CHICAGO (AP) — Major League Baseball has no timetable for finishing its investigation of domestic violence allegations against Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell by his ex-wife Brian Roberts Jersey , Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday night.“Right now, we’re kind of going day by day,” Manfred said. “That’s the best I can do for you. The most important thing is to take our time, make sure we have all the facts, and make sure we try to make a decision at a point in time that it doesn’t affect roster decisions and things like that.”Manfred said it’s “conceivable” a decision is announced before the end of the playoffs Thurman Munson Jersey , though he would not say if it’s likely. He spoke prior to the wild-card game between Chicago and Colorado.Russell has denied the accusations. He was placed on administrative leave Sept. 21 after his ex-wife, Melisa Reidy, re-iterated claims of domestic abuse. He was not on the wild-card roster.MLB has said it began an investigation last year after allegations first became public.Reidy posted a photo on her Instagram account with a caption suggesting her husband of about 18 months had been unfaithful to her. In another post, a user — described by Reidy as a close friend —claimed Russell had “hit” his wife. The post was later deleted. Reidy declined to talk to MLB at the time because she decided it was not in her family’s best interests, her attorney http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-jorge-posada-jersey , Thomas Field, said last year.In September, a blog post attributed to Reidy described more detailed allegations, including years of physical and emotional abuse. Less than 12 hours later, MLB announced Russell had been put on leave under MLB’s domestic violence policy.Chicago acquired Russell in a July 2014 trade with Oakland. He helped the Cubs win the World Series two years ago Don Larsen Jersey , batting .238 with 21 homers and 95 RBIs in 151 games.Russell hit .250 with five homers and 38 RBIs in 130 games this season. A rough season for Felix Hernandez has led to the Seattle Mariners pitcher being moved to the bullpen.According to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, manager Scott Servais informed the pitcher of the move ahead of Thursday's game against the Houston Astros."I got nothing to say," he said after the game, perDivish.Hernandez has never pitched in relief in 398 career appearances over his 14 years in the majors.Unfortunately, this season has been historically bad for the former Cy Young award winner. His current 5.73 ERA is not only the worst of his career http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-johnny-damon-jersey , it's thesecond worst in the majors among qualified pitchers.Only Chicago White Sox starter Lucas Giolito (6.23) has a worse mark.While Hernandez has six All-Star selections in his career, he took a step back last season with a 4.36 ERA while a back injury limited him to just 16 starts. He hasn't been able to regain his form in 2018 and is coming off his worst start Tuesday.The right-hander gave up 11runs (seven earned) in a loss to the Texas Rangers and hasn't earned a win since June.Seattle simply couldn't wait any longer, especially in the hunt for a playoff spot. The latest win over the Astros put the team 2.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot, giving the team a chance at reaching the postseason for the first time since 2001.Erasmo Ramirez could potentially take Hernandez's spot in the rotation when he returns from the disabled list.

The Chicago Cubs find themselves in the midst of a stretch in which getting a chance to catch their breath hasn’t been easy.And while Hurricane Florence and accompanying storms threatened to prevent the Cubs and Washington Nationals from playing a makeup game Thursday at Nationals Park Kevin Pillar Jersey , it now appears everything is a go.Rain that hovered over Washington, D.C. last weekend forced the Cubs to make a quick trip east that is being sandwiched between Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers and the start of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds that starts Friday at Wrigley Field.Article continues below ...Already in a hectic stretch, Thursday’s game will make the 30th straight day the Cubs have played while they have seen their lead over the Brewers in the National League Central dwindle to one game.“I love my teammates but seeing them 30 days in a row is not what I intend to do on a daily basis,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo told reporters, according to the Chicago Tribune. “The one day away from them goes for two weeks seeing them.”The threat of hurricane-like weather along the East Coast kept Thursday’s game in question before it was determined that the most serious conditions will steer clear of Washington. Earlier this week, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein asked for a common-sense solution and argued that forcing the Cubs to play the makeup game Thursday seemed unreasonable.“I know (MLB) would not send us into a situation with any danger or risk,” Epstein said in a radio interview on Chicago’s 670 The Score on Wednesday. “And then I cannot imagine that they would send us into a situation where there’s a chance of rain given what we experienced in Washington last weekend and given the situation that would create 30 straight days with a game scheduled in the middle of a pennant race, which is just about unprecedented.”Mike Montgomery (4-5, 3.85 ERA) will start for the Cubs on Thursday, making only his third start since Aug. 7. Montgomery surrendered a pair of earned runs over four innings in his last start and will face Washington for the first time as a starter in his career.The Nationals http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-russell-martin-jersey , who took two of three games in last weekend’s rain-shortened series, have won five straight games after sweeping a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Stephen Strasburg finished off the sweep Wednesday with a seven-inning masterpiece in Washington’s 5-1 victory.Before Wednesday’s game, the Nationals activated right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson from the disabled list after he had been sidelined with a right wrist injury. Hellickson, who had been part of the starting rotation, will return in a role that manager Dave Martinez told reporters Wednesday remains “up in the air.”“At the moment right now, we’re taking it one day at a time,” Martinez said, according to the team’s official website.Hellickson said he prefers to return to his previous role.