Bills end Dallas win streak but Cowboys reach NFL playoffs

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen made NFL history to ignite the Bills' 31-10 rout of Dallas on Sunday to snap a five-game win streak even as the Cowboys clinched a playoff berth.

James Cook ran 25 times for 179 yards and a touchdown and Bills defenders dominated the Cowboys in improving Buffalo to 8-6, still out of a playoff spot with three games remaining, while Dallas slid to 10-4.

"That James Cook. What a game from him," Allen said. "He ran the ball so hard. Our offensive line gave him holes to run through. Our guys on the perimeter blocked their tails off... and our defense came out and played so well."

Despite wind and heavy rain, Cook was the first Bill with a rushing and reception touchdown and more than 200 total yards in a game since Thurman Thomas in 1991.

"Every opportunity that came my way, just had to make it count," Cook said. "Once you get the ball, you can't hesitate. You have to go."

After marching 75 yards on their first drive to grab the lead on Latavius Murray's 2-yard touchdown run, the Bills got an 18-yard Allen touchdown pass to Cook and a 1-yard Allen touchdown run to seize a 21-3 lead, the largest Dallas halftime deficit in three years.

That gave Allen an NFL-record 10th game this season with touchdowns rushing and passing.

"It wasn't a pretty passing game," Allen said. "We had the rain and wind and when in doubt, give it to our running backs to grind out some yards. We were smart with the ball."

The Cowboys, who haven't won the NFL crown since the 1995 season, secured a third consecutive playoff appearance before the start, thanks to losses by Atlanta and Green Bay, but lost ground in their quest to overtake San Francisco for the NFC top seed and first-round playoff bye.

Playoff-bound San Francisco, powered by Brock Purdy's four touchdown passes, captured the NFC West division crown and improved to 11-3 by beating host Arizona, 45-29.

Ravens reach playoffs 

The 49ers stretched their win streak to six games and that combined with Atlanta and Green Bay losses secured a playoff berth for the Philadelphia Eagles (10-3), who visit Seattle on Monday.

The Baltimore Ravens became the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs with a 23-7 victory at Jacksonville and stayed atop the AFC at 11-3.

The Los Angeles Rams kept Detroit from sealing a playoff spot by defeating Washington, 28-20.

Two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Patrick Mahomes threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns in defending champion Kansas City's 27-17 victory at New England.

"There's some stuff we've got to clean up, like all season long, but we're going to try and get better and keep it rolling," Mahomes said. "When we're executing well, we're hard to beat."

The Miami Dolphins, without top NFL receiver Tyreek Hill due to an ankle injury, blanked the New York Jets, 30-0, with Raheem Mostert rushing for two touchdowns and Tua Tagovailoa throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown.

"It's tough not having one of your star guys out there," Tagovailoa said. "We have a lot of other guys we believe in and that's what happened out there -- it's just the trust we have in each other."

The Dolphins reached 10-4 for the first time in 23 years but remain a game behind Baltimore for the AFC top seed with Kansas City next at 9-5.

Baker Mayfield completed 22-of-28 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns to lead Tampa Bay's 34-20 victory at Green Bay.

New Orleans stayed level with Tampa Bay atop the NFC South by beating the New York Giants, 24-6, as Derek Carr threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns.

Carolina's Eddy Pineiro kicked his third field goal, a 23-yarder on the last play, to lift the host Panthers over Atlanta, 9-7.

Dustin Hopkins kicked a 34-yard field goal with 32 seconds to play to give Cleveland a 20-17 home win over Chicago.

Houston's Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked his fourth field goal, a 54-yarder on the final play, to give the Texans a 19-16 overtime triumph at Tennessee.

Agence France-Presse

NFL: Jackson sparks Ravens over Cowboys

WASHINGTON -- Baltimore's Lamar Jackson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another Tuesday as the Ravens beat Dallas 34-17 in an NFL game rescheduled from last Thursday due to Covid-19 issues.

Jackson, coming back from a Covid-19 layoff, completed 12-of-17 passes for 107 yards and ran 13 times for 94 yards as the Ravens improved to 7-5, one game out of the last AFC playoff spot.

The Cowboys fell to 3-9, two games behind NFC East division co-leaders Washington and the New York Giants.

After throwing an interception that set up a 31-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal for Dallas, Jackson drove the Ravens downfield and scored on a fourth-down 37-yard run up the middle.

Jackson made the longest touchdown run ever surrendered by the Cowboys to a quarterback, lifting Baltimore ahead 7-3 late in the first quarter.

Tony Pollard answered with a 66-yard kickoff return for Dallas to set up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Andy Dalton to Michael Gallup just 41 seconds into the second quarter for a 10-7 Cowboys' lead.

Baltimore's Patrick Queen intercepted a Dalton pass and on the next play, Jackson connected with Miles Boykin on a 38-yard touchdown pass to put the Ravens ahead 14-10.

Justin Tucker added a 50-yard field goal with 50 seconds remaining in the second quarter to lift the Ravens ahead 17-10 at half-time.

Jackson found Marquise Brown in the back left corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass to boost Baltimore's lead to 24-10.

The Cowboys came away empty on their next drive thanks to a third missed field goal kick by Zuerlein and the Ravens drove for a 22-yard Tucker field goal to seize a 17-point advantage.

