Van Gaal told to stop moaning

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Former Netherlands great Johan Cruyff has told Louis van Gaal he has no right to complain about the hectic holiday season programme in the Premier League when he chose to go and work there.


|||

Amsterdam - Former Netherlands great Johan Cruyff has told Louis van Gaal he has no right to complain about the hectic holiday season programme in the Premier League when he chose to go and work there.


Writing in his weekly column in the daily De Telegraaf, Cruyff said the Manchester United manager had to accept the English way of running their league without a winter break.


“If you choose for (a job in) England, then you choose for their successful system, which is based on the proposition that the stadiums open as soon as the fans are available to watch, which is the holiday period,” Cruyff said.


“Playing football between Christmas and New Year is a war of attrition and thus in favour of physically stronger teams.”


Any attempt by Van Gaal to try to change the system would be doomed to failure, added Cruyff, who has had a strained relationship with his compatriot and has criticised Van Gaal's organisation of the United team since taking over in July.


“It has been working (well) since time immemorial and in 100 years it will still be so,” Cruyff said.


“Complaining makes no sense if everyone else around you is happy. Moreover, everybody is well paid for working over the holiday period.”


Van Gaal said the over-crowded festive fixture schedule neglected player welfare and short-changed millions of supporters.


“Everybody knows the body cannot recover within 48 hours,” he said last month.


“Therefore there is a rule within Uefa and Fifa that you cannot play the games within two days. The scientists have proven it, everybody knows it and, in spite of that, we have to play.


“It is the culture of England. I don't mind, but it's not good for the players, for the health of the players, and it's not good for the game,” said Van Gaal. – Reuters






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1rWXxHF
Read More

Bafana ready for Afcon

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Bafana Bafana head into the African Cup of Nations battle-tested after their 1-0 victory over Zambia.


|||

Johannesburg – With 12 days to go before the Africa Cup of Nations, Bafana Bafana head into the continental showdown battle-tested after their 1-0 victory over Zambia.


Coach Shakes Mashaba said Sunday's game at Orlando Stadium was important to gauge the readiness of the South African side.


“As a team we needed to know how far we are. It was a good game where we were tactically superior,” he said.


“Unfortunately, we couldn't finish off the goals that we wanted to score.”


The South Africans edged their neighbours thanks to an 80th minute strike from Thuso Phala, ensuring a positive send-off ahead of the team's departure on Tuesday for a pre-tournament camp in Gabon.


Mashaba praised his team for showing resilience to grab a late winner against the 2012 Afcon champions.


“It was a question of pride. Zambia were very determined to come and break our momentum. They didn't hold back and brought the game to us.”


Phala came on as a substitute in the second half to snatch the winner after an assist from Sibusiso Vilakazi in the box.


With the victory Bafana continued their unbeaten streak under coach Mashaba which now stands at five wins and three draws since he took charge in August.


While the results filled the team with confidence, Mashaba felt they still needed to work on their fitness in the lead-up to their first Afcon match against Algeria at the Estadio de Mongomo on January 19.


“Fatigue took its toll on the players in the latter stages of the match.


“I think Zambia gave their best. We should have scored another two goals but it was not meant to be in the end for us.”


Bafana have been drawn against Algeria, Ghana and Senegal, in what is considered to be one of the toughest groupings in the tournament.


Zambian coach Honour Janza complimented the South Africans for putting up a good fight against his team.


“They (Bafana) did what they had to do. They played well and they were fast on the counter which is what we expected,” Janza said.


He also reserved praise for his Chipolopolo side which held its own against the in-form Bafana.


“I am happy with my boys. There were one or two mistakes that were made which allowed them to get the goal,” he said.


“We missed chances as well which is disappointing as it's important to always utilise them.”


Janza said they also used the match as a readiness test ahead of Afcon.


“As the technical staff, we used this game to see how far we are in our preparations.


“We were able to see which of the players were ready and the areas that needed improvement.”


The Zambians are in group B, pitted against Tunisia, Cape Verde and DR Congo.


With defending champions Nigeria having failed to qualify for the tournament, new title holders would be crowned in East Africa.


– Sapa






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1BpwAOG
Read More

Mourinho apologises to ref

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has apologised for criticising referee Kevin Friend in the aftermath of his side's 3-0 win over Watford in the FA Cup at the weekend.


|||

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has apologised for criticising referee Kevin Friend in the aftermath of his side's 3-0 win over Watford in the FA Cup at the weekend.


