Hot Button: Ravens linebacker Bowser deletes post critical of offensive coordinator ... Former Reds All-Star, perfect-game hurler Browning dies ... Raiders win with unbelievable finish

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BOWSER DELETES ONLINE
VIDEO ABOUT OC ROMAN

Monday, December 19: When the Ravens showed up at their Owings Mills, Maryland practice facility Monday, several flyers were strewn about the entrance with "Fire Greg Roman" printed on them. Roman, Baltimore's offensive coordinator, has been heavily criticized by fans for the team's struggles on offense, averaging just 69 points over the last five games (15.9 points per game), two of those without injured Lamar Jackson. The Ravens have still managed to go 3-2 in those games.

Linebacker Tyus Bowser took a video of the flyers and posted it on Instagram with the caption "Well alright then." It was later deleted. Head coach John Harbaugh said during media availability he spoke to Bowser, then Harbaugh offered his full support and confidence in Roman to those in attendance, "We're not getting into all that ... you guys can talk about all that and I respect that. I love the fans talking about everything they can talk about. We're together man. We're a team. ... You know the end-of-the-bar talk is for the people sitting at the end of the bar."

My take: The Ravens are 9-5 and organized fans are calling for the head of the offensive coordinator with flyers at the practice facility. Can Steelers fans get their number? — Bob

FORMER REDS STAR
BROWNING DIES

Monday, December 19: Pitcher Tom Browning, a former All-Star and World Series champion with the Reds, died Monday in Union, Kentucky, a town approximately 15 miles southwest of Cincinnati. He was 62. He was found unresponsive on his couch by emergency-service personnel and pronounced dead at the scene after attempts to resuscitate failed. No foul play is expected. Recently, in August, Browning had been arrested for falling asleep while driving under the influence and crashing into a residence.

Browning pitched in parts of 12 Major League Baseball seasons, all but the last with Cincinnati. The southpaw was a 20-game winner in 1985 and had double-digit wins each season from 1985 through 1991 when he made his only All-Star team. Brwoning went 15-9 in 1990 when the Reds won the World Series, earning a win over the Athletics in the Fall Classic. 

Browning threw the 10th perfect game in MLB history on September 16, 1988, against the Dodgers, a feat now accomplished only 21 times in the modern era (post-1900). 

A ninth-round pick by the Reds in 1982, Browning finished his career with a 123-90 record in 302 appearances (300 starts), with a 3.94 ERA (4.21 FIP), a 1.271 WHIP and 1,000 strikeouts in 1,921 innings pitched. He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame by fan vote in 2006.

My take: Browning was a gamer, taking the ball every time out. He started 35 or more games a season six times through the seven-season prime of his career, hurling 31 games in the other. Not a superstar, but a solid lefty and a key piece to those good Reds team of the late 80s, early 90s. Rest in Peace.

PATRIOTS GAFFE HANDS
RAIDERS WIN ON LAST PLAY

Sunday, December 18: When Derek Carr hit Keelan Cole from 30 yards out for a touchdown with 32 seconds left in the game, the subsequent extra point tied the game at 24-24 and everyone, including Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, was expecting the game to head to overtime. But what happens in Vegas ... definitely did not stay there Sunday. 

New England decided to gift-wrap an early Christmas present for Las Vegas. With 10 seconds remaining, New England running back Rhamondre Stevenson ripped off a 23-yard run inside the Raiders' 40-yard line, outside the numbers. As tacklers converged, Stevenson lateraled back to receiver Jakobi Meyers, who inexplicably kept the play alive by trying to lateral back across the field to quarterback Mac Jones, instead throwing it directly to linebacker Chandler Jones who ran returned it untouched, 48 yards for a touchdown and a walkoff win for Vegas:

It ruined a stellar day for Stevenson, who had 172 yards on 19 carries, including a 34-yard TD, but mainly it dampened the Patriots' playoff chances. Now at 7-7, New England went from sixth playoff position to out, trailing the 8-6 Dolphins for the last spot. The Raiders improve to 6-8, keeping their razor-thin playoff hopes alive, but will likely have to settle for this incredible franchise memory in the end.

