Saturday, December 26, 2015

Releasing Jackson was first of Kelly's unpopular, bold moves


PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Chip Kelly made it clear when he arrived in the NFL that he wanted players to do things his way.


Releasing Jackson was first of Kelly's unpopular, bold moves





DeSean Jackson found out the hard way.

Jackson had his the best season with the Philadelphia Eagles playing under Kelly in 2013. He had career-highs in receptions (82) and yards receiving (1,332) and tied his best with nine touchdown catches. Jackson went to his third Pro Bowl and helped the Eagles win the division and set several franchise records on offense.

Yet, Kelly cut Jackson a few months after the season.

Kelly has always maintained it was a ''football decision'' but teams don't part ways with their most productive players without cause.

Jackson is only 5-foot-10 and 178 pounds and Kelly prefers bigger, stronger receivers. There's one side of the football part of his decision. The other was his contract. He was scheduled to make $10.7 million in 2014. But the main reason Jackson was let go was he didn't fit the ''culture'' Kelly was building in Philadelphia.

Kelly wants team-first, unselfish players who put wins ahead of personal stats. Though he never said Jackson wasn't that guy, the receiver had a reputation for a diva attitude. Various reports said he pouted if he didn't get the ball, he was late for team meetings and he was insubordinate to Kelly.

Jackson later blamed the Eagles for these media reports, calling it a ''smear campaign.'' He's keeping the grudge to himself 21 months later.

View galleryReleasing Jackson was first of Kelly's unpopular, …
FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2013, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, left, m …
''I'm happy to be here in Washington, and I'm not looking back,'' Jackson said this week. ''It's in the past and it's over and done with. I'm happy where I'm at now. I'm blessed to say I have a job and still playing at a high level.''

It was the first of several unpopular moves Kelly has made, and it cemented his image as an autocratic coach.

Jackson quickly landed with the Redskins after his release in March 2014, signing a three-year deal worth $24 million, with $16 million guaranteed.

He's played a key role in helping Washington go from worst to first in the NFC East. Now, he has a chance to really stick it to Kelly.

The Redskins (7-7) can clinch the division title with a win in Philadelphia on Saturday night. The Eagles (6-8) need a win to avoid elimination.

''We know we need to do something that we haven't been able to do in (three) years,'' Jackson said. ''So, we just want to take care of the opportunities that are handed to us. That's at stake right now, which is win a football game. Regardless of anything else, I'm not going to let it be bigger than what it is.''

Jackson's teammates know it's not just another game to him.

''This is one of the reasons we recruited DJ to come here and one of the reasons that he came here, is to be able to face those guys,'' defensive back DeAngelo Hall said. ''And there's no better situation than to face them for it all, for the division.

''I know he's jacked-up and ready to roll, and I think all of us, we'll have his back, too, so we'll be ready to go.''

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Merson's predictions: Arsenal to beat Man City on MNF... and go on to win Premier League title


Paul Merson is tipping Arsenal to beat Man City on Monday

Paul Merson is tipping Arsenal to beat Manchester City on Monday Night Football, and thinks the Gunners will then go on to win the league.

In his weekly predictions column, Merse also sees Chelsea returning to winning ways against Sunderland following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, while tipping Manchester United to overcome Norwich.

The Magic Man predicts table-topping Leicester will stumble at Goodison Park against Everton, and believes former club Aston Villa will lose at Newcastle on Saturday Night Football.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Taulupe Faletau: Bath sign Newport Gwent Dragons forward

Taulupe Faletau


Bath will sign Wales back-rower Taulupe Faletau from Pro12 side Newport Gwent Dragons at the end of the season.

He had been set to join them in October but a move was blocked by Warren Gatland, his national team coach.

The Tonga-born 25-year-old has been capped 52 times by Wales, and represented the British and Irish Lions during the 2013 tour of Australia.

Faletau, who has been with Dragons since 2009, played four times as Wales reached the World Cup quarter-finals.

"The way Bath approach the game suits my style of play," he said.

"The opportunity to work with Darren (Edwards, Bath first-team coach) again after doing so with Wales Under-20s and the Dragons was also too good to turn down."

Faletau has won three Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams. A Welsh Rugby Union statement said it was committed to keeping its best players in the country when Faletau's transfer was turned down earlier this year.

However, he will now join the Premiership club once his contract has run out in the summer of 2016, a move head coach Mike Ford described as "evidence" of their ambition.

