Steve DelVecchio is a senior editor and writer for Larry Brown Sports. He has over 10 years of experience working in the digital sports media world and has published over 25,000 stories. You can follow him on Twitter @SteveDelSports.
Sep 11, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy had a tense exchange on the field during Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but the star quarterback insists there was not a whole lot to it.
The Chiefs decided to play things safe to close out the first half after they got the ball at their own 46 with 30 seconds left. A holding call pushed them back to the 36 and they had no timeouts, so they called a run play to let the clock expire. Mahomes obviously wanted to be more aggressive, and cameras showed him confronting Bieniemy. Head coach Andy Reid had to step in to calm Mahomes down. You can see the video here.
Mahomes discussed the incident during his weekly show on 610 Sports Radio Monday. He said he understood why people thought the exchange was a big deal after he saw the video, but he chalked it up to him being “someone that wants to score every single time you’re on the field.”
“I wanted to take another chance and try to get it down the field and get out of bounds or something like that and try to give us a chance to either throw a Hail Mary or kick a field goal,” Mahomes said, via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. “But they had kind of made the decision — not just coach Bieniemy. I think it was coach Reid and the whole offensive staff (decided) that we were in a good spot.”
Mahomes said he and Bieniemy considered the argument so minor that neither even felt the need to address it afterward.
“It kind of goes by. Right when we got to the locker room and we just started talking, it was like it never even happened. … When you have a lot of people that care and that want to win, there will be little disagreements but at the same time, you’ll come together and find a way to win at the end of the day,” Mahomes added.
Reid confirmed that he was the one who decided to take a conservative approach at the end of the first half. The Chiefs were losing 14-10 at the time and wound up losing 20-17, so Mahomes may have been justified in wanting to get more points.
Aug 11, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) walks on the sidelines during the first half Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Lamar Jackson decided to gamble on himself by playing this season without a contract extension in place, and one Baltimore Ravens legend thinks the former MVP needs to be very, very careful.
Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed recently spoke with Kevin Clark of The Ringer about Jackson’s contract situation. He shared some very blunt advice for Jackson. Reed mentioned how Jackson’s style of play makes him more susceptible to injuries, noting that the quarterback did not play a full season in 2021. He said if that happens again the Ravens are going to “use it against you” in contract negotiations.
“He’s just got to be smart,” Reed said, as transcribed by Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “I’m not telling him to play scared or anything because I don’t think he’s gonna do that. He hasn’t displayed that, but he has to be smart because it is a business and they will use that s— against you whether you like it or not.
“You can think these people love you. They’re showing their true colors right now. And it’s no shot at the Ravens because they are an organization that’s a business. It’s a business first. It’s the NFL and it’s football to the players and we love that, but it’s a business first to the league.”
Reed said he dealt with a similar situation in Baltimore when he was entering the final year of his rookie deal. Though he did not go into detail, he admitted that he changed the way he approached the game until he had more long-term financial security. You can hear more of Reed’s comments below:
Jackson is off to a great start this year. He has 749 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions through three games. He is also averaging a whopping 9.3 yards per carry and has rushed for 243 yards and an additional two scores.
If Jackson stays on that pace, he will be negotiating from an even greater position of strength next offseason. Though, his refusal to hire an agent has made contract talks more complicated.
Oct 10, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) gestures after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off one of their most impressive wins in years, and Trevor Lawrence seems to be dripping with confidence as a result.
The Jaguars dominated the Los Angeles Chargers on the road en route to a 38-10 victory on Sunday. After the game, Lawrence boldly told reporters that it is time for Jacksonville to be taken seriously.
“Obviously, the way we have played, you can’t deny that we are a really good team,” Lawrence said, via Adam Stites of Jaguars Wire. “But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what they say about us; we know who we are. Our only goal Sunday is to win the game, and the way people think about us, it doesn’t matter.”
Lawrence has every right to feel good about the way the start of the year has gone. The Jags won just three games last season and were a total disaster under Urban Meyer. They are off to a 2-1 start this year. They blew out the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 before making easy work of the Chargers on Sunday.
Lawrence went 28/39 for 262 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against L.A. He was an even more efficient 25/30 for 235 yards, two touchdowns and no picks in Week 2. New head coach Doug Pederson seems to be unlocking Jacksonville’s full offensive potential.
It is too early to say if the Jags are a “really good” team, but they have certainly looked it thus far. One incredible stat about Meyer illustrates just how different 2022 has already been from 2021.
Nov 28, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) looks to the bench during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett was involved in a very frightening car accident on Monday, and we now have some more details about what led to it.
Garrett was driving with a female passenger after he left the Browns facility when he went off the right side of the road. Ohio State Highway Patrol officials said his 2021 Porsche flipped several times before coming to rest. Fortunately, Garrett and the passenger were not seriously injured.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network said Tuesday that Garrett swerved off the road while trying to avoid an animal. The defensive lineman was discharged from the hospital on Monday night.
#Browns star Myles Garrett was discharged from the hospital Monday night, per source.
More tests coming. The good news is Garrett’s injuries aren’t life-threatening. He swerved to avoid an animal on a wet road and overcorrected. Car flipped multiple times. Could’ve been worse.
Police said Garrett and the passenger were both wearing their seatbelts. Neither drugs nor alcohol were factors in the accident.
Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, finished with a career-high 16 sacks last season and has picked up right where he left off this year. He has three sacks and a forced fumble through the first three games. It is unclear if the crash will impact his status for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Jimmy Butler is sporting a new hairstyle heading into the 2022-23 NBA season, and the Miami Heat star says his motivation for the look was quite simple. Butler wants to make people mad online.
