Giants owner finally speaks, asks fans for patience

A New York Giants owner has finally broken his silence, providing fans with no answers, but requesting patience from them.

The New York Giants are currently mired in an eight-game losing streak — the second-longest such streak in franchise history — and all has remained silent in East Rutherford.

Besides the usual barrage of questioning for head coach Pat Shurmur and whatever players the team makes available throughout the week, no one has stepped up to face the music.

After canceling weekly interviews with WFAN, the Giants have enacted life as it would be seen in the film, “A Quiet Place.” There were no bye week press conferences, general manager Dave Gettleman has not been heard from in months and co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch have remained out of sight.

That changed on Tuesday as Tisch briefly stepped out from the shadows in order to attend the March of Dimes Luncheon.

NBC 4’s Bruce Beck was able to corner Tisch and fire off some questions regarding the current state of the franchise, what — if any — changes were coming this offseason and if there was any specific message for fans.

There was.

Tisch offered absolutely no vote of confidence for Gettleman or Shurmur heading into the offseason, and arguably sounded a bit more assertive than usual.

Who wouldn’t love to be a fly on the wall when Tisch and Mara sit down to discuss what needs to be done and what’s next? You have to imagine that will be an emotionally-charged conversation.

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Chargers beef up offensive line in PFF’s latest mock draft

Chargers add much-needed offensive tackle in mock draft.

There are two positions that will be in contention for the Chargers’ first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft — quarterback and offensive tackle.

On one hand, you have uncertainty with the future of Philip Rivers, leaving the team needing to find his potential replacement. On the other hand, you have a line that’s been hit with injuries and has struggled with consistency for years.

This year’s offensive tackle class is loaded with talent, but there are a select few at the top that could really draw the attention of Los Angeles.

One of the prospects is Alabama’s Jedrick Wills.

Pro Football Focus released their latest mock draft and felt that Wills and the Bolts would be the perfect matchmake with the No. 10 overall selection in the 2020 NFL draft.

Back-to-back Alabama offensive tackles in the top-10 and they’re both that good. The last time the Chargers drafted an Alabama right tackle, it didn’t work out so well, but Wills is a different breed from D.J. Fluker. At 6-5, 320 pounds, Wills is far more explosive than he is a brute in the run game. It’s a big reason why he earned a freaky 91.4 run-blocking grade this year.

By no surprise, Wills has been on our radar this season. He was included in our Scouting Notebook in Week 11.

Wills isn’t technically refined as Leatherwood in the pass protection department, but he is a strong, physical tackle who is an adept run blocker and has the tools to be a well-rounded NFL offensive tackle with more nuance in his footwork.

For Chargers fans, it’s easy to see an offensive tackle from Alabama and be swayed away because they have a clear memory of how D.J. Fluker panned out for him. But Wills is far more superior than Fluker coming out of college.

The best way to describe Wills is a “people mover”. Even though he’s stronger in the run blocking department, he’s got the wide base and length to keep defenders at bay in pass protection.

Whether it’s blocking for Rivers, Tyrod Taylor or the quarterback of the future, Wills would be plug-and-play right tackle for Los Angeles.

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Sixers key reserve James Ennis III believes he’s a ‘hot guy’ right now

Philadelphia 76ers reserve James Ennis III refers to himself as the “hot guy” on the team right now.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been looking for more consistent offense off the bench to help support the starters and what they do on the floor. They have seemed to have found it in the form of James Ennis III.

The Sixers reserve has been playing much better as of late starting with scoring 20 points off the bench in a win over the New York Knicks followed by more solid scoring outputs during the team’s current 4-game winning streak.

Ennis has been shooting 50% from deep during the streak and he has been getting to the free-throw line much more as he has averaged 3.5 attempts over the previous four games, well above his season average of 1.8. He believes it is due to the fact that he is showing up on other team’s scouting reports now and because he refers to himself as a “hot guy”.

“So I’m considered a ‘hot guy’ now so a lot of guys are flying at me,” explained Ennis at practice on Tuesday. “So I have to put the ball on the ground and I definitely get to the lane a lot more now.”

It is because of that efficiency from deep that he is beginning to get the respect of other guys around the league and it’s all because of that term that he likes to give himself: “hot guy”.

