Must see
Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, who is battling leukemia, left the hospital for the day on Sunday. He gave an inspiring post-game speech to his team following their win over the Dolphins.
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Reds
Ryan Madson wants to close again
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Bengals
The Bengals today signed rookie LB J.K. Schaffer to the practice squad. Schaffer (6-0, 232) is from the University of Cincinnati and is a Queen City native, having played in high school at La Salle. He entered the NFL on May 4 of this year as a college free agent with Jacksonville. He played in all four Jaguars preseason games and led the team in tackles (18), with one INT and two total passes defensed. He was waived by the Jaguars on Aug. 31. He spent time on the Tampa Bay practice squad in September. He was a two-time All-Big East selection in four seasons at the University of Cincinnati.
Hoard: Bengals aren't looking to be praised for effort
Broncos on Dalton: "He has a lower release," Bannan said of Dalton. "I didn't have to jump to get that ball. Shoot, I'll take it. He was locked on him. My initial move didn't work, so I just studied his eyes and he was locked on his target, and luckily I timed it up right."
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Bengals Line
Join us for food, fun, football, autographs and prizes tonight from 6-9pm.
Special guests: Dre Kirkpatrick and Andrew Whitworth.
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Bengals
I took Casey to his first Bengals game since the 2009 opener vs Broncos.
For all the Sports Talk conversation about fan behavior, I did not notice/experience any issues yesterday. In fact, it was probably one of the best behaved crowds I can remember in a while...and certainly of this season. Casey's observations: He was amazed by all the Broncos and Colts (Manning) fans. He liked the Red Zone highlights show on the video board. He wondered why the Bengals don't show the CBS NFL Today pregame show on the video board prior to the game. He thought would be a way to entertain fans waiting for the game to start. Overhead in our section, as a guy turned to his girlfriend: "Hey, where is Cedric Benson?". She proceeded to explain the Benson and BenJarvus Green-Ellis transactions.
The game winning TD pass from Peyton Manning to Joel Dreessen.
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Opening observations
Overall:
*I was struck my something Alan Cutler said on the postgame show. He indicated the overall theme coming out of the lockerroom was that the 'Bengals had played hard and were not throwing in the towel on the season'. Really? Is that the new standard? Do or do not, there is no try. Playing hard and not giving up it to be expected and demanded.
*One year ago tomorrow the Bengals rallied from 17-7 halftime deficit to win at Tennessee. They stood 6-2, tied for 1st in AFC North. Bengals are 6-11 since then.
*8-12 in last 20 games at PBS.
*8 penalties for 63 yards.
*Could not stop 3rd downs (9-14 64%), could not convert (5-14 36%).
*Did score 10 points in 3rd QT. Had just 13 going into game.
*Killer sequences
3rd and 3-Decker goes 30yds after Newman and Maualuga collided and Crocker could not help. Then Adam Jones flagged for pass interference, TD Dreessen as Burfict and Maualuga looked at each other. 24-20.
After Broncos took lead: Whit hold, false start, Faine hold, Dalton INT. Broncos TD 31-20.
Offense:
*Liked the unscripted plays and shots down the field.
*Answered the KR TD with a TD drive.
*Gresham shook off pass off his face mask to have big game: 6 for 108. 1st career 100+ day, loved the 52-yard run.
*AJ 7-99, TD in 7 straight games, topped career high at midway point.
*Rough days for Whit and Smith. No help for them? OL allowed 5 sacks. Smith put on heels too much.
*Dalton was ok. Best passes: Beauty of a deep ball to Green. Hit Sanu in stride up seam, rolled left and hit Gresh on big gain, back shoulder to AJ for TD, down middle to AJ (penalty). Could have had 2-3 picks in first half on poor passes. How many passes has he had batted down? INT 8 straight games. Really good as his fist pump yesterday (kidding). Got hit on release of INT.
*I like watching Hawkins block. Rest of WR's poor blocking.
*Andy just 1 of 6 to Tate.
*Horrific drive after Tate KR: Gresh drop, Binns hold, sack, Sanu lost 5, 4th and a gazillion.
Defense:
Pressure? anyone? DL on a milk carton. No sacks. I think Clements got the one hit on Manning.
No shock here: Bengals 32nd in NFL, allowing 80% completion on 70 short passes to middle. Per NFL GSIS.
