Carson Palmer Delivers The Heat To John Brown for 7-yard TD! | Packers vs. Cardinals | NFL
BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Cardinals had lost dynamic playmaker Tyrann Mathieu for the season. Fellow safety Rashad Johnson, the secondarys quarterback, was sidelined with an ankle injury.
And the Cardinals responded with their best defensive game of the season.
Well, one of their best anyway.
I thought we played better in Seattle, coach Bruce Arians said.
Maybe, but this one was a close second.
Arizona sacked Aaron Rodgers eight times and returned two fumbles for touchdowns in a 38-8 rout of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Were blessed to play this game, Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon said. I love each and every one of the players in here, and we just want to keep rocking.
The Cardinals ninth straight victory one shy of the club record set in 1948 clinched at least the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC and a first-round bye. And thanks to Carolinas loss to Atlanta, Arizona still has a shot at the No. 1 seed Carolina needs to lose to Tampa Bay while the Cardinals beat Seattle next Sunday.
Its all about when you click at the right time and your team is hot going into the playoffs, said cornerback Jerraud Powers, who recovered two fumbles, returning one 7 yards for a score.
By the time Karim Martin leveled Rodgers, the ball popped loose, and 6-foot-4, 318-pound Cory Redding followed a convoy 36 yards for the score, it was 31-0 with 9:34 to play.
I think his feeble jump into the end zone was outstanding, Arians said.
Rodgers stayed in a while more, but finally sat down to watch the inevitable conclusion.
We have a standard that we have set around here, Rodgers said, and we just havent lived up to it consistently.
Here are things to take from Arizonas dominant victory over Green Bay:
SACK CITY: The stars aligned for the onslaught of sacks and near-sacks the Cardinals put on the Packers.
First, Green Bay starting left tackle David Bakhtiari missed the game with an ankle injury. Then starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga left with another ankle injury.
The stage was set for Arizona to bring defenders early and often, and it worked.
Dwight Freeney led the way with three sacks, earning $100,000 for each one of them in incentives. Calais Campbell got 2 1/2.
The nine sacks were the most for Arizona since it had 10 against Philadelphia in 1986, two years before the Cardinals moved to the desert.
VERY MUCH STILL IN IT: The loss didnt mean a whole lot to the Packers in their quest for the NFC North title.
Green Bay dropped into a tie with Minnesota for the division lead when the Vikings cruised to a 49-17 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night. Green Bay hosts Minnesota in its regular-season finale next Sunday.
Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said the Cardinals were very good, and we played very poor.
FLOYD AGAIN: Arizonas Michael Floyd caught six passes for 111 yards. Its his fifth time over 100 yards receiving in seven games. In his previous 55 games, he did it six times.
Everything is just clicking, Floyd said.
FITZGERALDS MARK: Arizonas Larry Fitzgerald caught four passes to tie his career and Cardinals franchise single-season record of 103 receptions. Its the third time hes been over 100 catches and first since 2007. He caught 63 last season.
REDDINGS RAMBLE: When Redding scooped up that fumble and headed for the end zone, he couldnt help thinking about a similar situation earlier this season.
At Detroit, Redding intercepted Matthew Staffords pass at the 30 but was tackled by Stafford at the 4-yard line.
My boys and teammates gave me a hard time the first one, he said. Letting the quarterback tackle you blah, blah, blah. I said if I get another opportunity, Id have to get it to the end zone and it worked out that way.
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SEATTLE Former major league outfielder Dave Henderson, who hit one of the most famous home runs in postseason history, died Sunday after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 57.
Henderson died early Sunday morning at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to a statement from the Mariners, one of five teams Henderson played for in his career. Henderson underwent a kidney transplant in late October.
Henderson was best known for his home run in the 1986 AL Championship Series for Boston. With the Red Sox one strike from elimination in Game 5, Henderson hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth against the California Angels to send the series back to Boston. The Red Sox won Games 6 and 7 to advance to the World Series.
