One of the most enduring and important figures in soccer and sports, Pele has passed away. He was 82.
Pele was the only player to win three World Cups doing so for his native Brazil. In turn he put an entire sport on the map, making it popular around the World.
Pele also played three years in New Jersey for the New York Comos in the mid-1970s; his final game drew more than 77,000 at Giants Stadium.
Check out my Fox Sports New Jersey story for more reaction on social media.
A very much out of left-field story dropped earlier this week that NFL insider Jason LaConfora that Jets owner Woody Johnson could make a change to the Jets coaching staff, with a screaming headline on NJ.com stating that Johnson "isn't sold on" head coach Robert Saleh.
Whether that is true or not is anyone's guess. The only people who truly know are Saleh, Johnson and Joe Douglas. That's it.
We do take this report with a grain of salt, considering LaConfora, formally of CBS, now with the Washington Post, has a reputation of being wrong on potential "Insider" news. That doesn't mean his report isn't valid, it very well could be.
If the Jets should miss the playoffs, would it be surprising if Johnson made such a dramatic move as changing the head coach? Yes, it would be startling and disapointing. Even if the Jets miss the playoffs, Saleh and General Manager Joe Douglas have changed the culture with the Jets. Players love playing for Saleh, and he has comported himself as a true professional.
The Jets are a better team and franchise today thanks to Saleh and his coaching staff than they were two years ago under Adam Gase. That is not hyperbole, that is a fact.
Yes, the Jets have issues; mainly at quarterback. Zach Wilson is clearly not the answer, and should be dealt this spring or after June 1 when the dead money hit isn't as great.
Mike White will start the rest of the season, and should he play well, White deserves the opportunity to compete for the starting job next season -- should the Jets re-sign him.
If Johnson is smart, Saleh and Joe Douglas should remain at their jobs, and be given the necessary leeway to continue building their program as they see fit. Saleh comes from winning programs in Seattle and San Francisco. Both the Seahawks and 49ers have given Pete Carroll and Kyle Shanahan, respectively, the support needed to build winning programs. Both have succeeded to this day.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and the Jets shouldn't hit the panic button just for the sake of hitting it.
As I wrote for Fox Sports New Jersey
VIKINGS 27 - GIANTS 24
It was another epic for two teams accustomed to playing close games. For the Giants, and certainly Giants' fans, they had to be well aware of what was going around them.
While Big Blue held a 13-10 lead midway through the third quarter, the Lions and Seahawks were on their way to getting rolled by the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively, meaning if Big Blue could hold on the Giants would clinch a playoff berth.
But it wasn't to be.
Just when you thought the Mets were going to walk away with Carlos Correa, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal dropped a bombshell on Christmas Eve that the Amazin's have concerns about the third baseman's physical.
Somewhere in San Francisco, the Giants and Giants fans are collectively saying: "No kidding?"
According to Rosenthal: "The New York Mets, like the San Francisco Giants earlier in the week, have raised concerns about Carlos Correa’s surgically repaired lower right leg, potentially jeopardizing their 12-year, $315 million agreement with the star shortstop, according to people briefed on the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly."
If you are subscribed to the Athletic you can read it here!
Andy Martino of SNY says the neither the Mets nor super agent Scott Boras are responding to comment.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post said the sides are trying to work it out.
It was just a few days ago that the Giants back out of a 13-year $350 million commitment to Correa because of his medical issues.
There is no Christmas gift that the New York Giants would like to deliever to their fans than the clubs first playoff berth in over six years.
All that stands in the way is the 11-3 Minnesota Vikings.
The Giants could clinch a playoff berth today if one of the three following scenarios play out:
1) Giants win + Washington losses to San Francisco and Detroit losses to Carolina.
OR
2) Giants win + Washington losses to San Francisco and Seattle losses to Kansas City.
OR
3) Giants win + Seattle and Detroit both lose.
In other words, it’s very, very possible.
Will it happen?
It's going to be tough. The Giants are facing a Vikings team that is very good at home, and very, very good at coming back. Just look at the Vikes historic comeback vs. Indianapolis last week when it erased a 33-0 deficit and won 39-36 in overtime.
The Giants defense, which is still battered in the secondary will face a still test against Justin Jefferson and crew.
PREDICTION: Vikings 30 - GIANTS 27
The Jets 19-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was a total disaster in more ways than one. More importantly it likely spelled the end of the Zach Wilson era in New York.
There is no way the Jets can keep trotting out Wilson who continues to show that he is incapable of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. He struggles to read defenses, never stands in the pocket. When he does, he shrivels under the pressure.
The fans let Wilson have it all night long, showering a rain soaked MetLife Stadium with boos. It got to the point that, according to Jets 24/7 on YouTube that GM Joe Douglas nearly got into a heated exchange with a fan after game.
Things are getting worse for Gang Green, and it won't get better until the admit that Zach Wilson isn't the guy.
Watch my discussion on the subject here!
As I reported on Fox Sports New Jersey, Devils owner Josh Harris is looking at a potential bid on the Washington Commanders franchise.
Owner Dan Snyder is in hot water over allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace that goes back decades.
Harris is no stranger to throwing his hat in the ring on teams. He tried to pursue the Mets before the Wilpon's sold the team to Steve Cohen.
He was also in the running for the Denver Broncos before it sold for $4.655 billion -- a record -- to Walton-Penner.
Harris does owner five percent of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Were he to win the bid for Washington, one would imagine he would have to sell that five percents stake.
Things are looking up for the Knicks and Nets right now.