Mourinho complained in a television interview that his side should have been awarded a penalty in the build-up to their second goal when Craig Cathcart appeared to handle the ball after blocking a shot from Diego Costa.


But Friend subsequently explained to Mourinho that he had played an advantage, which enabled Loic Remy to score moments later, and the Portuguese admitted that his criticism had been misplaced.


“I want to apologise for my earlier comments in some television (interviews). What the referee did was great refereeing,” said Mourinho.


“He saw that it was a penalty, he was going to give a penalty, but he saw the ball was going to Remy. And he waited a couple of seconds.


“He told me that if Remy didn't control the ball well or the ball goes over the bar or the ball is lost, he would have given the penalty.


“I was complaining, but it was good refereeing by Kevin. I didn't think it was a penalty – it was a penalty.”


Mourinho complained recently that his players were the victims of a “clear campaign” orchestrated by opposition coaches and the media following a spate of diving accusations. – AFP






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1xtcEJP
Read More

Let’s win Cup for Gerrard - Rodgers

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Brendan Rodgers has made it his ambition to give Steven Gerrard the perfect send-off — and birthday present — by leading Liverpool to FA Cup glory.


|||

Brendan Rodgers has made it his ambition to give Steven Gerrard the perfect send-off — and birthday present — by leading Liverpool to FA Cup glory.


Liverpool’s captain will move to America, to either LA Galaxy or New York Red Bulls, once his contract expires at the end of this season and, as it stands, his last game is scheduled to be against Stoke City in the Barclays Premier League at the Britannia Stadium on May 24.


The FA Cup final, however, is staged on May 30 this year — the day Gerrard turns 35 — and Rodgers believes there could be no better way for his captain to end his lifelong association with Liverpool than by walking around Wembley clutching one of the game’s biggest prizes.


Gerrard is expected to start tonight’s third-round clash against League Two side AFC Wimbledon, with Rodgers showing how seriously he is taking the competition by naming a strong side. He certainly does not want this to be the last time Gerrard plays in the FA Cup.


‘Our aim was always to win a trophy this year and even more so now with that added incentive,’ said Rodgers. ‘To have a captain who has been a monumental figure for this club leaving there’d be no greater tribute than to reach a final, particularly an FA Cup final.


‘To see him lift a trophy, that is what dreams are all about. It would be a great way for him to end his career and certainly we don’t want Stoke City to be our last game of the season.’


It has been an emotional time for Gerrard and the strain he has been under was illustrated during a 13-minute interview with Liverpool’s television station that was aired on Saturday evening; there were a couple of occasions when he had to pause to compose himself. Gerrard took the decision to leave after Rodgers explained to him his amount of playing time would be ‘managed’ next season, the midfielder admitting he would find it hard to accept being a squad player, given he has been a fixture in the team throughout his career.


‘I’m bright enough to realise that it is the right thing for everyone,’ said Gerrard.


Rodgers is now looking at others to step into the leadership role at the club. Jordan Henderson will almost certainly become club captain when Gerrard hands over the armband — ‘It was one of the reasons I made him vice-captain,’ according to Rodgers — and there are others, such as Raheem Sterling, in whom the manager sees potential .


Sterling is edging closer to signing a new long-term contract, and Rodgers added: ‘Hopefully they can become that type of leader and character that makes up successful teams.’ – Daily Mail






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1yqODEw
Read More

United hit by more injuries

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Louis Van Gaal has a new crop of injury concerns after Manchester United’s bruising FA Cup third-round win at Huish Park.


|||

Louis Van Gaal has a new crop of injury concerns after Manchester United’s bruising FA Cup third-round win at Huish Park.


Rafael da Silva suffered a fractured cheekbone in a first-half aerial duel and had to be taken off at half-time, while his defensive partner Paddy McNair needed staples in his head after a clash with Kieffer Moore.


Van Gaal also revealed that another defender, Luke Shaw, has suffered a fresh ankle problem that saw him withdrawn at the break too after playing through the pain.


The Dutch boss has been plagued by injuries since arriving at Old Trafford and the latest casualties join Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia, Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini on the treatment table.


Van Gaal said: ‘I think we had a lot of problems in the first half. You noticed that Rafa Da Silva has an injury, a fissure of his bone.


