Former Browns receiver Braylon Edwards was charged with misdemeanor assault today in connection with an incident outside a downtown nightclub several weeks ago, Cleveland Municipal Court officials said. Edwards was traded to the New York Jets days after he was accused of punching entertainment promoter Edward Givens about 2:30 a.m. outside the View Ultralounge & Nightclub on Prospect Avenue. Givens, a party promoter and friend of Cavs superstar LeBron James, said Edwards is jealous of James' success and that led to the attack. Edwards faces a sentence of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, if convicted.
Fisher isn’t making that same commitment coming off the bye weekend and heading into Sunday’s game against the Jaguars at LP Field. It doesn’t mean he’s changing quarterbacks, but he’s changing his approach. “We’ve had a week to do some different things and considering the circumstances we’re in right now with the record, there’s things that you need to do differently,’’ Fisher said on Monday. “Let’s just say I am not going to be as specific and open-ended from a competitive standpoint.’’ Fisher made it clear, however, he remains confident in Collins, who has completed 54.8 percent of his passes while throwing five touchdowns and eight interceptions. Titans owner Bud Adams told The Tennessean last week he’d like to see Young play. The team’s first round draft pick in 2006 hasn’t started since Sept. 9, 2008 against the Jaguars.
Two weeks ago tonight, Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn made an impressive catch on a long touchdown that helped deliver a win over the Jets. On Sunday, however, Ginn was back to eating pre-game popcorn, with multiple key drops in the 46-34 loss to the Saints. From ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Ginn will see reduced playing time going forward. Mort also said that, if the trade deadline were tomorrow instead of last Tuesday, the Dolphins would be dialing up the Ravens and offering Ginn to the team whose offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, drafted Ginn in 2007 with the ninth overall pick. In hindsight, it would have been a great time to sell high, with Ginn looking great against the Jets. As a result, Miami missed an opportunity, and now they're stuck with Ginn through the balance of the season. Ginn had one of his worst games, dropping three passes, one of which he deflected to a defender who scored on an interception return. Ginn caught only two of eight passes thrown his way, ran out of bounds a yard shy of a first down, and reinforced the perception he'll never fulfill his projected potential as a No. 9 overall draft pick in 2007.'' Ted is a young guy that's getting better,'' Sparano said. ''He just didn't have a good ballgame.'' Quarterback Chad Henne, making only his third NFL start, said the offense must react better to eight-man fronts. ''They're challenging you,'' Henne said. ''They have one extra guy you can't block, and that guy is up to me. We have to have good timing with the wideouts, have to run good routes, and I have to put the ball where it needs to be. There were some miscues there with me and the wide receivers.''For the Dolphins, there was plenty of blame to go around, starting with the head coach.
There’s something chilling about the final words I heard from Jasper Howard following UConn’s win over Louisville on Saturday. “You’ve got to play every play like it’s your last play … Coach Edsall always stresses that,” Howard said with a knit cap pulled over his ears sitting in the interview area. As a starting cornerback and team leader, Howard was talking about the sense of urgency UConn needed to play with in the fourth quarter. Then off he went back to campus, where his life would end nearly 12 hours later; the victim of a tragic and senseless stabbing outside the student union. It was powerful stuff, especially when Coach Edsall, fighting back tears, said, “There’s nothing in my job description that says you have to identify bodies, you have to make the phone calls to the parents, but that’s part of the job, and it’s very, very unfortunate and I just hope that I never have to go through what I went through today. Howard was going to be a father, leading to another emotional moment from senior Desi Cullen, who spoke so gracefully on behalf of the players, said, “Hearing the news that he’s a father breaks my heart. The idea that he will grow up without a father tears me apart … if I could talk to him or his family, I would them tell his son, or daughter, they will have 105 more uncles for the rest of their life.” Rest in Peace man. It is crazy what this world has come to. This tragic event will make an already close team even tighter. They will play the rest of the season, starting Saturday at West Virginia, in Howard’s honor.
Drew Brees had a simple message for current Boilermakers signal caller Joey Elliott. "Drew Brees texted me last night and said: 'Hey, go out there and shock the world, have fun. I'll be watching."' Elliott did as he was told and led Purdue to its biggest upset in years. He threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, and the Boilermakers stunned No. 7 Ohio State 26-18 on Saturday. The struggles of quarterback Terrelle Pryor and Co. were too much for the Buckeyes to overcome. The Buckeyes have won at least a share of the last four Big Ten crowns and played in four consecutive BCS games. If they don't get their offense in order soon, those streaks could come to an end this season. The Buckeyes lost to an unranked team for the first time since Illinois upset Ohio State at home in 2007. But that Illinois team went on to play in the Rose Bowl. This Purdue team had lost five straight coming in and will have to scramble to become bowl eligible. Pryor passed for 221 yards, but was held to 34 yards on 21 carries. He said the Buckeyes didn't respect the Boilermakers, despite the compliments Ohio State's coaching staff paid Purdue throughout the week. "I don't think we had as much intensity as we do going into any other game," Pryor said. "Not really belittling them, but thinking we were going to walk over them. Every week, you have to fear the underdog, and the underdog took care of us today. There's nothing else I can really say." Oh but best believe they got their credit after the game as Pryor gave Purdue's defense credit. "They did a real good job hiding some stuff I didn't see at all on film," Pryor said. "My hat's off to them. They played a great game." But when Buckeyes had five turnovers against Purdue, including four by quarterback Terrelle Pryor, you expect a loss and that's that.
