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NFL Blitz: Manning cops old man joke, Jaguars sorry for mascot Ebola gag, Browns get down, New York ‘Tebow Time’, Wing bounces back

DENVER Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is normally a good-humoured kind of guy. But not this time. Your weekly NFL wrap featuring HARD COUNT.

4 min read
October 8, 2014 - 11:00AM
Arizona Cardinals v Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals v Denver Broncos

ALL remaining winning streaks came to an end in week five as comebacks were the dominant theme. But check out what else you might’ve missed around the league.

PEYTON BITES BACK

If you intend of catching one of quarterback Peyton Manning’s many touchdown passes, don’t do this. One of his Denver teammates made a wise crack about Manning’s age as he edged closer to Brett Favre’s all-time touchdowns thrown NFL record. And now the cheeky player will pay (or should we say, Pey Pey).

“Somebody asked me if for my first [touchdown pass], ‘did we wear leather helmets?’” Manning said.

“So, that was a nice free cheap shot there. I wouldn’t start that guy on your fantasy team next week. He’s not going to get a lot of balls next week. I’ll leave him nameless.”

JAGUARS MASCOT TRIES TO BE FUNNY, FAIL MISERABLY

AFP report that Jacksonville Jaguars president Mark Lamping has apologised for a joke about Ebola by the winless NFL team’s mascot during their loss to Pittsburgh.

Jaxon DeVille, the oversized-costume character who entertains at Jaguars home games, held one of the Steelers’ trademark yellow “Terrible Towels” with a handmade sign that read “Towels Carry Ebola.” C’mon now. On what planet did that seem like good idea?

Ebola has killed more than 3,300 people so far this year in West Africa.

AUSSIES IN ACTION

It was rough for Brad Wing last week. One shocking 29-yard punt at the end of the game led to Tampa Bay defeating Pittsburgh with seconds remaining, leading to the Aussie being blamed for the loss. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin threw his support behind Wing as calls for the punter to be dropped grew louder, and thankfully that faith seems to have worked wonders.

Wing bounced back against the Jaguars, punting solidly as the Steelers got the 17-9 win on the road. He had four punts and two inside the 20 yard line, for an average distance of 45.4 yards.

Fans who were calling for his head just one week ago, were left eating their words.

THE BROWNS CAN DANCE NOW

Cleveland are on a roll. They got LeBron back in the NBA, they landed Johnny Football in the NFL draft, and now their once lowly football team is winning games. The surprise to everyone is that it hasn’t been led by rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel though. Brian Hoyer’s been the man for the Browns, and don’t they know it. They recorded the biggest comeback on the road by any team in history when they defeated the Tennessee Titans this week, and celebrated accordingly in the dressing room.

FULL WRAP OF MONDAY’S GAMES

TEBOW TIME IN NEW YORK?

Geno Smith is still struggling, Michael Vick isn’t much better. So who you gonna call? Tim Tebow of course. Well that’s what the New York Daily News is calling for at least. The former NFL quarterback would have to live up to his football messiah status if he was to revive the Jets, the team that let him go in 2013. From all reports Tebow hasn’t stopped training either, eagerly awaiting another chance to play in the NFL. In the meantime he’s shown excellent promise as a college football analyst.

THE DUNK THAT WASN’T

We used to love dunk celebrations. They used to be so cool. But thanks to the fun police, aka the NFL, the goalpost dunk is but a distant memory. Still, it hasn’t stopped players from walking a very fine line between celebrating a touchdown and being flagged.

This week Detroit’s Golden Tate took a long run up, teasing the ref that a dunk was coming ... and then didn’t. The restraint he showed. You’re the real MVP, Golden Tate.

FANTASY WATCH

Andre Williams — With Rashad Jennings likely to miss time with a knee injury the bruising New York Giants running back is poised to receive the lion’s share of carries in a continually improving offense.

Branden Oliver — Injury provides opportunity and with Ryan Mathews and Donald Brown banged up the pint-sized rookie exploded for two touchdowns in week five, and is on track to add to that tally against perennial strugglers, the Oakland Raiders.

Brian Quick — Austin Davis was the hot name last week and his favourite target is the 193cm wide receiver. Worth picking up off the waivers as a roughie as the Rams continue to air it out.

Russell Wilson — Seattle might be a ball-control offense, but whatever the Super Bowl-winning quarterback lacks in passing attempts, he more than makes up for in rushing, as he demonstrated in Washington.

Demaryius Thomas — No secrets here but the stud wide receiver finally kickstarted his slumbering 2014 campaign with over 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns against a supposedly strong Arizona defence.

Broncos D — Just in case they were dropped after a few average starts, the Denver defensive unit face an underwhelming Jets offense, ripe for back-to-back bagels (shut-outs) in week six.

VINCE LOMBARDI QUOTE OF THE WEEK

This one goes out to Cincinnati’s Devon Still, who was left in tears when the Patriots fans and cheerleaders honoured his daughter, currently suffering from cancer, during the Bengals game in Boston.

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”

Originally published as NFL Blitz: Manning cops old man joke, Jaguars sorry for mascot Ebola gag, Browns get down, New York ‘Tebow Time’, Wing bounces back

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