Odell Beckham, Jr., a game changer, didn’t get enough looks in the Game 2 loss

KEISHA: So we're going to move from the hard courts of the NBA and we're going to go to the Gridiron of the NFL and we are going to talk about one of our favorite teams and one of our favorite players at least mine, and that's Odell Beckham Jr.

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., told Kimberly A. Martin of Yahoo Sports that he feels like he can help out much more in the passing game to steer the Giants in the right direction.

Mike, do you think that Odell Beckham is being utilized enough or is it the team's 1 - 2 to start that is causing Beckham to search for answers?

MIKE: Well, the first game he was certainly utilized enough in the game against Jacksonville, no question about it against the toughest defense in the NFL, right now, that certainly he played a very good game and I thought that they gave him enough opportunities throughout that game. And then, of course, Game 2, I didn't think that they gave him, they looked at him enough in that loss where they lost that second game of the season. But, I felt like in Week 3, the offense was really clicking on all cylinders. And, I think a lot of that had to do with the offensive line. If the offensive line is playing well, there's no question that Eli Manning is going to get more and more opportunities to get Odell Beckham, Jr. the ball. The guy is a game changer. There's no question about that and they need him, you know, they certainly need him but Keisha what I'll finish with is it's going to be a tricky road for the next month of the Giants, you know, they face the New Orleans Saints and then they go and they have to play the Carolina Panthers they back that up on a short week against the Philadelphia Eagles and then play the Atlanta Falcons. Now, these are four teams that wound up making the playoffs last season, 3 out of the last four years, I think three of those four teams with the exception of New Orleans has won the NFC.

KEISHA: I think the Saints were out last year right there.

MIKE: Yeah, exactly. They lost to Minnesota (Vikings). I think in that crazy last-second miracle game. But I think for the Giants this is going to be a tough road ahead and it's going to be a tough test for Pat Shurmur and Odell Beckham, but I think that the biggest question mark they have is the offensive line at that offensive line, which really started to come around and that win against Houston if it's starting to play a lot better than Odell Beckham certainly will be happy.

KEISHA: Yeah, definitely. I agree with you. I think that his, Odell's frustrations or his sentiment was based on that Dallas (Cowboys) game Week 2 where he only had four receptions in 51 yards. And I think you know the Giants offense has struggled scoring for the past couple of seasons. I mean the last time they scored 30 points in the game was January 3rd, 2016.

That's a lot of football to happen and you can't score 30 points when you have an Odell Beckham Jr., when you have a Sterling Shepherd. At one point, they had Brandon Marshall, but he was gone within like the first couple of games of the season but when you have an Evan Engram when there's talent that you know, it's one of the best receiving corps in an NFL in if you can't score 30 points, there's an issue. The offensive line really rebounded and played well on the third game against the Houston Texans and there was a shift in the line where Ereck Flowers was sidelined. He was benched and that was a sigh of relief and probably jubilation for most of us who just really are shaking our heads as to why Ereck Flowers has been allowed to start this long. But, the offensive line is key. And you know, I think Odell was probably, maybe if you read between the lines he was talking to Eli because Eli has overthrown him or short-thrown him or haven't seen him wide open.

So it's going to be imperative for Eli to be able to notice and fairly quickly because even with the better play from the offensive line, he's not going to have tons of time to just sit and scan for like 30 seconds, 10 seconds or whatever. So, you know Eli's got to make sure that he sees the field see it quickly and get and delivers the ball to him. And with Odell, it doesn't have to be a pinpoint precise pass just throw it somewhere in his area, he's gonna get it with those big hands he's got. And, then also, you know, it's going to be up to the offensive coordinator Mike Shula to make sure that he is running an offense that's going to get Odell involved. I mean and it doesn't necessarily I don't think you have to force feed it to him. I think because you have Sterling Shepard and you have Evan Engram who presents enough of a threat that you can pass the ball, so you're not forced feeding and showing your hand all the time.

So, you know, if the game against the Houston Texans was any indication that how the season's going to go, Odell is going to be happy, Giants' fans are going to be happy. We're gonna win some games, maybe make a push for the playoffs and all will be right in New York City.