“I’m a starter — never came out of the bullpen,” Hellickson told reporters, according to MLB.com. “I’m a starter so I don’t think (heading to the bullpen) is something I really want to do.”Joe Ross (0-0) Josh Donaldson Jersey , who is coming off Tommy John surgery last year, will start Thursday. Ross faced the Cubs last week but had his outing wiped out after 1 2/3 ininings when rain forced the game to be postponed. Ross is 0-2 with a 3.44 ERA in three career starts against the Cubs. PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have been baseball’s best first-inning team and they added to those numbers with Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run homer Wednesday night.The way Clay Buchholz has been pitching, it was more than enough.Goldschmidt homered to set the all-time mark at Chase Field, Buchholz pitched seven scoreless innings and the Diamondbacks earned a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.“It seems like every day. This team is pretty amazing when you look at the runs scored in the first inning,” Buchholz said.The Diamondbacks have a knack for jumping on teams early, leading the majors in first-inning runs with 109.Goldschmidt increased the total with his two-run shot off Odrisamer Despaigne (2-2), passing Luis Gonzalez with his 96th homer at Chase Field. Goldschmidt had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 14 games and has reached safely in 27 straight.Buchholz (7-2) yielded four hits and struck out seven with no walks for his eighth straight game of at least five innings and three runs or fewer allowed.David Peralta also hit a two-run shot to homer for the third straight game. The Diamondbacks have won six of seven to maintain a 1 1/2-game lead in the NL West over Colorado.“It all started with Clay tonight,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “He goes out and gives us seven scoreless and really set the tone for us for the course of this game.”The injury-depleted Angels had five hits — two by Rene Rivera — and lost for the fifth time in six games.“I thought we had some pretty good looks at him (Buchholz), hit some balls hard, but he got in his rhythm and started to change some speeds midway through Joe Carter Jersey ,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.Buchholz has been sharp the past two months, entering Wednesday’s game 5-1 with 2.00 ERA over seven starts, including his 10th career complete game against San Diego last Thursday. He kept the Angels off balance most of the night, allowing three singles and a double.Despaigne gave up five runs and seven hits in four innings against Texas on Friday in his second start since being acquired from Miami on Aug. 14 for cash. The right-hander served up Goldschmidt’s first-inning homer and a run-scoring single to Nick Ahmed in the fourth.Despaigne allowed three runs and five hits in four innings.“He made a couple of mistakes: One to Goldschmidt and the other one to Ahmed,” Rivera said. “Besides that he was OK. His pitch count was a little high but overall he did OK.”PUJOLS’ PLAYAngels 1B Albert Pujols made a spectacular play in the sixth inning to take a hit away from Steven Souza Jr. Souza hit a ball off the end of the bat down the line and Pujols made a diving stop, tossing the ball to pitcher Ty Buttrey as he was rolling over to get the out.PERALTA’S RUNPeralta has been one of the best hitters in baseball in August, going 21 for 51 with eight homers and 14 RBIs in his past 12 games. He has six homers in nine games and 25 on the season after going 2 for 4 against the Angels.“I keep saying it, he’s on his way to having a special year,” Lovullo said.TRAINER’S ROOMAngels: 2B David Fletcher was replaced by Kaleb Cowart in the fourth after fouling a pitch off his left knee in the top half. Scioscia said Fletcher is day-to-day with a bruise and hopes to have him back Friday against Houston.UP NEXTAngels: LHP Andrew Heaney is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts against the Astros going into Friday’s game.Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley is 4-0 with a 3.26 ERA over his last eight starts heading into Friday’s home game against Seattle.

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:PRIZE FIGHTTop contenders for the NL Cy Young Award square off when Aaron Nola (14-3 http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-ryan-goins-jersey , 2.24 ERA) and the Phillies face Max Scherzer (16-5, 2.11) and the Nationals in their series finale. Nola is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts this season against Washington, which has won consecutive games against Philadelphia since trading away Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams. The second-place Phillies are three games behind Atlanta in the NL East, while the Nationals are 7½ games back.PAIR OF ACESIn another marquee matchup on the mound, it’s Jacob deGrom (8-7, 1.71 ERA) and the Mets hosting Madison Bumgarner (4-5, 3.05) and the Giants for a Citi Field matinee. Also a leading candidate for the NL Cy Young, deGrom is coming off his third career complete game and first this season last Saturday in a 3-1 win at Philadelphia. Bumgarner is 5-0 with a 0.47 ERA in five starts at Citi Field. He last faced New York in the 2016 NL wild-card game Wily Peralta Jersey , pitching a four-hit shutout that sent San Francisco to the NLDS.E-WING SWINGIN’Boston tries to slow down Edwin Encarnacion and the Indians as the major league-leading Red Sox seek a split of their four-game series between AL division leaders. Encarnacion cleared the Green Monster twice Wednesday night after being sidelined since Aug. 12 with a bruised right wrist, though Boston still beat Cleveland 10-4 to end a three-game skid. Encarnacion has 27 homers and is trying to reach 30 for the seventh straight season, stretching the longest active streak in the majors. Red Sox left-hander David Price (13-6, 3.69) is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA since the All-Star break.IMMEDIATE DIVIDENDSCole Hamels is 3-0 with a 0.72 ERA in four starts for the NL Central-leading Cubs since they acquired him from Texas in a July 27 trade. Hamels pitches the opener of a four-game series at Wrigley Field against last-place Cincinnati. One day after obtaining Daniel Murphy from Washington to boost their sagging lineup, the Cubs finally broke loose Wednesday night in an 8-2 victory at Detroit. Chicago, which homered three times, had scored exactly one run in each of its previous five games. Murphy singled home a run in his first game with the Cubs.TOO HOT CORNERWil Myers’ move to third base got messy Wednesday. The Padres‘ infielder was scratched from a game against Colorado with a cut on his nose after taking a grounder to the face while practicing at his new position. Myers was fielding grounders at third during batting practice when a ball went over his glove and struck him. He left the field holding a towel over his face with a trainer near his side. Myers was scheduled to make his eighth start at the hot corner as San Diego experiments with sliding the veteran outfielder and first baseman across the diamond. Rob Carr/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Angels offered a response to comments from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in which Manfred seemed to criticize Mike Trout's willingness鈥攐r lack thereof鈥攖o market himself."We applaud [Trout] for prioritizing his