But beyond his memorable playoff moment, Henderson was a reliable contributor to four teams that reached the World Series and played 14 seasons total in the majors. His greatest success came from 1988-91 with Oakland. During that four-year stretch, the As went to the World Series three times.
Henderson played in 575 regular-season games during that span, hitting .275 with 84 homers, 123 doubles and 322 RBIs. Henderson was an All-Star in 1991.
Henderson began his career in Seattle as the first draft pick in the history of the Mariners franchise in 1977. He made his debut in 1981 and played parts of six seasons with the Mariners. Henderson was traded to Boston during the 1986 season and later played for San Francisco and Kansas City.
He was a devoted father to his two sons and always willing to help someone in need, Mariners President Kevin Mather said in a statement. Dave was one of the most popular Mariners in our history, but Dave was also one of the most popular players in Red Sox and As history. He had a special ability to connect with people, both inside the game and in the communities in which he lived. I never saw him at the ballpark, or on the golf course, without a big smile on his face.
After his playing career ended, Henderson spent time as a broadcaster for the Mariners and ran fantasy camps for As and Mariners fans. He also raised funds to support research of Angelman Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affected his son Chase.
Henderson was born July 21, 1958, in Merced, California. He is survived by his sons, Chase and Trent, his wife Nancy and his first wife Lori.
The updated National Football League injury report, as provided by the league, was released on Friday.
Injuries of note
Saturday
EAGLES: PROBABLE: QB Sam Bradford (left shoulder).WASHINGTON: QUESTIONABLE: RB Matt Jones (hip). PROBABLE: WR DeSean Jackson (foot, knee), TE Jordan Reed (shoulder), RB Chris Thompson (shoulder).
Sunday
BEARS: DOUBTFUL: WR Alshon Jeffery (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: WR Eddie Royal (knee). BILLS: OUT: TE Charles Clay (back), RB LeSean McCoy (knee). BROWNS: QUESTIONABLE: RB Duke Johnson Jr. (hamstring). BUCCANEERS: OUT: WR Vincent Jackson (knee).CARDINALS: QUESTIONABLE: RB Andre Ellington (toe).COLTS: OUT: QB Andrew Luck (abdomen, kidney). QUESTIONABLE: WR Donte Moncrief (toe). COWBOYS: OUT: QB Tony Romo (left shoulder). DOUBTFUL: WR Dez Bryant (foot). QUESTIONABLE: WR Cole Beasley (knee, illness). DOLPHINS: QUESTIONABLE: WR Rishard Matthews (ribs).FALCONS: OUT: RB Tevin Coleman (concussion). GIANTS: QUESTIONABLE: WR Dwayne Harris (shoulder). JAGUARS: DOUBTFUL: RB T.J. Yeldon (knee). LIONS: QUESTIONABLE: WR Calvin Johnson (ankle).PANTHERS: OUT: RB Jonathan Stewart (foot). PATRIOTS: DOUBTFUL: WR Julian Edelman (foot). QUESTIONABLE: WR Danny Amendola (knee), TE Scott Chandler (knee), WR Brandon LaFell (foot). SAINTS: QUESTIONABLE: QB Drew Brees (foot), WR Marques Colston (chest), TE Benjamin Watson (knee).SEAHAWKS: OUT: RB Marshawn Lynch (abdomen). QUESTIONABLE: WR Doug Baldwin (hamstring).TEXANS: OUT: WR Cecil Shorts III (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: QB Brian Hoyer (concussion, ankle). TITANS: OUT: QB Marcus Mariota (knee).
