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Your Wednesday Morning Roundup

Jay Ajayi is in Philadelphia:

Two days in a row for #JohnnyAirport @JClarkNBCS!

Here's your first look at Jay Ajayi in Philadelphia as a member of the Eagles. http://pic.twitter.com/QW1yiJ52Be

— NBC Sports Philly (@NBCSPhilly) October 31, 2017

The trade that altered most of our day yesterday came as a pleasant surprise. There were thoughts, concerns, questions, bragging about how we will win the NFC (we will), and enjoying other people’s misery. Is it what the Eagles desperately needed? Not really. You could say linebacker or an offensive lineman were bigger needs, but the Eagles got a pretty good running back with a low risk, high reward price.

To make room for Ajayi, the Eagles officially put linebacker Jordan Hicks on Injured Reserve. This was expected.

I was at Eagles Training Camp when the Dolphins came to practice and play in the third preseason game. He had nine carries for 53 yards and two TDs from two yards out. To me, he looked like a top 15 running back. But Miami has a poor offensive line and is a mess right now. He hasn’t scored a touchdown this season. Hopefully that changes Sunday against Denver.

Ajayi will wear No. 36 when he practices today, if he passes his physical.

Speaking of Denver:

Reading Joseph's presser, it would be huge surprise if Brock Osweiler is not Broncos QB vs. Eagles. #9sports

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) October 31, 2017

This will be fun.

The Roundup:

A big fear when adding Ajayi was if it may disrupt the locker room chemistry. Initially, it hasn’t:

Asked Blount’s reaction to the news, Roseman said: “LeGarrette’s awesome. He wants to win. He’s won. He’s all about winning. He’s been in situations before where there have been [other] productive backs on the team. He’s been a tremendous team guy since he’s walked in the building and a leader for this football team. Nothing changed today.”

Even if nothing changed regarding Blount’s focus, something did change – the Eagles added a prime weapon for Carson Wentz, and that weapon was available to them at least partly because Miami coach Adam Gase hasn’t been happy with Ajayi’s attitude. The Miami Herald cited “locker room chemistry and player buy-in” as reasons why the Dolphins were so willing to part with a 24-year-old lead back coming off a Pro Bowl season.

Ajayi, left off a team flight early last season, reportedly was unhappy when he didn’t get the ball enough, even in wins. A few days ago, in the aftermath of a 40-0 loss to the Ravens, Gase ripped players he said weren’t doing enough studying away from the practice facility. Gase didn’t name names, but the Herald said Ajayi was among those being criticized.

“We’ve got to find guys that will actually put forth effort to actually remember this stuff, and really, it starts with our best players,” Gase said.

How does Ajayi look on film?

Meanwhile, Fletcher Cox won’t get suspended for his hit on Joe Staley.

The Eagles top nearly every major outlet’s power ranking.

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It was kind of good that the Jay Ajayi trade happened. Pretty much nothing else happened with the other four pro teams (I’m including the Union, you can debate that all you want).

The Sixers decided not to pick up Jahlil Okafor’s fourth-year rookie option. He’ll be a free agent in the offseason. Unless…

Philadelphia had been exploring trade possibilities with Jahlil Okafor until declining option today. He could still be moved this season. https://t.co/ofC5KpG6l8

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2017

Or:

The Sixers’ decision to bypass Jahlil Okafor’s fourth-year option could lead Okafor to press for a contract buyout, league sources say

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 31, 2017

Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, TLC, and Justin Anderson had their options picked up.

Kevin Kinkead recaps Monday’s big win in Houston against the Rockets.

T.J. McConnell is thriving in his role as the team’s backup point guard:

Opponents are learning that he’s a gritty player, who won’t back down from anyone. McConnell is a solid defender with an improved three-point shot. He’s also the Sixers’ best pure point guard.

The 25-year-old is averaging 6.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals in 21 minutes per game. He’s shooting 55.6 percent (5-for-9) on three-pointers.

“We can’t dismiss him because we have some healthier players and veterans and so on,” coach Brett Brown said. “He just always makes you pay attention.”

The expectation this season was for McConnell to get limited minutes, if minutes at all.

Sixers return home tonight to host the Atlanta Hawks at 7. That’ll be on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

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Rookie Nolan Patrick has landed on Injured Reserve for hopefully a short period of time. Meanwhile, defenseman Will O’Neill has been recalled and will be the team’s seventh defenseman for their upcoming road trip. Shayne Gostisbehere won’t travel with the team.

