Arians throws QB under the bus, Peterson erupts on the sideline
Arians slams the performance of his quarterback, Carson Palmer
Football coaches usually avoid criticizing the quarterback, the on-the-field and locker-room leader of the team. But Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals made no excuses for Carson Palmer, who threw three interceptions in a 35-23 loss to Detroit. Asked to evaluate Palmer’s performance, Arians said: “Poor. You can’t throw that many interceptions. . . . He’s trying to force one there on the pick six . . . The first one was just a poor throw . . . “
Dear Coach: More than Palmer’ picks, what put you in a sour mood was the broken wrist of your best player, David Johnson. You can’t blame Palmer for aging. He’s 37, and his arm is not all that it was.
Peterson, Payton deny a ‘heated exchange’ on the sideline; video suggests otherwise
Adrian Peterson returned to Minnesota for Monday Night Football promising to “stick it to” the team that no longer wanted his services. But the former All-Pro running back looked like he was sticking it to coach Sean Payton for not giving him a featured role in the New Orleans Saints’ offense. An angry Peterson was seen yelling at Payton, who turned and made a brief reply. After the game, which the Vikings won, Payton told reporters: “We weren’t in any heated exchange.” Peterson said he told the coach: “We need to run the ball up their ass.” The player insisted “there’s no conflict. . . . People jumped to conclusions when they don’t know what was said.”
Between the Lines: Obviously there is conflict. Peterson wants the team to run, Payton prefers the pass, always has. The run-by-committee approach produced a combined 19 rushes from Peterson, Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara. Peterson was on the field for 9 snaps, carried 6 times for 18 yards. If ever a marriage was not made in heaven, this is it.
LINK to Video of Peterson’s eruption
Pagano in postgame press conference can’t remember the team that beat him
After his Indianapolis Colts lost 46-9 Sunday, coach Chuck Pagano tried to be the gracious loser. “We got our asses kicked,” he said. “Credit Coach McVay and the 49ers.” Only problem was that he was not beaten by the 49ers but by the Los Angeles Rams. But at least he got the coach’s name right. Sean McVay is the Rams’ head coach, and he seemed far better prepared than Pagano.
Dear Coach: Even before this remarkable faux pas, your leadership was being scrutinized by the team’s owner. This isn’t helping your fading cause.
Bucs’ GM Lynch delivers Hard Knocks on Skip Bayless
A candid moment captured by the HBO series Hard Knocks: Jason Licht, general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, laments Cutdown Day, when he’s in his office composing the opening-day roster: “I hate today. I would rather drive across the country with (FOX commentator) Skip Bayless, and no radio working and the heater stuck ‘on,’ and the windshield wiper is stuck ‘on’ and it’s got the metal hitting the glass. With Skip Bayless.”
Between the Lines: Bayless, a studio commentator on FOX Sports, is known for taking unpopular positions and exaggerating his subject’s flaws, though often in a humorous manner.