Page 30 - Florida Sentinel 10-21-16 Online Edition

Sports
NFC South Is Wide Open
Big 12 Conference Says ‘No’ To USF Football
With the Tampa Bay Buc- caneers enjoying a bye week last week, the NFC South once again has reshuffled its lineup, and there are no clear cut leaders.
On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers (1-5) lost to NFC South rival, the New Orleans Saints (2-3), and the NFC South leading Atlanta Fal- cons (4-2) lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
With the Buccaneers hold- ing on to a 2-3 record, that puts them in second place in the division, and they are far from being out of contention for a division title.
The Bucs will be hitting the road this weekend to face a San Francisco 49er team that is coming off a 49-16
Jameis Winston and the Bucs hope to be at .500 after their road game against the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday.
trouncing by the Buffalo Bills.
Entering the bye week, the Bucs had 12 players on their injury list, with the majority
coming from the defense. Among the injured defensive players are Robert Ayers Brent Grimes, Gerald McCoy Clinton McDon- ald, Noah Spence, and Keith Tandy.
On offense, Doug Mar- tin, Brandon Myers, Cecil Shorts, Charles Sims, and Luke Stocker were listed with various in- juries.
Buccaneer quarterback, Jameis Winston appears to have settled down and has been playing more consis- tently the past couple of weeks.
Also, it appears the 49ers have returned Colin Kaepernick to the starting lineup as quarterback.
On Monday, it was an- nounced that the Big 12 Con- ference Board of Directors decided not to expand confer- ence membership at this time. The University of South Florida will remain a member of the American Athletic Con- ference.
The USF football team, under the leadership of head coach, Willie Taggert, has started its 2016 season with a 5-1 record, and is playing their best football as evidenced by their recent blowout of the Connecticut Huskies, 42-27.
The team’s only loss came against the Florida State Seminoles.
USF President, Judy Gen- shaft, said on behalf of the entire USF system and the community, she extends their thanks to the Big 12 Commis- sioner, Bob Bowlsby, and the leadership of the Big 12 Conference for their interest in the USF program.
“This process has been ex- tremely positive, giving us the opportunity to showcase our excellence on a national scale.”
Dez Bryant Cuts Fingers Slicing Carrots
Tom Brady Sets
San Francisco 49ers quar- terback Colin Kaepernick will make his second start this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it also will be his first at Levi's Sta- dium in nearly a year.
Kaepernick last started in front of his home fans on Oct. 22, 2015. After garnering his share of boos and other nega- tive reaction from Buffalo Bills fans last week, Kaepernick figures to get a warmer recep- tion this week.
Not that he's too concerned about it either way. In fact, Kaepernick's expectation for this week is far more sim- ple.
Colin Kaepernick's Goal For First Home Start In 2016: A Win
Dez Bryant is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. His chef skills, how- ever, need some work.
Bryant said he cut the middle and ring fingers on his right hand while cutting carrots for some soup, but he called it "extremely, ex- tremely minor."
Bryant was on the prac- tice field Wednesday for the Cowboys' lone practice of the bye week, but he did not catch any passes.
He has missed the past three games with a tibial plateau fracture in his right leg, but has already said he would play when the Cow- boys return to action Oct. 30 against the Philadelphia Ea- gles. Bryant had hoped to play last week against the Green Bay Packers, but he was held out in hopes of him
Blistering Pace With Impressive Two-Game Stretch
DEZ BRYANT
being closer to 100 percent. In the portion of practice open to the media, Bryant looked his quickest and fastest since suffering the in-
jury Sept. 25.
"He's got a cut on the in-
side of his hand, so he wasn't able to catch balls today," coach Jason Garrett said. "He did a good job moving around, though. I think he's feeling better and better and better."
TOM BRADY
COLIN KAEPERNICK
"That’s what we’re preparing for. That’s what our focus is on. We want to make sure this week we’re having a good week of practice, everybody’s on the same page and every- body’s focused and ready to go this Sunday. So, we can go out and execute.”
New
quarterback Tom Brady has thrown for 762 yards, with six touchdowns and no inter- ceptions this season, becom- ing the first in NFL history to reach those marks in a player’s first two games of a season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Here is some more on what Brady has accom- plished in two victories since returning from a four-game suspension to open the sea- son:
In Sunday's win over the Bengals, he became just the fourth NFL player with at least 5,000 completions in his career. He entered the game needing 19 comple- tions, and hit the mark with a 38-yard connection to tight end Rob Gronkowski in the third quarter. Brady has 5,010 career completions, with Drew Brees (5,515), Peyton Manning (6,125) and Brett Favre (6,300) ahead of him.
“A win," Kaepernick said.
Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis Defends
England Patriots
LB Vontaze Burfict After $75K Fine
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis says he believes Von- taze Burfict is being scruti- nized because of his history and that the linebacker did not stomp on New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount.
According to a league source, Burfict was fined $75,000 by the NFL for his actions in Sunday's game against the Patriots and has appealed.
"I don't think he did any- thing wrong," Lewis said. "We were not in the wrong here, in my opinion. And it's unfortunate. That's what I have told and stood on and will continue to."
Lewis spent part of his Monday news conference de- fending Burfict for a low hit on Patriots tight end Martel- lus Bennett, saying he was reacting to a pump fake by Tom Brady. Burfict was not flagged for the hit.
The Bengals coach said he watched the video of the al- leged stomp several times, and Burfict was not in the wrong.
"I don't think he meant to do anything. And I've been
VONTAZE BURFICT
through it back and forth as big as this board behind me," Lewis said. "Hell if I can see who steps where or whatever. I see him try to step through [the pile] and try to go help [a] teammate. ... Someone from another team has a hand on his teammate's face mask, pushing him in the face, and that's what he's trying to get to. But that doesn't matter -- it's done. We'll move on and things will happen the way they happen."
Lewis said he believes Burfict is essentially under a microscrope because of his history. Burfict began the season on a three-game sus- pension for violations of player safety and has been fined eight times -- totaling $279,329 -- for on-field inci- dents.
PAGE 14-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016