FOOTBALL
Crabtree, Talib suspended
Oakland receiver Michael Crabtree and Denver cornerback Aqib Talib have been suspended two games each without pay for fighting. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan announced the suspensions Monday, a day after the two players brawled during Oakland's 21-14 victory. Both players can appeal the suspensions. The fight was a continuation of a dispute that started last season when Talib ripped Crabtree's chain off during the season finale. Crabtree missed the first game between the teams this year but went after Talib early in this latest game. On the second play of Oakland's second drive, Crabtree aggressively blocked Talib on a running play and drove him to the ground on the Broncos sideline. Talib ripped Crabtree's chain off his neck while they were tangled up, and a brawl ensued.
49ers' QB up in air
Kyle Shanahan isn't ready to decide between quarterbacks C.J. Beathard and Jimmy Garoppolo just yet. The San Francisco 49ers coach is waiting to see how Beathard recovers from the hip and knee injuries that forced him out of Sunday's loss to Seattle. Garoppolo replaced him late in the game, and now Tom Brady's former backup could get his first start for San Francisco next week against the Bears. Garoppolo threw a touchdown on the final play against the Seahawks after Beathard was sidelined with 1:07 left. Shanahan said he'll announce his starter by Wednesday to maximize practice time ahead of Chicago. Shanahan said Beathard has a knee contusion and a hip strain from a low hit by defensive end Michael Bennett during an incomplete pass on the final drive.
TE Bennett on IR
The Patriots placed tight end Martellus Bennett and special teamer Nate Ebner on injured reserve. New England made the moves Monday. For Bennett it comes less than a month after the Patriots picked him up off waivers after his release from the Green Bay Packers. Ebner injured his knee on a fake punt run in the first quarter of the Patriots' victory over Miami on Sunday. Bennett had six catches for 53 yards in New England's victories over the Broncos and Raiders, but was inactive for Sunday's victory over the Dolphins with a hamstring and shoulder injury.
QB Lynch on shelf
Quarterback Paxton Lynch will miss 2-4 weeks with a high right ankle sprain, Coach Vance Joseph announced on his weekly radio show Monday. So, it's back to Trevor Siemian, who started the season but was benched a month ago in favor of Brock Osweiler, who was supplanted last week by Lynch. Lynch got hurt in the second half of Denver's 21-14 loss at Oakland on Sunday. When he went out, the Raiders were leading 21-0 and Siemian threw two TD passes despite not having taken any snaps during the week with Lynch acclimating to new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave.
Iowa St. extends Campbell
Asked about his future after a 20-19 loss at Kansas State on Saturday, Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell said he and his staff are "in it for the long haul." One of the sport's rising stars has backed up his words with action, as the Cyclones announced Monday they've agreed to a new deal with their 37-year-old coach. The Cyclones said Monday that they and Campbell have agreed to a new six-year deal worth $22.5 million, increasing Campbell's annual compensation from $2.1 million to $3.5 million per season. Campbell's new deal also includes $1 million for raises for his staff. Campbell, who led Iowa State to a 7-5 record and its first winning season in Big 12 play in 15 years, was expected to be among the top names in the offseason coaching carousel.
RB Warren leaves Texas
Texas running back Chris Warren will transfer to another school for his senior year. Warren announced the move in a statement issued Monday by the school. He scored a team-high eight touchdowns for Texas (6-6) this season. Warren ran for 314 yards this season, with 166 coming in a victory over San Jose State. But his role dramatically decreased by the third game and the 250-pound back was seldom used in key situations the rest of the season. Warren switched to a hybrid running back-tight end position and had two catches with one touchdown in the final two games. Warren averaged over 5 yards per carry and rushed for 1,150 yards over the past three seasons. He ran for 276 yards against Texas Tech as a freshman in 2015, but his 2016 season was cut short by a knee injury after four games.
BASKETBALL
Parker back for Spurs
Tony Parker is back for the San Antonio Spurs, and the veteran guard expects teammate Kawhi Leonard to return in "two or three weeks" from a quadriceps injury that's kept him out all season. Leonard has been practicing with Parker and retired San Antonio forwards Tim Duncan and Matt Bonner as part of his rehabilitation from right quadriceps tendinopathy. Parker started at point guard in his season debut Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured quadriceps tendon. He will play limited minutes, San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich said, but there was no exact figure. The Spurs have the third best record in the West entering Monday (12-7) despite being without Leonard and Parker.
HOCKEY
Cross-check proves costly
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was suspended four games without pay by the NHL on Monday for his cross-check on Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk. Landeskog was assessed a minor penalty in the first period Saturday when he hit Tkachuk in the ribs with his stick, pushing the Flames forward into the back of the Colorado net. Landeskog then delivered another blow to the head and neck area of Tkachuk. The 25-year-old Landeskog will forfeit $119,815 under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Landeskog has nine goals and eight assists this season.
BASKETBALL
Grizzlies (7-12) fire Fizdale
MEMPHIS -- The Memphis Grizzlies fired Coach David Fizdale on Monday, with the team at 7-12 and a day after he benched center Marc Gasol for the fourth quarter of an eighth consecutive loss.
General Manager Chris Wallace announced the move. Associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been named interim coach.
"After a thorough evaluation, I decided a change in course was necessary to move forward and provide the team and organization its best chance at success this season and beyond," Wallace said in a statement.
Gasol, given a maximum deal by the Grizzlies in July 2015, sat throughout the fourth quarter of a 98-88 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Gasol leads the Grizzlies in points, rebounds and assists, and he was an All-Star in Fizdale's inaugural season. But the center spent plenty of time after the game making it clear to reporters how upset he was at sitting out a full quarter.
"It's a first for me, trust me, and I don't like it one bit," Gasol said. "I'm more [ticked] than I can show and frustrated."
Fizdale explained his decision before Gasol spoke in the locker room and said he simply was trying to win a game while sticking with his reserves. Fizdale said taking a risk as head coach means sometimes upsetting a player or two.
"If I'm not on the floor, I'm not valued," Gasol said. "I'm sure [the coaching staff] knew that would hurt me the most."
Fizdale became the franchise's 13th head coach on May 29, 2016, and he went 50-51.
The Grizzlies reached the postseason for a seventh consecutive time in Fizdale's first season, when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. Fizdale was fined $30,000 by the NBA for a rant over officiating after a loss in Game 2.
Sports on 11/28/2017