That will do it for the national title talk. In fact, after Saturday night's loss at Georgia Tech, No. 4 Virginia Tech will be in a battle just to win the Coastal Division of the ACC. The Hokies' offense couldn't capitalize on great field position. The battle of the Techs was won by Georgia's version, 28-23, ending a five-game winning streak and bombing BCS championship dreams for the Hokies. As the season's first BCS rankings came out, the Hokies will be left to wonder what might have been. They started three drives in Georgia Tech territory that resulted in zero points. Virginia Tech's defense will go back to the drawing board during its upcoming off week after allowing more than 270 rushing yards in the second half Saturday. Over the game's final 34 minutes, the Hokies gave up four plays that gained at least 30 yards. What is funny the D-Coordinator caution just that in practice this week, "They're going to get yards," he said. "What we can't do is give up big plays. If you keep it to three or four yards... it gives you a chance." So because they did give up the big plays, their ACC and national title hopes turned into a Georgia Tech party.
Mark Sanchez came back strong from his worst performance in his short pro career, effectively managing the offense in the Jets' 31-27 loss to the Dolphins Monday Night. The rookie quarterback, who threw three interceptions and had a critical fumble a week earlier against the Saints, took good care of the ball against the Dolphins. Sanchez connected on 12 of 24 attempts for 172 yards and a touchdown, and got into a comfortable rhythm with new target Braylon Edwards immediately, tossing him a 3-yard touchdown pass on the Jets' initial drive. "I felt comfortable out there and wanted to be smart with the football," said Sanchez, who soaked up the Hispanic Heritage Night atmosphere. "I definitely was that, and we had our chances to make plays down the field. I thought we made a couple of great ones. Braylon was lights out, just unbelievable. I've never seen anyone catch the ball like that. We did miss some opportunities on offense. We're not thrilled with our performance and have a heck of a lot of work to do." Edwards was solid in his Jets' debut with 64 yards and a touchdown on five catches. He immediately injected life into the offense, giving the Jets a big-play threat with his 6-3, 215-pound frame. But Edwards did have more than a few butterflies flying around inside his stomach. "I was excited," Edwards said. "I haven't been this nervous since my first start in college. So it was anxiety, nervousness a little bit. But once the whistle blows, it's football. It was fun." It was a big night no matter the outcome for the former Michigan players.
Oh by the way, Sanchez is still my Rookie of the Year.
The 53-yard pass from Henne to Ginn was hardly the only highlight during a wild fourth quarter Monday night, when the lead changed hands five times and the Dolphins won 31-27 on a TD with 6 seconds left. But Henne's long toss underscored the dramatic change his strong arm brings to Miami's offense, giving the Dolphins the deep threat they've lacked since Dan Marino retired nearly 10 years ago. Even last year, when Chad Pennington threw for 3,653 yards, the Dolphins rarely went deep. In the first four games this year, they had only two completions of 20 yards or more to wide receivers. A shoulder injury ended Pennington's season Sept. 27, and Henne became the Dolphins' 14th starting quarterback since Marino. The past two games suggest Miami finally has a long-term solution with a QB talented enough to lead a championship team. The Dolphins have scored 69 points in Henne's two starts, their biggest point total in consecutive games since 2002. They won both to reach the bye week at 2-3, putting them back in the AFC East race. They're ready to follow Henne. As a starter he's 34 for 48 for 356 yards, with three touchdowns and no turnovers. He repeatedly made good decisions against the Jets, and avoided being sacked even though they blitzed two dozen times. Henne outplayed the Jets' rookie Mark Sanchez, while facing a defense that had allowed only three touchdowns in the first four games. Henne led the Dolphins to three TDs in the fourth quarter alone, each time bringing them from behind.
After an outstanding preseason, expectations were high for Nicks. The Giants, before the season, didn’t seem to have a clear cut number one receiver. Of course, that was role was filled by Steve Smith. But Nicks had a legitimate chance to take that role. Well, injuries hit, and Nicks missed the Dallas and Tampa Bay games, stunting his development. But, in Kansas City, something happened. Nicks dazzled us with a 54 yard touchdown off of a screen pass. He made guys miss. He showed great vision. He showed the capabilities of a number one receiver. Sunday against Oakland, we saw more of Nicks. He caught 4 passes for 49 yards, including a touchdown. He’s showing a nose for the endzone. Nicks will continue his impressive performances. But, from what he’s done, it’ safe to say that Nicks is emerging.
