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#pounditFriday, March 29, 2024

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Video: Oklahoma State fans threw seat back cushions at Texas players after game

Oklahoma State logo

Oklahoma State fans got a little wild after their Cowboys lost in overtime to Texas on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.

Following the Longhorns’ 41-34 win over the Cowboys, Oklahoma State fans were seen throwing seat back cushions onto the field.

Here is a closer look at the objects they were throwing:

Those items looked pretty harmless and like they wouldn’t cause much harm to Texas players, but that’s still inappropriate behavior from the fans. We have seen players have worse things thrown at them back when fans at games was more commonplace.

Let’s just hope that Oklahoma State does not make the cushions their version of the flying tortillas.

Hollywood Brown hints at unhappiness in deleted tweet

Marquise Brown

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown does not seem happy with his role in the team’s offense.

Brown sent a critical tweet after the Ravens’ 28-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In it, the wide receiver seemed to suggest that he didn’t think he was being used properly. The tweet has since been deleted.

Brown caught a three-yard touchdown in Sunday’s game, but it was his only reception and he was targeted just twice. It was his second touchdown catch of the season after he caught seven in his rookie year.

The second-year receiver has been on pace to outdo his 2019 numbers. In fact, Sunday’s game was only the second time this season he’s had fewer than four catches in the game. It’s not as if he’s being consistently put off to the side on offense. However, Sunday’s loss was frustrating, especially with Brown not being a big part of the offense. Combine that with the potential arrival of someone who could cut into his target share and that may be the source of his frustration.

Bengals Twitter account trolls ESPN experts after win over Titans

Cincinnati Bengals logo

The Cincinnati Bengals pulled off one of the bigger surprises of Week 8 with their win over the Tennessee Titans. Naturally, the team’s Twitter account used the opportunity to troll the experts.

The Bengals posted an image of ESPN’s entire panel of experts picking the Titans, only for the Bengals to go out 31-20 winners.

You can’t really fault anybody for picking the Titans in this one. They came in 5-1, while the Bengals had only one win on the year. That said, you can’t blame the Bengals either. Rubbing it in and taunting the experts is one of the big perks of an upset victory.

Sometimes players notice this stuff too. If it successfully functions as motivation, why not?

This is why Sean McDermott was using a cell phone on field during halftime

Sean McDermott cell phone

NFL coaches are not allowed to communicate using cell phones on the field during games, so some were alarmed to see Sean McDermott shown with a cell phone to his ear while headed to halftime of Sunday’s game between his Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots at Bills Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. But there is actually a good explanation for his usage.

Due to new social distancing guidelines, coaches conduct their halftime interviews via phone rather than in person. McDermott was talking with CBS reporter Evan Washburn, according to The Buffalo News. Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich was also seen doing the same, according to Pat McAfee.

So, no, the coaches were not cheating or doing anything illegal. They were following the new procedure. The only difference is this was the first time fans saw it happen.

The only other time we’ve seen cell phones involved in a game was when it was used for a touchdown celebration like this one.

Bill Belichick says Cam Newton will remain Patriots QB

Cam Newton hat

At least for the moment, Bill Belichick is sticking with Cam Newton despite the quarterback’s continued struggles.

The New England Patriots lost their fourth game in a row on Sunday to the division rival Buffalo Bills. The loss left the Patriots 3.5 games behind the Bills, and their AFC East hopes are in serious danger. Newton once again played a key role in the defeat, committing this massive turnover in the game’s final minute. The veteran quarterback went 15/25 for just 174 yards, though he did run for 54 yards and score a touchdown.

In spite of Newton’s struggles, Belichick said after the game that there are no plans for a quarterback change.

“Cam’s our quarterback. That’s the way it’s been all year,” Belichick said, via Michael Giardi of NFL Network.

Speculation about Newton’s job security has grown in recent weeks. Committing a costly turnover in that spot doesn’t seem like it would help matters, and Belichick may revisit this later in the week.

Cam Newton fumbles game away for Patriots

Cam Newton

Cam Newton had a chance to redeem himself on Sunday coming off consecutive poor performances, but the New England Patriots quarterback failed to deliver when it mattered most.

Newton and the Patriots strung together a solid drive late in the fourth quarter while trailing the Buffalo Bills 24-21. New England marched down the field and appeared to be well positioned for, at worst, a game-tying field goal. Then Newton fumbled.

Here’s the play in full speed:

Newton actually played fairly well to that point, especially considering the supporting cast he had with Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry injured. However, the fumble is all people are going to remember, and deservedly so.

