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  • DIGITAL SPORTS DESK: Editor-in-Chief: Terry Lyons

Tebow Homers in Debut

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PORT ST. LUCIE – (Wire service report) – Tim Tebow hit a home run on the first pitch of his first organized game since his junior year of high school on Wednesday in his first at-bat with the New York Mets’ instructional league team. Tebow, wearing his familiar No. 15 jersey, hit a 91-mph fastball over the left-center field wall for a homer on Wednesday and was greeted at home plate by teammates in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

The 29-year-old Tebow, a 255-pound outfielder, is likely the oldest player playing in instructional league games in Florida. He signed a $100,000 minor league contract with the Mets on Sept. 8 after holding a workout in Los Angeles on Aug. 30 with 46 scouts in attendance.

Tebow, a former Heisman Trophy winner, two-time national champion at the University of Florida and NFL quarterback, hit the homer on the first pitch of his professional baseball career against a team of St. Louis Cardinals farmhands. In the storybook moment, Tebow’s home run came off 6-foot-5 left-hander John Kilichowski, who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 11th round out of Vanderbilt University in June.

Kilichowski was 12 years old when Tebow helped the Gators to the first of two national championships in 2006. Tebow grounded out in his second at-bat.
After signing with the Mets, Tebow also signed a direct marketing deal with Majestic sports apparel to permission the company and Mets to market his No. 15 jersey.

On his second day in instructional league camp last week, Tebow had the No. 1-selling jersey on MLB.com.

Colts Take to Play on the Road – Abbey Road?

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INDIANAPOLIS — (Wire Service Report) – The Indianapolis Colts may be playing a road game on Sunday against AFC South rival Jacksonville, but in terms of preparation, Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is treating the divisional matchup with the Jaguars just like it a short week game. What with trying to give his players enough time to revive and recoup after last week’s home win over San Diego while also preparing to play an overseas game against the Jaguars, the challenges are daunting.

“The theme is to keep the main thing the main thing and that’s preparation. Prepare, do everything, try to keep things as normal as possible from a preparation standpoint and practice standpoint,” Pagano stressed this week.

“You have to make a few adjustments here and there. But at the end of the day it’s focus and mindset on one thing and one thing only, and that is getting win number two.”

Andrew Luck

The Colts and Jaguars already know each other pretty well as divisional opponents since the start of the 2002 season. That helps a lot when it comes to game planning. Trying to get enough meaningful practice time in while also attempting to get enough rest for what will be an eight-hour plane trip has been the issue. That’s the balancing act that Pagano, his coaching staff and the team’s athletic training staff has been trying to navigate.

“We will travel Thursday evening and get in there early Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. and be at the hotel by 9 a.m.,” the Colts coach explained.

“We will begin to keep those guys up and get on the practice field. We have another practice, actually two more practices over there, so we have bonus days so we will have plenty of time to prepare.”

That being said, Pagano has confidence in his team’s ability to adjust to whatever might pop up during its business trip to London.

“This team is prepared to handle anything that comes its way,” the Colts coach stressed. “This team is prepared to win any type of ball game that we have to win. I’m counting on another close one. (Jacksonville) is a good football team.

“Throw the records out. They have a bunch of great players on that team. They have great skill, they have a quarterback that can beat you and a defense that is loaded with talent and speed. They have speed all over the place. They are well coached in all three phases.”

Despite all the logistics involved in making a trip to London, Pagano is more concerned about any issues that may come up during Sunday’s game. Despite the Jaguars’ 0-3 record, he knows that it wouldn’t be a good idea to overlook Jacksonville.

“You just go back and look at the last games and you look at what happened our last time down in Jacksonville (a 51-16 loss),” the Colts coach said. “We will be prepared to try to battle and win any type of game that comes our way.”

Andrew Luck spent much of his youth in London as his father Oliver was the president of NFL Europe. Addison Luck, Andrew’s younger brother, was born in London.

Luck was pleased when he found out that the Colts would be playing a regular season game in London.

“I was excited,” Luck said. “I was excited mostly for my extended family that has never seen me play. We definitely have fond memories over there. I loved my childhood over there.”

