By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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No, it isn’t Groundhog Day, and yes, we are still talking about what’s going on in the world of Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Talks between the Jets and the free agent quarterback have ground to a halt, and it appears as though they aren’t going to pick up any time soon, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. Continue reading
By Nick Shook
Beacon Journal copy editor
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What an odd week it was in the NFL.
The Philadelphia Eagles, left for dead by everyone including me, stunned us all by earning their first win of the season against a New York Jets team that looked surprisingly strong after two weeks.
Ryan Mathews, starting in place of injured and beleaguered DeMarco Murray, rushed for 108 yards and caught a touchdown pass. Sam Bradford was pedestrian but didn’t hurt the Eagles’ chances like in weeks prior. It was a weird win for the Eagles, epitomized by Brandon Marshall’s inexplicable attempt to lateral the ball after catching a pass with the Jets trailing 17-0.
That play alone explained Week 3. Continue reading
By Nick Shook | NFL.com
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Doug Marrone took a gamble leaving his job as head coach of the Buffalo Bills a few weeks ago. On Tuesday, he continued along the path of determining his next destination.
The former head coach of the Buffalo Bills interviewed with the Chicago Bears for their vacant head coaching position on Tuesday, the team announced. Marrone was one of two interviews for the job on the day, with the other going to Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Continue reading
By Nick Shook | NFL.com
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Sunday of Week 17 offered us an appetizing slate of extremely important matchups for more than a few road squads. Some prospered, and some faltered.
Carolina’s defense played the game of its collective life, terrorizing Matt Ryan, the Atlanta Falcons‘ offense and the tri-county area of Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett on Sunday. If I could give the award to the Panthers‘ defense I would, but I have to pick names, and it’s hard to decide between Roman Harper‘s 31-yard pick six, Tre Boston‘s 84-yard pick six and Thomas Davis‘ 33-yard fumble return.
San Diego, on the other hand, choked away the simplest of paths to a playoff berth, falling to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium when all they needed to do was win, and they were in.
And then, of course, there’s the career performance put on by Geno Smith in Rex Ryan‘s final stand, a statistical masterpiece in Ryan’s swan song.
I can tell you can’t wait to scroll down. Let’s get to the stars of Sunday, the best away from home. Continue reading
By Nick Shook | NFL.com
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We’re beyond the point of intervention with road squads.
Look, it’s obviously difficult to get a win on the road in the NFL — the crowds are hostile, the sleeping conditions aren’t the comfortable, deluxe mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets players have at home, and the locker rooms are never quite as spacious and cozy as those at home. But here in Week 9 it’s like a relationship on the rocks, and we’re going one of two ways: demand change, or learn to love them for who they are.
Well, they’re teams away from home, and they struggled again this week. Visiting squads won three of 11 games on Sunday, including a St. Louis Rams victory that was a few eyelashes and droplets of forearm sweat away from being a crushing loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
But we love them for who they are, because amid the despair of defeat, there exist silver linings and bright spots, both big and small. Now that I’ve captured your heartstrings, here are the best professional football players who suited up and played the game on a field that didn’t feature their team’s markings.
Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
In accordance with a theme that has prevailed throughout most of his career, Brandon Weeden struggled mightily on Sunday. Dallas was encouraged by Weeden’s acceptable outing in relief of Tony Romo last week, but Cowboys fans didn’t get a full four quarters of Weeden — which is bad Weeden.
Nick Shook 