…….(Football)…NFL Wildcard Weekend

Titans-W-Chiefs (22-21)…Marcus Mariota leads 3-TD drives in 2nd half-wiping out (21-3) Kansas City lead in Tennessee victory…Mariota threw TD pass to Eric Decker…then caught a deflected pass and scored a TD….Mariota (205P-46R) in heroic comeback…RB-Derrick Henry (156R)-career set day….Chiefs QB-Alex Smith (254P) took 4-sacks…KC RBs had just (56R)….Harrison Bitker-had 38FGs during season, had 53Y-FG hit upright in game…Kansas City lost TE-Travis Kelce in 2nd quarter with concussion…Chiefs have lost 6-playoff games in a row at home…not won postseason game at Arrowhead since 1994.

Falcons-W-Rams (26-13)…Atlanta loads up run game in 2nd half to take control of game…Defense exceptional all night long against Jared Goff….QB-Matt Ryan (218P-TD)…Falcons Res (124R)….Defense had 10-pass deflections…3-sacks and 2-punt fumble recoveries….Jared Goff (259P)…RB-Todd Gurley (I01R) in loss….Matt Bryant kicked 4-FGs for Atlanta…Ryan survived 2-head hits in a row in 2nd quarter-but was not injured-took 3-sacks-5 hits in opening half….Rams PR-Pharo Cooper mishandled 3-punts..More than 74,000 in LA Coliseum for game.

Jaguars–W-Bills (10-3)…Blake Bortels passes for 88Y and ran for 87 to help get enough points…Jalen Ramsey interception late in 4th quarter stops Buffalo final drive….LeSean McCoy (119R) for Buffalo….QB-Tyrod Taylor suffers concussion late in game…Jags-BIlls combined for 17-punts in game…Buffalo (263Y) offense…Jacksonville (230Y) offense.

Saints-W-Carolina (31-26)…Drew Brees (376P-2TD)..outduels Cam Newton (349P-3TD)…..Saints defense had 4-sacks….13-hits on Newton…and had big sack on 4th down stop at the end of the game….Will Lutz kicked 57Y-FG…Graham Gano 58Y-FG in loss.

Carolina-New Orleans

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(NFL)

New England..Deny ESPN report of enormous power struggle in front office between owner Robert Kraft-Coach Bill Belicheck-QB-Tom Brady…ESPN details year long strife over the Brady-Jim Garoppolo relationship and the struggles with Brady’s trainer Alex Guerrero and Belicheck. Highlites of report

..Kraft offered Garoppolo (4Y-72M) extension that was rejected.
..Patriots struggled to decide if to franchise tags Garoppolo at 24M.
..Kraft mandated Belicheck trade the backup quarterback
..Brady did nothing to help Garoppolo improve as a player
..Garoppolo attempted to see private trainer-denied access
..Private trainer was treating 17-Pats players at TB-12 Clinic
..Brady pressured players to use TB-12 clinic
..Guerrero became divisive in locker-room with training methods
..Belicheck banned him because players refused to do strength drills
..Belicheck traded QB-Jacoby Brissett-wanted to keep Garoppolo.
..Patriots now caught in Power struggle of ego..Coach-vs-QB
..Belicheck may leave end of season-pursue Giants job.
..Fear the Patriots will lose both coordinators also
..Pats would wind up with a 41Y-old QB-no backup plan in place

Rams..Attendance dropped 24% from first year to this year.

LA…Market TV ratings dropped 6% from last year with 2-teams in LA.
Rams..TV ratings in LA market (8Rating) 2nd lowest ever in NFL
Chargers..TV ratings in LA market (6-Rating) all time low home market
Roger Goodall…says 37-of-top 50 rated TV shows this year were NFL games

Rams..Informed they will play Chiefs in Mexico City next year.
Chargers..Will have to give up home game-play in England next year

ESPN..Fire Donovan McNabb-Eric Davis for lewd acts at NFL Network

Miami..NFL fines WR-Jazrvis Landry (48,620) for fight-ejection
Rams..NFL fines LB-Blake Countess (48,620) for cheap shot hits
Carolina..NFL fines S-Jairus Byrd (24,309)..WR-Wes Horton (18,231) personal foul hits..
Lions..NFL fines S-Darius Slay (12,154) taunting
Colts..NFL fines WR-TY Hilton (12,154) personal foul
Houston..NFL fines CB-Jonathon Joseph (12,154) for fouls

CFL..Hamilton Ti-Cats make 2Y-contract offer to FA-QB-Johnny Manziel

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(Coaching)

Raiders…Hire Jon Gruden-Coach…will be introduced Tuesday afternoon…(10Y-100M) contract that may include some stock ownership in franchise….GM-Reggie McKenzie stays with club-turning down opportunity to interview in Green Bay.

