Poling flips ‘switch’ on game day
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Ohio teammates have been known to call linebacker Quentin Poling “Split” in reference to the deranged character in the movie diagnosed with 23 distinct personalities.
But Poling, a redshirt senior and captain, doesn’t transform from mildmannered exercise physiology major during the week to a wild man on game day. He turns it up just a notch.
“As soon as I take the field for pre-game on game days, Coach (Frank) Solich, who is a big thinker and so intense, sees me and probably is kind of jealous that I can be so relaxed,” Poling said. “I do have a couple of personalities. One of my buddies says I have graduated with honors, am a science major and am this cool dude, but then I come out as this menace to society on the field. I do have to flip a switch.”
The switch has been on since Poling was in on 89 tackles and intercepted three passes as a redshirt freshman in 2014. Last season, he was second on the team with 110 tackles and had four sacks. The defense will be depending heavily on Poling when the Bobcats open against Football Championship Subdivision team Hampton at 7 p.m. Saturday at Peden Stadium.
Chad Moore, a senior linebacker from Grove City, is glad Poling lines up next to him.
“We call him Split, but I mess around and call him Quentin, which he does not like at all,” Moore said. “It’s great having your best friend and roommate playing right next to you. We play off one another, and he makes it so much easier for me. We’re on the same page. You can play so much faster that way.”
Moore can attest that Poling, 23, does not punch locker doors or go into a primal scream to get ready for games.
“He is a very mellow guy,” he said. “We joke around on game day. We aren’t that serious. The game lasts 3 hours, so relax. We do have fun out there.”
Poling takes as much pride in his cerebral approach to playing as the physical side.
“I don’t ever get too aggressive and don’t talk a lot of trash, either,” he said. “There is so much information going on in my head, so I get up after a play and start thinking what I have to do. Then I check down and distance, look over the offense and then give the defense the call. I try to give teammates a headsup about tendencies. This all happens in 10 to 15 seconds, and you have to have your wits about you.”
Some websites and magazines have predicted that Poling will be voted Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year. All he wants, though, is a conference championship. Ohio hasn’t won one since 1968.
“I have never won a conference championship in my football career, and that includes high school when my team went to the playoffs three times, including a state semifinal,” he said of Elida in northwestern Ohio. “I want to win a MAC championship. This is my last chance. It would be a great way to go out.”
Brock Osweiler’s days with the Cleveland Browns were numbered when the quarterback arrived in a trade.
They’re now over. Osweiler is being released by Cleveland, which will have to pay his $16 million guaranteed contract not to have him on their roster, a person familiar with the team’s moves told The Associated Press on Friday.
Osweiler will be officially cut Saturday along with guard John Greco, kicker Cody Parkey and defensive lineman Xavier Cooper when the team trims its roster to 53, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is still finalizing its roster decisions.
Osweiler, 26, was acquired by the Browns on March 9 from Houston for a 2018 second-round draft pick. The team did not have any long-term plans for Osweiler, who went 8-6 as a starter for the Texans last season.
But because of his large contract, the Browns were unable to unload Osweiler and he competed for their starting job this summer.
Osweiler was beaten out by rookie DeShone Kizer, who will start when the team opens against Pittsburgh on Sept. 10.
Goodell aware of investigator’s doubts
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was aware that one of his lead investigators believed Ezekiel Elliott shouldn’t be disciplined before the Dallas running back was suspended for six games in a domestic violence case, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said.
McCarthy disputed a key claim in a lawsuit filed by the players’ union on behalf of Elliott seeking to vacate an upcoming ruling on an appeal.
McCarthy says Goodell knew of investigator Kia Roberts’ contention that Elliott’s accuser wasn’t credible before deciding to suspend Elliott.
“That Kia Roberts’ information was not provided to others, that’s categorically false,” McCarthy said. “Her
Steelers’ Bryant reinstated by NFL
Martavis Bryant’s long road back to the NFL is complete.
The NFL granted the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver permission to participate in regular-season games Friday, nearly 18 months after Bryant was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Bryant was conditionally reinstated in April. He has caught 76 passes for 1,314 yards and 14 touchdowns in 21 games with Pittsburgh and is expected to start opposite Antonio Brown.
The announcement came on the same day running back Le’Veon Bell visited the Steelers’ headquarters in anticipation of his return.
Bell skipped training camp after opting not to sign his franchise tender.