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Jets turn to Smith to start at QB vs. Ravens: Fitz Magic fizzled, so it’s Geno Smith’s turn — again.
The New York Jets will start Smith at quarterback on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens at MetLife Stadium, sending Ryan Fitzpatrick and his one-year, $12 million contract to the sideline.
At the NFL fall meetings in Houston on Wednesday, Jets owner Woody Johnson said it was coach Todd Bowles’ call to go with Smith with the Jets sinking at 1-5 and on a four-game losing streak.
“I am behind the coach 100 percent,” Johnson said. “Our coach made the decision he felt needed to be made.”
Fitzpatrick has been a major reason for the Jets’ struggles, throwing an NFL-leading 11 interceptions and just five touchdown passes during a brutal start.
After the Jets lost 28-3 at Arizona on Monday night, Bowles said Fitzpatrick would remain the starter. But he backtracked a bit from those comments Tuesday during a conference call , saying it’s always “status quo” right after games and he wanted to discuss things with his staff and general manager Mike Maccagnan on Tuesday night.
‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson’s game bat auctioned: “Shoeless” Joe Jackson’s game bat has sold for $583,500.
Christie’s says it went to an online bidder Wednesday on the first of a two-day auction of baseball memorabilia.
The items come from the National Pastime Museum, an online museum based on a private collection of baseball artifacts, photographs and memorabilia.
Shoeless Joe’s “Black Betsy” bat is one of two known to survive from his career, and the only one with his full signature in script stamped into the barrel.
Jackson was accused with other Chicago White Sox teammates of accepting payments for throwing the 1919 World Series.
The Major League great was acquitted but banned from the sport.
The auction record for a game-used baseball bat is a 1923 Babe Ruth bat. It sold for $1.2 million in 2004.
Beckham Jr. misses practice with hip injury: New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has missed practice with a hip injury.
Coach Ben McAdoo said Wednesday that he is taking a day-to-day approach as the star wide receiver deals with a hip pointer sustained in Sunday’s 27-23 win over Baltimore.
Beckham had a career game, catching eight passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, including a winning 66-yard catch and run with 1:24 to play.
McAdoo said that Beckham was sore Wednesday.
Bills RB McCoy hurts hamstring: Bills running back LeSean McCoy did not finish practice Wednesday after hurting one of his hamstrings.
Coach Rex Ryan said that McCoy was being evaluated by trainers. He didn’t have any details about how McCoy was hurt and didn’t know the severity of the injury.
The Bills (4-2) play at Miami on Sunday. McCoy had 140 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a 45-16 win against San Francisco on Sunday.
In his past four games, McCoy has 470 yards rushing and six touchdowns, including one receiving score.
Mc Coy was slowed by an injury to his left hamstring at the start of last season.
Bengals defend Burfict over his latest fine: The Bengals are defending linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s actions during a loss to New England, which drew a $75,000 fine from the league on Wednesday, according to a personal familiar with the situation.
Burfict was fined for stepping on Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount after he scored a touchdown near the end of New England’s 35-17 win on Sunday, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because fines for this week have not yet been announced by the league.
Coach Marvin Lewis defended Burfict on Wednesday, saying he did nothing wrong.