Burglars Break Into Home of Giants' Whitlock

By ESPN

Suspended New York Giants fullback Nikita Whitlock said burglars scrawled racist graffiti that included a swastika, the letters "KKK" and the phrase "Go back to Africa" when they broke into his New Jersey home on Tuesday night.

Whitlock told WCBS-TV in New York on Wednesday that jewelry and video game systems were taken and that it was the second break-in he and his family have experienced at the apartment.

"It just re-establishes that no matter where you are, no matter who you are, this can happen to you," said Whitlock, who was suspended 10 games without pay in September for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Whitlock, 25, told WCBS-TV that he and his wife and their two young children were out for a few hours when the burglary took place. Whitlock said the intruders gained access through a small window of their Bergen County residence.

"It's very disgusting, actually; it's very disheartening," Whitlock's wife, Ashley, said. "You hear about things that do happen, but you never think, 'Oh, this is going to happen to me.'"

A police investigation of the first break-in, which occurred over the Thanksgiving holiday, was ongoing, according to the WCBS-TV report.

"It's about to be 2017," Nikita Whitlock said. "Oppression, violence, racism, hatred, violence, there's no need for that."

Whitlock's 10-game ban was his second-such suspension and was for the same substance that cost him four games in 2014, according to an ESPN source. The second suspension will cost him $204,705 in salary.

Whitlock, a second-year player out of Wake Forest, was already on season-ending injured reserve with a foot injury.

Indianapolis Colts

LB Robert Mathis has not practiced or played since injuring his biceps against Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving Day. The Colts got by without Mathis in their 41-10 victory over the Jets on Monday, but now they'll also be without fellow veteran linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who was suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. The Colts need as many veterans on the field as possible as they try to remain in first place in the AFC South. -- Mike Wells

Chicago Bears

WR Marquess Wilson suffered a groin injury in last week's 26-6 victory over San Francisco. Wilson is not a household name, but he's now one of Chicago's top receivers with Alshon Jeffery suspended and Eddie Royal (toe) ailing. Wilson, who did not catch a ball against the 49ers, led the club with eight receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown in Week 12. He also dropped a sure touchdown pass that hit him squarely in the hands. Veteran guard Josh Sitton is also pushing through an ankle injury, but the Bears are probably better off with reserve guards Ted Larsen and Eric Kush. -- Jeff Dickerson

Thursday, December 8 Schedule (Time Central)

Oakland at Kansas City, 7:25 p.m.

Sunday, December 11 Schedule (All Times Central)

Pittsburgh at Buffalo, noon

Denver at Tennessee, noon

Washington at Philadelphia, noon

Arizona at Miami, noon

San Diego at Carolina, noon

Cincinnati at Cleveland, noon

Chicago at Detroit, noon

Houston at Indianapolis, noon

Minnesota at Jacksonville, noon

New York Jets at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 3:25 p.m.

Atlanta at Los Angeles, 3:25 p.m.

Seattle at Green Bay, 3:25 p.m.

Dallas at New York Giants, 7:30 p.m.