Welcome to Monday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY MONDAY:
No games scheduled

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ The Lions dropped their second straight game Sunday, and for the second week in a row they are caught up in a controversy for their behavior on the field. The Falcons accused Lions defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Cliff Avril of taunting Matt Ryan while the Falcons quarterback was down on the turf with an injury.

“I lost a whole lot of respect for 90 [Suh] today, and also 92 [Avril], the [expletive] they were doing when Matt got hurt,” Falcons receiver Roddy White told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “That was unacceptable. … Like 92 was kicking his feet, saying, ‘Get him off the field.’ We don’t do stuff like that. We don’t rally over guys when they get hurt. It was just inappropriate behavior.”

Added Falcons center Todd McLure: “I had respect for Suh before the game. But when Matt was on the ground, the things he was saying and the trash he was talking was definitely uncalled for. … [He said], ‘Get the cart,’ and several other things that I can’t repeat.”

Avril denied the accusation, telling the Detroit Free Press, “I would never taunt anyone on an injury.” He also then claimed the Falcons were the dirty players, which he said the film would confirm.

Last week, coach Jim Schwartz chased after 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh for an overly aggressive postgame handshake, and Avril had a couple of confrontations with 49ers offensive lineman Anthony Davis (followed by a Twitter back-and-forth between the two).

♦ Yankees ace CC Sabathia might or might not stay in New York, but he’s leaving his mark as part-owner of a Hooters-style restaurant that opened over the weekend in Manhattan.

♦ With no sign of a resolution in the NBA dispute, Shaun Powell at NBA.com writes that the league needs to get a deal in place in time to have games on Christmas Day, which he says is opening night for casual fans.

♦ The New York Daily News has a feature on former Mets general manager (and Massachusetts native) Jim Duquette, whose 9-year-old daughter is battling a rare kidney disease.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Oct. 24, 1990, the Red Sox bought out the contract of which outfielder, making him a free agent?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s been a privilege to be part of the Red Sox for the last decade and an honor to work alongside some of the most talented and dedicated people in baseball.” – Outgoing Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, in a full-page Boston Globe ad Sunday

STAT OF THE DAY: 4 – Running backs in NFL history with 600 career receptions, as LaDanian Tomlinson joined the list during the Jets’ victory over the Chargers Sunday

‘NET RESULTS: A Yankees fan pokes fun at the Red Sox’ unsettled situation with this parody ad.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Dwight Evans, who would sign with the Orioles after 19 years in Boston

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Santo Farina of Santo & Johnny turns 74 Monday.

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