By MATTHEW WOODS
Staff Writer
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1. Victor Cruz Done for the Season
As if the New York Giants 27-0 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles could not have been worse, the Giants also lost their star receiver Victor Cruz for the entire season with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.
Cruz was injured while running a fade route in the back of the end-zone, as his right leg seemed to twist when leaping for an Eli Manning-thrown ball. After Cruz wasn’t able to haul in the pass, he immediately reached for his right knee, and when the pass finally fell incomplete, Cruz crumpled to the ground, in obvious pain.
Surrounded by players and coaches from both teams, Cruz was placed on a stretcher, where his pain got the better of him on his way to the locker room. Cruz had surgery on his knee Monday and the timetable for his return next season is still uncertain, but he is confident his NFL career isn’t over.
This is a huge loss for a Giants team that was already thin at the wide receiver position, and perhaps the biggest blow to any playoff chances the Giants may have had.
To make up for the lack of depth at that position, the Giants signed former Cowboy and Lion Kevin Ogletree, perhaps to fill Cruz’s role as the primary slot wide receiver.
But the sad fact of the matter is that no receiver the Giants sign will make up for the loss off Cruz.
2. America’s New Team
Year after year, the Dallas Cowboys fail to live up to the hype they undeservedly receive each season. Maybe the pressure of being “America’s Team” got to them, but they won’t have to worry any longer, as they are now “America’s 4th Team.”
The Cowboys’ pitiful reign as America’s team has finally ended, according to a recent Harris Poll survey. America’s new team is the Denver Broncos. Led by prolific future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, the Broncos have won the most games in the NFL in the past two seasons and are looking to do the same this year.
If any team deserves this title in the NFL right now, it’s the Broncos, who are unlike the Cowboys in that they are consistent, and they win. The Broncos also hold the NFL’s second longest home sellout streak, dating back to 1970, trailing only the Washington Redskins. Last year’s bridesmaid in Super Bowl XLIII, the Broncos’ improved roster looks to land them back in the NFL’s final game for the second straight season.
3. Autograph, Anyone?
As if the investigation into University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley profiting from memorabilia wasn’t enough last week, it seems Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston felt the need to be the center of another investigation as well.
Both Gurley and Winston are under investigation for autographing and profiting from sold memorabilia. Gurley was suspended indefinitely while the investigation continues. Meanwhile, Winston was linked for the same actions.
Gurley did not play in last week’s drubbing of Missouri, 34-0, and did not play this past Saturday against Arkansas. Gurley played the first five games for the Bulldogs, totaling 773 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Winston was on the field as the second-ranked Seminoles played the fifth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Seminoles went on to win in a nail-biting 31-27.
Both players are Heisman trophy candidates, with Gurley perhaps the favorite before his suspension. Winston, on the other hand, is showing us all, once again, just how immature he really is.
Perhaps incidents like this will help the push for NCAA athletes to be paid, but who knows? This isn’t the first time that college athletes have tried to make money this way, and it certainly won’t be the last.
4. Burfict Storm
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was fined $25,000 by the NFL on Friday for his unsportsmanlike actions during last Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, which ended in a 37-37 tie. Burfict was caught on video twisting the ankles of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen after the play had been whistled dead. In both cases, a penalty was not called.
It was clearly a deliberate action on the side of Burfict to injure the other players. This is not his first incident, either. Last season, Burfict was fined $21,000 by the NFL for striking a player in the groin. Over the past two seasons, Burfict has been fined four times, for a total of $77,000 for on-field incidents.
Both Newton and Olsen spoke out after the game about the incidents, saying that Burfict should be suspended by the NFL. Newton had off-season ankle surgery this summer and Olsen had been dealing with ankle issues this entire season.
You can be sure that the NFL will keep an eye on Burfict and his on-field conduct going forward.
5. NBA Lands New TV Deal
The NBA extended its television deals with ESPN and TNT for the next nine years. The estimated annual value of the deal is $2.66 billion, and it is certainly all about the money.
This deal has a major effect on everyone involved. The players will make more, the NBA will be wealthier, and the fans will see even more of the NBA on their televisions.
So why is this such a big deal? The new revenue will allow a significant salary cap increase starting next summer when the deal takes effect. This deal is the reason why LeBron James signed only a two-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers back in June. The deal contains a player option after the first year, allowing James to test free agency.
By having the ability to opt out of the contract, James can force the Cavaliers to pay him a maximum player contract, which would be upwards of $25 million per year. Other free agents that may be shown the money this off-season include Kevin Durant, Monta Ellis, and Rajon Rondo.
The deal also means that fans will be able to see more NBA action on their televisions, as well as other media platforms. The NBA will add at least 20 more games to the ESPN and TNT primetime schedule, while ESPN will focus 750 more hours of NBA coverage on their networks.
Since taking over for David Stern, commissioner Adam Silver has certainly made an impact on the NBA, strengthening the brand immensely.