"When we talk about this club being ambitious, we're not just paying lip service," said Ford. "Signing a player of Toby's calibre is evidence of that.

"He is a world-class player who never takes a backwards step and he will add competition to an equally fantastic back row.


David Beckham says 2022 World Cup should be held in Qatar




David Beckham believes the 2022 World Cup should be held in Qatar despite uncertainty over its hosting rights.
Swiss and US authorities are looking at claims of corruption in the bidding for both the 2018 (Russia) and 2022 events.
In the Radio Times' Christmas issue, Beckham said: "Whether it's corrupt or not, those countries have been chosen. People need to get behind that.
"It's about bringing football to new countries. They should stick with it. They'll make it work."
In June a leading Fifa official said Russia and Qatar could lose the 2018 and 2022 World Cups if evidence emerges of bribery.
Russia and Qatar have denied wrongdoing in their bidding processes and the official, Domenico Scala, said he had not seen evidence of corruption

Image result for david beckham soccer



Fifa is currently in disarray and has announced plans to reform, but asked whether the governing body was turning a corner, the 40-year-old former England captain said: "No - they are just hitting the bend.
"It's such a mess that it's going to take a while to sort out.
"For me to see the game, the way it's been treated and looked after, is devastating. It's disgusting."
Last week Fifa plunged further into crisis when US authorities investigating corruption at the sport's governing body charged 16 officials.

In May there were seven Fifa arrests, while Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Uefa counterpart Michel Platini - a Fifa vice-president - have been suspended for 90 days after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against Blatter.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Women's Big Bash League: Australian T20 tournament begins




The inaugural Women's Big Bash League has got under way in Australia - with nine current England players signed up by the eight franchises.

The WBBL, a Twenty20 tournament, runs until the final on 24 January.

It begins with Saturday's two games at Melbourne's Junction Oval as Brisbane Heat, with England's Lauren Winfield and Kate Cross, take on Melbourne Stars whose squad includes Natalie Sciver.

It is played in parallel with the men's Big Bash which starts on 17 December.

Eight of the 59 WBBL games will be shown on Australian free-to-air television, with many games grouped around weekends with free entry for spectators.

England vice-captain Heather Knight was named as Hobart Hurricanes skipper on Friday, while all-rounder Laura Marsh signed for the Sydney Sixers earlier this week, meaning that seven of the eight WBBL franchises feature English players.

As well as the top Australian players, other leading international stars taking part include New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates and big-hitting West Indian Deandra Dottin.

England skipper Charlotte Edwards features in a Perth Scorchers squad including fast bowler Katherine Brunt, as well as ex-England all-rounder Nicky Shaw, who retired from internationals in 2010 and has since played for Western Australia.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor lines up for Adelaide Strikers, having helped South Australia win the 50-over Women's National Cricket League last week.

England will launch its own T20 competition, the £3m Women's Cricket Super League, next summer.











Current and former England players in the WBBL
Team    England players
Adelaide Strikers    Sarah Taylor
Brisbane Heat    Kate Cross, Lauren Winfield
Hobart Hurricanes    Heather Knight
Melbourne Renegades    Danielle Wyatt
Melbourne Stars    Natalie Sciver
Perth Scorchers    Katherine Brunt, Charlotte Edwards, Nicky Shaw
Sydney Sixers    Laura Marsh
Sydney Thunder    none

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Jose Mourinho: Drogba made comments to sell books









Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at club great Didier Drogba, claiming he refuses to take notice of his former favorite's recent jibes.

Drogba, now playing in MLS with the Montreal Impact, called for the Chelsea squad to show more leadership, with the defending champion languishing in the 15th position of the Premier League table.

Mourinho has hit back at the criticism, however, and questioned Drogba's motives behind the quotes, suggesting the Ivorian is looking to create controversy to coincide with the release of his new autobiography.

"When you speak because you want to sell books, I don't read. I don't read," the Portuguese coach said. "I like good interviews. I like interviews from big guys like Didier with good journalists, newspapers or television. But this is not an interview. It was to sell books.

"It doesn't disappoint me. It was just the reality. It was just to sell books. I can analyse Didier's interview with pleasure, but not Didier selling books."

Drogba, who is eager to return to Stamford Bridge in a coaching role once retiring, told the Mirror that Chelsea's younger players must develop their mental strength to reaffirm their league status.

"Yes, JT [John Terry] is still there but on your own it is very difficult," he said. "Other players have to come up with this mentality, you are not born with it. You build it. Maybe you have it in you but you build it."