My take: It was hilarious watching Belichick talk about executing 'situational football' in his postgame presser, as if everyone on the planet who understands football wouldn't know what to do there. Lonely flight home for Meyers, for sure. The football gods have a huge debt on the ledger owed the Raiders in relation to the Patriots. This does not come close to making up for the "Tuck Rule," but it's a start. — Bob

JAGS PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE WITH
SHOCKING COMEBACK ON COWBOYS

Sunday, December 18: The Cowboys waltzed into Jacksonville and for the better part of three quarters dominated the Jaguars, building a 27-10 lead. Inside of seven minutes, they were trailing 31-27 thanks to three Trevor Lawrence touchdown passes. After the game ended in a tie, 34-34, it appeared Dallas would eke out a win after Jacksonville went three-and-out on its first overtime possession and the Cowboys had it to midfield after three plays on its first possession. But Dak Prescott's next pass deflected off receiver Noah Brown, was snatched just above the turf by safety Rayshawn Jenkins and returned 52 yards for a game-winning touchdown.

Jenkins made a strong case for AFC Defensive Player of the Week with 18 tackles, two interceptions and the touchdown. Lawrence threw four touchdown passes, two to Zay Jones (one 59 yards), to lead the Jaguars to a 6-8 record and one game behind the 7-7 Titans for the top spot in the AFC South. Dallas? It would have secured a playoff spot with a win, but now must face the Eagles, Titans and Commanders to close out the season, currently sitting in fifth position at 10-4.

My take: Been a while since we had a dig at Urban Meyer and his disastrous tenure in Jax, but Jenkins laid him out pretty good in a postgame interview when asked what the difference is between this year and last — "Coaching," he said, "I'm just going to be upfront, its coaching. ... We have information now." Ouch.

It's amazing, the growth in Trevor Lawrence this season. It probably has something to do with Doug Pederson's offense, but you could just see his confidence build as the season progressed and he's been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since the midway point, making the types of throws we haven't seen since he led Clemson. It's not perfect — he had another lost fumble, as did Travis Etienne — but 24 touchdowns against 7 interceptions on the year says it all. Probably a full-game replay on NFL Network this week. Check it out if you haven't seen Lawrence play much this season. As for Dallas, they'll make the postseason, but it's always fun to see Jerry Jones unhappy and sweating a bit.— Bob

NFL WEEK 15 BROUGHT
PLENTY OF THRILLS 

Sunday, December 18: There were a bunch of good game smixed throughout the schedule Sunday. Two of them got posts of their own. Since those are longer, I'll keep these brief:

AFC NORTH

• The Buccaneers didn't punt in the first half, scoring 17 points and missing a field goal. The Bengals threw an interception and punted three times before an Evan McPherson field goal made it 17-3 at halftime. It all unraveled for Tom Brady and Tampa Bay from there. They inexplicably went for a fourth-and-one at their own 26 to start the second half and turned it over on downs when a direct snap was fumbled. Cincy field goal. Brady threw an interception in his own territory. Cincy TD. Brady loses a sack-fumble at his 13. Cincy TD. Brady fumbles at own 28. Cincy TD. Brady throws an interception at Cincy 47. Cincy ... punt. But you get the idea. Bengals 34. Bucs 23. TB drops to 6-8, still good enough to lead the NFC South by one game over the ... uhh .. Panthers. Burrow and the boys move to 10-4 to lead the AFC North by a game.

• The Lions roared into the Meadowlands, or whatever they call it now, having won five of six and left having won six of seven after a 51-yard touchdown pass for Jared Goff to backup tight end Brock Wright with just under two minutes remaining, to beat the Jets 20-17. At 7-7, Detroit is now in ninth playoff position, just 1/2 game behind the Commanders for the seventh and final spot after a 1-6 start. The Jets dropped to 7-7, having lost four of five and out of playoff position for the first time in 10 weeks. Zack "Big Baby" Wilson had to start, but he wasn't altogether terrible, going 18 of 35 for 317/2/1. They have the Jags, Seahawks and Dolphins left. Magical season over.

• Last week the Texans, behind a quarterback — I use that term loosely — combo of Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel, managed to take the Cowboys to the edge of defeat before turning into themselves at the end. This week, they pushed the Chiefs to the edge of defeat ... and turned into themselves at the end again. Houston held a lead into the fourth quarter, lost it, then tied it on a late FG to go to OT. They got a stop on Patrick Mahomes and Co., forcing a punt. But Mills fumbled on a scramble and Jerick McKinnon ran one in on the next play from 26 yards to win 30-24. KC won the AFC West with the victory — for the 7th consecutive season — and remain in the hunt for the top spot in the conference at 11-3. The Texans (1-12-1) are close to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. Win-win?

• The Titans went to Los Angeles and all they got was a stupid t-shirt. Losers of three straight, a hobbled Ryan Tannehill appeared to send the game to overtime with a touchdown sneak with 48 seconds left in the game, tying it at 14-14. But when you're in a losing streak, you'll find ways to continue it. Justin Herbert needed only 37 seconds to set up Cameron Dicker the Kicker's 43-yard game-winner. Tennessee is still somehow leading the AFC South at 7-7. The Chargers (8-6) are in the second wildcard spot.