Bears..Interviewed Josh McDaniels-Patriots on Friday
Bears..Interviewed Matt Nagy-Chiefs on Sunday

Lions..Interviwed Matt Patricia-Raiders-Saturday

Giants..Interviewed Matt Patricia-Patriots on Friday
Giants..Interviewed Pat Shurmur-Vikings on Saturday
Giants..Interviews this week with Josh McDaniels-Patriots..Jim Schwartz-Eagles..Steve Wilks-Carolina..Eric Studesville-Broncos

Ravens..Hire James Urban-QB-coach-from Bengals
Ravens..Re-sign Greg Roman-Off Coor

Cowboys..Derek Dooley-WR coach-leaves for Off Poor job-Missouri
Cowboys..Name Kellen Moore as QB coach

Packers..Get permission interview Eric DeCosta-Ravens-for GM job
Packers..Denied access to interview Lions Def Coor-Teryl Austin
Packers..Hire Jim Hostler-WR coach-ex Colts
Packers..Denied access to interview Vikings VP-George Paton
Packers..John Schnieder-Seahawks-turns down interview offer
Packers..Hire Joe Philbin as offensive consultant
Packers…may offer GM-job to in house candidate Brian Gutekunst

Houston..Interview Will McClay-Cowbohs VP Player Personnel-he thens withdraws
Houston..Interview Joe Douglas-Eagles VP Players
Houston..Interview Brian Gutekunst-Packers exec for GM job csncrelled.

Arizona..Interview Brian Flores-Patriots for head coach job.

Colts..Set up interview with Matt Nagy-Chiefs this week.

Carolina..Give coach Ron Rivera-extension thru 2020 season.
Tennessee…Owner Amy Adams says coach Mike Mularkey’s job not in jeopardy.
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……….(College Football)…….

National Championship Game….Georgia-vs-Alabama in Atlanta

..Georgia….Coach Kirby Smart-longtime assistant under Nick Saban….Bulldogs led by freshman QB-Jake Fromme….heavy duty RBs-Nick Chubb-Sonny Michel and physical front 7-on defense led by LB-Roquan Smith…..Bulldogs averaging (440YPG) on offense including((267YPG) running the ball….Defense gives up (289YP)….Fromme (2383P-23TD) passing…..Chubb-Michel (2449Y) combined rushing.

..Alabama…Nick Saban goes after 6th national championship-would tie him for most in college football history…Tide offers paced by read-option QB-Jalen Hurts and RBs-Damien Harris and Bo Scarborough….Alabama defense ripped by injuries-4 LBs hurting.Tide averaging (454YPG) on offense..give up (253Y) on defense…Hurts (2910APY) run and pass….RBs Harris-Scarborough combined (1559) on ground…Bama averages (255Y) rushing per game.

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(1AA) Championship Game

North Dakota State-W-James Madison (17-13)…Bison snap Dukes 25-game win streak and win 6th-title..Bison defense 4-sacks-3-takeaways-4th down stop in defensive struggle.

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(College Football)

Arizona…..Daily Star newspaper reports Rich Rodriguez administrative assistant filing (7.5M) lawsuit for workplace harassment…says Rodriguez developed a ‘Triangle of Secrecy’ about his private life…pressuring assistants to lie about his whereabouts…and lie to his wife about affair he was having outside of university….was ordered to be on-call all hours to protect his reputation….She accused him of trying to kiss her and groping her at work….Allowed players to pass around pictures of their genitals in office staff without discipline….called him pouty-uncivil-mean spirited-X rated-crude…said Title IX-would not exist in the football office.

San Diego State…Aztecs lose recruiting coordinator Tony White-takes job on Herman Edwards staff at Arizona State.

UCLA..Chip Kelly hires Jerry Neuhisel-Texas AM as QB-coach…Roy Manning-Washington State as Special team coach..Vin Oghobasse-49ers as DL coach…Thad Lewis-former NFL QB-as offensive consultant.

Arizona State..Hire Charley Fisher-WR coach-was head coach-Western Illinois.

Louisville..QB-Lamar Jackson files for NFL draft…had (10,375APY-96TD) in last two years.

USC..RB-Ronald Jones files for NFL draft…(3,619Y-42TD) with Trojans.

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…….(Baseball)…….

Padres…Sign FA-P-Kazu Makita-33Y-submarine reliever…had (1.91-ERA) last 2-years with Seibu Lions.

Padres-Blue Jays…San Diego trades 3B-Yanger Solarte to Blues Jays for Class A-OF-Eduardo Olivares (17-HRs)…and P-Jared Carkoff-7 saves in minors last year.

Padres..DFA-SS-Jose Rondon off 40-man roster…hit (.293) at AAA.

Padres..Re-sign P-Craig Stammen to (2Y-4.5M) extension.

Padres..Report team rejected Cubs offer of SS-Javy Baez for P-Luis Perdomo.

Dodgers-Red Sox…discussed Yasiel Puig-Jackie Bradley trade.
Dodgers..Sign FA-P-Zach Neal-ex-A’s

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(Roster Moves)

Giants..Sign FA-C-Hector Sanchez-Padres..SS-Chase D’Arnaud-Padres..P-Jose Valdez-Padres to AAA–contracts.