The Knicks took care of the Indiana Pacers 109-106 thanks to six free-throws shot by Julius Randle in the final minute. Randle finished the night with a double-double, 25 points and 14 rebounds. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 30 points.
New York has now won seven straight games, and find themselves at a season best four-games over .500 at 17-13.
Meanwhile the Brooklyn Nets won their sixth straight with a 124-121 thriller over the Detroit Pistons.
Kevin Durant was a monster on Sunday night. He led the way with 43 points, 26 of those points came in the third quarter. In fact his final shot of the third quarter gave Brooklyn the lead for the first time in the second half.
LIONS 20 - JETS 17
It was more than just the quarterback that was the problem for the
New York Jets on Sunday.
It was a culmination of so many issues: bad coaching; poor clock management; big mistakes by the quarterback, poor tackling by the Jets defense in big spots, and ultimately a missed field goal. All of that combined to lead Gang Green to a 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions, putting its playoff hopes severely in doubt.
In the fourth quarter it appeared that the Lions had given the Jets an early Christmas gift when they missed a 54-yard field goal, giving Gang Green great field position near mid-field. The Jets turned the gaff into points.
Zach Wilson, who produced a mixed bag overall on Sunday, put up a wobblier that hung up in the air long enough for Garrett Wilson to jump up and catch it at the Detroit 21.
A few plays later, Wilson tried to dive into the end zone for the score, but replay ruled the Jets quarterback down inside the one-yard line. Wilson finally hit C.J. Uzomah for their second touchdown connection on the day to put New York up 17-13.
Then the Jets defense totally failed Gang Green. Facing a critical fourth and inches, the Lions decided to throw the football and it worked out to perfection. Jared Goff hit Brock Wright in the open flat, and the back-up tight end turned it up field and went untouched for a 51-yard score to put Detroit up 20-17.
The cacophony of errors were only just beginning for the Jets. New York had 1:49 to either get in position to tie the game with a field goal or win it with a touchdown. Instead Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh didn’t use a timeout until there were 19 seconds in the game when Zach Wilson was sacked for the second time on the drive.
For his part, Wilson was no better. He took a sack on the first play of the drive, then missed Braxton Berrios wide to force a huge third and 19. Later he overshot Elijah Moore by 20 feet on a third and 18.
Finally on fourth and 18, Wilson ran around the pocket looking for an open man, wasting valuable time before heaving a desperation throw to Moore who caught the ball at the Lions 40. Luckily for the Jets, Saleh called timeout with one second left.
Greg Zuerlien promptly missed a 58-yard field goal, ending a disastrous effort by Gang Green.
As for Wilson, his day was a mixed bag. There were some great plays like his 40-yard touchdown pass to Uzomah in the second quarter, and there were plenty of overthrows and missed opportunities. There was even a moment when receiver Garrett Wilson threw his hands up in frustration at this quarterback.
Will Wilson start Thursday against Jacksonville? Chances are he will. Mike White is going to get another evaluation on Monday, but it's a short turnaround til Thursday. Expect to see Wilson under center in the Jets home finale.
As I wrote on Fox Sports New Jersey, and later discussed on the SportsTalk Nation, Zach Wilson will get the start vs. Detroit on Sunday.
This is a critical game for both teams as the Jets (7-6) and Lions (6-7) enter this one with both teams needing a win to stay alive in their respective playoff races.
The last time Wilson saw the field, the Jets offense put up only three-points in a 10-3 loss to New England. Wilson completed only seven passes that day, and when pressed later if he felt he let the defense down with his performance, he uttered a one-word “no” in response.
White has started the past three games. While the Jets were 1-2 in those games, White lit a fire into the offense. They scored 31 points against Chicago, and lost one-score games to Minnesota and Buffalo. White had the Jets at the doorstep of an upset win over Minnesota, but Braxton Berrios dropped the game winning touchdown pass.
White was injured last week against Buffalo when he took multiple hits to the ribs, and left the game twice. He came back each time, and finished the game. On Monday Saleh and White said the quarterback was feeling fine, and the assumption was he would prepare to start.
On Wednesday, Wilson was announced as the back-up quarterback to White. Now Wilson will start. It will be amazing to see what kind of reaction fans give Wilson when he returns to the field.
Jets quarterback Mike White is heading to the hospital for “precautionary” reasons according to Robert Saleh after having to leave the game twice for taking shots to the sternum by the Buffalo Bills in Sunday’s deflating 20-12 loss that dropped Gang Green to 7-6.
When pressed if White would be his starter next week when the Jets host the red hot Detroit Lions, Saleh said “for sure.”
.jpg)
That is if White is healthy enough to play. There was nothing White did on Sunday that would make anyone think twice that Zach Wilson should get his job back. White came back twice to lead his team, and when he was able to stand in the pocket, delivered strikes. He finished the day 27-of-44 for 268 yards and didn’t turn the ball over in chilling conditions.
The Jets had plenty of chances to do something in this game. They just were snake bit in big spots.
With the game scoreless with 1:17 before halftime, the Bills got Jets linebacker C.J. Mosely to dive over the line of scrimmage on fourth and inches when got fooled by tight end Dawson Knox going under center.
The new set of downs allowed Bills quarterback Jose Allen to pick the Jets apart as he would later find Dawson for a 24-yard touchdown to send Buffalo into the half up 7-0.
Another big loss for the Jets Sunday was the injury to defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Williams left the game in the second quarter with a calf injury and never returned. His absence was felt as the Bills were able to move the ball a lot more efficiently the rest of the way.
Perhaps the turning point of the game came in the third quarter with the Bills leading 14-7, and White was knocked out of the game for the second time when he took a vicious hit to the ribs. George Fant was also injured on the play.
