Welcome to Friday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
FRIDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Bruins at Flames, 9 p.m. (NESN)
NBA: Nets at Knicks, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Cavaliers at Pelicans, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Pittsburgh at Duquesne, 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
College basketball: Alabama at Southern Mississippi, 8 p.m. (FS1)
College basketball: Oregon at UNLV, 11 p.m. (ESPN2)
College football: Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
AROUND THE WEB:
— Another marquee NFL game, another officiating controversy.
The Packers capped a comeback against the Lions on the game’s final play Thursday as Aaron Rodgers completed a 61-yard Hail Mary to Richard Rodgers in the end zone for a 27-23 win. The play came right after Lions defensive end Devin Taylor was called for a face mask when his thumb grazed one of the bars on Aaron Rodgers’ helmet. Taylor’s hand continued to Rodgers’ shoulder, but it made it appear as though Taylor had tugged on the face mask.
Taylor said afterward, “I didn’t believed I touched” Rodgers’ face mask, and Lions coach Jim Caldwell added, “Didn’t think it was [a face mask], but [even though] you don’t think it was or I don’t think it was, it was called. Therefore, it is, and we’ve just got to find a way to make a play.”
Rodgers was convinced the right call was made. “It was a face mask,” he insisted. “I was looking for the flag afterwards. I don’t really flop any calls. That was a legit face mask.”
NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino backed Rodgers’ claim, tweeting: Hand up to the mask, quick grab with finger and head gets turned. At full speed official is going to make that call almost every time.
The only problem is the replay shows there was no “grab” with the finger, just the appearance of one because Rodgers’ head turned as Taylor yanked Rodgers’ shoulder.
The penalty, occurring with no time remaining, moved the ball from the Green Bay 24 to the 39. Given an untimed extra play, Rodgers scrambled to buy time for his receivers to get to the end zone. He then heaved the ball from his 35 almost 70 yards into the end zone, where the 6-foot-4 Richard Rodgers leaped in front of a pack of players to haul in the game-winner.
“Most amazing game of my life,” Aaron Rodgers said on the NFL Network broadcast right after the dramatic finish, adding: “When he caught it, I blacked out.”
— Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim still has to serve his nine-game suspension, but he won a small victory Thursday when the NCAA allowed him to start serving his ban immediately rather than wait for the conference schedule to start.
The Committee on Infractions had ordered the suspension to be served during ACC play when it announced the punishment in March. However, in Thursday’s ruling the NCAA said Boeheim was not directly involved in the violations — including academic misconduct, extra benefits and drug testing issues — and he could move up the ban. Now Boeheim will miss only three league contests, returning for the Jan. 9 game against North Carolina.
Despite the ruling, Boeheim still wasn’t pleased, complaining that he did not have enough time to contact his players and prepare assistant Mike Hopkins to take over, as the 71-year-old is not allowed to be around the players or practices during the suspension.
“Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed with the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee’s decision, and in particular, the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee giving us only two days to make this transition, when the appeal was argued weeks ago,” Boeheim said in a statement. “I am considering my options moving forward and will have no further comment regarding this matter at this time.”
Last week the NCAA reduced the number of scholarships to be taken away from the program from 12 to eight over four years.
— Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis missed practice again Thursday as he recovers from a concussion, and his coach said it’s “more than likely that he won’t play” in Sunday’s big game against the Giants.
Revis has not practiced or even attended team meetings since being injured in the Nov. 22 game against the Texans. Coach Todd Bowles said Revis reported for treatment and light exercise Thursday before being sent home, which has been his daily routine of late.
Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. expressed disappointment that he won’t get the chance to match up against Revis.
“Just got to move on,” Beckham said. “We’ve still got to play the Jets. It would have been fun to go against a guy like that, and it’s unfortunate that he’s not playing, but maybe we’ll get that matchup down the road. We’re still focused on playing the Jets. This is a game we need to win.”
The Jets head into Sunday’s game with a 6-5 record, tied with the Chiefs, Steelers and Texans for the AFC wild card. The Giants are 5-6 but are tied with Washington for the best recording the NFC East.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On Dec. 4, 1988, which Patriots player recorded his 500th career reception during a 13-7 victory over the Seahawks?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He’s not a bad guy. I know him from before. Things happen in the game, but that doesn’t mean that’s how you are. Our adrenaline kicks in on the field. … If you go around the league, you hear a lot of people saying good things about him. I know we have our moments. Like I say, it’s time to turn the page. We’re teammates now. We’ve got to be on the same page if we want to win ball games, definitely.” — David Ortiz, on new Red Sox teammate David Price
STAT OF THE DAY: 16 — FIFA executives who were charges Thursday in another round of arrests on corruption charges involving soccer’s governing body
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Heat forward Hassan Whiteside finishes an impressive alley-oop from Dwyane Wade against the Thunder.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich welcomes back sideline reporter Craig Sager for the “ridiculous interview we’re required to do” during Thursday’s game.
UCLA’s Prince Ali dunks with authority in the Bruins’ upset of No. 1-ranked Kentucky.
Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane makes a nifty no-look backward pass to Artem Anisimov for a goal against the Senators.
Alabama football coach Nick Saban tells reporters they can ask a soda bottle questions about new Georgia coach Kirby Smart, because he’s not talking about his assistant coach’s rumored new job.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Stanley Morgan
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Freddy Cannon, who grew up in Revere and Lynn, was born on this day in 1939.