Filed Under: NFL

Cubs Extend Theo with $50M

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CHICAGO — (Wire Service Report) — The Chicago Cubs were intent on preventing Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations, from walking out the door when his contract expired at season’s end. On Wednesday, the Cubs and Epstein agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension. Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, but USA Today reported the deal is worth more than $50 million — a substantial upgrade from the five-year, $18.5 million pact that Epstein signed on Oct. 25, 2011.
Under Epstein’s watch, the Cubs have won 97 or more games in consecutive seasons for the first time in more than 100 years and are considered postseason favorites in 2016 to end their pronounced World Series drought.

Theo Epstein

Chicago, which has 101 victories with five games remaining, became the third team in major league history to win at least 100 games within four years of a 100-loss season (61-101 in 2012).

“In the five years under Theo’s leadership, he has brought in a strong executive team and acquired and developed some of the best players in the game,” chairman Tom Ricketts said.

“Now, the results are on the field. My family and I have no doubt that we have moved closer to our goal of delivering Cubs fans the World Series Championship they deserve.”

Ricketts added that the contract “ensures the baseball operations team assembled by Epstein will continue its remarkable tenure of building a consistent championship contender.”

Epstein quickly bolstered the organization by masterminding a handful of trades to bring young talent into the farm system while also being aggressive on the free agent market.

Top draft choices such as Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora Jr. joined international free agent Jorge Soler to go along with trade acquisitions Anthony Rizzo, Jake Arrieta, Addison Russell, Dexter Fowler and Kyle Hendricks in aiding in Chicago’s rapid ascent.

The 42-year-old Epstein replaced manager Rick Renteria with Joe Maddon in November 2014, after the latter exercised an opt-out clause with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Maddon was named 2015 National League Manager of the Year.

A Boston native, Epstein served as Red Sox general manager from 2003-11 and led the star-crossed club to two World Series titles. He also helped Boston advance to the American League Championship Series on four occasions (2003-04, 2007-08).

Ryder Cup ’16 – Brexit Stage Right

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By TERRY LYONS, Digital Sports Desk editor-in-chief

BOSTON – If and when Texas secedes from the Union, you can be damn sure Jordan Spieth wouldn’t be playing for the United States of America in the Ryder Cup. The PGA of America (sans Texas) would draw a line as straight as a two-foot putt at Hazeltine limiting the roster to true blue.

That isn’t the case this week, as the 41st Ryder Cup tournament tees-off in Chaska, Minnesota and the team of the European Union casts its line-up, complete with seven of the dirty dozen Europeans hailing from the United Kingdom, not to mention its Northern Ireland bred coach, Darren Clarke who is downplaying the potential controversy as political rhetoric and economic policy rather than a simple geography lesson.

“We’re still one continent,” said Clarke, back in June when his compatriots voted their way out of the European Union in a move tabbed as “Brexit.” “It makes no difference to us whatsoever because the UK is always going to be a part of the European continent. So. we’re (going there) as Europe. We’ll still use the European flag because that’s our continental flag.”

Perfectly acceptable logic for the team captain, looking to lay-up some talking points, rather than aggressively taking a run at the pin.

Clarke, by his own logic, opens the door for North American golfers from Canada or Mexico to claim a coveted spot on the non-European side and thus calls into question the concept of the historic Ryder Cup, a biennial juggernaut of an event, sometimes called golf’s super bowl. Clearly, the current Ryder Cup brand and its match play format remains a concept the PGA of America and golf’s Royal and Ancient hierarchy wants and needs to protect at all costs.

The question arises: Should the Ryder Cup be expanded to a continental competition? It could be a tournament expanded and open to a more globally inclusive roster of continental compadres to include South American, Australian, Asian and African duffers, albeit the latter would be mostly represented by South Africans who dominate the sport on their continent. Or should the Ryder Cup remain in its current format as a rivalry between the USA and (geographic) Europe?

If the latter is the case, maybe the door should be open for the biennial President’s Cup to become an Olympic-style qualifier, either for national teams or for the aforementioned continental divide? A round-robin between North America-South America-Europe-Asia-Africa and Australia surely would peak interest in the after-thought that is the current President’s Cup format.

Jags Take Annual Jax Brexit to UK

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JACKSONVILLE — (Wire Service Report) — Not every NFL team plays a home game several thousand miles and five time zone differences away. Unless you’re the Jacksonville Jaguars. For a fourth consecutive year, the Jaguars moved a “home” game to Wembley Stadium in London.