‘It was fantastic that he played through (until half-time) but I had to change him and also Luke Shaw has an ankle problem so I had to change him also.’


United were pushed hard by the League One strugglers at Huish Park but prevailed thanks to goals from Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria.


Van Gaal was full of praise for Yeovil and their ‘fantastic’ performance: ‘I have to give my highest respect to the managers and the players.


‘In the first half they didn’t give us any time to play the ball, there was a lot of pressure. In the second, you don’t know whether it is us or the tiredness of their players.


‘It was fantastic how they pressed the ball. It is more difficult to beat the pressure. In the second half we played better but it also takes a long time to score the goal because it is not so easy.


‘Everyone thinks “OK, these players are from Manchester United, €100m against €5,000” but it is not like that.


‘We played also with the Netherlands against teams who are much more expensive in the world championship but you can organise your team like the manager of Yeovil has done and when they believe in it, you can do a lot.’


Gary Johnson’s men matched United for long spells, their resistance only broken by Herrera’s sensational volley on 64 minutes.


And Di Maria made sure there would be no upset with a late clincher. Johnson said: ‘The game was bittersweet, I’m so proud of the boys for the effort they put in. We wanted to affect the game and give them a fright.


‘I thought we did that, we had that first chance before we did that. You have to have a high energy when you’re playing a top team like Man United, especially when they have millions of pounds of players.’


When Van Gaal’s compliments were mentioned, Johnson added: ‘He’s a very honest person, he’s not making it up. It was important this club put on this event, so everyone is happy, the supporters are happy. We’re proud of our club.’


Van Gaal added that although the FA Cup would be a nice bonus, especially as United haven’t won the competition since 2004, the Premier League remained the priority.


‘I always want to win a title and the players do also and I have heard of course from my fantastic assistant manager (Ryan Giggs) that Man United have not won the FA Cup for a while so maybe we can do that this year but it is a very long year.


‘Our priority is also the league because nine points (behind leaders Chelsea) is not so many.’ – Daily Mail






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1HxDTpi
Read More

Theo delighted to play with ‘special’ Sanchez

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Theo Walcott was thrilled to be back in business for Arsenal in their FA Cup third round win.


|||

London - Theo Walcott was thrilled to be back in business for Arsenal in their FA Cup third round win as he declared his delight at playing alongside “special player” Alexis Sanchez.


Walcott played 76 minutes of Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Hull City at the Emirates Stadium, enjoying his first start in exactly a year since suffering the knee injury which kept him out of England's World Cup plans.


It was a quiet but encouraging return which prompted the 25-year-old old to tell the BBC: “It was nice for me personally to blow the cobwebs away after being out for a year to the day. It was nice to get involved and get a few chances. I wanted to put them away and it wasn't to be.”


Yet the man who says he is still determined to end his career as “an Arsenal legend” suspected he may be watching another in the shape of Sanchez, who was brilliant the entire match before scoring Arsenal's decisive second after 82 minutes.


“Alexis Sanchez is a special player and it was nice to get on the pitch with him finally. I'm looking forward to plenty more,” said Walcott.


His return spells good news for England as well as Arsenal, the FA Cup holders who are seeking to improve in the second half of the season after dropping to sixth in the Premier League.


Walcott said it felt good to be back after the sometimes solitary slog to recover fitness.


“I think mentally it is very hard when you are in the treatment room alone, when your team mates are going out to train or going to the World Cup,” said the player, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.


“But I had a lot going on in my life off the field which helped me keep going.”


Walcott showed he had not lost his electric pace but his finishing, as he miscued one glaring opportunity, demonstrated some rustiness. – Reuters






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1xswBR5
Read More

Gerrard could be set for life at Galaxy

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Steven Gerrard will join a MLS team when he quits Liverpool, but has yet to commit to a club, he said.


|||

London - Steven Gerrard will join a US Major League Soccer team when he quits Liverpool at the end of the season but has yet to commit to a club, he said.


The former England skipper announced on Friday that he was ending his time at Anfield and moving abroad.


“I can tell the supporters... it will be America,” Gerrard told Liverpool’s TV channel.


“But I’m not over the line with any team just yet. I’m close and as soon as I know I’ll make the announcement.”


However, ESPN was reporting late on Saturday that Gerrard was close to signing an 18-month contract with MLS team Los Angeles Galaxy.


