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Dodgers-Astros World Series: Roberts gets redemption in sticking to bullpen formula

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LOS ANGELES — After days of having so many bullpen decisions blow up in his face, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saw everything come back together in a 3-1 Game 6 victory, forcing a Game 7 for all the proverbial marbles. Consider it his redemption. 

Six days ago in this very park, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled Rich Hill after just four innings of work. Hill only threw 60 pitches. 

It boiled down to Roberts and his staff not wanting the powerful Astros‘ offense to see Hill a third time. Roberts had a stellar bullpen to that point and he wanted to stick with the formula of using Kenta Maeda for longer-than-one-inning stints, Brandon Morrow in the highest-leverage situations before save situations, Tony Watson for about an inning (sometimes less) and Tony Cingrani as his situational lefty before Kenley Jansen shut things down. 

It had been working like a charm. In Game 2, it fell apart late and the Dodgers lost. 

Since then, the Dodgers bullpen has been noticeably tired and inconsistent. 

Thus, the Game 2 bullpen failures after what many believed was a quick hook on Hill, the narrative was launched that Roberts needed to trust his starters more and stop overtaxing his bullpen. Many media types have been hammering home that Hill held hitters to a .158/.208/.200 line this season the third time through the order. It could be that Hill would’ve been fine, just as he had been this season, but there are caveats there. First off, if he only sees the order a third time when he’s pitching really well, that’s kind of selection bias. Secondly, he pitches in the NL West against the Giants and Padres quite often. The Astros are an offensive juggernaut, as we’ve already seen at times this series. 

Still, the critiques of Roberts’ dealing with the bullpen in Game 2 and then Game 5, with everyone being so overworked, continued to sprinkle in. 

Roberts himself seemed to relent and said in Monday’s press conference in Dodger Stadium that he wanted to get more length out of Hill and that he didn’t really want to stretch Jansen past three outs.

As the game started to unfold in front of him, however, Roberts just couldn’t help himself. 

With runners on second and third and no outs — and having already allowed a George Springer home run — Rich Hill got two strikeouts. After the strikeout of counterpart Justin Verlander, Hill intentionally walked Springer to load the bases for Alex Bregman. This had the feel of a pivotal moment in the game. 

Roberts came from the dugout and took Hill out. He got just 4 2/3 innings out of him and now turned to an exhausted bullpen. He went back to his formula. This was probably the highest-leverage moment of the game, so it was a man who was making his sixth appearance of the series: Morrow. 

The fans in Dodger Stadium were angry. There were boos. I heard plenty of profanity in the reserved level, too, directed at Roberts for the move (not that it bothers me, just pointing out the atmosphere). Hill went into the dugout and cleared a table of its cups of water in anger. 

It really had the feel of the Astros breaking the game wide open and Roberts having to deal with intense scrutiny after the game while the Astros celebrated their World Series title. After all, Verlander was dealing. 

Morrow would get a routine grounder to end the threat. He would then get two hitters the next inning before allowing a single and yielding to Watson, who himself retired the next hitter to end the inning. 

“I just felt that obviously Rich came out and threw the ball really well, and matched Verlander pitch for pitch,” Roberts said afterward. “Really was outstanding. And I just felt that at that point, get a guy on base, you’ve got second and third, and put the guy on base and punch out Verlander. For me, I just felt that that was, with Verlander on the mound, that was going to be the game. So a guy that we’ve trusted all year long in that spot, I felt that you have to use that bullet in Brandon Morrow, and I’ve believed in him all year long. And he came through in the biggest spot of the season.” 

He did. That’s a point for Roberts. He’d gather a few more in this one. 

In the bottom of the sixth, the Dodgers busted through for two runs. Roberts still needed nine more outs from his tired bullpen. He had starter Alex Wood available in relief, but he still stuck to his formula. After Watson, it was Maeda. 

Then, once the bottom of the seventh inning ended — now with a 3-1 lead thanks to a Joc Pederson solo shot — “California Love” started to blare from the Dodger Stadium speakers. 

Yes, Roberts was going to get six outs from his closer, Jansen, a situation he specifically said he wanted to avoid. 

Jansen could have been a bit tired, but he was not without his stuff. When he’s really on, he averages around 94 miles per hour on his cutter. He was sitting 91-92 in Game 6. He hit mid-90s a few times. 