This year’s opponent will be the Indianapolis Colts, a foe from the AFC South, making their first trip across the pond to play a game in front of 80,000 fans.

London is familiar territory for coach Gus Bradley and the Jaguars. Jacksonville has been a four-year participant in the International Series dating back to 2013 and has committed to play a game in London through the 2020 season. Needless to say, it’s quite a change for players, some of whom are making their first trip overseas.

Making the adjustment to the five-hour time change is often the biggest obstacle to overcome. The secret for some who have done the trip in the past is to be able to sleep on the 13-hour plane ride to and from London.

“I can’t sleep on the plane so I’m probably going to have to get the sleeping pill,” Jaguars outside linebacker Dan Skuta said. “It’s weird because I don’t think I’ve ever heard where you drug yourself to go to a game. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some sleep because if you don’t you’re in trouble. You have to sleep on the plane. That’s the most important thing. That’s really everything. Because if you do sleep on the plane, when you wake up, it’s just a normal day. As long as you can get your body on that schedule as quick as possible, that’s the key.”

Then there’s a matter of when the team should arrive in London. Based on typical game-week schedules, teams have opted for early arrival – Tuesday night – or much later Friday.

In 2013 when Jacksonville made its first trip to London, the Jaguars played at Cincinnati the week before. Immediately after the game, the team and other personnel loaded up a charter jet overseas. That meant all of the Jaguars’ personnel was in London for parts of eight different days. Most players feel that’s too long to be there.

“I think it’s good to go over there and experience something different and give the people there a chance to see American football,” said wide receiver Marqise Lee who will make his fourth trip to London this Thursday. “I like going over and arriving on a Friday. My first year we were there a week and I really don’t prefer to do that, that was too long. It just takes a day to get your body adjusted.”

Skuta will make his third trip to London in the last four years. He was part of the San Francisco team that played the Jaguars in 2013. He made a return trip there last year after signing with Jacksonville as a free agent during the offseason.

“We went out for a week that first trip so that’s a little different,” Skuta said. “We had a great result (42-10 win over the Jaguars) when we went out for a week. It’s all different. The Bills went out for a week last year and we ended up winning that game. It’s good both ways, it’s whatever you prefer.”

Jaguars’ players say while the experience is good and the atmosphere with foreign fans is most supportive. For 0-3 Jacksonville, a win is the most important part of this trip. Some national outlets have wondered aloud whether Bradley could be coaching for his job. He’s 12-39 in three seasons following last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Week Two at San Diego, the Jaguars fell behind 35-0.

Jacksonville has a bye week upon returning from the UK.

“Playing in front of the fans there, you try and not get into that too much,” defensive end Tyson Alualu said. “Those of us in the locker room know who we are and what we stand for. It’s always exciting to go to London with the fan base that we have over there. Maybe it is good to get away a little bit. But our main focus is going there and taking care of business and coming back with a win.”

Lebron, Curry on Kaepernick

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(Wire Service Report by Sports Xchange) – NBA superstars LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors support Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel in protest, but they plan to stand during the national anthem before games. Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers’ backup quarterback, said last week he has received death threats for kneeling during the national anthem prior to NFL games in his protest of what he calls racial inequalities and injustices taking place in America, including fatal police shootings.

James, who has been outspoken on social issues, said Monday he intends to stand while “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played.

“I’m all in favor of anyone athlete or non-athlete being able to express what they believe in in a peaceful manner and that’s exactly what Colin Kaepernick is doing and I respect that,” James said during Cavs’ media day as the defending champions get ready to open training for the 2016-17 season.

“I think you guys know when I’m passionate about something I’ll speak up on it, so me standing for the national anthem is something I will do, that’s who I am, that’s what I believe in. But that doesn’t mean I don’t respect and don’t agree with what Colin Kaepernick is doing. You have the right to voice your opinion, stand for your opinion and he’s doing it in the most peaceful way I’ve ever seen someone do something.

“I don’t have the answer. None of us have the answer, but the more times we can talk about it, the more times we can conversate about it. Because I’m not up here saying all police are bad because they’re not. I’m not up here saying that all kids are great and all adults are great, because they’re not. But at the same time all lives do matter. It’s not black or white, it’s not that. It’s everyone, so, it’s just tough being a parent right now when you have a pre-teen.”
James, a father of three, is troubled by repeated videos of police shootings, saying he has fears for his own 12-year-old son, LeBron Jr.

