perhaps making things easier on Bradley and giving him more time to recover has been the phenomenal play of late from shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Pope has been a monster on both ends as of later, bringing phenomenal ball pressure along with some high-level shot-making. KCP is averaging 14 points on 63% shooting from the field and 54.5% from the 3-point line.

With Bradley out, KCP will likely continue to get the start while Rajon Rondo and Alex Caruso will provide the guard depth behind him. Rondo looked excellent in Tuesday’s win and Caruso has been solid all season, coupled with Caldwell-Pope’s excellent play, Bradley and the Lakers have the luxury to take the time to heal. At this time last year, such luxuries for the Lakers were unthinkable. What a difference a year can make.

Colts vs. Texans Preview, Prediction, NFL Week 12 Live Stream, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch Colts vs. Texans Live Online.

The Colts and Texans, with identical 6-4 records, clash in a primetime matchup Thursday night in Houston. This marks the second meeting of the season between the top-ranked AFC South squads. Indianapolis leads the all-time series 28-8, including a 30-23 victory four weeks ago in Week 7. 

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Colts vs. Texans

  • When: Thursday, November 21
  • Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
  • TV: FOX
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Indianapolis snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Jaguars 33-13 at home. Jacoby Brissett, who totaled 326 yards and four touchdowns last time against the Texans, returned from injury and picked up 148 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The team relied less on the passing game and more on the run with the unit combining for 264 yards and three touchdowns for the fourth-ranked rushing attack in the NFL. Jonathan Williams had 13 carries for 116 yards, while Marlon Mack picked up 109 yards and one touchdown to bring his total to 865 yards on the season (fifth in the NFL). Unfortunately, Mack will undergo hand surgery and be out indefinitely, causing a huge blow to the offense and shifting the weight back onto Brissett. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Colts picked up two sacks and forced Nick Foles to throw one interception. The key was its ability to stop the run and hold Leonard Fournette to just 23 yards. Kenny Moore II led the team with eight tackles and one sack, while rookie Rock Ya-Sin racked up six tackles and the lone interception. The Colts will need to put pressure on Deshaun Watson and force the Texans to beat them in the passing game.

Sacks, sacks, and more sacks. The Baltimore Ravens defense was in the face of Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson all afternoon as they were destroyed 41-7 on the road. Watson completed 18 of 29 passes for 169 yards, one interception and was sacked 7 times. The offensive line will need to keep Watson upright the Texans want to beat the Colts. Carlos Hyde picked up nine carries for 65 yards and one touchdown for a rushing attack that ranks fifth with an average of 140.7 YPG. All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins led the team with seven catches for 80 yards and is the go-to guy for Watson in the passing game.

No defense has had the answer for Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson this season and the Texans were no different. The dual-threat quarterback accounted for over 300 yards and four touchdowns of total offense. Houston allowed 491 yards in the game, including 112 yards and one touchdown to running back Gus Edwards. Mack being sidelined will make the contest a little easier this weekend against the Colts but don’t count out Williams. Not only will they have to account for him, but also a versatile Jacoby Brissett. 

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WATCH: Report: Myles Garrett claims Mason Rudolph used racial slur

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett alleged Wednesday that Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph used a racial slur, directing the comment at the pass rusher, prior to the brawl in which Garrett swung Rudolph’s own helmet at the quarterback’s unprotected head. The new detail regarding provoking language was mentioned for the first known time during Garrett’s appeal hearing with the NFL and was reported first by ESPN.

Garrett was issued an indefinite suspension last Friday following the on-field fight, Thursday the NFL announced it is upholding the disciplinary action and also fining Garrett $45,623. The suspension is the longest in NFL history for an on-the-field incident and requires the 2017 first overall draft pick to meet with the commissioner’s office in order to be reinstated for the 2020 season.

During the Browns (4-6) media availability Thursday, ESPN’s beat reporter Jake Trotter said he asked both quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson if either player was aware that Rudolph had used the language Garrett said was used in the appeal hearing. Both Mayfield and Richardson said that the question from the reporter was the first they’d heard of the scenario involving a racial slur.

The Steelers denied the accuracy of Garrett’s accusation with an official statement, saying “Mason vehemently denies the report of being accused of using a racial slur during the incident Thursday night in Cleveland. He will not discuss this accusation any further and his focus remains on preparation for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.”

Additionally, Rudolph’s lawyer called Garrett’s claim false, saying in a statement to ESPN, “According to ESPN, in his appeal, Myles Garrett falsely asserted that Mason Rudolph uttered a racial slur toward him, prior to swinging a helmet at Mason’s uncovered head, in a desperate attempt to mitigate his suspension. This is a lie. This false allegation was never asserted by Garrett in the aftermath of the game, never suggested prior to the hearing, and conspicuously absent in the apology published by the Browns and adopted by Garrett.

