Dolphins K Jason Sanders named AFC special teams player of the week

Miami Dolphins K Jason Sanders has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his kicks propelled Miami to a win in Indy.

The margin for error in football games is quite small — the difference between a win and a loss might be something as little as a single penalty, catch or, as was the case for the Dolphins this past weekend, a kick. The Dolphins’ offense fell stagnant in the second half of their 16-12 win over the Indianapolis Colts, it was kicker Jason Sanders who elevated the offense with two 48-yard kicks in the 4th quarter to bail out the Dolphins and keep the score at a place where the Colts needed to go for a touchdown in the final possession.

Conversely, Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri provided the Colts with a costly miss of an extra point — which ended up being the difference in Indianapolis going for it on 4th and 10 with just second left deep in Dolphins territory versus being able to kick a field goal for a tie game.

Sanders has been rewarded for his big kicking performance and his role in Miami’s win — he’s been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 10!

The pair of 48-yard kicks were notable for Sanders, mainly because he’s struggled greatly from outside of 40-yards thus far this season. Sanders entered the 4th quarter just 2 of 6 from 40+ yards on the year — before a pair of kicks that split the uprights down the middle to help Miami lock in the win. Sanders, who was a 2018 draft selection for the Dolphins, will look to build on the momentum of making two big kicks late in the game against Indy and start hitting his long shots with more consistency.

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Off Guard: Retired from fighting, Robert Drysdale explains unique coaching mindset

Undefeated as a fighter, Robert Drysdale has officially called it quits and is turning his attention to coaching.

[autotag]Robert Drysdale[/autotag] is calling it quits on his fighting career.

Well technically, he retired awhile back, but he didn’t let anyone know it right away. However, in a recent post on Facebook, Drysdale (7-0) officially announced the end of the road.

Earlier this month, he opened up to MMA Junkie about the decision to call it quits despite going undefeated as a pro.

“I just didn’t want to do it anymore,” Drysdale said. “My heart wasn’t in the right place. I always told myself I was going to do it for the right reasons … because basically I wanted to prove to myself I could. … There were some things missing that I would have liked to have done, but nothing’s perfect.”

What’s next for Drysdale? The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, like many other retired fighters, will continue his legacy in MMA as a coach. Unlike his fellow retirees, however, a coaching position is where Drysdale started out in MMA – not as a fighter.

“There’s a reason why people turn into coaches once they retire,” Drysdale said. “And my career was backwards in that regard. I was cornering UFC title fights when I was 0-0 into my late 20s. So it’s not something I was prepared for. It’s very different now.”

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Drysdale believes the unusual journey to this point will give him an advantageous mindset as a coach. Throughout his MMA career, he was able to analyze the coaching he received from a coach’s perspective.

“My mindset as a coach is a reflex to my mistakes as a fighter or the things that I thought my coaches weren’t doing right in my opinion,” Drysdale said. “I’ve learned from that experience. … I think there’s a lot more to MMA than being technically and physically and mentally ready.”

Drysdale was successful inside the cage, but that doesn’t mean he always felt comfortable. The mental and emotional toll of fighting weighed on Drysdale, which is one aspect he won’t have to weigh as a coach.

“I’m more confident about this than I ever was about my fighting career,” Drysdale said. “Fighting was always something very difficult because I had to confront my fears and anxiety. I was terrified of fighting, and it was very difficult for me emotionally.

“Because some these guys walk into the cage like it’s nothing. To me, it was very hard. I overcame that even though it was very difficult. Even though I did well, I was never as confident about that career as I am about my career as a coach. Because I really feel that this is my calling more than fighting was.”

In his lone UFC appearance, Drysdale submitted Keith Berish at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale in July 2014. The victory was eventually ruled a no contest after Drysdale tested positive for elevated testosterone levels. He was subsequently released by the UFC.

After he served his suspension, Drysdale return to pro MMA action at Legacy FC 58 in July 2016 when he submitted future UFC light heavyweight Ryan Spann by second-round rear-naked choke.

Check out MMA Junkie’s full “Off Guard” interview with Robert Drysdale in the video above.

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Va. high school dismisses head coach days before playoff

A Virginia high school football team is adapting on the fly to a new coach just days before the start of the playoffs.

A Virginia high school has made a stunning shift in leadership just days before the debut of the state regional playoffs.

As reported by Virginia ABC affiliate WHSV, Harrisonburg (Va.) High School officially dismissed veteran head football coach Chris Thurman after the conclusion of the regular season. He will be replaced by assistant coach Josh Carico on an interim basis as the team readies for the regional playoffs, which kick off on Friday.