Joe Flacco came in and was immediately strip sacked. Buffalo turned the gaff into three-points to take a 17-7 lead. It felt like all the wind came out of the sails for Gang Green at that point.White would return after spending a number of minutes in the locker room, and would do his best to try to lead a Jets comeback, but New York just didn’t have enough to beat Buffalo.
More from my story on Fox Sports New Jersey.
EAGLES 48 – GIANTS 22
There is a reason why the Philadelphia Eagles are the class of the NFC East, and possibly the NFC. And they showed it by decimating the New York Giants 48-22 on Sunday at MetLife. Giants Stadium? By the time the Eagles scored their second touchdown of the game in the second quarter Eagles fans had loudly turned MetLife Stadium into The Linc.
Jalen Hurts tossed for 217 yards and two scores, while Miles Sanders ate the Giants defense alive, rushing for 144 yards and two touchdowns. In fact, Philly ran for 253 yards and four scores in this thrashing of Big Blue.
The Eagles took their opening possession 84-yards on 14 plays before Sanders scored from three-yards out to put Philly up seven.
After a Giants three-and-out, Hurts would find a streaking DeVonta Smith down the sideline. Smith made the catch, avoided the safety coming across his face and dashed into the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown.
Perhaps the most infamous moment of the game came when Giants punter Jamie Gillian bobbled the handle on the punt, decided to kick the ball forward when it was already on the ground. That decision resulted in a 10-yard penalty on New York.
One play later Hurts dropped a dime into the hands of A.J. Brown for a 33-yard touchdown to make it 21-0.
The Giants offense had no response. Daniel Jones threw for only 169 yards and was sacked four times. Saquon Barkley was once again bottled up, rushing for only 28 yards on nine carries.
Big Blue is 0-3-1 in its last four games with no ease in sight coming in the schedule. The Giants face Washington next Sunday night.
Late Saturday night, the New York Mets officially signed Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga to a five-year contract that will pay the right-hander $75 million.
He holds a lifetime 104-51 record with a 2.42 ERA in 1,304.2 innings. In addition to his heater, Senga brings a split-finger fastball nicknamed the Ghost Fork. Yikes!!
The signing of Senga pushes the Mets payroll to heights not seen in Major League Baseball. According to ESPN, the Mets competitive balance tax-payroll will be roughly $345 million. The Mets are also facing steep tax penalties, including a $76.2 million CBT bill, and a total payroll of $421 million.
Clearly owner Steve Cohen does not care what people think. He doesn't are about tax thresholds, the most recent of which was created because of him. He's got deep pockets and will spend in order to win.
Yes, the Mets total payroll could exceed $400 million, but consider this, and we'll credit Amazin' Army on Twitter for this. Jacob deGrom's entire contract with Texas is worth $185 million. The Mets signed three starters: Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana for a grand total of $187 million. Yes, the Mets spent big bucks, but they were economical in doing so.
The Mets got Senga, and they aren't done yet.
Trades could be made still. The Mets could add another bat to the lineup. Anything is possible, especially with Cohen making the calls.
See more from my article on Fox Sports New Jersey.
The Mets remain busy, but they haven't snagged the two big ticket items fans would like them to get.
In a corresponding move, the Mets acquired lefty-specialist Brooks Raley from the Tampa Bay Rays for prospect reliever Keyshawm Askew.
Quintana pitched a .2.93 ERA splitting time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cardinals last season. He owns 89 career wins and 3.75 ERA. His best days came in Chicago with the White Sox. He is a reliable left-handed starter, which is a plus. He also averages 3.0 strikeouts/per walk. Quintana is on his seventh team, having pitched for the White Sox, Cubs, Angels, Giants, Pirates, and Cardinals.
He will likely replace Taijuan Walker who signed a four-year $72 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Meanwhile Raley is the new lefty specialist out of the bullpen. The 34-year old posted a 2.68 ERA in 60 appearances last year in Tampa Bay. Lefties hit only .166 against him.
The Judge's Chambers is staying in the Bronx.
The Yankees and Aaron Judge agreed to a nine-year $360 million contract that will keep the Yankees slugger in the Bronx for the remainder of his career.
Word in social media circles form beat writers on the scene in San Diego during the Winter Meetings was that Judge wanted to be a Yankee, even as teams like the San Francisco Giants were in heavy pursuit.
According to Andy Martino of SNY, the Yankees were at eight-year, $320 million for Judge. There was a belief that the Giants and Padres were higher. So owner Hal Steinbrenner spoke to Judge over the phone and hammered the deal out, giving the slugger a ninth year at an additional $40 million.
The Yankees had to get the job done.
They could ill afford the public backlash should Judge had got up and walked away months after winning the League MVP and breaking the AL record and franchise record for home runs in a single season. The Yankeees need Judge, more than Judge needs the Yankees.
As its most dangerous and productive hitter, Judge fills a need in the middle of the Yankee order.
Judge now has a chance to become team captain, something that hasn't been awarded to a Yankee player since Derek Jeter. He is also the true face to the 2017 Baby Bombers that exploded on to the scene and signaled the new era of Yankee baseball.
Now Judge has to find a way to a World Series, and the Yankees have to find a way to win one -- sooner rather than later.
The focus now turns to pitching. The Yankees signed Tommy Khanle to bolster the bullpen. Look for New York to try find another starting pitcher as well in the coming days.
There were dropped passes galore. Elijah Moore would have had a first down earlier in the game, but stepped out of bounds. Garret Wilson had what would have been an amazing 60-yards catch-and-run touchdown, but stepped out of bounds at the 11; the Jets would settle for one of five field goals.