“You see these videos that continue to come out, it’s a (scary) situation that if my son calls me and said if he got pulled over, that I’m not that confident that things are gonna go well and my son is going to return home,” James said. “My son just started the sixth grade.”

Curry also said he plans to stand during the national anthem and talked about the recent events in the country, including in Charlotte, N.C., where a police shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott last week sparked outrage and violent protests.

“I respect everybody’s voice, everybody’s platform,” Curry said. “About Charlotte, it’s another opportunity for people to use their voice. You don’t want it to ever turn violent.”

Speaking of Kaepernick, Curry said: “He took a bold step to continue the conversation and make it more poignant, but I do plan on standing.”
Another NBA superstar, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, believes social injustice is “actually getting worse and it will continue to get worse.”
Anthony took the stage at the 2016 ESPYs, along with fellow All-Stars Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade and James, and said, “We cannot ignore the realities of the current state of America.”

“We want to do it in the right way,” Anthony said Monday at media day of any plans the Knicks have to raise awareness. “Whatever we do, we want to do it as a collective group. I don’t know what that is yet. We’ll figure that out. But we want to do it all together. We want everybody to feel a part of it.

“We want everybody to have a right to make their own decisions about what they want to do. And we’ll go from there. Everybody sees what’s going on out there in the sports world and what everybody is talking about.”

Anthony did not discuss Kaepernick but said he wants a unified message for the Knicks.

“For me it’s not about one single gesture,” said Anthony, who won a third Olympic gold medal this summer with Team USA. “If the guys want to create a gesture or figure it out, we’ll figure it out. We will address those issues.

“My goal is to keep the conversation moving, the conversation going. Talking to the right people, getting in front of the right people, making a stand for kind of what we believe in — whether you’re black, white, indifferent. I think it’s for everybody to come on board and figure everything out.”

NFL: Thursday Night Match-Up

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Miami at Cincinnati
When: 8:25 PM ET, Thursday, September 29, 2016
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

By Digital Sports Desk wire Service – SportsDirect Inc.

Adam Gase may be a first-time head coach, but the 38-year-old was quick to light a fire under his underachieving team after benching a former first-round pick in last week’s contest. Gase hopes his aggressive action will provide a jolt for the sputtering Miami Dolphins, who will look to prevent their third 1-3 start in five years on Thursday when they visit the Cincinnati Bengals.

“I’m over discussing any of this stuff with players,” a testy Gase said on the heels of his team’s 30-24 overtime victory over winless Cleveland.

“We’re either going to start getting the job done, or we’re going to make changes.” Right tackle Ja’Wuan James, who was the 19th overall selection of the 2014 draft, was relegated to the bench after he was burned on a rush that led to a strip sack on the final drive of the fourth quarter on Sunday. While Miami was fortunate to walk away with its first win, Cincinnati has followed its impressive season-opening victory over the New York Jets with a 24-16 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 2 and a 29-17 setback to Denver on Sunday. Mercurial Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is eager to stop the bleeding when he makes his season debut on Thursday after serving a three-game suspension for repeated violations of safety-related playing rules.

TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network. LINE: Bengals -7. O/U: 44.5

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (1-2): With veteran Arian Foster still nursing a groin injury, Gase is expected to use rookie Kenyan Drake as the starter in a four-tier running back carousel that also features Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams and Isaiah Pead. Ajayi had an 11-yard touchdown run in overtime last week, but the Dolphins’ 25th-ranked ground attack is mustering just 83 yards per game and is led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill (club-best 54 yards). Tannehill continues to click with trusted target Jarvis Landry (AFC-leading 314 yards receiving) and fellow wideout DeVante Parker, but Dion Sims will get the nod as fellow tight end Jordan Cameron nurses the fourth concussion in his six-year career.

ABOUT THE BENGALS (1-2): Jeremy Hill scored twice last week and has 10 rushing touchdowns in his last 11 games heading into a date with the sputtering Dolphins’ defense, which allowed 169 yards rushing last week and an NFL second-worst 147.3 yards per game. Andy Dalton (AFC-best 938 passing yards) was limited to just 206 yards passing last week versus the Broncos and A.J. Green has just 10 catches for 115 yards combined over the last two games. The duo could get back on track at the expense of cornerback Xavien Howard, who was shredded for eight catches for 144 yards by Cleveland’s Terrell Pryor last week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cincinnati Pro Bowl TE Tyler Eifert (ankle) is not expected to make his season debut on Thursday, ESPN reported, citing a source.