Roberts said the thought process was that he wasn’t sure Jansen could finish. He needed him to be efficient. 

Jansen delivered. He needed only eight pitches (all were strikes) to get the 1-2-3 in the eighth. 

A soft Marwin Gonzalez pop to first baseman Cody Bellinger in shallow right was the first out in the ninth. Dodger Nation Public Enemy Number Two Josh Reddick (now behind Yuli Gurriel) was next. He would strike out swinging. Pinch hitter Carlos Beltran — a possible Hall of Famer looking for his first ring in possibly his last season — dug in with two outs. He would strike out as well. 

Bedlam, “I Love L.A.” blasting from the center field speakers and a Game 7 was now on tap. This incredible and outrageous and stupendous series was going the distance. 

Was Jansen really tired? Bah, please. He threw 19 pitches. Eighteen were strikes. 

“When I used him, when I called on him in the eighth, I wasn’t certain,” Roberts said of whether Jansen could finish. “I just knew that part of the order, I just wanted him to attack those guys. And if he wasn’t as efficient in the eighth, then I would have been put in a different situation to call on to close that game out.” 

Again, though, Jansen came through. 

It’s going to be very interesting to see how Roberts sorts everything out for Game 7. He’ll have Wood and Clayton Kershaw available behind starter Yu Darvish. Morrow and Maeda, not to mention Jansen, have to have close to nothing left in the tank. Of course, it is Game 7 of the World Series with an offseason immediately to follow. Empty everyone’s tanks if need be. 

For now, Roberts has found redemption in sticking with his formula. What didn’t work in Games 2 and 5 came through in Game 6 and now the Dodgers are one win away from their first World Series title since 1988. 

Federal judge in DC blocks part of Trump’s transgender military ban

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A federal judge in Washington blocked the Trump Administration’s proposed transgender military ban, writing in a strongly worded opinion that the policy “does not appear to be supported by any facts.”

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued the preliminary injunction Monday, finding that a group of transgender service members would have a strong chance of prevailing in their lawsuit to have the ban declared unconstitutional. The injunction remains in place until the lawsuit is resolved or a judge lifts it.

The move is another legal setback for the president, who surprised military leaders and members of Congress when he announced the proposal via a series of tweets in late July that reversed an Obama administration policy allowing transgender service members to serve openly and begin enlisting in January.

The tweets were followed by a presidential directive and a plan set to take effect in March that would have blocked military recruitment of transgender people and would have forced the dismissal of current transgender service members.

The judge’s injunction effectively reverts Trump’s policy to the one issued under Obama.

After completing Plebe Summer training in August 2015, Regan Kibby, right, hugs his younger sister Elena Kibby. Regan Kibby is a plaintiff in the federal lawsuit over the proposed transgender military ban. (Photo by Tawnia Kibby/Photo by Tawnia Kibby)

The Obama administration announced its policy after a Pentagon review found no basis to exclude transgender people from the military after it examined medical care, military readiness and other factors.

The Monday ruling was hailed by GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), who sued in August on behalf of six active-duty transgender service members who had come out to their superiors and had roughly 60 years combined in the military. It was the first of a handful of suits to challenge the ban and the first significant ruling by a judge on Trump’s policy.

“This is a complete victory for our plaintiffs and all transgender service members, who are now once again able to serve on equal terms and without the threat of being discharged,” said NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter.

Department of Justice spokeswoman Lauren Ehrsam issued a statement, saying the department is “currently evaluating the next steps.” Department attorneys had previously asked for the suit to be dismissed.

“Plaintiffs’ lawsuit challenging military service requirements is premature for many reasons, including that the Defense Department is actively reviewing such service requirements, as the President ordered, and because none of the Plaintiffs have established that they will be impacted by current policies on military service,” the statement read.

[Transgender ban frozen as Mattis moves forward with review of options]

The six service members in the lawsuit contended that their Fifth Amendment rights to equal protection were being violated — a claim bolstered by three former Obama administration service branch chiefs and a senior Pentagon official, who offered statements saying the ban would harm readiness, staffing, recruitment and morale.

How Trump is rolling back Obama’s legacy View Graphic How Trump is rolling back Obama’s legacy

Kollar-Kotelly was unsparing in her ruling, saying the hastily announced Trump policy did not pass muster on many fronts.