Cal Marshall, son of newly elected Rep. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, dabs at his father's ceremonial swearing-in

Can you imagine, it’s your big day, you won your election, and now, it’s time for the ceremonial photo-opp. The photographers are there, the video is rolling, and Paul Ryan, the U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives, also with hand on Bible is ready for the close-up. The only this is, while everyone is looking at the camera, your 17-year-old son, standing between you and the Speaker, decides to dab.

The funny thing, or perhaps, not so funny thing was, Speaker Ryan thought Representative Dr. Roger Marshall's son, Cal, needed to sneeze when he was dabbing during the photo-opp.

"Do you want to put your hand down?" Ryan said. "You gonna sneeze? That it?"

Later, Representative Marshall tweeted to Speaker Ryan that he grounded his son, Cal.

See VIDEO

This cheeky 'dabber' really confused Speaker Paul Ryan at Rep. Roger Marshall's ceremonial swearing in today https://t.co/sYm9k7isKy pic.twitter.com/maCecmZBW8

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) January 3, 2017

Did New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony diss Jeremy Lin, the starting guard for the Brooklyn Nets?; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton still in concussion protocol

In Episode 79 of What's The 411Sports, the panel of Keisha Wilson, Mike McDonald, and Sydney Wayman, are talking about:

Quick Bites:

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker took the ball to the hole a little too forcefully, so the rim hit back
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is still in concussion protocol
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods pulls out of the Safeway Open
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy is hanging up his football cleats for Mixed Martial Arts

What's Poppin'!

The return of Tom Brady after serving an NFL four-game suspension for deflated footballs
MLB Playoffs - in particular, the Chicago Cubs; can the Chicago Cubs take it all?
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will come under center in NFL Week 6;
Not everyone can successfully make the transition from college football coaching to coaching in the NFL. So we ask the question, is the NFL a right fit for San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly?
The NFL is cracking down on all end zone dances. Has the NFL become the No Fun League?
Professional tennis player Maria Sharapova's suspension from tennis is reduced to 15 months from 24 months. Did Sharapova special treatment?
Michigan blows out the Rutgers football team 78-0, should Rutgers be in Division 1A?

What's The 411Sports New York Sports Report:

• Did New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony diss Jeremy Lin, the Brooklyn Nets starting guard? You be the judge.
• NY Jets Week 5 results
• NY Giants Week 5 results
• Ode to the New York Mets

IN THE DOG HOUSE:

New York knicks guard Derrick Rose for the information coming out at his sexual abuse civil trial.

VIDEO Discussion: Arizona, Carolina, Denver, and New England head to NFL Conference Championship games; Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Seattle Seahawks get to watch at home

Palmer and Arizona Cardinals Numbers Make a Compelling Case for NFL MVP

In most people’s eyes, it is a two-man race to the honor of MVP. New England Patriots QB Tom Brady and Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton are the talk of the town and the winner between the two fluctuates based on weekly performances. However, there is one name that is seemingly left out of the conversation, Carson Palmer, quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals.

Carson Palmer is quietly leading the Arizona Cardinals on a path to a possible Super Bowl run. He is leading the league in QBR with an average of 83.1. According to NFL.com, he has a higher average yardage per pass than both Brady and Newton and also boasts a higher rating than both. His team is currently on a nine-game winning streak and their dominating win over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in week 16 left them number one on the power rankings.

In addition to the number one power ranking, the Arizona Cardinals are complete on both sides of the ball. The first in the league in total offense, third in yards per passing, and sixth in rushing yards per game. One the defensive side, the numbers are just as impressive. They are fifth in the league in total defense which measures yards per game allowed by opponents. In terms of rushing yards allowed per game, they rank fifth and are tied for seventh place in passing yards allowed. All of these statistics are as of week 16. If offense wins games and defense win championships, then the Cardinals have what it takes to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February.

Out in the desert, Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals are making a sandstorm in the NFL rankings.

Carolina's Quest For Undefeated Season Thwarted By Loss

The Carolina Panthers’ road to a perfect season was dealt a blow by division rivals the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons defeated the Panthers in Atlanta by the score of 20-13.

There was a lot of “dabbin’” by the Falcons players and owner Arthur Blank was not left out of the celebration.

The win was vindication for the Falcons who dominated by the Panthers in their previous meeting 38-0. The Falcons also felt that the Panthers were disrespectful when they were posing for pictures on the sidelines during the game which was why the Falcons had no problem “dabbin’” as much as possible.

*Dabbin’ is a touchdown celebration used by Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.