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John Harbaugh Shows Support for Greg Roman as Fans Call for Ravens OC to Be Fired

Dec 20, 2022
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with offensive coordinator Greg Roman during drills at the NFL football team's practice facility, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with offensive coordinator Greg Roman during drills at the NFL football team's practice facility, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

The fans who want Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman to be fired won't be getting their wish right now.

Head coach John Harbaugh declined to entertain any questions Monday about whether he plans to reshuffle his coaching staff.

We're not getting into all that. I mean, 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. We're spending all of our time getting ready for the Atlanta Falcons with every ounce of energy and fiber we got with a bunch of very, very good people at what they do, who understand everything about our team better than anybody else possibly could. You know the end of the bar talk conversation is for the people sitting at the end of the bar.

Some within the fanbase are clearly fed up. Pieces of paper calling for Roman's firing were littered outside of the team facility in Owings Mills, Maryland. Ravens outside linebacker Tyus Bowser shared a video of the scene before deleting it.

"When stuff like that happens, you communicate with one another, and you find out there's really not much there, in terms of what people are thinking and all that," Harbaugh told reporters of the situation. "I could go on a social media rant, but I don't know why anybody lives there."

The scrutiny toward Roman has steadily intensified as the season has gone on, and the performance of the offense since a Week 10 bye is doing little to help his cause.

The Ravens are 3-2 over that stretch but scored more than 16 points just once. From Week 11 on, they've been averaging 328.2 yards per game.

Some of that is related to Lamar Jackson's knee injury. The 2019 MVP exited a Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos after playing 10 snaps and hasn't returned to the field. Tyler Huntley has been running the offense in his stead.

But it's also true the Ravens offense hasn't returned to the heights it enjoyed when Jackson was shredding opposing defenses three seasons ago. Baltimore ranked first in offensive efficiency that year, per Football Outsiders, and then fell to 11th in 2020 and 17th in 2021.

If anything, Jackson's injury has reinforced how dependent upon his individual brilliance the team has become.

Especially for a team that's on pace to make the playoffs, firing or demoting a top coordinator would reek of desperation. For better or worse, it seems unlikely that Roman will be going anywhere.

Should the current trend continue, Harbaugh might have a difficult decision on his hands, though.

NBA G League Showcase 2022 Results: Top Scores, Highlights and Stats from Monday

Dec 20, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 19: Devin Cannady #31 of the South Bay Lakers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Maine Celtics during the 2022-23 G League Winter Showcase on December 19, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 19: Devin Cannady #31 of the South Bay Lakers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Maine Celtics during the 2022-23 G League Winter Showcase on December 19, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Less than a week remains until the NBA celebrates Christmas, one of the biggest days on its calendar. In the meantime, the NBA G League's 2022 Winter Showcase tipped off Monday in Las Vegas.

The four-day event includes the Showcase Cup, which pits eight of the G League's best teams against one another for a $100,000 prize.

The four quarterfinal contests were spread across Monday night.


Showcase Cup Results

No. 8 Maine Celtics 112, No. 1 South Bay Lakers 106

No. 7 Windy City Bulls 102, No. 2 Rio Grande Valley Vipers 96

No. 4 Ontario Clippers 121, No. 5 Iowa Wolves 95

No. 6 Cleveland Charge 120, No. 3 College Park Skyhawks 104


Monday Recap

Denzel Valentine led the way for the Maine Celtics as they took down the top-seeded South Bay Lakers 112-106.

Valentine posted a game-high 25 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists and one steal. He took over in the fourth quarter, hitting three straight three-pointers as the Celtics outpaced the Lakers 27-20 to hit the 111 points necessary to win under the Elam Ending rule.

Mfiondu Kabengele cleaned up a miss by Kamar Baldwin for the decisive bucket.

South Bay didn't have much of an answer for Kabengele, who posted a double-double (18 points and 10 rebounds) and missed just three of his 11 shot attempts.

The Lakers had to dig out of a deep hole after allowing 40 points in the first quarter. They clawed their way back in the third and took an 86-85 lead into the final frame. Miles Simon's squad ran out of steam in the fourth as Valentine's hot shooting turned the tide.