White's first interception came on a ball that bounced out of the hands of Tylor Conklin on the first series of the game.
Still Mike White put up gaudy numbers. He threw for 369 yards, and once again looked competent and cool leading the Jets offense. Even in defeat, there is no reason for the Jets to change now.
Garrett Wilson also had a huge day with 162 yards receiving as he inches closer to the club record for receiving yards by a rookie.
The Jets defense totally flustered a powerful Vikings offense. Kirk Cousins threw for 173 yards in the game, and Justin Jefferson was held to seven catches for 45-yards and a touchdown.
GIANTS 20 – COMMANDERS 20
Nobody likes ties, especially in the midst of the playoff race. For the Giants, this one was a missed opportunity. Big Blue stormed back from an early 10-0 deficit to take a 20-13 lead in the third quarter, and appeared to be on their way to getting a victory, but couldn’t slow down Taylor Heinicke when it mattered the most in crunch time.
On a critical fourth and four, Heinicke rolled to his left and found Curtis Samuel open down the sideline for 20-yards and a first down. Two plays later, Heinicke found Samuel again for 25 yards to the Giants’ 28. Finally, Heinicke heaved up one more prayer to Jahan Dotson who weaved his way around Giants tacklers for the score to tie the game at 20.
In Overtime the Giants had a third and three at the Washington 45,
only to see Daniel Jones sacked to knock them out of field goal range.
Later, Washigton couldn’t move the football thanks to a huge sack of Heinicke by Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants struggled to move the football past midfield, forcing Graham Gano to hit a potential game winning field goal from 58-yards out. He missed as the ball died just short of the post.
The tie was equally frustrating because Jones had played well until the offense stalled. He completed his first ten passes, and threw a touchdown pass to Isiah Hodgins that gave New York a 20-13 lead in the third quarter. Jones also ran for 71-yards on the ground.
Even Saquon Barkley looked great in the first half, rushing for a touchdown in the second quarter that tied the game at 10.
But as has been the case of late, the Giants just didn’t have enough fire power in the late stages of the game to close it out.
Big Blue (7-4-1) will host the Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) at MetLife Stadium next week.
Jacob deGrom’s days with the Mets are over.
deGrom signed a five-year $185 million deal, with a option for a sixth year that could push the deal to $222 million, or $37 million a year.
According to Andy Martino of SNY, Steve Cohen wished deGrom well. “He has the right to choose his team,” Cohen reportedly told Martino.
Reports are the Mets had a three-year $120 million offer for deGrom, but were never given the chance by deGrom to match the Rangers offer, which gives the opinion that deGrom wanted to leave New York. Instead deGrom takes less money per year ($37 million) to play in Texas as compared to $40 million per year for a shorter stay in New York.
Opinions on the move of course vary dramatically. On one had its a huge blow to the Mets to lose one of the best pitchers in franchise history. A player who won two Cy Young Awards, and proved to be the best pitcher in baseball for a period of time. deGrom was a guy many wanted to be a lifetime Met.
At the same time, injuries plauged deGrom the past two years, as he missed almost all of the 2022 season rehabbing from an elbow injury. When he did return he wasn’t the same pitcher who dominated the sport, struggling a 5-4 record over 11 starts with a 3.08 ERA, his highest since 2017.
The question is where do the Mets go from here?
They could go after Justin Verlander or Carlos Rodon. Or they could look to Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga who is also on the market. The Mets are expected to act fast.
COWBOYS 28 - GIANTS 20
Despite cashing in on a couple of Dak Prescott turnovers, the Giants couldn't slow down the Cowboys in the second half, as Dallas rolled up 430 yards of total offense in a 28-20 triumph at the House that Jerry Built on Thanksgiving Day afternoon.
The New York Jets have officially benched quarterback Zach Wilson for this week’s game against the Chicago Bears. Mike White will get the start on Sunday.
Wilson completed only nine of 22 passes for 77 yards in Sunday’s 10-3 loss to the New England Patriots. Following the game, Wilson gave a cryptic one-word answer when as if he felt he let the defense down by not getting the team into the end zone or even field goal range, Wilson said “no.”
That attitude coupled with wide negative reaction from teammates such as Garret Wilson, John Frankin-Meyers and Sauce Gardner may have been enough for Head Coach Robert Saleh and his staff to make a move.Although Saleh sidestepped that theory in Wednesday’s press conference.
On Wednesday before Saleh spoke to the media, word broke that Wilson would be benched.
“We are going to roll with Mike White. We know he is fully capable in this league, and we want to give him an opportunity,” Saleh said.
“Zach’s career here is not over. The intent is to make sure Zach gets back on the field here this year. When that is I will make that decision day to day. There are some basic fundamental things that have gotten out of whack for him. This will allow him to reconnect with some of the things we fell in love with in the draft process.”
Saleh wouldn't say when he would think about having Wilson return to the lineup. This is Mike White's chance to take the starting job and run with it. He was mighty impressive last year. If he is anything like we saw vs. Cincinnati and in the first quarter of a game against Indianapolis last year, the Jets will be ecstatic. Heck they will win games.
PATRIOTS 10 - JETS 3
It shouldn't have come down to a walk-off punt return for a touchdown for the New England Patriots, but it did.
When Marcus Jones brought back a punt 84-yards for a walk-off touchdown in the final seconds of the Patriots 10-3 win over the Jets, it ended a frustrating afternoon for Gang Green. An afternoon where the Jets defense was once again fantastic, while the Jets offense, specifically quarterback Zach Wilson just couldn't get the job done.
