Cnotes NFL Preseason Picks-Results-Etc. !

[CNOTES]

Thursday’s six-pack


— Eagles cut RB Ryan Mathews, saving themselves $4M on the salary cap.


— Nick Markakis has 2,009 career hits, but has never made an All-Star Game, the 4th-most hits of anyone on that list.


— Juan Pierre had 2,217 hits but never made an All-Star Game; he is on top of that list.


— Maine graduate transfer Wesley Myers committed to South Carolina. He averaged 16.9 ppg last season. Gamecocks had a player suspended this week, so this helps replace him.


— If a major leaguer changes uniform numbers, he has to buy all the inventory that is in stock with his name and the old number on it.


— Wyoming QB Josh Allen might be the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft; Wyoming and Eastern Michigan were the only schools to offer him a scholarship coming out of junior college.


**************************

Thursday’s List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud…..


13) I hope Ryan Fitzpatrick writes a book someday; he went to college at Harvard, which means he didn’t get an athletic scholarship, but he still made the NFL and entering his 13th year as an NFL quarterback. Tampa Bay is his 7th team.


Fitzpatrick played for four teams in four years, but what is weird is that he started 9+ games in all four of those years— there is no way anyone else has ever done this before, not at QB.
2012 Buffalo, 16 starts
2013 Tennessee, 9 starts
2014 Houston, 12 starts
2015 NJ Jets, 16 starts


What a unique career; if he makes the Buccaneers this summer and it looks like he will, it is unlikely he’ll play much, with Jameis Winston entrenched as the Bucs’ starting QB.


12) In 42 games batting in the #4 or #5 slot this year, Giancarlo Stanton hit .262 with 11 HR, 30 RBI, and an OB% of .335.


In 71 games since moving to the #2 slot in the order, Stanton is batting .302, with 33 HR’s, 64 RBI and a .404 on-base %age.


11) They told a funny story on the Padres’ game yesterday; there used to be an umpire named Frank Pulli, who was considered to be one of the better umpires. Pulli was doing an exhibition game behind the plate and after he calls a borderline strike on David Bell, he says to Bell:


“You better swing the bat today; it’s my grandson’s birthday”, inferring he had a party to go to and this was going to be a fast game.


10) Good grief; heard the other night that they change the bases in major league games every three innings, and then sell the bases online. Game used bases!!!! Greed knows no bounds.


9) Interesting comment from an NFL coach/executive, I can’t remember who it was, someone with the Colts or Lions, but they came out and said that NFL teams get more out of joint practices during the week than they do from the exhibition game that is played on the weekend, which is a good piece of knowledge.


8) Houston Astros swing at more first pitches than any team in baseball; they’ve hit 47 homers not eh first pitch of an AB, most in the majors this season.


7) Didi Gregorius batting cleanup, Todd Frazier batting 8th; interesting lineups Joe Girardi puts on the field. Manager of the Year in the AL will be tough to decide, if the Angels make the playoffs. Girardi and Mike Scioscia are both doing really good jobs this season.


6) Mets have saved a total of roughly $9M from their salary dumps this summer (Duda, Walker, Bruce, Reed). Too bad they’re not in a big city with a new, publicly-funded stadium, then they could actually try and w— oh wait, New York City is a big city. The Wilpons are slimy; thank the Lord they don’t own the A’s.


5) Strange ballgame in Oakland Tuesday night; A’s led Kansas City 4-3 after seven innings but their bullpen imploded in the 8th and KC led 8-4- there was no joy at Armadillo World HQ, that is for sure. Then Oakland scored six runs in the bottom of the 8th; Matt Joyce hit a bases loaded double after the Royals walked Rajai Davis intentionally so they could pitch to Joyce with the bases loaded (lefty-lefty BS).


Weird game with a happy ending, unless you had the Royals or the under.


4) Last season was first time since 2003 that both Super Bowl teams missed the playoffs the following season.


3) Since 2005, the defending Super Bowl champ is 4-7 in playoff games the next season, with Seattle in 2014 getting two of the four wins.


2) Last year was first time in eight years that the Super Bowl loser missed the playoffs the following season. Last time the Super Bowl loser made it back to the Super Bowl the next season? The 1993 Bills, losing their 4th consecutive Super Bowl.


1) 1994 Patriots are the last team to repeat as Super Bowl champs.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Henderson appointed to hear Elliott's appeal
August 16, 2017


NFL commissioner Roger Goodell appointed Harold Henderson to hear Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott's appeal, the league announced Wednesday.


The hearing is scheduled to take place on Aug. 29, according to NFL Network, which first reported Henderson would be the arbiter for Elliott's appeal hearing and confirmed by ESPN.


The NFL Players Association on Tuesday officially appealed the six-game suspension handed down to Elliott, who was suspended by the league on Friday following a 13-month investigation for violating the league's personal conduct policy after multiple domestic violence incidents.


Henderson has been an appeals officer since 2008. He was the arbiter for the appeal hearings of former Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy and then-Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Henderson reduced Hardy's suspension for alleged domestic violence from 10 games to four in 2015 and upheld Peterson's indefinite suspension for child abuse in 2014.


Elliott's former girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson, accused him of domestic violence in Columbus, Ohio. Elliott, who was not arrested or charged in the case, has maintained his innocence all along.


--The New Orleans Saints fired team orthopedists Deryk Jones and Misty Suri after discovering that cornerback Delvin Breaux sustained a fracture in his fibula that was originally diagnosed as a bruise.


"I think it's not one event, it probably builds up over a period of time," coach Sean Payton said when asked about the decision to dismiss the doctors. "You're not gonna bat a thousand here, but you're just hoping that more often than not, you're getting the right information."


Breaux will require surgery and is expected to be sidelined up to six weeks.


Jones and Suri were longtime doctors on the Saints' staff and have also worked for the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA.


--The Tennessee Titans have adjusted their schedule to ensure the team will not be practicing when the total eclipse commences Monday afternoon.


Nashville, Tenn., is the largest city in the path of the total eclipse, with just over two minutes to see the total eclipse historic event beginning around 1:27 p.m. CT. It's the first total eclipse visible from the U.S. mainland since 1979.


Coach Mike Mularkey decided to rearrange the team's practice schedule that day in order to allow his players to see this natural phenomenon, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com.


"I actually did (change the schedule)," Mularkey said. "I adjusted the schedule so we will (not be practicing) during it. I went back, once we found out about it, and rerouted the schedule so we're out here together to see it. What a cool experience. You're on the practice field. I rearranged the practice schedule to make sure we're out there to see it."


--The Seattle Seahawks signed cornerback Tramaine Brock to a one-year contract, the team announced.


Brock is expected to compete with Jeremy Lane and rookie Shaquill Griffin for the open spot opposite cornerback Richard Sherman. Last year's starter DeShawn Shead resides on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from a knee injury sustained in the divisional round of the playoffs.


The San Francisco 49ers released Brock on April 7, less than 24 hours following his arrest on charges of suspicion of felony domestic violence and child endangerment. Those charges were dismissed two days later as the Santa Clara District Attorney's office determined that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case because the alleged victim declined to cooperate.


Brock could still face punishment from the league under its policy on personal conduct.


--New York Jets wide receiver and kick returner Lucky Whitehead is out indefinitely after breaking his foot in practice this week.


Whitehead is expected to be out four to six weeks, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported. Whitehead will get a second opinion to see if surgery will speed up the recovery time.