Harrisonburg officials would not be drawn on the motivation for the change, but the decision to move on from Thurman was both sudden and stark; the team has already eliminated refereces to Thurman from its website despite the coach’s nine-year run leading the program.

A longtime Virginia football leader, Thurman previously won back-to-back state titles at Gretna in 2007 and 2008.

Meanwhile, Carico will have to hit the ground running if Harrisonburg’s season is to continue; the team faces William Fleming Friday night in the Region 5D playoff opener.

NFL, NFLPA nearing deal on 17 regular season games, 14 playoff teams

The NFL and NFLPA are nearing a deal that would increase the number of regular season games to 17 and playoff teams to 14.

The NFL structure as we know it may soon come to an end as the NFL and NFLPA are nearing a deal on a 17-game regular season and the addition of two playoff teams, bringing the total from 12 to 14.

The Washington Post reports that owners have agreed to make concessions — concessions that remain somewhat unclear at the moment — in order to get players to set aside their concerns about an additional regular season game, which likely means fewer preseason games.

Negotiators for the NFL and the NFL Players Association have made meaningful progress toward a new labor agreement that is increasingly likely to include a 17-game regular season, according to multiple people familiar with the situation.

The positive momentum has buoyed optimism for an agreement to be in place by the end of the upcoming NFL postseason.

“I think there’s some real intensity and opportunity over the next few weeks,” one person familiar with the state of the negotiations said, adding that the participants are “working hard” to complete a deal.

The current Collective Bargaining Agreement runs through the 2020 season and the NFLPA has already begun to inform players to save money in the event of a work stoppage, but both the NFL and NFLPA are feverishly working to avoid that.

Negotiations will continue over the next two months with both parties hopeful that a final deal will be reached during the playoffs in January or by the Super Bowl in February. However, if a deal is not struck at that point, pressure would mount to get something done ahead of the 2020 regular season, when the first 17-game season could theoretically go into effect.

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Michigan State vs. Seton Hall: Where to watch, listen, betting odds

Here is everything you need to know to follow along with Michigan State vs. Seton Hall.

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Michigan State will be facing an experienced and tough Seton Hall basketball team on the road Thursday. Here is everything you need to know to watch, listen or bet on the game:

Match-up: #3 Michigan State @ #12 Seton Hall

Game time:  8:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, Nov. 14

TV:  FS1

On DirecTV, FS1 is channel 219. On Dish, FS1 is channel 150.

Online live stream:  Fox Sports Live

Online radio broadcast:  TuneIn

Betting Odds: Michigan State by 6.5

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Latest 2020 mock draft goes offense-heavy for Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are loaded with picks for the 2020 NFL Draft — and the latest simulation has them going heavy on the offense.

The NFL mock drafts are starting to heat up, which is good news for Dolphins fans as their assets for the 2020 offseason continue to shift on a weekly basis. It has long been considered an assumption that the Dolphins would finish with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft and get their pick of the litter, but that no longer appears to be a likely outcome for the Dolphins. Not after the team’s latest victory, a 16-12 road upset of the Indianapolis Colts.

So what do the Dolphins do from here? Draft Wire has released its latest mock draft — a three-round simulation of next April’s festivities. Here’s what Luke Easterling came up with.

4th overall – QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

The scenario of Miami not picking first and landing Tagovailoa seemed unrealistic just a few months ago, but with the other teams in contention for the top pick all having drafted young QBs as of late and the emergence of LSU’s Joe Burrow, this is the best of both worlds for Miami.

22nd overall – WR Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado

Shenault gives Miami a boatload of speed to go along with some size at the wide receiver position. Each of the Dolphins’ receivers now are mostly one or the other — but not Shenault’s blend of both.

26th overall – OT Jedrick Wills, Alabama

Wills is Tagovailoa’s blindside blocker with the Crimson Tide. Getting an offensive lineman with chemistry with Tagovailoa would be a huge bonus as the Dolphins look to overhaul their offensive line.

2nd round – OG Shane Lemieux, Oregon + DE Jabari Zuniga, Florida

You know the Dolphins are going to look to add a little bit of defense along the way — remember, they coveted Houston’s Jadeveon Clowney before the season started! Zuniga isn’t anywhere near that caliber of an athlete, but he’s quick-twitched, nonetheless, and a disruptive presence when healthy. Lemieux is a powerful interior blocker who can help set the tone in the run game, much like Michael Deiter.

3rd round – RB Najee Harris, Alabama

Few backs in college football have done more to improve their positioning this season than Harris. He’s playing well in all phases — rushing, receiving and blocking. If some Tide players are good, more is better.