The Jets finished the day with only two yards of offense in the entire second half. Two yards. For his part Wilson completed only nine passes in 22 attempts for 77-yards. The effort was the fourth time this year Wilson finished a game with fewer than 160 yards passing, and fourth game where he completed less than 40 percent of his throws.
While he didn't turn it over, he was luck he didn't toss three picks, as the Patriots dropped the football each time -- the most obvious coming when Patriots safety Devin McCourty had a Wilson pass hit him right in the numbers and he couldn't hold on.
Wilson was missing badly. He was overthrowing receivers all over the place, including on screen passes -- such as the overthrows to wide open Braxton Berrios and Denzel Mims. He missed Garrett Wilson on a crossing route, which led to the receiver to visibly vent his frustration on the field and later to the media.
It was a nightmare.
When given a chance to take shoulder responsibility for the Jets inability to move the football, Wilson refused to answer.
By saying "no," Wilson showed great immaturity, and as a result, could end up losing favor in the locker room if he is not careful. He needed to be a leader, and that wasn't it.
Now Wilson is starting to really hear it from both the media and the fanbase, many of whom are questioning whether the Jets should have benched Wilson in favor of back-up quarterback Mike White.
The Jets entered Sunday with a chance to take first place in the AFC East. They exit Sunday in last place, with questions once again surrounding their young quarterback and football team.
When asked about the Jets offensive play, Head Coach Robert Saleh called it dog-shit, but refused to say he thought about benching Wilson.
The Jets face the Chicago Bears next week and quarterback Justin Fields, who has been dynamic this year, especially of late. Fields was the other quarterback the Jets could have selected with the second overall pick two years ago, but were convinced that Zach Wilson was their guy. Now they will square off Sunday.
If Wilson stinks it up again against Chicago, what more evidence do the Jets need that a chance has to come as soon as possible. Not just for the remainder of this year, but for the future as well.
LIONS 31 - GIANTS 18
Welp, chalk it up as the proverbial trap game. With a huge NFC East match-up against the Dallas Cowboys awaiting them on Thursday, the Giants had no answer for the Detroit Lions, who pulled out a convincing upset 31-18 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
While Daniel Jones threw for 341 yards, he did toss two costly interceptions, while Saquon Barkley was totally bottled up by Detroit's defense, which held the Pro Bowler to just 22 yards on 15 carries.
The loss drops Big Blue to 7-3 overall, and drops New York out of second place as the Cowboys alienated the Vikings later on Sunday afternoon.
Will Jacob deGrom return to the Mets in 2023? That is the million dollar question that everyone has been asking for weeks.
Earlier this month rumors swirled that deGrom was interested in signing with the Texas Rangers. Now the New York Post is reporting that the Mets believe deGrom wants to come back to the Mets if the contract offers re similar.
Will it happen is anyone's guess.
The belief is that deGrom wants to be one of the highest paid pitchers in the sport. His Mets teammate, Max Scherzer makes $43.3 million annually.
Are the Mets willing to pay deGrom that much after missing much of the last two years with various arm injuries? The New York Post also reports that the Mets "do not view a four- or five-year deal (and even three years guaranteed might be stretching it) as prudent investment on a 34-year-old pitcher who has missed significant portions of the last two seasons with injuries."
If that is true the Mets could let deGrom walk.
Justin Verlander, Carlos Rodon and Japanese flame-thrower Kodai Segna are potential replacements.
Word was on Friday and Saturday that the Mets met with Senga and a serious about signing him. He is also following the Mets online.
Senga will be 30 next season, and owns a 2.59 lifetime ERA in Japan. Last season he pitched to a 1.94 ERA in 144 innings, and struck out nearly 28 percent of the batters he faced.
Would the Mets possibily sign both Senga and deGrom? That would be a helluva story if they can pull that off.
The inevitable is now a reality. Aaron Judge has been named American League MVP.
Judge had a career year all the way around, leading the Yankees in hits with 177, and topping 130 runs and 130 RBI — something that hadn’t been done since A-Rod was a Yankee in 2007.
Judge is currently a free agent.
See more on Fox Sports New Jersey
As if there was any doubt.
New York Mets manager Buck Showalter was named National League Manager of the Year, becoming the first Mets skipper to ever win the award. It’s the fourth time Showalter, himself, has won it having won the award with the Yankees (1994), Rangers (2004) and Orioles (2014).
Showalter received eight first place votes and 10 second place votes to finish with 77 total points. LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts finished second with 57 points. Atlanta’s Brian Snitker finished third with 55 points.
Showalter guided the Mets to their most wins in a regular season since 1986 by winning 101 games this past season.
More on Fox Sports New Jersey.
The confetti only just settled down in Houston and the New York Mets are already busy at work at the off-season.
The Mets inked closer Edwin Diaz to a five-year, $102 million contract that will keep in Queens for the long term.
Diaz turned around his career the past couple of seasons, but broke out in 2022 when he recorded 32 saves and 1.31 ERA, earning a All Star appearance.
Diaz's work became so automatic in 2022 for the Mets that his entrance song "Narco" became a global sensation. Not only did it turn the ninth inning into a party for Mets fans, but soon everyone wanted a piece of Diaz's entrance song.
The Mets even hosted Timmy Trumpet, the man behind the song at Citi Field in September when the Mets beat the Dodgers.
The return of Diaz signals that the Mets are indeed serious about running back a team that won 101 games in 2022, with the hope that it can break through on a deeper playoff run in 2023.
