>>Illinois DC Hardy Nickerson Resigns
(Champaign, IL) — Illinois defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson is leaving the program. The team announced yesterday that Nickerson has resigned because of health reasons. Head coach Lovie Smith will take over defensive play-calling duties. The Illini defense is ranked among the worst nationally.
>>Patriots Pull Away Late To Beat Bills On MNF
(Orchard Park, NY) — The Patriots scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull away for a 25-6 win over the Bills on Monday Night Football in Buffalo. James White’s one-yard run put New England ahead 18-6 and Devin McCourty returned an interception 84 yards for a TD to help seal the win. The Pats have won five straight to get to 6-and-2. Buffalo is 2-and-6.
>>Browns HC Jackson, OC Haley
(Cleveland, OH) — The Cleveland Browns are moving on from head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Both were fired yesterday. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will take over as head coach on an interim basis. Team owner Jimmy Haslem cited discord between the two for the decision. The Browns were 3-36-and-1 under Jackson.
>>Buccaneers Bench QB Winston For Fitzpatrick
(Tampa, FL) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are benching starting quarterback Jameis [[ JAME-iss ]] Winston for backup Ryan Fitzpatrick. Head coach Dirk Koetter [[ CUT-er ]] announced the move on Monday, one day after Winston threw four interceptions in a loss to Cincinnati. Fitzpatrick began the season under center while Winston served a suspension.
>>Bears TE Zach Miller Happy With Recovery
(Lake Forest, IL) — Zach Miller is very happy with his recovery from a devastating knee injury a year ago. The Bears tight end dislocated his knee and suffered a torn artery while trying to catch a pass in the end zone against the Falcons. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Miller said he is working toward playing football again. He’s had nine surgeries on his injured leg.
>>Warriors’ Thompson Sets 3-Point Mark
(Chicago, IL) — Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson is the NBA’s new record-holder for most three-pointers in a game. He hit 14 threes in a 149-124 win in Chicago to break teammate Steph Curry’s previous record of 13. Thompson finished with 52 points as Golden State won its fifth straight. The Warriors had a team-record 92 points in the first half.
>>Cardinals Hire New Hitting Coach, First Base Coach
(St. Louis, MO) — The Cardinals are filling two coaching positions with familiar names. They’ve hired Jeff Albert as hitting coach and Stubby Clapp as first base coach. Albert spent the 2018 season as Houston’s assistant hitting coach and previously served in the Cards’ organization as a hitting instructor. Clapp had success managing the Cardinals’ Triple-A squad, which won the last two Pacific Coast League titles.
>>Boston Announces Red Sox Parade
(Boston, MA) — The Red Sox will celebrate their World Series title tomorrow with a parade in Boston. Mayor Marty Walsh announced plans yesterday for another Duck Boat parade that will wind through the streets of Boston’s Back Bay. The Red Sox beat the Dodgers in five games to claim their ninth World Series championship overall and their fourth since 2004.