Football – Page 40 – North Platte Post Archive

Manning, Sanders lead Broncos past Chargers 35-21

Posted on October 23, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Emmanuel Sanders waited six long weeks to join the list of players who have caught a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning. Now, he has four in less than a week.

Manning and Sanders connected for a trio of touchdowns Thursday night in the Denver Broncos’ 35-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

With the Chargers’ banged-up secondary double-teaming red-hot receiver Demaryius Thomas, Sanders caught TD throws of 2, 31 and 3 yards. The last one followed Chris Harris Jr.’s interception of a flustered Philip Rivers.

Rookie running back Juwan Thompson added two TD runs as the Broncos (6-1) tightened their grip on the AFC West over the Chargers (5-3), who lost their second straight game.

Manning finished 25 of 35 for 286 yards. Sanders caught nine passes for 120 yards, and Ronnie Hillman added 109 yards on 20 carries.

Huskers Prepared for Saturday’s Challenge

Posted on October 23, 2014

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska football team held a 45-minute walkthrough on Thursday afternoon in the Hawks Championship Center in preparations for Saturday’s matchup against Rutgers. Head Coach Bo Pelini spoke to the media after practice.

“We had a good week of practice,” Pelini said. “I think our guys recovered pretty well. I thought we did our normal thing Sunday. We had a good Tuesday, Wednesday and just had a walkthrough to tie things up. We’ll put the finishing touches on it Friday. I told our guys – it’s going to happen quickly on Saturday morning. Let’s get our rest tonight and get ready to go and make sure we are ready to meet the challenge.”

Pelini added that tight end Cethan Carter is out for Saturday’s game, and talked about wide receiver Brandon Reilly’s recovery.

“He’s still getting his legs underneath him a little bit,” Pelini said. “But he had a good week of practice. It’s good to have Brandon back and ready to go.”

Pelini also said that the Huskers will continue to do what they have on the offensive line, and expressed pleasure in the rotation.

“(We) kind of go with the hot hand,” Pelini said. “There were two longer drives and it was just kind of the way the game played out. Nothing has really changed on our rotation. Right now we feel good about eight, even nine guys that can play on the offensive line. We are going to rotate guys and keep them fresh. We do the same thing in practice, so it’s really nothing new to our guys.”

Pelini touched on the Rutgers’ offense’s ability to hit long passes downfield, and said the Blackshirts have been preparing for it.

“They’ve hit some deep shots,” Pelini said. “They’ve hit some long balls. Some guys have blown coverage or missed coverage, or just beat guys at times. They’re going to run, run, run. They are going to pound the football at you sometimes. They are going to take their shots down the field. That’s where you have to be ready.”

The Huskers and Scarlet Knights kick off at 11 a.m. (CT) at Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

Broncos Release Safety Boyett Following Arrest

Posted on October 23, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos have released safety John Boyett from their practice squad a day after he was charged with assault, theft and harassment.

Police said Boyett, 24, assaulted a cab driver, stole a shovel from a construction site and tried to hide from officers by covering himself in mulch early Wednesday in Greenwood Village, according to court documents.

Police said Boyett drunkenly head-butted and punched a cab driver they had hailed for him after he became belligerent at a bar.

Authorities said he also repeatedly slammed his head into a patrol car window while yelling and spitting after telling arresting officers to contact his boss, GM John Elway.

Omaha Names Street after Historic Quarterback

Posted on October 23, 2014

Marlin "The Magician" Briscoe — Marlin “The Magician” Briscoe

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha street has been named to honor a former Omaha University football player who became the first black man to start at quarterback in professional football.

More than 100 people gathered Wednesday to watch Marlin Briscoe unveil street signs approved by the Omaha City Council. M Street at 20th is called Marlin Briscoe Way. A second sign uses his nickname, “The Magician.”

Briscoe says he’s humbled to see his name displayed in Omaha.

Briscoe graduated from Omaha South High School in 1963. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1968 and won two Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins during his nine-year career.

Chiefs’ Charles Passes Battery of Concussion Tests

Posted on October 22, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs insisted Wednesday that Jamaal Charles has passed a battery of tests and does not show signs of a concussion, one day after the star running back said he exhibited symptoms in last weekend’s win over San Diego.

Charles took a blow from Brandon Flowers when he dove into the endzone Sunday. Charles popped up and trotted off the field, and trainers met him on the sideline. He remained in the game.

On Tuesday, Charles told ESPN Radio that he saw “light bulbs” a few plays later, and that he tried to avoid going through the league’s concussion protocol.

After the Chiefs learned of the interview, they put Charles through a battery of tests. The team said he passed all of them.

British Government Wants an NFL Team in London

Posted on October 22, 2014

LONDON (AP) — The British government wants an NFL team based in London.

George Osborne, the British treasury chief, told the Evening Standard newspaper on Wednesday that the government will do whatever it can “to make this happen.”

The NFL has been playing regular-season games at Wembley Stadium every year since 2007, and this season there are three games on the schedule.

The NFL says it welcomes Osborne’s comments and his “strong support for the possibility of an NFL team in London.”

Detroit and Atlanta will play Sunday at Wembley, the home of England’s national soccer team. Last month, the Miami Dolphins beats the Oakland Raiders 38-14, and next month, the Dallas Cowboys will face the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Gregory Named Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalist

Posted on October 22, 2014

Nebraska junior defensive end Randy Gregory is one of 20 standout defenders who were been named as quarterfinalists for the 2014 Lott IMPACT Trophy Wednesday.