personal values over commercial self-promotion," the Angels said near the end of their statement. "That is rare in today's society and stands out as much as his extraordinary talent."Angels AngelsToday http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-lucas-duda-jersey , the #Angels released the following statement on OF Mike Trout: xFLURtZ4bTSpeaking ahead of the 2018 All-Star Game, Manfred was blunt about his belief Trout could do more to help MLB market him to those who don't follow baseball regularly, perESPN.com:"Player marketing requires one thing for sure鈥攖he player.You cannot market a player passively. You can't market anything passively. You need people to engage with those to whom you are trying to market in order to have effective marketing. We are very interested in having our players more engaged and having higher-profile players and helping our players develop their individual brand. But that involves the player being actively engaged."Manfred went on to say Trout "made certain decisions" about how to utilize his time outside of baseball and that the two-time American League Most Valuable Player isn't concerned with building his brand.There might be something to Manfred's assessment. Trout's profile on the field is almost the direct inverse of his profile off it. Ask fans to name a distinguishable characteristic of Trout's beyond his Hall of Fame-level production, and they'll likely struggle to come up with anything. He'sreally passionateabout weather.Having said that, Trout isn't under any obligation to help build MLB's marketing campaigns."If Mike really wanted to, if he got a marketing team and everything, he would be the face of baseball," former MLB outfielder Torii Hunter said in an interview with theLos Angeles Times'BillShaikin. "He doesn't. He wants to be with his wife and keep it simple.It's his choice. It's not anybody else's choice."TheOrange County Register's Jeff Fletcher hit on the difficulty to truly build any sort of marketing campaign around one player:Jeff Fletcher JeffFletcherOCRBaseball isn鈥檛 like basketball or football because the nature of the sport limits the impact it鈥檚 stars can have on any given game. Turn on a random Angels game and he may do nothing (or get BB鈥檇). HOFers fail 7 of 10 times. Also Alex Gordon Jersey , he can have a great game and the Angels can lose.Jeff Fletcher JeffFletcherOCRIf you want people to invest their time and money in the sport or a team, they鈥檝e got to like the sport, not just think Mike Trout is cool. There鈥檚 not enough Mike Trout in a 3-hour game to tune in or buy a ticket just because of him.Hunter posited Trout would become more popular if he had the opportunity to perform in the playoffs. The Angels have made one playoff appearance, which ended in the American League Division Series, since Trout arrived in 2011.That may prove true, but ultimately those who criticize MLB's marketing of Trout may be looking for solutions to a problem that doesn't really exist.Trout is content to be great at baseball without becoming a crossover star, while creating a focus around one player may not have a huge impact for MLB. Giving Trout a bigger spotlight might not elevate his teammates to a noticeable extent.The bigger debate may center on what MLB can do to better market the game as a whole.

Joe Girardi made a surprising announcement that he was pulling out of the running for multiple vacant managerial positions so that he can wait till next off-season for a more desirable destination.According to Jon Heyman Brian Anderson Jersey , Girardi was in the running for both the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers managerial positions. He reportedly informed the Reds organization on Friday that he was no longer pursuing their manager role.Girardi surprised reds by pulling out Friday. He had a chance to win job at that point but they never got to point of talking money with him. He also pulled out of rangers derby. Industry speculation: he鈥檚 waiting a year on Chicago— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 21, 2018It's being speculated around the industry, that Girardi's intentions are to pursue either of the Chicago Cubs or White Sox next offseason.advertisingHeyman also tweeted that the Rangers had informed Girardi that the team wasn't going to move forward in the interview process with him any further. But, it was unlikely that Girardi would have pursued the position any further as well.To clarify the rangers told Girardi they were going in another direction (tho JG did pull himself out of reds derby)— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 21, 2018It would be very interesting if the Cubs were not to bring back their current manager http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-miguel-rojas-jersey , Joe Madden after next season and replace him with Girardi. Under Madden, the Cubs have had three post-season appearances. They have 19 playoff victories which ranks first in Cubs franchise history.Madden also helped to end the 100 year-plus World Series curse. He has arguably been the Cubs best manager since Frank Chance, who managed the club from 1905 to 1912.advertisingWith that being said, Madden's current contract expires after next season. The Cubs and Madden have reportedly not even begun talks about any extension yet either. So, it wouldn't be out of the question to see Girardi as Madden's replacement after next season. CBS SportsGirardi definitely has a solid resume to back-up any future manager positions he may pursue. He managed the New York Yankees from 2008 to 2017. Under that time Bryan Holaday Jersey , he took them to the post-season four straight seasons in a row(2009-2012).In 2009, Girardi's second season with the Yankees he helped them win their 27th World Series. The Yankees also won three AL East division titles under Girardi.advertisingEven in Girardi's last season with the Yankees, he helped them to the American League Championship Series and they finished one game sort of making it to the World Series.Regardless of whenever Girardi decides he wants to return to the MLB, any team will be acquiring a reliable and proven manager who knows how to win in this league. NEW YORK (AP) — Mookie Betts is back in Boston’s lineup, hitting leadoff as the designated hitter while the Red Sox try to clinch the AL East at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.Betts was pulled from a game Sunday with a left side injury. After the team’s day off Monday Brad Ziegler Jersey , Betts was held out of the lineup Tuesday night against New York.Manager Alex Cora originally had Betts slated to play center field Tuesday, but when rain pushed back the scheduled first pitch about six hours, Cora sat the AL MVP candidate to keep him away from the soggy conditions.Boston can lock up the division with a victory. It would mark the second time in three years the Red Sox celebrated a division title in the Bronx.Betts leads the majors with a .337 average and also has 29 homers, 28 steals and 72 RBIs as Boston’s leadoff man.