“There is absolutely no support for the claim that the ongoing service of transgender people would have any negative effect on the military at all. In fact, there is considerable evidence that it is the discharge and banning of such individuals that would have such effects,” Kollar-Kotelly wrote.

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said the Trump administration would likely have to go all the way to the Supreme Court to have any chance of getting the preliminary injunction nullified.

“If they go to the D.C. Circuit, I can’t imagine they are going to overturn this,” Tobias said. “The judge was strong in her opinion. She just didn’t see any support for the policy on the facts.”

More than a dozen states filed a brief in October supporting the arguments of the service members in the case, writing that Trump was pursuing an “irrational” return to discrimination in the military.

[Service members, gay rights groups ask judge to halt transgender ban]

One aspect of the opinion that continued to be debated Monday was the barring of military funding for sex-reassignment surgery, which is part of the ban.

Kollar-Kotelly’s order found that none of the plaintiffs had shown they were likely to be affected by that funding ban, so the court was not in a position to rule on “the propriety of this directive.”

Transgender advocates, however, insisted that the ruling allowed the military to continue to pay for such surgeries. The Department of Justice declined to comment on its understanding of the ruling as it relates to the surgery issue.

There is no official tally of transgender military members, and estimates vary widely. One recent study by the Rand Corp. put the number on active duty at about 2,500, while another from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law estimated that there were 15,500 on active duty, in the National Guard and in the reserves. Currently, 18 other countries allow transgender troops to serve in the military,

Trump’s proposal was cheered by many religious conservatives but outraged transgender advocates and many liberals. Trump blindsided many when he announced the policy on Twitter.

“After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump wrote in the tweets. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

Lesbian, gay and transgender advocates say the ban is part of a broader pattern of discrimination by the Trump administration. This month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions reversed a Justice Department policy protecting transgender workers from discrimination under federal law.

Read more:

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Puerto Rico’s path to restore power shifts after Whitefish exit

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NEW YORK (Reuters) – Efforts to restore electricity to Puerto Rico nearly six weeks after Hurricane Maria are shifting as the island’s utility and its regulators, along with U.S. authorities, removed a key contractor and moved to triple the funding of another.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is leading the federal power restoration effort, said it plans to boost the size of a key contract awarded to Fluor Corp by $600 million, to $840 million, according to a government filing.

The Army Corps said it was modifying the contract to ensure “continued execution of the critical repair and restoration of the electric power grid in Puerto Rico.”

It comes a day after Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) said they would cancel a $300 million contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings, after an uproar over the deal’s provisions and the tiny Montana company’s lack of experience with projects of such a large size.

Fluor, which declined comment, was already in the process of bringing in people to help restore transmission and distribution of power to the U.S. territory. Hurricane Maria knocked out power to all 3.4 million residents of Puerto Rico, and only about 30 percent of power has been restored nearly six weeks later.

The Army Corps’ action on Monday signals that Fluor is now the primary contractor on Puerto Rico. The Army Corps awarded the original $240 million Fluor contract. The more controversial Whitefish contract was handled directly with PREPA.

The Whitefish deal came under fire after it was revealed last week that the terms were obtained without a competitive public bidding process. Residents, local officials and U.S. federal authorities all criticized the arrangement.

Conflict over who should lead the process of restoration and oversee PREPA has hampered efforts. PREPA, the island’s bankrupt power utility, and the governor have argued that the utility should maintain control, while a fiscal control board created by U.S. Congress last year to restructure the island’s finances has also jockeyed for control.

“PREPA and the governor of Puerto Rico and the administration here need to make a decision on who is in charge of PREPA,” said Ariel Horowitz of Synapse Energy Economics, a consultant to Puerto Rico’s energy regulator.

Puerto Rico’s energy commission, a small regulatory board tasked with overseeing PREPA, has the option of assigning an independent adviser to monitor progress in restoring the grid, but has not done so yet.

ISOLATION A PROBLEM

Currently, there are about 400 subcontracting crews on the island working to bring back power. Rossello said he wants to have 1,000 crews by Nov. 8, leaning on so-called mutual aid from utilities in New York and Florida, which have crews on the island.

