Ben cites Brown for ‘distraction,’ Titans choose Weeden over Kap
Roethlisberger miffed at his No. 1 receiver, Antonio Brown, acting out on the sidelines
Perhaps concerned that Odell Beckham Jr. is considered more of a diva than he is, Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown made a show of being unhappy even as his team was beating the Baltimore Ravens, 26-9. He stalked the sidelines, screaming and putting dents into Gatorade coolers. He was angry because Ben Roethlisberger ignored him when he was wide-open on a pass route. Roethlisberger lashed back. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan, CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh, the quarterback said, “It’s not like I intentionally missed him. It’s not like I intentionally didn’t throw to him. I was doing what my reads tell me to do. . . . It’s unfortunate that he acted and reacted that way.” He said Brown’s “temper tantrum is causing a distraction that none of us need.”
Dear Ben: It becomes far more of a distraction when the team’s quarterback talks about it to the media.
Titans ignore Kaepernick’s mobility, sign Brandon Weeden as a backup for Mariota
Whenever an NFL team needs a backup quarterback, you can be sure it won’t be Colin Kaepernick, the 29-year-old former Pro Bowl/Super Bowl player who became persona non grata for protesting injustice by not standing when the national anthem was played before football games. Even though Kaepernick has promised to protest no more, the teams continue to sign quarterbacks of much less ability and achievement. Latest example: The Tennessee Titans, deciding that Matt Cassel was not enough as a backup to Marcus Mariota, signed 33-year-old Brandon Weedon, who was rejected by the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and, most recently, Houston Texans. Sometimes the excuse has been that a team couldn’t change its system to adapt to a dual threat like Kaepernick, but his style of play is very similar to that of Mariota, who suffered a hamstring injury in a blowout loss Sunday to the Houston Texans. Weeden on the other hand runs, at best, a 4.9-second 40-yard dash.
Between the Lines: Kaepernick fans were hoping he would get a chance in light of many NFL owners criticizing President Trump for urging them to “fire” any “son of a bitch” who refuses to stand for the anthem. They may not like Trump, but they like Kaepernick less.
Chris Simms cites Giants coach McAdoo for ‘mismanagement of the game’
When an NFL team that’s supposed to be of playoff caliber begins the season 0-4, seats become hot. Ben McAdoo, head coach of the New York Giants, drew fire from former QB Chris Simms after the team was caught in the fourth quarter by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Speaking on Pro Football Talk (NBCSports), Simms said: “The mismanagement of the game by Ben McAdoo is an issue with the New York Giants right now. They went for it on fourth and two, when they were in field goal position early in the game. Bad mistake. . . . He challenges a pass where Mike Evans catches the ball. . . . So they lose a timeout in the fourth quarter. And then they call a timeout before the 2-point conversion?”
Newton lashes out at media following Panthers’ upset victory over New England
Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton is known to be snippy with the media following a defeat, but he’s usually effusive and cooperative following his victories. He was strangely off form after his team upset the Super Bowl champions, 33-30 at Gillette Stadium. Apparently he was angry because someone in the media canceled an interview with him prior to the game. Newton thought it was because he has lost respect as an elite athlete. So when the media throng entered the Panthers’ locker room after the game, Newton yelled: “Don’t ask me for no interviews now. I don’t want to do it. You didn’t want to do it before the game. I don’t want to do it now.”
Dear Cam: The media wasn’t very interested in you when you were playing poorly and your team got beaten at home by the New Orleans Saints. Now you are a story again. Enjoy it while you can.