Dalton flipped a 2-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper with 3:59 remaining but Baltimore, which ran for 294 yards, answered on a 5-yard touchdown run by J.K. Dobbins with 2:08 remaining to create the final margin.

Former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant did not play for Baltimore against his ex-teammates after testing positive for Covid-19 just before kickoff.

"I'm going to go ahead and call it a quit for the rest of the season," Bryant tweeted after being benched. "I can't deal with this."

Agence France-Presse

NFL: Prescott pledges $1M to improve police training, address racism

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott pledged $1 million over social media in a bid to improve police training and address systemic racism.

Prescott's lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday comes on the heels of the death of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man who died in police custody on May 25.

Police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, was arrested and charged with third-degree murder after pressing his knee on the neck of Floyd, an African American, for more than eight minutes. Chauvin was also charged with second-degree manslaughter.

"As a black multiracial American, I am disgusted and unsettled!" Prescott wrote. "... As our communities take action, protesting and fighting for the justice of George Floyd and every black life, I am with you!"

Prescott, 26, addressed the members of law enforcement.

"To the men and women that police our streets, I have the utmost respect for those of you with a passion for protecting and serving our communities," Prescott wrote. 

"When you chose to wear a badge of a police officer, you pledged to PROTECT life and property through the enforcement of our laws and regulations. How can you claim to uphold the law when those within your ranks don't abide by it? You need to hold your own accountable! Each of your are as guilty as the men who stood beside Derek Chauvin if you do not stand up against the systemic racism plaguing our police forces nationwide."

Prescott set career highs in 2019 with 4,902 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes.

-reuters-

Resurgent Rams roll on, Cowboys stall

LOS ANGELES -- Jared Goff threw for three touchdowns as the resurgent Los Angeles Rams overpowered the Houston Texans to maintain their push towards the postseason on Sunday.

Rams quarterback Goff amassed a career-high 355 passing yards as the league's most potent offense took their time before pulling away for a 33-7 win at the Memorial Coliseum.

The victory was the latest stop on a season of renaissance for the Rams, who are now 7-2 at the top of the NFC West after finishing last year at 4-12.

A tight first half saw the Rams held to a 9-7 lead with Bruce Ellington scoring a touchdown for the Texans.

However the Rams cut loose in a dazzling third quarter, with Goff hurling a 94-yard touchdown pass to Robert Woods from inside the Los Angeles end zone to launch a 21-point scoring blitz.

Goff then picked out Sammy Watkins for a 17-yard touchdown before hitting Woods once more for a 12-yard score.


The victory keeps Los Angeles on course to reach the postseason for the first time since 2004.

Elsewhere on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys lost further ground on NFC East pace-setters the Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) after slipping to a 27-7 loss against the Atlanta Falcons in Georgia.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott rushed for a first quarter touchdown to give Dallas the lead but ultimately suffered a miserable day, being sacked eight times.

Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn was responsible for six sacks as the Cowboys offense, missing the suspended Ezekiel Elliott, failed to fire.

Dallas are now 5-4 in the NFC East, making it increasingly likely their best hope of reaching the playoffs is going to be via a wildcard slot.

In early games Sunday, Chris Boswell drilled a last-second field goal to give the Pittsburgh Steelers a comeback 20-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

The victory saw the Steelers move to 7-2 at the top of the AFC North.

It was the final act of a second-half revival by the Steelers, who had trailed 17-3 in the third quarter before rallying to overturn the deficit.

"We were tested, and tested in a lot of ways," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. "Game circumstances kind of do that to you, but the guys didn't blink with it. They are to be given credit for that.

"Guys delivered in critical moments."

Elsewhere Sunday, Minnesota improved to 7-2 at the top of the NFC North with a 38-30 victory in Washington.

Vikings quarterback Case Keenum threw a career-high four touchdown passes while Adam Thielen amassed 166 receiving yards to help set up the win.

New Orleans meanwhile cemented their status as one of the form teams of the NFC after clinching a seventh consecutive victory in a 47-10 rout of the Buffalo Bills.

Running back Mark Ingram II rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns as the Saints, unbeaten since losing their opening two games of the season, improved to 7-2 to lead the NFC South at New Era Field.

Rookie Alvin Kamara also rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown while another rookie Trey Edmunds had a 41-yard gallop to score in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Drew Brees also rushed for a touchdown as Buffalo slumped to their heaviest home defeat since 2007.

In San Francisco, the 49ers finally got off the mark, winning their first game of the season with a 31-21 defeat of the hapless New York Giants (1-8).

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NFL: Elliott suspension back on after injunction denied

NEW YORK - The off-on saga of Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension took another twist on Thursday after a New York appeals court denied the Dallas Cowboys running back's latest request for an injunction.

The ruling by the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals means Elliott will begin serving his suspension this weekend, ruling him out of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Elliott has been embroiled in a legal saga with the NFL after being issued a six-game suspension following a 13-month investigation into a domestic violence allegation in 2016.

Although Elliott faced no criminal charges from the case, the NFL probe found him to have been in breach of the league's personal conduct policy.