Getting assistance from other utilities, which usually help one another after storms, may continue to be complicated by Puerto Rico’s isolation and lack of investment in its system.

A private sector source, who could not be named, said the transition from Whitefish, should it be handled smoothly, will hopefully accelerate the restoration of power. He said PREPA‘S goal of restoring 95 percent of power by mid-December – a full three months after the hurricane – is slow for a typical utility.

PREPA did not respond to a request for comment.

Whitefish said it has completed significant work on two major transmission lines that crossed over the mountains of Puerto Rico. A person familiar with PREPA’s operations said on Monday that Whitefish would complete work on critical lines despite the cancellation of the contract.

Several other utilities are on the island, as well as private contractors that include Southern Co’s PowerSecure unit and Fluor.

An Army Corps spokesman said the Corps is not currently planning on hiring those reporting to Whitefish, but the subcontractors – Fluor and PowerSecure – might. Officials at Fluor and Southern did not comment on that possibility.

JEA, the municipal utility for Jacksonville, Florida, said it would keep its crew of about 40 people on the island, even if it no longer reports to Whitefish.

Reporting by Jessica Resnick-Ault and Scott DiSavino; Additional reporting by Nick Brown; Editing by David Gaffen and Leslie Adler

Judge denies request for injunction by Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott

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Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott lost an attempt to block his six-game suspension Monday when U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla denied a request for a preliminary injunction after hearing arguments from the NFL and NFLPA.

Judge Failla, in her ruling, stayed the decision for 24 hours to afford parties the opportunity to consider appellate options.

With the ruling in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Elliott’s six-game suspension would again be in effect and he would be ineligible to play until the Cowboys’ game against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 17.

Without Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys’ season likely to take turn for worse

The Cowboys will turn to a group of running backs and their acclaimed offensive line to keep the ground game churning.

  • Tyrone Crawford blocks field goal to spark Cowboys victory

    The Cowboys had contributions from all three phases against Washington, but it was special teams that changed the tenor of the game.

  • Sources: Jones, owners try to halt Goodell deal

    The Cowboys’ Jerry Jones was a leading voice among 17 NFL owners on a conference call Thursday that discussed the possibility of halting commissioner Roger Goodell’s pending contract extension, sources involved with the call told ESPN.

    • Elliott and the NFLPA have the option of appealing the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, and could seek a stay that would allow him to continue to play while the appeal process plays out.

    In her ruling, Judge Failla said “the NFLPA has failed to demonstrate a substantial question warranting the extraordinary remedy of injunctive relief or a balance of hardships that decidedly weighs in its favor.”

    She added that while there may be a difference of opinion on the arbitrator’s ruling on his suspension, “the arbitrator gave Mr. Elliott ample opportunity, in terms of both proceedings and evidence, to challenge the Commissioner’s decision.”

    The Cowboys said they would not have any comment Monday night after the ruling. Coach Jason Garrett had said earlier Monday the team had taken Elliott’s situation into account in regards to the roster.

    “We have some veteran running backs,” Garrett said during his weekly news conference. “We have some depth at that position. It’s not like we’re just living this day and we don’t think about the future at all. You have to do that. I think you build your team that way at all positions. If this guy is not able to play, who’s your backup? Who can go in? We try to do that with our offensive line, receivers, running backs, all throughout our defense. That’s the way you construct your team, and you’re always thinking about those scenarios.

    “We’ll take it one day at a time and we’ll see what his situation is,” Garrett added. “Regardless, we’re going to go forward and try to play our best football.”

    Elliott received the six-game suspension on Aug. 11 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy relating to domestic violence allegations by a former girlfriend. He was never charged with any crime by authorities who investigated the allegations.

    Elliott was in the courtroom on Monday. The second-year running back had been granted a temporary restraining order by U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty on Oct. 17, but that order is expiring.

    The NFLPA had been granted a preliminary injunction by a federal judge in Texas on Sept. 8, but a federal appeals court in New Orleans ruled with the NFL on Oct. 12 and lifted the injunction.

    The NFLPA then went to the Southern District Court in New York, where the case now resides.

    Elliott has said he is fighting for his name after the NFL handed down a six-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy with what the league believes is persuasive evidence that he committed domestic violence against a former girlfriend in July 2016. The Columbus, Ohio, authorities did not press charges against Elliott. The court fight has been more about the process involved that led Commissioner Roger Goodell to levy a suspension.

