Cam Jordan cuts down Big Ben, Pelicans in ‘fear’ of Davis leaving
New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan interrupted a reporter at his locker who suggested that Ben Roethlisberger is a future Hall of Famer and one of the five best QBs in the NFL. “The top five of this era? . . . You putting him at Number 5?” He shrugged. “OK.” Jordan clearly was not interested in crediting Roethlisberger, whom the Saints will face Sunday in the Superdome. Most likely Jordan was reprimanded by the Saints coaching staff for providing extra motivation for Roethlisberger. Jordan tweeted: “To be honest, I was thinking first ballot not naïve or biased to see that he isn’t a HOF but alas. . . “
Dear Cam: The Steelers are a very dangerous team when motivated. They may be the most talented team in the NFL, but often they are listless. You’ve made sure to summon their best effort.
Anthony Davis has Pelicans afraid he will force a departure
Steph Curry was just joking when he said he didn’t believe Americans have landed on the moon. And he has accepted an invitation to visit NASA the next time the Golden State Warriors are playing in Houston. Responding to millions who were disappointed in his apparent flat-earth leanings, Curry said, “I’m going to educate myself first-hand on everything that NASA has done. Informing yourself is power. For kids out there hanging onto every word we say, understand that you should not believe something just because somebody says it.”
Dear Steph: This incident shows how words matter, no matter how ill chosen. It’s big of you to point out how little influence you should have.
Roethlisberger drama goes on: What were they thinking?
More details have emerged on Ben Roethlisberger’s strange behavior in Sunday’s game between Pittsburgh and Oakland. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that one reason for his indecision on playing his starting quarterback in the second half was the fact that the X-ray machine in the Oakland Coliseum was defective. So he didn’t know if Big Ben had a broken rib. Such an injury could have caused a punctured lung, so caution was justified. Another media report had Roethlisberger waiting for pain-killing drugs to take effect before he entered the game. Roethlisberger sat on the bench for all but the final five minutes of the second half of the shocking loss to the defenseless Raiders. Tomlin said he was committed to using Roethlisberger only if necessary to win the game. “He got treatment at halftime. He came back out. We were waiting to see if he was going to be able to come back in. He was. He probably could have come in a series or so sooner, but we were in the rhythm and flow of the game.” Truth is there was absolutely no rhythm and flow with backup Josh Dobbs at QB. As Peter King on Pro Football Talk said, “If your starting quarterback is ready to play he goes into the game. I’ve never heard of a quarterback being held out of a game because of rhythm-and-flow issues. I can’t fathom what it possibly means.”
Dear Coach: What it probably means is you’re covering for a diva quarterback who was saving himself for a heroic late-game appearance, or you’re trying to cover your ass for putting his health in extreme jeopardy.
Chicago Bulls in mutiny against new coach Boylen
In his first game coaching the Chicago Bulls, Jim Boylen said the team was underconditioned and practices were going to be much harder and longer than they were under Fred Hoiberg. Boylen was relaying a message he’d received from his bosses. He called it “shock and awe.” When the Bulls lost by 56 points Saturday at home to the Boston Celtics (the worst loss in franchise history), Boylen said he was planning for another extended practice Sunday, when the players were expecting to have a day off after back-to-back games (winning Friday night in Oklahoma City). In a players-only meeting, the Bulls decided they would skip Sunday’s practice, no matter how long it was going to be. Instead of practicing, the Bulls ended up holding two team meetings that day, with the coach joining them for the second one. “We’re still learning about each other,” Boylen said. “They’re still learning how I want it.” Some of the Bulls filed a complaint with the NBA Players Association re Boylen’s extreme measures.
Dear Coach: You need to lighten up. The time to build endurance is in training camp. Now it’s all about survival.