Dolphins at Patriots preview: Covering Gronk Miami Dolphins Hats , Josh Gordon, and Steve from Accounting The Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots are preparing to face off for the first time this season on Sunday as the Dolphins travel to Foxboro. Miami comes into this game looking to stay undefeated, currently sitting at 3-0 on the season and in first place in the AFC East. The Patriots have lost their last two games and are looking to avoid their first three game losing streak since 2002. To get us as fans ready for this game, I turned to SB Nation’s Patriots team site, Pats Pulpit. Rich Hill was kind enough to answer my questions about the Patriots. You can check out my answers to his Dolphins questions here.1. Obviously, the stories are starting to mount that we are seeing the downfall of the Patriots and that the dynasty is over. What is your perception of the Patriots right now, and why have the lost their last two? Can the Dolphins exploit those same things, or do you expect Bill Bellichick to have solved the issues for this weekend?The Patriots have been pretty bad over the past two games and the Dolphins can definitely exploit those weaknesses- with a big caveat. Tom Brady and company have been very disappointing on offense because no one has stepped up to replace the suspended Julian Edelman and a series of injuries (RBs Rex Burkhead and Jeremy Hill are on the IR; WRs Kenny Britt, Jordan Matthews, and Malcolm Mitchell were all released because of their injuries over the offseason; TE Jacob Hollister has missed two games with weird injuries) has forced Josh McDaniels and company to scrape the bottom of the barrel. On defense, the Patriots have been atrocious tacklers against the run and they can’t cover crossing patterns.Here’s the caveat: The Patriots defense fell apart when Trey Flowers and Patrick Chung left the Jaguars games early on with concussions and then they missed the Lions game. They’re arguably the two most important Patriots defenders because of their roles and responsibilities. It doesn’t hurt that Matt Patricia knew all of this, too. Flowers and Chung should be back against the Dolphins, and Josh Gordon could provide a much-needed boost on offense. So there’s a chance the Patriots will have fixed, or at least slapped a band-aid on their issues. 2. What is the status of Josh Gordon as he acclimates to the Patriots?炉\_(銉?_/炉 Gordon has been limited in practice with a hamstring injury since day one. He appeared to be a gametime decision against the Lions, so he’s not too far away from playing. New England really could have used him against Detroit, so perhaps the Patriots will err on the side of aggression with playing Gordon against the Dolphins. But honestly, no one has a clue. Sign up HERE to take our weekly Dolphins survey.3. The Lions were able to slow Rob Gronkowski and the Jaguars were fairly well able to shut him down. What did they do that was so effective?So the Lions and the Jaguars had two different approaches to covering Gronkowski Miami Dolphins Womens Hoodie , but both were incredibly effective. The Jaguars have elite coverage linebackers and were comfortable passing coverage of the tight end from level to level without communication errors. The Lions had two safeties on the field simply jam and bother Gronkowski throughout the entire play with physical bracket coverage so he couldn’t get open. So both teams used two players to defend Gronk and did it perfectly.Both strategies worked because no one else on the Patriots offense is capable of getting free in one-on-one situations. Chris Hogan has greatly regressed in 2018, Phillip Dorsett is inconsistent, and Cordarrelle Patterson appears to be a gadget player. The running backs have been fine but when your running back is the second-most reliable receiver, then the offense is in serious trouble.Will this change with the introduction of Josh Gordon? Maybe. He can definitely win his one-on-ones and that would have a beneficial trickle-down effect as Hogan and Dorsett would see easier competition from their respective defensive backs. But Gordon isn’t a guarantee to play.4. The strength of the Dolphins offense should be the one-two punch of Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore, but they were bottled up completely by the Oakland Raiders last week. The Patriots’ defense ranks 31st in the league in rush defense, allowing nearly 150 yards per game, part of which was allowing 167 yards in Week 1. Do you think the Dolphins will be able to find their running game against the Patriots this week, or should we expect another slow day for Miami on the ground?Yeah, the Dolphins should have no problem running the football. The Patriots run defense was #NotGood in 2017 and they appear to be worse in 2018. They’re missing tackles left and right, they’re getting blown out of gaps, and they’re failing to contain the edge. There are precisely three good run defenders on the Patriots defensive front seven: Trey Flowers, Deatrich Wise, and Lawrence Guy. Everyone else has been a disaster. I expect that they’ll eventually figure it out, but that’s just because the talent this year is better on paper than last year. There are just a lot of new faces that need to settle down.But until that happens, the Dolphins should have an easy enough time picking up yards on the ground.5. Who will be the surprise star for the Patriots on Sunday?Steve from Accounting is projected to be the third running back on the roster, so definitely keep an eye for their contributions.Actually, keep an eye on Sony Michel on offense. The first round rookie missed the preseason and first week with an injury Womens Customized Miami Dolphins Jerseys , but he’s had a big role the past two weeks and it will grow with Rex Burkhead on the injured reserve. He can run, catch, and block, and he’ll get plenty of opportunities to show off his skill set. The Patriots run blocking has been bad this year, too, but they’re also usually very good and should turn it around soon. If it happens against the Dolphins, Michel could have a big day.On defense, watch for cornerback Jonathan Jones. He’s playing in the nickel, but he could have a bigger role with safety Duron Harmon making some mistakes last week. Jones is a good run defender at the second level and he’s been thisclose to getting his hands on the ball in recent weeks. He’s due for a splash play.The Splash Zone 9/28/18: More Trick Plays On The Way? The last time the Miami Dolphins won at Foxboro was ten years ago. The Dolphins unleashed the wildcat with Ronnie Brown and trounced the Patriots on their home turf. We saw Adam Gase open up the playbook last week with Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant. Don’t be surprised to see some more trickery this Sunday.You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.Miami Dolphins prepare more tricks for New England Patriots | Miami HeraldThe Miami Dolphins -- the franchise that authored trick plays such as the Hook and Lateral, Fake Spike and Wildcat package -- used trick plays against the Oakland Raiders last week and have prepared more for the New England Patriots this week.Dolphins Defensive LineDolphins defensive end Cameron Wake returns to practice | Miami HeraldDolphins defensive end Cameron Wake returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. That’s huge news for a defensive line than needs every healthy body it can find.Dolphins 2018 SeasonAC In The AM: Smart Decisions Help Fuel Fast StartThe Dolphins are looking awfully smart right now which usually comes with the territory when you get off to a 3-0 start.3-0 Dolphins remain seven-point underdogs at 1-2 Patriots – ProFootballTalkThe Miami Dolphins have managed to win each their of first three games this season, for the first time since 2013. The New England Patriots have lost consecutive games by 10 or more points for the first time since 2002.Miami Dolphins practice report for Thursday: Reshad Jones workingWith Sunday’s important AFC East game against the Patriots in Foxborough, where the temperatur...Phinsider News You May Have MissedOpposing Player Spotlight: Week 4, New England Patriots - The PhinsiderThe Dolphins are one of three undefeated teams heading into week 4, and now they face a familiar division foe who will attempt to derail that momentum.The Splash Zone 9/27/18: Records Are Irrelevant Right Now - The PhinsiderWelcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.