    Information from ESPN’s Todd Archer was used in this report.

    Asian Stocks Nudge Higher on Global Growth Outlook: Markets Wrap

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    Asian stocks rose as better-than-expected U.S. growth data added to evidence of improving global economic health, with investors awaiting key earnings results and an announcement on who will helm the Federal Reserve.

    Equities in Australia and South Korea climbed and Japan’s Topix index hovered around the highest since 2007 following another record for the SP 500 Index Friday. Profit reports due this week from some of the world’s largest companies may show if there’s enough juice in the earnings season to propel another leg higher for global shares. Bond and currency markets continue to be gripped by speculation around who U.S. President Donald Trump will choose as the next Fed chair, with Governor Jerome Powell said to be the front-runner.

    Trump last week stoked the sense of drama surrounding his choice, tweeting a video teasing an announcement he said would come this week. The president is leaning toward appointing Powell, according to three people familiar with the matter. Meantime, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda looks favored to steer monetary policy for another five years after his current term ends in April, the Nikkei newspaper reported, without citing anyone.

    Earnings are coming thick and fast. Sinopec and PetroChina probably improved earnings in the third-quarter as higher oil prices helped refining margins, analysts said. Their results are in focus after Exxon and Chevron each posted double-digit profit increases on Friday. Three of China’s big four banks report on Monday, after China Construction Bank earnings last week fueled optimism that interest margins and asset quality are improving. Shares have jumped this year on optimism a regulatory crackdown has eased and growth will boost earnings.

    NFL Week 8: Wilson, Watson electric, as Houston-Seattle play game of the year; most Texans kneel to protest owner

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    Most Texans players took a knee to protest owner Bob McNair’s comment calling them “inmates.” (Elaine Thompson/Associated Press)

    Top story lines | Protest news | Injury news
    Fantasy football | ATS betting tips/Picks

    Just as players’ national anthem demonstrations were, for the most part, giving way to pure football matters, an NFL owner’s ugly comment raised the ire of his players, who, after an emotional weekend in which they considered their options, responded with the majority taking a knee in protest during the national anthem.

    Bob McNair, the Texans’ nearly 80-year-old owner, triggered an emotional weekend that culminated in the team-wide protest, with most linking arms and kneeling. Previously, Texans players had chosen to stand, partly out of respect for the owner. But after meeting and rejecting options like removing the decals from their helmet and remaining in the locker room for the anthem, they came to the sideline, many took a knee and linked arms before the game against the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.

    [Blackistone: Bob McNair, other NFL owners demonstrate their true intent: Controlling black athletes]

    McNair triggered this with his comment, reported in an ESPN expose of the recent players-owners meeting over the anthem, about “inmates running the prison.” Some players considered a walkout and about 10, including wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, left the facility Friday. Although most were talked into returning by coaches, Hopkins’s absence was directly related to McNair’s comment.

    [Anti-protest owners in the NFL are fighting a losing battle]

    McNair has sought to clean up his mess, offering yet another statement Saturday after meeting with players. However, his apology to players did “not go over well,” the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. McNair’s effort at damage control included a statement in which he said:

    “As I said yesterday, I was not referring to our players when I made a very regretful comment during the owners meetings last week. I was referring to the relationship between the league office and team owners and how they have been making significant strategic decisions affecting our league without adequate input from ownership over the past few years.

    “I am truly sorry to the players for how this has impacted them and the perception that it has created of me which could not be further from the truth. Our focus going forward, personally and as an organization, will be towards making meaningful progress regarding the social issues that mean so much to our players and our community.”


    A Texans fan came to CenturyLink Field with a message for the team’s owner (Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images)

    McNair’s inflammatory comment came during the Oct. 17 meeting in New York in which players and owners sought to find a way to take their anthem demonstrations into community action after their message about social injustice and police brutality was lost in tweets and comments by President Trump and others.

    [Redskins decline comment on report that Daniel Snyder is a ‘pro-stand’ owner]

    The ESPN story showed how divided owners are on the topic of the anthem and, during that meeting, McNair reportedly said, “We can’t have the inmates running the prison,” and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder was quoted as saying that “96 percent of Americans are for guys standing.” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said that players for his team will be benched if they do not stand.

