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NFL News:

• Reports of dissension within the Giants ranks. Eli called out Odell Beckham in the post-game presser, and ODJ is saying the refs are holding him to a different standard, based on the personal foul calls.

 “I just have to understand if I sneeze the wrong way, it will be a flag,” he said. “It will be a fine. If I tie my shoes the wrong way, it might be a fine or a flag. It is what it is. You have to understand that. As tough as it is to understand that for a 23-year-old who has been blessed with a lot that God has given to me — an amazing amount of ability and amazing amount of everything — it seems like it’s all working against you. _(ESPN)

• 

  Rumblings out of San Diego have Mike McCoy as the potential first fire-e of the NFL season. The only thing holding the Spanos family back, outside of their general incompetence, is that the immediate replacement from within is Ken Whisenhunt.

  • FYI: the Chargers have lost 15 of their last 20 games.
• The Cowboys are now down La’el Collins as well, following news he is going on IR due to toe surgery. No update on Dez.
• Bruce Arians is hopeful Carson Palmer will be able to play Thursday night versus the 49ers. Not helping matters is that Chris Johnson and Tyvon Branch have been placed on IR.
  • I think he’d be more worried if NaVorro Bowman was still eligible, but he broke again.
• Antonio Cromartie has been released by the Colts. First paternity results from Marion County Public Health should be reported in May.
• Ornithologists rejoice – A.J. Hawk has been signed by the Falcons. Hopefully, his first game is called by Ian Eagle.

Finally, Cam Newton is being sued for damage done to a Beverly Hills rental property he used during the 2016 off-season. According to TMZ Sports, the lawsuit calls for the reigning NFL MVP to pay $270,324.47 plus legal fees for damage ($90,324.47) and lost rent ($180,000).

My favourite part of the TMZ report is the pseudo-racial language they imply, saying things like “Cam responded by telling the housekeeper to quit diming him out”. It’s not TIME blackening O.J.’s mugshot, but it’s on the road to it.

The home is owned by a guy named Jared Pobre, who is married to former WWE performer Stacy Keibler. So I think you know where I’m going with this info.

It’s a topic that divides sports fans: Which sports month is the best month? The question is once again at the forefront because today marks the start of the baseball playoffs with the Wildcard play-in game. Honestly, my money has always been on October, because of what you get:

• start of NHL season (October 12)
• the second quarter of the NFL season
• baseball playoffs
• start of NBA season (October 25)

It’s mostly due to the amount of hope involved. I’d put April second, because of hockey & basketball playoffs & the start of baseball, and January third, due to the NFL playoffs and college bowls, plus the NHL Outdoor games.

February & March are at the bottom, redeemed only by the Super Bowl (February) and March Madness.

DISCUSS!

If you want to give the trivia centre of your brain a challenge, it’s Jeopardy Contestant Testing Week. There’s three test dates & times:

• Tuesday, October 4 – 8:00 ET
• Wednesday, October 5 – 9:00 ET / 8:00 CT
• Thursday, October 6 – 11:00 ET / 8:00 PT

Sign up here. Take the test with millions. Feel the shame of ignorance alone.

Tonight’s sports:

• MLB Playoff: Orioles at Blue Jays – 8:00 PM | TBS/Sportsnet
• Preseason:
  • NHL:
    • Sabres vs. Hurricanes – 7:00 PM | NBCSN
  • NBA:
    • Knicks at Rockets – 8:00 PM | ESPN
    • Clippers at Warriors – 10:30 PM | ESPN
• WWE SmackDown – 8:00 PM | USA/Sportsnet360

For your alternative viewing ‘pleasure’, there’s the Vice-Presidential debate from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. That possibly-informative-but-probably-unwatchable event runs from 9:00 – 10:30 ET.

Conversely, you could watch Kristen Bell on “Conan”.

I THINK I KNOW THE AUDIENCE!