Packers suspend cornerback Alexander over coin flip flap
Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been suspended one game by the team for his actions during the coin toss preceding a 33-30 victory at Carolina on Sunday.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced Wednesday that Alexander was being suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. The suspension means Alexander won’t play for the Packers (7-8) during their Sunday night game at Minnesota (7-8) in a matchup critical to both teams’ playoff hopes.
Although Alexander hadn’t been selected as a team captain for the game with the Panthers, he still came out for the coin toss. He nearly cost his team by initially saying the Packers wanted to be on defense first rather than saying they deferred the option. The Packers received a break when referee Alex Kemp asked Alexander to clarify.
“The decision to suspend a player is never easy and not one we take lightly. Unfortunately, Jaire’s actions prior to the game in Carolina led us to take this step,” Gutekunst said in a statement.
This has been an unusual season for the 26-year-old Alexander. Alexander missed three games earlier this season because of a back issue. The victory at Carolina marked Alexander’s return after he sat out six games with a shoulder problem, though he was never placed on injured reserve.
Giants, Commanders making changes at quarterback
After a six-week run as the New York Giants starting quarterback, the Tommy Devito feel-good story is over, at least for now.
The undrafted rookie free agent who grew up less than 30 minutes from Metlife Stadium is being replaced by veteran Tyrod Taylor as the starter for this weekend’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday.
Daboll informed the quarterbacks on Tuesday, adding he felt the 34-year-old Taylor provided a spark on Christmas Day after taking over for Devito in the second half of a loss in Philadelphia.
Taylor will make his fourth start of the season Sunday at home against the Rams (8-7), who have won five of six since the bye week.
Devito had started the past six games for the Giants (5-10) and led them on a three-game winning streak that got them within striking distance of a playoff berth earlier this month.
However, the Giants were beaten by the Saints in New Orleans on Dec. 17 and then had their playoff hopes extinguished on Monday in a 33-25 loss to the Eagles.
• Jacoby Brissett is set to start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders on Sunday when they host the Nfc-leading San Francisco 49ers, a decision coach Ron Rivera framed as a chance for Sam Howell to get a breather late in a long season with the team long out of playoff contention.
Brissett takes over after Howell was pulled from each of the past two games, most recently a 30-28 loss at the New York Jets in which he was 6 of 22 with two interceptions. The 31-year-old journeyman is on track to be the 13th different QB to start for Washington since 2018, and at least one more could be coming next season when new ownership puts another regime in charge.
For now, it’s the abandonment of Rivera’s nearly yearlong plan to see if Howell could be the future of the franchise at football’s most important position, which included bringing in Eric Bieniemy to be offensive coordinator and spanned the sale of the team.
Howell started the first 15 games of the season, and he leads the league with 17 interceptions.
Pro Football Hall of Fame selects 15 finalists for 2024
First-time candidates Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates joined nine returning finalists who advanced to the final stage of voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024.
Peppers and Gates were announced Wednesday as finalists in their first year of eligibility. They will be joined on the 15-player ballot by five-time finalist receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne.
Seven other players returned as finalists with Patrick Willis, Andre Johnson, Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Darren Woodson and Devin Hester all getting back to this step.
Defensive backs Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison, running back Fred Taylor and offensive lineman Jahri Evans made it to this stage for the first time after previously being semifinalists.
The 15 finalists will be trimmed to 10 and then five during the selection meeting early next year. The final five candidates will need to get 80% of the votes from the panel to get into the Hall.