Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman has been ruled out for Monday night’s matchup with the Seattle Seahawks due to a concussion, meaning Tevin Coleman will start.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said he would take it through the week before making a final call on Freeman, who was knocked out in the first quarter of last week’s 27-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. It was Freeman’s second concussion since August and his third since November 2015.
Coleman will get his fourth career start and his first since the 2015 season, when he was named the starter over Freeman to begin the year. Last week, Coleman tied a career high with 20 rushing attempts and ran for a season-high 83 yards. His 21 total touches, including one reception, marked a career high.
Falcons RB Devonta Freeman was knocked out of last week’s win over the Cowboys with a concussion, his second since August and third since November 2015. Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports
Although Coleman doesn’t have the same vision and elusive ability as Freeman, he is a better big-play threat with his breakaway speed in the open field. Coleman’s current average of 4.8 yards per carry is a career best and ranks among the league leaders.
RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said he plans to appeal an $18,231 fine for a hit on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton.
“It’s extortion,” Richardson said.
The hit in question occurred in the first quarter of Seattle’s 22-16 win on Nov. 9. Richardson said he was pushed in the back by a Cardinals offensive lineman and that he tried to let up before hitting Stanton’s legs, which drew a penalty for roughing the passer.
As a result of a hit he took from Karlos Dansby in the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Arizona Cardinals last week, quarterback Russell Wilson said he needed to have his jaw realigned. Dansby was fined $18,231 by the NFL.
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“There is no way you should be taking any of my money because it wasn’t a dirty hit,” Richardson said, according to the Seattle Times. “I didn’t try to hit him in the legs or nothing and once again people fail to realize it’s still football. Pretty sure they are just fining guys for every personal foul and not even looking at the film and not even making the consideration of did I try to avoid the guy.”
Richardson added that avoiding quarterbacks “is not why we get paid,” according to the Times.
“You don’t get paid for your fantasy football ratings. We get paid to make plays. That’s another sack missed,” he said.
Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby was also fined $18,231 for a hit on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in that game.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has asked for a special league meeting with NFL owners to talk about commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract extension negotiations, but an ownership source told ESPN’s Jim Trotter that owners currently have no plans to act on Jones’ request.
Jones’ request was made to ownership in a letter, the contents of which were reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
Jones suggested a meeting for Nov. 28 in New York, the letter said. The league has a regularly scheduled committee members meeting Dec. 13 in Irving, Texas. A source told Trotter that Jones is expected to be given an opportunity to discuss the negotiations at that time if he wishes.
According to Jones’ letter, he wants the Nov. 28 sit-down in order to discuss the negotiations, oversight of the compensation committee handling Goodell’s deal and the date of a vote on the extension.
In the letter, Jones wrote that the league “has undergone unprecedented upheaval in the last two years, including a significant decline in television ratings, increased advertiser discontent, high-profile litigation concerning player suspensions, and decreasing ticket sales.”
“This is not the time for the League to undertake massive contractual obligations which are inconsistent with the League’s performance,” the letter says.
Jones’ letter also cites “severe threats of retaliation” made against him because he has questioned the negotiations over Goodell’s contract.
Jones has threatened to sue the league if the committee approves an extension for Goodell, saying it should be reviewed and approved by all owners.
Earlier Wednesday, The Associated Press obtained a letter written for the NFL’s compensation committee in which Jones is accused of sabotaging the negotiations.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Martellus Bennett is playing for the New England Patriots now, and Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews found some humor in it.
The Packers cut Bennett last week with the designation that he failed to disclose a physical condition, and then Bennett fired back by saying he needed surgery but claimed that team physician Dr. Pat McKenzie tried to make him play, which is exactly what Bennett did after the Patriots claimed him off waivers.
“We all got a good laugh from it,” Matthews said. “It is what it is. Martellus is in their locker room now and not here anymore. So now we’re just focused on the guys we have in here.”
Although Matthews wouldn’t say outright that Bennett was willing to play hurt for Tom Brady but not Packers backup Brett Hundley, the Packers Pro Bowl linebacker said: “He seemed to suit up and looked good on Sunday night.”
“You know what, I think everybody knows the story there — we don’t need to talk about it much more,” Matthews added. “Like I said, we’re focused on the guys in the locker room, but it’s an interesting story that will probably be talked about for a while.”
Martellus Bennett said while with the Packers that he was going to undergo shoulder surgery, but he wound up playing for the Patriots on Sunday. AP Photo/Jack Dempsey
“Like I said, we all know the story,” Matthews said. “We’ve got more than capable tight ends on the team who’ve been around here for a while. They’re more than up for the challenge, whatever it is, each and every week.”
Matthews joined current Packers players Jordy Nelson and Aaron Rodgers, who, among others, defended McKenzie. Former players also have spoken out on his behalf.
“My experience has been fantastic with Pat,” Matthews said. “I think he’s an awesome doc. I think he puts our health in front of the team first and foremost. In fact, I think a lot of people have gotten on his case because he’s too conservative. So I wouldn’t put much merit into those comments made. I think it really speaks volumes to hear everybody’s rebuttal and come to his aid in that regard as opposed to the other person.”