Complete injury report
Saturday
WASHINGTON REDSKINS at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES REDSKINS: OUT: LB Perry Riley Jr. (foot). QUESTIONABLE: S Dashon Goldson (rib, knee, shoulder), WR Ryan Grant (abdomen), RB Matt Jones (hip), C Josh LeRibeus (ankle), T Morgan Moses (ankle). PROBABLE: LB Will Compton (neck), DE Kedric Golston (calf), DE Jason Hatcher (knee, neck), WR DeSean Jackson (foot, knee), S Jeron Johnson (hamstring), DE Frank Kearse (finger), LB Ryan Kerrigan (toe), TE Jordan Reed (shoulder), LB Keenan Robinson (shoulder), RB Chris Thompson (shoulder). EAGLES: QUESTIONABLE: WR Seyi Ajirotutu (ankle), DT Bennie Logan (calf), CB Byron Maxwell (shoulder). PROBABLE: QB Sam Bradford (left shoulder), CB Eric Rowe (concussion).
Sunday
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at NEW YORK JETS PATRIOTS: OUT: LB Jonathan Freeny (hand). DOUBTFUL: WR Julian Edelman (foot). QUESTIONABLE: WR Danny Amendola (knee), TE Scott Chandler (knee), S Patrick Chung (foot), S Nate Ebner (ankle), LB Dont"a Hightower (knee), G Josh Kline (shoulder), WR Brandon LaFell (foot), S Devin McCourty (ankle). PROBABLE: CB Justin Coleman (hand), DE Chandler Jones (abdomen). JETS: DOUBTFUL: CB Dee Milliner (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: WR Quincy Enunwa (neck). PROBABLE: TE Kellen Davis (back), WR Eric Decker (knee), QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (left thumb), T Breno Giacomini (ankle), LB David Harris (back), C Nick Mangold (hand), WR Brandon Marshall (ankle), CB Dexter McDougle (ankle), LB Calvin Pace (abdomen), QB Geno Smith (illness).
HOUSTON TEXANS at TENNESSEE TITANS TEXANS: OUT: S Rahim Moore (illness), WR Cecil Shorts III (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: DE Jared Crick (back), QB Brian Hoyer (concussion, ankle). PROBABLE: RB Alfred Blue (back), LB Max Bullough (shoulder), LB Jadeveon Clowney (hamstring), DT Christian Covington (ankle), QB B.J. Daniels (chest), TE Ryan Griffin (Achilles), CB Kareem Jackson (ankle), C Ben Jones (hand, ankle), LB Whitney Mercilus (back), T Derek Newton (elbow), RB Chris Polk (knee), G Xavier Su"a-Filo (calf), DE J.J. Watt (hand, groin). TITANS: OUT: QB Marcus Mariota (knee). PROBABLE: WR Harry Douglas (ankle), NT Sammie Hill (knee), S Da"Norris Searcy (hamstring), TE Delanie Walker (hamstring), WR Kendall Wright (ribs).
CLEVELAND BROWNS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BROWNS: OUT: RB Glenn Winston (concussion). DOUBTFUL: WR Marlon Moore (ribs). QUESTIONABLE: G Cameron Erving (ankle), RB Duke Johnson Jr. (hamstring), C Alex Mack (calf), T Joe Thomas (knee), CB K"Waun Williams (shoulder). PROBABLE: DE Desmond Bryant (thumb), K Travis Coons (right groin), RB Isaiah Crowell (not injury related). CHIEFS: OUT: S Husain Abdullah (concussion), LB Justin Houston (knee), LB Josh Mauga (calf). QUESTIONABLE: LB Tamba Hali (thumb, knee). PROBABLE: G Jeff Allen (ankle), LB Dee Ford (knee), TE Travis Kelce (groin), WR De"Anthony Thomas (concussion), RB Spencer Ware (rib).
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at MIAMI DOLPHINS COLTS: OUT: S Winston Guy (hamstring, shoulder), QB Andrew Luck (abdomen, kidney). QUESTIONABLE: S Colt Anderson (ankle), LB Josh McNary (groin), WR Donte Moncrief (toe). PROBABLE: TE Jack Doyle (toe), LB Jerrell Freeman (hamstring), QB Matt Hasselbeck (back, rib), LB D"Qwell Jackson (quadricep), LB Erik Walden (foot). DOLPHINS: DOUBTFUL: T Ja"Wuan James (toe), DT Earl Mitchell (calf). QUESTIONABLE: LB Jelani Jenkins (ankle), WR Rishard Matthews (ribs), C Mike Pouncey (foot, ankle). PROBABLE: T Branden Albert (knee), WR Jarvis Landry (knee), RB Lamar Miller (quadricep, ankle), WR DeVante Parker (ankle), TE Jake Stoneburner (foot), G Billy Turner (calf).