“I want to be known as a ‘hot guy’, someone who can knock down shots,” he added with a laugh. “So I can get people with my shot-fake now because I’m a ‘hot guy’.”

It is clear that he has a lot of swagger and confidence right now and it’s something that the Sixers will gladly take now that he is that “hot guy” on the team and on the scouting report.

“I guess there is!” exclaimed coach Brett Brown. “Good for him! He’s a great story. He’s come sort of hidden with Miami, then went overseas, then had a taste with Houston, and now here he is with us and he’s having a helluva year.”

The Sixers will now hit the road on Thursday to face the Washington Wizards where they hope Ennis can remain hot. [lawrence-related id=20518,20507,20499]

NFC playoff picture: The Seahawks continue to defy gravity

Here’s how the NFC playoff picture is shaping up with four games left to play.

The Carolina Panthers aren’t making the playoffs this year. Any lingering doubt about that was dispelled with Sunday’s loss to the lowly Washington Redskins. If you don’t believe your eyes, the math should do.

According to FiveThirtyEight, Carolina’s postseason chances are now less than 1%. Minnesota is the team to watch, now. One more win or a tie for them plus a Carolina loss or tie would officially eliminate the Panthers from the race.

Here’s how the NFC playoff picture is shaping up with four games left to play.

Playoff teams

1. New Orleans Saints (10-2)
2. Seattle Seahawks (10-2)
3. Green Bay Packers (9-3)
4. Dallas Cowboys (6-6)
5. San Francisco 49ers (10-2)
6. Minnesota Vikings (8-4)

In the hunt

7. Los Angeles Rams (7-5)
8. Chicago Bears (6-6)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)
11. Carolina Panthers (5-7)

Seattle is the big riser, moving up from the No. 5 seed to the No. 2 seed courtesy of its win over Minnesota and a tie-breaker over San Francisco. This was the Seahawks’ sixth win of the season by seven points or less. History says they’re overdue for a dropoff but for now they keep defying gravity. They visit the Panthers in two weeks.

Elsewhere, Dallas is still in danger of losing that No. 4 seed, which at the moment is the equivalent of a buzz-saw. If they hold their position, the 49ers may go down as the toughest fifth seed in the history of the NFL playoffs. Neither the Cowboys nor the Eagles want that particular smoke.

The Vikings made it interesting but couldn’t break Kirk Cousins’ winless streak in Monday night games. They’re in danger of ceding the No. 6 seed to the Rams.

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Penalty free offense a huge factor in Seahawks Week 13 victory

The Seattle Seahawks only committed one penalty on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings, a big factor in their crucial victory.

The Seattle Seahawks earned a crucial win against the Minnesota Vikings in primetime on Monday night to move to 10-2 on the season.

The defense was exceptional – earning three takeaways and consistently frustrating Kirk Cousins and Minnesota’s offense – but it was a consistent offensive attack that ended up getting the job done against a stout Vikings defensive front.

A big factor was the absence of penalties on Seattle’s offense, something that has been a big issue throughout the year and has been a big emphasis in recent weeks.

“It’s always a point of emphasis for us to have clean hands and no holding penalties, no pre-snap penalties,” left tackle Duane Brown said after the game. “Last week (against Philadelphia) we had some rough areas with that. It’s always a point of emphasis for us. Tonight we played clean and that’s been the difference.”

Seattle as a team did not get penalized until the fourth quarter, when Tre Flowers was called for a defensive pass interference on Stefon Diggs. That was the only penalty called on Seattle all game, a remarkable feat for a team that normally ranks among the most penalized teams in the NFL.

“There’s not been very many times like that,” coach Pete Carroll said after the game. “I’m not quite sure what got into us on that one, but I like it. It was great, it was a really clean game.”

For now, Seattle is atop the NFC West and sits in second place in the entire conference. For that to hold, they’ll need that disciplined offensive line to show up in each of the next four weeks, as penalty issues will certainly hamper their chances of staying atop the very competitive NFC.

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Packers OLB Za’Darius Smith is having an All-Pro season

Packers OLB Za’Darius Smith is having a season worthy of All-Pro recognition.

An All-Pro selection is one of the highest honors in football. Most years, the All-Pro team provides a true barometer of the league’s best players. While the Pro Bowl is a popularity contest, the All-Pro team consistently selects the game’s most impactful players.