The Steelers have now played half a season without running back Le'Veon Bell Youth Tavon Young Jersey , and their offense hasn’t missed a beat with James Conner in Bell’s place. And the Steelers’ next opponent even thinks Pittsburgh might be better without Bell.Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said today that statistically speaking, the Steelers’ offense has performed better in a lot of respects without Bell on the field.“There are a lot of stats [since 2015] that the Steelers are actually better without him,” Martindale said, via ESPN. “That might be why he’s riding a jet ski down in Miami right now.”That might sound crazy at first: After all, Bell is widely respected in the NFL. He was voted a first-team All-Pro by the media last year, and his peers voted him the fifth-best player in the entire league when NFL Network did a survey of NFL players for its annual “Top 100” list.But the fact is, the Steelers’ offense has been just fine without Bell this season. Conner is actually on pace to finish this season with more rushing yards, more receiving yards and more touchdowns than Bell gained last year: Conner is on pace to finish this season with 1,369 rushing yards Womens Marshal Yanda Jersey , 738 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. Bell finished last season with 1,291 rushing yards, 655 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns.So if Bell was one of the five best players in the entire league last year, does that mean Conner is one of the five best players in the league this year? With all due respect to Conner, no. What it means is that the running back position just isn’t as important in today’s NFL as people make it out to be. If you can lose an elite running back like Bell and not miss a beat when you plug in Conner to replace him, that should probably tell you that an elite running back like Bell just isn’t that important a player in a modern NFL offense.Whether the Steelers are actually better without Bell is debatable. The Steelers obviously don’t think they are, or else they wouldn’t have put the $14.5 million franchise tag on him this season. But Martindale makes an important and correct point when he notes that the Steelers are, at the very least Youth Ronnie Stanley Jersey , not much worse without Bell than they were with him.Ravens vs. Colts preseason Week 2: Who’s playing, who’s not The Baltimore Ravens are set to face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 of the preseason. Since it is the preseason, teams are not required to release an official inactive list. Below is the unofficial inactive list.Quincy Adeboyejo, Jaylen Hill, and Bam Bradley are expected to start the season on the PUP list, which means they will not play until week seven of the regular season if at all. Offensive lineman Marshal Yanda recently returned to the practice field, and he has been a full participant, but he was not expected to get extensive work during the preseason. Undrafted free agent linebacker Alvin Jones has missed the entire week of practice, and he was not expected to play. Jones is fighting for a roster spot Youth Maxx Williams Jersey , and his absence will open the door for Myles Humphrey, Albert McClellan, and Kamalei Correa to receive more snaps. Jimmy Smith is missing Monday night’s game due to a potential suspension. According to the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, Smith was scheduled to meet with league officials on Monday in order to proceed with the appeal process. Cornerback Maurice Canady, who suffered a ‘muscle-strain’ during Friday’s practice, is not expected to play against the Colts. The good news for Baltimore is that head coach John Harbaugh stated that the injury is not expected to be serious.Kenneth Dixon and Darren Waller will be making their preseason debuts against the Colts.

Redskins Week 3 Film Review: Defense The Redskins defense held their own in week 3 against a usually powerful Packers offense. The run defense still needs work Womens Brandon Scherff Jersey , as the team was gashed far too often once again (7 of 15 Packers runs went for 5 or more yards and 4 went for double-digit yards) and the pass defense still had a few communication gaffes. Overall the defense did what it needed to to win this game-and has for all three weeks of the season thus far. The other major takeaway from this game outside of the film was the Alabama boys up front playing over 90% of the snaps. Matt Ioannidis, or the Golden Greek as he has been dubbed by some, only played 26% of the snaps against the Packers. Basically, outside of the base 3-4 defense, it was Allen and Payne in the middle throughout. The fact that the level of play from the two remained so high throughout the game is certainly exciting.The way the Redskins are playing over 90% of their downs is with four down linemen and their defensive ends quite wide, significantly outside of the tackle or tight-end on each side. What this does is prevent roll-out from a QB that likes to extend plays, and since the Redskins thrive in getting pressure up the middle, containment on the outside is paramount. Against the pass, this is a very smart tactic by Greg Manusky; help your young secondary by playing to your strengths, forcing the quarterback up in the pocket where your two best defensive lineman are pushing the pocket. It’s one reason opposing quarterbacks have had to get rid of the ball so quickly this season. However, it’s made the Redskins unreliable against the run. Perhaps giving up some chunk-yards on the ground is the proverbial poison the Redskins have picked in order to limit the pass so effectively, but the team will have to change their tactics against good running teams.If the Redskins want to remain in this (almost wide-nine) nickel package, they need to have almost perfect gap control from the defensive lineman and the two backers need to be patient and fill the correct gap. For the most part, Mason Foster is patient in picking his gap. Zach Brown has to learn to be patient rather than to waste his tremendous speed and burst hitting the wrong hole as he does here. In this play http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/jonathan-allen-jersey , Allen and Payne close the A-gaps (between the center and guards), leaving the linebackers responsible for the B-gaps (between the guard and tackle) while the defensive ends are responsible for setting the edge. Mason Foster waits patiently for the play to develop and stays in his gap, eventually taking on a block from the left guard. Zach Brown’s movement (while impressively quick) is immediate, but he hits the A-gap that his DTs are already occupying, effectively taking him out of the play. The massive B-gap that Norman is left in alone in should be where Brown fills. The Redskins have the defensive linemen to run this nickel package most of the game, but their linebackers must be more disciplined.In contrast, on the Packers’ next drive, Zach Brown does a great job of holding his gap and being patient in the run. The run is to the defense’s