鈥?Chuck Pagano wanted one more win as Indianapolis Colts coach. Now Pagano must wait to see if it will be his final victory with the team.Jacoby Brissett threw for one touchdown and Marlon Mack ran for another as the Colts beat Houston 22-13 in the season finale for both teams.The win ended the longest losing streak of Pagano’s six seasons. It did nothing to quell speculation whether he’ll be back next season
Cheap Sam Darnold Jersey , which has been the hottest topic in town since the Colts (4-12) were eliminated from the playoffs for the third consecutive season.Pagano has two years left on his contract and there was no immediate indication about Jim Irsay’s decision.“We’ll talk (to the media) soon,” the team owner told reporters before declining comment. Houston’s plight has been just as bad.The Texans (4-12) lost their last six, nine of their last 10, finished last in the AFC South, and can’t even take solace in draft picks because they don’t own one in either the first or second round in 2018.“It’s brutal,” coach Bill O’Brien said when asked about the Texans’ record.A dull season finale did nothing to bolster the argument to keep Pagano or O’Brien, who also has been under fire.Both coaches tried, and failed, on surprise onside kicks and neither team could consistently move the ball.All the Texans could muster were two long first-half field goals and a 2-yard TD run from Alfred Blue in the second quarter to help them build a 13-7 halftime lead. The offense even gave away points early in the fourth period when Hassan Ridgeway sacked T.J. Yates in the end zone for a safety.Brissett threw a 6-yard TD pass to Jack Doyle on the first play of the second quarter for Indy’s first score, and the Colts took the lead for good when Mack scored on a 2-yard plunge midway through the third quarter.Adam Vinatieri made field goals from 54 and 22 yards in the fourth quarter.PUSHING AND SHOVINGColts receiver T.Y. Hilton and Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph sure didn’t think it was a meaningless game.After one play ended early in the third quarter, the two got into a pushing and shoving match, and at least one punch appeared to be thrown. The officials called offsetting personal fouls, but nobody was ejected.Indy finished the drive with Mack’s TD run.GOODBYE GORE? Frank Gore needed 139 yards rushing for his second straight 1,000 yard season. The Colts gave him a steady diet of carries, and when he limped off the field early in the fourth quarter after a short run
Isaiah Wynn Youth Jersey , the fans gave him a rousing ovation. He returned later and finished with 24 carries for 100 yards.But at age 34 and in the final year of his current contract, the Colts clearly wanted to give him a fond farewell 鈥?if he’s not back in Indy next season.INJURY REPORTTexans: Receiver DeAndre Hopkins (calf) missed the first game of his NFL career, leaving four catches short of his second 100-reception season. Houston took another hit when receiver Will Fuller V departed with a left knee injury on the Texans’ first offensive series. Fuller did not return. Linebacker Jelani Jenkins left with a hamstring injury in the third quarter and did not return.Colts: Indy played without right tackle Denzelle Good (knee) and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (ankle). It lost safety Kenny Moore in the first half (concussion) and he did not return. When it comes to football, Saquon Barkley has a knack for doing what might sound impossible.
Whether it’s his freakish feats in the weight room, or his game-breaking plays during a three-year career at Penn State (during which he scored a school-record 53 touchdowns), the 6-foot, 233-pounder earned another distinction when he was selected second overall by the Giants in the draft last month instead of a quarterback.
In a QB-driven league where an every-down back is an endangered species, Barkley was the highest running back drafted in more than a decade.
The next hurdle for the Bronx, New York, native? Tempering expectations that he’ll become the Giants’ hometown hero.
”I don’t see them,” Barkley said. ”I know a lot of people try and set expectations for me. No offense to you guys, but I set my own expectations.”
Which will start by using the same mentality he’s always had.
”I have to believe in myself, set goals for myself, set expectations for myself and continue to work for those goals every single day,” Barkley said. ”Just to continue to come in
Cheap Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey , be humble. I don’t want to be that guy that thinks he is a high draft pick and that he has it all. Nothing is given to you. Everything is earned. You have to have that mindset that you have to work every single day. Learn every single day. Be a student of the day, learn from the guys and the coaches. The Elis (Manning) and the Odells (Beckham Jr.) on the field and off the field. Just work. Hard work got me here.”
Like the highest running back taken since Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush in 2006, Barkley is more of a do-everything player than a conventional running back, returning kicks, including two for touchdowns last season, one of which was 98 yards.
Citing Ezekiel Elliott and Le’Veon Bell as examples, Barkley talked about how valuable versatile running backs can be.
”I am not a guy that just lines up in the back field and is going to bang his head, bang his head, bang his head,” he said. ”I am a guy that is willing to do anything for his team. Whether it be a kick returner or a punt returner, running down on kickoffs, lining up in the slot, running a dummy play or a fake play, whatever it takes. I want to be an athlete, not just a running back. Obviously
Adidas Ryan McDonagh Jersey , I play the running back position, but I want to be an all-around guy and an all-around player.”
While coach Pat Shurmer senses the Giants drafted a quick study, he knows Barkley has to dive into the playbook before he can truly assess that.
”He needs to be everything he thinks he can be and then we’ll worry about that (expectations) later,” Shurmer said, adding: ”I’m certainly high on Saquon . If you ask him, he’ll tell you he wants to learn what he’s doing and compete at a high level and regardless of what my expectations are for him.”
The expectation among fans and some in the media is that Barkley makes an immediate impact, which would result in a potent offense featuring wide receivers Beckham and Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram, as long as 37-year-old Eli Manning can return to his two-time Super Bowl MVP form.
For now, Barkley, along with the other players at the Giants’ three-day rookie minicamp this weekend, will get the first taste of what NFL practices are like, and what it’s like to not only be an NFL player but a New York Giant.
”We’re going to put them through the paces for three days here and try and teach them,” Shurmer said. ”I think what’s important is and I’ve talked to the staff, I’ve talked to our current players, we want to teach our rookies the right way from the very beginning – here is your iPad
Mike Gesicki Dolphins Jersey , here is your locker, here is where you need to be, here is how you need to dress, here are the fields, `please’ and `thank-you’ work, push in your chair. We want to really train these guys in the New York Giants’ way and I think it’s every facet of their life and then, certainly what is most obvious, football.”
A mentality to which the well-polished Barkley is looking forward.
”It is an honor to play for this franchise. Right when you walk in the building, you see the four Lombardi Trophies and you already know what the standard is for this team and this program,” Barkley said. ”I am just happy to be a part of it.”
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