YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson wrote Falcons Owner Arthur Blank "has to be a little embarrassed right now." His team "faded to a confusing new low" Sunday with a 38-0 loss against the Panthers. The Falcons "looked toothless, and that shouldn’t happen with a roster that has talent." Blank "can't be taking a total cratering very well, particularly after seeing the Panthers snapping photos on the sideline with two minutes left in the game." That was "embarrassing, so expect Blank to force some changes if this is how the season finishes" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/13).
JOHNNY GIANT: MLB.com's Chris Haft noted the Giants' six-year, $130M deal with P Johnny Cueto "includes a clause that will allow him to opt out of the agreement after two years, as well as a club option" for the '22 season. He will "turn 32 by Opening Day that year." Cueto will reportedly be paid $46M "through the initial two years" of his contract with the Giants and thus would "forsake a guaranteed" $84M if he exercises the opt-out. The Giants were "among the handful of teams that could afford him." They cleared approximately $55M of salary space for '16 "through retirements and attrition before the offseason began" (MLB.com, 12/14). MLB.com's Richard Justice wrote the Giants have "had themselves a very nice offseason, and not just in the medical reports they've gotten about some of their key guys." They have also "made a pair of impact additions via free agency," signing Cueto and fellow P Jeff Samardzija (MLB.com, 12/14).
BELIEVE IN MAGIC: Magic CEO Alex Martins said the team is "tripling Wi-Fi access" in Amway Center. Martins said the team also has "created a mobile platform to interact with the team, the venue and do anything transactional." Martins: "Your ticket is part of the app, and you can order food and beverages from your seat either to be delivered or picked up at the nearest concession" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/11).
GREY AREA: In Edmonton, Evan Davits noted CFL Eskimos fans "waited outside Commonwealth Stadium for upwards of nine hours Saturday to get first dibs on game-worn jerseys, helmets, and equipment at the annual Eskimos locker-room sale." The first fans arrived around 1:00am MT on Saturday. A total of 775 Eskimos season-ticket holders "had passed through the concourse" by 11:30am, "with around 100 more waiting outside the doors." Doors "opened to the general public at noon" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 12/14).