Bryce Hamilton (19 points) and LJ Figueroa (18 points) were the leading scorers for South Bay, while Shaquille Harrison's 10 assists were nearly half of his team's overall total (24).

Windy City was led by a balanced offensive night, with seven players contributing double-digit points, led by Malcolm Hill's 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Ethan Thompson added 15 points off the bench, while Trevor Hudgins (27 points) and Louis King (21 points) had big nights for Rio Grande in the loss.

Ontario was paced by a huge night from both Brandon Boston Jr. and Nate Darling, with the pair scoring 33 points apiece in the team's 121-95 blowout win over Iowa.

Javonte Cook led the way for Wolves with 20 points, while PJ Dozier (19 points, 13 boards) and D.J. Carton (12 points, 13 assists) each went for double-doubles.

Packers' Aaron Rodgers Has Even 'Deeper Appreciation' for Davante Adams After Trade

Dec 20, 2022
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 04: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks on prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 04, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 04: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks on prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 04, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers said Monday that his admiration for his former teammate, wideout Davante Adams, has only grown since his trade to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.

"Him and I have stayed really close, and still talk all the time," Rodgers told Serge Ibaka on How Hungry Are You? (9:40 mark). "People think, 'Oh, you must not like Davante, he's on another team.' And I'm like, 'I love him even more!' Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I have an even deeper love and appreciation for him now that he's gone."

In March, the Packers traded Adams to the Raiders for the Nos. 22 and 53 picks in the 2022 NFL draft. Adams promptly signed a five-year, $140 million contract extension with Las Vegas.

Rodgers told Ibaka that he thought his own uncertain future in Green Bay may have played a role in Adams' decision to seek a trade.

"A lot of it was his desire to have a new start, a fresh start," he said. "There was an unknown with my future and how long I was going to be here. And I think he loved playing with me and maybe didn't want to necessarily get locked into a long-term deal here if I wasn't going to be in the long-term plans of the team. Or, in my own mind. But I think ultimately, it was just time. Time for a new challenge for him, new opportunity."

Adams, 29, has fared quite well in his new digs, catching 86 passes for 1,275 yards and 12 touchdowns. The adjustment from Rodgers to Derek Carr hasn't slowed him down.

Rodgers, on the other hand, has had one of his poorer seasons in recent memory, throwing for 2,864 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing just 64.3 percent of his passes.

There's little doubt that the loss of Adams, and a mediocre receiving corps in general, has played a part in the two-time defending MVP's down season. A broken thumb on his throwing hand, which has been an issue since Week 5, has undoubtedly played a part as well.

Offenses don't get better after losing a player of Adams' caliber. But Rodgers seemed genuinely happy to see his former teammate having success in Las Vegas.

Aaron Rodgers Names Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre as Best QBs Ever

Dec 20, 2022
Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers smiles during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers smiles during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

During an appearance on Serge Ibaka's show How Hungry Are You?, Aaron Rodgers revealed his list of the top five quarterbacks of all time.

The Green Bay Packers star initially said he would not include himself, but Ibaka convinced him to do so. Rodgers then named the other four: Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre and Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller Tom Brady.

Rodgers also revealed he would pick Brady as the greatest ever because of his seven championship rings.

"I mean I think, greatest quarterback? I think you gotta go by championships, probably. So that'd be Tom," he said.

Despite his initial refusal to put himself in the top five, Rodgers also told Ibaka he considers himself to be the best Packers quarterback of all time above Favre. It's clear that the four-time NFL MVP knows where he stands among the greats in league history.

Aaron Rodgers Jokes He'd Want to Join Oakland Raiders If He Didn't Play for Packers

Dec 19, 2022
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 04: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 04, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 04: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 04, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers recently appeared on the How Hungry Are You? show hosted by Milwaukee Bucks forward Serge Ibaka to answer some hard-hitting questions.