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS JAGUARS: DOUBTFUL: LB Telvin Smith (shoulder, finger), RB T.J. Yeldon (knee). PROBABLE: S Sergio Brown (thumb), G A.J. Cann (wrist), CB Aaron Colvin (illness), DE Ryan Davis (knee), CB Dwayne Gratz (hamstring), WR Allen Hurns (thigh), TE Nic Jacobs (hamstring), DT Roy Miller III (knee), LB Paul Posluszny (hand), RB Denard Robinson (foot), LB Dan Skuta (hamstring), WR Bryan Walters (back). SAINTS: OUT: LB Dannell Ellerbe (hip). QUESTIONABLE: T Terron Armstead (knee), QB Drew Brees (foot), WR Marques Colston (chest), T Zach Strief (elbow), TE Benjamin Watson (knee). PROBABLE: S Jairus Byrd (knee).
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at DETROIT LIONS 49ERS: OUT: G Alex Boone (knee), RB Shaun Draughn (knee), C Marcus Martin (concussion), LB Michael Wilhoite (ankle). PROBABLE: DT Arik Armstead (shoulder), LB NaVorro Bowman (shoulder, finger), CB Tramaine Brock (hamstring), LB Ahmad Brooks (shoulder, back), DT Quinton Dial (shoulder), LB Eli Harold (shoulder, hamstring), CB Dontae Johnson (ankle), LB Aaron Lynch (concussion), G Erik Pears (knee), WR Torrey Smith (back, foot), T Joe Staley (knee), S Jaquiski Tartt (knee). LIONS: QUESTIONABLE: CB Bill Bentley (illness), LB Josh Bynes (foot), WR Calvin Johnson (ankle), DT Haloti Ngata (neck), T Michael Ola (knee), S Glover Quin (concussion), DT Caraun Reid (ankle), G Larry Warford (quadricep).
DALLAS COWBOYS at BUFFALO BILLS COWBOYS: OUT: TE Gavin Escobar (Achilles), QB Tony Romo (left shoulder). DOUBTFUL: WR Dez Bryant (foot). QUESTIONABLE: WR Cole Beasley (knee, illness), CB Morris Claiborne (hamstring), LB Kyle Wilber (shoulder). PROBABLE: S Jeff Heath (shoulder), P Chris Jones (left knee), DE Demarcus Lawrence (chest), LB Rolando McClain (concussion), TE Jason Witten (chest). BILLS: OUT: LB Nigel Bradham (ankle), TE Charles Clay (back), RB LeSean McCoy (knee). QUESTIONABLE: CB Ronald Darby (groin). PROBABLE: CB Ron Brooks (neck), DT Stefan Charles (shoulder), RB Boobie Dixon (knee), G John Miller (ankle), WR Walt Powell (hip), S Bacarri Rambo (knee), RB Karlos Williams (shoulder), DE Mario Williams (hand), C Eric Wood (shoulder).
CHICAGO BEARS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEARS: DOUBTFUL: WR Alshon Jeffery (hamstring), LB Shea McClellin (concussion). QUESTIONABLE: S Adrian Amos (shoulder), CB Bryce Callahan (quadricep), LB Pernell McPhee (knee), CB Tracy Porter (ankle), WR Eddie Royal (knee). BUCCANEERS: OUT: WR Vincent Jackson (knee), DT Akeem Spence (ankle). DOUBTFUL: LB Kourtnei Brown (groin), S Chris Conte (knee). QUESTIONABLE: LB Bruce Carter (ankle), G Logan Mankins (knee). PROBABLE: DE George Johnson (calf), DT Gerald McCoy (hand).
