Bill Belichick says he ‘can’t take it anymore’ with tablet use
Bill Belichick is throwing in the towel in his ongoing fight with the use of tablets on the sideline.
Responding to a question in a conference call Tuesday about headset issues the Patriots had during last week’s win over the Bengals, Belichick said he “can’t take it anymore” with the tablets, adding there isn’t enough consistency in the performance of the devices.
“I’ve given them as much time as I can give them,” Belichick said of the tablets. “They’re just too undependable for me.”
The decision comes after Belichick was caught on camera slamming down a sideline tablet following a Bills touchdown during their Oct. 2 matchup.
He also railed for several minutes about ongoing issues with NFL technology, including the communication system between coaches in the press box and those on the field, as well as the coach-to-quarterback play calling system, which Belichick said “fail on a regular basis.”
“There are very few games that we play, home or away, day, night, cold, hot, preseason, regular season, postseason, it doesn’t make any difference; there are very few games where there aren’t issues in some form or fashion with that equipment,” he said.
Falcons place DE Shelby on IR with torn Achilles
The Atlanta Falcons have placed defensive end Derrick Shelby on injured reserve with a torn Achilles tendon, ending his season.
Shelby left Sunday’s loss at Seattle with what was initially announced as a calf injury. He had eight tackles in six games, including four starts, this season. He left the Dolphins to sign a four-year, $18 million deal with Atlanta in March. Atlanta also promoted safety Sharrod Neasman to the active roster. He signed with the team as a rookie free agent from Florida Atlantic.
Browns’ Poyer released from hospital after kidney injury
Browns safety Jordan Poyer has been discharged from the hospital after one of his kidneys was lacerated by a vicious hit.
Poyer was taken to Nashville’s Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital by ambulance during Sunday’s 28-26 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Browns said the 25-year-old Poyer, in his fourth season with the team, will return to Cleveland.
Poyer was injured on a nasty blindside hit by Titans running back Antonio Andrews while covering a punt in the second quarter. Andrews had an unobstructed run at Poyer before delivering his violent blow, which was penalized.
Jets’ Decker, on IR with shoulder injury, has hip surgery
Eric Decker will be sidelined a bit longer than initially expected. The New York Jets wide receiver, already on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, underwent surgery Tuesday on his hip.
The team said the anticipated recovery time for Decker’s hip surgery is six months. When the wide receiver is able to get off crutches during that period – it’s uncertain how long that will take – he will then have the surgery on his shoulder, with recovery time expected to be eight months.
Vikings maintain No. 1 spot in power rankings
The Minnesota Vikings enjoyed their bye week as the only unbeaten team left in the NFL.
As they maintained their perfect mark, they remained on top of the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Vikings received six first-place votes for 378 points from balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL.
The New England Patriots stayed at No. 2 after routing the Cincinnati Bengals 35-17 on Sunday. The Patriots received five first-place votes for 376 points. The Seattle Seahawks moved up a spot to No. 3 after their 26-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Seahawks received the other first-place vote, finishing with 358 points.
Chiefs ship RB Davis to Packers for draft pick
The Kansas City Chiefs have traded backup running back Knile Davis to the Green Bay Packers, who desperately need to add depth to their injury-riddled backfield. The Packers gave up a conditional draft pick Tuesday for Davis, who has already started practicing with his new team. The Packers needed help at running back with Eddie Lacy nursing a bothersome ankle and James Starks undergoing knee surgery.
Bucs place WR Vincent Jackson on IR with knee injury
Tampa Bay receiver Vincent Jackson has been placed on injured reserve with a left leg injury, raising the possibility that he’s played his last game for the Buccaneers.
The team announced Tuesday that Jackson, who in the final season of a five-year contract that pays him more than $9 million in 2016, complained of discomfort in his left knee after playing the entire game during the Bucs’ 17-14 victory over Carolina on Oct. 10. The Bucs had a bye last week and are preparing to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
A MRI revealed an injury to the 33-year-old’s anterior cruciate ligament.
NFL’s new ‘Medical Timeout’ used 7 times since start of 2015
Independent medical observers stopped five NFL games in 2015 and two so far in 2016 – the first two seasons in which the “Medical Timeout” has been employed as a method to identify players with major injuries or possible concussions.
In its 2016 Health and Safety Report , released Tuesday, the NFL said an average of 29 health care providers, including two unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants, attend games. Many of them, along with on-field officials, can rule a player out due to a concussion or other severe injury.
In a new move last season, the NFL stationed athletic trainers in spots high above the field and allowed them to watch replays – and to call time out if they saw injuries that otherwise went unnoticed.