NFL
– Packers’ FS Nick Collins (neck) is out for the remainder of the season. An initial CT scan of Collins’ neck came back negative. A Pro Bowler three years running and one of the NFL’s more underrated defenders, Collins will be extremely tough to replace–it’s a huge blow for a Packers’ pass defence.
– The Chiefs have placed RB Jamaal Charles (torn left ACL) on the IR, ending his season. Charles is just 24 years old with under 500 career carries worth of wear on his tires, so he’s probably a decent bet to return at close to 100% from this kind of injury. No timetable for the surgery has been announced, and no word yet whether his ACL tear was clean or involved other ligaments.
– The Bengals have placed WR Jordan Shipley (torn ACL) on the IR, ending his season. Shipley drew five targets in his first two games, catching four passes for 14 yards. Shipley, who turns 26 in a few months, will need reconstructive knee surgery.
– The Boston Globe reports that Patriots’ TE Aaron Hernandez (sprained MCL) will miss 1-2 weeks. Hernandez played through the injury for a handful of snaps before departing Sunday, so he could end up missing just one game. Rob Gronkowski, who has drawn 13 targets of his own and scored three TDs. The Pats visit the Bills in Week 3.
– ESPN’s Ed Werder and Todd Archer report that Cowboys’ WR Miles Austin’s (hamstring) “more likely” return date is October 16 (Week 6). Sources tell ESPN Dallas that Austin is “not expected to play” in Week 3 against the Redskins, and the Cowboys want to make sure the lingering hamstring strain heals before bringing him back. Per ESPN’s report, “it is possible” Austin could play in Week 4 (October 2 against the Lions), but more likely to the Cowboys hold him out through the bye.
NHL
– According to reports, the Kings are not interested in trading RFA D Drew Doughty. There hasn’t been much information on the Doughty front over the past couple of days, which probably isn’t a good sign. Stay tuned.
– Flyers’ D Chris Pronger (back) was on the ice with the Flyers on Monday. Pronger resumed skating on September 9 after undergoing back surgery in May. This is the first time since April, however, that he’s skated with his teammates. “I had a good day today, but we’ll see how I am (Tuesday) after partaking a little bit more than the day before. I’ve had some not-so-good days, a couple days where I have not felt great. Usually, the next day, you push through and feel a little better. I felt pretty good today. I didn’t feel great, but it was a good start.” His status for the season opener remains in question, but his is obviously a good start.
– The Senators have signed F Mark Stone to a 3-year/entry-level contract. Stone was taken in the 6th round of the 2010 NHL entry draft, but his stock skyrocketed in 2010-11. He went from recording 28 points in 39 WHL games in 2009-10 to 37 goals and 69 assists in 71 contests with the WHL Brandon Wheat Kings last season. He’s not expected to make the Senators’ roster out of training camp.
– The Kings have signed F Kevin Westgarth to a 2-year/$1.45M extension with a $725K cap hit. Westgarth, 27, played in 56 regular season games with the Kings last season, recording three points (all assists) and 105 penalty minutes (second on the team). He also played in all six Kings playoff games and registered two assists and 14 penalty minutes.
MLB
– Yankees’ RHP Mariano Rivera recorded save No. 602 with a perfect ninth Monday in the Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Twins, passing RHP Trevor Hoffman. It was his 43rd save of the year, matching the total he had in his first full year as a closer back in 1997. He also has an ERA back under 2.00 at 1.98. He’s allowed just one run in a month, and he hasn’t taken a blown save or a loss since August 9.
– Dodgers’ RHP Jonathan Broxton (right elbow) underwent minor surgery Monday to remove loose bodies. Broxton should be ready to begin full offseason workouts after about two months of rehab. He’ll become a free agent this winter.
– Cubs’ RHP Kerry Wood (left knee) has been shut down for the rest of the season in order to undergo surgery. Wood made his final appearance of the season Saturday when he allowed two hits and a walk over 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the Astros. The 34-year-old right-hander posted a 3.35 ERA and 57/21 K/BB ratio over 51 innings this season. He signed a team-friendly deal with the Cubs last offseason and has indicated that he would like to return in 2012.
WWE
– John Cena has now held the WWE Championship a record 10 times following his victory over Alberto Del Rio last night at Night of Champions. He is followed by Triple H, who held the WWE Championship on eight occasions.
