Dolphins minimized QB’s injury, leading to investigation by NFL
NFL investigating Dolphins for ‘questionable’ injury report on Tannehill’s shoulder
NFL coaches routinely lie about injuries. They want opponents scheming to stop players who will be impaired or not playing at all. The rules require a coach to list a player as “limited” in practice if he did not perform all his “normal” tasks. Some fudging is tolerated (Belichick will be Belilchick), but Miami’s Adam Gase may have crossed the line in claiming that Ryan Tannehill practiced “in full” last Thursday after the coach had previously disclosed that backup QB Brock Osweiler took some first-team reps. Gase told reporters after Thursday’s practice that Tannehill’s sore shoulder “got worse,” that “he couldn’t throw the ball the way he wanted to.” Nonetheless, Tannehill on Friday was listed on the team’s injury report as “questionable” to play Sunday against Chicago, when “doubtful” would have been more accurate. On Saturday, “it was clear there was a significant problem with Ryan,” Armando Salguero (Miami Herald) reported. “The league is looking at the fact that they left him at questionable as he was getting worse during the week. They didn’t change him from questionable to doubtful.” When news reports surfaced Sunday morning that Tannehill wasn’t playing, the betting line on the Dolphins tumbled: from 3-point dogs to +6.5. After Osweiler and the Dolphins beat the Bears, Gase was nervous and snippy with reporters questioning the late switch of quarterbacks. Dolphins beat writer Salguero (appearing on NBCS Pro Football Talk) provided clues on why Gase was squirming: “When reports are saying the morning of the game that he’s doubtful to play, and their injury report says he’s questionable, there’s something they’re going to look at there.”
Between the Lines: Roger Goodell’s office is especially concerned about accuracy in injury reports now that betting on football has been legalized in six states, with many more soon to follow.
Astros dealing with their own Spygate
Major League Baseball conducted a brief investigation and then announced that the Houston Astros violated no rules when one of their employees was surreptitiously using a cellphone to film the inside of the Boston Red Sox dugout at Fenway Park in the American League Championship Series. The Astros’ employee (reported by Yahoo Sports to be Kyle McLaughlin) was filming from an area adjacent to the dugout that’s reserved for credentialed media. Security personnel escorted him away when he could not produce media credentials. The Astros contended they were not trying to “steal” signs but were “monitoring” the Sox to see if they were using dugout video to film their opponents’ signs. MLB accepted the Astros’ explanation, but issued this reprimand: “All clubs remaining in the playoffs have been notified to refrain from these types of efforts. . . . We consider the matter closed.”
Between the Lines: The Cleveland Indians reported a similar incident when the Astros played in the AL Division Series. MLB believes that what the Astros’ did was wrong and will not be allowed in the future, but let’s not have a controversy now when the postseason is so much fun.
Machado says he’s ‘not the type of player that’s going to be Johnny Hustle’
In a sport that’s notorious for loafing athletes, one of baseball’s greatest players is drawing attention for both malice and laziness on the base paths. Milwaukee Brewer Christian Yelich, odds-on favorite to be American League MVP, called Manny Machado “a dirty player” after he appeared to kick the ankle of Jesus Aguilar while running to first base during Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Machado, shortstop of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been cited several times for inappropriate conduct during this postseason. And he’s not responding to any wakeup calls, even from his manager, Dave Roberts, who publicly upbraided him a second time for not running out a grounder. Machado, 26, told The Athletic: “Obviously I’m not going to change. I’m not the type of player that’s going to be Johnny Hustle.”
Dear Manny: That admission won’t keep some teams from offering you a $100 million contract in free agency, but what is your legacy worth? You want to be remembered as a dirty, lazy ballplayer?
Ray Lewis calls out Jaguars defense: ‘Stop talking; play football’
Ray Lewis, former All-Pro linebacker who’s now a commentator for Showtime’s Inside the NFL, unloaded on a Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense that surrendered 40 points to Dallas. He said “they should stop talking and play football. There’s lack of effort all around the board. When I’m watching their defense I don’t see linebackers getting into linebackers’ positions. I don’t see corners squat; everybody’s standing straight up. It’s a lack of having one voice. Calais Campbell, somebody’s got to stand up and say, ‘Look at this film. Is that who we are? We’re saying we’re great? Act like you’re great.’” On the same show, Phil Simms called the Jags “the ultimate front-runners. When you take them out of their game just a little bit, they’re lost.”
Between the Lines: Much of the talking to which Lewis referred was done by All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey. He denigrated several NFL quarterbacks and became a motivator of the team’s opponents.
Jerry Jones backs away from a tweet by his website operator
Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, hired a journalist, Jeff Sullivan, to operate a website for the team, DallasCowboys.com. But Jones this week has been backpedaling from a report Sullivan posted on Twitter that suggested Jones was about to offer a contract extension to is embattled head coach, Jason Garrett. “I don’t know where Jeff’s getting his information.” Jones said. “He’s pulling one out of the air.” Asked if he’s considering extending Garrett, Jones said, “Whether I’m thinking about it or whether it’s going to be there, it’s not something I would have visited with anybody about, least of all, Jeff.”
Dear Jeff: Hope you’re not planning on keeping your new job for long.
Jay Glazer sees ‘a fire sale’ beginning in Oakland
When Jon Gruden decided Kahlil Mack was not worth what he wanted, the Oakland Raiders headed for a complete rebuild, even if their new head coach did not know it at the time. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that the Raiders have been calling NFL teams to find new homes for two former No. 1 draft picks, wide receiver Amari Cooper and safety Karl Joseph. “Fire sale in Oakland,” Glazer said. Cooper, No. 4 overall in the 2015 draft, has two Pro Bowl appearances and has drawn interest from Super Bowl champion Philadelphia. Joseph, in his third season with the Raiders, is barely playing, so you can assume Gruden will unload him before next Tuesday’s trade deadline. The Eagles, who own 11 draft picks for 2019, might consider Joseph for a secondary depleted by injury.
Between the Lines: The Raiders are 1-5, and their only hope for a turnaround in 2-3 years is to score big in the 2019 Draft. Joseph disappoints in coverage, and Cooper isn’t connecting with Derek Carr.
Jalen Ramsey has little to say when Dak Prescott humiliates the Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey made belittling comments in GQ magazine about several NFL quarterbacks, including the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, who was described as “all right.” Prescott was better than that – passing for 183, rushing for 82 — in the Cowboys’ 40-7 rout of the Jags on Sunday. After the game, Ramsey had little to say, prompting this tirade from ESPN’s Mike Wilbon (Pardon the Interruption): “Jalen Ramsey, what a dog he was. He rips people in national magazines, he rips every quarterback. And when the time comes to be accountable, and be a pro — Hey, Jalen Ramsey, if you’re scared, get a dog. What an awful performance by him with the media: ‘I dunno, I dunno, no comment.’ . . . Jalen Ramsey, what a fraud he is.”