Diaz wasn't the only piece the Mets moved on. They accepted the player option on DH Daniel Voglebach.
JETS 20 - BILLS 17
In what will go down as one of the most improbable wins of the season to date, the New York Jets defeated the Buffalo Bills 20-17 at MetLife Stadium by playing some of the most complete football of the season -- exactly one week after Gang Green's meltdown against New England.
Led by spirited play from the Jets defense, and a incredible running attack in the fourth quarter, the Jets delivered to the Bills the humble pie they haven't tasted all season. All of sudden, the team most felt was a shoe-in for the Super Bowl is in a dogfight for the AFC East, and the Jets are now firmly on their heels.
A game that started off so ominously for New York when Brandon Mann muffed the opening kick-off and was followed by Josh Allen hitting Stefon Diggs down the sideline for 42 yards, quickly turned when Allen was picked off at the Jets 15-yard line by Jordan Whitehead.
Still it was an uphill climb for the Jets. Josh Allen was killing the Jets with his legs. He would run for 86 yards and two scores -- the only two touchdowns Buffalo would have on the day, as the Bills grabbed a 14-3 lead in the second quarter.
The Jets never gave in. Offensive Coordinator Mike LeFluer simplified the game plan, and Zach Wilson didn't make the bad throw that would kill his team. Wilson made quick reads and found a way to methodically lead the Jets to a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ate up the final six minutes of the first half that included Wilson hitting on his final three passes of the drive. That all set up Michael Carter for the six-yard plunge to cut the Bills lead to 14-10.
Suddenly the Jets had to know they had a shot.
And they took full advantage. Perhaps the turning point of the game came when Allen was picked off by Sauce Gardner on a terrible read by Allen who never saw Gardner standing there. Four plays later, Wilson had the Jets in the end zone when he dumped the ball off to James Robinson who scampered in for the go-ahead score.
Now it was up to the Jets defense, and boy were they up to the challenge.
On their four possessions of the second half, the Jets held the Bills to just 43 yards off offense, and Josh Allen just couldn't get connected with his receivers down field as the Jets secondary was incredible.
They held the Bills to a field goal and a punt, before getting the ball back to the Jets offense late in the fourth quarter with a little over seven minutes remaining.
With the ball on their own four, this was the Jets chance to make something happen in a tied game. This was Zach Wilson's chance to take an eraser to last week's disaster vs. New England.
And the Jets went right to their bread and butter as the first four plays were all runs. Jame Robinson gashed the Bills for 32 yards on three carries. Then Michael Carter chipped in a 17-yard run to the Buffalo 47.
After an encroachment penalty, Carter and Robinson continued to lay waste to the Bills front seven before Wilson tossed his best pass of the day on a 12-yard slant to Denzel Mims to the Buffalo six-yard line that took the game down to the two-minute warning.
The Jets would eventually kick the field goal, but the dye was cast. This was going to be Gang Green's day.
And then the Jets defense finished off its masterpiece. Bryce Huff came charging off the weakside and slapped Allen's forearm, knocking the ball out of his hands, and putting Buffalo in an impossible third and 21.
Allen would miss on his next two desperation throws as Sauce Gardner had Diggs totally lost in the sauce to end the game.
What a thriller. What a moment. The Game, no, the upset of the year for the New York Jets. At 6-3 as the Jets enter the bye, they are in the thick of the AFC East race.
There is no turning back now.
The Brooklyn Nets have had enough, suspending controversial and talented guard Kyrie Irving for at least five games after he failed to "unequivocally" apologize for sharing a link last weekend on Twitter to a video "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America" that lampoons Jews with many false claims.
The Nets tried to smooth things over with Irving. They protected him from speaking with the media on Monday and Tuesday of this week, even after owner Joe Tsai condemned Irving's posts over the weekend.
They tried to work with Irving and the Anti-Defamation League by agreeing to pay $500,000 a piece to educational opportunities for communities to better understand and accept all races, creeds and religions.
Even commissioner Adam Silver waited until Thursday before condemning Irving's posts and remarks.
In reality the final straw came Thursday when Irving refused to apologize for his posts, and refused to answer a reporters question that Irving, himself, is not antisemitic. VIEW ON TWITTER
"This is not going to turn into a spin around cycle of questions after questions. I told you guys how I felt. I respect all walks of life. I can’t be antisemitic if I know where I come from."
The Nets soon issued a statement expressing their disappointment in Irving for not apologizing. Jonathan Greenblat of the ADL quickly re-tweeted his appreciation for the Nets swift action.
The question is is Irving's career over in Brooklyn? Most likely. There is no way this kind of behavior can be tolerated. The NBA was one of the first in to jump on the social justice movement two years ago in light of the George Floyd atrocity that took place in Minnesota. They should be first in line here as well -- even if it took them and the Nets almost a whole week to respond with a punishment, amid criticism. Racism and bigotry in any form should not be tolerated. Ever.
The Nets have made a lot of mistakes over the past week. They fired a good man in Steve Nash, as General Manager Sean Marks continued to give autonomy to the players like Irving and Kevin Durant. Neither respected Nash, and despite the former Phoneix Suns' MVP's best efforts, he couldn't win with a dysfunctional team.
Now they are rumored to be interested in hiring Boston's Ime Udoka, who was suspended for a year for sexual harassment allegations against a former female employee, with whom Udoka had a "inappropriate" relationship.
Talk about bad timing and tone deaf? The Nets are about to from the frying pan to the fire should they hire Udoka. Instead of just eight Jewish people sitting court side to protest antisemitism, as was the case this week, the last thing they want to deal with is the #MeToo movement coming to their doorstep.
