NFL News and Notes

Last year’s leading rusher, Maurice Jones-Drew, ended his 38 day holdout and reported to Jacksonville Sunday. Jones told the media Sunday that he has no regrets for holding out and believes he deserves a deal worthy of an elite NFL back. Jones is the thirds year of a front-loaded $31 million dollar four-year deal. He’s scheduled to make $4.5 million this year if the Jags waive his $1.2 million dollars in fines for the hold out.

The Cowboys All-Pro tight end Jason Witten will have a scan on his spleen Tuesday in hopes of getting cleared to play in the Pokes opener Wednesday vs the Giants. Witten lacerated the spleen in Dallas’ preseason opener at Oakland. Witten hasn’t missed a game since his rookie year of 2003 when he broke his jaw.

College Football Sunday Recap

Just two games in college football on Saturday. In the battle for Bluegrass State bragging rights, Louisville thumped Kentucky 32-14. Card QB Teddy Bridgewater completed 19 of 21 passes for 232 yards and Senorice Perry and jeremy Wright both rushed for 100 yards. In the nightcap, Baylor walloped SMU 59-24 behind Nick Florence’s 341 yards and four touchdowns passing. The Bears racked up 633 yards of offense and led 59-10 with 11 minutes left before calling off the dogs.

Georgia Tech meets Virginia Tech in tonight’s holiday college edition of Monday night football. You’ll lay seven and a hook with the Hokies. The high/low has held steady at 48 1/2. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM EST on ESPN.

Brian Blessing and Kenny White of Bookmaker analyze Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech

MLB Diamond Dust

The Cubs joined the Houston Astros as the second team in MLB eliminated from the playoffs. Next on the chopping block is the Miami Marlins whose magic number is seven, followed by the Colorado Rockies with magic number ten. The Minnesota Twins figure to be the first American League team eliminated from the post-season, their magic number is 12.

The Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 in the Sunday night ESPN game to draw even with the Pale Hose in the AL Central. Justin Verlander rebounded from his worst start of the season with eight innings of four-hit one-run ball striking out 11 while walking just two. Delmon Young’s three-run shot in the sixth was the big blow for Motown which swept the three-game weekend series with Chicago.

Hamlin wins G-W-C finish in Atlanta

Denny Hamlin took advantage of a lightning fast pit with five laps to go, moving from third to first, and then held off Jeff Gordon for two laps to win Sunday’s AdvoCare 500 in Atlanta. It was Hamlin’s series leading fourth win of the season. Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five. Greg Biffle still leads in points, eight better than Dale Earnhardt Jr, and 19 points better than Matt Kenseth. Next week’s race at Richmond is the final before ten-race Chase begins. SP3 will be outline the qualification scenarios early this week.

Oosthuizen shoots 63 for big lead at the Deutsche Bank

South African Louis Oosthuisen torched TPC Boston for nine birdies enroute to a 63 and take a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy at the Deutsche Bank classic. Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods are lurking in the second to last pairing six shots back, the final two within shouting distance of the leader.

Nadal will miss another two months

Eleven-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will miss at least another two months recovering from a partially torn patella tendon. This means that Nadal will miss Spain’s upcoming Davis Cup semifinal against the U.S. Nadal has been out of action since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in late June, missing the London Olympics and the U.S. Open.

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