• The Cardinals played the Broncos. Colt McCoy started for an injured Kyler Murray. Brett Rypien started for the injured Russell Wilson. McCoy got hurt in the second quarter and it was Trace McSorley in the saddle. Boise State vs Penn State went appropriately Broncos over Nittany Lions, 24-15. Both team are 4-10. There is no relegation.

• The Falcons played the Saints in New Orleans. It was a big deal because rookie and former U. of Cincinnati standout Desmond Ridder was making his NFL debut for the Falcons after Marcus Mariota was benched "for performance." No one's really sure if Mariota quit the team this week, but the Falcons could have used him, bum knee and all. Ridder went 13 of 26 for 96 yards no TDs, no picks. The Saints, of course aren't much better, but they had seasoned NFL players make NFL plays. Andy Dalton threw 2 TD passes, and Taysom Hill threw a 70-yard TD pass to Rashid Shaheed. In the end, it was Saints 21, Falcons 18, but if an NFL game falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it happen? Both teams are now 5-9 ... and one game out of first place in the NFC South, a division with a combined record of 21-35.

— Bob

MESSI CEMENTS LEGACY,
WINS ELUSIVE WORLD CUP

Sunday, December 18: Soccer fans were treated to one of the great World Cup finals ever Sunday in Qatar, as Argentina defeated defending champion France 4-2 in penalties after the match and two extra periods finished at 3-3.  

The story of the match was the battle between Argentina's 35-year-old, six-time Golden Boot winner Lionel Messi and the player many consider the best today, 23-year-old Kylian Mbappé of France, made all the more dramatic because the two are teammates in club soccer on Paris Saint-Germain. The stars did not disappoint. 

Messi began the scoring with a penalty in the 23rd minute and assisted on a goal by Angel Di Maria in the 36th minute to give Argentina a 2-0 halftime lead. They continued to dominate play into the late stages of the game with good structure in the offensive end which provided multiple scoring chances, while tightly marking the French attack in the defensive end. limiting them to no shots on target and just one corner kick into the 71st minute. But Mbappé took the game over, scoring a penalty in the 80th minute, then equalizing the match just 1:33 seconds later:

After eight minutes of extra time resulted in a draw, the teams went scoreless in the first 15-minute extra period. However, it appeared Messi would cap the World Cup with a Golden Goal, scoring from the box off a beautiful sequence — a rare one from the right foot, too — in the 108th minute.

But Mbappé answered, earning and scoring a penalty in the 118th minute to become just the second man to ever score a hat trick in a World Cup final, and sent the final to penalties.

Mbappé and Messi made each of their team's first penalties, but France missed its next two. Gonzalo Montiel sealed the championship for Argentina when he made his penalty — La Albiceleste made all four of their attempts.

Messi at last shook off the shadow of Diego Maradona to lead his home nation to its first World Cup title since 1986. His performance earned him his second career Golden Ball Award as the tournament's best player — the first in history with two — and Messi also set a record by appearing in his 75th World Cup match. Mbappé earned the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer, finishing with 8 goals (and three assists). Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano "Emi" Martinez won the Golden Glove as the best keeper.

My take: What a terrific final to what was an entertaining World Cup. The sport rose above all the controversy of the host country and delivered a wonderful tournament with a legendary finish. Mbappé and Messi? Wow. — Bob

BILLS 'SQUISH FISH,' MAKE
FOURTH-STRAIGHT POSTSEASON

Saturday, December 17: It was supposed to snow throughout the Bills-Dolphins game Saturday night in Orchard Park, but it finally came late in the fourth quarter and Buffalo felt right at home, marching 84 yards in 16 plays through a blizzard to set up Tyler Bass for the game winning 25-yard field goal as time expired, outlasting the Dolphins, 32-29, and clinching a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season. The Bills (11-3) also extended their lead in the division to three in the loss column ahead of Sunday's games. A win next Saturday against the Bears would secure the AFC East title.

If Miami wonders where it went wrong, it was in allowing Buffalo to dominate the last minutes of each half. The Bills scored 10 combined points on the final plays of the second and fourth quarters, with Josh Allen throwing one of his four touchdown passes as time expired in the first half, giving his team a 21-13 lead.

The Dolphins, however, scored the next 16 points, taking a 29-21 lead into the fourth quarter on the strength of two Tua Tagovailoa touchdown passes, the first a 64-yard strike to Jaylen Waddle. But Allen took over the game with his legs after Miami managed just a field goal after recovering a Bills strip-sack at the Buffalo 49. Allen scampered 44 yards to set up the tying scores, a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dawson Knox and a keeper on a two-point conversion originally ruled no good on a fumble, but reversed when replays showed Allen get the ball just to the line before losing the ball. 