The Jets claimed Whitehead off waivers two days after he was cut by the Dallas Cowboys on July 24 following an initial report that the 25-year-old was accused of petty larceny. The Prince William County (Va.) Police Department later said it identified the wrong man and regretted the impact the errors had bestowed upon Whitehead and his family.


The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Whitehead was injured Monday and the next day was seen on crutches, wearing a walking boot.


--The Pittsburgh Steelers activated wide receiver Sammie Coates from the physically unable to perform list following minor knee surgery.


Coates, 24, had his knee scoped two weeks before the start of training camp and the Steelers placed him on the PUP list. He is expected to practice with the team Wednesday.


Coates, the Steelers' 2015 third-round pick, said he injured the knee while training this summer. It was his second offseason knee surgery, and he also had surgery to repair a sports hernia after the season.


The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Coates is coming off a 2016 season that opened with an opportunity to make a mark thanks to Martavis Bryant's suspension. A finger injury slowed Coates, who saw action in 14 games but was limited to 21 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns. But he caught an NFL-best six passes of 40 yards or longer, including a 72-yard touchdown against the New York Jets.

 

[CNOTES]

Lynch vs. Peterson Props
August 16, 2017


If you want to talk about fun prop bets, then look no further than the market that BetOnline.ag has released concerning Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson. In our NFL Futures Regular Season section you can actually bet on these guys head-to-head despite the fact that the Raiders don’t play the Saints this year at all.


A lot of talking heads and wannabe pundits claim that the running-back position is dying in the NFL, but those people couldn’t be more wrong. Sometimes the game takes time to evolve and allow players such as Le’Veon Bell and David Johnson to emerge as multi-threats. Prior that, however, hammers like AP and Marshawn were doing the dirty work in the NFL.


Coincidentally, both players were taken in the 2007 NFL Draft. Adrian Peterson was taken 7th overall while Marshawn Lynch was selected 12th by the Buffalo Bills. For frame of reference, this is the draft where Jamarcus Russell and Calvin Johnson were selected with the top two picks.


Since then, it’s been hard to write or talk about the NFL without mentioning these two. Peterson became the 2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year, the 2012 MVP, led the league three times (2008, 2012, 2015) and touchdowns twice (2009, 2015).


Lynch hasn’t been that dominant in the individual achievements having led the league in touchdown for 2013 and 2014, but also won a Super Bowl with Seattle against Denver (and probably should’ve won another won against New England).


These two have constantly been clashing inadvertently. Peterson won Rookie of the Year with 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns in a year that Lynch piled up 1,115 yards of his own and 7 touchdowns. When Peterson won the 2012 NFL MVP award thanks to his 2,097 yard season, Lynch put together his career best with 1,590.


Both players have now migrated to different teams and off the shelf for the 2017 campaign. Lynch is anchoring the Oakland Raiders after a brief retirement while New Orleans has added Adrian Peterson who is coming off of injury rehab. Who will have a better individual season overall? Well, that part’s up to you. Here’s a little insight in to the fun head-to-head market we have for the two standouts.


NFL REGULAR SEASON SPECIALS AT BETONLINE.AG


Most Rushing Yards in 2017 – Peterson (+275.5) / Lynch (-275.5)
Lynch basically has to beat Adrian Peterson by 276 yards in the regular season total by the end of the season to win this market, and even then he’s being given a mark of -130 as the favorite. That’s because Lynch has nobody to spell him in Oakland. Peterson will share with Mark Ingram, a frustratingly reliable back.


Most Touchdowns Scored in 2017 – Peterson (+2.5) / Lynch (-2.5)
This is an even money market with both being listed at -115, but Peterson getting a bit of a handicap due to his situation in New Orleans. Peterson has averaged 0.78 touchdowns per game in his career while Lynch has trotted in at a pace of 0.58. The point is that Peterson is a touchdown machine and has been no matter the situation he’s had at quarterback. The Raiders are likely to use Lynch as much as possible, but it’s hard to imagine him outscoring Peterson on the ground only because it usually doesn’t happen when the two are healthy.


Most Rush Attempts in 2017 – Peterson (+44.5) / Lynch (-44.5)
At the height of his reign between 2011-2014, Lynch averaged a whopping 18.75 attempts per game for an average of 295.3 attempts per year. If you try to the same cross-section with Peterson, he put up 299.5 attempts between 2007-2010. Of course, that was nearly a decade ago and Peterson has had serious injuries.


The interesting part is that the cavernous gap between the two favors Peterson given that he is an absolute workhorse of an athlete that has run for as many as 327 attempts in a single season. Lynch’s highest usage rate was in 2013 when he hit 301.


The broader point here is that both backs look and feel like timeless players. Obviously, age catches up with every football player and this is especially true with running backs. This is likely the last season for both so this is a great time bet on a specified market tailored just for the fans that love Lynch and AP.

 

[CNOTES]

Thursday's Preseason Tips
August 16, 2017


Ravens at Dolphins (-3, 38) - 7:00 PM EST


Baltimore
Head coach: John Harbaugh (25-12 SU, 24-13 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Ryan Mallett, Thaddeus Lewis, Josh Woodrum
Beat Twitter Follow: Jamison Hensley

The Ravens have been cursed by injuries during training camp the last few years and have been bit by the bug again already, losing multiple offensive linemen, two tight ends, a few receivers and potential starting running back Kenneth Dixon and promising second-year corner Tavon Young. Joe Flacco will look to return to the lineup later in the month, but he's been sidelined with a back injury, bumping Mallett up. Lewis was just signed to replace ineffective Dustin Vaughan, so the offense may lack continuity and quality depth. Woodrum did throw a nice touchdown late in last week's win over Washington, but the Liberty product is considered a longshot to make the roster given his lack of experience.


Miami
Head coach: Adam Gase (3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Jay Cutler, Matt Moore, Brandon Doughty, David Fales
Beat Twitter Follow: Joe Schad


After losing starter Ryan Tannehill to a torn ACL, the Dolphins talked Cutler out of retirement and will give him the start here despite their assertion that Moore is the No. 1 at this point. Obviously, the gig will eventually belong to Cutler, so expect him to get a few drives in with the first-teamers. He's reportedly looked sharp and knows Gase's system from their days with the Bears, so it's not that surprising to hear he's hit the ground running despite expecting to be in the broadcast booth, not the playing field, when the month began. RB Jay Ajayi came out of concussion protocol but is unlikely to play, as is center Maurice Pouncey, who is expected to debut next week.


Bills at Eagles (-5, 39 ½) - 7:00 PM EST


Buffalo
Head Coach: Sean McDermott (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Tyrod Taylor, Nathan Peterman (Rookie), T.J. Yates
Beat Twitter Follow: Mike Rodak


The Bills added Jordan Matthews to their receiving corps, trading corner Ronald Darby for his services after moving Sammy Watkins to the L.A. Rams. He won't play against his former team, so rookie Zay Jones is expected to start as he looks to impress and gain Taylor's confidence. Peterman passed Yates on the depth chart after generating a spark in last week's otherwise listless 17-10 home loss to Minnesota. The rookie from Pittsburgh completed just 13 of his 25 passes, so it will be interesting to see how he handles a higher level of competition. Yates is out to prove he merits a spot on the roster and will need to be productive against third-stringers to get back in contention for the No. 2 gig.