CAROLINA PANTHERS at ATLANTA FALCONS PANTHERS: OUT: LB David Mayo (hamstring), RB Jonathan Stewart (foot). QUESTIONABLE: DT Kyle Love (concussion). PROBABLE: WR Ted Ginn Jr. (quadricep), DE Charles Johnson (calf), QB Cam Newton (not injury related). FALCONS: OUT: RB Tevin Coleman (concussion), DT Grady Jarrett (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: DT Ra"Shede Hageman (knee). PROBABLE: G Chris Chester (shoulder), WR Devin Hester (toe), T Jake Matthews (back), NT Paul Soliai (calf), LB Paul Worrilow (knee).
NEW YORK GIANTS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS GIANTS: OUT: LB Devon Kennard (foot), DT Markus Kuhn (knee), LB James Morris (quadricep), S Cooper Taylor (concussion). QUESTIONABLE: WR Dwayne Harris (shoulder). PROBABLE: RB Orleans Darkwa (illness), T Ereck Flowers (illness), DE George Selvie (concussion). VIKINGS: PROBABLE: LB Anthony Barr (knee), TE Rhett Ellison (ankle), DE Everson Griffen (shoulder), WR Charles Johnson (ankle), DT Linval Joseph (foot), RB Jerick McKinnon (hamstring), RB Adrian Peterson (ankle, shoulder), CB Josh Robinson (concussion), S Harrison Smith (knee, hamstring).
ST. LOUIS RAMS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS RAMS: OUT: T Andrew Donnal (knee). QUESTIONABLE: CB Lamarcus Joyner (back), WR Bradley Marquez (knee), CB Eric Patterson (ankle). SEAHAWKS: OUT: RB Marshawn Lynch (abdomen). DOUBTFUL: DT Jordan Hill (toe), TE Anthony McCoy (knee, ankle). QUESTIONABLE: WR Doug Baldwin (hamstring), DE Michael Bennett (toe), S Kam Chancellor (pelvis), T Russell Okung (calf), S Deshawn Shead (ankle). PROBABLE: DE Cliff Avril (not injury related), WR Jermaine Kearse (calf), CB Jeremy Lane (knee).
GREEN BAY PACKERS at ARIZONA CARDINALS PACKERS: OUT: LB Jayrone Elliott (quadricep). DOUBTFUL: CB Sam Shields (concussion). QUESTIONABLE: T David Bakhtiari (ankle), DT Letroy Guion (foot), TE Justin Perillo (hamstring). PROBABLE: T Bryan Bulaga (ankle), DT Mike Daniels (hamstring), RB Eddie Lacy (rib), G T.J. Lang (shoulder), C Corey Linsley (ankle), LB Clay Matthews (ankle), CB Quinten Rollins (groin), G Josh Sitton (back). CARDINALS: QUESTIONABLE: RB Andre Ellington (toe), S Rashad Johnson (ankle), DE Cory Redding (ankle), DT Frostee Rucker (ankle). PROBABLE: S Chris Clemons (not injury related), TE Jermaine Gresham (knee), QB Carson Palmer (right finger), CB Patrick Peterson (ankle), CB Jerraud Powers (calf), C Lyle Sendlein (knee), DT Ed Stinson (shoulder), LB Sean Weatherspoon (illness).
PITTSBURGH STEELERS at BALTIMORE RAVENS STEELERS: PROBABLE: S Will Allen (not injury related), CB William Gay (not injury related), LB James Harrison (not injury related), S Mike Mitchell (shoulder), TE Matt Spaeth (knee). RAVENS: OUT: WR Marlon Brown (back). DOUBTFUL: LB Albert McClellan (ankle). PROBABLE: LB Daryl Smith (not injury related), CB Jimmy Smith (thigh), G Rick Wagner (knee).
Monday
CINCINNATI BENGALS at DENVER BRONCOS: No data reported.