Miami (8-6) is currently in sixth playoff position, but wins Sunday by the Jets and Patriots would give each team behind the Bills in the division an 8-6 record.

• The two bookend games sandwiched a defensive, poorly played contest between the Borwns and Ravens in Cleveland. Deshaun Watson won his home debut, though he was hardly impressive, and the game's lone touchdown drive went 91 yards in the third quarter, following a Denzel Ward red-zone interception of Tyler Huntley — subbing for the still-injured Lamar Jackson — setting the final score at 13-3. The biggest story was Justin Tucker missing two field goals for Baltimore, one from 48 yards at the end of the first half, and the second a blocked attempt from 50. 

Baltimore (9-5) dropped out of the AFC north lead ahead of the Bengals' late afternoon tilt against the Buccaneers. The Browns? They moved to 6-8

My take: A great day of football overall, despite the AFC North clunker, though the Browns were able to do what the Steelers couldn't — beat Baltimore while they're without Jackson. Buffalo looked every bit a title contender and the Vikings showed they're a dark horse in the NFC — all the top teams in that conference are formidable. — Bob 

VIKINGS STUN COLTS, WIN DIVISION 
WITH RECORD COMEBACK

Saturday, December 17: The Vikings set an NFL record Saturday, overcoming a 33-point deficit to beat the Colts, 39-36 in overtime, the largest comeback in NFL history. Minnesota also won the NFC North division title with the victory, the franchise's first since 2017.

When they headed into halftime down 33-0, it not only looked like the Vikings would lose, but would mark the second time in as many weeks that they failed to secure the division title, opening the door slightly for the upstart Lions. The Colts (4-9-1) scored a special teams touchdown on a blocked punt, a defensive touchdown on a pick-six, one offensive touchdown after a fumble recovery, and four field goals — two coming off Minnesota turnovers on downs.

The Vikings got it to 36-14 entering the fourth quarter after two long touchdown drives, then scored 22 unanswered fourth-quarter points, despite an interception and a turnover on downs in the final quarter, getting the equalizer on a 64-yard screen pass from Kirk Cousins to Dalvin Cook on the first play after turning the Colts over on downs with 2:15 left in the game. 

Cousins then hit tight end T.J. Hockenson for the two-point conversion and the tie. Each team punted on its first possession in overtime, but Minnesota got the ball back on its own 18 with 1:42 left, and Cousins hit K.J. Osborn — 10 catches for 157 — for 15 yards, Adam Thielen for 21, and Justin Jefferson for 13 to move the ball to the Indy 22, where Greg Joseph hit the game-winning 40-yard field goal with seven seconds left.

The Vikings (11-3) finished with 518 total yards, compared to 341 for the Colts, and Cousins shook off his two interceptions with 460 passing yards and four touchdown passes.The Colts rushed for 171 yards — mostly without Jonathan Taylor, who left in the first quarter with an injury — but their failure to finish drives and settle for field goals proved costly.

My take: I'd say it was stunning, if I hadn't seen enough of the Vikings offense this year to know no deficit is too great given enough time. Minnesota did everything it could to hand that game to Indy, but the Colts weren't good enough to take it. Jeff Saturday has now lost four straight games after a victory in his first game at the helm. Not quite the brilliant move owner Jim Irsay thought it was when he canned Frank Reich who, ironically, previously engineered the NFL's greatest comeback when he QB'ed the Bills past the Oilers in the 1992-93 playoffs, down 35-3 at halftime. — Bob

MLB CONTRACT TREND ICES 
OUT LOW-REVENUE TEAMS

Friday, December 16: When Carlos Correa signed a 13-year, $350-million contract with the Giants this week, he became the fifth player this offseason signed to a long-term deal which takes the player to or through their age-40 season:

• Aaron Judge, 30, Yankees, 9 years, $360 million
• Trea Turner, 29, Phillies, 11 years, $300 million
• Xander Boegarts, 30, Padres, 11 years, $280 million
• Jacob deGrom, 34, Rangers, 5 years, $185 million

Mookie Betts (Dodgers), Francisco Lindor (Mets), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Cory Seager (Rangers), Marcus Semien (Rangers), Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) are all signed to their late 30s on big-money deals, and players Shoehei Ohtani, Jose Altuve and Juan Soto — to name a few — will be up for extensions likely to follow this pattern.