The 34-year-old midfielder has made 695 appearances and scored 180 goals for Liverpool after joining the club as an eight-year-old.


Gerrard said the turning point in his decision to leave came when Brendan Rodgers told him he could no longer play every game.


“The key conversation or moment was when the manager sat me down not so long ago and said it was time to manage my games for me,” he added.


“I’m bright enough to realise it is the right thing for everyone but when you’ve been a starter and a mainstay in the team for such a long time, it was a very difficult conversation.


“I accept it and I’ll continue to give everything I’ve got whether I’m starting, coming off the bench or whatever,” said Gerrard.


“I wish I’d met Brendan when I was 24 because I think I’d be sitting here talking about a lot of titles that we’d won together.”


While Gerrard is unlikely to return to Anfield as a player, and has already ruled out featuring for another team against Liverpool, he said he could go back one day in another capacity.


“I’ll only come back and serve the club if I feel as if I can help,” he added.


“I wouldn’t like to come back just to be Steven Gerrard the player and just be around. I’d like to help in whatever capacity that may be.”


Gerrard’s greatest moment in a Liverpool shirt was when he helped to inspire the dramatic comeback win over AC Milan in the Champions League final in 2005.


He suffered disappointment last May when Liverpool missed out on the league title. The team faltered late in the campaign when poised to become champions for the first time since 1990.


Reuters






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1BzjlJI
Read More

News sport : Kareem Hunt runs for five touchdowns as Toledo wins GoDaddy Bowl

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Arkansas State had no answer for Toledo running back Kareem Hunt and the Rockets' rushing attack.


Hunt capped a big season Sunday night with a 271-yard, five touchdown performance in Sunday's GoDaddy Bowl that helped the Rockets get a 63-44 win over the Red Wolves.


Three of the touchdowns came in the first half and they were bookended by Toledo defensive touchdowns.


After the Rockets scored on a fumble recovery on Arkansas State's first offensive play of the game, Hunt had 4 and 44-yard touchdown runs to give Toledo a 21-7 lead. Arkansas State pulled within a touchdown, but a 29-yard touchdown run by Hunt put the Rockets back up two scores in the second quarter. The Red Wolves were never within a single possession again the rest of the evening.


Following Hunt's third touchdown, Toledo's Allen Covington returned a Fredi Knighten fumble 66 yards for a touchdown and a 35-17 halftime lead.


Despite missing three games, Hunt, a sophomore, finishes 2014 with 1,631 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. The GoDaddy Bowl moved him from No. 26 in the 2014 rushing rankings to No. 9. Barring a monster game from Oregon's Royce Freeman, Hunt will finish the year in the top 10.


Toledo ran for 365 yards total as Damion Jones-Moore also cracked the 100-yard mark and scored two touchdowns.


Knighten finished 21-29 passing for 395 yards and five touchdowns, but the fumble that Covington returned for a touchdown was a crucial mistake. Knighten had plenty of time before he was hit (the blitzing defender who hit him hesitated on the play) and had Arkansas State scored a touchdown on the possession, Toledo's lead would have been cut to four.


But the Red Wolves' run game struggled as Knighten flourished passing. Arkansas State had just 53 total yards on the ground.


Toledo ends the season 9-4 while Arkansas State finishes 7-6.


- - - - - - -


Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/17ca2WS
Read More

News sport : Oregon, Ohio, issuing Buckeye week proclamation; not changing name

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

The city of Oregon, Ohio, is not changing its name after all.


After a report emerged that the town would change its name on Jan. 12 because of the Oregon-Ohio State National Championship Game, the mayor of the city says the town won't be doing so.


According to the Toledo Free-Press that included a quote from the city administrator, the town was going to issue a proclamation on Jan. 5 about the town's name for Jan. 12. However, according to mayor in a report posted on Sunday, the history of the town's name is too important and the proclamation will rather be about one of the city's slogans changing.


From Toledo's ABC 13:



"To change the name of Oregon just seemed wrong for us," says Mayor Mike Seferian. He says the origin of both names come from the Oregon territory out west even before Oregon was a state.



"It was an association back in the 1800s The people here were trying to get a business transaction going with the Oregon territory as well as the state of Oregon and it's pronounced the same. Their accent might be different out there but the name came from the same spot."



