FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Despite a losing record and profound struggles on offense, New York Jets CEO Christopher Johnson gave his full support to coach Adam Gase, calling him a “brilliant offensive mind.”
Speaking to reporters for the first time in 10 months, Johnson declined to issue a playoff mandate, saying Gase will be evaluated on whether the team progresses throughout the season.
“I have full confidence in Adam,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I think that he has a lot more in him as a head coach than some of our fans are giving him credit for. And I understand they want to see success. I think that they will.”
The Jets are 7-10 under Gase, who has presided over the league’s lowest-ranked offense over that span. They lost the opener to the Buffalo Bills, 27-17, which Johnson called “a mess.”
Asked why he’s so confident in Gase, Johnson said: “Look, I think he can work with and develop quarterbacks. I do continue to think he’s a brilliant offensive mind especially. He has my every confidence.”
Coach Adam Gase and quarterback Sam Darnold received support from CEO Christopher Johnson on Wednesday despite the team’s rocky performance in Week 1. AP Photo/John Munson
For much of quarterback Michael Vick’s scintillating stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, a major area of focus was the amount of hits he was taking and how to fix it.
During his main stretch as a starter from 2010 to 2012, he absorbed 323 hits over 35 games (more than nine per game), second most in the NFL behind only Cam Newton (342). That punishment led to various injuries for Vick, including rib and cartilage damage when he dove head first toward the goal line against Washington in 2010 and got walloped by a pair of defenders. Vick later revealed that, for as gifted as an athlete as he was, he didn’t know how to slide. That didn’t stop the requests from pouring in, including from President Barack Obama, who asked teammate Nnamdi Asomugha during an offseason fundraiser to: “Tell Vick to slide.”
Lyon continue to set the standard for the women’s game in Europe.
Les Fenottes collected their fifth-straight Women’s Champions League crown on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg in Spain’s Basque region.
Before the final, Wolfsburg last lost in March 2019. Their opponents in that Champions League quarterfinal defeat were, of course, the eventual champions, Lyon.
Lyon went ahead in the 28th minute when they broke down Wolfsburg’s left-hand side.Delphine Cascarino eventually cut the ball back for Eugenie Le Sommer– who intelligently slowed her run, occupying space in front of the retreating backline – and the 31-year-old finished after Friederike Abt parried her initial effort.
The all-conquering French team’s second goal was a ruthless finish. A deep cross couldn’t be cleared by Wolfsburg or controlled by a Lyon player until the ball dribbled toward Saki Kumagai at the edge of the box. The Japanese midfielder smacked a first-time, left-footed shot from 20 yards that swerved and dripped into the bottom corner.
Wolfsburg hadn’t managed to pressure Lyon throughout the opening half, but they got themselves back into the game 10 minutes into the second stanza.
Lyon goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi palmed away a cross that fell to Ewa Pajor, but the speedy attacker’s lash went across the six-yard box rather than toward the mesh. Thankfully, Alexandra Popp was on her toes and headed in the wayward shot from close range.
ALVARO BARRIENTOS / AFP / Getty
Wolfsburg, with renewed belief, were focusing their attacks down the side of right-back Lucy Bronze, who was playing her last game for Lyon. However, Jean-Luc Vasseur’s side was defending heroically and put the match out of reach with two minutes remaining.
Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir, who started the season with Wolfsburg, reacted quickly when Le Sommer’s half-volley appeared to flash wide of the post, diverting the ball into the net with a deft flick.
Bouhaddi, Le Sommer, Wendie Renard, and Amel Majri have now won the Champions League seven times – more than anybody who has participated in the women’s or men’s edition of the competition.
The Browns waived starter Austin Seibert on Monday after he missed an extra point and field goal in Sunday’s 38-6 loss at Baltimore. To replace Seibert, Cleveland signed Cody Parkey off its practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Also Monday, the Browns placed tight end David Njoku on injured reserve with a knee injury. Njoku, who scored the Browns’ lone touchdown Sunday, will be sidelined at least three games per NFL rules.
Njoku has a sprained MCL and is expected to miss three weeks, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Seibert, a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma last year, missed on his only two kicks against the Ravens. He misfired on an extra point after Cleveland’s touchdown in the first quarter. Near the end of the second quarter, he sailed a 41-yard field goal try wide right. The Ravens capitalized, driving right down the field for a touchdown to go up 24-6 at halftime. The Browns are hoping that Parkey, who kicked in Cleveland in 2016, can stabilize the position.