By JOSH HELLER
Staff Writer
- Hunt Makes History as Chiefs Top Pats
In a shocking Thursday night game, Kareem Hunt rebounded from a fumble on his first carry and led the Chiefs to a huge win over the Patriots, 42-27.
Hunt, the third-round pick out of Toledo, was set to be the backup to Spencer Ware (though Ware was reportedly being shopped prior to his injury). But, Ware suffered a torn PCL in the preseason, giving Hunt a huge opportunity right out of the gate.
After losing a fumble, which Hunt never did in college, on his first carry, the rookie ignited the Chiefs’ big win, gathering 246 total yards and three touchdowns. Hunt became the third player with 150-plus yards and three touchdowns since Marshall Faulk in 1994 and Billy Sims in 1980. Hunt even managed to outperform new-Patriot back Mike Gillislee, who potted three touchdowns in this high-scoring affair, as well.
In addition to Hunt’s performance, Alex Smith (of all people) looked phenomenal, passing for 368 yards and four touchdowns, including two 75-plus yard touchdown passes to Hunt and 2016-breakout Tyreek Hill.
The Chiefs will now travel back home to take on the Eagles, while the winless-Patriots (don’t get to say that often!) will go to New Orleans to take on the Saints.
- Elliott Could Play All Season for Cowboys
After being issued a temporary restraining order by a federal judge, Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension has been put on hold, and he is able to play.
Elliott was already ruled eligible to play in Week 1 versus the Giants prior to this ruling, but this order means that he could continue playing while the legal process plays out.
The 22-year-old Elliott was suspended for six games back in early August for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, stemming from domestic violence accusations. After Elliott’s original appeal, an arbitrator upheld the suspension, but the NFLPA requested an injunction, and the judge ruled in favor of Elliott and the NFLPA, putting the suspension on an indefinite hold.
To many, this situation is playing out much like Tom Brady and DeflateGate, as Brady was able to play while in the legal process, but he was eventually suspended by the league. It wouldn’t be surprising to many if Elliott avoided a suspension this season all-together, but would serve one next year.
- Sox, Yankees, and Sign-Stealing
Here I was thinking I had finally avoided the high school drama. The Red Sox and Yankees were thinking otherwise.
Back on September 5, MLB investiagtors determined that in a series at Fenway back in August, the Red Sox used an Apple Watch to steal Yankee catcher signs. The Red Sox admitted their wrongdoing after being approached by the league. As of this writing, the team is still awaiting a punishment from the league.
After they were caught, however, the Red Sox then accused the Yankees of using YES Network cameras to steal their signs during games.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred did address one thing which many fans do not know, is that there is no rule in the MLB that prohibits sign stealing. The Red Sox only got in trouble for using electronics.
Sign stealing has been a part of the MLB for years, as it was key in the Giants’ comeback to win the pennant in 1951, and was also present with the Bobby Valentine Mets of 1997 and Phillies’ pitching coach Mick Billmeyer using binoculars from the bullpen back in 2010.
Until the league passes down a heavy penalty to either the Red Sox or the Yankees (or both), teams will have no reason not to try and steal signs.
Sign stealing has been a part of the league for years, as has the rivalry between Boston and New York, and it’s nice to see that flaring up again, even over something as trivial as this.
- Horvat Signs Six-Year Deal
In a wasteland of NHL news, the Canucks signed their promising center Bo Horvat to a six-year, $33 million extension.
The 22-year-old Horvat broke out last season, with 20 goals and 32 assists. Horvat is entering his fourth season in the NHL, and to this point he has 117 points in 231 games.
Horvat was selected at ninth-overall in 2013, a pick that was traded to the Canucks from the Devils in exchange for goaltender Cory Schneider.
The Canucks were a mess last year, even after signing free agent Loui Eriksson to a six-year, $6 million deal (Eriksson scored 24 points in 65 games last year). The Canucks finished with 69 points, second only to the lowly Avalanche, who had just 48.
This season, the Canucks are still led by Henrik and Daniel Sedin, as well as Eriksson, but Horvat will see a lot of ice time, and could even crack his 52 points last season. But in order to do that, he is going to need some help from fellow youngsters, like Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund, as well as veterans like Brandon Sutter and Sam Gagner.
The Canucks could be better than last year, but most still view them as a basement-dwelling team, even with Horvat’s stock pointing straight up.
- Jackson Shines Again as Louisville Tops UNC
In a 47-35 win over the Tarheels, reigning Heisman trophy winner Lamar Jackson put on a show, and looks better than ever.
Jackson, who put up 525 total yards and six total touchdowns, became the first player from a Power Five conference (Big 10, Big 12, ACC, Pac-12, and SEC) to throw for at least 300 yards and rush for at least 100 in back-to-back games (Chase Clement did this for Rice in 2007). This comes after his 378 passing yard, 107 rushing yard, two touchdown performance in Week 1.
After North Carolina linebacker Andre Smith said the Tarheels would shut down Jackson, the junior quarterback shut up UNC, and showed the country how dangerous he and the Cardinals can be.
The 17th-ranked Cardinals will host number-three Clemson in a huge contest this Saturday.