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Tale of the Tape: Browns vs. Steelers in Week 11

A statistical breakdown of the matchup between the host Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers for Week 11

How do the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers match up statistically heading into Thursday night’s game at FirstEnergy Stadium?

Here are some significant points from the tale of the tape between the two AFC North rivals.

Offense

The Steelers hold the edge in scoring average, 21.4 per game to the Browns’ 19.0.

Perhaps the biggest advantage the Browns have is in running the ball. Nick Chubb and the Cleveland rushing attack ranks 2nd in yards per carry at 5.2. Pittsburgh ranks 28th at just 3.5. In yards per game, the Browns average 123.9 (13th) to the Steelers and their 83.2 (27th).

Neither team is good in the red zone or on third downs. The Browns convert just 31.2 percent of third downs, just below Pittsburgh’s 36.1. Cleveland is better in the red zone, believe it or not, with a 46.7 TD rate to the Steelers’ 39.1 on the season.

Turnovers

One big area where the Steelers hold an advantage is turnovers. Pittsburgh is second in the NFL with 26 forced takeaways. Their overall plus-13 turnover ratio is also second-best (to New England in both categories).

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Cleveland sits near the bottom at minus-8 overall. The team has gone two weeks in a row without a giveaway, but a lack of forced turnovers from the defense — just nine on the season, or averaging one per game — hasn’t helped the ratio rise up very high.

Defense

The Browns rank 21st in PPG allowed at 24.6, well below the Steelers at No. 10 in allowing 20.1 points per game.

In pass defense, the Steelers also crack the top 10 with a QB Rating allowed of just 82.8 (6th). Cleveland’s 99.4 QB Rating allowed ranks 22nd. The interceptions for both teams factors in here.

The gap is narrower in yards per pass attempt, where the Steelers still have the advantage, 6.4 to 7.0. Both teams are in the middle of the NFL pack with those figures. Cleveland allows a lower completion percentage, 63.6 to Pittsburgh’s 64.7.

The two teams diverge in run defense. Pittsburgh is a full yard per carry better than the Browns, 3.9 to 4.9.

Former Cardinals 1st-round pick Robert Nkemdiche suspended 2 weeks

He was recently cut by the Miami Dolphins.

Things keep getting worse for defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche. The former first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals now is facing league discipline.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Nkemdiche was given a two-game suspension.

He was recently released by the Miami Dolphins after being activated off the physically unable to perform list.

In the last year, Nkemdiche was benched by the Cardinals, then tore his ACL. He had two traffic stops involving the police in the offseason. He showed up to training camp overweight and out of shape, and was subsequently cut by the Cardinals. He was picked up and later released by the Dolphins, one of the league’s least talented teams.

A two-game suspension is often related to personal conduct and sometimes related to alcohol-related behavior. Former Cardinals offensive lineman Bobby Massie had a two-game suspension for a DUI arrest.

It is just another disappointment in a long line of disappointing events for Nkemdiche.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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Clark Hunt still optimistic regarding Chiefs’ chances of making Super Bowl LIV

Ownership still has Super Bowl aspirations despite some hiccups for the Kansas City Chiefs throughout this season.

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Clark Hunt is not yet ready to give up on the goal of reaching Super Bowl LIV.

In his opening statement during his Wednesday press conference, the Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO admitted that the loss to Titans stung. At the same time, he expressed that it isn’t the end of the line for this Chiefs team.

“The goals that we set out for ourselves in the beginning of the season are still in front of us,” Hunt explained. “Taking a step in the right direction starts with our game in Mexico this weekend against a division rival. We are looking forward to heading down to Mexico City and getting to play the Chargers in prime time on Monday night.”

Kansas City remains in prime position to win the AFC West. With four games remaining against division opponents and three of four occurring at Arrowhead Stadium, they’ll have a good chance to secure the division for the fourth consecutive season.

While many fans are still disappointed over the missed opportunity in Tennessee, Hunt is still optimistic.

“I believe that we have an outstanding football team with a great coaching staff,” Hunt said. “I think, as they continue to work better as we head towards hopefully a playoff opportunity, I think the team is going to continue to improve. I mentioned at the beginning of the season that one of the most important narratives this year was the improvement of the defense and how that took place during the season. I personally didn’t expect that we would start off with a finished product and I have been very encouraged by what I’ve seen. This past week notwithstanding, I do think that the defense is improving. With Patrick (Mahomes) back and now getting more of our offensive starters back, I think the offense can be at least as good as it was last year, if not better. You put that together and that gives you a chance to win a Super Bowl.”

Hunt isn’t exactly talking with blinders on here, especially when it comes to the defense. He came into the season expecting a product that wasn’t yet finished. It’s the perspective of a realist, given the personnel and scheme change. However, he’s been pleasantly surprised with what he’s seen thus far, apart from the performance against the Titans.

