Best 15 Minutes

Best 15 Minutes in Sports-Wednesday

……(Football)…….

Patriots…Criticism directed a Bill Belicheck ‘unrelenting’ in New Engaland over handling of Malcom Butler-Super Bowl benching.

Malcom Butler…released statement denying he was involved in curfew violation…use of marijuana…or confrontation with coaches leading up to game day decision to bench him…says he is prepared to move forward as free-agent.

Boston Sports Talk Radio…Hosts lineup with criticism of Belicheck.
..Is benching putting your team in best position to win?
..Impeccable resume-let ego get in way-arrogant decision.
..Egregious act-then why was he still active on game day
..Belicheck snapped-screw this guy-we’re done.
..Belicheck let team down..let his coaches down.
..Put this loss on Bill.
..In Bill we trust? This leaves a mark.
..Decision divided the lockeroom right before the game
..41-points-538Yards-Butler would help defense get off field

Patriots…Off Coord Josh McDaniels backs out of deal to take Indy Colts head coaching job…signs extension to stay after meeting with Bob Kraft…may have been given promise to beg ‘Head Coach in Wating’ when Belicheck retires.

Rob Gronkowski…confirms burglars broke into condo he shared with two other me…stole safes, jewelry, cash, electronics.

Super Bowl…San Diego TV ratings a strong ’45’ rating for entire broadcast…40-rating at kickoff…49.7-rating in 4th quarter…Nationwide TV viewership went from 114-to-103 million…drop of 7-percent…and lowest since 2009 Super Bowl

Eagles…say they will pick up 3M-roster bonus for QB-Nick Foles in March..will have 7M cap charge to be backup next year.

Steelers..LB-Ryan Shazier clarifies report-he is not walking on his own-but with help of a walker in his rehab.

Bengals..DT-Josh Tupou-arrested Colorado-public drunkeness.

Chicago..Ex Bears QB-Shane Matthews arrested as part of rind that stole 20M-in health benefits earmarked for military personnel…former Tampa Bay S-Monty Gow headed up the ring.

NFL..Invites record (326) players to Indianapolis combine-end of February.

Colts..Owner Jim Irsay to pay for funerals of linebacker Edwin Jackson and Uber driver killed by drunk driver over weekend.

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(Coaching)

Indianapolis…Scrambles to set up interviews after Josh McDaniel renege on deal to become head coach….Want to interview Jim Schwartz-John DiFilippo both from Eagles…Dave Toub-Kansas City…possibly Frank Reich.

New ‘England..Interviews Greg Schiano-Ohio State-as assistant head coach and Defensive consultant.

Carolina…Interim GM-Marty Hurney placed on leave while NFL probes ex-wife request for protection order after he harassed her during discussions over a ‘family trust’ issue….She dropped request-police did not charge Hurney

Tennessee..Hires Keith Carter-OL coach-ex Falcons…Tony Dews-RB coach-ex West Virginia.

Carolina..Fires Ron Turner as Off consultant
Arizona..Hire Cam Turner as QB-coach-ex Panthers assistant
Minnesota..Will interview John DiFilippo-for Off Coord job-Eagles
Raiders..OL coach Mike Tice quits-‘Players don’t want to be coached.’
Arizona..Hire Jason Michael-TE coach-ex Titans.
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(Roster Moves)

Ravens..Sign FA-WR-DeVieer Posey-CFL-Toronto Argonauts (52R-774Y-7TD) last year
Bears..Visit with FA-CB-David Amerson-ex Raiders
Saints..Release DT-Nick Fairley-heart condition..DT-Tony McDaniels

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(College Football)

National Letter of Intent Day…Top players still available..
..QB-Tanner McKee-Centennial, Calif
..CB-Pat Surtain-Ty Campbell-Plantation, Fla.
..WR-Jaylen Waddle-Houston
..DE-Malik Langham-Alabama
..OT-Nick Frere-Berkeley, Fla.

Aztecs..expected to sign 8-more recruits today including 3-JUCO players to go with 17-signed in early signing period.

Washington..Huskies land QB-Jacob Eason-transfer from U-Georgia
Oklahoma State…QB-Dru Brown-Hawaii transfers into Cowboys program

USC…gives Coach Clay Helton contract extension thru 2023.

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….(Basketball)……

Aztecs-L-Fresno State…Bulldogs hold SDSU to 1-basket in 6-and-half minute span in first half….outscore them (17-6)….Malik Pope saddled with 3-fouls in opening half…Has 4-fouls and 2-baskets in game…. .State has 10-baskets in 24-minute stretch..Aztecs 16-turnovers in 24-minute span…..Trailed by more than 20-in second half…SDSU (13-9)..(5-6) in Mountain West….Bulldogs (17-8)

Boise State-W-New Mexico…Broncos rally from 13-point deficit….score 44-in second half….Chandler Hutchinson hits layup with (:16) left….Broncos had (24-9) spurt at end of game to get win…Bpise now (20-6).

