Jets On Third QB In Loss To Browns, Roethlisberger Out For Season, Brees Likely Out 6 Wks, Virginia Coach Declines Raise
FOOTBALL
The New York Jets were already down a quarterback with their starter Sam Darnold out due to mononucleosis. Then on Monday night’s loss to the Cleveland Browns, their backup Trevor Siemian suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter. Third-stringer Luke Falk had to step in, but it wasn’t pretty and the Jets lost 23-3 to the Cleveland Browns. Luke will probably have to start next week against the mighty New England Patriots. Could be ugly.
In other disappointing quarterback news, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger will out for the entire season. The 37-year old future Hall of Famer will have elbow surgery this week. He’ll be replaced by 2018 third round pick Mason Rudolph.
The other injured future Hall of Famer, New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees got slightly better news. He’ll have surgery on his thumb, but will likely miss six weeks (not the whole season). Teddy Bridgewater will take over. The absence is unchartered territory for the Saints, as Brees hasn’t missed a game because of injury since 2015.
BASKETBALL
In some unusual and refreshing news, men’s college basketball coach Tony Bennett signed a one-year contract extension with Virginia but declined an increase in pay. Instead of a raise, he asked for additional compensation for his staff and the program. Bennett earned $6 million last season and decided to also donate $500,o00 towards a career-development program for the players. In a press release Bennett said, “I have more than enough. If there are ways that this can help out the athletic department, the other programs and coaches, by not tying up so much (in men’s basketball), that’s my desire.”
