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.”
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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.
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...