Newton’s fumble wasn’t simply bad luck. He had a long run earlier in the drive, and he was carelessly carrying the ball and was fortunate not to fumble then. He needs to do a better job of focusing on ball security in a situation like that. A game-winning touchdown would have been nice, but the Patriots needed to make sure they at least had a shot at the field goal to tie.

While he completed just 15-of-25 passes for 174 yards, Newton avoided throwing an interception for the first time since Week 1. He also rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown and kept the Patriots in the game. Leading a game-winning or game-tying drive could have gone a long way toward building confidence for him and the entire team, which is why the fumble was so devastating.

Newton was benched in last week’s blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers after a horrendous first half. There have been rumblings that it could happen again and be permanent, and Bill Belichick can’t be pleased with his costly turnover.

Could MLB switch to neutral site World Series for the future?

Rob Manfred

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred liked hosting the World Series at a neutral site so much that he’s willing to consider it for the future.

Manfred said that there are many reasons a neutral site World Series could be beneficial for the teams involved. He did admit, however, that depriving home fans of seeing their teams in the World Series was a significant drawback.

“You should always think about innovation,” Manfred told Eric Prisbell of Sports Business Daily. “I wouldn’t say a neutral-site World Series is completely off the table. There were things that we saw in Texas that were advantages for us. You can plan. You can take out travel. You can pick sites that eliminate weather problems. Those are all things worthy of conversation and discussion. I think the big (weight) on the scale in favor of our traditional format, the thing that really matters at the end of the day, are fans in home markets.”

Manfred is right about the possible benefits. In theory, weather would never be a concern, and teams could cut down on travel. However, many fans of the teams involved wouldn’t be able to simply travel to a neutral site to see their team play. That’s especially true if one of the teams doesn’t play particularly close to the neutral site.

On one hand, the players didn’t seem to mind playing at neutral sites. Plus the games were by and large quite good. There’s no substitute for a packed home crowd in a playoff game, though.

Dez Bryant reportedly not given assurances he will make Ravens’ roster

Dez Bryant

The Baltimore Ravens are giving Dez Bryant a chance to prove he can still be a productive NFL player, but there is no guarantee we are going to see the former Pro Bowler in a game.

Bryant signed a practice squad contract with the Ravens earlier this week, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the team has given him no assurances he will ever be promoted to the active roster. The Ravens felt Bryant was in better shape last week when he worked with them than he was back in August, but they do not sound convinced he will give their passing game a boost.

According to La Canfora, the Ravens are “taking a measured approach” with Bryant and are still searching for pass-catching help. They have less than $3 million in salary cap space, but they could pursue help at the wide receiver and/or tight end position ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Bryant, a three-time Pro Bowler, caught 69 passes for 838 yards and six touchdowns in his last full season with the Cowboys in 2017. The Ravens are not expecting that type of production, but he could be a nice late-season addition to their roster if all goes well.

The opportunity certainly means a lot to Bryant, as evidenced by the tweet he sent after signing his deal.

Video: Matthew Judon ejected for making contact with official

Matt Judon ejection

The Baltimore Ravens lost a major piece of their defense at the end of the second half on Sunday, as linebacker Matthew Judon was ejected for making contact with an official.

Judon was at the center of a skirmish between the Ravens and division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. As a coach was trying to restrain him, Judon swung his arm and whacked an official. The contact appeared to be unintentional, but NFL rules are strict when it comes to making contact with an official, so Judon was ejected.

Judon is making $16.8 million under the franchise tag this season. The 28-year-old had a career-high 9.5 sacks and four forced fumbles last season. He has two sacks this year.

Between Judon’s ejection and a Steelers star getting into a heated argument with a coach on the sideline (video here), tempers were flaring early during the rivalry game.

Video: TJ Watt has heated sideline exchange with Steelers DC Keith Butler

TJ Watt

The Pittsburgh Steelers had some defensive lapses early in their game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, and that led to frustrations boiling over on the sideline at one point.

The Steelers gave up some huge runs and allowed well over 100 rushing yards in the first half. After they fell behind 14-7, star pass-rusher T.J. Watt and Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Keith Butler were seen screaming at one another on the sideline.

Watt, who had 14.5 sacks last season and had 5.5 entering Sunday, has emerged as the leader of Pittsburgh’s defense. Whatever he and Butler were arguing about probably will not linger.

The Steelers entered Sunday’s game allowing just 286.3 yards per game, which is the best mark in the NFL. They had allowed just 68.8 yards rushing per game to that point, so you can understand why getting gashed on the ground was unfamiliar territory for them.