– Updating a previous item, British wrestling diva Britani Knight is reportedly finishing up her independent bookings and is headed to Florida Championship Wrestling soon under her WWE developmental deal. She will be appearing at the SHIMMER tapings in early October. Knight has received several WWE tryouts, including one last November and one in April, when WWE was touring the United Kingdom. It was reported by the Diva Dirt website back in April that Knight had signed a developmental deal at that time, but she released a statement online denying that report. Britani, known as “The Norfolk Doll”, comes from a famous wrestling family in the UK known as “The Knight Dynasty.” Her brother Zak has also received several WWE tryouts, but no word yet on whether he will get signed.
– WWE Studios held a focus group session yesterday in Buffalo, New York prior to Night of Champions. The group screened footage of the upcoming John Cena film The Reunion and were subsequently asked for feedback. The group was also asked to fill out a survey.
One question listed the bulk of the WWE roster and asked participants to place a check mark next to the names of Superstars he or she would like to see in an upcoming film. Despite his recent rants of not being promoted enough by WWE, CM Punk was noticeably absent from the ballot.
Mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano was listed on the survey three times. The survey asked participants if her name was recognizable and if he or she would want to see her in an upcoming WWE Studios film.
Those attending the focus group session were paid $20.
– WWE’s upcoming Steve Austin video release has been titled Stone Cold Steve Austin: Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of WWE. The title will be be released on DVD and Blu-ray in November.
– WWE has announced that Disney’s “The Muppets” (Kermit The Frog, Miss Piggy and the whole gang) will be appearing on the October 31 episode of Monday Night RAW. Here’s the official statement from WWE:
To celebrate their first theatrical release in more than a decade – Disney’s “The Muppets,” opening this Thanksgiving – the Muppets will step into the ring on the Oct. 31 WWE Raw SuperShow to mix it up with the Superstars in Atlanta.
In the new film, “The Muppets,” the crew is on a mission to save the Muppet Theater from demolition. But before that, they’ll have to save themselves from our Superstars!
What will happen when Kermit the Frog meets The Viper? Will the Divas make Miss Piggy flip with jealousy? Will Beaker be confused for Sheamus? On Halloween, it’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights, because the Muppets are about to get Raw!
TNA
– Rebecca Reyes (aka Reby Sky), the 25-year-old girlfriend of Matt Hardy, was recently arrested and charged with reckless driving, reckless endangering, and speeding charges. Reyes, who hosts Lucha Libre USA on MTV2, is scheduled to appear in court on November 2 in Carthage, North Carolina. This is not the former Playboy model’s first run-in with the law as in 2008, she was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, a $500 fine and 48 hours of community service after resisting arrest when she was pulled over for a broken tail light in December 2007 in Tampa, Florida. While the officer was writing her ticket, Reyes got out of her truck, and refused to get back in when asked, instead allegedly accosting the officer who had pulled her over and another that had arrived on the scene. When Reyes attempted to turn the confrontation physical, she was thrown to the ground and arrested.
Sky has since has responded to online reports that she was recently arrested and charged with reckless driving. Sky tweeted on Monday afternoon:
“So now there’s a rumor that I was arrested this week? Hold on, let me double check… No.
“I got a speeding ticket rushing to the hospital to get Matt earlier this week. That’s it. God, you people are insane.”
The original story in the Wrestling Globe Newsletter stated that she was arrested on charges of reckless driving, reckless endangering, and speeding. The North Carolina court system website states that Rebecca Reyes was charged with reckless driving to endanger and speeding. She is due in court on November 2.
– According to the PWInsider, with TNA’s Bound For Glory event less than a month away on October 16, the decision has been made within TNA to push Kurt Angle’s World title defense against Robert Roode as the main event of the show. As for the Hulk Hogan vs. Sting match, some people in TNA are disappointed that the singles match won’t happen, as it’s been anticipated for well over a year now. There’s still no word yet on what the stipulation will be or who the third participant will be.
– According to the PWInsider, TNA executive Eric Bischoff is said to have gained more power in TNA in recent months due to his very strong relationship with Spike TV. Some people in the company feel that Bischoff’s relationship with Spike is stronger than Dixie Carter’s.