Elliott has bitterly contested the ban and had until Thursday successfully fought to delay the activation of the suspension, playing in all eight of the Cowboys' regular season games in 2017.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NFL: Patriots rout Saints, Broncos down Cowboys

Patriots 36, Saints 20

Tom Brady threw for 302 of his 447 passing yards in a 30-point first-half explosion and New England rebounded from a season-opening loss to Kansas City with a rout of New Orleans.


Brady connected on 19 of 25 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone as New England (1-1) raced to a 30-13 lead and coasted to the win over the Saints (0-2).

It was the first time in Brady's career -- spanning 273 games -- that he threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter. He hit three different players - running back Rex Burkhead for 19 yards, tight end Rob Gronkowski for 53 and wide receiver Chris Hogan for 13 - and finished 30 of 39 for 447 yards.

The Patriots finished with 555 yards in total offense with Gronkowski catching six passes for 116 yards before leaving with a reported groin injury.

Drew Brees (27 of 44 for 356 yards and two touchdowns) tried to keep the Saints close, connecting with Brandon Coleman on a five-yard fade that began a 10-point comeback in the second quarter and cut New England's lead to 20-13.

- - -

Broncos 42, Cowboys 17

Quarterback Trevor Siemian shook off a pair of costly turnovers to throw for four touchdowns, and the Denver Broncos dominated the Dallas Cowboys in a game that was suspended for about an hour due to the danger of lightning strikes.

Denver's defense capped its performance with a flourish as cornerback Aqib Talib returned an interception 102 yards for a touchdown, stepping in front of Dak Prescott's end-zone pass intended for Dez Bryant and sprinting down the sideline for the score.

Siemian completed 22 of 32 for 231 yards and had touchdown passes of 10 and 6 yards to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, along with a 16-yard scoring pass to C.J. Anderson and 2 yards to tight end Virgil Green.

- - -

Chiefs 27, Eagles 20

Two second-half touchdowns from running back Kareem Hunt on runs of 53 and two yards helped Kansas City (2-0) pull away from Philadelphia (1-1).

The second gave the Chiefs a 27-13 lead.

Kansas City had gone ahead for good with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith to tight end Travis Kelce that put the Chiefs up 20-13.

Raiders, 45, Jets 20

Derek Carr threw three touchdown passes to wide receiver Michael Crabtree, running back Jalen Richard scored on a 52-yard run and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson had a 43-yard scoring run as Oakland (2-0) rolled to an easy victory over New York (0-2).

Running back Marshawn Lynch carried 12 times for 45 yards and scored on a 2-yard touchdown in his first home game with the Raiders.

- - -

Panthers 9, Bills 3

The Carolina Panthers relied on relentless defense and three Graham Gano field goals for a victory over the Buffalo.

The Bills (1-1) put together a potential winning drive, moving to the Carolina 32 in the final minute before quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw incomplete to rookie receiver Zay Jones at the Carolina 2 on fourth down with nine seconds left.

Carolina quarterback Cam Newton completed 20 of 32 passes for 228 yards. The Panthers (2-0) lost tight end Greg Olsen to a first-half injured right foot.

- - -

Steelers 26, Vikings 9

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 23 of 35 passes for 243 yards and two first-half touchdowns for Pittsburgh (2-0).

Roethlisberger threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Martavis Bryant to cap the Steelers' second possession and found JuJu Smith-Schuster for a four-yard shovel pass in the second quarter as Minnesota fell to 1-1.

- - -

Seahawks 12, 49ers 9

Russell Wilson's nine-yard touchdown pass to Paul Richardson with just over seven minutes remaining sent the Seahawks past San Francisco (0-2).

Wilson overcame a poor passing performance on a rainy afternoon to put together a 10-play, 82-yard drive that included several scrambles for first downs before throwing the go-ahead touchdown pass to Richardson.

- - -

Cardinals 16, Colts 13 (overtime)

Phil Dawson's 30-yard field goal with 8:02 remaining in overtime rallied Arizona (1-1) from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit at Indianapolis (0-2)

Dawson kicked the winner after free safety Tyrann Mathieu intercepted Indianapolis quarterback Jacoby Brissett at the Colts 22 on the first play of overtime.

- - -

Dolphins 19, Chargers 17

Cody Parkey kicked his fourth field goal, a 54 yarder with 65 seconds remaining, to send Miami (1-0) past the Los Angeles Chargers (0-2)

Charger rookie Younghoe Koo's 44-yard field goal with five seconds left was off the mark. It was the second straight week Koo had failed to win or tie a game in the closing seconds.

- - -

Buccaneers 29, Bears 7

Tampa Bay (1-0) led 26-0 at halftime against the Bears (0-2) who had four first-half turnovers.

The Bucs turned two of the takeaways into touchdowns -- a 13-yard pass from quarterback Jameis Winston to wide receiver Mike Evans and a 1-yard run by Jacquizz Rodgers.

Bears quarterback Mike Glennon completed 31 of 45 passes for 301 yards, but was haunted by a pair of critical second-quarter errors.

- - -

Ravens 24, Browns 10

Joe Flacco threw a pair of touchdown passes and Baltimore (2-0) forced five turnovers in the victory over Cleveland (0-2).

Flacco completed 25 of 34 pass attempts for 217 yards and an interception.

Cleveland rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer left with a migraine midway through the second quarter but returned.

- - -

Titans 37, Jaguars 16

Tennessee (1-1) forced three turnovers and scored on their first five drives of the second half to defeat Jacksonville (1-1).