The Nets have embarrassed themselves this week. They jumped into the fire by giving superstar players too much power, and now they are paying the price. Only they can fix it.
Judy Coughlin, the wife of two-time Super Bowl winning Head Coach Tom Coughlin, passed away Wednesday morning. She was 77.
A devoted supporter of her husband throughout his Hall of Fame-bound career from Boston College to Jacksonville and New York, Judy Coughlin was well known in the Tri-State area, as well as the NFL community as a whole, for her philanthropic work through the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, which provides comprehensive financial, emotional, and practical support to families affected by childhood cancer.
The fund was established in memory of Jay McGillis, a safety on Coughlin's Boston College teams who died of leukemia at just 21 years old.
In 2020 Mrs. Coughlin was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy a incurable brain disorder. As has been reported by other sources, Tom Coughlin became her caregiver in recent years.
See more on Fox Sports New Jersey.
SEAHAWKS 27 - GIANTS 13
After winning four straight games, the Giants had no answer for Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks, who pulled away late in the second half in a 27-13 victory.
While the Giants never led in the game, they did find themselves in a 13-13 tie as late as the early stages of the fourth quarter when Graham Gano connected on a 45-yard field goal.
Unfortunately for the Giants they just couldn't get their offense moving all afternoon. While he didn't force any turnovers, Daniel Jones was constantly under siege, sacked five times, and threw for only 176 yards. The Seahawks did a tremendous job keeping Jones in the pocket, as he ran for only 20 yards on six carries.
Saquon Barkley was also bottled up, held to 53-yards on 20 carries.
In the fourth quarter, Geno Smith turned things onto another gear, and showed the Giants why this was not the same guy who was Eli Manning's understudy, and not even remotely close to being the same guy who was drafted by the Jets in 2013.
This version of Geno Smith is more mature, accurate and driven. And he has a team that supports his every move.
On Seattle's first touchdown drive of the fourth quarter, Smith was five-of-five for 75-yards including a arching 33-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett to put Seattle in front 20-13.
After the Giants muffed a punt return, Smith guided the Seahawks on a short field for another score. He hit Noah Fant for 16-yards to move the chains deeper into Giants territory. On the next play, Smith hit Kenneth Walker III in the flat for a walk-in touchdown to put Seattle up two scores.
That was all she wrote. The Giants (6-2) hit the bye week in Week 9. A chance to regroup after a stellar and surprising first half of the season.
PATRIOTS 22 - JETS 17
With 37 seconds to go before halftime, leading 10-3, it appeared — for a beat — that this was definitely going to be the Jets moment. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones dropped back, felt the rush, hurried his throw and was picked off by Michael Carter II, who went coast to coast for an 84-yard touchdown to give Jets a 16-3 lead.
Until he didn’t. Flags were thrown, and Jets defensive end John Franklin Meyers was called for roughing the passer when he body slammed Jones after he threw the ball. The call was easy. The touchdown was wiped out, and the Patriots would eventually kick a field goal. Instead of the Jets running into the break up 17-3, they led only 10-6.
That was the turning point, and the Jets never recovered.
Then the game turned into a sloppy performance by quarterback Zach Wilson, who tossed three interceptions in the second half. All the turnovers came when Wilson was trying to roll out of the pocket and throw off his back foot.
When Wilson did stand in the pocket and throw he was good, like the 8-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Conklin in the second quarter that gave the Jets a 10-3 lead.
It didn't stop Jets frans from unloading on Wilson on Twitter. Many were calling for the signal caller to be benched. Others pointed out to Wilson's terrible inaccuracy when he tries to roll out of the pocket and throw off his back foot.
He just seems to be regressing rather than progressing. One had to know when the Jets lost Breece Hall for the year, it would be all on Wilson, and after one game, it's not good.
The Jets have many problems, one of them being the plethora of injuries they have incurred. But the play of quarterback Zach Wilson is definitely concerning. For fans who have seen the likes of Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith and Sam Darnold, Wilson's struggles feels like the same old song, all over again.
According to a story from the AP, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner plans on keeping Aaron Boone as manager for the 2023 season.
“As far as Boone’s concerned, we just signed him and for all the same reasons I listed a year ago, I believe he is a very good manager,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday as he left the Yankees player development complex. “I don’t see a change there.
“We didn’t get the job done … it’s time to get it done,” Steinbrenner said. “Any time we don’t win a championship, it’s a disappointing year. We had a lot of good ups, we had some downs, we had some injuries like everybody else.”
When pressed about the contract of General Manager Brian Cashman, Steinbrenner said “preliminary” conversations have taken place. Cashman’s contract is up at the end of the World Series.
See full story on Fox Sports New Jersey.
It was another standout week for the local NFL football teams as New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, and New York Jets rookie cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
This is what happens when to two teams in the midst of four game winning streaks. The awards come fast and furious. See my full story on FOX SPORTS NEW JERSEY
Jones is the third Giant to receive NFL honors. Saquon Barkley, the NFL’s leading rusher, received offensive player of the week after his outstanding Week 1 effort against Tennessee. Kicker Graham Gano won Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 2 following a win against Carolina.
Jones is having a tremendous season, and along with Barkely, is a candidate for “Comeback Player of the Year.” This season Jones has completed a career high 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,223 yards and six touchdowns.
He has run for 343 yards, and is well on pace to set franchise records in rushing yards for a quarterback.
Meanwhile across town, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner received Defensive Player of the Week honors for his virtuoso performance against the Denver Broncos in the Jets 16-9 win.
He had 10 tackles and three passes defensed, including two passes in the end zone that sealed the victory for Gang Green.