Dame Maggie Smith may have played the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey for six series but she has yet to find time to actually watch it.
However, the actress, 81, plans to watch the period drama now it has finished for good.
Maggie Smith (Joel Ryan/AP)She told CBS News: They gave me the boxed set. And Im going to do all sorts of things now, cause Im free!
The story of her on-screen aristocratic family wrapped up with the Christmas special, which except for the Queens speech topped the Christmas Day ratings.
But although it was a period drama, Dame Maggie has revealed she got away without wearing corsets.
Downtons Dowager Countess is loved for her cutting one-liners ((NBC/Universal/ITV)In actual fact, I have to say that I did cheat a bit, Smith admitted. Because I promised that if I sat up, bolt upright, I made it look as though I were wearing corsets.
And on the secrecy surrounding how the series would end, she joked: Nobody was allowed to see the script. You had to read it and then eat it, just in case. Do not leave it anywhere!
But despite plans to relax with a box set, Dame Maggie has kept busy starring as Miss Shepherd in The Lady In The Van, a movie based on the real-life story of a woman won spent the last 15 years of her life living in a van in playwright Alan Bennetts driveway.
Dame Maggie Smith stars in The Lady In The Van (Sony Pictures)Dame Maggie said: I cannot begin to imagine how it must have been in reality, of what Alan had to cope with.
She added: You pass all the time people just on cardboard on the street she had a van. But you see these people just in doorways and its just, I mean, what do they do all day?
Another round of thunderstorms was moving across Central and Southeast Texas on Saturday as crews search the Austin area for two people missing from flash floods.
Teams from the National Weather Service were to examine three areas Saturday where tornadoes were thought to have wreaked havoc on Friday.
Two people were known to have died one in Austin and one near San Antonio when they were swept away by rapidly rising flood waters. However, a man and a woman were still unaccounted in separate incidents in the Austin area on Friday.
The storms and suspected tornadoes have socked an already-sodden swath of Texas that was still drying out from the remnants of Hurricane Patricia, forcing evacuations of flood-prone areas and slowing or shutting down traffic on long stretches of Interstate 35.
More than 16 inches of rain soaked one neighborhood and Austin Bergstrom International Airport suspended all flights after a half-foot of water flooded the air traffic control tower. A lazy creek cutting through Texas wine country swelled into a rushing torrent, sending eight members of a vacationing church group scrambling to a second floor before they were rescued by the National Guard.
Powerful winds tossed a trailer from an RV park onto the roof of a three-story Holiday Inn. Abandoned cars, many submerged in water, littered back roads that weary drivers risked after heavy downpours flooded Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Austin, closing one of the busiest stretch of roadways in the U.S.
Last weekend, storms from Patricias Category 5 aftermath dumped nearly a foot of rain in parts of the same region. Although not deadly, that drenching left the ground saturated and unable to sop up the latest deluge.
Forecasters say an upper-level disturbance from Mexico carried the storms into Texas as a strong El Nino is expected to make for a wet winter in the U.S.
Most eyes were on Wimberley, a popular getaway spot in the Texas Hill Country where the church group found themselves stranded. Similar conditions in May soaking storms on the heels of others caused devastating flooding on the Blanco River that swept homes from foundations and killed families who were carried downstream.
The Blanco River this time swelled to about 26 feet in Wimberley, nearly twice the flood stage. Residents were evacuated from the area and a community center was opened as a shelter.
Farther south in Floresville, a suspected tornado caused only minor injuries, said Sgt. Jason Reyes of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Ruth Veliz, whose parents own a taco shop in town, said one of her employees yelled Tornado! and tried to keep the winds from blowing inside before a customer pulled her to safety.
The door was flying open with her as she was trying to close it, Veliz said.
Wind gusts of up to 70 mph were reported in some places. The flooded portion of Interstate 35 was reopened later Friday, but not before southbound drivers turned against traffic and tried driving north along the shoulder. Winds peeled off roofs elsewhere and collapsed a historic 19th-century building in the small town of DHanis, one of three cities where suspected tornadoes touched down.