Colorado State-L-Air Force….Rams free fall continues with coach Larry Eustachy-suspended…losing to last place Falcons…Air Force hit 12-3’s..

(Mountain West)

Wyoming-vs-Utah State-Wednesday matchup
Nevada-UNLV…Wolfpack (20-4)…Rebels (16-7)

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(NBA)

Lakers..President Magic Johnson fined (50,000) for second time this season for commenting on player on another team..spoke in glowing terms about Milwaukee Bucks F-Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘having best skill set’ of any big man.

Lakers..May not bid on NBA free agent class in summer of 2018…amid reports LeBron James not interested in playing for them…and Paul George indicating he may stay in Oklahoma City.

Lakers..NBA trade deadline-Thursday 12-noon….rumors still shopping Julius Randle-Jordan Clarkson as trade bait.

Clippers-Portland..Trade talks collapse when Blazers refuse to include either Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum in deal for DeAndre Jordan.

Clippers-Washington…Wizards interested in DeAndre Jordan…LA asking price is G-Brad Beal and C-Martin Gortat and a draft pick.

Knicks…Star F-Kristaps Porigas torn ACL-gone for year.
Dallas..Surgery for G-Seth Curry-stress fracture leg.

Detroit..NBA suspends C-Willie Reed-6G-for domestic abuse case dating to summer while with Clippers.

Chicago..C-Robin Lopez facing suspension for ejection and throwing chair incident.

Knicks..Surgery G-Ron Baker-shoulder woes.

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(Scoreboard)

Lakers-W-Phoenix….LA storms to early lead…5- in double figures….hit 10-3s early in game…Brandon Ingram 25-Kyle Kouzma 16 in win..Lakers now (22-31)..

Cleveland-L-Orlando….Magic win by 18…Cavs lose to a team that was (16-36)
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…(Baseball)…….

Padres..Sign FA-P-Tom Wilhelmsen-former closer with Mariners-Milwaukee-Arizona.

Padres..Sign minor league P-Yimmi Brazoban to contract..had (4.70-ERA) in AA ball last year.

Angels..Invite 12-non roster players to camp…included OF-Rymer Liriano-ex Padres..2B-Jose Fernandez-ex Dodgers….P-John Lamb-ex Reds…P-Vincente Campos-ex Blue Jays.
Angels…sign FA-P-Ian Kroll-ex Braves

(Roster Moves)

Texas..Sign FA-P-Seuyng Ho-ex Cardinals closer.
Tampa Bay..Sign FA-P{-Dan Runtzler-ex Pirates
Tampa Bay..Sign FA-P-Evan Scribner-ex Seattle
Pirates..Sign OF-1B-Daniel Nava-ex Red Sox-Angels
Seattle..P-David Aardsma retires to take front office job-Toronto
Reds..Sign FA-P-Jeff Manship-pitched in Korea last year

(MLB)

Twins..Lose P-Ervin Santana-3 months-surgery-injury to index finger on pitching hand…won 16G last year.

Mets..Forbid 3B-David Wright from talking to media during rehab from neck-back surgery while in Port St Lucie camp for early workouts.

Giants…ex-P-Tim Lincecum notifies teams he will hold workout for clubs in Washington on February 15th…sat out last year rehabbing shoulder

Union..Tony Clark criticizes clubs over free agent signing freeze…’Breach of trust between teams and fans’….’Race to bottom of standings by teams’

Scott Boras….says ‘free agent freeze will hurt MLB…TV ratings with regional networks will plunge and hurt revenue stream when contracts come up because baseball allowed teams to rebuild tank’….’Calls MLB way of using luxury tax as a salary cap-a cancer to the sport’

MLB Exec Don Halem informs media that agent Scott Boras has 9-figure contract offers for some of his clients and that is an example there is not a freeze-out of free agents….Boras upset that information made public…MLB rules are that offers are not to be shared.j

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……..(Hockey)……

San Diego Gulls-W-Iowa Wild (5-1)….Gulls score 2-goals in (:50) in first period….Kalle Kosilla goal and assist in home ice AHL action

Ducks-W-Buffalo (4-3)….orey Perry game winning goal in final road game of trip

Ducks..Recall F-Nick Kerdiles from Gulls
Ducks..Put G-John Gibson on IR with hamstring-groin issue-3rd time this year.

LA Kings-host-Edmonton…Wednesday night action

Ottawa…Lose C-Bobby Ryan-reinjures finger…3rd time hurt hand this year.

Ottawa…Alex Burrows faces NHL suspension…sucker punched Taylor Hall on ice..then kneed him in head twice.

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……..(General)……..

English Premier League….Ownership of Chelsea gives coach Antonio Conte-vote of confidence…Blues struggling with (15-6-5) record-though in 4th place.

Indy Car…Jimmy Vassar-Dale Coyne merge teams for Indy 500-sign Sebastian Bordais to drive for them.

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