2. Miami DE Cameron Wake recorded three sacks versus Dalton in the last meeting, with the final one resulting in a safety in overtime of a 22-20 win.

3. Bengals CB Dre Kirkpatrick (hamstring) has been held out of both practices this week, leaving his status for Thursday’s game in question.

PREDICTION: Bengals 21, Dolphins 16

Top Line Leads Canada in World Cup

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TORONTO – (Wire Service Report) – Fresh off signing an eight-year, $49 million contract extension with the Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand continued his strong play in the World Cup of Hockey for Team Canada.

Marchand (goal, assist) teamed with linemates Sidney Crosby (two assists) and Patrice Bergeron (goal, assist) to help Team Canada earn a 3-1 win in Game 1 of the best-of-three final series against Team Europe in Toronto on Tuesday.

“They’re good, and they’ve had a good tournament,” Canada coach Mike Babcock said of his top line. “They’ve played real well. They’ve got three elite players on it and all different types of players, but they’ve been really good.”

The extension Marchand signed killed rumors that Crosby’s NHL team, Pittsburgh, would pursue the pesky winger, given his chemistry with the Penguins’ star. The Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron line has been the best in the tournament. Marchand opened the scoring just 2:33 into the game by getting behind the defense after stepping out of the penalty box. The goal was his tournament-high fourth in five games. Steven Stamkos scored his first of the tournament, converting a pass from Ryan Getzlaf on a two-on-one break at 13:20, to give Canada (5-0-0) a 2-0 advantage after the first period.

Tomas Tatar continue his hot streak, scoring his third goal in the past two games, seven minutes into the second period to bring Team Europe (3-2-0) within a goal heading into the third period. However, Marchand, Crosby and Bergeron struck again in the third, with Crosby earning his fourth assist of the tourney on Bergeron’s first goal at 9:24 to provide the insurance.

“I think if you cut the goals out of the videos, there’s an even chance opportunity here for us with Canada, which we’re proud of that effort, and the creation of it, but we’re very frustrated, of course, with what and how we gave up the goals we did,” Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger said.

“Just a little bit too much risk at the wrong times and the power of Canada is that, to take opportunities and jam them into the net.”
Canada goaltender Carey Price made 32 saves while Europe’s Jaroslav Halak made 35 in the losing effort.

Game 2 is Thursday, with Europe needing to win to extend the series to a Game 3 on Saturday.

“Well, we’ve done well with adversity in this month,” Krueger said. “We’ve had a few situations of it, and I think knowing these players, this will give us more fuel for Game 2, and we’ll come out of this stronger.

“Again, we’re here to continue to grow and to learn and evolve, and we’re very angry right now, which is a good thing. But we also are confident with what we felt today, and it makes us that much more frustrated at the moment. I’m sure we’re going to come out fighting very strong in Game 2.”

J.J. Watt to IR with Re-Injured Back

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HOUSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is headed for injured reserve after re-injuring his back, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday. Watt underwent back surgery in late July, and sat out the preseason. He returned to play each of the Texans’ first three regular-season games, but NFL.com reported he was hurt Thursday in Houston’s loss to the New England Patriots.

A move to short-term injured reserve would keep Watt out of practice for six weeks, with a chance to return to action in eight weeks for a Nov. 27 game against the San Diego Chargers, ESPN.com reported.

Watt, 27, managed only eight tackles and 1 1/2 sacks through three weeks this season. It was a significant drop-off from last season, when he recorded 17 1/2 sacks and three forced fumbles en route to his third Defensive Player of the Year honor. He also captured the award in 2012 and 2014, finishing with 20 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles each year.

Watt, Houston’s 2011 first-round pick (11th overall) out of Wisconsin, has 76 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and one interception in 83 games, all starts. He has never missed a regular-season game. According to NFL.com, Watt’s rate of 0.92 sacks per game is higher than any other player since the stat was first established in 1982.