If the defense can get back to playing like they did against the Packers and Vikings while the offense also gets healthier, the team has a good chance to improve down the stretch.

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NFL’s 5 biggest surprises heading into Week 11: The Steelers deserve our respect

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made an incredible comeback.

This is the online version of our morning newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.

The 2019 NFL season is just zipping along, as Week 11(!) kicks off tonight when the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Cleveland to take on a Browns team that has been one of the biggest disappointments of the year.

But what a year it has been thus far for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers, who are now holding on to the sixth playoff spot in the AFC after reeling off four straight wins thanks to a defense that has been carrying a young offense lead by backup QB Mason Rudolph.

So before Week 11 gets underway, let’s look at the five biggest surprises of the season so far.

1. The Pittsburgh Steelers deserve our respect.

As I stated above, the Steelers could have packed things up earlier this year and nobody would have blinked an eye. They lost Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown during the offseason and then lost Ben Roethlisberger to a season-ending injury in Week 2. They were 0-2 at that point and things looked bleak. Now if they beat the Browns on TNF they’ll move to 6-4, which will only help their playoff chances. Tomlin has done an unbelievable job with this team and deserves a ton of credit for what they’ve been able to do so far. The biggest change, of course, happened when they traded two picks, including a first rounder, to the Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick. The safety has been a an absolute stud on a defense that has been one of the best in the league since he joined the team. The Steelers deserve our respect for such an incredible turnaround.

2. Lamar Jackson is so darn good.

The 32nd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft is now one of the best QB’s in the league and is a legit MVP candidate in just his first year as the full-time starter. His ridiculous TD run against the Bengals last week was just another incredible highlight in what has been a dominant season for the former Heisman winner. He is on pace to break Michael Vick’s rushing record for a QB and he has the Ravens looking like a team that can contend for a Super Bowl title. Hard to imagine that Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold were drafted so far ahead of him two years ago because he’s so much better than both of those average QBs.

3. The Oakland Raiders aren’t a laughingstock.

Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock took a ton of heat in the preseason when they tried to deal with Antonio Brown, who we later learned was impossible to deal with. Now the Raiders are 5-4 and just a half game behind the Chiefs in the AFC West. Making things even better for them is that they host the winless Bengals on Sunday, which should be an easy win. I guess Gruden can still coach after all.

4. The Kansas City Chiefs… haven’t been great.

Many thought Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who were the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs last year, would be unstoppable this year. Well, they haven’t been. While Mahomes looked great in his first game back from a knee injury last week, the defense has been a different story. A loss to the Titans last week has the Chiefs sitting at 6-4 and it looks like the top seed in the AFC will go to someone else this year, which is a surprise. They travel to Los Angeles to face the Chargers this week on Monday night and could very easily lose another game, which would be crazy.

5. The LA Rams are very mediocre at best.

Life has come at the defending NFC champs very quickly this year as they’ve been a shell of the team that looked so good last year before their loss to the Patriots in the Super Bow. QB Jared Goff, who got a big payday before the start of the season, has been terrible so far. He’s been so bad that our Steven Ruiz broke down this week why the Rams might be better off trading the former No. 1 pick. Making things even more confusing is that Todd Gurley has been a non-factor in key moments of games lately. Sean McVay was labeled a genius by many last year for his offensive ways, but now the banged up offense is predictable and average, which is a deadly combination. They host the Bears on Sunday in what looks like a must-win game for both teams that had high hopes coming into the season.

Wednesday’s biggest winner: Austin Rivers.

The Houston Rockets guard begged the refs to call his dad, Clippers coach Doc Rivers, for a technical foul in the final minutes of Wednesday night’s Rockets-Clippers game… and then loved it when they did and kicked his dad out of the game. Austin Rivers said after that the ejection of his pops, who traded him in the offseason, “made my night.” Now that’s a special father/son moment.

Quick hits: Nate Diaz pays back fan… More proof that Astros cheated… Trae Young’s best shots… and more!

– UFC star Nate Diaz did something pretty great for a fan who bet on him at UFC 244.

– This new video of the Astros cheating is something else.

– Take some time and watch the seven best shots of Trae Young’s NBA career so far. They are pretty great.

– James Holzhauer and Emma Boettcher will square off again tonight on Jeopardy!, which should be pretty awesome.

– You’re going to want to check out Charles Curtis’ fantasy football studs, duds, and sleepers heading into a pivotal week of NFL action.

(Follow me on Twitter at @anezbitt. It might change your life. Just don’t tell me about your fantasy team.)

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