Boone has not improved Yankees, Patricia hasn’t changed the Lions

Yankees ‘are not better than they were under Girardi’

“In today’s changing baseball world, owners want younger general managers (with a degree or knowledge of analytics).   And general managers want younger and less experienced field managers whom they can mainipulate and control.  . . . You’ll notice that the Yankees under Aaron Broone,  nice fellow from a good family, are not better off than they were a year ago under Joe Girardi.”

Murray Chass, former baseball writer for the New York Times

 

“Do you know how good they’ve been to me?  I’m not ever going to forget that, regardless of what happens.”

Buck Showalter, shortly before the Baltimore Orioles said they would not renew his contract.

 

“Ramon Laureano has played center field as well as anyone we’ever had here.”

Billy Beane, Oakland A’s boss, on a 24-year-old player he acquired from the Houston Astros in a swap of minor-league prospects last December

 

No. 1 pick in 2019 Draft?  Oregon’s Justin Herbert 

“I think Justin Herbert will be the first pick in the draft next year.  I think the Giants are going to find some way, somehow, to get the first pick in said draft and will take the quarterback to succeed Eli Manning.”

Peter King, NBCSN’s Pro Football Talk

 

“The offense for the Miami Dolphins was totally nonexistent – 75 yards in the first half.  When that happens against Bill Belichick it tells me that the Adam Gase offense has some tells.  We know this New England defense is not special as far as talent, but they cracked the code.”

Chris Simms, Pro Football Talk (NBCSN)

 

“I don’t know how you go on the road and turn it over four times, and they blew a second-half 14-point lead.  Ball security is the concern.  Baker Mayfield can make plays; he’s an exciting quarterback to watch.  But when the game speeds up a little bit, he struggles.”

Rich Gannon, NBCSN’s Monday QB

 

“Three teams right now not running the ball very well: the Raiders, Colts and Lions.  They all have franchise quarterbacks, they’re all 1-3, and they all have new coaches.  I keep watching these quarterbacks in the shotgun and clapping their hands.  Matt Patricia’s talking about taking his team in a new direction, yet they’re doing exactly what they did last year— staying in the shotgun, passing the ball.”

Steve Smith, retired wide receiver, on Showtime’s Inside the NFL

 

McCarthy-Rodgers relationship turning toxic

“Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers have always had a tense relationship.  There’s creative tension, but there are moments when it gets toxic.  When it bleeds into public view, that’s when you get a little nervous.  As a quarterback, you know if you say it publicly that’s a sign I’m raising it to Def-Con 5.  Teams devolve when there’s toxic tension.”

Steve Young, retired NFL quarterback, on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption

  

Reed laments ‘Jordan not wanting to play with me’

“The issue’s obviously with Jordan (Spieth) not wanting to play with me.  . . .  I don’t care if I like the person I’m paired with or the person likes me as long as it works and it sets up the team for success.  He and I know how to make each other better.  We know how to get the job done.  I thought he (captain Jim Furyk) might go back to the guys that have worked in the past.”

Patrick Reed, Ryder Cup golfer

 

Hockey player punched during Cup celebration

“His celebration was unnecessary, so I just let him know.”

Brad Marchand, Boston Bruin, after bloodying the face of Washington’s Lars Eller