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Soccer Legend Pele Passes Away

 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. 

Should Jets Fans Worry About Woody Johnson - Robert Saleh Relationship?

 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, ...

Giants Lose Tight One in Minnesota on Historic 61-yard Field Goal

 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. Sure there were moments where the Giants could have done just a little bit more to put this game away, and prevent the miracle finish that later ensued in Minnesota. On the drive that resulted in a Graham Gano field goal that made it 13-10 G-Men, the Giants had the ball at the Vikings' 19 when Nick Gates was called for a false start penalty on second and six. Two plays later, Jones was sacked forcing the Giants to settle for three. They would have preferred seven. T...

DEVELOPING: Mets Have Concerns About Carlos Correa Physical

 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...

Giants can Clinch Playoff Berth Today vs. Vikings

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 ...

Jets-Jaguars Debacle Echos the End of the Zach Wilson Era

 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!   

New Jersey Devils Owner Could Pursue Washington Commanders

 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.   

Knicks and Nets Keep Winning Streaks Alive

 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.   

Jets Implode Late Against Lions

 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 f...

Zach Wilson will start Sunday vs. Lions

 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...

Mike White Injured in Bitter Loss to Buffalo

 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.” 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...

Giants Get Run Out of MetLife by Hurts and Eagles

 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.   It didn’t take long for the Eagles to put this game away. The Eagles scored on each of their first three possessions to blow the game open at 21-0. 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 ...

Mets sign Kodai Senga to Five year Deal

 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.  Senga comes to New York as one of the off-season’s highly touted pitchers, whose fastball has topped 100 mph in Japan. The soon-to-be 30-year-old Senga, started 11 seasons with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Nippon Professional Baseball League.  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 mo...

Mets Sign Quintana, Trade for Brooks Raley from Rays

 The Mets remain busy, but they haven't snagged the two big ticket items fans would like them to get.  While fans are clamoring for the team to bring back center fielder Brandon Nimmo and sign Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga, the Amazin's signed former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jose Quintana to a two-year, $26 million contract.  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 P...

Judge and Yankees Agree to Nine-Year Deal

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 ...

Jets Finish One-Yard Short vs. Vikings

 VIKINGS 27 - JETS 22 The Jets were oh, so close to pulling it out. Having trailed the Minnesota Vikings 20-3 at the half, Gang Green stormed back, and had multiple opportunities to steal the game away from the Vikings, but just couldn't get the big play when it needed to. In fact, they had it in their grasp, literally, and couldn't pull it in. Mike White guided the Jets on an improbable, possible scoring drive late in the fourth quarter, where he took a shot on third and ten at the Vikings' 47, only to get himself off the turf, and hit Corey Davis on a 31-yard strike on fourth down to move the ball to the Vikings 7. Down 27-22, it looked like Gang Green was on their way to taking control. The Jets got all the way to the Vikings one-yard, but couldn't plug it in. White and Garret Wilson miscommunication on a back-shoulder fade on third and goal that resulted in an in-completion. Then on fourth and goal, White hit Braxton Berrios in the end zone for what should have been...

Giants Finish in Tie with Washington

  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. The Giants offense was ice cold. After scoring on four straight possessions in the middle of the game, Big Blue managed only 61 yards of offense the rest of the way. In Overtime the Giants had a third and three at the Washington 45, only to see Daniel Jones ...

deGrom Spurns Mets, Signs with Texas Rangers

 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 ...

Giants Can't Keep Pace with Dak and Cowboys

 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 game could have been very different had a 24-yard touchdown pass by Daniel Jones to Isaiah Hodgins held not been nullified by an ineligible man downfield. As a result the Giants had to settle for a field goal, and a 3-0 lead. That moment helped change the complexion of the game, because in the first 30 minutes the Giants had outplayed Dallas. New York's defense picked off Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott twice in the first half; one of which led to another Giants field goal before halftime. The Giants also answered Dallas' first touchdown with a long drive of their own that was highlighted by a 44-yard completion from Jones to Darius Slayton that set up shop at the Cowboys' one-yard line. Two plays l...

Jets Bench Zach Wilson for Mike White

  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 ...

Zach Wilson's Poor Play Costs Jets vs. Patriots

 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 D...

Giants Get Burried by Lions in Trap Game

 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.  The Lions have now won three in a row, and find themselves suddenly in the wild card race in the NFC. With the Giants leading 6-3 in the second quarter, Daniel Jones' pass for Darius Slayton was picked off by rookie Aiden Hutchinson at the Giants' own 18-yard line. Four plays later the Lions hit pay-dirt when Jamaal Williams scored on a four-yard scamper to put the Lio...

Will Jacob deGrom Ultimately Return to Mets?

 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 ...

Aaron Judge Named League MVP

 The inevitable is now a reality. Aaron Judge has been named American League MVP.    After belting a club record and A.L. record 62 home runs this season and was the clear winner for the top prize. He received a total of 410 votes, 28 first place votes to beat out LA Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani. 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 

Buck Showalter Earns NL Manager of the Year Award

 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.  

Mets Ink Edwin Diaz to Five Year Deal

 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....

Jets Pull Off Mega Upset of Bills

 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.   While the Jets didn't do anything with that turnover, just the fact tha...

Kyrie Irving Suspended by Nets for Anti-semitic Social Media Post

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 q...

Wife of Giants Super Bowl Winning Coach Tom Coughlin, Passes Away

 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' Geno Smith Shows Off Against Giants

 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 Jet...

Wilson Turnovers & Franklin Meyers Penalty Doom Jets vs. Patriots

 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 W...

Steinbrenner Plans to Bring Back Aaron Boone for 2023 season

  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.  

Giants' Jones, Jets' Sauce Receive Weekly NFL Honors

  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 For Jones, it is the third time in his career he has received the honor. Last week against Jacksonville, Jones completed 19-of-30 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 107 yards and the game winning score. It is the first time in franchise history the Giants have had a player throw for over 200 yards and run for over 100 yards in the same game.  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 w...

Yankees with Backs to Wall Down 3-0 to Astros

 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.  How inept are the Yankee offensively in this series? They are hitting .128 with 41 strikeouts. 41 strikeouts!!  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 ga...

Yankees Down Guardians, Move on to ALCS Against Astros

 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...