This marks the second straight week the Jets have had a player win AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Last week defensive tackle Quinnen Williams received the honor after a huge day in Green Bay in Week 6.
It all now comes down to this.
After years of hearing about how they were cheated by the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal in 2017, and years of waiting for the once "Baby Bombers" to get over that Houston speed bump en route to World Series glory, the Yankees find themselves here.
They find themselves in a 3-0 series hole, starring at both a sweep at the hands of their tormentors, the Astros, and with an uncertain future starring them right back in the face.
So much went wrong in Game 3. The Yankees lost 5-0. Their offense was once again inept against Houston. The Yankees managed only three hits, two of those hits came in the ninth inning when the Yankees tried to stage a late rally. Not happening.
Talk about a team that is home run or nothing. That is exactly what the Yankees have been throughout this season, and in the most important games of the year, they have turned into that team again. Gone are the days or working counts and getting on base. In are the days of homer or nothing.
The proof is in the pudding. Since July 8, the Yankees are 41-45. They have been mediocre. They don't pitch well enough. Their bullpen is a mess -- see Aroldis Chapman, and Game 3 of the Division Series. Their offense is another story.
What's more when Harrison Bader and Aaron Judge misplayed a fly ball by Christian Vasquez in the second inning, it was sign of things to come. The next batter, Chas McCormick cracked a two-run homer off Gerrit Cole toward right. 2-0 Houston. Ball game.
What makes things even worse for the Yankees is the continued bizarre managerial decisions by Aaron Boone. In the sixth inning after Cole loaded the bases with none out, he decided to go the bullpen to bring in Lou Trivino. Lou Trivino who had a 4.53 ERA this year? That Lou Trivino?
Yep. And Trivino proceeded to give up a sac fly to Tray Mancini to make it 3-0, and a two-run single to Vasquez that made it 5-0. Just like that Cole's night was over.
So was the Yankees.
To say it is frustrating would be an understatement. If the Yankees go down at home to the Astros either in Game 4 or Game 5, one thing is certain changes have to be coming. The Yankees can not move forward with the same strategy, and thought process.
Who is crafting lineups where Athony Rizzo or Aaron Judge are leading off? It isn't work, and makes absolutely no sense.
Who is making decisions at the deadline where the Yankees fail to get an impact player like pitcher Luis Castillo and they end up with Frankie Montas?
https://twitter.com/Starting9/status/1583987595138433025?s=20&t=TxcXGpqx5T672-Bc4IHfbQ
Both Boone and Brian Cashman have a lot of questions to answer. Both are under contract. It would be stunning if both are gone after this series ends, even if Yankees fans demand it.
Aaron Judge? He is hitting .156 in this postseason. He has been pressing the most, and will be a free agent. Is this the end of the Judge era? It could be. It very could be, and it would be a shame to see it end like this.
The Yankees go into Game 4 looking to do the unthinkable, win four in a row. Only the 2004 Boston Red Sox accomplished that feat (against the Yankees). The difference is the Astros have a lot of pitching that that Yankee team did not. If There is a game 5, Houston will just roll with Justin Verlander. Nuff said.
YANKEES 5 - GUARDIANS 1 -- NYY win series 3-2
After much consternation and hand-wringing. After it looked like Aaron Boone had tossed the series away in Game 3 of this American League Division Series when he didn't pitch Clay Holmes with the Yankees up 5-3.
After fans had to wait nearly three whole hours on Monday night before word came down that Game 5 would be postponed, the Yankees are moving on.
And for Yankees fans it feels oh so good.
The Yankees took care of business without much drama, winning Game 5 by the score of 5-1 over the Cleveland Guardians. Now the Houston Astros await on Wednesday night down in Texas for the start of the American League Championship Series.
There was little doubt in this one. Right from the onset the Yankees put this one out of reach when Giancarlo Stanton cracked a three-run homer to put the Yankees up 3-0 in the bottom of the first. Cleveland's decision to start Aaron Civale after 13 days without pitching in a game totally backfired. He was out after just a third of an inning.
Come the bottom of the second, Aaron Judge added to the proceedings with a solo shot to right center, sending Yankee Stadium into a tizzy.
On the hill Nestor Cortes was his dominant self, pitching five solid innings, giving up only a run on three hits. He tossed only 61 pitches, meaning the Yankees could be considering bringing back back quickly for at least Game 3 of ALCS.
The Yankees pen, which was much maligned over the weekend, was solid Tuesday night as the combination of Jonathan Loaisiga, Clay Holmes and Wandy Peralta shut the door on the Guardians for good.
There was Dallas Keuchel's dominance in the Wild Card Game back in 2015. Then we saw the likes of Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa become house hold names for their efforts to knock the Yankees out in dramatic fashion in the ALCS back in 2017 and 2019.
For Yankees fans, however, they will never forget the day in 2019 when Altuve hit a game-winning home run against them in the postseason and signaled that he might have had something (a buzzer perhaps) under his jersey.
That only added to the stigma that the Houston Astros in 2017 cheated their way to a World Championship with a cleverly orchestrated sign stealing scheme. The same sign stealing scheme they were never really punished for other than some fines and the firing of then Astros manager A.J. Hinch.
Now these two arch rivals meet again. It will be their fourth postseason meeting in eight years, and third ALCS meeting in six years. The Astros have been the dominant team in the American League all that time. The question is are the Yankees finally ready to climb the mountain to get back to the top of the baseball world?
You can cross the Yankees off the list for former Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. The Bronx Bombers came to terms on a one-year, $12.5 mil...
