Daily Sports Recap, 12/23: QB Witness Protection

As the days have gotten shorter and we near that last stretch of the year, remember the real meaning of the season: football's almost over, baseball doesn't start until April, and the Spurs will rest Duncan, Ginobili and Parker about 20 more times before the playoffs.  It is truly the bleakest part of the year.

Arizona Cardinals To Start Logan Thomas At QB

The Cardinals were, of course, forced to start Ryan Lindley at quarterback on Sunday against the Seahawks, which went about as well as anyone thought it could go when you send out a guy with no NFL touchdown passes (but plenty of NFL interceptions!) against the best passing defense in the league.  So now the Cardinals are starting fourth-round rookie Logan Thomas at quarterback in Week 17, and presumably trying not to run out to midfield and start cursing the heavens for the horrible quarterback situation the universe has imposed on them.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the 49ers' defense is probably doing that Looney Tunes starvation thing where all they see when looking at the Cardinals is steaks.

Cleveland Browns To Start Connor Shaw At QB

With Johnny Manziel out due to a hamstring injury (we swear it's the hamstring, guys, it's not the 3-of-8 for 32 yards!), and Brian Hoyer continuing to be Brian Hoyer, the Cleveland Browns will be activating quarterback Connor Shaw from the practice squad to start Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.  In summary, the football season that started with such promise will be brought to a disappointing end as the team that abandoned Cleveland in the 90s deparately grasps at a playoff berth, because that's one of the most Cleveland ways to end a season.

Geno Smith Says "Change Could Be Good" When Asked About Rex Ryan

To which a couple million Jets fans replied "Yeah, we could use a new quarterback."

Minnesota Timberwolves Coach Flip Saunders Suggests T-Wolves Fans Won't Forgive Kevin Love

So watch out, Kevin Love.  There may be a hundred angry people in the Twin Cities nursing a grudge against you.

Love is averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in his first season with the Cleveland LeBrons Cavaliers.

Detroit Pistons Waive SF Josh Smith

Normally it'd be unusual for a team to just straight release a player that they signed to a four-year, $54 million contract the season before, but Smith is averaging 13.2 points per game this season and $13.5 million dollars over four years.  Most NBA GMs prefer it if you average more points than millions.

San Diego Padres Acquire OF Justin Upton From Atlanta Braves

And legions of 16-year-old male Padres fans got really excited for about 30 seconds, only to come crashing down in disappointment.

The Padres continued their uncharacteristic spending spree, in which they acquired former Dodgers OF Matt Kemp and former Dodgers OF Matt Kemp's new hip replacements, as well as former überprospect Wil Myers from Tampa Bay.  The Padres, of course, denied rumors that they were trying out the Dodgers' former "too many outfielders" strategy for competing in the NL West, despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary.

You can't blame them though, what with the mountain of titles the Dodgers won.  Now excuse me while I go sob in a corner somewhere.