May 13, 2022; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) speaks to the media during rookie camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Kayvon Thibodeaux was tweeting up a storm during the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night, and he ended up crossing a San Francisco 49ers legend.
Thibodeaux just completed his rookie season for the New York Giants. The No. 5 overall pick’s Giants got steamrolled 38-7 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs by the Eagles.
Philadelphia had an easy time with the 49ers as well, beating San Francisco 31-7 in the conference championship on Sunday. The 49ers lost both their quarterbacks to injury, which gave the Eagles a much easier path to victory.
During the game, Thibodeaux jokingly tweeted that his Giants looked better than the Niners.
Way this game look we might be better than the 49rs😂😂😂
Staley was part of the NFL’s All Decade team for the 2010s. He has a very good case for being a Hall of Fame player. And Thibodeaux hasn’t heard of him? Maybe Kayvon needs to study up on his history.
What’s worse is that the Giants lost 38-7 to the Eagles with their quarterback healthy. At least both of the Niners’ QBs were injured in their loss.
Dec 4, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) looks for an open receiver against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Brock Purdy suffered an elbow during Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles with an elbow injury. Now we know the extent of the injury.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday that Purdy suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The injury reportedly will keep Purdy out six months.
Interestingly, Schefter says that Purdy is seeking second opinions to see whether he needs surgery.
Brock Purdy is seeking second medical opinions about whether he needs surgery, per source. 49ers are recommending surgery but no decisions yet. https://t.co/GdMokH4pDe
“Brock Purdy suffered a torn UCL that will sideline him six months, per source. … Purdy is seeking second medical opinions about whether he needs surgery, per source. 49ers are recommending surgery but no decisions yet,” Schefter tweeted.
Torn UCLs are fairly common among pitchers in baseball. Purdy reportedly is hoping that he only needs his UCL repaired, which is not as major as a full reconstruction, which is known as Tommy John surgery.
Purdy was a 7th-round pick by the 49ers in 2022. He took over as the team’s starter in Week 13 and went 8-0 until losing in the conference championship game.
Purdy passed for 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns and 4 interceptions during his time as the Niners’ starter. The team reportedly was prepared to make Purdy their starter prior to this injury.
Oct 26, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards (1) reacts to a call by referee Cheryl Flores in the first quarter of the game with the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Edwards is getting nearly 25 points per game in the NBA, but his diet still appears to be stuck in high school.
In a video feature this week for GQ Sports, the Minnesota Timberwolves phenom Edwards revealed that he has one pretty absurd junk food habit — he eats at least 21 bags of Chester’s Flamin’ Hot Fries … every week.
“I’ve been eating them since I was probably like five years old,” Edwards said of the snack. “I prefer these over any chips in the world. I probably eat like three [bags] a day. Do the math, what’s that? 21 bags [a week]? Yeah. I eat that many. Probably more though, for real. Depending on how long my day is.”
You can’t hate on Edwards’ choice of snack since Chester’s Fries are indeed a gift from heaven almighty with their spicy, flavorful goodness. They are also pretty economical at $2.29 for a big 5.5-ounce bag (though it used to be just $2 a bag). But having 21 of those bags per week (for nearly 100 per month) is probably where it gets a little bit exorbitant.
Of course, Edwards plays by different rules as a 6-foot-4, 225-pound pro athlete with a very different calorie intake than the average person. But Edwards’ poor diet has been a subject of criticism in the recent past, and Chester’s Fries (no matter how delectable they might be) are not helping him any there.
Dec 26, 2021; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) prior to a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs was on the wrong side of Eli Apple’s Twitter boasting a week ago, but he got the last laugh on Monday.
Apple and the Cincinnati Bengals were eliminated in the AFC Championship game by the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and plenty of people had their say after a week of Bengal trash-talking. Apple was a target, as many had filed away his response to Diggs after the Bengals’ 27-10 win over Buffalo in the Divisional round.
Diggs filed it away, too. On Monday, he issued his response to the Cincinnati cornerback, making it pretty clear that while he wasn’t going to overtly celebrate the Bengals’ demise, he had certainly taken notice of the response.
In other words, Diggs is basically saying that what goes around comes around, and that is why he chooses to stick to his own business. That certainly seems to be a lesson the Bengals might want to learn from the last week.
Jan 4, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) warms up before the AFC Wild Card NFL Playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
JJ Watt announced his retirement from the NFL barely a month ago, but it did not take long for fans to start buzzing about his next move.
Watt shared a photo on Twitter Monday that showed him and former teammate DeMeco Ryans when the two were with the Houston Texans. He did not leave a caption.
Many fans took the leap that Watt was trying to drop hints about a reunion with Ryans. The San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator is the favorite to be named the next head coach of the Texans, so some have wondered if Watt would have interest in joining Ryans’ staff.
Of course, Watt could have simply been showing support for a former teammate who is about to make a huge career move. Watt has already been campaigning for Ryans to land a head coach job.
Ryans, 38, played for the Texans from 2006-2011. Watt was drafted by Houston in 2011, and he said Ryans was a huge mentor for him during Watt’s first NFL season. The photo the three-time Defensive Player of the Year shared probably has more to do with that than any future coaching plans Watt may or may not have.
Mar 4, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean (LB11) talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Fans of the classic sitcom “Martin” will appreciate the line that Nakobe Dean dropped after Sunday’s victory.
