An old adage in college football has been never play for a field goal.It might be time for the pros to take heed.Particularly in overtime.For the first time in 19 years, the NFL has had two ties in a season. On consecutive weekends, no less, and punctuated by poor placekicking. It nearly was three draws, including a pair on Sunday, which would have been a league first. But Oakland knocked off Tampa Bay with 1:45 remaining in overtime by avoiding a field goal try and throwing for the winning points.Ties are strange creatures in the NFL, and coaches tend to be unsure how to avoid them. Should they be aggressive or conservative in the extra session? How do you use the clock? Most importantly, when do you strategize for a winning kick?Maybe the answer to that one is simply never.Bruce Arians and Pete Carroll were burned by that approach in the 6-6 deadlock between Arizona and Seattle last weekend. On Sunday, in a 27-27 tie in London between Washington and Cincinnati that was one of the most watchable games of a mostly pedestrian 2016 season so far, the Redskins got scorched by a field goal failure in OT. The Bengals had their kicking woes in regulation.I need to make those kicks, bottom line, said Dustin Hopkins , who hooked a 34-yarder in OT seconds after his successful kick was negated because Cincinnati called a timeout. I try my very best every time I go out, and thats kind of the only standard I can hold myself to. Obviously, I expect more from myself. I cant expect anything more from these guys. They played their heart out, so Im disappointed for them.Just as disappointing as the botched kicks by Hopkins or Arizonas Chandler Catanzaro or Seattles Steven Hauschka is the uncertainty on the part of Arians, Carroll, Washingtons Jay Gruden and Cincinnatis Marvin Lewis for handling overtime. Gruden even facetiously suggested he and his players didnt know games could end in ties.I dont know how to react, Gruden said. I didnt think it was possible to tie. I know there was a tie last week in Arizona, but I was like, `How the heck did they tie?Now we know.Draws -- yes, a nod to the 27-27 affair in England -- also confuse the playoff tiebreakers. All four of the teams who played ties this month made the playoffs last year. If they become contenders again, well, good luck figuring out all the permutations.While those ties were packed with drama, they werent necessarily filled with strong play. Its generally true that defenses get worn down quicker than offenses in the NFL, and that looked particularly true of the Bengals on Sunday. They were spared defeat as much by mistakes by Washington as anything.On the other hand, in the Cardinals-Seahawks prime tie last Sunday, the play of both defenses ranged from stingy to spectacular. Sure, there was some clunky offense, but much of it was caused by the likes of Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson.Theres also the issue of exhaustion. A 60-minute game, especially if its close and extremely physical, usually leads to underwhelming overtimes. While the situations have improved with the current rule that, barring an immediate touchdown both teams must get a possession, the coin toss to begin OT still has too big a role. The team going on offense first has a huge edge -- witness the Cowboys victory Sunday night against Philadelphia.While the NFL is loath to copy nearly anything the colleges originated, perhaps something similar to their OTs would provide a more level playing field. One thing it would ensure is no more ties.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Jordan 11 2019 . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. 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His playing days with the New York Jets could be, too.An MRI on Monday revealed that the maligned quarterback has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, and Smith seeking a second opinion on the injury that would end his season. That means Ryan Fitzpatrick is back from the bench and will start Sunday for the Jets at Cleveland.When you hear that, thats tough luck for the kid, coach Todd Bowles said during a conference call. Fitzpatrick finished the game up, and were going from there with Fitz.Smith, a second-round pick in 2013 who is scheduled to be a free agent after the season, injured his knee in his first start since 2014 while taking a sack from Baltimores Matt Judon in the second quarter of the Jets 24-16 win Sunday.Its a stunning turn of events for Smith, who didnt initially believe the injury was serious.I dont feel like it hurts a ton, Smith said after the game. Honestly, I was begging to go back out there, but I understand theyre doing their jobs, so well see how it goes (Monday) and move on from there.NFL Network first reported the severity of Smiths injury.Its the latest bout with bad luck for Smith, who lost his starting job to Fitzpatrick last summer when his jaw was broken by a punch from then-teammate IK Enemkpali.Until Sunday, Smith had appeared in just two mop-up roles since his last start in the 2014 season finale.He caught a bad break two years in a row, Bowles said. Im sure hell bounce back from it, but its a tough part of the business.With Fitzpatrick struggling with 11 interceptions in New Yorks first six games, in which the Jets started 1-5, Bowles went with Smith as his starter against the Ravens.Smith had a solid start to the game, going 4 of 8 for 95 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown to Quincy Enunwa. But he was hurt when he scrambled to his left and held onto the ball rather than throw it away on a third-down play, and took the sack.He limped off the field and was checked by trainers on the sideline before being taken to the locker room. Smith spent the second half in sweats on the sideline as Fitzpatrick helped lead the Jets to a win.I think its terrible, Enunwa said. For a guy to get his opportunity and only get a half to play, I feel bad for him.Smith drew some criticism from Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath, who wrote on Twitter : If youve got a right knee injury keeping you out of the game, why are you standing on the sideline the entire 2nd half? HHow bad can it be?Smith saw Namaths comments and responded on Twitter : Somebody tell Joe that the doctors have the final say on whether you can or cannot get back into the game .dddddddddddd.. and also that I love him!The Jets will now have to turn back to Fitzpatrick as their starting quarterback.Bryce Petty, a fourth-rounder last year, and rookie Christian Hackenberg, a second-rounder, are also on the roster. Petty has been practicing for only two weeks after recovering from a preseason shoulder injury.Bryce has to get his reads and his timing and everything else back down, Bowles said. Fitz is our best option to go in and win this week.Bowles had not determined whether Petty or Hackenberg would be the No. 2 quarterback behind Fitzpatrick, saying he would see how practice went this week.Fitzpatrick was candid after the game about how he felt owner Woody Johnson, general manager Mike Maccagnan and Bowles, among others, had lost faith in him.The biggest thing in this game, in order to last, is to have belief in yourself, Fitzpatrick said. Because when the owner stops believing in you, the GM stops believing in you and the coaches stop believing in you, sometimes all you have is yourself.So, thats kind of something Ive had to deal with before, something Im dealing with now.Fitzpatrick added that he has played better as an underdog, pissed off throughout his career, so thats what he anticipates doing, starting Sunday.Bowles brushed off Fitzpatricks comments, saying that they didnt take away from the victory and he got angry at coaches during his playing career, too. He also called the NFL a show-me game, meaning Fitzpatrick needs to look more like the guy who broke the franchise record with 31 touchdown passes last season than the interception machine from the first six starts this season.If pissed off is going to stop the turnovers, Bowles said, then Im more than happy to have him pissed off the whole time.Wide receiver Brandon Marshall also had no problem with Fitzpatrick venting his frustration.Say whatever you want to say to win games, Marshall said. Ill take it however it comes at this point.Game notes C Nick Mangold has a sprained ankle, and Bowles said the team will see how he feels as the week goes on. ... 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