The Lott Trophy is named in honor of former USC and NFL standout Ronnie Lott and is presented to the nation’s most impactful defensive player.

The 6-6, 245-pound Gregory is a disruptive force for the Nebraska Blackshirt defense. Gregory has 28 total tackles, including six tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Gregory also has an interception, a fumble caused, two pass breakups and a team-high nine quarterback hurries.

Gregory was named the Lott Trophy Player of the Week following his performance against Miami, when he had seven tackles, including a pair of sacks, and forced a fumble.

Gregory is one of two defenders from the Big Ten on the list, joining Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun. Gregory and Calhoun are among six defensive ends on the Lott quarterfinalists list.

Eight semifinalists for the Lott Trophy will be chosen on Nov. 11, before balloting determines the four finalists. The winner will be announced on Dec. 14 in Newport Beach, Calif.

Coach of Football Team Charged in Hazing Suspended

Posted on October 22, 2014

PARLIN, N.J. (AP) — The coaching staff of a New Jersey high school football team rocked by charges of sexual assault and hazing has been suspended.

The Sayreville board of education suspended head coach George Najjar (NAY’-jar) and four assistants at its meeting Tuesday night.

Seven members of the Sayreville War Memorial High School team have been charged with crimes ranging from hazing to aggravated sexual assault over what happened last month. Their names haven’t been released because they are under 18.

The school’s football season has been canceled.

Emotions ran high at Tuesday’s meeting. Numerous current and former players gave statements in support of Najjar, who has built the school’s football program into a regional power.

Najjar didn’t comment before the meeting.

16 Huskers Awarded Blackshirts

Posted on October 21, 2014

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its preparations for its Saturday morning Big Ten conference showdown with Rutgers University on Tuesday afternoon, as the Huskers practiced for nearly two hours inside of the Hawks Championship Center and outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields.

Defensive Coordinator John Papuchis met with media after practice, announcing that 16 Husker defenders were awarded the coveted Blackshirt jersey today before practice.

“We decided to after the game on Saturday, based on the challenges we faced at halftime, and the way they came out and corrected what we needed to be corrected and go out and play a good half to win the game,” Papuchis said. “I thought based off of that, they were deserved to be handed out.”

As for the players selected to be a part of the Blackshirt tradition in 2014, the list goes as follows.

Upfront defensive ends Randy Gregory and Greg McMullen both were selected as ends in the Blackshirt group. Gregory, the 6-6 dynamic pass rusher has recorded 28 total tackles, 13 of which were solo, adding six tackles for loss, four and a half sacks and nine quarterback hurries in his junior season. McMullen has also terrorized opposing teams’ backfields, as the sophomore from Akron has seven tackles for loss with two and half sacks.

Defensive tackles selected in the Blackshirt group were sophomore Maliek Collins, and juniors Kevin Williams and Vincent Valentine. All three have produced valiantly for NU, with Williams rejoining the trio after battling minor injuries in the early part of the ’14 season.

Four linebackers were awarded Blackshirts, with seniors Zaire Anderson, Trevor Roach, junior David Santos and sophomore Josh Banderas being the recipients. One of the most improved defensive units from 2013 to 2014, Roach, a former walk-on has led the unit with 42 total tackles (26 solo), with six tackles for loss and one sack.

A total of seven defensive backs were selected to be a part of the Blackshirt group, with veteran corners Josh Mitchell, Daniel Davie and Jonathan Rose being selected. Mitchell, a senior has recorded 19 tackles with one fumble returned for a touchdown against Miami. Davie has also shined, as the junior from Beatrice has two interceptions on the season.

Newcomers Byerson Cockrell and Joshua Kalu also were awarded Blackshirts for the contributions made at the nickel and dime cornerback position. Cockrell, a junior college transfer, and Kalu a true freshman have combined for seven pass breakups.

Finally two safeties were awarded Blackshirts, with senior Corey Cooper and sophomore Nate Gerry being the recipients. Cooper has led the back end of the Husker defense totaling 33 tackles, with one interception.

The Nebraska football team will continue its preparations for its Saturday morning game on Wednesday afternoon. The Huskers Big Ten conference clash against Rutgers will be nationally televised on ESPN2 at 11:00 am (Central).

Broncos Top Nielsen’s Prime-Time Programs for Oct. 13-19

Posted on October 21, 2014

Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for Oct. 13-19. Listings include the week’s ranking and viewership.

1. NFL Football: San Francisco at Denver, NBC, 23.79 million.

2. “Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick,” NBC, 17.76 million.

3. “NCIS,” CBS, 17.26 million.

4. “NCIS: New Orleans,” CBS, 16.14 million.

5. NFL Football: NY Jets at New England, CBS, 16.09 million.

6. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 15.32 million.

7. “The OT,” Fox, 13.78 million.

8. “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 13.28 million.

9. Football: Notre Dame at Florida State, ABC, 13.25 million.

10. “Dancing With the Stars,” ABC, 12.74 million.

11. “Football Night in America,” NBC, 12.61 million.

12. “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 12.34 million.

13. “Madam Secretary,” CBS, 12.28 million.

14. “Scorpion,” CBS, 11.51 million.

15. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 11.39 million.

16. “The Big Bang Theory” (Monday repeat) CBS, 11.38 million.

17. “Criminal Minds,” CBS, 10.90 million.

18. “The Good Wife,” CBS, 10.88 million.

19. “Blue Bloods,” CBS, 10.70 million.

20. “Scandal,” ABC, 9.91 million.