The Titans had four straight touchdowns - by running back Derrick Henry, tight ends Delanie Walker and Jonnu Smith and fullback Jalston Fowler.

- - -

Redskins 27, Rams 20

Kirk Cousins' 11-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Grant with 1:49 remaining lifted the Washington Redskins over the Los Angeles Rams.

The Redskins jumped to a 13-0 lead and never trailed. The Rams caught up to tie it, 20-20, in the fourth quarter, but never led.

(Editing by Gene Cherry)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Elliott shines on the field despite threat of suspension

It was just another 100-yard game for Ezekiel Elliott who ran like a carefree Dallas Cowboys rusher on Sunday and not the polarising player who is facing potential suspension from the NFL.

Elliott suited up for the Cowboys' season-opening 19-3 win over the New York Giants after a court injunction froze a six-game ban from the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

The second-year player rushed for 104 yards on 24 carries and was a dominant force throughout the night against the Giants.

Elliott was banned by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last month after a 13-month investigation into allegations of assaulting his former girlfriend.

"It just feels good to be out here with these boys," Elliott told reporters after the contest.

"It’s definitely been a tough last 14 months.

"Your name is getting dragged through the mud. Being associated with (the accusations), that’s tough."

Elliott, who also made five catches for 36 yards against the Giants, has maintained his innocence and was neither arrested nor charged over the allegations.

The NFL Players Association filed a restraining order seeking to block any suspension for Elliott, and a Texas judge ruled the player didn't receive a fair hearing during his appeal against the ban.

"I’m relieved that I’ll finally get a fair trial and a chance to prove my innocence,” said Elliott, who won the NFL's rushing crown as rookie in 2016.

"I’m glad I’m able to be with these guys for as long as it’s permitted, and not having to miss time and be away from them."

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty / Ian Ransom)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Cowboys control Giants in 19-3 win

Ezekiel Elliott made his presence felt, but the Dallas Cowboys' defense made a greater impact as it shut down the New York Giants in the season opener on Sunday night.

The Cowboys limited the Giants to 233 total yards, paving the way for Dallas' 19-3 victory on Sunday night at AT&T Stadium.

Elliott, playing after an injunction filed against the NFL allowed him to start the season despite a six-game suspension, rushed for 104 yards on 24 carries.

The Cowboys didn't score in the second half until 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. Dan Bailey booted his fourth field goal, from 36 yards, for the game's final points.

The lack of second-half offense didn't matter after Dallas controlled the first half on the way to a 16-0 halftime lead.

The Giants opened the second half with a 68-yard drive that more than doubled their total yards to that point. New York reached the Dallas 4-yard line before Charles Tapper sacked Eli Manning for a 9-yard loss, causing the Giants to settle for Aldrick Rosas' 25-yard field goal.

That ended up being New York's most successful drive of the game.

Anthony Brown intercepted a Manning pass at the Cowboys 48-yard line midway through the fourth quarter to set up Dallas' final scoring drive.

Jason Witten had a productive first half as the Cowboys tight end became the team's career receiving yards leader and scored Dallas' first touchdown of the season.

Quarterback Dak Prescott tossed to Witten for an 11-yard gain in the second quarter that brought Witten's career total to 11,890 receiving yards, passing Michael Irvin's previous team record of 11,888.

Witten then capped a touchdown drive late in the first half. Prescott hit the tight end on a slant pass for a 12-yard score that put Dallas ahead 13-0 with 1:41 left in the second quarter.

Witten finished the first half with six receptions for 49 yards, and he ended the game with seven catches for 59 yards.

The Dallas defense dominated the first half, holding New York to 50 yards of total offense and just two first downs.

Without Odell Beckham Jr., who sustained a left ankle injury in the preseason and missed the Sunday game, Manning passed for 33 yards in the first half.

Dallas forced one final three-and-out before the break that allowed the Cowboys' offense to move in for Bailey's third field goal, this one from 42 yards. Bailey also made kicks from 21 and 48 yards in the half.

Prescott completed 24 of 39 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Manning was 29 of 38 for 220 yards and one interception.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NFL: Cowboys defender Moore gets two-game suspension

NEW YORK - Dallas Cowboys defensive end Damontre Moore was issued a two-game suspension for the start of the upcoming season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, the league announced Friday.

The ban stems from Moore being charged with driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license in December.

Moore, 24, will be allowed to practice in training camp and play in pre-season games. He will miss the September 10 season opener at home against the New York Giants and a September 17 game at Denver. He will be able to rejoin the club on September 18.

Moore joins fellow Dallas defensive ends Randy Gregory and David Irving in being issued suspensions. Gregory was banned for the season for multiple violations of the substance-abuse policy while Irving will miss the first four games for violating the same policy.

Moore, who signed a two-year free agent deal with Dallas in March, has 77 tackles and 10 sacks in 49 career NFL games with the Giants, Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Cowboys owner Jones speaks to Elliott over off-field behavior

LOS ANGELES -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday he has spoken to Ezekiel Elliott following a slew of negative headlines relating to the star running back.

Elliott, who is facing possible sanctions from the NFL regarding a domestic violence case, was embroiled in further controversy at the weekend after being linked to a bar altercation that left a bouncer with a broken nose.

