HEADLINE

NFL notebook: QB Winston sued by female Uber driver

The Sports Xchange

September 19, 2018 at 7:54 pm.

The female Uber driver who accused Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston of groping her has filed a lawsuit against him.

The plaintiff, identified as “Kate P.,” is seeking more than $75,000 in damages in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Arizona.

“Kate P.” said that Winston “issued a hollow apology” in July and “has a history of sexually hostile behavior and appears to be no closer to understanding the impact of his conduct.”

Winston is serving a three-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He is set to return from his ban following the Buccaneers’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday.

The lawsuit alleges that Winston was “belligerent” and placed his fingers between the plaintiff’s legs and pressed them firmly over her yoga pants while waiting in the drive-thru line of Los Betos restaurant in Scottsdale in March 2016.

–Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger downplayed the drama surrounding Antonio Brown, telling reporters that he talked to the star wide receiver and attributed his frustration to the team’s sluggish start to the season.

Brown created numerous headlines this week, including failing to show up for work at the team facility on Monday.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus came to his defense on Tuesday by saying that the wideout had to deal with a personal matter. Brown was spotted at practice on Wednesday.

Brown was seen venting in the direction of offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner during Pittsburgh’s 42-37 setback to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

The six-time Pro Bowl selection then offered a curious “trade me” response to a critical tweet from former Steelers public relation staffer Ryan Scarpino on social media the following day while failing to show up for work at the team facility.

–Quarterback Case Keenum did not practice with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday because of what was described as “mild” soreness in his knees, according to local media reports.

Keenum reportedly received treatment on his knees after he brought Denver from behind to a 20-19 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, driving the Broncos to a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

However, his sore knees are not expected to affect Keenum’s availability for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.

With Keenum sidelined, first-year quarterback Chad Kelly ran the first-team offense in practice. The Broncos also have quarterback Kevin Hogan on the active roster.

–Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon isn’t rushing his return from minor knee surgery.

Mixon underwent the procedure on Saturday, two days after suffering a slight meniscus tear in his right knee in Cincinnati’s victory over Baltimore.

The Bengals addressed their ailing backfield by signing running back Thomas Rawls. Fellow running back Tra Carson (hamstring) received a waived/injured designation from the Bengals (2-0).

–Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia has seen his fair share of star quarterback Tom Brady over the years.

After all, Patricia served as defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots from 2012-17 and had his charges routinely face Brady in practice.

When asked on Wednesday about his “secret” to containing Brady in practice, Patricia showed his quick wit.

“Probably the fact that it was practice,” the 44-year-old Patricia said in a conference call.

Patricia then elected to elaborate on his answer.

“Just in regards to trying to slow him down, he’s obviously such a great player. Someone that you see every single day that I would practice against that I have the utmost respect for, the way that he approaches the game, his competitiveness, the way that he can just increase the level of his focus in the competition of practice was great.”

–Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and Kansas City Chiefs passer Patrick Mahomes were honored by the NFL for the second consecutive week.

The league announced Wednesday that Fitzpatrick was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing four touchdown passes in his second straight contest.

Mahomes did Fitzpatrick two better on Sunday, throwing for six scores in the Chiefs’ 42-37 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording 18 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in Sunday’s 21-9 win over the Washington Redskins.

Chicago linebacker Danny Trevathan earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after registering his first career two-sack performance in Monday’s 24-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. He also had six tackles.

Tennessee Titans safety Dane Cruikshank was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after scoring a 66-yard touchdown off a pass from Kevin Byard on a fake punt during a 20-17 victory over the Texans.

San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould was named the NFC Special Teams Player of Week after drilling three field goals, including the eventual game-winner on a 36-yard attempt in the fourth quarter of a 30-27 triumph over the Detroit Lions.

–The Detroit Lions re-signed cornerback DeShawn Shead to a contract, the team announced.

Shead initially signed with the Lions in free agency in March, but a strained quadriceps injury sidelined him for two preseason games. Shead was released by the club earlier this month.

The 30-year-old Shead’s return is expected to provide depth as star cornerback Darius Slay deals with a concussion. Slay’s availability is in question as the Lions (0-2) host the New England Patriots (1-1) on Sunday (8:20 p.m.).

–Thursday’s Jets-Browns game in Cleveland easily could have been a quarterback matchup of Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold — with Mayfield in green and white and Darnold in brown and orange.

Jets fans may shudder at that thought (they gave Darnold a standing ovation Sunday before he even took a snap), but it very easily could’ve happened. Darnold was the consensus No. 1 pick for a good chunk of time leading up to the draft before the Browns became enamored with Mayfield.

The draft always provides some great “what if” scenarios, but this year’s will be particularly interesting, say, five years from now. Quarterbacks drafted in the top 10 were Mayfield, No. 1; Darnold, No. 3; Josh Allen, No. 7 to the Bills; and Josh Rosen, No. 10 to the Cardinals. Also, Lamar Jackson went to the Ravens 32nd and the Giants passed on a potential franchise quarterback to take Saquon Barkley second.

Mayfield still hasn’t played an NFL snap as he holds the clipboard for veteran Tyrod Taylor, but Darnold has already thrown for 532 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in going 1-1 for the Jets.

–Phillip Lindsay grew up a Denver Broncos fan, so it is a little surreal for him to be suddenly the talk of fans in Colorado.

That’s what happens when you go from undrafted to the hottest rookie running back to start the NFL season. Lindsay has been a key component in Denver’s 2-0 start, which seems unthinkable after no team took a chance on him in April’s draft.

The 31 other teams might be regretting not picking him after he became the first undrafted player to gain 100 or more yards in his first two NFL games.

Lindsay has combined with fellow rookie running back Royce Freeman to give the Broncos different looks out of the backfield. Freeman, at 6-foot, 238 pounds, can deliver hits to tacklers and wear them down physically. The 5-8, 190-pound Lindsay gives Denver a change of pace that it didn’t have the previous few seasons.

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