right side, or Mason Foster’s side. Brown begins to move quickly towards the direction of the run, but catches himself (you can even see him putting a hand out to maintain distance from Foster) and keeps good spacing with Foster, ready for the cutback into his gap, or even on the backside of his gap, if needed. This is the type of patience the Redskins MLBs must play with to have success against the run in a nickel package.This play was the only big play given up by the Redskins against the Packers. DJ Swearinger picked off two passes last week jumping on shorter slant or in-routes, so the Packers smartly have Allison cut hard in on a slant http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/ryan-kerrigan-jersey , DJ Swearinger bites, and DJ’s middle-third of the field was then vacated for an easy pitch-and-catch. For those asking, no, this play was not on Norman. Norman is responsible for the deep third of the field closest to the bottom in this frame. Swearinger vacated his middle deep third by biting on the double move. This obviously can’t happen.The last play I’d like to focus on is something I believe the Redskins should do more of. During this drive, the Packers methodically marched downfield for a half-opening touchdown with almost exclusively short pass plays. The Redskins have a tendency to play off to the sticks in too many situations, giving offenses too much cushion to work underneath. Now, I understand not giving up the big play, but the corners can’t continue to play 10 yards off on 3rd and 5 situations. Here, the Redskins are playing up on the trips-side of the formation. The defense reacts quickly on the quick-screen and swarms to the ball. I believe the Redskins have the athletes to play more press-coverage, and I would like to see defensive backs closer to the line more often moving forward.Here are my one-liners for every defensive player:Jonathan Allen had his best game as a pro. He played over 90% of snaps and had 2 sacks and a key tackle on a pass play late in this game. Stud.DaRon Payne is still learning and can sometimes be turned by savvy offensive lineman in the run game, but he is powerful and did not get pushed back a single time in this entire game. A welcome sight for Redskins fans.Matt Ioannidis only played 26% of snaps in this contest, but registered his third sack in as many games. He isn’t consistent enough against the run, but his bull-rush is scary.Ryan Kerrigan hasn’t registered a sack this year, but he is making his presence felt. As I’ve stated before http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/chase-roullier-jersey , it seems they are playing contain more than anything else.Preston Smith was out of his zone on three completions in this game, but that’s not his strength. He’s drawing plenty of double-teams, but he isn’t showing much on the stat-sheet either.Pernell McPhee is disruptive and I feel a big play coming from him soon; he plays with his hair on fire and his big frame is always moving at full speed.Ryan Anderson played sparingly (and only in the third quarter), but has shown the ability to get to the quarterback if he runs with a wide-enough arc. This process is slow, however, and Anderson often finds himself a step late. Zach Brown is tremendously talented but he is also tremendously inconsistent. He needs to play smarter and stay in his gap in the run-game. He is consistently replaced by JHC on passing-downs.Mason Foster is Mr. Reliable. I didn’t spot him out-of-gap all day and the only time he was beat in coverage badly was on the HUGE Kendricks drop.Josh Harvey-Clemons is a smart player and is hardly ever out-of-place. He ran a solid stunt on a blitz, freeing up Ioannidis, but the RB made a great block to save the sack.Josh Norman is not having his best year, and I am not sure if the Redskins will bring him back next season. He is too-often giving up too much separation and his coverage looks lazy at times. He was beat badly deep on three different occasions that would’ve been touchdowns without pressure and he gave up a key 11-yard catch in the 3rd in which he gave Randall Cobb far too much of a cushion.Fabian Moreau is a good player, but he needs more experience. He often hesitates on double-moves. He doesn’t seem to be fooled by them, as he doesn’t bite on the fake, but the hesitation is giving up a bit of separation on receivers. He was lucky Aaron Rodgers didn’t give Cobb a better ball on a crosser in the end zone.Quinton Dunbar is on his way to being a star. He is smart, diagnoses quickly, and breaks on the ball quickly and effortlessly. My favorite thing about him Authentic Alex Smith Jersey , however, is his communication. It’s clear he knows the defense inside-and-out and is often running to teammates after the play to let them know if they were out of position.DJ Swearinger had a great game outside of his blatant misstep that gave up a touchdown. He was good in coverage on Jimmy Graham and put his range on display as the single-high safety on multiple occasions.Montae Nicholson had a great game as well. The range of these two safeties has quarterbacks hesitating to play deep, and when you combine that range with physicality in the box and the ability to blitz, this type of safety play will allow the Redskins to do a lot on defense this year.That’s it for the defensive film review for week 3. Feel free to send me a message on Twitter @Kennedy_Paynter and thanks for reading! The Saints pummeled his team on Monday night, but the other three clubs in the NFC East were losers in Week Five as well so Washington head coach Jay Gruden woke up on Tuesday morning at the helm of a first place team.Gruden did not sound like that was his spot when he spoke to reporters on a Tuesday conference call. Gruden said there is “a cloud looming over our head with issues we have to clean up.” Those issues include safety D.J. Swearinger‘s feeling that the team isn’t taking its business seriously enough, defensive lineman Jonathan Allen‘s belief that the defense’s “communication was horrible” and an offense that has not lived up to expectations.Offense is Gruden’s calling card and he said on Tuesday that his focus is going to be making sure that the team is running the plays that get the most out of quarterback Alex Smith.“We had some plays we left out there for whatever reason,” Gruden said, via the Washington Post. “We have to make sure we get on the same page as him and dissect his brain a little bit and make sure that we’re all on the same page with what we are trying to read on each given play. I am a firm believer in really, really close communication with head coach and quarterback, especially the playcaller and quarterback. That’s something we’re working on … and we’re going to get him in better situations to succeed.”With no one showing signs of running away from the pack in the division, there’s time for things to come together before it is too late to harbor hopes of advancing to the postseason. The more issues that pile up, though, the tougher it is going to be to hold onto them forever.