Each player is among the best in MLB and each is deserving of their deal, based on what the market will bear. Yet, herein lies the trouble with MLB's system, one without a salary cap which allows top-spending, high-revenue teams to set the market price. Of the teams listed above, only the Rangers and Nationals were in the bottom half of the league in total salary last season, and the Giants and Rangers are likely to end up in the top 10 in 2023. None of the those teams were in 2022's bottom 10 in total team payroll.

Few would argue that any of those players listed above will play to the annual value of their contract as they age, but the ability of those teams to set the market price, matched with the ability to absorb the contracts if they cut the players or assume large portions in a trade, makes for a de facto hieracrchy of teams which hold the vast majority of premier talent. None of that guarantees a World Series, but it does guarantee a shot at it every year, and the artificially inflated salaries reset annually by the six to eight teams who can compete for the top players ensures that bottom-half salary teams can neither sign premier free agents nor retain their top talents once they near free agency.

Yet MLB insists this is good for the game.

— Bob

WILSON GETS ANOTHER SHOT 
AT QB1 WITH WHITE INJURY

Friday, December 16: Jets quarterback Mike White has not been cleared to play after suffering rib injuries in last Sunday's loss to the Bills. Former starter Zack Wilson has been named the starter for Sunday's home game against he Lions by head coach Robert Salah. Joe Flacco will dress as Wilson's backup.

Wilson lost his starting job following comments he made after a 10-3 loss to the Patriots on November 20, a game in which he threw for just 77 yards and the Jets managed just 110 yards of total offense. In a postgame press conference, Wilson refused to accept any responsibility for the offense's poor performance. The following Tuesday, Salah dropped Wilson to third on the depth chart — he hasn't dressed since — so he could "recharge" and "grow" from the experience, and he elevated White to QB1. White, who sparked the Jets last season when Wilson was injured, was impressive in a win November 27 over the Bears and in a loss the following week on the road against the then two-loss Vikings. He played hurt for three quarters last week in a loss to Buffalo, suffering two rib injuries, each after hard hits from linebacker Matt Milano.

Wilson now must win a crucial game for New York after three weeks of being inactive. The Lions have won four of five games to get to 6-7 and sit "in the hunt" for an NFC wild card spot. The Jets (7-6) are currently one game outside playoff position in the AFC and trail in tiebreakers.

My take: This is a huge game for Wilson. He has to not only perform well, but well enough to win a home game the Jets need to have a chance at the postseason after stumbling since a 5-2 start. The Lions offense is the best in the NFL in several metrics, and Wilson might have to keep pace to win back fan support and reinforce his draft promise. (Still trying to figure out how the Steelers lost to this guy.) — Bob

GRINER SPEAKS FOR
FIRST TIME THROUGH IG

Friday, December 16: Brittney Griner made her first public statement — an Instagram post — since retuning to he United States after her release from a Russian prison colony was secured in exchange for international arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Griner thanked the Biden administration for securing her release and those who supported her during her 10-month ordeal. She advocated for the release of American detainee Paul Whelan and all other Americans held in Russia, stating "I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole."

Griner then stated she expects to return to the WNBA for its 2023 season, which begins May 19: "I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon."

Griner, 32, is a seven-time All-Star and helped lead the Mercury to a WNBA championship in 2014.

My take: Whatever hotly-debated, controversial circumstances brought Griner home, none are her fault. Having been a victim of a show trial, a political detention and having served time in a penal colony, she has a unique perspective which may help secure the release of others, as she's offered to help do. Here's hoping for a smooth transition back to free society and a successful return to her career. — Bob

PURDY LEADS NINERS PAST
SEAHAWKS FOR DIVISION TITLE

Thursday, December 15: Brock Purdy threw two touchdown passes to George Kittle, the second from 54 yards, and the 49ers defense kept the Seahawks out of the end zone until the final minutes to lead San Francisco (10-4) past Seattle (7-7), 21-13, clinching the NFC West title.

There was speculation throughout the week on whether or not Purdy would be ready to play Thursday night, following a left oblique and rib injury suffered in Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. But Purdy fought through the injury to go 17 of 26 for 217 yards and his offensive line kept him pretty clean, allowing one sack, while opening several big holes inthe running game for Christian McCaffrey, who rushed for 108 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown.

The Seahawks have now lost four of their last five and have fallen from division leaders to outside playoff position with just three games remaining and with slimmer hopes now that they are two losses behind the Commanders and Giants, who have a key matchup Sunday night.

My take: Purdy now is 3-0 in three games. The acquisition of McCaffrey was a master stroke and the defense is playing as well as any in football right now. If Purdy can hold up under playoff pressure, San Fran will be an interesting team in the playoffs. — Bob