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith is having an All-Pro caliber season.

Through 12 games, Smith is one of only eight players with at least 10 sacks, and he leads the NFL in quarterback hits with 28. He’s on pace for almost 94 total pressures, a staggering amount for any player.

His 70 pressures rank third in the NFL among edge rushers, trailing only Danielle Hunter and Cameron Jordan, per Pro Football Focus. He’s the only edge rusher with at least 10 sacks, 15 quarterback hits and 40 other pressures this season.

Smith has produced at least one sack or three quarterback hits in nine of 12 games. In three different games, the Packers tallied double-digit pressures from Smith, including 12 this past Sunday against the New York Giants.

Last season, Khalil Mack and J.J. Watt were the two first-team All-Pro edge rushers, as selected by the AP voters. Mack delivered 12.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for losses. Watt had 16 sacks, 25 quarterback hits and 18 tackles for losses.

Smith is currently on pace for 13 sacks, 37 quarterback hits and 15 tackles for losses.

If there’s a knock on Smith, it’s his lack of forced fumbles. He still doesn’t have one. Mack forced six last season; Watt had seven.

But everything else about Smith’s profile screams All-Pro. He has the stats, the performances and the impact, having helped turn the Packers’ pass-rush completely around.

A strong finish to the 2019 season will keep Smith right in the running for the honor. A big performance in the Packers’ primetime matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 23 would help, too.

“He’s been a consistent player,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. “That’s one thing I know we can count on each and every week. He’s going to go out there and play a hundred miles an hour and make plays for us.”

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MWwire’s 2019 Postseason All-Conference Mountain West Football Team

In looking back at the 2019 regular season, our staff has made its selections for the best of the best from Mountain West football.

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Mountain West Wire Presents Its 2019 Postseason All-Mountain West Football Teams

In looking back at the 2019 regular season, our staff has made its selections for the best of the best from Mountain West football.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

Who stands out as the conference’s best from this season?

Before the Mountain West football championship kicks off in Boise this Saturday, our staff has put their heads together to determine who deserves recognition as part of our postseason all-conference teams. If you’re interested in our picks from 2018, you can find that here.

Unlike our preseason all-conference selections, our postseason honor roll only goes two deep. We have, however, maintained our efforts to better reflect the variety we see week in and week out throughout the Mountain West, too, so previous changes like the FLEX defender, differentiating between guards and tackles and centers rather than just selecting offensive linemen, and so on remain intact.

If you disagree with our choices, of course, feel free to let us know what you’d have done differently on Twitter or Facebook.

This year’s voters: Jeremy Mauss, Sean O’Toole (Air Force), Raja Prabahala and Collin Clovis and Erik Smiley (Boise State), Josh Fredlund and Brad Hubbard (Colorado State), Matthew Kenerly (Fresno State), Brandon Tamanaha (Hawaii), Brandon Blake (Nevada), Roger Holien (New Mexico), Ted McGovern and Erwin Mendoza (San Diego State), Logan Jones and Sam McConkie (Utah State), and Jesse Tachiquin (Wyoming)

First Team

Offense

QB – Josh Love, San Jose State
RB – Charles Williams, UNLV
RB – Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming
WR – Warren Jackson, Colorado State
WR – Cedric Byrd, Hawaii
WR – John Hightower, Boise State
TE – Trey McBride, Colorado State
C – Garrett Larson, Boise State
G – Nolan Laufenberg, Air Force
G – Solo Vaipulu, Hawaii
T – Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
T – Parker Ferguson, Air Force

Defense

DT – Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
DT – Sonatane Lui, Boise State
DE – Dom Peterson, Nevada
DE – Myles Cheatum, San Diego State
OLB – Curtis Weaver (STUD), Boise State
OLB – Rayshad Jackson, UNLV
ILB – Logan Wilson, Wyoming
ILB – Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State
CB – Luq Barcoo, San Diego State
CB – Jericho Flowers, UNLV
S – Alijah Halliburton, Wyoming
S – Tariq Thompson, San Diego State
FLEX – Dwayne Johnson Jr. (AZTEC), San Diego State

Special Teams

K – Dominik Eberle, Utah State
P – Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State
KR – Savon Scarver, Utah State
PR – Avery Williams, Boise State

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