So, the city's official name is City of Oregon and it has two slogans. City by the Bay and City of Opportunity. The mayor says he doesn't plan on changing the name for a day, but he will change one of the slogans and make a proclamation to support Ohio State University.



"We will declare the week of January 5th -12th, Ohio State Buckeye week in the City of Oregon."



The idea to change the name came from a change.org petition from two Oregon, Ohio, residents. Oregon is a suburb of Toledo.


- - - - - - -


Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1KdwZbb
Read More

News sport : Toledo's Allen Covington returns fumble for TD in GoDaddy Bowl (GIF)

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Two Arkansas State fumbles meant two Toledo touchdowns in the first half of the GoDaddy Bowl on Sunday.


The second fumble by the Red Wolves was returned 68 yards by Toledo DT Allen Covington, who is listed at 6-2, 275 on Toledo's roster. Yes, it may be the last fat guy touchdown of the 2014 bowl season.


Covington got the score after Arkansas State QB Fredi Knighten was hit on blitz off the corner. The ball popped up into the air and Covington had nothing between himself and the end zone.




Toledo scored on the first offensive play of the game ... on defense. Arkansas State lost the ball and Trent Voss picked the ball up and dove into the end zone. The two defensive touchdowns added with three touchdown runs by star RB Kareem Hunt meant a 35-17 halftime lead for the Rockets.


- - - - - - -


Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1KdlIri
Read More

News sport : Referee from Lions-Cowboys explains controversial non-call against Cowboys

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

According to the referee whose crew called pass interference on Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens and then announced the call was reversed, an official with a better view came in and that caused the change.


Referee Pete Morelli met with pool reporter Todd Archer of ESPN.com and explained why and how the call got reversed. He also made clear that face-guarding is not a foul in the NFL, although many people are under the assumption is it.


Here's the transcript, via a tweet by the Detroit News' Josh Katzenstein:


Archer: Can you talk about the decision to overturn the call and why you overturned the call.

Morelli: The back judge threw his flag for defensive pass interference. We got other information from a different angle that thought the contact was minimal and didn’t warrant pass interference. He thought it was face-guarding.


Archer: Which official?

Morelli: The head linesman.


Archer: What did you see?

Morelli: It’s not my responsibility. I’m a hundred miles away.


Archer: Face-guarding is not a foul?

Morelli: Face-guarding is not a foul. It is a penalty in college but not in professional football.


Archer: What is the process you go through after you announce the call? Should you have waited before you announced the call?

Morelli: Probably, yes. The information came and then the officials got together a little bit later, after it was given to me, the first information. It would probably been smoother if we got together.


Archer: Do you remember this type of (play) happening before?

Morelli: No, not particularly.


Archer: So one more time on who the person was that had the better view?

Morelli: The better view was from the head linesman.


- - - - - - -


Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1Bo8T9D
Read More

News sport : Colts' Pagano pens touching letter to fan

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Jan 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano in the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports) Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is in the midst of another playoff run, but he more than most understands the importance of football relative to real life.


Pagano missed most of the 2012 season as he recovered from acute promyelocytic leukemia. So he's acutely aware of the pain a family can go through when one of their members faces a devastating illness. This week, Pagano reached out to Alex Kormann, a 17-year-old Colts fan from New Jersey, who'd recently lost his father to cancer.


Russ Kormann, a fan of the Colts dating back to their Baltimore days, died of complications from renal cancer on Nov. 24. Alex's cousin reached out to the Colts the next day. Soon afterward, the Colts sent Kormann a collection of gear, but it was Pagano's personal letter that really mattered. "I teared up," Kormann told USA Today on Sunday. "I was stunned he'd take the time to respond."


"I understand that you and I have something in common," Pagano's letter read, "a commitment to living in a vision rather than circumstance. Throughout my personal journey with cancer, I have been fortunate to receive many words of encouragement from great people like you. Now, it's my turn to return the favor.


"I know that your family has faced some challenging times in the loss of your father, Russ, and it has not been the easiest to push through. Tough days are inevitable in any battle that attempts to challenge our family and spirit. Know that it is in these extremely difficult times that your strength is revealed in greater ways than you will ever imagine.


"I know that you are loyal Colts fans, so I am hoping that your family will accept the enclosed autographed photo as a small token of appreciation for your great efforts. Again, thank you for your support. I pray for your family and that you will continue to focus on the vision you have for your lives together, know that the entire Indianapolis Colts family is cheering you on to live out that vision."