Yankees..Sign FA-2B-Jace Peterson-ex Braves.
Tigers..Sign FA-SS-Peter Kozma-ex Texas-Cardinals
Texas..Sell P-Nick Martinez to Nippon Ham Fighters
Orioles..Sell P-Tyler Wilson to LG Twins-Korea
Cardinals..Sign FA-P-Preston Guilmett-Nippon (3.61-ERA)
Piratres..Sign FA-P-Bo Schultz-ex Arizona
Texas..Sign FA-P-Brandon Crompton-ex Pirates

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(Teams)

Mets..Open talks with FA-3B-Matt Moustakas-Royals
Mets..Make contact with FA-C-Jon Lucroy-Rockies
Toronto..Open talks with FA-OF-Lorenzo Cain
Houston..Make contact with FA-P-Greg Holland-Rockies
Giants..Make contact with FA-OF-Carlos Gomez-Rangers
Royals..Talk to FA-SS-Ryan Goins-Toronto

Mets-Pirates..Open trade talks with both OF-Andrew McCutchen-Josh Harrison
Giants-Pirates..Continue trade talks about deal for OF-Andrew Mccutcheon.

Giants-Yankees..NY report says SF interested in Jacoby Ellsbury-but Yankees would have to pay chunk of 68M left on contract.
Cardinals-Yankees..discussed Jedd Gyorko-for-David Robertson trade..Yankees have luxury tax issues

Cubs..Offer FA-P-Alex Cobb-Tampa (3Y-42M)-rejected
Cubs..Offer P-Jake Arrieta (4Y-72M) package

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(MLB)

ESPN…Talks to Alex Rodriguez about in booth job replacing departed Aaron Boone.

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…….(Basketball)……….

Lakers-W-Atlanta….Sunday night matchup…2-worst teams in NBA…Lakers snapped streak…had lost 9-row….and 12-of-13…..(12-27) record.

Lakers..Kyle Kouzma staggering after 2-terrible games in 1-week..(4-24) and (2-14)…said team ‘playing like garbage’.
Lakers..Release C-Andrew Bogut-had become publicly critical of team…asked for release so he could go to playoff contender.

Lakers…LaVar Ball-father of Lonzo-says young players don’t want to play for Luke Walton…says Walton can’t coach….says coach has lost his team…LaVar made comments from Lithuania where his sons are preparing to play in the Baltic League.

Clippers-L-Golden State…Steph Curry scored 45P
Clippers…Lose F-Blake Griffin-concussion-hit by elbow in Warriors game.
Clippers-Atlanta..Monday night basketball.
Clippers..G-Milos Teodosic-injured again-foot

Oklahoma City..F-Carmelo Anthony faces fine for dropping “MF” phrase during TV interview

Kings..Send F-Justin Jackson-lst round pick to NBA-G League.

76ers….Legend Julius Erving taken to hospital from home game with irregular heartbeat.

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(College)

Minnesota..Top C-Reggie Lynch suspended from team after being named in lawsuit over a sexual assault incident…2nd incident in a months time on campus dating back to 2016.

USD-L-St Marys (70-63)…6’11 Jock Landale (22P-9R)…Gaels go (25-32) from FT line..USD commits 22-fouls in game..14-turnovers

Aztecs…Off weekend-play San Jose State next

(Mountain West)

Nevada-W-Air Force..Wolfpack now (15-3)
Fresno-W-Colorado State..Bulldogs now (12-5)
Wyoming-W-Boise..Hayden Dalton (29P-12R) for Cowboys..Broncos (13-3)

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….(Hockey)………

Gulls-W-San Jose…San Diego sweeps AHL-weekend series winning both Friday-Saturday night vs Barracudas…Goalie Reto Berra 46-saves on Friday….Kevin Boyle 46-saves on Saturday…Team drew over 21,000 for the two nights.

Gulls..Send young F-Austin Ortega to ECHL-Utah..had just 2-goals this year.
Kings..Send F-Johnny Brodzisnki…..D-Kevin Gravel to Ontario in AHL.

Ducks-L-Calgary..on Saturday..Dougie Hamilton 3rd period goal for Flames
Kings-L-Nashville..Austin Wilson 2-goals for Predators…Kings held them to just 19-shots but lost on home ice.

Montreal..Trade G-Alex Montoya to Oilers for 4th round pick.
Rangers..F-Chris Krielder-blood clot surgery to remove a rib.

OHL…Record setting junior league trade…Erie Otters deal two players to Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds for F-Hayden Fowler and “9-draft picks”

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….(General)……..

Australian Open…Begins in Melbourne without Andy Murray-Serena Williams and Eugenie Bouchard…Murray with hip issue..Serena coming off child birth…Bouchard-buttock injury.

Tournament of Champions-Kapalua….Dustin Johnson runs away from the field…finished (-20) under (203)…John Rahm finished 2nd at (-14)

Tony Stewart…NASCAR legend ordered to trial May 7th-Utica, New York in manslaughter death of driver Kevin Ward -in sprint car dirt race in 2014-when Ward walked onto track after accident and was clipped by Stewart car.

Soccer…Liverpool sell F-Phillipe Coutino to FC-Barcelona for record 192M-all time record for EPL transaction.

EPL..Public feud between Chelsea coach Antonio Conte and Manchester United coach Josie Mourinho….Mourhino called Conte a ‘clown’ on sidelines..and ‘demented’…Conte called Manchester U coach a “fake little man”

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