By MATTHEW WOODS
Staff Writer
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1. Peyton Manning Breaks Brett Favre’s Touchdown Record
In Week 7, living legend Peyton Manning showed us once again why he may be the greatest quarterback of all-time. During the game against the San Francisco 49ers, Manning surpassed Brett Favre’s record for most touchdown passes with a short 8-yard strike to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Manning at that point stood alone in the history books with 509 touchdown passes, and he finished the game at 510.
This record may be the one that puts Manning on top of Joe Montana for the title of greatest quarterback of all-time. Yes, Montana won four Super Bowls, three Super Bowl MVPs, and two NFL MVPs, but he also had the greatest receiver of all-time in Jerry Rice, and a dominant defense led by safety Ronnie Lott. Yet Montana’s numbers are nowhere near Manning’s, but then again it is all about winning championships and so far this season it looks as though the Manning led Broncos are on track for another shot at a ring.
After this past Thursday’s game against the San Diego Chargers, Manning sits at 513 career touchdown passes, but just how many more will he get? All we can do is watch; and who doesn’t like watching Peyton Manning play football?
2. Sam Cut by Cowboys
When the Dallas Cowboys decided to sign Michael Sam to their practice squad after he had been released by the Rams, we had to assume the whole thing was a publicity stunt, right? Sam was cut off the Cowboys practice squad on Tuesday in order to clear room for newly signed linebacker Troy Davis.
Sam has still not seen the field in a regular season NFL game, and the Cowboys had no intentions of calling him up from their practice squad, mainly due to rookie DeMarcus Lawrence being ready to go against the Arizona Cardinals on November 2.
It was really just a numbers game that came down to Sam getting cut or not. The Cowboys did not want to have 3 defensive tackles on their practice squad, with Kevin Bishop being cleared from waivers, so the obvious decision was to cut one of the defensive tackles and Sam was the odd man out.
The first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team, Sam still has hopes of playing every Sunday, and he may still get that opportunity. The New England Patriots have shown interest of signing Sam to their practice squad.
 3. Joe Maddon Leaves Rays
Outside of the World Series, there is not much going on in Major League Baseball. That is until Friday afternoon when Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon opted out of his contract with the team in an unexpected set of circumstances. Maddon exercised the opt-out clause in his contract in hopes of receiving a deal upwards of five years/$25 million.
This was an unexpected move by Maddon, who would be leaving a young Rays team with a lot of upside. There is no doubt Maddon will get his money as his unique managerial techniques have dramatically changed the game of baseball. His defensive shifting methods started as a trend to get left handed pull hitters out, but now spread across the league to get players of all kinds out.
There are a number of likely landing spots where Maddon could end up the time pitchers and catchers report to camp, but where? Maddon has been rumored for the managerial position for the Don Mattingly managed Los Angeles Dodgers, who also hired former Rays GM Andrew Friedman. The Chicago Cubs have also been a team of intrigue, who like the Rays, have a wide variety of young talent that Maddon would be sure to handle. Other teams to keep an eye on include the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, and Texas Rangers.
4. NFL Says Kuechly Ejection Was Wrong
During the Carolina Panthers game against the Green Bay Packers last week, Panther linebacker Luke Kuechly was ejected for shoving a referee after a play had been whistled dead. Last season’s defensive player of the year, Kuechly’s intentions were clearly inadvertent and did not call for an ejection.
After the play, back judge, Steve Freeman, held Kuechly’s arm after a scrum. Trying to free himself, Kuechly, who was unaware of who was restraining him, swung his arm striking Freeman.
The NFL acted quickly in this case and realized the circumstances in which the event occurred and decided not to fine Kuechly, stating that the ejection had not been warranted and that his actions were unintentional. It’s about time the NFL got something right and took action immediately.
5. Pistorius Sentenced
Last week, former Paralympian track star, Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison for the culpable homicide death of his girlfriend at the time, Reeva Steenkamp. The emotionless Pistorius seemed unnerved with the outcome of the sentencing as the judge read it aloud, perhaps due to the fact that Pistorius could be out of prison in 10 months.
Pistorius is being held at Kgosi Mampuru II prison, one of the most overcrowded and violent of prisons within South Africa. Due to his disability and high profile, he may be held away from the rest of the population of prisoners in a different wing of the prison.
He has also been banned by the International Paralympic Committee for the entire five years he was sentenced, which means that Pistorius will not compete in the 2016 Paralympic Games and perhaps his Paralympic career may be over as well.