The 21-year-old was not arrested in the latest incident on Sunday and was not named in a police report.

However several US media outlets citing witnesses have said Elliott was involved in the bar fight.

   
Jones told ESPN on Tuesday he had spoken to Elliott but declined to get into specific details of their conversation.

However he described the running back as a "rock star" struggling to adjust to the celebrity which accompanied his stellar rookie year last season.

"As you well know, because of his style and personality, it's like a rock star wherever he goes in terms of attention," Jones said.

"Anybody that's experienced that knows that takes getting used to. You have to learn many aspects of that. Certainly, Zeke is evolving and being subject to needing to learn how to deal with the media and social media the way it is today."

Several other Cowboys players have ran into disciplinary issues during the off-season. Jones appealed to players to consider the effect on the team of individual indiscretions.

"I think the biggest message is not one that has to be stated, and that is your actions impact an entire team, it impacts an entire fan base," Jones said.

"There's a lot of responsibility there. Then I think to the team it's a reminder of the interest that's in your actions and your behavior, and it's not dissimilar from the message that you have when you sit down with a child and a young person when you're talking about how they represent everybody.

"The message is really pretty simple, and it's one that you would naturally see: Try to think about your activities when you're involved in them."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Cowboys, Yankees top Man United as world's most valued teams

NEW YORK -- With the NFL's top sponsorship and premium seating revenues, the Dallas Cowboys were named the world's most valuable sports team Wednesday by Forbes magazine in its annual top-50 ranking.

The Cowboys, who have not won a Super Bowl since 1996, jumped five percent in value to $4.2 billion (3.68 billion euros) to defend their 2016 position. Last year they unseated Spanish football powerhouse Real Madrid atop the global list.

The 32-team NFL is the world's richest league, with an average operating profit of $91 million and no club turning less than a $26 million profit. A major reason for that was the latest NFL television package bringing annual revenues of $7 billion.

The Cowboys also boast a $1.5 billion team practice facility and headquarters that will become a retail and entertainment complex with hotels, medical center and convention center. An exclusive club offers members the chance to watch Cowboys workouts.

Only three NFL clubs missed the 50-team Forbes richest roll call -- the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills.

Major League Baseball's New York Yankees ranked second on $3.7 billion, a nine percent boost from last year. They boast $120 million in sponsorships and $130 million in premium seat revenues, tops in the major leagues. In all, eight major league clubs made the Forbes list.

Manchester United ranked a close third on $3.69 billion, hurdling Spanish rivals Barcelona ($3.64 billion) and Real Madrid ($3.58 billion). Barca was up two percent to stand fourth, Real off by the same amount in fifth overall.

In all, seven global football clubs made the list, the others being Bayern Munich, 15th on $2.71 billion; Manchester City, 35th on $2.083 billion; Arsenal, 43rd on $1.93 billion and Chelsea, 46th on $1.845 billion.

The reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots were sixth on the list at $3.4 billion, jumping six percent with their run to the NFL title.

Knicks seventh

Topping NBA clubs in seventh overall were the New York Knicks on $3.3 billion, up 10 percent in value but still weaklings on the court at 31-51. They have not had a playoff berth or winning season since 2013 and have won only one playoff series since 2000.

The NFL's New York Giants were eighth on $3.1 billion with the NFL San Francisco 49ers and NBA Los Angeles Lakers sharing ninth at $3 billion.

In all, there were seven NBA clubs on the list. The reigning champion Golden State Warriors shared 20th with the NFL Houston Texans on $2.6 billion, leaping 37 percent in value.

Last year's NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers didn't make the list but the NBA-worst Brooklyn Nets at 20-62 shared 47th on $1.8 billion, just ahead of a 50th-place deadlock between the NFL New Orleans Saints and baseball's Los Angeles Angels on $1.75 billion.

The biggest gainer was the NFL Los Angeles Rams, doubling in value after a move from St. Louis to land in 12th overall with a new stadium owned by Rams owner Stan Kroenke set to open in 2020.

Kroenke is also the biggest shareholder in Arsenal, which suffered the list's worst plunge, tumbling 20 spots and off four percent due to a decline in the British pound after Britain voted to leave the European Union.

Two teams from last year fell off the list, the NBA's Houston Rockets and English football side Liverpool. No NHL or auto racing teams made the list.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Former Cowboys QB Romo fails in bid to qualify for US Open

Retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's bid to reach the U.S. Open golf championship ended in a local qualifier on Monday outside Dallas in Aledo, Texas.

Romo shot a three-over-par 75 at Split Rail Links & Golf Club and was not one of the seven qualifiers who finished two-under or better to advance to the sectional from a field of 115 hopefuls.

Romo was one-over after an eagle at the 14th hole but dunked his tee shot on the next in the water and took a triple bogey that ended his chances.

Three bogeys on the front nine left him three-over at the turn. Romo followed with a birdie at No. 10 but bogeyed No. 11. He closed the round by making a six-foot birdie putt on No. 18, but it was too little too late.

The Texas Golf Association estimated a gallery of about 200 turned out to watch the local favorite, who played quarterback for 12 NFL seasons and passed for 34,183 yards and 248 touchdowns.