Philadelphia
Head coach: Doug Pederson (4-1 SU, 4-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Carson Wentz, Matt McGloin, Dane Evans (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Jeff McLane


The Eagles scored on their first drive as Wentz went right down the field against Green Bay, completing all four of his passes, the last of which went to rookie Mack Hollins. He's expected to play more than a series here, but Philadelphia managed just a field goal with their other quarterbacks in. Nick Foles remains out, so McGloin, who fired 42 passes against the Packers, should get the bulk of the work. Alshon Jeffery is expected to play with the first unit after sitting out the preseason opener. Star left tackle Jason Peters will be out due to a personal matter, so a makeshift offensive line will be employed since multiple starters up front are sidelined.


Buccaneers at Jaguars (PK, 40 ½) - 8:00 PM EST


Tampa Bay
Head coach: Dirk Koetter (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sefo Liufau (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Jenna Laine


Appearing on HBO's "Hard Knocks" has put the spotlight on the Bucs this month, and you'll be able to see plenty of footage against the Jaguars next week since the teams have been practicing against one another all week. Multipe skirmishes have broken out, so the competition hasn't exactly been friendly. Koetter and his coordinators, Mike Smith and Todd Monken, all worked for the Jags and will want to get this one before closing out the preseason at home for their final two gams. Ryan Griffin injured a shoulder and won't play, so Fitzpatrick is expected to play the majority of this one before Liufau wraps it up.


Jacksonville
Head coach: Doug Marrone (4-6 SU, 4-6 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Blake Bortles, Chad Henne, Brandon Allen
Beat Twitter Follow: Michael DiRocco


Bortles was given some time off because Marrone felt his arm looked tired. Since he's coming off a brutal season and turned the ball over early and often in scrimmages, there's a chance he doesn't make it out of camp with the gig. Performing well against the Bucs first-team defense should keep Henne behind him, but he'll have to excel without rookie first-round pick Leonard Fournette since the running back injured his foot and won't play. WR Marquise Lee is also out after being carted off the field with a leg injury on Sunday. Both Henne and Allen threw touchdown passes to rookies Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole to defeat New England in the preseason opener.

 

[CNOTES]

Thursday's Best Bet
August 17, 2017


Thursday NFL Preseason Best Bet


Tampa Bay vs. Jacksonville


HeritageSports.eu Odds: Tampa Bay (-2) vs. Jacksonville (+2); Total set at 40.5


We've reached Week 2 of the NFL preseason and that means we are getting close to getting games we will see in the regular season; at least in terms of who is on the field. Weeks 2 and 3 are considered as the “dress rehearsal” weeks for NFL teams with each organization having their own take on how playing time should be handled.


Typically, starters see about a quarter or so of action in Week 2 and it gets pushed to the full 1st half in Week 3, but some coaches have bumped up that full 1st half (or nearly all of it) to Week 2's contest in order to preserve the health of their stars. Either way, we should get at least a quarter from the majority of starters on Tampa and Jacksonville tonight.




Both sides are coming off interesting first week's of action as Tampa Bay moved the ball rather well vs. Cincinnati but couldn't cash in on the scoreboard. The 23-12 loss to the Bengals was not something the Bucs coaching staff was particularly happy with, and a missed XP and FG try by highly drafted Roberto Aguayo ended up being the last straw for him and the Tampa organization. The Bucs cut Aguayo after the game and haven't been shy about stating how much of an error it was to draft the kicker in the second round.


Jacksonville had a much more positive opening week as they beat New England 31-24, got a TD run from first round pick RB Leonard Fournette, and got some huge plays in both the passing (97-yard TD pass) and running (79-yard TD run) games. Even with all those positives, there is still plenty of concern heading into the year for QB Blake Bortles and his prospects, as going 3-for-5 for just 16 yards in limited action last week didn't do anything to squash those concerns. Bortles will get more opportunities tonight, so it will be interesting to see if anything changes on that front.


Regarding tonight's betting line, we've already seen significant movement on the spread as the Jaguars opened as 1-point favorites before it settling on the current number of Tampa Bay -2. Some of the move centers on Jacksonville not having Fournette or starting WR Marquise Lee available due to injuries, but not having those two guys wouldn't precipitate a line move like this by themselves and quite frankly it's a move I agree with 100%.


Even with it still being preseason, Tampa's got a lot more to prove coming off that frustrating performance, and with QB's Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick seeing the bulk of the action tonight, that's a QB duo you've got to have some faith in. Both guys have significant experience in this league, and while Jacksonville can boast about the same thing with Bortles and Chad Henne, just looking at those four names, who would you rather have?


Finally, Tampa's got a 4-0 SU and ATS run going in the preseason when they are playing their second consecutive game on the road, while Jacksonville is on a 0-4 SU run themselves in Game 2 of the preseason. With the desire to have a much better offensive performance on Tampa's sideline, and Jacksonville looking like world-beaters after beating the Patriots a week ago, I'm siding with the big move here on Tampa as it should get us to the betting window to collect this evening.


HeritageSports.eu Best Bet: Tampa Bay -2

 

[CNOTES]

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


BUF at PHI 07:00 PM


PHI -4.5


U 38.5


BAL at MIA 07:00 PM


BAL +2.5


U 38.0


TB at JAC 08:00 PM


JAC +2.0


O 40.5

 

[CNOTES]

NFL preseason roundup: Winston sharp in Bucs' victory
August 17, 2017


Jameis Winston led Tampa Bay to three successive scoring drives in the first half, powering the Buccaneers to a 12-8 victory over the host Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday.


Winston engineered an 83-yard drive in 11 plays on Tampa Bay's first possession. The third-year quarterback hit on 5 of 6 passes for 54 yards before Doug Martin went over from 2 yards out for the touchdown.


Winston then directed a 54-yard march in eight plays and a 50-yard march in 12 plays on Tampa's next two possessions, but both drives stalled inside the 20. Winston played the first half and completed 21 of 29 passes for 196 yards.


Jacksonville starting quarterback Blake Bortles was ineffective in his four series in the first half. Bortles competed 8 of 13 passes for 65 yards and was sacked once. The Jaguars only crossed midfield one time while Bortles was in the game.


Ravens 31, Dolphins 7


Ryan Mallett passed for a touchdown and 113 yards, and Justin Tucker kicked three field goals and recovered a fumble to lead Baltimore past host Miami. Mallett completed 13 of 22 passes and was intercepted twice.


Jay Cutler was 3 of 6 passing for 24 yards in two series in his Dolphins debut. Cutler was signed Aug. 7 to replace Ryan Tannehill, who sustained a season-ending knee injury Aug. 3.


Miami's Jay Ajayi, a Pro Bowl selection last year after rushing for 1,272 yards, ended with two carries for minus-2 yards and one reception for 11 yards. He came off the concussion protocol Tuesday.

Eagles 20, Bills 16


Byron Marshall scored the go-ahead touchdown from 1 yard out with three minutes left as host Philadelphia came from behind to defeat Buffalo.


Undrafted free agent running back Corey Clement also rushed for a score, and Caleb Sturgis connected on two of three field-goal attempts for the Eagles. Philadelphia starting quarterback Carson Wentz led the team for the first four drives, completing 6 of 9 passes for 56 yards.


T.J. Yates threw a late 9-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Reilly, and Stephen Hauschka kicked three field goals for the Bills. Buffalo starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor went 8 of 18 passing for 53 yards with two interceptions while playing most of the first half.

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: NFLPA foresees 2021 work stoppage
August 17, 2017


The NFL's collective bargaining agreement expires in four years, and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith believes there will be a work stoppage in 2021.


"I think that the likelihood of either a strike or a lockout is almost a virtual certainty," Smith said in a video interview posted on the MMBQB/Sports Illustrated website on Thursday.