Panthers fantasy football Week 1 waiver wire work From a fantasy standpoint the Panthers 16-8 win over the Cowboys was a dud for everyone in the home whites Youth Cam Newton Jersey , with the exception of the Panthers defense. They put up a respectable 13 points, 6 over their projection. Beyond that, there were a couple decent numbers but nothing that helped you win this week. McCaffrey owners can blame Alex Armah for vulturing a touchdown.QB Cam Newton 15.24 pts (vs 17.78 projected)RB Christian McCaffrey 13.5 pts (vs 17 projected)WR Devin Funchess 7.1 pts (vs. 11 projected)One of my golden rules of fantasy is to never drop a player after one bad week. That includes these Panthers, with the exception of TE Greg Olsen. He was injured and is out of action for the foreseeable future. There is good news for Olsen owners though, 4 of the top 8 scoring TEs in week 1 are on most waiver wires:So queue one up and don’t be shy about spending some FAAB money on the position. You need a starter and my recommendation from the group above is George ‘Bits O’ Kittle. Jared Cook is just too unpredictable week to week; Dissly is just too unknown to pick up yet, and Eric Ebron has too often been a one week flash.For those of you with multiple leagues like myself (I have 8 leagues across 3 apps) I love the Fantasy Pros Waiver Assistant that shows me in which leagues my target player is available. Take TE George Kittle for example. I can quickly see he is available in 5 of my 8 leagues (and he is already on one of my rosters):That sure saves me a lot of time instead of having to go into each league and do a player search in each. Top Adds for the WeekQBIf you want the Week 1 top scorer then I’m sure he is on the wire as well. Who would have guessed Buccaneers QB Ryan Fitz-Magic Fitzpatrick would be the weeks top scorer with 57 points! Certainly not me. I’m still undecided on whether he really played that well or the Saints defense is that bad. I think it’s a little of both and therefore Fitzpatrick could be a solid play for the next couple of weeks if you need him.RBTJ Yeldon is a solid pick up with Leonard Fournette getting dinged up in the opener. Especially in our PPR leagues. If Fournette is ruled out for Week 2 then Yeldon is a solid RB2 or flex play against the Patriots in Week 2.WRWith DeVante Parker out, Kenny Stills got the chance to shine and he made the most of it, catching 4 of 5 targets for 106 and 2 touchdowns. Don’t expect that every week, especially once Parker returns. D/STIf the Bears defense is still on your wire you should grab them. One man wrecking crew Khalil Mack is for real and so is this defense. Of course the Panthers are a good play every week as well, but I assume you knew that. KickerI’m not usually one to change kickers after one week unless the guy shanked a couple or the team’s offense looks putrid. If that is your scenario see if Brian McManus is on the wire. I think the Broncos offense will be plenty potent this season to get McManus some kicks.Panthers Film Analysis: Will the Panthers increase play-action passing under Norv Turner? The goal of each pre-season is to evaluate ninety players in hopes of trimming down the roster to fifty-three players by Labor Day Weekend. That is also the case with Carolina Panthers, but they have their work cut out due to the new offensive system being installed under Norv Turner. As Ron Rivera stated in his press conference yesterday http://www.panthersfootballauthentic.com/mike-adams-jersey-authentic , former Panthers coordinator Rob Chudzinski was a member of Turner’s staff in San Diego. There is a familiarity of the base concepts, but with Turner at the helm the offense will receive a first hand glimpse into the playbook. Increased play-action?Based on two pre-season games, Turner is focusing on increasing the play-action passing game. Cam Newton’s success on play-action has been mixed, however. For reference, Newton’s play-action success was average in 2017 too. Despite a low frequency of these throws, Newton’s completion percentage was 62.9%, 7.0 YPA, and an NFL passer rating of 96.7. (via PFF)However, PFF does count RPO’s as play-action passes. Newton’s splits were more clear in this regard. After watching some of Newton’s play-action throws this pre-season, the consensus I found in his lackluster production originate from his mechanics when he’s executing the fake. This is a textbook fake from Newton. He reaches the ball out to Christian McCaffrey, which draws the linebackers towards the line of scrimmage. Eventually Womens Torrey Smith Jersey , Alex Armah is allowed to slip towards the flat by himself. On the contrary, here is an example of Newton’s poor mechanics when faking the hand off. The result is an incredibly difficult throw into a tight window, which results in an interception. Yes, Newton under threw the ball too but the window could have been wider if the linebacker was removed.Miami’s linebackers don’t bite on the action, which gives them ample room to pick up Greg Olsen. With RPO’s the fake doesn’t have to be executed perfectly, which is why I hope Turner installs more of these concepts. Newton is able to read the boundary safety dropping into the box before the snap. This provides him the signal to target Jairus Wright on the back shoulder fade. The reduced split Wright takes up makes this an easier throw for Newton.I have long been a proponent of increasing the play-action concepts for Newton. Despite his production this pre-sesaon, there is evidence on the whole that play-action is more effective than non play-action. In addition, the long held belief that rushing the football well leads to more play-action success is also being questioned. Play-action passes should be a staple of the Panthers offense in 2018, but Newton has to become more consistent when he’s delivering the fake.

