SI.com's Grant Wahl cited a source as saying that it would be "much smarter" for David Beckham's Miami MLS team to begin play in '19 despite the league saying it could possibly begin a year earlier. Beckham's group is "still trying to acquire more land in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood for the stadium site, in addition to nailing down a flagship investor in the team." Even though MLS would "prefer to have two teams come into the league" in '18, it now looks "almost certain that only one will come in that year: LAFC" (SI.com, 11/1).
THAT'S MY BOY: In N.Y., Pat Leonard notes Annie Apple, the mother of NFL Giants rookie CB Eli Apple, yesterday in an SI.com column "levied a serious accusation against the Giants ... writing she was 'livid' with the team in late October in part because she felt the organization was 'leaning' on her son ... 'in an effort to control'" her recent criticism of the club. A Giants spokesperson said that the organization "had no comment." Apple's "unsupported accusation against the Giants, however, also puts her son Eli in an even more awkward position than he was already in, toeing the line between supporting family and remaining loyal to his team" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/3).
BACKGROUND CHECKS: CSNPHILLY.com's Andrew Kulp noted since Eagles Exec VP/Football Operations Howie Roseman "reassumed his role as chief of personnel," the team has made some "arguably risky decisions when it comes to picking players with checkered pasts." There have been recent off-field incidents involving Eagles players Josh Huff (who was cut today), Nelson Agholor and Nigel Bradham, and when players slip up, it is "on Roseman or whoever vouched for that player." If there is "anybody responsible," besides the players themselves, it is "not the head coach" Doug Pederson (CSNPHILLY.com, 11/2).
