Best Sports Stuff Right Now: Zeke, Weezy and a True Savage!
Saving the best for last is an oft-used strategy that the sporting world is pulling out of the bag this week.
With snow potentially on the ground and holiday cheer throughout, the sporting realm is in a giving mood for fans this week. Epic NBA matchups, college football bowl season and a Christmas Eve NFL slate with playoff implications hanging in the balance make up just a sampling of what's to come.
Again, that's just the beginning. The week also has a bold new approach from collegians, players feeling generous, coaching searches and so much more.
Without further ado, here's a look at the best stuff of the week.
Jaguars Coaching Seach Brings Up Familiar Face
1 of 12The Jacksonville Jaguars will finally undergo a much-needed transformation after showing former head coach Gus Bradley the door.
Bradley built up the roster well in Jacksonville, but the execution wasn't there, hence his 14-48 record. It only makes sense, then, the Jaguars next turn to a disciplinarian like the legendary Tom Coughlin to mold the roster into a performing unit.
This would be a homecoming, of course, as Coughlin directed the Jaguars for eight seasons before joining the New York Giants and winning two Super Bowls. According to Mike Garafalo of NFL Network (h/t Shalise Manza Young of Yahoo), Jacksonville has an interest for obvious reasons.
Rudy Gobert Stakes His Claim
2 of 12Who wants to argue with the above quote?
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert might just have a case as the best center in the game right now. He's averaging 12.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while shooting 69.9 percent from the floor.
The performance is a big part of the reason the Jazz (18-11) keep hanging around the top five in the Western Conference. Gobert's brilliance also makes this week's showdowns against the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers wildly interesting.
Packers Riding Ty Montgomery to Playoffs (and He Makes Lil Wayne Proud!)
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Ty Montgomery has put the Green Bay Packers on his back, and it's really something worth watching.
A wide receiver tasked with playing running back thanks to injuries, Montgomery ripped off 162 rushing yards and two scores in a Week 15 win against the Chicago Bears.
Peter King of The MMQB put it best:
"The Packers intended for Montgomery to continue to climb the ladder at receiver and become one of Aaron Rodgers’ trusted targets for the next few years. But need is need. And Sunday, at frigid Soldier Field, Mike McCarthy’s running-back gambit paid off. Montgomery, in the Packers’ biggest game of the season, rushed 16 times for a Week 15-best 162 yards.
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Lil Wayne also happens to be a fan, as he said in a tweet: "I may very well name my next kid or album TY Montgomery!! Girl or boy!!"
Look for the Montgomery show to continue over the next two weeks against the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions as the Packers fight for a playoff berth.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Marc Gasol Puts the Grizzlies on His Back
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The Memphis Grizzlies (18-12) keep hanging around in the top six of the Western Conference despite Chandler Parsons and Mike Conley not being healthy. So what gives?
Marc. Gasol.
Let's let ESPN.com's Zach Lowe take it away for a moment:
"This is the best story of the first 25 games, and it would not be happening without Gasol. During Conley's absence, Memphis has blitzed teams by almost 15 points per 100 possessions with Gasol on the floor -- and wilted into a D-League outfit when he sits, per NBA.com. His calculating, careful game holds up well in crunch time, and the Grizzlies, for what feels like the seventh straight season, are squeezing out wins in almost every close game.
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The lesser-known Gasol has never been a guy to take over games on his own and hog shots. But he has through the first 27 games of the season, averaging 19.5 points per game as a result.
Given this new development, the Western Conference might have a new powerhouse if the Grizzlies can stay healthy.
Christian McCaffrey and Others Start a Trend?
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Two major stars—Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and LSU running back Leonard Fournette—have just redefined college sports.
Both have decided to skip their team's bowl games and focus on the NFL.
It's a rather unprecedented act, if not a polarizing one. Some will chastise players for dropping out on their teams in the most important game of the season, while others will salute the bravery it takes to halt an unpaid service to a program and think about the future.
Either way, with the floodgates open, it's hard to imagine McCaffrey and Fournette are the only two who will flow through—expect more to follow soon.
