NFL:
In the NFL on Thursday Night Football, New England crushed Miami 36-7. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 356 yards and four touchdowns — two to Julian Edelman. Stephen Gostkowski broke Adam Vinatieri's franchise record for consecutive field goals by connecting from 52 and 36 yards to make it 26 in a row.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft took a verbal shot at the Colts during a speech honoring Willie McGinest last night. Kraft said, "There's nothing more satisfying than saddling the Indianapolis Colts with a loss, something the Patriots did 16 times in Willie McGinest's career." Kraft made the comments after the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame at halftime of New England's game against Miami.
New York Jets center Nick Mangold sat out practice yesterday for the second straight day with a sore neck, but is still expected to play against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Mangold left late in the fourth quarter of the Jets' 30-23 loss at New England last Sunday after he was hit in the head by a Patriots defender during a play.
Massachusetts gambling regulators are voicing support for regulating daily fantasy sports. Some members of the Gaming Commission have noted rising concerns about insider trading, money laundering, gambling addiction and other issues as the industry has exploded in popularity in recent years.
An NFL spokesman says Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel's recent domestic incident remains under review. Manziel was interviewed at the team's complex Wednesday night by investigators looking into whether he violated the league's personal conduct policy during an Oct. 12 argument with his girlfriend. Manziel was joined at the meeting by a representative of the players' union. League spokesman Brian McCarthy says "no decision has been made" on Manziel, who was not arrested after being questioned by police in Avon, Ohio. Although he was not charged, Manziel can be fined or suspended by the league.
On Sunday at 1, the Giants are in New Orleans and at 4 the Jets are in Oakland.
MLB:
The World Series resumes tonight when Kansas City meets the Mets in New York at 8.
The Miami Marlins have landed a new manager, and they are in the market for a GM. A person familiar with the situation says Don Mattingly has been hired as the Marlins' skipper, less than a week after he parted with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The announcement might not come until after the World Series.
He went 446-363 in five years with the Dodgers and won the NL West the past three seasons. But the Dodgers have not reached the World Series since winning the title in 1988.
Meanwhile, the Marlins have confirmed that Dan Jennings had been fired, ending a 13-year association with the team that included an awkward move in May from general manager to manager. Team officials said after the season that Jennings would resume his old job as GM, but he didn't return to the office and hadn't been involved in offseason decisions.
Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris says he's undergone successful surgery on the cancerous growth on his thyroid. The lefty announced on Twitter and Instagram today that he is "Cancer Free," one week after he revealed he was having the malignant growth removed. Norris went 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA this year in 13 starts for Toronto and Detroit.
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has stepped down after six seasons at the post, rejecting an offer to stay on in a diminished role under new president Mark Shapiro. His departure comes the same day Sporting News announced Anthopoulos was chosen executive of the year after guiding the Blue Jays to the AL East title and their first playoff berth in 22 years. The Jays were able to catch the Yankees in the standings once Anthopoulos acquired David Price and Troy Tulowitzki for several prospects at the trade deadline.
NBA:
In the NBA, Atlanta topped New York 112-101, Memphis bested Indiana 112-103, and it was the Clippers over Dallas 104-88.
Albany basketball legend Luther “Ticky” Burden has died in North Carolina. Luther Burden Jr., tells the Winston-Salem Journal his father died in his sleep at Forsyth Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized since last week. His dad was an All-American high schooler, played at Utah in college, and played in the ABA and NBA until a knee injury ended his career. The 62-year-old former New York Knick had lived in Winston-Salem for nearly 30 years.
During a 2013 visit to Albany, Burden praised his Phillip Schuyler High School basketball coach Ron Sontz, who explained the origin of the nickname.
"The way he got that nickname, when he shot, he used to use the backboard. And you'd hear the tick, then the swish. And so they gave him the name 'Ticky.'”
According to the paper, the family is making funeral arrangements.
NHL:
In the NHL, Carolina beat the Islanders in overtime 3-2, New Jersey won against Philadelphia 4-1, Pittsburgh skated past Buffalo 4-3, Colorado edged Tampa Bay 2-1, St. Louis slid past Anaheim 2-1, Winnipeg beat Chicago 3-1, Dallas defeated Vancouver in ovetime 4-3, and it was Edmonton over Montreal 4-3.
NCAAF:
In top 25 college football, No. 5 TCU beat West Virginia 40-10 and it was North Carolina over No. 23 Pittsburgh 26-19.
Marathon:
More than 20 runners will compete in the New York City Marathon this weekend as members of a team honoring an 8-year-old boy killed in the Boston Marathon bombing. "Team MR8" is named after Martin Richard. He was one of three people killed when two bombs exploded near the marathon finish line in 2013.
High School:
A Washington state high school coach on paid leave because he refused to stop praying on the field prayed in front of the bleachers after attending the Bremerton High School football game. Coach Joe Kennedy hugged players before the Thursday game and watched from the stands, talking with media at halftime and kneeling down to pray with a group of people who shouted "Amen" when he finished. He told media it hurt his heart that the situation had gotten to the point where "his guys are in the locker room and I've got to be out here."
A Connecticut high school is changing its mascot and team name to "Lions" from "Indians" to be more racially sensitive. Northwest Catholic High School officials say momentum for changing the nickname has been growing in the past several years.
©2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
