With the Denver Broncos' 19-17 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla believes it's time for the Broncos to fire Coach Vance Joseph.
"In this football season, it's all over except the tanking for the Broncos. Vance Joseph is just the man for the job. His coaching hurts on the field, but promises to help Denver in the NFL draft," Kiszla wrote.
"I don't have a problem with how we're coaching and how we're playing. We've got to finish games better," Joseph said Sunday.
"Can I get somebody to second that motion? Or does Joseph need to buy a vowel and get a clue to solve this puzzle called football?"
"Yes, the Broncos were close to beating Houston, as close as a 51-yard attempt at the winning field goal by Brandon McManus that sailed wide right on the final play of the fourth quarter.
"But close only counts in horseshoes, and all the horseshoes in the Broncos' barn are unlucky.
"Denver's record is a woulda, shoulda, coulda 3-6. The Broncos have lost four times by a touchdown or less. When the difference is so small so often, is it fair to wonder if Denver would still be in the hunt for an AFC wild-card berth if this team got just a little better coaching?
"How's this for working title for this heart-breaking, gut-wrenching season? Broncos 2018: Finding a way to lose.
"Good teams win those games," Denver cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said, "and know how to pull them out."
"What Harris left unsaid is as obvious as it is sad. Denver is not a good team. Not even close, no matter how much Joseph might wish it to be true."
New partnership
FanDuel, the daily fantasy sports company and recently minted bookmaker, joined forces with the National Hockey League and its New Jersey Devils franchise for sports betting and fantasy sports play Monday.
The company has become a sports betting partner of the league, as well as its official daily fantasy sports partner. FanDuel will have access to the NHL's real-time, verified game-data feed, in a deal similar to one the league recently reached with MGM Resorts International.
In its deal with the Devils, FanDuel will get exposure during all regular season home games via an in-ice logo.
"We are continuing to be progressive in our approach to the sports betting landscape, working directly with the industry and focusing on innovative opportunities for fan engagement," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
"Joining forces with the National Hockey League was the perfect next step for us as both our sports betting and fantasy sports business continue to grow," said Matt King, CEO of FanDuel Group. "The league's clear vision for these categories and this partnership marks an exciting time for both organizations."
FanDuel runs the sports book at the Meadowlands Racetrack in northern New Jersey, just outside New York City.
The company that owns the Devils, the Newark, N.J. arena in which they play, the Prudential Center, and the National Basketball Association's Philadelphia 76ers recently struck deals with bookmaker William Hill and Caesars Entertainment for sports lounges at the New Jersey arena, as well as marketing and promotional benefits.
Earlier this year, William Hill agreed to do promotional work and post odds at the home arenas of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Sports on 11/06/2018