Ezekiel Elliott Stirs Up Some Controversy...and Money for a Good Cause
6 of 12Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott made waves in Week 15 for jumping in the Salvation Army donation pot.
The league decided it wouldn't fine Elliott for the celebration, but he went on to reveal he'd make a donation anyway.
That's awesome, but the situation has stirred up some controversy. As one can see above, New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. isn't too amused with the situation. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell didn't seem too pleased about it either.
At the end of the day, this was a good act by Elliott, and any blame goes to the NFL for its inconsistency when it comes to fining celebrations.
Playoff Contender Making a Huge Change Late in the Season
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It's not often an NFL team that is headed for the playoffs will make a change at quarterback.
Alas, Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien confirmed the team will roll with Tom Savage, not Brock Osweiler, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Osweiler was supposed to be the franchise quarterback, but he has thrown 14 touchdowns against 16 interceptions. In Week 15, he threw two of the latter while his team fell into a 13-0 hole against the two-win Jacksonville Jaguars.
So now Savage, who has attempted 55 career passes, will direct the first-place squad in the AFC South and have a big say in which teams do and don't make the playoffs.
Strap in.
NBA's Epic Christmas Day Slate
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The NBA never holds back during the holidays.
This Christmas, the Boston Celtics will take on the New York Knicks in a classic rivalry. Then there's a game between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, which doesn't need much of an explanation.
Skip ahead to the end of the night after other intriguing matchups, and one finds the battle of Los Angeles between the Clippers and Lakers. The former fancies itself a contender still, while the latter has blown away most expectations while featuring a fun young roster.
The slate is yet another NBA offering worth taking in while celebrating the holidays.
NFL's Holiday Divisional Showdown
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The NFL beats the NBA to the punch this year, rolling out the meat of its Week 16 schedule Saturday.
Teams in key playoff situations such as the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers will take the field and provide potential major changes to the postseason outlook.
Not that the NFL will shy away from key games on Christmas. Sunday afternoon, the league's best rivalry kicks up again between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Also, the Denver Broncos will attempt to cling to their fading playoff hopes against the surging Kansas City Chiefs in a gritty AFC West battle.
Between the NBA and NFL, fans have endless options this weekend.
Bowl Season's Latest Stellar Weekend Offering
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Don't forget about bowl season.
Almost every day of the week has something for everyone, though fans will want to set aside time Friday for a showdown between the potent offenses of Louisiana Tech and No. 25 Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Christmas Eve has an intriguing matchup as well when Hawaii clashes with Middle Tennessee, two teams putting up silly points this year.
Those in need of some football and hoping for unpredictable action littered with potential upsets need look no further.
Rams Coaching Search Brings Up a Huge Name
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Most everyone had to know the coaching gig with the Los Angeles Rams would be a hot commodity, though its actually opening didn't seem too likely.
But it did—and now major names such as Jon Gruden have popped up.
Here is a meaty rumor from Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson:
"The Los Angeles Rams are moving toward a meeting with ESPN analyst Jon Gruden about the team’s head coaching vacancy, multiple sources with knowledge of the Rams’ coaching search have told Yahoo Sports. The sources indicated Gruden has become a focal point on the Rams’ list of candidates, but that other candidates could also come into play—notably Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw and New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton.
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The huge names involved makes sense. Not only is the team in a new locale, but it's in Los Angeles of all places. It sure doesn't hurt the team has outstanding building blocks such as defensive tackle Aaron Donald and running back Todd Gurley, either.
The year's best coaching search is just getting started.
Sports World Pays Tribute to Craig Sager
12 of 12Five days after his passing, the sporting world gathered to honor former Turner Sports broadcaster Craig Sager.
Sager, who died from acute myeloid leukemia, was an inspiration to all, hence the incredible words from Ernie Johnson above.
"Everybody who was there was just honoring a wonderful human being," San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, according to ESPN.com.
As the report notes, Rev. Randy Mickler led the beautiful ceremony in a colorful jacket. We know Sager wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