If you're looking for a team to cheer on during the NFL playoffs, Pagano's Colts might be a good bet.





____

Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.



And keep up with Jay over on Facebook, too.







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1xrrEry
Read More

News sport : Officials controversially change minds on call against Dallas Cowboys

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Conspiracy theorists had their smoking gun in the fourth quarter of the Dallas Cowboys-Detroit Lions playoff game on Sunday.


You very rarely see an officiating crew pick up a flag as late as the Cowboys-Lions crew did on the most controversial play of wild-card weekend. On third down, Matthew Stafford threw to Brandon Pettigrew, who was covered by Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens. Hitchens never turned around, face-guarding Pettigrew, and that combined with some contact drew a flag for pass interference.



But the Lions went from thinking they had a crucial first down to facing a fourth and 1. The officials reversed the call, saying Hitchens made a clean play. The Lions tried to draw the Cowboys offsides, took a delay of game penalty, shanked a punt, and the Cowboys marched down for a go-ahead touchdown with 2:32 remaining. The call changed the entire game. Most NFL fans hate the Cowboys, and did they ever hate that the pass interference wasn't called.


Mike Pereira, the well-respected former vice president of officiating in the NFL, was in the booth for Fox’s broadcast and said he thought it was pass interference and wrong of the officials to reverse the call. That seemed to be the consensus opinion of most fans watching as well. No matter what the call should have been, it went against the Lions and will be a topic of conversation for a long time.


- - - - - - -


Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1DmkLsf
Read More

News sport : Andrew Luck amazes, Colts move on to face Denver and Peyton Manning

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck doesn’t make every play. He might get there some day. He still makes a few more mistakes than you’d like.


But there are plenty of times that Luck does something that only a few people on Earth can do, like his touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief in the Colts’ 26-10 playoff win on Sunday.


Luck’s unbelievable play put the Cincinnati Bengals away. He was blitzed from his right, stepped up in the pocket and Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap had a shot at him from behind. Dunlap got a piece of Luck and tripped him up as Luck ran forward. And somehow, Luck delivered a frozen rope to Moncrief in the end zone just as he was tripped up. That stretched Indianapolis’ lead to 20-10, and the Bengals weren’t coming back from that. Indianapolis advances to play next Sunday at the Denver Broncos, in a really fun matchup between Luck and former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.


There are plenty of good quarterbacks who can’t make the throw Luck did to Moncrief. Not too many have the athleticism, arm strength, vision and feel for the game to pull that off. It was right on target. It was an incredible play that he made look relatively easy. Luck isn’t the best quarterback in the league yet, at the end of his third season. But he does things that suspend belief. The Colts put everything on their tremendous young quarterback (on Sunday Luck set two records for most passing attempts and most passing yards in a quarterback’s first four career playoff games, passing Dan Fouts and Kurt Warner respectively, according to ESPN), and often Luck just puts the team on his back.


On the other side, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton was the exact opposite of Luck. He looked terrible most of the day, and for a fourth straight offseason he’ll carry the stigma of being one-and-done in the playoffs.


It wasn’t all his fault. Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati's top two receivers in terms of receptions this season, were out with injuries. Dalton’s receivers who did play didn’t help him out at all. But it was hard not to make the quarterback comparison as the Colts pulled away. The Bengals didn't drive into Colts’ territory in the second half until there were less than three minutes in the game, and Dalton lost a fumble on that first play on Indianapolis' side of the field.


The Colts aren’t a complete team by any means, and in many areas the Bengals are better. But Luck covers up a lot of flaws. And sometimes Luck just makes a play nobody else can.


- - - - - - -


Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1AtDvq6
Read More

News sport : Dan Herron's fumble might have been caused by a punch to ... yeah

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

A common play in football is to punch the ball out of a running back's hands, trying to get a fumble.


Sometimes those punches can go a little wayward. Indianapolis Colts running back Dan Herron can painfully attest to that.


On a play late in the second quarter, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard caused a fumble after Herron caught a screen pass. It looked like your normal caused fumble until you saw that on the replay, Herron might have coughed up the ball because he took an inadvertent shot below the belt.



If that landed as it looks like it did, then ... oof.


Herron shook it off and returned. And it's a lot easier to forgive his fumble once we see what might have caused it.


- - - - - - -


Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1AbTOJ7
Read More