    McNair’s comments reminded a number of athletes of Donald Sterling, who was forced to sell the Los Angeles Clippers because of racist comments a few years ago. Richard Sherman of the Seahawks believes players would boycott if they had guaranteed contracts. “I appreciate when people like that show who they really are,” Sherman said of McNair’s comments. “More people in the world have to be that kind and that open about how they really feel so you can identify them — and make sure you stay away from those kind of people, and keep those people out of power.

    “But, you know, of course they have to sit back and apologize, because it’s politically correct to apologize. But eventually you have to take people for their word and for who they are. For most players, even when once we apologize they still take what we said and judge us by it. So you should do the same with him.”

    [Players invite McNair, Goodell, Kaepernick to meeting over McNair remarks]

    Against that backdrop, owners and players had planned to meet again this week and on Saturday night invited NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and McNair to join them Monday in Philadelphia. “Many players have been deeply troubled by the disturbing comments made by Texans’ owner Bob McNair,” the players said in a statement. “It is ironic that such a quote would emerge in the midst of an ongoing struggle to highlight injustices suffered by people of color, including our nation’s deeply flawed approach to criminal justice and inhumane treatment of imprisoned people.” However, the meeting reportedly was postponed to a later date Sunday afternoon.

    As far as anthem protests go, the San Francisco 49ers continue to lead the way, with seven active or inactive players taking a knee. For the Philadelphia Eagles, Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod raised a fist, with teammate Chris Long standing with them in support.


    Top story lines

    After the pregame demonstrations, the game that followed was nothing short of spectacular. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw for a career-high 452 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 21 seconds remaining, in what easily becomes a midseason candidate for game of the year, a 41-38 Seattle victory. Wilson accounted for all but three offensive yards for the Seahawks.

    In the loss, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson nearly equaled his Super Bowl-winning opposite and became the first rookie to throw for three or more touchdown in four consecutive games. He finished the day with four touchdowns, 402 yards passing and 67 rushing yards, but also had three interceptions. Watson has thrown 15 touchdowns and ran for two more since taking over for Houston in the second half in Week 1.

    Seattle’s Earl Thomas and Houston’s Marcus Williams, who both returned interceptions for touchdowns, were the only non-quarterbacks to find the end zone during the game.

    With the win, Seattle moves to 5-2 and into a tie with the Rams atop the NFC West. Houston falls to 3-4, trailing the Tennessee Titans (4-3) and Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3) in the AFC South.

    Elsewhere in the NFL, 21 teams began the day a .500-or-better record, which meant the week’s slate of games featured no matchup in which both teams had a winning record.

    In New Orleans, Bears tight end Zach Miller suffered insult and injury on the same play. He hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Trubisky, but his leg bent in a gruesome way as he came down and he was taken off on a cart. (You can see the injury here, we’re not including the image because it’s actually nauseating.) As he was leaving, review showed that the ball had hit the ground and the touchdown was nullified. (Pity the officials who had to look at the injury over and over.)

    The Saints improved to 5-2 with a 20-12 victory and Drew Brees joined Brett Favre and Peyton Manning as the only NFL passers with more than 6,000 completions. Brees completed 23 of 28 passes on the day for 299 yards.

    With their quarterback once again making more headlines for his petulance than his playmaking, the Carolina Panthers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 17-3 victory over Tampa Bay. Cam Newton, who earlier this month apologized to a female reporter and last week skipped media availability, walked off the podium Wednesday after getting a question he didn’t care to answer from a different reporter. On Sunday, though, he completed 18 of 32 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers improved to 5-3.

    The Falcons, who failed to convince anyone that the Patriots don’t still remain in their heads after last week’s loss in a regular season rematch of Super Bowl LI, got past the New York Jets, 25-20, on a wet MetLife field. The victory ended a three-game losing streak and put the Falcons back above .500. The loss is the Jets’ third in a row.

    In New England, Patriots came away with a 21-13 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and take a 6-2 record into their bye week, snapping the Chargers’ three-game winning streak and dropping them to 3-5. Tom Brady passed for 333 yards and a touchdown; Philip Rivers passed for 212 and a touchdown.

    Pity Travis Benjamin, who had one of the worst punt returns you’re likely to see.

