Sports News Round-up: Broncos fighting, Turner signs four-year, Raptors ready to move

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman on Monday spoke out against USA Gymnastics' choice for its interim president and chief executive, saying survivors of sexual abuse "deserve better."

 

Warriors still team to beat despite rivals' best efforts, say pundits

LeBron James was one of many high-profile players who switched NBA teams during the offseason but all the roster shuffling will do little to cause the reigning champions Golden State Warriors to panic, TV pundits said on Monday. ESPN NBA analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, speaking on a conference call on the eve of the National Basketball Association's 2018-19 regular season, said despite the rest of the league's best efforts, the Warriors remain the team to beat.

Cardinals' Wilks: Jobs 'in jeopardy, including mine'

Arizona Cardinals: With the Cardinals' offence last or next to last in a litany of categories (yards per game and per play, passing and rushing per game and per play, points, third-down percentage, time of possession), questions about coordinator Mike McCoy's job security have increased. When asked Monday about the matter, head coach Steve Wilks replied, "I would say all our jobs are in jeopardy, including mine, if we don't win." McCoy was fired from the Denver Broncos last November after the team had lost six consecutive games. The Cardinals opened this season 0-4 before getting a win, but they slipped to 1-5 with a loss in Minnesota on Sunday. The Cardinals host the Denver Broncos on a short week this Thursday. Los Angeles Rams: Coach Sean McVay was critical of himself immediately after the Sunday game in Denver, saying he "put us in some horrible spots" with his play-calling as the team scored a season-low 23 points. Asked how he felt about that criticism following a review of the film, McVay reiterated frustration with himself. "I just think some of the things we did in some of the spots -- anytime you're in the role that I'm in, our job is to try to put players in the best spots," he said. "You don't want to waste plays." After describing a few examples, McVay couched the criticism somewhat, saying, "I don't want to be some 'Negative Nelly,' either, and not be able to appreciate a big road win."

Elway: Broncos 'fighting for our lives'

Denver Broncos: General manager John Elway didn't mince words on Monday when discussing the team's loss to the Rams, the Broncos' fourth straight following a 2-0 start. Speaking with the team's radio partner, Orange and Blue 760, Elway said, "At some point in time we have to play better football ... we're still making the mistakes we shouldn't make to beat good football teams like the Rams." Elway finished the interview saying he hopes the team can "take a mentality into [Thursday's game at Arizona] where we're fighting for our lives.'' Head coach Vance Joseph did not shy away from the suggestion that he is fighting for his own job. "Absolutely, absolutely," he told reporters. "That's every coach in this league every week. If you don't feel that way, you're missing something." Kansas City Chiefs: Despite a poor start Sunday night in Foxborough that included a pair of interceptions, Patrick Mahomes rallied the Chiefs from 15 points down to a fourth-quarter lead before Kansas City ultimately fell to the Patriots by three points. Head coach Andy Reid was impressed with the second-year starter's resolve, he told reporters Monday. "He's a young guy, and for him to be able to overcome those things during the game tells you a little bit about him," Reid said. "On the other hand, we need to get better at those things and we need to start better. He's the type that will do that, and he knows that every day isn't going to be perfect, but he needs to keep battling, and that's what he does. I appreciate that about him."

Pacers' Turner signs four-year, $72 million extension

Indiana Pacers centre Myles Turner signed a multi-year extension on Monday, the club announced. The Pacers didn't reveal contract terms, but ESPN reported Turner received a four-year, $72 million deal that could reach $80 million if incentive clauses are reached.

Could trade provide a graceful exit for Giants' Manning?

Dallas Cowboys: It's tough replacing one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, but that's just what Brett Maher is doing this season -- and doing it well. When the Cowboys cut Dan Bailey and his $3.4 million salaries and brought in the $480,000-a-year Maher, no one was quite sure how it would turn out. But on the season, he's hit 15 of 16 field goals, missing only his first attempt of the year. On Sunday, in the Cowboys' 40-7 drubbing of Jacksonville, Maher hit field goals of 32, 46, 50 and 55 yards. He also connected on all four extra-point attempts. "Hats off to our kicker, Brett, for doing his job," defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence said after the game. "He's pretty nice." An even bigger compliment came from Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones. "We're really pleased with how he's kicking," Jones said. "He's kicking in form with how he kicked in the preseason. It's not surprising." New York Giants: ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck shared on Sunday his idea about how the Giants and struggling quarterback Eli Manning could divorce amicably: trade him to Jacksonville. Despite being 3-3, the Jaguars have playoff aspirations, but quarterback Blake Bortles has been inconsistent. In Jacksonville, the 37-year-old Manning could reunite with the man he won two Super Bowl games with, Tom Coughlin, the Jags' president.

Celtics, Raptors ready to move to top of East

If you noticed a gust of wind sometime in early July, it might have been 15 Eastern Conference teams breathing a sigh of relief that LeBron James finally decided to head west. James' departure to the Los Angeles Lakers opens the door for another franchise to lay claim to the East. The Cleveland Cavaliers have won the past four conference titles, but that certainly will not be the case this season as the franchise again will look to rebuild without its hometown hero.

Raisman questions USA Gymnastics' interim president pick

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman on Monday spoke out against USA Gymnastics' choice for its interim president and chief executive, saying survivors of sexual abuse "deserve better." The criticism from Raisman, one of the athletes sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, comes three days after the sport's governing body in the United States named Mary Bono as its interim leader.

Bad blood continues between Steelers, Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals rivalry is alive in well. The Steelers beat the Bengals Sunday, 28-21. And the two sides had plenty to say to each other during the game, and about each other afterwards.

FLM All 32: Team-by-team NFL notes

AFC EAST Buffalo Bills: Backup quarterback Nathan Peterman entered the Bills' Week 6 loss to Houston after rookie starter Josh Allen went out with an injury. He threw a touchdown pass to Zay Jones, but then the interception bug bit him again. He threw two, including one that became the game-winning pick-six for the Texans. His career has been defined by interceptions. He threw five in one half last season when he got the starting nod over Tyrod Taylor against the Chargers. In six career games, he has 79 pass attempts with nine interceptions and three touchdowns. "It's tough," Peterman said after the game. "You put everything you have into winning the game. It hurts for my teammates. Everybody out there for 60 minutes, giving it all they had, trying to come in here and help us win and didn't do it today. I'm going to learn from it and take it day-by-day." Head coach Sean McDermott clearly wasn't happy. "Well, we've got to have more respect for the football," McDermott said. "I felt he tried to force the football in those situations. You can't do that. You have to take what the defence gives you."

Steelers don't expect Bell to return this week: reports

Disgruntled holdout running back Le'Veon Bell did not show up for player meetings with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday morning, and the team does not expect him to appear this week, according to multiple reports. The Steelers are on their bye week with practices scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday before a break that ends Oct. 22. Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, players must have four consecutive days off during the bye week. Coach Mike Tomlin is giving the team off days Thursday through Sunday.

(With inputs from agencies.)