*Burfict wasn't all that.
*Run D very good.
Newman 2 picks. Newman beat for TD and slipped on 1st TD. 1st INT by corners this year.
Special Teams:
105 yard KR TD. Yikes
Nugent: Kicked down middle on TD. Missed 46 before half. Made 49,41. Bailed out Dre on offsides with a touchback.
*Tate averaged 35+ on KR.
Summary: Smile, be happy. Here is SI swimsuit model Nina Agal
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What they are saying about the Bengals
ESPN: What it means: The Bengals' playoff hopes are nearly dashed after they lost their fourth straight game. Cincinnati drops to 3-5 and three games back of the AFC North-leading Ravens. The Bengals are now 0-8 against Peyton Manning.
CBS Grades: C Bengals. The Bengals used their two picks of Peyton to generate 10 points and briefly took a lead. But once again, the defense couldn't hold up and coughed up a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to Manning. Sandwiched between those was a brutal Andy Dalton pick that really buried
Denver Post: For all the reasons the Broncos managed to defeat Cincinnati, 31-23 in an entertaining AFC football game here Sunday, let's focus on the singular factor of quarterback composure.The Broncos' Peyton Manning maintained his despite embarrassing adversity. The Bengals' Andy Dalton went bananas over a seemingly less severe unfortunate event.
DenverBroncos.com: Locker Room Celebration
Gamebook: Bengals-Broncos
Peter King, SI: Defensive Players of the Week Terence Newman, CB, Cincinnati. He hit the lottery against Peyton Manning Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Imagine intercepting Peyton Manning on consecutive throws, in the process turning what appeared to be a Denver rout into a close game late. "Terence is an old savvy veteran,'' Manning said on CBS afterward. But, as Manning noted, wide receiver Eric "Decker and I kind of got him back on that last one,'' connecting on a touchdown pass with Newman in coverage. But Newman's two picks got the Bengals back in a game they weren't going to be in without him.
Associated Press: Denver has outscored its opponents 103-23 in the final quarter, the biggest point differential in the league.There's no panic," receiver Brandon Stokley said. "That's what this team is all about."
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com: With their AFC record at 2-5 and losses to four teams that stand in front of them, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis couldn't say much after Sunday's 31-23 loss to the Broncos at sold-out Paul Brown Stadium all but deep-sixed the Bengals playoff hopes. They've lost more tiebreakers than the Electoral College in the last month.
Joe Reedy, Cincinnati.com: Games under .500 for Marvin Lewis (72-81-1) as head coach, which ties the low-water mark. He was also nine games under .500 following a Week 3 loss to San Francisco last season.
Reds/MLB
Josh Hamilton asking price: 7 years, $175 million
(MLB Network graphic)
How about Billy Hamilton?
Wow. The Reds OF prospect was one of the stars of the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game Saturday night. He walked on seven pitches in his first at-bat. He promptly stole second base. He then stole third base on the cather's throw back to the pitcher. Later he added a beautiful drag bunt along the first-base line. The throw from the firstbaseman sailed down the right-field line and Hamilton wound up on third. He is still a work in progress in center field but made a spectacular catch on the warning track.
MLB.com has more: "I'm always energized," Hamilton said. "I never get tired. When I feel tired, I tell myself to get up. Teams want an everyday player and an everyday player can't be tired. My game is my game. I show no fear on the bases. It's what I do. Hopefully, I can make [the Reds'] decision difficult, or easy."
Hamilton earns MILY honors
Need could accelerate Hamilton's arrival
MLB.com
"I think he has a chance to be an exciting leadoff hitter and to steal a tremendous amount of bases," Jocketty said. "He'll get on base enough to create havoc. It's just a matter of time. All he needs is experience."
(MLB Network graphic)
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College football Saturday
City BBQ has become our gameday staple as season-ticket holders for UC football.
Saturday's game had to be one of the longest in the history of organized football.
(That comment is now under review). The first quarter last 1 hour and 10 minutes.