    The Bills kept pace with the Patriots in the AFC East, moving to 5-2 with a 34-14 victory over the 3-5 Oakland Raiders. In Cincinnati, the 3-4 Bengals eked out a 25-24 victory over the 2-6 Indianapolis Colts.

    The NFL’s best team, at least at the moment, continued to be the Philadelphia Eagles, who topped winless San Francisco 33-10. Carson Wentz passed for 211 yards in that game.

    [The Eagles aren’t perfect, but they’re above and beyond the NFC’s best team]

    The day began with a business-as-usual game from the Cleveland Browns, who flew to London and lost 33-16 to the Minnesota Vikings. Although the winless Browns led 13-12 at the half, the Vikings had no trouble after that, with Case Keenum completing 27 of 43 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns (with one interception). The Browns’ DeShone Kizer completed 18 of 34 passes for 179 yards.

    In the other late afternoon game, the Dallas Cowboys played safe enough in slick, rainy conditions to beat the Washington Redskins, 33-19, and reach 4-3. The Redskins drop to 3-4, losers of two straight in their division. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for two touchdowns and nearly had a third, if not for a holding penalty. Kirk Cousins threw for 263 yards and a touchdown, but also threw a pick-six late in the fourth quarter. More injuries piled up for Washington, as well, which was already dealing with plenty of ailing bodies.

    Sunday night’s game promises a little more competitive matchup than last week’s New England-Atlanta affair, with 5-2 Pittsburgh playing Detroit, trying to end a two-game losing streak and make noise in the NFC North. The Steelers have been a soap opera this season — imagine how much Coach Mike Tomlin loves that.

    Wide receiver Martavis Bryant will not play after a week in which he repeated a trade request on social media, a decision that ended with him on the scout team pretending to be a Lions receiver for the defense during practice. “He just has to earn his way back,” fellow wide receiver Antonio Brown said. “Obviously, we need him. We know what he’s capable of. We’re going to need him down the stretch. He made a mistake, and he’ll learn from it.”

    On Monday night, the 3-3 Denver Broncos play the 5-2 Chiefs in Kansas City in an important NFC West game.

    In other news…

    A Martellus Bennett bombshell: The Packers tight end writes on Instagram that he’s “pretty sure” this will be his last NFL season. (Read more.)

    No review really needed: Game officials are supposed to eject players for hits like the one Kiko Alonso delivered on Joe Flacco. (Read more.)

    It’s Barr vs. Rodgers II: Anthony Barr hits Aaron Rodgers again, saying “this guy got y’all fooled,” in what is now a he said-he said over just what happened when the Packers quarterback’s collarbone broke two weeks ago. (Read more.)

    NFL worries: Mark Cuban predicted an NFL “implosion” because of greed. Now, he sees it “accelerating.” (Read more.)

    What to make of the Redskins? It’s still too early to write off the Redskins or to declare them playoff-worthy. (Read more.)

    Don’t crown ’em just yet: The Seahawks aren’t ready to cede the NFC West to the Rams. (Read more.)

    Still in Beast Mode: Marshawn Lynch spent part of his suspension putting a big hit on a high school player. (Read more.)

    Week 8 byes: The Cardinals, Packers, Jaguars, Rams, Giants and Titans are off.

    Injury News

    Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly has cleared the concussion protocol and, although he was still listed as questionable Friday, he is expected to play after practicing all week. Kuechly was injured in the Oct. 12 loss to the Eagles and missed last week’s game.

    The Redskins’ injury report is extensive and, on Saturday, the team signed offensive lineman Orlando Franklin and guard Arie Kouandjio, placed linebacker LB Mason Foster on injured reserve and waived running back Mack Brown.

    1 p.m. inactives include:

    Ronald Darby (ankle)

    Jordan Poyer (knee)

    Alex Armah (hamstring)

    Inactive players for 4 p.m. games:

    C.J. Prosise (ankle)

    Luke Joeckel (knee)

    Fantasy football advice

    Best/worst matchups: At either end of the spectrum, we have LeGarrette Blount and Dez Bryant. (Read more.)

    The Atlanta conundrum: Should fantasy owners keep faith in the Falcons’ broken offense? (Read more.)

    Week 8 cheat sheet: The choicest tips for Week 7. (Read more.)