Injuries and the emergence of Dak Prescott at quarterback last year as a rookie ultimately derailed Romo's football career. During the offseason, Romo took a job with CBS as its lead analyst for NFL telecasts on Thursday nights and Sundays.

Romo also tried to qualify for the U.S. Open in 2008, 2010 and 2011. In 2010, he made it to sectional qualifying but had to withdraw in order to participate in organized team activities with the Cowboys.

The 2017 U.S. Open will be played June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin.

(Editing by Larry Fine)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Romo expected to trade gridiron for broadcast booth

Quarterback Tony Romo plans to pursue a career in broadcasting even if the Dallas Cowboys release him as expected.

ESPN's Adam Schefter, who is represented by the same agent who represents Romo, broke the story Tuesday. Sports Business Journal connected Romo to CBS as a replacement for the network's top NFL broadcast analyst, Phil Simms.

Romo played only for the Cowboys in his 14-year career.

Offseason speculation centered on Romo joining a new team with QB-needy teams downplaying their interest at last week's owners meetings. The Denver Broncos, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers were reportedly checking into the potential of adding Romo.

CBS and Romo have not signed the agreement, per Sports Business Journal, but the move is expected to be completed in a matter of days.

Of course, Romo's retirement could become more of a respite from playing football if the Cowboys or another team develop a need unexpectedly.

  
NFL Network reported Romo already discussed bailing out the Cowboys should they need him to return and play in 2017.

Should a playoff-caliber team encounter an emergency at the position, Romo could be enticed to punt the broadcasting plan.

Romo has three seasons remaining on his contract with the Cowboys. On Monday, Romo was given permission to talk to other teams, a signal Dallas wanted to pursue a trade.

Romo has made $127 million in his career, but injuries began taking a toll in recent years.

In 2016, Romo was sidelined in August by a fractured vertebrae and only played one series -- at Philadelphia in the regular season finale -- all season. It was only the latest in a run of major injuries: fractured collarbone (2015), spine (2014), herniated disc (2013).

If Romo files his retirement papers, and the Cowboys designated him a post-June 1 release, they would save $14 million against the 2017 salary cap.

Romo was scheduled to count $24.7 million against the Cowboys' cap in 2017. Instead, his charge would count $10.7 million and $8.9 million in 2018.

The 36-year-old lost his starting job in 2016 after a preseason back injury pushed rookie Dak Prescott into the No. 1 role with the Cowboys. Prescott went on an unexpected run and won Offensive Rookie of the Year, leading the Cowboys to the divisional playoff round where Dallas suffered a last-second loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Romo turns 37 on April 21 and a recent history of back issues likely played a factor in stepping away.

Romo is the all-time leading passer in Cowboys history with 34,183 yards and 248 TD passes.

His career record of 78-49 was overshadowed by failure in the playoffs. Dallas never advanced beyond the divisional playoffs in four appearances with Romo, who passed for 300-plus yards 46 times.

(Editing by Andrew Both)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NFL: Green Bay edge Dallas in thriller

LOS ANGELES -- Mason Crosby kicked a last-gasp field goal as the Green Bay Packers downed the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 in a thrilling NFL playoff battle on Sunday.

Crosby held his nerve superbly to kick the winning three-pointer from 51 yards with just three seconds left on the clock in the final twist of an epic duel at the AT&T Stadium.

Green Bay will now play the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday in the National Football Conference Championship game for a place in the February 5 Super Bowl in Houston.

Crosby's winning field goal came after quarterback Aaron Rodgers connected with Jarad Cook with a 36-yard pass at the Dallas 32.

Cook was initially adjudged to have gone out of bounds but the call was over-ruled, handing the Packers field position and Crosby his shot at immortality.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy paid tribute to Rodgers' ability to lead the game-winning drive with just seconds left.


"He's an incredible talent," McCarthy said. "To do it when it's on the line like that, that's what great players do.

"That was one heck of a football game to be a part of. I just can't say enough about my football team's resiliency."

The finale capped a pulsating closing two minutes. Crosby had kicked a 56-yard field goal to put Green Bay 31-28 ahead only for the Cowboys -- who had rallied back from a 21-3 first-half deficit -- to tie it at 31-31 with a 52-yard Dan Bailey effort.

The Cowboys -- the top seeded team in the NFC after a 13-3 regular season -- were left ruing a shaky first half display which saw Green Bay power ahead.

Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott both failed to exert control in the early stages but it was the Dallas defense's inability to stymie Rodgers that proved fatal.

After Bailey had kicked a field goal to put Dallas 3-0 ahead, Rodgers took over.

The Packers quarterback connected with namesake Richard Rodgers on a 34-yard pass for Green Bay's opening touchdown.

Dallas were then forced to punt their next possession, and Rodgers duly marched his team 90 yards upfield to allow Ty Montgomery to rush over from three yards.

Another Dallas punt was followed by another relentless Green Bay drive which went 80 yards before Montgomery barrelled over from one yard to make it 21-3.

Dallas responded with a quickfire touchdown over their own, Prescott finding receiver Dez Bryant with a 40-yard touchdown pass that cut the score to 21-10.

A further Bailey field goal gave Dallas hope at 21-13 but Green Bay were quickly back into their rhythm early in the third quarter when Rodgers found tight end Cook for the simplest of three-yard touchdown passes to restore the Packers' 15-point cushion.