“The malicious use of this wild and unfounded allegation is an assault on Mason’s integrity which is far worse than the physical assault witnessed on Thursday. This is reckless and shameful. We will have no further comment.”

Rudolph had not been issued any punishment by the league at the time of Garrett’s appeal hearing, but the quarterback is expected to be fined.

21 cities that could possibly get an MLB team

As the possibility of the MLB expanding to 32 teams becomes more likely, let’s take a look at 21 cities waiting in the on-deck circle.

If you build it…

While those now-infamous whispers were initially echoing from the baseball heavens via Shoeless Joe Jackson to a confused Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams, they resonate a very topical reality in today’s baseball landscape. As MLB revenues top the $10 billion mark, with local television deals seemingly attainable (and working), many cities would like to be the ones voicing such promises.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has not shied away from talking about expanding both in the US and internationally, either. And, with the premise that adding more teams will add more revenue—while, don’t forget, playing into the back-and-forth tactics of the CBA—the idea of expansion is very possible.

Of course, there are difficulties to consider—a defining difference from the NFL and NBA: For every new franchise that comes into the league, if there’s a minor league team in the area…well, it’s been lovely, but you gotta go!

Still, expansion in the MLB isn’t “if” it’s “when and where?”.

Here’s a look at 21 cities with a population, market size, and location that could put them in the on-deck circle.

Orlando

(Getty Images)

Orlando tops the list—mainly because it’s recently topped the MLB expansion headlines. Orlando Magic co-founder, Pat Williams, has become the face championing to get an MLB franchise in Central Florida. Although baseball in Florida doesn’t have the most celebrated PowerPoint presentation, that isn’t to say a team near Disney World would be a disaster.

Orlando is a top 20 television market with a metro area of over 2.5 million people. Nielsen’s 2020 DMA (Designated Market Area) rankings have Orlando’s marketing reach at 18th. With someone holding the financial status like Williams leading the charge, it’s possible the MLB would not brush this off as a mere publicity bake sale. (Williams, ironically, would like the team name to be the Orlando Dreamers.)

Odds: 7 out of 10 

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WATCH: LSU LB Michael Divinity absent from team because of ineligibility

Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

LSU is the best college football team in the country, sitting atop the USA Today Amway Coaches Poll, the AP Poll, and the College Football Playoff rankings. But the Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

The Monday before LSU visited Alabama, Tigers (10-0, 6-0 SEC) head coach Ed Orgeron announced that Divinity had left the team “for personal reasons.” On the SEC conference call Wednesday in Week 12, Orgeron confirmed that the athlete was simply not allowed to play by athletic department rules.

“He is unable to play, and it will be a while until he’s able to play. He will not be eligible,” Orgeron said.

Ineligibility can stem from academic issues and from team rules violations, such as multiple positive drug tests. USA Today confirmed with multiple sources that Divinity tested positive for a fourth time for marijuana just before the Nov. 4 announcement that he would not play versus the Crimson Tide (9-1, 6-1 SEC).

According to LSU’s Athletic Department Assistance Program’s Substance Abuse Policy, a fourth failed drug test warrants “a suspension from 50% of countable contests,” including postseason games.

Orgeron said Wednesday that the only game that there is even a chance that Divinity returns for would be the National Championship Jan. 13.

“If there’d be a championship game, maybe he may be eligible for that,” Orgeron said. “Up until then, Mike will not be eligible to play.”

Mike Shipman plans to end Fabian Edwards’ ‘promotional push’ at Bellator Europe 6

Mike Shipman is glad he didn’t accept Fabian Edwards’ callout two years ago, because now they get to fight at Bellator Europe 6.

LONDON – [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag] is glad he didn’t accept [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag]’ callout two years ago, because now they get to fight on a much bigger platform at Bellator Europe 6.

“I think this is the right time,” Shipman told MMA Junkie at Bellator Europe 6 media day. “When he was first opening his mouth I didn’t know who he was. He was 3-0. Now he’s got a good promotional push, people know who he is. This wouldn’t have been a co-main event type of fight a couple of years ago. It is now. So I would say it is the perfect time for this fight.”

Shipman (13-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA), who meets Edwards (8-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) on Saturday’s card, which takes place at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London and streams on MMA Junkie, made a valid argument about the stakes of the matchup. The middleweight pairing is crucial to the landscape of Bellator’s middleweight division.

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After putting together four straight wins to begin his Bellator tenure, Shipman suffered a loss to Costello van Steenis in June. Now Edwards is the one on the rise with a Bellator winning streak, and it’s Shipman’s job to end it.