Jay Gruden talked to the media after practice today. He started by saying a few words about Redskins reporter Rich Tandler who passed away yesterday.Gruden went over the team's ever-growing list of injuries. The Redskins had 7 players who did not practice yesterday. He said he didn't want to rule anyone out yet http://www.redskinscheapstore.com/mason-foster-jersey-cheap , but Troy Apke is most likely out. He attempted to return,but pulled his hamstring again.Jamison Crowder will likely miss his 2nd game in a row with an ankle injury. Gruden called him the most iffy of the players who didn't practice today. The rest of the list mostly consists of players who have been dealing with injuries for several weeks[Paul Richardson Jr.(shoulder/knee), Adrian Peterson(shoulder, ankle), Brandon Scherff(knee), Shawn Lauvao(calf) http://www.redskinscheapstore.com/deshazor-everett-jersey-cheap , Danny Johnson(forearm)].Chris Thompson(rib/knee) and Ryan Kerrigan(chest) were the only players limited at practice. Trent Williams(knee) was a full participant and Morgan Moses doesn't have his name called on the injury report this week.Stacy McGee returned to practice today after spending the first 6 weeks of the season on the PUP list following offseason surgery for a groin injury. Gruden said he looked good, but he might need a week or two of practice before he returns to the field. The Redskins released veteran DL Ziggy Hood on Tuesday, but the team might need that spot for another position right now.He hopes CB Joshua Holsey can return to pracrice tomorrow after a toe injury landed him on the Non-football injury(NFI) list.RIP Rich Tandler:Injury updates:Troy Apke:Stacy McGee:Joshua Holsey:Jonathan Allen/DaRon Payne vs Cowboys run:DaRon Payne:Payne has played up to his expectations:2nd half scoring:Jordan Reed:DeMarcus Lawrence:Ezekiel Elliott:Daily Slop: Redskins have faith in their young CB’s but will keep options open; Norman raves about Jets rookie QB Redskins leaning heavily on young players in secondary after cutting Orlando Scandrick - The Washington PostSecond-year cornerback Fabian Moreau is among the players taking on a bigger role following Scandrick's release.Josh Norman raves about Jets rookie QB Sam Darnold: ‘This little kid is not making mistakes!’ - The Washington PostWashington's star cornerback compares Darnold to the Cowboys' Dak Prescott and Eagles' Carson Wentz.Bill Barnwell builds perfect NFL roster under 2018 the salary capWe gave Bill Barnwell $177 million to spend -- sort of -- and asked him to build a flawless squad ... with a few rules. This is the result.PHOTOS: 2018 Washington Redskins Training Camp Day 15, PracticeThe Washington Redskins conducted their final day of training camp practice Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond http://www.redskinscheapstore.com/shawn-lauvao-jersey-cheap , Va.How Su'a Cravens Fell Apart in Washington | SI.comTwo years ago he was a promising rookie with a chance to become a cornerstone player in Washington. Then came the falling out, and a year marked by isolation and paranoia, mistrust and betrayal. Is Su’a Cravens a quitter or a victim? The answer depends on who—and what—you believeRedskins starters training camp one-liners, offense | NBC Sports WashingtonThe focus during training camp is usually on the long shots and backups clawing for roster spots. Here is a look at how the offensive starters performed in Richmond, one-liner style.Assessing the Redskins' injury situation: Good news, bad news | NBC Sports WashingtonThe Redskins break camp having suffered one high-impact injury http://www.redskinscheapstore.com/matthew-ioannidis-jersey-cheap , but with some rehabbing players rounding into form.Need to Know: Redskins have faith in their young cornerbacks but will keep their options open | NBC Sports WashingtonNeed to Know: The release of Orlando Scandrick showed the confidence the Redskins have in their young corners. But they also have a Plan B in mind.Wired Up: Jay GrudenHead coach Jay Gruden is wired up for sound during training camp practice at Bon Secours Training Center in Richmond, VaRedskins 53 Man roster predictions: Offense | Fanspeak.com That leaves the Redskins with two open back-up spots and one is pretty likely to go to Tony Bergstrom who can back-up both center and guard positions. Bergstrom was signed during the season last year and was forced to play some. He’s had a solid camp, and his versatility makes him a near lock. For the last roster spot I think it’s likely a three man race between OT T.J. Clemmings, T/G Tyler Catalina and G Kyle Kalis.Redskins 53 Man roster predictions: Defense | Fanspeak.com The one concern is the lack of experience on this team beyond Josh Norman. Dunbar over three years has 8 starts and about 900 snaps, but now he’s going into a full time role. Moreau managed just 50 snaps last year due to the Redskins depth. Beyond them are three late round or undrafted rookies. That is a pretty thin unit that could get exposed if Norman were to miss any time.

Panthers training camp 2018: Curtis Samuel and Bryan Cox pass physicals; are practicing today According to a tweet from Jourdan Rodrigue Wes Horton Jersey , the Carolina Panthers received some good news on the injury front regarding wide receiver Curtis Samuel and defensive end Bryan Cox, Jr. as the two players have passed their physicals and are now eligible to come off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and practice with the rest of the team.If you’re wondering whether or not the Panthers will put those two players at risk this morning given the wet conditions (it’s raining at Wofford, y’all) . . . Jourdan has your answer.Hopefully these guys don’t overdo it today, but it will be nice to see Samuel and Cox out there on the field. If Samuel can stay healthy, I believe he will bring a lot of much-needed speed and flexibility to the Panthers offense in 2018 Cheap Luke Kuechly Jersey , and if Cox is able to get consistent reps during camp, I think he has a shot to make the 53-man roster as a rotational option at defensive end.Practice is just now underway, so be sure to head over to our live tracker and open thread to keep up with everything that’s going on today. D.J. Moore’s two fumbles against Washington were an undeniable part of the Carolina Panthers loss on Sunday. The conservative, old school head coach that Ron Rivera often epitomizes might have taken the rookie out of the game after his first fumble. Instead, Rivera kept Moore in the game. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner called plays that gave Moore opportunities to be a part of the come back attempt. Quarterback Cam Newton trusted the rookie enough to throw the ball to him. Moore ended the day with four receptions for 59 yards. He was a contributor. That all traces back to Rivera’s decision to not bench him after his early struggles.Why am I talking about this decision in a column dedicated to highlighting conservative decision making? For one Cheap Christian McCaffrey Jersey , I roasted Rivera yesterday. I think he has earned the criticism that I published and I stand by it, but that doesn’t mean that everything he does is awful. He did some good things yesterday, like keeping Moore on the field, and that deserves to be talked about as well. For two, the Turtle is all about conservative decision making. It isn’t just pointing out when things go poorly because of decisions made Cheap Kawann Short Jersey , it can also be about praising successes when small risks are taken. The point isn’t to suggest Rivera should always leap without looking. It is to encourage him to sometimes stick his neck on the line instead of burying his head in the sand when the odds are stacked heavily in his favor.We talked enough yesterday about the fourth and one punt and the play calling backed up into their own end zone that helped Washington build their lead against the Panthers. That is a lost cause, anyway. Rivera has doubled down on his decision to punt and we all know he will do it again. Instead, let’s just say Rivera made the right choice with regards to Moore’s playing time yesterday. Hopefully Moore learned from this loss and will be ready to make an impact going forward in this season. Maybe his skills with the ball in his hands can help the Panthers avoid a few fourth and ones.