When asked what team he would've wanted to play for if he didn't return to the Packers for the 2022 season, Rodgers initially said the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. When pressed further, he jokingly answered, "the Oakland Raiders." Rodgers is obviously aware that the franchise no longer resides in the Bay Area, so it seems he was having some fun with Ibaka.

While Rodgers may have been facetious in his answer, naming the Raiders is an interesting choice considering his favorite wide receiver Davante Adams was traded to the team this past offseason. The five-time All-Pro has thrived in Las Vegas, tying for first in the NFL with 12 receiving touchdowns to go with team-highs of 86 receptions and 1,275 receiving yards.

In Adams' absence, Rodgers has not been as dominant as he was in recent years. The back-to-back reigning NFL MVP has struggled to develop chemistry with an unproven crop of receivers, many of whom are rookies. Veteran Sammy Watkins, who signed with Green Bay as a free agent, was released on Monday after failing to make an impact.

Rodgers has thrown nine interceptions so far this season after throwing a total of nine picks in 2020 and 2021 combined. In 13 games, he's racked up 2,864 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 64.3 percent of his passes.

The Packers are 5-8 entering Monday night's game against the 4-9 Los Angeles Rams. While Green Bay has a slim chance of making the postseason this year, Rodgers has indicated that he doesn't want to take the last weeks of the 2022 season off. However, if the Packers are eliminated from playoff contention, it could open the door for third-year quarterback Jordan Love to get a chance to start.

Aaron Rodgers Says He's Best Packers QB of All Time: Who Wouldn't Say Themselves?

Dec 19, 2022
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 04: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks on in action during a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears on December 04, 2022, at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 04: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks on in action during a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears on December 04, 2022, at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers appeared on Serge Ibaka's show How Hungry Are You? and was asked who the best quarterback was in Green Bay Packers history, himself or Brett Favre.

Rodgers initially said Bart Starr but was pressed by Ibaka to answer the original question. After thinking it over, Rodgers said, "Me. Who's not going to say yourself?" (3:00 mark)

From a statistical perspective, it's certainly up for debate.

Favre's 61,655 passing yards with the Packers are the most in franchise history. Rodgers is No. 2, with 58,224. Meanwhile, Rodgers is the franchise leader in touchdown passes (471), with Favre in second (442). Rodgers also has a superior completion percentage (65.3 percent) compared to Favre (61.4 percent).

They are equal in Super Bowl wins, with one apiece. Favre has more regular-season wins as a Packer (160) than Rodgers (144), but the latter has a higher winning percentage (66.0 percent to 62.3 percent). Favre also has 12 playoff wins, compared to Rodgers' 11.

Rodgers has the slightest of edges in the accolades department, however, as a four-time MVP, 10-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro selection. Favre was a three-time MVP, 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro selection.

Favre is a current Hall of Famer. Rodgers will be a first-ballot selection upon his retirement.

Rodgers has spent 18 seasons in Green Bay, though the first three were as Favre's backup. Favre was a Packer for 16 seasons before stints with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.

The answer, for some, may come down to play style. Favre was exciting as a gunslinger, but he was also loose with the ball, throwing for the most interceptions (286) in Packers history by an enormous margin (Lynn Dickey is second, with 151).

Rodgers doesn't have the same swashbuckling aura about his play, but he rarely beats himself, with only 102 career picks and just two seasons with double-digit interception totals. His nine interceptions this season are equivalent to his totals from the 2020 and 2021 seasons combined and the most he's thrown since 2010.

So it comes down to a matter of opinion. It's tough to blame Rodgers for choosing himself.

TCU's Sonny Dykes Named 2022 AP College Football Coach of the Year After CFP Berth

Dec 19, 2022
FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Sonny Dykes of the TCU Horned Frogs watches from the sidelines as TCU takes on the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Sonny Dykes of the TCU Horned Frogs watches from the sidelines as TCU takes on the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

The Associated Press on Monday named TCU's Sonny Dykes its Coach of the Year for the 2022 season.

The Horned Frogs claimed the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff after going 12-1 in the regular season. Their success helped make Dykes a runaway winner for the award. He collected 37 out of 46 first-place votes.