I believe the game lasted four hours. Honestly, one of the bigger downsides to being at a football is sitting through the TV timeouts. It is much easier to sit at home and flip the remote from one game to the next during commercials. At one point I swear the Nippert PA announcer read seven straight commercials. Brutal. How long was the game? We bailed when it started pouring in the 3rd quarter. We stopped at Willie's in Covington for wings and to watch the end of the game. We had our wings and were headed home and the game still wasn't over. I have no idea if Brendon Kay is the answer at QB. I do know this, Munchie is clearly not. He has no touch or feel for throwing the ball. He's the baseball equivalent of a thrower who is not a pitcher. There should be no QB controversy this week. George Winn was a horse. What a game. Loved the Tim Tebow like jump pass for TD. UC's secondary is a mess, but that defense stepped up big time in the second half. I don't know that I've seen a coach argue/complain/rant and rave as much as Syracuse coach Doug Marrone did Saturday. I have no idea how he never got flagged.
Statement From Kentucky Coach Joker Phillips
From UK:
We, as coaches, are measured on results. We didn’t get the results we had worked and hoped for, therefore change is needed. In my current 10-year stay at Kentucky, we’ve had some memorable moments as an assistant, coordinator and head coach. We’ve had the opportunity to coach some fine young men and I am grateful to have had the privilege of watching them grow as players, as students and as people.
I am very appreciative of Mitch Barnhart and Rich Brooks for providing the opportunity to have been the head coach here. Mitch is the best athletic director I’ve ever been associated with. He’s fair and honest and he’s “all in” in terms of student-athletes’ well-being. Rich is the best mentor a young coach could ever have. I learned a lot from him in terms of plowing ahead. They are dear friends. Dr. Lee Todd and Dr. Eli Capilouto have both been very supportive. I appreciate the Big Blue Nation and encourage the fans to stay behind their team going forward.
I love our players and am proud to be associated with them. I expect them to continue the behavior we have asked of them academically, socially and with football. I’m thankful for the staff’s hard work, dedication, and what they have done in coaching and mentoring the players. I’d like to thank my wife and family for all their support and for being behind me 100 percent.
Kentucky not considering Bobby Petrino. What about Butch Jones and Frank Solich?
Notre Dame
How about BK and the Irish? 3 OT? What a game. I had memories of the '93 Boston College game flashing through my head, a potential loss at home as a double digit favorite. If you are going to win a national title, you are going to get a game like Saturday night. The Linebacker Inn had to be rocking in South Bend Saturday night.
LSU-Alabama
I'm still not sure how Bama won that game. We got home from soccer to see the end of it. I had been following on Twitter. LSU was squeezing the life out of Bama's defense late. QB Zach Mettenberger was converting 3rd down after 3rd down. LSU put up over 400 yards vs the best defense in the country. But LSU missed the field goal. What a drive by AJ McCarron. What an atmosphere at Tiger Stadium. Cool scene at the end with McCarron hugging his parents. PS...gotta love Vern Lundquist on college football. He paused at then of the game and said....."wow". Les Miles is too smart/yet goofy for his own good.
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My soccer Saturday
Nothing like Indoor Soccer Saturday Night. Peyton had a game in Wilder. Start time was 9:30. (West Coast TV coverage?). I need my pacemaker re-calibrated for indoor soccer. It is a like a game in a pinball machine. They tied 6-6. Bud Selig must be the commissioner.
Saturday morning soccer
I started my Saturday watching Premier League Soccer with Peyton: Manchester United vs Arsenal. Never saw that coming 10 years ago. I still don't fully understand the landscape of Premier League soccer, but I do find it fascinating. I don't know what team to root for. I'm told ManU vs Arsenal is Yankees vs Red Sox. Observations: I like Robin van Persie. I assume he's pretty good? And I think Wayne Rooney is a dead ringer for former NBA point guard/coach Scott Skiles.
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Congrats
Big props to the Spartans, NKYFL Pee Wee champions!
How about this ending?
Here is a fantastic finish to a great youth football game: The Sportsmanship First Football League in Cincinnati. This is the Super Bowl for the 4th Grade teams featuring the Lakota Stallions Grey Team against the Mason Saints. The score is tied 0 - 0 with :05 seconds left on the clock. The Stallions have the ball 2nd and 10 on their 45 yard line. Trey Wilson lofts a pass to Campbell Spradling that is hauled in and taken 55 yards for the winning score. This makes two Super Bowl wins in three seasons for the Stallions. What a game! What a finish! Nice job!
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