    Week 8 Start/Sit: Expect Kareem Hunt’s “struggles” to continue. (Read more.)

    The Fantasy Football Beat: The Post’s fantasy football experts run down the trade fixes for your fantasy — and reality — teams. (Listen.)


    ATS Betting Tips/Picks

    The top trends and insights from Las Vegas. (Read more.)

    Citizen Obama, welcome to jury duty

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    Former president Barack Obama speaks at a rally in support of Phil Murphy, the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey in Newark on Oct. 19. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

    Since leaving the White House in January, former president Barack Obama has turned heads, images of him slipping into a Broadway play with his elder daughter, Malia, and kitesurfing with billionaire Richard Branson in the British Virgin Islands were shared on social media sites.

    His next stop: jury duty in Cook County, Ill.

    Obama, a constitutional scholar who frequently invokes messages of civic engagement, plans to serve next month, the county’s chief judge told the Chicago Tribune on Friday. Obama owns homes in Washington, D.C., as well as Chicago. He’ll follow in the footsteps of presidential predecessors George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, both of whom appeared for jury selection after leaving the White House.

    [Sharks, squalls and a Navy rescue: How two American women survived months on a broken boat in the Pacific]

     Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans first shared the news with county commissioners during a budget hearing. He later told the Tribune that necessary precautions would be taken to accommodate security and scheduling needs. He did not specify the date or courthouse location Obama will report to in November.

    “He made it crystal-clear to me through his representative that he would carry out his public duty as a citizen and resident of this community,” Evans told the Tribune.

    A spokesman declined to comment on the former president’s private schedule.

    The Tribune reported that other high-profile figures, like Oprah Winfrey, have also reported for jury duty in Cook County. Jurors can be summoned for civil or criminal pools and can be called to any of the county’s courthouses.

    “Although it’s not a place where the public can earn a lot of money, it is highly appreciated,” Evans told the Tribune of Obama’s choice to serve. “It’s crucial that our society get the benefit of that kind of commitment.”

    [A shocking overdose photo exposed her addiction — and may have saved her life]

    Obama skipped jury duty at least once before when in 2010 he was pre-booked with the State of the Union. According to CBS News, the summons were sent to Obama’s former home on the South Side of Chicago, but the president told the county court that he wouldn’t be able to make it.

    Obama would not be the first former president to report for jury duty after leaving the Oval Office.

    In August 2015, more than six years after the end of his presidency, George W. Bush received his jury duty summon and reported to the George Allen Dallas County Civil Court building. Bush sat through the jury selection panel and, though not picked to serve as a juror, spent about three hours at the court and posed for photos with his fellow jury candidates.

    “If the former President can show up for jury duty what excuse do you have? #civicduty” tweeted a spectator.

    In March 2003, Bill Clinton became Prospective Juror No. 142 in federal court in Manhattan. The New York Times reported that Clinton, whose name was avoided in the court hearing, was eventually dismissed in the jury selection in a case involving a gang shooting in the Bronx.

    While serving as vice president, Joe Biden was called for jury duty in Delaware in January 2011. He too was not chosen as a juror.

    Even members of the judicial branch don’t always make the cut.

    In April 2015, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. reported for jury duty in Montgomery County, Md., and was being considered for a civil trial in a case involving a car crash. The Washington Post reported that Roberts answered questions about relatives — that his sister was a nurse and his brother-in-law was with Indiana State Police — but said nothing about his day job, which would be listed on a form.

    “Roberts was not selected, and left court without comment,” The Post reported.

    Read more:

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    Yuli Gurriel suspended five games, in 2018, for actions in World Series Game 3

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    Yuli Gurriel, one of the key hitters for the Houston Astros, was suspended for five games after television cameras caught him making a gesture and mouthing a word with racial overtones during Friday’s Game 3 of the World Series.

    The unpaid suspension will be served at the start of the 2018 season, and Gurriel will not appeal. He will not miss any games in the Series, with the Astros and Dodgers scheduled to play Game 4 on Saturday.

    In announcing the suspension, Commissioner Rob Manfred said that “there is no place in our game” for Gurriel’s behavior. He then was asked whether baseball had passed on a chance to make its biggest statement to that effect by choosing not to suspend Gurriel during the World Series.

    “I used my best judgment as to where the appropriate disciplinary level fell,” Manfred said.