Dallas then got on top with Jason Witten and Bryant scoring touchdowns before Prescott rushed for a two-point conversion to tie it 28-28.

But with just minutes remaining, Crosby was to prove the hero for Green Bay in his duel with Bailey.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NFL: Giants corral Cowboys, Broncos in peril

NEW YORK -- The New York Giants rallied to sneak past Dallas 10-7 in a defensive battle on Sunday, snapping the Cowboys' 11-game win streak and giving the Giants' playoff hopes a boost.

Not only did the Giants sweep the season series by handing the Cowboys just their second loss of the campaign but they also prevented Dallas from clinching the NFC West.

"At some point you got to wake up," said Giants receiver Odell Beckham. "We all knew what was on the line. We just weren't doing enough in the first half but the defence is really what held us together."

Beckham said the Cowboys had a celebration all planned with commemorative hats and shirts to put on if they clinched the division title on Sunday night at the Giants MetLife Stadium.

"The coach talked about it all week. Them having their box of goods, the hats the shirts and he said it is not going to happen on this field. Sure enough it didn't happen. We came out and did what we had to do," Beckham said.


The win follows a 20-19 New York win in September as the Giants swept the Cowboys for the first time in five years.

The Giants overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit by scoring 10 unanswered points in the second half.

Dallas was sloppy with their ball handling as receiver Dez Bryant fumbled on his first catch of the game which came in the fourth quarter. Moments later Giants Leon Hall intercepted a pass intended for Bryant and New York was off to the races.

Elsewhere Sunday, Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns to reignite the Green Bay Packers postseason push in a 38-10 rout of the Seattle Seahawks.

Rodgers made 18 of 23 for 246 yards as the Seahawks were sent spinning to their heaviest defeat of the season at a frigid Lambeau Field where everything went wrong for quarterback Russell Wilson.

Wilson was picked off five times as the Seahawks fell to 8-4-1, dealing Pete Carroll's team a stinging reality check as they head for the playoffs.

The Packers meanwhile improved to 7-6, leaving them with renewed hope of making the postseason after their third consecutive victory following a four-game losing streak.

Seattle meanwhile will get the chance to bounce back rapidly when they host a Los Angeles Rams team on Thursday who are mired in crisis.

The Rams, struggling to find reasons for optimism after a difficult first season back in Los Angeles, were humiliated 42-14 at home by the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

- Broncos in peril -

In Tennessee, reigning Super Bowl champions Denver suffered a blow to their hopes of a playoff berth after slumping to a 13-10 defeat at Tennessee.

An ill-tempered game marred by a brawl involving Denver cornerback Aqib Talib saw the Titans hang on for a gritty victory at the Nissan Stadium.

The contest was settled in Tennessee's favour with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter when Avery Williamson stripped A.J. Derby to force a fumble and hand possession to the Titans.

The Titans had taken a 13-0 lead into the fourth quarter following an early DeMarco Murray touchdown and two field goals from Ryan Succop.

The main talking point of the first half was a protracted melee triggered shortly after Titans receiver Harry Douglas flew into Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr with a wild block below the knee.

Broncos enforcer Talib sought out Douglas in the next play, triggering an ugly scuffle.

"It was a dirty play by a sorry player," Talib told reporters. "He tried to do something dirty, so that's why I'm going to beat his ass."

Harris later wrote on Twitter that he felt Douglas had tried to "end my career" with the tackle, calling for the Titans player to be fined.

The Broncos are now languishing in third spot in the AFC West on 8-5 behind Kansas City and Oakland who are 10-3.

They face a daunting final three games of the regular season -- against both the Chiefs and the Raiders as well as the New England Patriots.

If the Broncos fail to snaffle a wild card place they will become the latest team to fall victim to the so-called "Super Bowl curse" which has seen various franchises suffer in the seasons following their respective triumphs.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Rookie Cowboys duo have 'America's Team' riding high

The Dallas Cowboys have taken the NFL by storm this season thanks to better-than-expected performances from two rookies who have quickly become the faces of 'America's Team' and given a jolt to sagging TV ratings.

Quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott have been a welcome revelation for a franchise that won three Super Bowl titles during a dominant stretch in the 1990s but have only made the playoffs five times in the last 16 seasons.

The pair have also helped bring some relief to the NFL, which has been in the unusual position of suffering a 14 percent drop in television ratings across all games this season.

The dynamic Dallas duo have led the Cowboys (8-1) to first place with an eight-game win streak, the latest coming in Sunday's thriller against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers that was the highest-rated NFL telecast of the 2016 campaign.

Prescott, a fourth-round pick whose incredible start has many experts believing long-time Cowboys' starter Tony Romo has lost his role, has not let the pressure of the toughest job in American sports faze him one bit.

"He's evolving and actually performing at a level that is very inordinate, eight wins is inordinate for our team," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said of Prescott's poise following Sunday's come-from-behind win in a hostile Pittsburgh environment.

As for Elliott, the Cowboys' fourth overall draft pick was expected to immediately productive given his talent and the team's dominant offensive line but few thought he would be unstoppable.

"I expected it out of myself. I'm a guy with high expectations," said Elliott. "I was put in a perfect situation. I'm surrounded with a lot of great players, and they make me better."

