The Replay: Purdue, Trent Richardson, and Indy Eleven

Every Friday, we post up The Replay, our sports roundup. It’s mostly fouls and airballs.

» Managing Expectations: Last week, IU fans had every reason to crow. The team upset No. 13 Maryland, inched forward in the Top 25, and at one point shared the Big Ten lead. Then Purdue handed No. 22 Indiana a 83-67 setback on Wednesday. But the week wasn’t a complete loss:

Also, for IU basketball fans of Notre Dame football, there’s good news. One-stop shopping is now available. The No. 8 Irish (20-2), who beat No. 4 Duke at home on Wednesday, are the best team in the state.

» Stadium Bleating: The Indy Eleven soccer club released details and renderings of a $82 million multipurpose stadium being considered by the state legislature. Of course, the news will spark a debate over whether taxpayers should foot the bill for another stadium and whether Indianapolis can sustain support for a professional soccer team (which, by the way, sold out all of its games last season). But a bigger question remains: Whose mom is bringing the juiceboxes?

» Daddy Issues: Bears (for now) and Indiana native (always!) quarterback Jay Cutler had a dismal season and now even the offseason isn’t looking any brighter. Wife Kristin Cavallari, who is famous for something, proved to be the superior player by sacking her hubby with an Instagram post that featured a series of whiny texts Jay sent while he was home alone with the couple’s two small children and she was away on a trip.  Cutler, as usual, did not pick up the blitz.

Photo via @kristincavallari on Instagram

» The Blue and Rolled: If the spectacle of  the woeful Pacers dragging the rotting corpse of the New York Knicks around Bankers Life Fieldhouse while wearing their “Flo-Jo” unis on Thursday didn’t ease the suffering their fans during of this horrendous 17-31 season, perhaps this will: Bleacher Report is doing a series of videos on Paul George’s comeback.

» He Had Run Afoul: The Colts effectively parted ways with unproductive running back Trent Richardson when, thanks to a suspension, the team was able to void his contract. Don’t feel bad for Richardson, though. He’s used to no gain.

Maybe this dude can take his roster spot:

» Now Read This: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hearts Patriots owner Robert Kraft (and vice versa) in this revealing GQ magazine story on Goodell’s season from hell.