Owners locked out players for 132 days in 2011 until the current 10-year CBA was signed on July 25, 2011.


Since the agreement was signed, the players association has clashed with the league in notable cases such as Ezekiel Elliott's suspension for alleged domestic violence, Tom Brady's Deflategate suspension and Adrian Peterson's suspension for child abuse.


--The reinstatement of suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon is not on the immediate agenda of Roger Goodell, the commissioner announced.


Goodell offered his stance when asked about Gordon at a fan forum in Cleveland.


The league denied Gordon's reinstatement petition on May 11, two months after the embattled 26-year-old wideout filed papers to have his indefinite suspension lifted.


Goodell reinstated Gordon on a conditional basis last season, but the Pro Bowl receiver checked into the rehab facility in September and put his career on hold. Gordon spent 30 days in a New Hampshire facility.


--Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly will be sidelined indefinitely after he undergoes a medical procedure on his foot.


Kelly was initially sidelined during the Colts' joint practices with Detroit last week and was held out of the Lions' preseason game last week. The injury was not thought to be serious at the time and he had been wearing a walking boot since incurring the injury. There is no timetable for his return although Kelly is expected to miss the start of the regular season.


ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the surgery is scheduled for Friday and will be to repair a bone defect in his foot.


--Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton didn't take part in the scrimmage situations during the first day of joint workouts with the Tennessee Titans, but he was involved in some 7-on-7 drills when the teams gathered for the second of those workouts Thursday.


So, while there has been progress shown as he comes back following offseason shoulder surgery, there continues to be an incomplete sample.


The Panthers play their second preseason game Saturday when they take on the Titans in Nashville, Tenn.


--Seattle Seahawks center Justin Britt agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension, multiple outlets reported.


The deal is worth $27 million with Britt collecting $13.25 million in the first year, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.


Britt started 16 games as a rookie at right tackle after being selected with a second-round pick in the 2014 draft. The 26-year-old was later shuffled to guard and then center, where he started 15 games a season ago.


--Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls will sit out Friday's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings with an ankle injury.


Coach Pete Carroll made the announcement on Thursday and named Eddie Lacy as the team's starter for that contest.


Rawls was given the nod ahead of Lacy for last week's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. He rushed two times for five yards.


--The San Francisco 49ers signed linebacker Shayne Skov to a one-year contract.


Skov recorded two defensive tackles in 24 games over three seasons with the 49ers and 12 more on special teams. The 27-year-old San Francisco native was waived by the club on May 2.


Skov collected 355 tackles, 17 sacks and five forced fumbles during his college career with Stanford.


--Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison told reporters that he has no issue playing in what amounts to a relief role this season.


Harrison's comment came on the heels of outside linebackers coach Joey Porter telling the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Steelers Nation Radio this week that the team plans to use rookie T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree as primary pass rushers.


"I'll be fine, whatever they want me to do," Harrison said on Wednesday. "Whatever they want, I'm good."


--The holdout of Los Angeles Rams All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald moved into the third week, with reports that he could be so entrenched in this contract dispute into the regular season.


So, what originally seemed a mild distraction is moving in a more serious direction.


"Our approach is exactly the same, we're continuing to try and find a solution," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "He's a very important part of what we want to do. In the meantime, we've got a lot of great guys out here that are working hard and getting ready for this Oakland game, and just approaching every single day with the situations that we're throwing at them."


--Former New England Patriots nose tackle Lester Williams died on Wednesday at his home in Birmingham, Ala., the team announced.


The Patriots did not divulge the cause of death for Williams, who was 58.


Williams started for New England in Super Bowl XX and recorded 99 tackles, five sacks and three fumble recoveries during his four-year stint with the Patriots (1982-85).


--The Cleveland Browns are partnering with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission to submit a bid to host the NFL Draft in either 2019 or 2020.


The contingent delivered its application to league headquarters in New York last week. The 2019 draft would celebrate the league's 100th season, or its centennial in 2020. The league was formed in Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, on Aug. 20, 1920.


Kansas City officially also announced that they are interested in hosting an NFL Draft.

 

[CNOTES]

Friday’s six-pack


— Maybe they should play the national anthem at NFL games before teams take the field.


— Reds 13, Cubs 10— Jon Lester gave up nine runs in 1.2 IP, then left with a lat injury. Reds blew a 9-0 lead but rallied late for the win.


— Buccaneers 12, Jaguars 8— Looks like QB Blake Bortles is about to lose his starting job.


— Jaguars’ backup QB Chad Henne is the only NFL QB to be active for every game the last two seasons, who never threw a pass— he only took one snap and it was a kneel-down.


— Eagles 20, Bills 16— Recently-traded Philly DB Ronald Darby picked off his old teammate Tyrod Taylor, in his first game against his old team.


— Ravens 31, Dolphins 7– Jay Cutler was 3-6 for 24 yards in his Miami debut. Josh Woodrum was 8-10 for 110 yards for the Ravens- he played college ball at Liberty.


************************


Friday’s List of 13: Random stuff with weekend here…….


13) Joey Votto recently reached base 2+ times in 20 consecutive games, one short of Ted Williams’ all-time record of 21; an underrated record. Votto’s on-base %age this year is .448— muy bueno.


12) Then why doesn’t Votto bat leadoff, with a .448 OB%? Isn’t that what leadoff hitters are supposed to do, get on base? Cincinnati bats fleet-footed Billy Hamilton 1st, but his on-base % is a woeful .298.


As my late father liked to say, “You can’t steal first base.”


11) Reds 13, Cubs 10— Jon Lester gave up nine runs in 1.2 IP, then left with a lat injury. Reds blew a 9-0 lead but rallied late for the win.


10) Our thoughts/prayers go out to the people in Barcelona, after the terrorist activity Thursday; basketball teams from Arizona-Clemson-Oregon State-Tulane are all in Spain right now.


Everyone on all four teams is safe and sound. They’ll be glad to get home.


Oregon State’s team was having dinner in the hotel when the terrorist activity happened, right in front of that hotel.


9) Atlanta Falcons’ new domed stadium has Chick-fil-A in it, but Chick-fil-A never opens on Sunday for religious reasons and the Falcons have only one non-Sunday home game this season.


8) Angels had Thursday off, in between series with Nationals/Orioles, so Mike Trout was in Philly last night to see his beloved Eagles play Buffalo.


7) Colorado has yo-yo’d OF Raimel Tapia up and down from AAA a lot this year; he is obviously major-league ready, but the Rockies don’t have a full-time slot for him right now.


Since going back to Albuquerque the last time August 12, Tapia is 12-21 (.571) for the Isotopes. He will be a starter in the major leagues next year, whether in Denver or somewhere else.


6) On July 23, 2013, Nicky Delmonico was traded from Baltimore to the Brewers for Francisco Rodriguez, in a deadline deal; in February 2015 he was released by Brewers.


Now he is hitting .396 in his first 54 plate appearances with the White Sox— he homered twice in LA Wednesday. He is only 25; sometimes it takes a while to become an overnight sensation.


5) Mets had catcher Travis d’Arnaud playing 3B Wednesday night, for the first time in his career; Asdrubal Cabrera and D’Arnaud swapped between 2B and 3B 23 times.


4) Reds 13, Cubs 10— Jon Lester gave up nine runs in 1.2 IP, then left with a lat injury. Reds blew a 9-0 lead but rallied late for the win.


3) Last eight years, Minnesota Vikings are 8-0 vs spread in the game just before their bye; they’re 1-7 vs spread in the first game after their bye.