Elliott scored two of his three touchdowns in the final two minutes of Sunday's 35-30 win, the latest standout performance in a season in which he leads the NFL in rushing and has made a strong case for Most Valuable Player honors.

The performances of Prescott and Elliott already have fans of the Cowboys - who earlier this year topped Forbes' list of the world's most valuable sports teams - thinking about the glory days of the 1990s.

While anything can happen over the final seven games of the regular season and in the unpredictable playoffs, the current edition of the Cowboys appears to be the best since the franchise won its last Super Bowl in 1996.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; editing by Ken Ferris)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

NFL results: Ravens top Steelers, Cowboys overpower Browns

- Ravens top rusty Roethlisberger and Steelers -

Baltimore shut out Pittsburgh for more than three quarters in a 21-14 NFL victory that lifted the Ravens to their division lead and spoiled the return of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The Ravens snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 4-4, taking the lead over the Steelers -- also 4-4 -- atop the AFC North.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco connected with Mike Wallace on a 95-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter -- the longest pass in Ravens history.

Chris Moore's 14-yard return of a Buck Allen blocked punt coupled with Steve Smith's two-point conversion reception made it a 21-0 game early in the third quarter.

The Steelers finally got on the board on Roethlisberger's 23-yard TD pass to Antonio Brown with 8:38 to play. But Roethlisberger, who underwent surgery to report a torn left meniscus on October 17, got off to a slow start.

"I just think I need to be better," Roethlisberger said after completing 23 of 45 passes for 264 yards with one touchdown and one interception. "Give them credit -- there were times I was going to make throws and their guys jumped in front of things... I just need to be better."

In Minneapolis, a tackle-breaking leaping touchdown by Golden Tate lifted the Detroit Lions to a 22-16 overtime triumph against the Minnesota Vikings.

Tate caught a pass from Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and spun away from Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who dived at Tate and missed. Tate pulled away from a tackle attempt from safety Harrison Smith along the sideline and then leaped into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown.

It was just the latest instance of the Lions coming to life late. They sent the game into overtime with a 58-yard field goal with two seconds left in regulation and won for the third time in four games.

"Our guys have been able to do it," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said of his team's five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime this season. "Not just do it once or twice, they've been able to do it a number of times. I do think they have the level of comfort with it. It's a tough situation to be in, but they don't flinch."

- Cowboys overpower Browns -

The Dallas Cowboys's explosive offense scored three touchdowns in the first half en route to a 35-10 victory over the winless Browns in Cleveland.

The Browns put up a field goal on the first possession of the game, but rookie quarterback Dak Prescott threw a 26-yard TD pass to tight end Jason Witten on the Cowboys's first possession to give the Cowboys a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Dallas's rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott, who entered the game as the league's top rusher, ran for 92 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, helping the Cowboys win their seventh straight after a season-opening defeat.

"I thought he was really efficient," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said of Prescott. "We ran the ball well. We got a lot of stuff off the run. There are a lot of plays to be made out there in the passing game and he made them."

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw four touchdowns in a 28-23 victory over NFC East rivals Philadelphia.

New Orleans's Drew Brees threw three TD passes to lead the surging Saints to a 41-23 victory over the reeling San Francisco 49ers, who lost their seventh straight.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Dallas Cowboys camp outlook: Buzzword is urgency

Editor's note: As offseason work across the league winds down, the focus is shifting to the steamy summer workouts ahead. The countdown to training camp has begun. To get you fully primed for the preseason and beyond, Sporting News will provide in-depth looks at all 32 teams over the next six weeks. First up, the NFC East. Today: Dallas Cowboys. Friday: Washington Redskins.

No matter how much quarterback Tony Romo and coach Jason Garrett play the urgency of the 2012 NFL season, it's Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones who sets the tone. Jones says the window is closing on the Cowboys and he is heading into training camp feeling a sense of urgency to make a Super Bowl run.

After watching the former dynasty team of the 1990s win one playoff game the past 16 years, Jones, who will turn 70 this year, says he doesn’t have time to wait much longer. Nor does he want to.

“From my perspective right now, I don’t have time to have a bad time,” Jones said. “There is an urgency. It’s my perception that decides when the windows are and where they are. With that in mind, I’m saying that we need to get out here, get down to business, get in some playoffs and get knocking on the door.”

source: aol.sportingnews.com

Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware lauds Giants' late-season swagger

The intensity of the Cowboys-Giants rivalry didn't stop Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware from paying the Giants a compliment. The Giants beat the Cowboys twice last season, including their crucial showdown in Week 17.

"I really don’t like to talk about the Giants, but their team camaraderie, where they had the adversity right at the beginning, and then all of a sudden, it really kicked in," Ware said on NBC Sports Talk. "The last maybe eight games, the blood sweat and tears really kicked in, the guys started feeling it, and they had that swagger about themselves."

Had the Cowboys beaten the Giants in the 2011 regular-season finale, the Cowboys would have won the NFC East, while the Giants would have missed the playoffs. Instead, the Giants went on their Super Bowl run, while the Cowboys went on vacation. For the Cowboys to become the championship contenders they hope to be, Ware said the onus is on the players.

"It’s not on the coaches at all, it’s all about the players," Ware said.

source: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-04-24/cowboys-demarcus-ware-lauds-giants-late-season-swagger