Dean and the Philadelphia Eagles took out the San Francisco 49ers with a 31-7 win in the NFC Championship Game. During the postgame celebration in the Eagles’ locker room, the linebacker Dean went viral for the hilarious remark he made on teammate CJ Gardner-Johnson’s Instagram Live video.
“The 49ers [said], ‘I’m sorry Martin. I just didn’t want to go to Arizona,'” Dean joked.
Dean was referencing an episode from the Martin Lawrence sitcom where a young boy in Martin’s apartment complex pretends to be Martin’s long-lost son, all because he does not want to move to Arizona with his real family.
Here are the two clips side-by-side.
“I’m sorry I lied to you Martin. I just didn’t want to go to Arizona.”
Nakobe Dean trolled the 49ers by quoting Martin after the Eagles win 😭😭
The line was particularly applicable because this year’s Super Bowl is taking place in Arizona. By losing to the Eagles in the NFC title game, the 49ers will not, in fact, be going to Arizona.
That is a pretty impressive reference for Dean to make since he was born in 2000 while Martin has been off the air since 1997. But the rookie linebacker is always full of surprises, and he had another one up his sleeve this week to celebrate his first career Super Bowl trip.
Dec 15, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Former Denver Broncos player Peyton Manning before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
One candidate for the Indianapolis Colts head coach position appears to have a powerful backer in his corner.
The Colts have set up a second interview with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, according to reports. Callahan’s candidacy is noteworthy for one reason: according to Albert Breer of The MMQB, he has an advocate in Colts legend Peyton Manning.
It's definitely worth noting that among Callahan's advocates is Colts legend Peyton Manning. Which I'd think would carry weight with Jim Irsay. https://t.co/WQeRfZUtIZ
Callahan got his start in coaching as an offensive assistant with the Denver Broncos from 2010 to 2015, a period of time that overlapped with Manning’s four seasons with the team. He became Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator in 2019, and has been credited for the work he has done with Joe Burrow.
Colts owner Jim Irsay appears to be fixated on another Colts legend as one of his preferred candidates for the vacancy. Perhaps a Manning endorsement could be enough to help sway him in another direction.
Sep 13, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) before playing against the Baltimore Ravens at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Las Vegas Raiders have made it abundantly clear that they are moving on from quarterback Derek Carr, but they are not taking one key step that would arguably make the process easier.
The Raiders have not given Carr’s agent permission to speak to other teams about a trade, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. This is particularly unusual, as Carr has veto power over any trade and would theoretically want to be comfortable with his destination before any trade is arranged.
The reasons behind the Raiders’ lack of action are unclear. Tafur points out that they may be concerned about Carr’s agent, Tim Younger, working out free agent terms with other teams instead of working on a trade. Since Carr’s 2023 salary becomes guaranteed on Feb. 15, however, the Raiders will have to trade or release him by then, so it does not make a lot of sense for them to prevent Carr from assessing his options. Carr could also theoretically invoke his no-trade clause and force the Raiders to cut him, but there is no indication that is the case.
Reports have suggested that Carr would have a decent trade market if the Raiders go that route, and they could probably get at least a draft pick for him. Letting Carr seek out potential destinations himself would probably make that process easier, and it is not clear why the Raiders are not doing that already.
Jul 13, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes during the 2021 MLB All Star Game between the American League and the National League at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
A former World Series champion is headed from Northeast to Southeast.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Monday that ex-Boston Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes is headed to the Miami Marlins in a trade. The Marlins will be sending another reliever, lefty Richard Bleier, back to the Red Sox.
The righty Barnes was designated for assignment by Boston last week in a very surprising move, meaning that they had to either release, waive, or trade him. The Red Sox have officially decided on the third option.
Barnes, 32, had been with Boston since 2014, pitching for them during their World Series title in 2018 and making the AL All-Star team in 2021. While he battled shoulder issues last season that decreased his effectiveness, Barnes averaged a ruthless 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings over the previous three seasons combined and still has plenty left to offer.
As for the Marlins, they have quietly assembled a very solid army of veteran acquisitions this offseason. Shortstop Jean Segura and starter Johnny Cueto (two former All-Stars) arrived in free agency, and a hot-hitting infielder also just landed in Miami via trade.
Alabama Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien during warm ups before the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Credit: Gary Cosby Jr./USA TODAY NETWORK
After Josh McDaniels left the New England Patriots to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, there were almost immediate rumblings that Bill Belichick should bring Bill O’Brien back. We may now know why Belichick waited a year to do that.
According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, Belichick was concerned that O’Brien would only stay with the Patriots for a season. Belichick apparently felt that if O’Brien returned to New England as offensive coordinator, O’Brien may do such a good job that he would bolt for a head coach position after just one season. That is one reason Belichick did not try to lure O’Brien away from Alabama a year ago.
“I’m told the reason he didn’t even pursue it with (Nick) Saban. Was out of fear that O’Brien might do well enough in a year to land a head coaching job elsewhere, leaving the Patriots to replace a coordinator two years in a row,” Breer wrote, via Mark Daniels of MLive.com.
If that is accurate, it is not the best look for Belichick. While you can understand him being concerned about losing offensive coordinators in back-to-back seasons, Breer’s report essentially means Belichick was confident O’Brien would do a great job. The head coach obviously believed a combination of himself, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge could handle the offense just as well without the risk of having to make major changes in 2023. He was wrong about that.