2) Colorado’s star 3B Nolan Arenado got hit on the hand by a batted ball yesterday and left the game; looked like the ball hit him in the same spot where he was hit by a pitch in Miami last weekend. Rockies need Arenado in the lineup and more importantly, in the field.


1) If you’re a fantasy football owner, what do you do with Ezekiel Elliott? Dallas has an early bye, so for fantasy purposes, Elliott’s 6-game suspension is really seven games, since he isn’t eligible to play until Week 8 against Washington. Most fantasy regular seasons are 13 games, right?

 

[CNOTES]

Vikings rookie Dalvin Cook starts as center of offense


The Minnesota Vikings didn't hide their offensive plans Thursday night: Feed rookie running back Dalvin Cook.


Cook touched the ball on the first three plays of the Vikings' 17-10 win over the Buffalo Bills, earning 17 yards. The rookie got eight touches in the first 13 plays, finishing with 43 yards from scrimmage in limited work.


"I thought it was good," Zimmer said of Cook's debut, via the team's official website. "He did some good things. I thought he ran behind his pads well for the first time out."


Cook exited early in the second quarter of his first NFL appearance after showing pile-pushing ability between the tackles and pass-catching acumen out of the backfield.


The early indications suggest we should see a heavy dose of Cook when the season opens, regardless of how healthy Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon are Week 1. There are still strides to make after Cook averaged just 2.6 yards per carry on five totes behind a struggling offensive line.


"I'm sure he feels like he could have done more," Zimmer said of Cook. "And he will in the future."


Cook flashing pass-catching skills makes him a three-down back, which the coaching staff was searching for to replace Adrian Peterson.


"It's something that I rely on in my game," Cook said. "Just being versatile, going out there catching balls.


"They split me out wide, released me out of the backfield ... whatever it is, I'll [do it to] help my team win games. That's what they brought me in for, I have to utilize my talent."


The key for Cook will be how he holds up in pass protection -- he appeared to whiff on a block of Jerry Hughes, who sacked Sam Bradford.


The Vikings will likely talk as though the starting running back spot remains up for grabs, but barring injury it would be a shock if anyone other than Cook carried the load in Minnesota to open the year.

 

[CNOTES]

Injuries: Thomas Rawls out Friday; Eddie Lacy starting


Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls is dealing with a minor ankle injury and will not play in Friday's preseason contest against the Minnesota Vikings, coach Pete Carroll announced Thursday.


As a result, Eddie Lacy will start at running back for the Seahawks this week, Carroll said.


Lacy saw limited time in the Seahawks' preseason opener, picking up 10 yards on four carries against the Los Angeles Chargers. He'll likely see a very modest increase in carries against the Vikings.


Here are some other injuries we've been tracking on Thursday:


1. Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly will need surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot and likely is heading to the injured reserve/designated to return list, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.


2. Tennessee Titans tight end Eric Decker (ankle) won't play against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, coach Mike Mularkey said.


3. San Francisco 49ers rookie linebacker Reuben Foster is dealing with a mild AC joint sprain and was limited in practice. Coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after practice, however, that he expects Foster to play Saturday against the Broncos.


Fellow linebacker NaVorro Bowman left practice Thursday with a mild AC joint sprain also, per Shanahan.


4. Los Angeles Chargers veteran left tackle Russell Okung reportedly has a left leg injury and didn't practice.


5. Denver Broncos coach Vance Joseph said he's not sure if wideouts Emmanuel Sanders (shoulder) or Cody Latimer (knee) will play Saturday against the 49ers.


6. Washington Redskins linebacker Junior Galette (hamstring) will not play Saturday against the Packers, while receiver Josh Doctson (hamstring) will likely be a game-time decision.


7. New York Jets wideout Quincy Enunwa is expected to get neck surgery next week, per the team. Safety Doug Middleton (pectoral) cleared waivers and was placed on injured reserve.


8. Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Danny Shelton (knee) was injured during practice on Wednesday and will not play in Monday's preseason game, the team announced. Shelton will be evaluated week-to-week.


9. The Detroit Lions announced today that they have placed linebacker Brandon Copeland (pectoral) on injured reserve.


10. Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon (left) and cornerback Charles Gaines (right eye) exited the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


11. Buccaneers tackle Demar Dotson is out for the remainder of the game after suffering a groin injury. Meanwhile, cornerback Josh Robinson has a hamstring injury and did not return.


12. Buffalo Bills tight end Jason Croom left the game after suffering an ankle injury. Wide receiver Rod Streater was carted off the field with a foot injury in the fourth quarter. Safety Trae Elston left the game with a hamstring injury.


13. Miami Dolphins cornerback Jordan Lucas left Thursday's loss to the Ravens with a groin injury.

 

[CNOTES]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


MIN at SEA 10:00 PM


MIN +4.0


U 40.0

 

[CNOTES]

Fant's injury cast shadow over Seahawks' win over Vikings
August 18, 2017

SEATTLE (AP) Russell Wilson looked just fine throwing for 206 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and the Seattle Seahawks suffered a significant injury loss to left tackle George Fant in their 20-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night.


Wilson picked apart a Vikings secondary that played without starting cornerback Trey Waynes and safety Andrew Sedenjo, completing 13 of 18 passes. He hit Kasen Williams on a 1-yard touchdown pass and found Mike Davis on a 22-yard catch-and-run TD late in the first half.


But the Seahawks may have lost Fant for an extended period to what appeared to be a significant right knee injury, throwing the offensive line into flux with two weeks remaining in the preseason.


Fant was injured midway through the second quarter when he was rolled into by teammate Justin Britt and immediately fell to the turf in pain. The team training staff attended to Fant on the field and placed an air splint around his lower right leg before he was taken away.


The team announced Fant had a knee injury and may have significantly changed Seattle's plans for the offensive line. Fant took over at left tackle midway through last season and spent the offseason reshaping his body to be stronger going into this season. Earlier this week offensive line coach Tom Cable said Seattle was set on the left side of the offensive line with Fant at tackle and Luke Joeckel at guard.


Fant's injury overshadowed what was an otherwise solid performance by the Seahawks. Williams continued to make a bid for a roster spot with an acrobatic 27-yard catch, followed by his 1-yard TD on Seattle's opening drive. He nearly had a second TD but couldn't haul in a deep pass from Wilson near the goal line in the second quarter.


Minnesota's Sam Bradford was 7 of 11 for 95 yards, leading three drives for the Vikings before calling it a night. Taylor Heinicke threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Bucky Hodges in the fourth quarter.


BENNETT SITS: Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett sat during the national anthem for the second straight game of the preseason.


Bennett was alone sitting on the Seahawks bench during the ''The Star-Spangled Banner.'' But teammates showed support for Bennett with center Justin Britt standing alongside with his hand on Bennett's shoulder. Defensive back Jeremy Lane also stood next to Bennett.


KICKER REVENGE: Walsh took great joy in having success against his former team that released him last season. Walsh made a pair of 52-yard field goals in the second half and made gestures toward the Minnesota sideline after each kick. Walsh pointed at the sideline after his first make and walked toward the bench and appeared to say something after the second.


Walsh nearly had three made kicks of beyond 50 yards but a 53-yard attempt in the first half hit the crossbar.


START COOKIN': Vikings' rookie Dalvin Cook ran well in the first half against most of Seattle's starting defense. With the Vikings bringing back Latavius Murray slowly from ankle surgery in March, Cook had seven carries for 40 yards in the first half, including a 15-yarder. Cook also had one reception for 10 yards.