NFL – Saints vs Falcons Recap

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NEW ORLEANS — Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ lengthy streak of pass attempts without an interception was snapped with a thud Monday night in a 45-32 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the Superdome. The NFL’s fourth-longest streak of passes without a pick ended at 305 in the fourth quarter when Falcons rookie linebacker Deion Jones, a New Orleans native who played at LSU, intercepted Brees and raced 90 yards to a touchdown to extend his team’s lead to 45-25.
The backbreaking interception came one play after Brees connected with Mark Ingram on pass No. 305. In the third quarter, Brees joined Tom Brady (358), Alex Smith (312) and Bernie Kosar (308) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to have a streak of at least 300 passes without an interception.

–As if an 0-3 start to the season wasn’t bad enough, the Saints continue to battle injuries — especially to their offensive line.

In Monday night’s game with the Falcons, left tackle Terron Armstead wasn’t available because of a knee injury that kept him out of practice last week. That meant left guard Andrus Peat had to move outside to replace Amsted. Then, Kelemete, who plays all five offensive line positions, was penciled into the lineup after playing right tackle the previous game when Zach Strief suffered a chest injury against the New York Giants. But Kelemete left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and didn’t return. He was expected to have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the severity of the injury. Kelemete’s spot was taken by Tim Lelito, who started most of the 2015 season at left guard. When the game ended, the Saints had only six healthy linemen — Lelito, Strief, Peat, center Max Unger, right guard Jahri Evans and guard Landon Turner.

–Since winning 11 consecutive games in the Superdome during the 2013 and ’14 seasons, the Saints have now lost 11 of their last 15 games in front of the home fans.

The Saints actually went 8-0 at home in 2013 and won three in a row to start the 2014 season before starting the rough patch with a 27-24 overtime loss to the San Francisco on Nov. 9, 2014, in their fourth home game of the season.
They lost the final four games at home that year, then went 4-4 at home in 2015 before starting this season with back-to-back losses to the Oakland Raiders (35-34) and Falcons.

–The Saints-Falcons game was played 10 years and one day after a renovated Superdome, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, re-opened.

On that night, Sept. 25, 2006, the Saints returned with a rush when special teams ace Steve Gleason blocked a punt in the opening minutes and teammate Curtis Deloatch scooped it up and scored to spark an emotional 23-3 bashing of the Falcons.
To celebrate the anniversary, Gleason, who has suffered from ALS for the past 5 1/2 years, was on hand and served as honorary captain for the pregame coin toss. Also, Irma Thomas, the “Soul Queen of New Orleans,” performed the national anthem as she did a decade ago.

–The Falcons blowout of the Saints was hardly “must-see TV” material.
The game pulled an overnight rating of 5.6, which is far below the average for Monday Night Football telecasts according to ESPN. That equates to about 10 million viewers.

NOTES: The Washington Post reported Tuesday that, if the numbers hold up, it could be the least-watched game in Monday Night Football history.
Some of the downturn could be attributed to the first presidential debate, which started a half-hour after the Saints and Falcons kicked off. Reuters reported the debate drew a record 84 million viewers.
–LT Terron Armstead did not play against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night because of a knee injury and it’s not known when he will return.
–WR Willie Snead, the Saints’ No. 2 receiving option, was inactive against the Falcons because of a toe injury and it’s not known when he’ll return.
–SS Kenny Vaccaro, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 2, did not play against the Falcons and his return is unknown.
–DT Tyeler Davison missed Monday night’s game because of shoulder and foot injuries and it’s not known when he’ll return to the lineup.
–LCB Delvin Breaux was out for a second consecutive game Monday night as he continues to rehab from ankle surgery and could return in late October.
–TE Josh Hill, who sprained an ankle in the season opener, was out for the second week in a row and his return is not known.
–WLB Dannell Ellerbe missed his third consecutive game with a quadriceps injury and it’s uncertain when he’ll be able to practice or play.
–LT Andrus Peat, who started the first two games at left guard, took the place of an injured Terron Armstead at left tackle.
–LG Senio Kelemete, who started because Andrus Peat was shifted to left tackle, suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter and did not return.
–LG Tim Lelito replaced an injured Senio Kelemete in the third quarter and played the remainder of Monday night’s game with the Falcons.
–SS Roman Harper, who rejoined the Saints this summer, made his first start of the season in place of Kenny Vaccaro.

Copyright 2016

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