Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
NFL NOTEBOOK Brees sets NFL all-time touchdown record
Drew Brees became the NFL’s alltime leader in touchdown passes, throwing for four scores to lead the New Orleans Saints to a 34-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night.
The scoring strike that broke Peyton Manning’s record of 539 career touchdown passes (see career list on Page 25) came in the third quarter, when Brees hit tight end Josh Hill for a 5-yard score. Brees’ next pass in the game was the 541st scoring toss of his career, a 28yard TD to reserve QB and former Packer Taysom Hill that put the Saints up,
Teddy
Philip Rivers
Camera operator suspended by Patriots: The videographer who broke NFL rules by filming the Cincinnati Bengals’ sideline in Cleveland last week has been suspended by the New England Patriots.
The Boston Globe reports Dave Mondillo, a longtime employee of Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s sports and entertainment company, was suspended last week after the incident became public.
NFL rules prevent teams from filming opponents’ sidelines during games.
Mondillo was caught doing so during the first quarter of the Bengals-Browns game last Sunday, a week before the Patriots played the Bengals.
Fox Sports aired a portion of the video, which included audio of a confrontation with a Bengals security official, on its “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show.
The Pats acknowledged breaking the rules, but claimed the independent film crew was unaware its actions violated league policy.
Coin toss confusion: The Dallas Cowboys entered a home game vs. the Los Angeles Rams coming off three straight losses marred by mistakes.
Before kickoff, questions surfaced whether they had already made another. But the team did not end up paying for any misstep, whether by one of its players or the officiating crew.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff called tails for the coin toss, which came up heads. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott then told referee Walt Anderson his team wanted “defense.” Prescott added, pointed toward Rams: “kicking it that way.”
Anderson looked to confirm with Prescott whether he meant his team would defer, or kick off, which would give the Rams the choice to receive in the second half, too.
“We defer to the second half,” Prescott said.
Anderson responded, “OK, you’re going to kick.”
Ex-NFL players in health care scam: Ten former NFL players, including Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis, were charged last Thursday with defrauding the league’s health care program for seeking reimbursements totaling nearly $4 million in medical equipment that was never purchased.
Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski described a “brazen” scheme in which players sought taxfree reimbursements on claims for such things as hyperbaric oxygen chambers, cryotherapy machines, ultrasound devices and electromagnetic therapy devices designed for use on horses.
“Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multi-million dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-ofpocket medical expenses,” Benczkowski said. “Today’s indictments underscore that whoever you are, if you loot health care programs to line your own pockets, you will be held accountable.”
New York swan song for Manning? Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning threw two touchdowns in what might have been his final home start for the Giants and New York snapped a franchise record-tying nine-game losing streak with a 36-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
This game was all about the 38-yearold Manning, who is in the final year of his contract. He got a standing ovation from fans before the opening offensive series and another one when coach Pat Shurmur pulled him with less than two minutes to go to put in backup Alex Tanney with the outcome set.
Manning was hugged by teammates, serenaded with chants of “Eli Manning” by fans and met by his family entering the tunnel for more hugs and a pictures walking off the field. He picked up his children and hugged them.
NFL suspends Gordon again: The NFL suspended Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon indefinitely on Monday for violating league policies on performance enhancers and substances of abuse.
Gordon was reinstated by the NFL in August after having been suspended indefinitely in December 2018, missing the final three games of last season for violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Gordon signed with New England and was among the leading receivers for the Patriots with 20 catches for 287 yards and a touchdown through six games. But he was placed on injured reserve with knee and ankle injuries and was released in late October.
Seattle stepped in and claimed the oft-troubled receiver off waivers. Gordon had seven receptions over five games with the Seahawks.
This is the eighth time in his career Gordon has been suspended by the league or by his team.