Category: Sport

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris stated the New England Patriots protection simulated his staff’s snap on a key fourth-quarter play by clapping, resulting in an intentional grounding penalty by Michael Penix Jr. in Sunday’s loss.

The Falcons trailed 24-23 with 2:09 remaining within the sport and had been on the Patriots’ 48-yard line when heart Ryan Neuzil snapped the ball on second down earlier than Penix and different offensive linemen had been prepared for it. The Patriots instantly pressured Penix, who threw the ball towards the grime within the course of tight finish Kyle Pitts Sr.

Penix was known as for intentional grounding, which resulted in a lack of 10 yards and a lack of down. On the following play, Penix couldn’t hit vast receiver David Sills V on third-and-20, and the then Falcons punted, primarily ending the sport.

A protection simulating an offense’s snap depend or snap is a 15-yard penalty within the NFL underneath the header of “disconcerting indicators.” It’s hardly ever known as, nevertheless, as a result of it’s onerous to pinpoint the place precisely a clap or any sound may very well be coming from in a loud stadium.

“They had been clapping and simulated our snap,” Morris stated. “That’s why the ball acquired snapped early and Mike wasn’t prepared for the snap.”

Added Penix: “Every time I’m clapping, which means I would like the ball and [Neuzil] stated he heard them clapping [and] he thought it was my clapping. He snapped the ball, I threw the ball in [Pitts’] course. He had simply launched on routes. I believed I used to be going to be OK with the grounding half, however clearly that wasn’t the case.”

The Falcons might have tied it earlier within the fourth quarter, however kicker Parker Romo missed the additional level after an 8-yard landing move from Penix to vast receiver Drake London with 4:44 left.

Patriots defensive deal with Milton Williams denied that his staff was utilizing clapping to simulate the snap and stated that there might need been a miscommunication on the Falcons’ offensive line.

Atlanta left guard Matthew Bergeron exited with an ankle harm within the first quarter, and proper guard Chris Lindstrom left the sport within the fourth with a foot harm. They had been changed by Kyle Hinton and Jovaughn Gwyn, respectively.

“I ain’t hear no clap,” Williams stated. “I’m trying on the ball. The ball strikes, I’m gone.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft welcomed Cardi B into his suite at Gillette Stadium for the group’s sport towards the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, which drew a rousing response from the group.

The videoboard at Gillette Stadium confirmed Cardi B cheering after receiver Stefon Diggs’ 11-yard landing catch within the second quarter. It marked the second straight week Diggs — who’s relationship Cardi B and the couple beforehand introduced they’re anticipating a toddler collectively — has scored a landing. A New York native, Cardi B celebrated Diggs’ landing together with his trademark on-field celebration by placing her left hand over her face and increasing her proper hand in entrance of her and waving it.

Diggs entered the sport main the Patriots with 42 receptions for 470 yards. Sunday marked the primary time he recorded receiving touchdowns in consecutive video games since Weeks 4 and 5 of the 2023 season, when he performed for the Buffalo Payments. On Sunday, Diggs, 31, grew to become the twenty ninth participant in NFL historical past to report 900 receptions. He tied receiver Julio Jones because the fifth-fastest participant in historical past to achieve the 900-reception mark, doing so in simply 153 video games.

South Carolina has fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula simply 9 video games into his first season within the position, a supply instructed ESPN.

Shula, who served as Alabama’s head coach from 2003-06, gained most of his teaching expertise within the NFL as an offensive assistant. He joined coach Shane Beamer’s workers in Columbia as an offensive analyst in March 2024. Shula started this season with the title of OC/quarterbacks coach, changing offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, who left South Carolina to be the top coach at Appalachian State.

Shula inherited a Gamecocks offense that was led by quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who entered the season with some Heisman Trophy buzz. However Sellers has struggled as a sophomore with seven landing passes and 5 interceptions by means of 9 video games this season. South Carolina ranks final within the SEC in each factors (19.7) and yards per sport (294.1).

