Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 10-21-16 Online Edition

Sports
Doug Martin Out Indefinitely After Hamstring Injury Setback
LeBron James Congratulates Indians On World Series Berth
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin will not be back in action any- time soon.
Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said on Wednesday that Martin, who has been out since Week 2 with a ham- string injury, suffered a set- back in his recovery and has no timetable to return.
The news is particularly dis- appointing with the Bucs just coming off their Week 6 bye. Martin, the two-time Pro Bowler, was only expected to miss three weeks when the in- jury initially occurred, but that’s seeming like a distant
DOUG MARTIN
memory now.
With backup Charles
Sims on injured reserve with a knee injury as well, former fifth-round pick Jacquizz Rodgers appears to be in line for all the backfield touches he can handle in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers and possibly beyond.
Cleveland Cavliers super- star LeBron James con- gratulated the Cleveland Indians on reaching the World Series for the first time since 1997.
The Indians shut out the Blue Jays 3–0 behind timely offense and unheralded rookie starter Ryan Merritt to win the series in five games, winning in Toronto to advance. Cleveland will draw
LEBRON JAMES
the winner of the Cubs and Dodgers in the World Series.
James, a noted Yankees fan and Ohio native who has
supported the team through- out this playoff run, was tweeting throughout.
Also, he celebrated.
The Cavaliers overcame a 3–1 deficit in the NBA Finals to deliver the city's first major championship in 52 years. The Indians have not won the World Series since 1948. That same year, the Browns won the All-America Football Con- ference championship game.
Derrick Rose, Two Friends Found Not Liable In Sexual Assault Civil Trial
Vincent Jackson Placed On Injured Reserve With ACL Injury
An eight-member jury in Los Angeles federal court has found New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose and his two friends not liable in a civil lawsuit that accused them of gang-raping Rose's ex-girl- friend when she was incapac- itated from drugs or alcohol.
The jury began delibera- tions Wednesday morning, and its decision was an- nounced at about 4:30 p.m. ET.
"I am thankful that the jury understood and agreed with me,'' Rose said in a statement to The Associated Press. "This experience and my sensitivity to it was deep. I am ready to put this behind me and focus
panel tried to look at the case in the plaintiff's favor but in the end could not believe her and felt her tears were not genuine.
"It felt like she was playing us,'' Jared said. "The second her lawyer started question- ing her, she would start cry- ing. I mean, granted, that could be realistic, but I feel l'm pretty good at reading people, and I felt as if it was false.''
Before he ended the pro- ceedings, U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald wished all parties the best, but added for Rose, "Except when the Knicks play the Lak- ers."
VINCENT JACKSON
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jack- son’s 2016 campaign may be over as well as his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers announced on Tuesday that Jackson has been placed on injured reserve after hurting his knee in a Week 5 victory over the Car- olina Panthers. A subsequent MRI revealed an ACL injury for the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.
The 33-year-old Jackson, who will become a free agent
after the season, had logged 15 receptions for 173 yards in five games last season. After four straight years of appearing in all 16 games and logging 1000- plus receiving yards dating back to his time with the San Diego Chargers, Jackson has had a hard time staying healthy since, having been hobbled by an MCL sprain in 2015.
The Buccaneers, who al- ready placed Charles Sims on injured reserve last week and have also had to deal with the multi-week absence of Doug Martin, may now be forced to give a colossal num- ber of targets of Mike Evans in the passing game. Mean- while, Jackson could be a candidate for retirement in the wake of this devastating pre- sumptive ending to his 12th season in the league.
DERRICK ROSE
on my family and career.'' Jurors posed for photo- graphs with Rose one at a time in the courthouse lobby after the verdict was an-
nounced.
One of the two men among
the eight jurors who identified himself only by his first name and age, Jared, 25, said the
Jets Plan To Name Geno Smith New Starting Quarterback
Desperate for a spark, the New York Jets are turning to Geno Smith as their quarter- back.
League sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that Smith will replace Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has com- piled an 11-11 record as the Jets' starter over two seasons.
Smith will start Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, his first start since Dec. 28, 2014. He was the presumptive starter in 2015, but he lost the job in training camp when his jaw was broken in a locker room altercation with then- teammate IK Enemkpali.
Fitzpatrick replaced Smith and enjoyed a career year, but he has reverted to the mistake-prone ways from ear- lier in his career. He has thrown a league-high 11 inter- ceptions, as the offense has managed only three touch- downs in the past four games - - all losses.
GENO SMITH
Fitzpatrick was pulled in the fourth quarter of Monday night's 28-3 loss to theArizona Cardinals. In one series of mop-up work, Smith com- pleted four of six passes, but he fumbled on a sack (the Jets recovered) and threw an inter- ception.
After the game, Bowles gave Fitzpatrick a vote of confidence, saying, "Fitz will be back next week. ... Fitz is our starter." But Tuesday, in a conference call with reporters, he walked back those com- ments, saying he needed to meet with his staff Tuesday night to discuss the position.
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