Say What?
Adam Jones faces charges for spitting on a nurse
When he was a young player for the Atlanta Falcons, Adam Jones used the nickname “Pacman.” He had a few brushes with the law and decided to improve his off-field behavior and his public image, so he turned away from Pacman and insisted on being called Adam. But last week he was back in jail, at 33, and the news reports are again calling him “Pacman” Jones, who’s now a cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals. When there were complaints about his conduct at a Cincinnati hotel, Jones was taken into custody. During the process of being booked at the Hamilton County jailhouse, he was belligerent and was placed in a restraining chair. When a nurse attempted to take a blood sample, in accordance with a judicial order, Jones “proceeded to spit on her,” a police spokesman said. Jones was charged with, among other things, a felony count of “harassment with a bodily substance” — that apparently being saliva.
Odell punches hole in wall, slams head against door
More football players out of control. Odell Beckham Jr., the talented but temperamental wide receiver of the New York Giants, reportedly punched a hole in a wall outside the locker room at Lambeau Field. He also intentionally banged his head against a door, following his team’s 38-13 loss at Green Bay on Sunday evening. A second-team All-Pro, he was targeted 11 times and caught 4 passes for 28 yards. He dropped two passes in the first quarter, including one in the end zone. It was more disappointment than he could bear.
Was a day at the beach the way to prepare for Lambeau?
Odell Beckham Jr. and fellow Giants wide receivers Sterling Shepard, Victor Cruz and Roger Lewis took a trip to Miami following the New York Giants’ 19-10 victory over Washington in the regular-season finale. They were photographed partying topless with Justin Bieber and other celebrities in a night club, and on Monday, which was an off day for the team, they were photographed on a yacht. “We were going there to get our minds right,” Beckham said. But there were grumblings in the locker room that their minds could have been engaged in watching film or otherwise studying for their upcoming playoff game at Lambeau Field. QB Eli Manning joked that “they needed to get some sunshine, get their Vitamin D up.” But it didn’t seem too funny when the Giants, appearing none too focused, proceeded to lose 38-13 to Green Bay, with Beckham playing one of the worst games of his career. See item above.
Great White Hope at running back? Bennett says it’s Zenner
When the Detroit Lions’ Zach Zenner rushed for more than 60 yards in back to back games, he caught the attention of Michael Bennett, All-Pro defensive end of the Seattle Seahawks. “There’s not many white running backs in the NFL, but he has to be the best right now,” Bennett said. This created a media frenzy with Bennett being black and commenting about Zenner being white. “He’s doing such a great job of cutbacks and hitting the hole. He’s got good balance, he can spin. . .” Zenner did not take offense about being called the best white running back in the NFL. “That does not bother me, no,” Zenner said.
New Jags coach Marrone puts his faith in Bortles
In the wake of the long overdue firing of head coach Gus Bradley, conventional wisdom in Jacksonville was that the organization would chart a new direction, away from Blake Bortles as quarterback and would hire a rising star, a Josh McDaniels or a Kyle Shanahan, to be the next head coach. Instead, owner Shahid Khan decided to promote from within and make Doug Marrone head coach because he had a good relationship with QB Blake Bortles, who most of the football world assumed was a lost cause. Marrone made the most of his opportunity as interim coach by showing he had rapport with Bortles, who in two games passed for 626 yards, had 2 TDs, 0 interceptions and 4 sacks. The Jags routed Tennessee, 38-17, and lost 24-20 in Indianapolis, where Bortles had a better passer rating than Andrew Luck. Marrone, former head coach of the Buffalo Bills, convinced Khan that Bortles could be on the brink of a breakout season. But Khan still wanted change, so he hired ex-New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin to oversee all football operations. Coughlin, 70, formerly coached the Jaguars, and there are suspicions he would like to do so again. Marrone cannot be feeling very secure.
D-Rose goes AWOL, says ‘I needed some space’
New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose failed to show up for a home game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, as he had flown home to visit his mother in Chicago. The problem was he had not notified his coach or anyone in the Knicks’ office of his excursion. It was especially embarrassing since Rose was being seen on the streets of Chicago. On Tuesday, Rose was back in New York and saying he had taken care of a “family issue” and that he “needed some space.” He provided no additional details. Coach Jeff Hornaceck said Rose would be fined but not suspended, and that he would start Wednesday night in Philadelphia “if he’s ready to go” and has the “right mentality.”
Between the Lines: D-Rose seems to have the mentality of a 13-year-old. You don’t leave the team without talking to the coach.
Chass: In Manfred tenure, 21 of 22 top jobs go to white men
Murray Chass, retired baseball writer of The New York Times, disputes the claim of Commissioner Rob Manfred that Major League Baseball is an equal opportunity employer at the highest levels. Chass points out that during Manfred’s two years in office, there have been 22 openings for general managers and chiefs of baseball operations. Of those jobs, 21 have gone to white men. The lone exception has been Al Avila as general manager of the Detroit Tigers.
Dear Mr. Commissioner: You often speak of MLB’s commitment to diversity, but the results do not match the rhetoric. You ever hear of the Rooney Rule?