The Gamecocks have misplaced 4 straight video games to fall to 3-6 (1-6 within the SEC), placing Beamer squarely on the recent seat. South Carolina is off this week earlier than resuming play Nov. 15 at No. 3 Texas A&M.

The information was first reported by CBS Sports activities.

Whom do you have to begin? Whom do you have to sit? That will help you set your fantasy soccer lineups and keep away from beginning an offensive participant who gained’t be within the lineup, we’ll submit fantasy-relevant updates and evaluation right here as NFL groups launch their official inactives lists.

Official Sunday inactives ought to start coming in roughly 90 minutes earlier than the scheduled kickoff instances: round 11:30 a.m. ET for the early video games and a couple of:30 p.m. ET for the late-afternoon video games.

Refresh usually for the newest data.

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FRISCO, Texas — As head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Brian Schottenheimer may be pulled in lots of instructions.

Schottenheimer can also be the offensive playcaller, which requires plenty of time within the assembly rooms with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, et. al, however given the defensive problems with the staff, he’s spending a “vital quantity” of time in defensive assembly with coordinator Matt Eberflus.

In an ideal world, Schottenheimer wouldn’t do it. He remembers his emotions when head coaches Rex Ryan or Pete Carroll was in his conferences when he was the offensive coordinator of the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.

“Having been a coordinator and having had head coaches come and sit in my conferences, it’s robust. You don’t prefer it. You type of take it a bit, umm, myself personally, I took it private,” Schottenheimer stated. “Like, ‘Why are you in my assembly? Hey, Pete, get out of my assembly. I don’t need you in my assembly, Pete.’ ‘Hey, Rex, why are you in my assembly? Get out.’ Flus hasn’t been like that in any respect. And he’s been very open to a number of the ideas.”

Schottenheimer was within the defensive conferences in 2022 when he was a advisor with the Cowboys. Now with higher duty, he needs to know what’s going on in conferences when the protection ranks thirty first in factors and yards allowed per sport.

“It’s to not get in the best way,” Schottenheimer stated. “It’s to supply my experience on what I see and the way I might assault them and issues like that.”

Eberflus was that method as the top coach of the Chicago Bears, and he sees the advantages of Schottenheimer’s presence.

“When you may get that … it’s actually useful as a result of you possibly can see it by the offensive coordinator’s eyes. You get his perception. Not solely in that assembly, a defensive assembly or a unit assembly, but additionally simply speaking within the workplace collectively. I feel that’s actually vital to soak that in.

“Even with the quarterbacks I’ve been with. I’ve all the time requested them, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, all these guys I’ve been round, I’ve all the time requested, ‘What’s robust on you when it comes to a presentation and what we are able to do to make it look a sure method?’ that’s all the time useful.”

Not lengthy earlier than the inactives had been due earlier than the Cowboys performed the Washington Commanders in Week 7, Schottenheimer got here by Malik Davis’ locker for a short go to.

“Hey,” the coach stated, “you’re going.”

The apply squad operating again knew it was a chance since he was elevated to the game-day roster a day earlier, however it wasn’t a positive factor he would costume for the sport.

“I really went out [to the field] a bit later than I usually would if I knew I used to be enjoying,” Davis stated. “It was like a last-minute type of factor. On this enterprise, that’s simply how issues work typically.”

It has labored twice that method for Davis. Launched by the Cowboys in April, he rejoined the staff on Aug. 8, the day earlier than the primary preseason sport towards the Los Angeles Rams due to accidents on the place. With no apply or walkthrough, he completed with 63 yards on seven carries. In the end, he ended up on the apply squad.

“I really feel like I knew what I used to be able to,” Davis stated. “Me on the market on that discipline, the present I placed on, that’s me, that’s who I’ve all the time been. I used to be simply blessed and grateful I used to be in a position to showcase that expertise on such brief discover.”

On brief discover towards the Commanders, Davis was credited with three particular groups tackles and was given a sport ball by Schottenheimer and the employees.

“It meant loads,” he stated. “I’m in a position to show to myself and my teammates that I’m purported to be right here and I’m in a position to assist them win video games if I’m up.”