KICKIN' IT: Both of Minnesota's kickers converted their opportunities in the first half. Marshall Koehn hit from 29 yards in the first quarter and Kai Forbath was good from 51 yards just before halftime. That was the only opportunities for either kicker as the Vikings had only two drives inside the Seattle 40.


CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES: Davis' touchdown was his first since signing with the Seahawks in the offseason and he had a unique celebration. Davis ran into the end zone then laid down using the ball as a pillow as his teammates joined him to celebrate. It was the most extensive of any of the touchdown celebrations.

 

[CNOTES]

Saturday’s six-pack


— Last five years, NFL underdogs coming off their bye week are 38-32 vs the spread.


— Last five years, NFL favorites of 7+ points coming off a bye are 9-8-2 vs spread.


— Drew Pomeranz left Friday night’s start with back spasms. Max Scherzer was scratched from his start at San Diego with another neck issue.


— Mets traded Curtis Granderson to the Dodgers after Friday’s loss.


— Angels’ rain delay in Baltimore last night was their first of the season.


— DL happenings:
Cardinals put Adam Wainwright (elbow) on the DL
Cubs put Jon Lester (shoulder) and Justin Grimm (finger) on the DL
Twins put OF Robbie Grossman (thumb) on the DL
Nationals put Max Scherzer (neck) on the DL


*************************************

Saturday’s List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind……..

13) Rashard Davis returned punts for the Eagles Thursday night; the free agent from James Madison was signed earlier this week.


Last Saturday, while the chaos in Charlottesville was going on, Davis was working as a waiter in a restaurant in Charlottesville near the park where the mayhem with the statue of Robert E Lee occurred. He was hiding from his boss in the restaurant as he took calls from his agent updating him on the Eagles’ deal.


One day you’re a waiter, the next day you’re playing ball on national TV. Pretty cool.


12) Something to think about when college football kicks off next weekend; only one of the last 19 national champs lost a non-conference game, Ohio State in 2014 (to Virginia Tech).


11) There were 345 replay reviews in the NFL last year, the fewest since 2009, and 70 less than in 2015.


10) 130 free agents changed teams in the NFL this offseason, also the fewest since 2009.


9) Bill Belichick’s coaching record: 263-125
Tom Brady won-loss record: 208-61
Belichick’s record without Brady: 55-64


8) Baltimore Ravens play in London in Week 3, but they don’t have the usual bye the next week- they host their rival, the Steelers. Ravens don’t have their bye until Week 10.


7) Penn State gave coach James Franklin a 6-year contract extension, worth $34.3M. Franklin is 25-15 at PSU, 14-11 in league games, 1-2 in bowl games; Nittany Lions were 11-3 last year.


6) Jacksonville kicker Jason Myers struggled in Thursday night’s loss to Tampa Bay, now they’re bringing in Dan Carpenter to compete with Myers. Maybe it is contagious; Jacksonville lost to the Buccaneers Thursday, who just fired their kicker last weekend.


5) Le’Veon Bell’s agent had an agreement with the Steelers on a contract back in mid-July, but Bell nixed the deal at the last minute. Not sure if that was a great move by him.


4) Arizona football coach Rich Rodriguez is being sued by his old agents for $230,250; he fired them a couple of years ago, but they say he didn’t pay them enough. Rodriguez agreed to pay them 10% of the money he made from CBS Sports Network, 4% of his money from Arizona.


Rodriguez is a good dude; I have no idea about this lawsuit, but when he left CBS to coach at Arizona, the crew at CBS left his chair empty for their first show without him, thats how much they thought of him.


3) During the Blue Jays-Cubs game Friday, the Cubs’ roving reporter interviewed hockey star Patrick Sharp, who was sitting in the stands. Sharp grew up rooting for the Jays, but he tried to be political saying which team he was rooting for.


2) Not the best week to be a statue, eh? Except for the home run sculpture in Miami, which Dade County says can’t be taken out of Marlins Park.


1) Some good news for Marlins’ fans; David Samson is out as team president. This is a guy who was president of a baseball team who went on Survivor during baseball season— he was the first person voted out on Survivor.


At one point, he was Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria’s stepson. Now the Marlins are rid of Loria and Samson, and they’re much better off.

 

[CNOTES]

Saturday's Best Bet
August 18, 2017


Saturday NFL Preseason Best Bet
L.A Rams vs. Oakland Raiders (10:00 p.m. ET)

The Rams and Raiders both had inauspicious starts to their 2017 season last week, but L.A at least was able to get a SU win, whereas the Raiders fell 20-10 in Arizona.


That was a tough spot to back the Raiders (although the majority of bettors did) as it was actually the second preseason game for the Cardinals and they gave their starters a bit more time because of it.


This week, Oakland and L.A should give their first-teamers about a full quarter of action (if not more), and given that Oakland has become the most popular Super Bowl futures bet out there – there odds have gone from about 20-1 to now 6-1 – NFL bettors should expect the Raiders to get plenty of love both this week and next in the preseason.


BetDSI.eu Odds: L.A Rams (+3) vs. Oakland (-3); Total set at 40


There are plenty of folks that have high expectations for the Oakland Raiders in 2017, but it's important to not project those thoughts too heavily on their preseason games. The preseason is all about getting some work in and staying healthy, and while the starters on Oakland should see some solid action in this game, that doesn't always equate to an easy SU or ATS victory.


Remember the Rams starters will be on the field for a similar amount of time, and with L.A being the organization that probably needs more work from top to bottom in terms of their roster depth, it could be the Rams who have more motivation to do well in a game like this.


So rather than attack the side in this contest, I'm looking at the total for my best bet here.


A total of 40 may seem a touch high for a 2nd preseason game between two teams that put up 13 and 10 points respectively in Week 1, but I would beg to differ.


Oddsmakers know that Weeks 2 and 3 of the preseason are the ones that more closely resemble actual regular season NFL lines (Week 3 especially), and more time on the field for the starters and 2nd string guys gives them ample opportunity to find a rhythm.


When a starting QB (one quarter) and a backup QB (two quarters) get the bulk of the playing time in a game like this, points will be scored, especially since they've all had another week of practice under their belts.


From Oakland's perspective, this will be the first time many of their starters see the field after they were held out in Week 1. With limited time left in preseason play (this week and next), those guys will look to squish in as much quality work as they can, and fans who are all over the Raiders futures bets this year will likely get a taste of what's to come.


QB Derek Carr has an abundance of weapons around him and while Carr may be one guy who sees the field the least out of the starters as he's coming off a broken leg, those weapons will still be there for backups E.J Manuel and Connor Cook to use against a Rams defense that's still a way's away from being considered one of the league's best, no matter if it's the starters or backups on the field.


From L.A's perspective, getting a 13-10 win last week was nice, but the coaching staff would still like to see what they've got in terms of offensive weapons from a depth point of view. L.A recently brought in WR Sammy Watkins via trade so he's likely to get a few snaps, and the growth process of QB Jared Goff is still in it's early stages.


Testing themselves and connecting on some big plays against a team like Oakland – who everyone expects to do big things this year – would be a great boost of confidence to this Rams organization entering the year. Whether it turns into another preseason win or not only really matters to bettors, but expect L.A to not be shy about taking some shots early on and seeing if they can go toe-to-toe with a talented team like the Raiders.


So while the majority of bettors, at least according to VegasInsider.com's betting percentage numbers, are flocking to this 'under' after both sides had lackluster Week 1 performances, I've got no problem going against the masses here and expecting to see some points.