If it would have happened at 10 a.m. instead of 4 a.m., might have been a different story, Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown said.
Official Jamison Crowder Career Highlights | Duke Football DURHAM, N.C. Redshirt senior safety Jeremy Cash was named the recipient of the Carmen Falcone Most Valuable Player Award at Duke Universitys annual football banquet held on Sunday evening at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club in Durham, N.C.
Cash, the 2015 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-America choice by several outlets, has amassed 101 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, eight quarterback pressures, four pass breakups, three caused fumbles and one fumble recovery on the season. A finalist for both the Bronco Nagurski Award (National Defensive Player of the Year) and Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back in the nation), the Miami, Fla., native has now reached the 100-tackle plateau in three consecutive seasons and is Dukes career leader in caused fumbles with nine.
Other honorees included Breon Borders (K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award), Kelby Brown (Ace Parker Award), Zavier Carmichael (Mike Suglia Award), Jamie Cockey (Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award), DeVon Edwards (Willis Aldridge Award), Keyston Fuller (Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award), Johnathan Lloyd (Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award), Ross Martin (Bill Keziah Award), Max McCaffrey (Clarkston Hines Award), Will Monday (Bill Keziah Award), Dwayne Norman (Vincent Rey Award), Shaquille Powell (Bob Pascal Award), Cody Robinson (Frances Cutcliffe Spirit of Perseverance Award), Matt Skura (Dan Tiger Hill Award & Steve Brooks Captain Award), Tanner Stone (Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award) and A.J. Wolf (Mike McGee Award).
Borders, a junior cornerback from Statesville, N.C., earned the K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award for playing the most snaps of any Blue Devil during the regular season. Borders has totaled 53 tackles and a team-high three interceptions on the year.
Brown, a native of Matthews, N.C., who missed his sixth and final year of eligibility after suffering a knee injury prior to the season, was honored with the Ace Parker Award, which is presented annually to an individual who displays unparalleled commitment to the team and overcomes adversity to contribute. Parker, one of 12 former Duke players and coaches to be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame, was a two-time All-America pick in 1935 and 1936. Following his successful NFL career, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. Brown has served as student assistant coach this season and was named to the AFCA Good Works Team for his dedicated community service work.
Carmichael, a sophomore linebacker from Eight Mile, Ala., received the Mike Suglia Award, which is presented annually to the second-year member of the Duke football program who best exemplifies the qualities of the late Mike Suglia. Suglia was an offensive lineman at Duke in 1976-77 who died suddenly during the spring of his sophomore year. He was an excellent student, an outstanding football player, and, most importantly, a young man of the highest integrity.
Cockey, a senior defensive back from Montclair, N.J., was the recipient of the Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award, which is presented annually to the member of the Duke football program who displays the highest teammate qualities such as inspiration, unselfishness and commitment to the team. Micah Harris was tragically killed in an automobile accident in June of 2004, just prior to his senior year at Duke.
Edwards, a redshirt junior safety from Covington, Ga., received the Willis Aldridge Award as the teams top defensive back. An All-ACC pick for the second straight season, Edwards has compiled 93 tackles and one interception on the year.
The Sonny Falcone Iron Duke Award is presented annually to one offensive player, one defensive player and one player in the developmental program for their year-round commitment to strength training and conditioning. These players best exemplify the strength staffs expectations with their daily effort, commitment, pride, toughness and discipline. This year, the honorees were Fuller, a freshman wide receiver from Griffin, Ga., Lloyd, a redshirt freshman defensive back from Graham, N.C., and Stone, a redshirt junior offensive guard from Dallas, Texas.
Martin and Monday a pair of four-time All-ACC selections shared the Bill Keziah Award as the teams most outstanding special teams performers. A senior kicker from Solon, Ohio, Martin leads Duke in scoring with 106 points by making a school single-season record 23 field goals along with all 37 of his PAT attempts. Monday, a redshirt senior punter from Flowery Branch, Ga., has punted 60 times for 2,616 yards and a 43.6 yards per boot average and a league-best 19 kicks of 50-plus yards.