Shipman said he’s “too physical” for Edwards and is unlike anyone his fellow Brit has shared the cage with thus far. He knows Edwards, who is the younger brother of UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards, has hype behind him, though, so a win at Bellator Europe 6 is valuable.

“I’m coming off that loss to Costello, so I feel like my foot slipped off the ladder right now, but this is my opportunity to put it straight back on there and I’m back on my climb towards the title,” Shipman said. “A dominant win over Fabian, who is getting so much attention, so much push from the company, that’s really going to put me back in the picture.”

For more from Shipman, watch the video linked above.

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Kyle Kuzma intends to play, wear goggles Friday at Oklahoma City

The Los Angeles Lakers forward told reporters on Thursday that he wanted to return in Tuesday’s win over Oklahoma City.

Kyle Kuzma wants to ball and he won’t let a little eye abrasion stop him as he tries to channel Los Angeles Lakers legends of the past by making some memorable on-court moments while wearing some good old fashioned sports goggles.

Kuzma, who wanted to play in Tuesday’s win over the Thunder after leaving the game with blood coming from his right eye, told reporters who were in the building for Thursday’s Lakers practice that he would play while he worked out with some yellow-trimmed sports goggles specs. He also said that he wanted to go by the name “Big Game Kuz,” in honor of Lakers legend James Worthy, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

While I love the spirit from Kuzma to honor a Lakers legend who wore specs, you can’t call yourself “Big Game” anything until you play in an actual big NBA game. Maybe he could be something like “Kareem Abdul-Kuzma” if he brings out a skyhook while he rocks the goggles. But the “Big Game” moniker should be reserved for those who have big games. Kuzma will have a chance to earn that nickname with a rolling Lakers squad at the top of the West, but he hasn’t gotten there just yet.

 

Fantasy sits and starts for Texans-Colts on Thursday night

There are fantasy football points to be had as the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts face off in Week 12. Don’t miss out.

The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts will kickoff Week 12 in the NFL with a Thursday night encounter at NRG Stadium.

For some fantasy owners, this is the first chance to get into the action of the week. Here are some recommended sits and starts from the matchup.

starts

Colts QB Jacoby Brissett — The former New England Patriots quarterback managed to throw for four touchdown passes in the Week 7 showdown at Lucas Oil Stadium. He gets the best protection in the league with 2.7 seconds in the pocket. Brissett is 4-0 against the Texans as a starter. Let Brissett set the tone for Week 12.

Texans RB Carlos Hyde — Houston’s run game averages 5.0 yards per carry, the third-best in the NFL, and Hyde has picked up the eighth-most first downs in the league with 38, same number as Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette. The Texans will give Hyde his chances to make an impact, even when the game is no longer consequential as seen with last week’s 41-yard run in an already decided game at Baltimore.

Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins — The two-time All-Pro is second in the NFL with 75 catches. The Colts defense knows the ball is headed his way, but Hopkins finds ways to get the job done. Hopkins has caught at least seven passes in his last six games, posting two 100-yard performances in that span. Where it’s a liability to start Hopkins is his yards per reception is down to 7.2, the second-lowest of his career.

 

sits

Colts RB Jonathan Williams — While Williams had a 100-yard performance last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it is unlikely he will produce such an effort for the second straight week, even against Houston’s run defense, which gives up 4.6 yards per carry, tied with New England for the ninth-highest in the league. As the feature back, Williams will have to prove he can shine.

Colts WR T.Y. Hilton — While the Texans killer historically has strong games against Houston, even inside NRG Stadium, he is questionable coming off of a short week. Though the Texans expect him to play, there are questions as to how effective he can be. Stay away for this week.

Texans defense/special teams — The Texans defense generally has trouble with the Colts. It is reasonable to assume the Texans can still win the game, even with a poor defensive and special teams performance folks should steer clear of in fantasy. However, there are better defensive and special teams efforts to be had on Sunday, not Thursday night.

Colts QB Jacoby Brissett showed off a very graceful warmup move before TNF

What a graceful toe drag by the Colts QB.

NFL QB warmups have become a thing in the past few weeks.

The fine folks at NBC Sports started it all by showing Dak Prescott’s aggressive hip-thrusting warmup moves during a recent ‘SNF’ game between the Cowboys and Eagles. Ezekiel Elliott mimicked those moves during a TD celebration last week, which was pretty great.

San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garappollo got into the act, too, as he showed off some moves before a recent MNF game.

Now we have video of Colts QB Jacoby Brissett getting ready for tonight’s game against the Texans with some very graceful moves that I guess help to get his body ready for a NFL game:

That’s a perfect toe drag right there.

Andrew Siciliano has more from the QB:

QBs, man.