Sports – Page 471 – North Platte Post Archive

Plenty of Flags Fly During Seahawks-Broncos

Posted on August 8, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks’ preseason opener against the Denver Broncos devolved into a game of flag football, which wasn’t unexpected in light of the NFL’s renewed emphasis on illegal contact and holding.

Surprisingly, only a handful of the 25 penalties called in Denver’s 21-16 win Thursday night fell into those categories — and all of those were whistled on the Broncos.

Many believe the NFL’s crackdown is in direct response to the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense and the Super Bowl champs’ habit of pushing, pulling, tugging and shoving wide receivers.

Most were for old-fashioned transgressions, some stemming from the bad blood that developed between the teams in the wake of Seattle’s 43-8 shellacking of the Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Judge Rules Against NCAA in O’Bannon Case

Posted on August 8, 2014August 8, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that the NCAA can’t stop college football and basketball players from selling the rights to their names and likenesses, opening the way to athletes getting payouts once their college careers are over.

In a landmark decision issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ruled in favor of former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon and 19 others in a lawsuit that challenged the NCAA’s regulation of college athletics on antitrust grounds.

In a partial victory for the NCAA, though, Wilken said the NCAA could set a cap on the money paid to athletes, as long as it allows at least $5,000 a year for big school football and basketball players.

The NCAA says it disagrees with Friday’s decision in the Ed O’Bannon case and contends it did not violate antitrust laws.

Donald Remy, the NCAA’s chief legal officer, responded to U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken’s ruling in less than an hour.

Wilken ruled college sports’ largest governing body can’t stop college football and basketball players from selling the rights to their names and likenesses, opening the door to players receiving payouts once their college careers are over.

Remy noted that the judge said the NCAA could cap the compensation — as long as big school football and basketball players receive at least $5,000 a year. Remy says the NCAA will continue reviewing the decision before deciding what to do next.

Nebraska DB LeRoy Alexander Suspended for Season

Posted on August 8, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska defensive back LeRoy Alexander has been suspended for the 2014 football season.

The Nebraska Athletic Department made the announcement Friday and did not give a reason for the suspension. Alexander will remain on scholarship and will be allowed to practice with the team.

Alexander was expected to contend for significant playing time at safety. The sophomore played in all 13 games last season at safety and on special teams. He made 27 of his 34 tackles in the last six games.

The Lincoln and university police departments said they had no record of any recent contacts with Alexander. His mother, Theresa Alexander of Toledo, Ohio, declined comment.

Alexander’s suspension follows Thursday’s announcement that Charles Jackson would have season-ending knee surgery. Jackson was expected to start at the nickel position.

Judge: Trial Can Decide Fate of MLB Video Monopoly

Posted on August 8, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge in New York says a small group of fans suing Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League to stop their strict control over television broadcast rights can try to prove their claims at trial.

Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin issued her written ruling Friday.

She said a trial would help show whether the leagues were accurate in claiming the restrictions are good for the sports and their fans.

The lawsuit claims that the leagues’ clubs and some television broadcast entities collude to eliminate competition in the showing of games on the Internet and television.

The fans seek a court declaration that the defendants engage in antitrust behavior and appropriate remedies, including unspecified damages.

Messages left with lawyers seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Nebraska Defense Putting Emphasis on Swiping Ball

Posted on August 8, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Creating turnovers is a point of emphasis during Nebraska’s preseason practices.

The Cornhuskers have had one of the worst turnover margins in the nation the last two years. Defensive coordinator John Papuchis said it’s important for his charges to become a more ball-hawking unit.

The Huskers were tied for 119th out of 125 Bowl Subdivision teams in turnover margin. They gave up the ball 11 more times than they took it away last season. Their combined minus-23 the past two years is last in the Big Ten and seventh worst nationally.

Papuchis is tracking how many takeaways the defense generates in practice. He also is counting how many times his players miss opportunities to knock a ball loose or intercept a pass.

Chiefs Unsteady, Uneven in Preseason Opener

Posted on August 8, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Depending on which part of the Chiefs’ preseason opener Andy Reid chose to watch, he could have come away thrilled about the prospects for the upcoming season or deeply depressed.

There were two touchdowns by the defense — and many more blown coverages. There were three-and-outs and fumbles by the offense — along with long touchdown passes and dynamic runs. On special teams, there was an electrifying punt return touchdown but several boneheaded decisions.

The Chiefs wound up beating Cincinnati 41-39 on Thursday night, but the result was mostly a moot point. Reid said there were positives and negatives from the preseason opener, and plenty of work to do before the Chiefs visit Carolina on Aug. 17.

Broncos Outlast Flags, Beat Seahawks 21-16

Posted on August 8, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The Super Bowl teams slogged through a preseason opener delayed by lightning and a flurry of flags Thursday night before linebacker Steven Jackson’s end zone interception of Terrelle Pryor’s pass sealed the Denver Broncos’ 21-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

In between a 46-minute delay, both starting offenses put together long touchdown drives that ate up more than 9 minutes and were kept alive by a wave of yellow flags.

Altogether, there were 25 accepted penalties, 13 on Seattle and a dozen on Denver.

Ronnie Hillman’s 1-yard TD run capped Denver’s 14-play, 61-yard drive in which Peyton Manning completed 9 of 11 passes for 63 yards and the officials threw six flags, including one for offsetting penalties.

Guthrie Pitches CG, KC Completes Sweep of D-Backs

Posted on August 7, 2014

PHOENIX (AP) — Jeremy Guthrie retired the final 19 batters in Kansas City’s first complete game this season, and the Royals beat Arizona 6-2 on Thursday night for a three-game interleague sweep of the Diamondbacks.

Guthrie (8-9) allowed seven hits, struck out four and walked none in his eighth career complete game.

Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer and Alcides Escobar had a two-run single for the Royals, who have won four in a row and 12 of 15 to pull within 2 1/2 games of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

Chiefs Beat Bengals 41-39 in Preseason Opener

Posted on August 7, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sean Smith and Malcolm Bronson returned interceptions for touchdowns, De’Anthony Thomas brought back a punt 80 yards for another score and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals 41-39 in their preseason opener Thursday night.

Andy Dalton was sharp in his only series for the Bengals after signing a new six-year deal this week. He hit wide receiver A.J. Green for a 53-yard pass to set up the opening field goal.

He quickly gave way to backup Jason Campbell, who was just 6 of 15 for 72 yards. And while he threw a pair of touchdown passes, he also was responsible for the pick-6s by Smith and Bronson before getting banged up midway through the third quarter.

The Bengals’ Dre Kirkpatrick also returned an interception for a touchdown.

Nebraska Loses DB Jackson (Knee Injury) for Season

Posted on August 7, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska defensive back Charles Jackson will undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee.

Coach Bo Pelini announced Thursday night that Jackson sustained ligament damage when he was injured in practice on Tuesday.

Jackson was projected to be the starter at the nickel position. The junior from Spring, Texas, played in all 13 games last season on special teams and as a backup safety. Pelini said Jackson will use his redshirt this season and have two years of eligibility remaining.

Pelini said junior Byerson Cockrell and freshmen Josh Kalu and Trai Mosley would compete for playing time at nickel.