Both sides will be looking to get their offensive game in check after tough Week 1's, and for a team that's got realistic championship hopes like Oakland, even tackling on defense may become somewhat “optional” because a key injury there would be just as bad for their long-term prospects in 2017.


Odds per - BetDSI.eu


Best Bet: Over 40 points

 

[CNOTES]

NFL notebook: Patriots rookie DE Rivers injures knee
August 18, 2017


New England Patriots defensive end Derek Rivers' rookie season may be over due to a knee injury.


The Patriots fear they have lost their top pick (third round, 83rd overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Youngstown State for the entire season, league sources told ESPN on Friday.


Rivers, 23, was injured on a kickoff coverage drill Wednesday in a joint practice in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., with the Houston Texans.


Before the Patriots traveled to Houston for a preseason game Saturday night, the team sent Rivers back to Boston for more tests. Those tests reinforced the team's initial fear of a season-ending knee injury, according to ESPN.


--The Jacksonville Jaguars' starting quarterback job is now open for competition after Blake Bortles' second consecutive mediocre preseason outing.


Head coach Doug Marrone told reporters after the Jaguars' 12-8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at EverBank Field on Thursday night that Bortles and Chad Henne will share first-team reps before making a decision for the Sept. 10 season opener against the Houston Texans.


"I'm looking for someone that's going to lead this offense," a frustrated Marrone said after the game. "I'm not happy with the performance today. I'm not going to sit here and B.S. anyone. Everyone saw it out there. Whatever you want to call it, I'm still trying to evaluate who the best person is at that position."


The 25-year-old Bortles, the third overall pick in 2014 and the Jaguars' starter since Week 4 of his rookie season, was ineffective in his four series in the first half against the Bucs, all of which ended in punts. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 65 yards and was sacked once. The Jaguars only crossed midfield one time while Bortles was in the game. He has completed 11 of 18 passes for 81 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in two preseason games.


--The Baltimore Ravens signed center Jeremy Zuttah to a two-year deal after he was released by the San Francisco 49ers.


Zuttah's deal is worth nearly $4 million in base salary, with a maximum of $6 million in incentives, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.


Zuttah started three years in Baltimore (2014-16) before being traded to San Francisco in March. The Ravens originally acquired Zuttah in March 2014 from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a fifth-round pick.


To make room, the Ravens waived/injured wide receiver Kenny Bell, who injured a hamstring earlier this month. Bell, a fifth-round draft choice of Tampa Bay in 2015, spent his first season on the injured reserve list and then was released by the Buccaneers just before the 2016 season.


--The Arizona Cardinals signed linebacker Ryan Langford and waived wide receiver Marquis Bundy.


The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Langford was with the Houston Texans during training camp and the preseason in 2016 after signing as an undrafted rookie free agent out of New Mexico.


Langford, 24, played his final two collegiate seasons at New Mexico (2014-15) after beginning his career at Iowa Western. He played in 13 games as a senior at New Mexico in 2015, recording 53 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three passes defensed and an interception.


Bundy signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent last year and spent most of the season on the practice squad. He was on the active roster for six games but did not play. In two preseason games this year, Bundy made five catches for 73 yards.


--The Indianapolis Colts signed free agent guard Terran Vaughn and waived/injured outside linebacker Deiontrez Mount.


If Mount clears waivers, he will revert to the Colts' injured reserve list. He suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions.


The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Vaughn spent time on the Buffalo Bills' practice squad in 2016. He previously participated in the Oakland Raiders' 2016 offseason program and training after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Stephen F. Austin.


The 6-5, 253-pound Mount spent time on the Colts' active roster and practice squad last season. He played in five career games, recording one interception and one pass defensed with the Colts (2016) and Tennessee Titans (2015).


--The Washington Redskins waived wide receiver Kendal Thompson from injured reserve with an injury settlement, the team announced.


Thompson has been unable to practice due to a leg injury.


Thompson signed with the Redskins as an undrafted free agent out of Utah in May 2016. He was waived prior to the start of last season and was signed to the team's practice squad.


Washington brought him back on a future/reserve contract in January.

 

[CNOTES]

Jacksonville Outlook
August 18, 2017


Maybe You Should Bet On The Jacksonville Jaguars


Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone has put the Jaguars quarterback position up for grabs. That’s right, folks. The Blake Bortles might actually be coming to an end. “It’s right up there for grabs, and either person can take it,” Marone said after their preseason disaster against Tampa Bay.


The other person in this conversation is Chad Henne, the former Michigan standout, all-round great guy and solid backup quarterback option. Henne was a second-round pick back in 2008 and has started in three seasons as the main man under center. But everyone who knows anything about Henne will tell you that he’s a stop-gap to your next quarterback.


Though not a terrible option, the fact that Henne is pushing to regain the starting role he lost to Blake Bortles in 2014 is very telling and this is a huge year for Jacksonville overall. They are laughably distant in an otherwise tight AFC South, with +600 odds to win the division in the NFL futures market at BetOnline.ag.


One of the reasons that the mark on the Jaguars isn’t astronomical is that they’re actually pretty good outside of the quarterback position. Allen Robinson is a Pro-Bowl talent, Leonard Fournette is behind one of the better offensive lines in the league and the defence has some solid parts to it. The time to fix the quarterback has arrived with Tom Coughlin leading the charge as the team’s vice-president.


Before we announce Bortles as dead on arrival, let’s look at some positives. Bortles did champion a solid 2015 campaign where he threw for 4,428 yards and 35 touchdowns against 18 interceptions. He notched an 88.2 rating as a quarterback as well, which is all pretty good. Plus he’s pretty much played in every single game over the last three years since being selected third overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. So that’s good! He didn’t get hurt too much!


Unfortunately, it’s hard to think about Bortles without canvassing his 2016 season where he took several, horrifying steps backwards in terms of development. The yards went down, touchdowns decreased and the interceptions basically stayed the same with a 3,905 / 23 / 16 slash line that had Jaguars fans wanting.


Blake Bortles isn’t going to be cracking the long list of MPV candidates at BetOnline.ag anytime soon with numbers like that, especially when you realize that his 78.8 rating was the third-worst of any full time starter.


This is probably the time when Colin Kaepernick’s name comes up yet again and that’s an always-interesting angle, because if you look at the Jaguars, they’re a lot better than you might think. BetOnline.ag has given them a Regular Season Win Totally of 7.0 wins, with the UNDER favored at -130 against an OVER of +110.


Grading the NFL futures is all about value, and if Bortles responds to the pressure by reincarnating his 2015 self, or Kaepernick arrives in northern Florida, then there’s a chance that the Jaguars will have some tertiary worth to the smart bettor.


It’s a developing story that needs a bit of consideration on your part because the Jaguars can be a great spoiler bet in the regular season as well given the parts that they have surrounding the big question mark at quarterback.

 

[CNOTES]

Saturday, August 19, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home
3:00 PM Carolina Panthers Tennessee Titans
7:00 PM Kansas City Chiefs Cincinnati Bengals
7:00 PM Indianapolis Colts Dallas Cowboys
7:30 PM New York Jets Detroit Lions
7:30 PM Green Bay Packers Washington Redskins
8:00 PM New England Patriots Houston Texans
10:00 PM Chicago Bears Arizona Cardinals
10:00 PM Denver Broncos San Francisco 49ers
10:00 PM Los Angeles Rams Oakland Raiders

Sunday, August 20, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home
4:00 PM Atlanta Falcons Pittsburgh Steelers
8:00 PM New Orleans Saints Los Angeles Chargers

Monday, August 21, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home
8:00 PM New York Giants Cleveland Browns


*************************


PRESEASON RECORD:


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD


08/18/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -50
08/17/2017 2-3-1 40.00% -650
08/13/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +950
08/12/2017 2-4-0 33.33% -1200
08/11/2017 1-5-0 16.67% -2250
08/10/2017 6-8-0 42.86% -1400
08/09/2017 0-2-0 0.00% -1100
08/03/2017 0-1-1 0.00% -550

 

[CNOTES]

Seahawks LT Fant needs ACL surgery
August 19, 2017


Seattle Seahawks starting left tackle George Fant, who was carted off the field during Friday night's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, needs surgery after tearing his ACL.


Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed after the game that Fant likely will miss the 2017 season because of the right knee injury suffered in the second quarter.


"Really broken-hearted about George Fant getting hurt," Carroll said after Seattle's 20-13 win. "Just unfortunate. He's done so much, come so far and everybody's cheering for him and rooting for him all along. He's going to be in trouble getting back this season. He's got a knee injury that's going to require surgery, unfortunately. Kinda takes a little something out of it for everybody."


Fant, 25, went down at the end of a passing play when center Justin Britt fell and rolled into the back of Fant's leg. He was carted off the field with an air cast on his right leg.


A former college basketball player out of Western Kentucky, the 6-foot-5, 322-pound Fant signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent last year and played in 14 games with 10 starts at left tackle.


Fant worked hard during the offseason, putting on about 25 pounds heading into his second NFL year.


"We talked about the great year that he had this offseason and that it's going to take that same kind of application of his fight and his competitiveness and his spirit to work his way back through this," Carroll told reporters Friday night. "And in that he felt very confident that he would do exactly that. He's going to take the same approach that he took to this offseason and he's going to get back, and when he gets back he's going to be a really good football player."


Fant was injured on a play when quarterback Russell Wilson completed a 9-yard slant pass to tight end Marcus Lucas.


"I talked to George in the training room about him just being upbeat and continuing to learn everything he can learn even though he is going to be out for a bit here," Wilson said. "We don't know exactly what is going on but he wants to continue to learn the game and that is key.

 

[CNOTES]

Friday's Sports In Brief
August 19, 2017

BASEBALL


BOSTON (AP) Nineteen batters. Six pitchers. One hour, 5 minutes. Eight runs. Two lead changes.


And when the seventh inning was over, the Boston Red Sox were back in front and on their way to a 9-6 victory over New York and a five-game lead over the rival Yankees in the AL East.


Addison Reed and fellow Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly retired presumptive AL rookie of the year Aaron Judge with the bases loaded in back-to-back innings, and pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland delivered a two-run single to rally Boston to its 13th victory in 15 games.


The Yankees snapped a four-game winning streak, blowing a 6-3 lead after rallying from a 3-0 deficit.


NEW YORK (AP) - The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired outfielder Curtis Granderson and cash from the New York Mets for a player to be named later or cash.


The teams announced the deal after their games. The 36-year-old Granderson is hitting .228 with 19 home runs and 52 RBIs this year.


Los Angeles is running away with the NL West. The Dodgers are 86-34 after beating Detroit. Granderson gives Los Angeles another option for the outfield along with Cody Bellinger, Yasiel Puig, Chris Taylor and Joc Pederson.


This is Granderson's fourth team as he started with Tigers then went to Yankees. He signed a $60 million, four-year contract with the Mets before the 2014 season. He hit 95 home runs - including a grand slam in his final at-bat - for the Mets in 573 games and was part of the team that won the National League pennant in 2015.


BALTIMORE (AP) - Manny Machado capped a three-homer night with a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles rallied past the Los Angeles Angels 9-7 in a game that featured 10 home runs.


Machado hit his seventh career slam off Keynan Middleton (4-1), who entered with two on and one out in the ninth. After Tim Beckham singled to load the bases, Machado hit a drive far over the center-field wall to give the Orioles their first lead.


Machado also hit a two-run homer in the third and a solo shot in the fifth to finish with seven RBIs.


NFL

SEATTLE (AP) - Russell Wilson looked just fine throwing for 206 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and the Seattle Seahawks suffered a significant injury to left tackle George Fant in their 20-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.


Wilson picked apart a Vikings secondary that played without starting cornerback Trey Waynes and safety Andrew Sedenjo, completing 13 of 18 passes. He hit Kasen Williams on a 1-yard touchdown pass and found Mike Davis on a 22-yard catch-and-run TD late in the first half.


But the Seahawks have lost Fant likely for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, throwing the offensive line into flux with two weeks remaining in the preseason.


SEATTLE (AP) - Michael Bennett was alone in sitting. He wasn't alone in support from his teammates.


Bennett sat on the Seahawks' bench before their preseason game against Minnesota, the second straight week he remained seated while the ''Star-Spangled Banner'' was played.


Bennett was the only Seattle player on the bench, but he was joined by two teammates standing with him. Center Justin Britt stood alongside with his hand on Bennett's shoulder. Defensive back Jeremy Lane also stood next to Bennett. Lane sat for the national anthem during one preseason game last year.

AUTO RACING


BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) - Kyle Busch continued his domination at Bristol Motor Speedway with a victory in the Xfinity Series race.


The win was the 19th national series victory at Bristol for Busch, who also won the Truck Series race Wednesday night. And just like that win, Busch had to overcome a speeding penalty on pit road to get to victory lane.


Busch won the first stage of the race and was then popped for speeding. He drove from 29th in line to the lead in 58 laps after the penalty, and won the second stage. Busch then drove away to an easy 91st career win in the Xfinity Series, and he's said he will stop racing in the series once he hits 100 victories.


WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The favored Americans found themselves trailing Europe after a sluggish start to the Solheim Cup.


The U.S. then settled down and pulled away with a record-setting fourball performance.


The United States swept the afternoon fourball matches to take a 5 1/2-2 1/2 lead at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.


Lizette Salas and U.S. newcomer Danielle Kang each won two matches, teaming to beat Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Masson 1 up for the Americans' lone full point in the morning foursomes, then leading the U.S. to its first ever fourball sweep in the afternoon.


GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - Ryan Armour shot a career-best 9-under 61 for a share of the lead with Webb Simpson after two rounds at the Wyndham Championship.


Armour and Simpson were at 13-under 127 halfway through the PGA Tour's final event of the regular season. Simpson shot a 64.


Henrik Stenson was a stroke behind them after a 66. Ollie Schniederjans and Vaughn Taylor and were 11. Schniederjans shot 63, Taylor had a 66.


First-round leader Matt Every followed his 61 with a 72 to slip six strokes off the lead.

TENNIS


MASON, Ohio (AP) - Defending champion Karolina Pliskova pulled off a doubleheader sweep at the Western & Southern Open, reaching the semifinals by winning a pair of matches with little rest in-between. Rafael Nadal got only halfway there.


Pliskova completed a match that was suspended overnight because of rain, beating qualifier Camila Giorgi in three sets. After a quick turnaround, she needed only 1 hour, 7 minutes to beat a rested Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-4 for a sweep into the semis.


Nadal spent 1:37 on court in the afternoon while beating fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas in a match carried over from the previous night. Five hours later, he was back on court against Nick Kyrgios, who had won a three-set match earlier in the day.


Nadal was sloppy at the outset and on the defensive for much of a 6-2, 7-5 loss that lasted 1:20.


Despite the loss, Nadal will move back to No. 1 in the ATP rankings next week for the first time since