Butler arrived in Miami for Heat training camp on Monday with the same long dreadlocks that he first unveiled over the summer. He humorously insists they are his real hair and not extensions. Butler told reporters on Monday that he is unsure if he will keep the hairstyle but is “just messing with stuff to make the internet mad.”
Jimmy Butler on his hair: “I’m just messing with stuff to make the internet mad.” pic.twitter.com/HPKHN9jfkm
At least Butler admitted that he is trying to get a rise out of people. One of his own teammates already had a great reaction to the new hair, and Butler is clearly enjoying every second of it.
Butler is entering his fourth season with the Heat. He averaged 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 57 games last year. The Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Sep 11, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) warms up before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jerry Jones has been consistently optimistic about Dak Prescott returning from his thumb injury sooner than expected, but the Dallas Cowboys owner says there is one main factor that will determine when Prescott is back.
Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that Prescott has made “amazing” progress with his recovery from thumb surgery. He expects the quarterback to be able to play in the next week or two, though it is hard to predict exactly when Prescott will be able to grip and throw the ball.
Jerry Jones on @1053thefan on the latest on Dak Prescott (thumb): "I think his progress is nothing short of amazing." Jones thinks Dak will be able to play in a week or two. "It's a question of whether or not he'll be able to grip and throw the ball, and we don't know that."
That seems like a pretty significant variable. While Prescott obviously feels great and has hit all his benchmarks, the Cowboys clearly will not have the full picture until he tries to grip and throw. Fortunately for them, they have won both of their games that Cooper Rush started.
Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that Cooper Rush has “the makeup of a top quarterback, adding, “let me say this he’s certainly playing as well as anybody could’ve expected.”
Prescott is not going to lose his job to Rush. What could happen, though, is the Cowboys deciding to be extra cautious with Prescott given that Rush is finding ways to help them win games. You can’t ask for a better situation than that with an injured starter.
Aug 12, 2021; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones 10) throws the ball during a game against the Washington Football Team at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is expected to miss multiple games with an ankle injury he suffered on Sunday. The question is how many, and he and the team may not be on the same page with the recovery timeline.
Tests on Monday revealed that Jones has a severe high ankle sprain. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the injury is one that would result in surgery for many people, but Jones and the Patriots are still discussing options. According to James Stewart, who is the executive producer of the “Felger & Mazz” show on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, Jones is at odds with the team over the injury and seeking a second opinion.
The Patriots and Mac Jones are at a disagreement about how to move forward. Patriots want to get him back as soon as possible and he’s hesitant to their guidance and wants to proceed with caution. 2nd opinion. Pats timeline is 4 weeks max, he’s comfortable waiting 6-8 if needed. https://t.co/XFeIm07q1t
Keep in mind that Stewart has a reputation for sharing rumors from his “sources” that do not wind up amounting to anything. That said, it will still be interesting to see how Jones decides to proceed and whether he opts for surgery.
Even if he does not have surgery, it sounds like Jones could be sidelined for a significant amount of time. Veteran Brian Hoyer is expected to start against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
May 19, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) brings the ball up court during the first half of game two of the 2022 eastern conference finals against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics players will be working with a new head coach this upcoming season after Ime Udoka was suspended for a full year, and it does not sound like any of them knew the drastic change was coming.
Jaylen Brown was asked about the situation on Monday. The star swingman said he and his teammates were “shocked” and “confused” by the Udoka situation.
Jaylen Brown said he hasn't talked with Ime Udoka: "We were all shocked with what's going on, a little confused." #Celtics
While you can understand Udoka trying to keep quiet about the investigation, that is not a good sign. Players never want to feel like their coach left them in the dark about something so serious. Udoka supposedly knew for months that the Celtics were investigating his alleged affair. His longtime girlfriend was said to be blindsided by the news, and the same appears to be true for his players.
The Celtics did not make any firm statements about bringing Udoka back when they announced his suspension. Udoka’s relationship with his players will probably be one thing they keep a close eye on when deciding whether he should return as the team’s coach.
Jun 14, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey looks on during minicamp at the ADPRO Sports Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey blew a gasket toward the end of his team’s loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and the coach says he regrets the way he handled himself.
Dorsey was shown on the CBS broadcast slamming his notes around after the Bills blew a chance to orchestrate a game-winning touchdown drive (video here). He addressed the situation while speaking with the media on Monday and vowed to “learn from it.”
Bills OC Ken Dorsey: "It was a playoff atmosphere … obviously we weren't on the winning end of it, so it's frustrating and, you know, reacted that way and obviously that's something that I'm definitely gonna learn from … and make sure let's correct moving forward."
No one really faulted Dorsey for how upset he was. The Bills badly mismanaged the clock multiple times in a game they had a chance to win. Josh Allen also missed a wide-open Isaiah McKenzie on 4th-and-goal late in the game for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown.
Dorsey, who has been with the Bills since 2019 and is in his first year as OC, had every right to be furious. Fans and players should love that he is that passionate about winning.
Nov 28, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) looks to the bench during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett was involved in a serious car accident after he left the team’s practice facility on Monday.
Ohio State Highway Patrol officials said Garrett was driving with a female passenger in his 2021 Porsche at around 3 p.m. Monday when he went off the right side of the road. The car flipped several times before coming to rest. Garrett and the passenger were taken to a nearby hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Camryn Justice of News 5 in Cleveland.
Both Garrett and the passenger were wearing seatbelts. The cause of the crash is unknown. Officials say neither drugs nor alcohol were factors.
Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, finished with a career-high 16 sacks last season and has picked up right where he left off this year. He has three sacks and a forced fumble through the first three games. It is unclear if the crash will impact his status for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, but it sounds like he and the passenger in his car were fortunate to avoid serious injuries.