"It's the ultimate team award," Dykes said to the AP's Ralph D. Russo. "It's indicative of literally everybody in our office, coaches, players, everybody, because more so than ever in college football it is truly a team effort."

Dykes had massive shoes to fill when he made the move to TCU from SMU.

As much as the program had stagnated under Gary Patterson, Patterson is still the program's winningest coach (181-79). Under his watch, the Horned Frogs won six conference titles and earned victories in the 2011 Rose Bowl and 2014 Peach Bowl.

After TCU went 5-7 for the second time in three years in 2021, it looked like Dykes would need at least a year or two to get things on track.

Not only did the 53-year-old provide immediate results, but he also did so without significantly upending the roster through the transfer portal. The Frogs' leading passer (Max Duggan), rusher (Kendre Miller) and receiver (Quentin Johnston) were all holdovers. The same was true for linebacker Dee Winters and safety Bud Clark, who led the team in sacks and interceptions.

Dykes told Russo the Horned Frogs "really had no expectations whatsoever when the year started." That attitude probably changed after his squad dropped 55 points on Oklahoma to improve to 4-0. It was the first of four straight wins over Top 20 opponents.

Regardless of what happens in the playoff, this has been one of TCU's best seasons, and no Power Five program overachieved more.

Tom Browning Dies at Age 62; Former Reds SP Won 1990 World Series, Threw Perfect Game

Dec 19, 2022
DENVER, CO - JULY 11:  Cincinnati Reds club rep Tom Browning looks on during the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft at Bellco Theater at Colorado Convention Center on Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 11: Cincinnati Reds club rep Tom Browning looks on during the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft at Bellco Theater at Colorado Convention Center on Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning died on Monday, according to the Boone County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky. He was 62.

The Reds released the following statement:

His former teammate, Barry Larkin, was among those who paid their respects to Browning after learning of his death:

Brown spent 12 seasons in Major League Baseball between the Reds (1984-94) and Kansas City Royals (1995), finishing his career 123-90 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 1,000 strikeouts.

He was an All-Star in the 1991 season and won a title with the Reds in the 1990 campaign. He also finished as the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year award in 1985 and was sixth in the Cy Young voting that year after going 20-9.

His career highlight came in 1988 when he threw a perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 12th perfect game in MLB history. He struck out seven in the game, beating the team that would go on to win the World Series that year. It remains the only perfect game in Reds' history, and one of 23 in MLB history.

He was dubbed Mr. Perfect after that performance, a nickname he found somewhat amusing.

"I was only perfect for an hour and 52 minutes," he wrote in the book Tom Browning's Tales From the Reds Dugout (h/t Joe Cox of SABR.org). "Most of the other time, I was imperfect—and stubborn, immature, and even a bit of a wiseass."

But forever a part of Cincinnati history.

Chargers CB J.C. Jackson Arrested in Connection to 'Family Issue'

Dec 19, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 23: Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) during the Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Chargers on October 23, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 23: Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) during the Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Chargers on October 23, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson reportedly was arrested on Monday afternoon.

According to Julianna Lima of Boston 25 News, Jackson was booked at the Bristol County Jail and House of Correction in connection to what was described as a "family issue."

Lima reported Jackson had been making an appearance at probate court before he was detained by Fall River police.

The Chargers released a statement to reporters addressing the matter, saying, "We are aware of media reports this afternoon pertaining to J.C. Jackson. We will continue to gather information on the matter and will refrain from further comment at this time."

Jackson was placed on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated kneecap against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 23, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. He totaled 15 tackles and two passes defended in five games. The 27-year-old signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with Los Angeles this past offseason after playing the first four years of his career with the New England Patriots.

In 2021, Jackson established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL when he led the league with 23 passes defended while adding 58 total tackles and eight interceptions. He earned his first career Pro Bowl selection and was named second-team All-Pro.

During his redshirt freshman season at Florida in 2015, Jackson was arrested in connection with an armed robbery and faced multiple charges. He was eventually found not guilty on all counts. After his acquittal, he transferred to a local community college for a year before transferring to Maryland in 2016.