Norman, a senior linebacker from Jacksonville, Fla., was named the recipient of the Vincent Rey Award as the squads most outstanding linebacker. A second team All-ACC pick by the leagues head coaches, Norman leads the Blue Devils in tackles with 104 while adding 8.5 tackles for loss and two caused fumbles.
Powell, a senior running back from Las Vegas, Nev., received the Bob Pascal Award as Dukes top offensive back. Through 12 games this year, he has rushed 122 times for 534 yards and three touchdowns while catching 32 passes for 195 yards and two additional scores.
Robinson, a redshirt senior offensive guard from McMinnville, Tenn., earned the Frances Cutcliffe Spirit of Perseverance Award, which is presented annually to the player who best displays the toughness and perseverance to overcome challenges and continue to strive for victory. Due to injury, Robinson has seen action in just one contest this fall.
Skura, a redshirt senior center from Columbus, Ohio, received the Dan Tiger Hill Award as Dukes top offensive lineman as well as the Steve Brooks Captain Award. A second team All-America pick by USA Today, Skura has anchored the Blue Devil offensive line which ranks second in the ACC in sacks allowed per passing attempt.
Wolf, a redshirt junior defensive tackle from Greenwich, Conn., garnered the Mike McGee Award as the teams most outstanding defensive lineman. Wolf has produced 49 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and three QB pressures on the year.
Duke will play Indiana in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, December 26 at Yankee Stadium in New York, N.Y. Kickoff is set for the 3:30 p.m., and the game will be televised live by ABC.
When bowl pairings become set in stone today, Marshall will play in the St. Petersburg Bowl, as widely expected.
But the Thundering Herd will not face a team from the upper tier of the American Athletic Conference, as widely projected. The opposition likely will come from that leagues gooey middle.
Marshall, meet the Connecticut Huskies.
Several sources and reports have the Thundering Herd (9-3) revisiting Tropicana Field to take on the 6-6 Huskies. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. on Dec. 26.
An MU source responded, Have not been officially told that. Conference USA and several other leagues were to announce their teams bowl pairings this afternoon.
But bowl news about the AAC schools has been leaking out for several days, well before Houston (12-1) won the league title Saturday and became a shoo-in for the Group of 5s access bowl spot.
Several other teams with better overall records than UConn are going elsewhere. South Florida (8-4) is heading to the Miami Beach Bowl to take on C-USA champion Western Kentucky. Navy (9-2) accepted a bid to the Military Bowl earlier in the week, and Cincinnati (7-5) is going to the Hawaii Bowl. The Bearcats tied the Huskies for third place in the AAC East at 4-4.
Memphis (9-3) appears headed to the Birmingham Bowl to play Auburn, which is just 6-6. Temple (10-3) may be playing in the Boca Raton Bowl against Mid-American Conference runner-up Toledo.
So that sends UConn to Tropicana Field, where the Herd defeated Florida International 20-10 in the 2011 bowl game. On first reaction, some Herd fans are unsatisfied both with the opponent and with the game being the morning after Christmas. The 2011 St. Pete game was played on Dec. 20.
But the Huskies have had their highlights, most notably being the only team to beat Houston. At East Hartford, UConn held the then-13th-ranked Cougars to 318 total yards and Noel Thomas caught two touchdown passes. One was a 45-yarder on a trick play that put the Huskies up 20-10 in the fourth quarter.
Coached by second-year coach Bob Diaco, UConn will play in its first bowl since losing the 2011 Fiesta Bowl (2010 season) to Oklahoma 48-20. The Huskies captured the Big Easts place in the Bowl Championship Series, but went 15-33 in their next four seasons.
The Huskies, who transitioned to Division I-A/FBS in 2000, have been in five bowl games, and are 3-2.
