McAdoo ponders benching Eli, Martavis really wants out
McAdoo casts doubt on Eli Manning’s future with Giants
With a record of 1-6 and a fan base turning against them, the New York Giants’ coach, Ben McAdoo and general manager, Jerry Reese, are feeling pressure to bench 36-year-old veteran QB Eli Manning in favor of rookie Davis Webb, a promising third-round draft selection. McAdoo did anything but dismiss the notion when it was broached at Monday’s media conference. “It’s a coaching decision, but it would be something that if it ever would get to that point I would want to have a conversation with Jerry and ownership on it.” McAdoo went on to express confidence in Manning, who is twice a Super Bowl winner, and offer hope that the team will transform itself during bye week. “I have a hundred percent confidence in Eli,” McAdoo said. “We’ll get a week away from it and we’ll come back with a fresh mind, fresh bodies and play good football.” The team is contractually committed to Manning next season, but his $22 million is not fully guaranteed. McAdoo’s comment opens the door to speculation that he may be traded.
Between the Lines: Webb has a big-time arm, threw 37 TDs last season at the U of California, and the Giants need to find out if he’s the successor to Manning, who actually has played reasonably well (10 TD, 5 INT) with little protection and an injury-ravaged receiver corps.
Martavis Bryant really wants out of Pittsburgh, but who wants him?
When Martavis Byrant’s girlfriend tweeted a couple of weeks ago that he wanted the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade him, the wide receiver quickly denied that was the case. But after Sunday’s win over Cincinnati, when he was targeted only twice, Bryant said that indeed he does want out of Pittsburgh, where he has fallen to No. 3 at his position, behind Antonio Brown and rookie Juju Smith-Schuster. Bryant posted an Instagram saying “juju is nowhere near better than me. . . . All they need to do is give me what I want and y’all can have juju and who ever else.” The question is who wants a disgruntled, temperamental diva who is coming back from a year of drug suspension and isn’t playing very well. Chris Simms, ex-NFL QB who provides candid analysis for NBCSports’ Pro Football Talk, said: “He’s not quite the guy he was before the suspension. When I watch him on film, he’s fast, still, but not quite as explosive as he was. And JuJu Smith-Schuster is good. Period.”
Dear Martavis: The trade deadine is a week from Tuesday, so your timing is good. Better than it is on the field.
49ers Armstrong, Foster flee gunmen attempting to rob them
NFL teams often warn their players that “nothing good happens after 1 a.m.” Another case in point was provided by Ray-Ray Armstrong and Reuben Foster, who were confronted by two gunmen seeking to rob them outside a night club in San Francisco. The 49ers’ linebackers decided to go for a drink late Sunday night after their return flight from Washington landed. Foster told police he became suspicious of a vehicle outside the club and that he felt he “was going to be robbed.” So he asked for a security guard to escort Armstrong and himself to their car. Before leaving, Foster handed his watch and jewelry to a friend at the club. When the three men reached the parking lot they saw two masked men approaching. They were carrying an assault rifle and a handgun. The athletes “ran like hell,” according to media website Mission Local. Unharmed, they didn’t stop running until they found a hotel where they called police and spent the night. Kyle Shanahan, 49ers head coach, said the players were in no violation of training rules, since the only team activity on Monday is a meeting at 1 p.m. “I’d feel a lot differently if that was a different night of the week,” he said.
Are Colts giving false hope that Luck will play this year?
Andrew Luck had a setback in his shoulder rehabilitation and took a cortisone shot last week to relieve pain. The Indianapolis Colts continue to say their franchise quarterback will play this season, but sources close to the team say there’s no chance he will be ready to play before December, so why bother? The team is hopelessly noncompetitive this season, and Luck’s return cannot come soon enough to make a substantial difference.
Lightning player receives death threats after raising a fist during national anthem
J.T. Brown, one of the few African-American players in the National Hockey League, made a demonstration against racial injustice by raising his fist as the national anthem played before a Tampa Bay Lightning game. He later received death threats and decided to halt his protesting. The player, who was born in Minnesota, tweeted that he wanted “to call out everyone who agreed or disagreed with me to help by sharing suggestions, continuing respectful conversations and looking for ways they too can make a difference in their community.” He is trying to improve relations between police and the black community. He contributed 600 Lightning tickets “so that organizations like the Bigs in Blue can come to our games.” Brown said his teammates, coaches and owners Jeff and Penny Vinik have been supportive of his stand.