The league stepped in to avoid another officiating black eye in Week 15 by Patrik Walker @VoiceOfTheStar Dec 15, 2019 at 10:39 pm ET • 3 min read ARLINGTON, TX -- The Dallas Cowboys couldn't even make it to the kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams before controversy struck, this time by way of the coin toss. When the coin hit the turf, NFL official Walt Anderson turned to Dak Prescott, who said he wanted to "defer" to the second half. Anderson apparently didn't hear him clearly, and asked if Prescott and the Cowboys wanted to "kick," to which the fourth-year quarterback answered "yes." The problem there was clear, because to defer would allow the Cowboys to receive in the second half, but kick off to start the game. Opting to "kick" is a different designation in the NFL rulebook, and would mean the Cowboys are choosing to kick off both to start both halves.Semantics in the context of normal conversation, sure, but not in professional … [Read more...] about NFL releases statement on coin flip controversy in Cowboys’ win over Rams: ‘We had definitive audio’
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NFL playoff picture: Seahawks, Packers lead wild NFC race; Bills clinch AFC playoff spot in Week 15
Breaking down everything related to the 2019 NFL playoff picture through Week 15 by Will Brinson @WillBrinson Dec 15, 2019 at 11:59 pm ET • 8 min read The NFC playoff race, in terms of seeding, is going to be insane. Right now we basically know five of the six teams who will be in the postseason, barring some kind of miracle from the Rams, who fell to 8-6 on Sunday. The sixth team will either be the Eagles or the Cowboys. And how those five teams shake out in terms of seeding is anyone's guess. The Cowboys or Eagles are locked into the fourth spot. Whoever comes out of the NFC East will host a wild-card game, either as a .500 team or a barely-above .500 team. Seattle is currently No. 1, but they could easily fall to No. 5. Green Bay is No. 2, but they could easily drop to sixth! The Saints are locked into no worse than third overall in the NFC and will move up to the top overall seed if the beat the Colts on Monday by virtue of their … [Read more...] about NFL playoff picture: Seahawks, Packers lead wild NFC race; Bills clinch AFC playoff spot in Week 15
Sunday Night wrap-up: Josh Allen leads Bills to playoffs
Getty Images There are a number of things that Josh Allen cannot do, or at least not yet. But we know he can run, and he’s showing a certain timeliness, and at the moment, the Bills will take it. The second-year quarterback led the Bills to a 17-10 win over the Steelers, clinching their playoff spot in the process. Allen threw for a touchdown and ran for one, making just enough plays against a Steelers defense that hasn’t allowed many lately. Allen finished the night 13-of-25 passing for 139 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. His accuracy isn’t such that he can carry them conventionally. But taking advantage of a turnover and using his big frame to run in (his ninth rushing touchdown of the year and 17th of his career) has worked. He might lack polish as a passer, and that’s going to keep the margins very small for them. The Bills had scored 274 points in their first 13 games (21.1 per game), but 68 of them came in two games against the Dolphins. … [Read more...] about Sunday Night wrap-up: Josh Allen leads Bills to playoffs
Gardner Minshew: I saw more middle fingers in Oakland than I had in my whole life
Getty Images Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew will go down in history as the last quarterback to win an NFL game in Oakland. Raiders fans let him know they didn’t appreciate his accomplishment. Minshew said today after engineering a last-minute comeback win over the Raiders, in the final game ever at the Oakland Coliseum, that the Black Hole was particularly rude to him. “I probably saw more middle fingers today than I have in my whole life. They have a good time, man. It was fun to ruin that for them,” Minshew said. Oakland fans have never been known for their subtlety in expressing themselves, whether to the opposing team, the referees or their own team. Minshew can take pride in being the last opposing quarterback ever to infuriate those fans by beating their team on its home field. … [Read more...] about Gardner Minshew: I saw more middle fingers in Oakland than I had in my whole life
Heat suspended Dion Waiters because he called out sick, then posted a picture of himself on a boat, per report
The suspension is Waiters' third of the season by Jack Maloney @jackmaloneycbs Dec 15, 2019 at 10:46 pm ET • 2 min read When Dion Waiters first arrived in Miami, he showed signs of becoming the player the Cleveland Cavaliers envisioned when they made him the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He had a memorable game-winning 3-pointer over the mighty Golden State Warriors, won a Player of the Week Award and was instrumental in the Heat's second-half turnaround as they chased a playoff spot. Unfortunately, he went down with an ankle injury and missed the final 13 games of the 2016-17 season, the Heat missed the playoffs and things have only gotten worse for him from there. More injury problems limited him to 30 games in 2017-18, and just 44 games last season. This season, he's yet to suit up for a game, and earlier this week was suspended for the third time in two months.The Heat officially announced that the six-game suspension was … [Read more...] about Heat suspended Dion Waiters because he called out sick, then posted a picture of himself on a boat, per report