Anthony recaps the pretty bad overtime loss to the Coyotes from Monday night.

With defenseman beginning to get injured, Ivan Provorov is starting to blossom in his second year in the NHL:

“I think overall, I’ve started to make better plays with the puck, and looking a little more confident and doing things more like what my game’s all about,” he said. “But obviously there’s going to be little things we go over with the coaching staff that I need to build on and work into my game.”

Because of injuries to Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrew MacDonald, Sanheim is one of four Flyers defensemen who are rookies after playing last season with the AHL’s Phantoms. The others: Robert Hagg, Mark Alt, and Will O’Neill, 29, a journeyman minor-leaguer who was recalled Tuesday and is expected to be an extra player on the road trip that has stops in Chicago and St. Louis on consecutive nights.

“There are some familiar faces and it’s nice to see those guys around,” Sanheim said. “It just goes to show the good group we had down there last season, and the guys who are capable of coming up and providing depth here.”

The Flyers take on the Blackhawks, who are better than the Coyotes, tonight in Chicago at 8 pm on NBCSN.

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Even though he didn’t get the Phillies’ managerial job, Dusty Wathan remains committed to the team:

“I’m a very positive guy,” Wathan said Tuesday morning, the day after the Phillies officially announced that Kapler had been hired as the 54th manager in club history, succeeding Pete Mackanin, who had been reassigned to the front office last month. “I feel like this organization is on the cusp of big things. I feel like I’ve been a part of that and I’m looking forward to continuing to be a part of it.

“Matt and I had some good talks. Obviously, he thought Gabe was the right guy and I’m all-in. I want to see these kids do well and I’m going to do everything I can to see them have success. I’m good with this. I respect the decision and hope it works out for our organization.”

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For you Union fans, Dutch midfielder Roland Alberg is on his way out. He was announced by CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria as their newest acquisition after signing a two-year deal with the club.

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In other sports news, the Los Angeles Dodgers, thanks to the help of Chase Utley getting hit by a pitch, defeated the Houston Astros 3-1 to force a Game 7 tonight in LA. That game gets started around 8:20. Yu Darvish goes to the mound for the Dodgers, while Lance McCullers opposes him for Houston. He was warming up after last night’s game:

Lance McCullers is starting Game 7.

He's getting ready. Now. #WorldSeries https://t.co/m3On1hL6a8

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 1, 2017

The other big NFL trade of the day came three minutes before the 4 pm trade deadline. Buffalo dealt a third and seventh round pick to Carolina for wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

Cleveland also got Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron for a second and third round pick. But there was a problem: The Browns didn’t turn in trade paperwork to the NFL by 4 pm. AJ McCarron’s career is saved thanks to the Browns browning. They’re idiots.

Jeremy Lane failed his physical with the Houston Texas. He goes back to Seattle in the Duane Brown deal. Here’s the revised version:

Jeremy Lane failed his physical with Houston, per source. Trade now amended: Duane Brown and a 2018 5th for Seattle’s 2018 3rd and 2019 2nd.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017

The first College Football Playoff rankings came out. Georgia is tops:

First Rankings: Top 2️⃣5️⃣ http://pic.twitter.com/2nefOfDhyV

— CFBPlayoff (@CFBPlayoff) October 31, 2017

Oh look, more Ezekiel Elliott suspension news! Elliott and the NFLPA have filed an appeal to the Second Circuit. They’re also the court that ruled in favor of the NFL in the Deflategate scandal.

The Giants have suspended cornerback Janoris Jenkins indefinitely for failing to return on time from the team’s bye week.

I find it interesting that this hasn’t gotten any traction:

Brady camp 3 days ago felt privately TB could be traded by Bill after 17. This was a Kraft decision to make it clear Brady finishes as a Pat

— Ryan Burr (@RyanBurr) October 31, 2017

Told TB relationship with BB not great and all his loyalty is too Mr Kraft. https://t.co/VWKT0CzixD

— Ryan Burr (@RyanBurr) October 31, 2017

Former 97.5 The Fanatic program director Matt Nahigian has been named program director at 95.7 The Game in San Francisco.

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In the news, eight people were killed and 11 others were hurt after a truck rammed through pedestrians in NY.

A New Jersey law that raises the smoking age from 19 to 21 takes effect today.

Paul Manafort has three passports and traveled to three countries this year under a fake name.

‘House of Cards’ production has halted after the Kevin Spacey allegations.

Sony has released a new robot dog.

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