In case you missed it, here were the top sports stories from FOX Sports Florida from Thursday, Oct. 3:
* Marcel Goc scored two third-period goals, and the Florida Panthers spoiled Lindy Ruff's debut as Dallas coach with a 4-2 victory against the Stars in the season opener on Thursday night. Read More
* The Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2013-14 season with a 3-1 loss against the Bruins in Boston on Thursday night. Valtteri Filppula scored for the Lightning, and Anders Lindback had 22 saves. Read More
* Four games into the college career of cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, even coach Will Muschamp might say Hargreaves deserved those five stars coming out of Wharton High in Tampa. Hargreaves is tied for the SEC lead with three interceptions and has epitomized what coaches often refer to as a "lockdown corner." Read More
* Florida State will be without two key defensive players when the Seminoles face Maryland in a matchup of unbeaten teams on Saturday. Defensive tackle Demonte McAllister (concussion) and safety Tyler Hunter (neck) have been ruled out, coach Jimbo Fisher said after Thursday's practice. Read More
* With 19 games between them this season, the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays meet again with much higher stakes. This ALDS series marks the first time these American League East foes have played each other in the postseason since the Rays clinched their first World Series berth in 2008 by winning the AL Championship Series in seven games. Read More
* The Jacksonville Jaguars are not going to trade running back Maurice Jones-Drew or linebacker Paul Posluszny. General manager Dave Caldwell made it clear Thursday that there is no fire sale taking place in Jacksonville, which is 0-4 for the third time in franchise history and has scored a league-low 31 points. Read More
* The Josh Freeman-Tampa Bay Buccaneers split has happened. On Thursday, general manager Mark Dominik decided to part ways with the fifth-year veteran quarterback, formerly the face of the franchise. It ends an odd, contentious eight-day period between the franchise and the former No. 17 overall pick after Freeman was benched in favor of rookie Mike Glennon on Sept. 25. Read More
* A look back at how Josh Freeman’s career with the Bucs unraveled the past few weeks. Read More
* The unflattering statistics have been dredged up. The 0-16 Detroit Lions of 2008 have been invoked. At best, the Jacksonville Jaguars can say their winless start through four weeks doesn't include the sort of off-the-field unpleasantness enveloping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Read More
* Josh Freeman has been fined more than $35,000 by the team for multiple missteps in recent weeks. The fifth-year veteran received three fines of $10,410 each for violations committed last week, including conducting an unauthorized national television interview on Sept. 26 and two missed meetings last Friday. Read More
* LeBron James is designing a watch. But if you want to get your hands on one, you may have to consider a second mortgage. Read More
* Miami is showing off its depth on offense and defense. So far this season, the Hurricanes have had 17 players record a tackle for loss, 14 players catch a pass, 10 score touchdowns and six record an interception. Read More
* Guiding the Heat to the past two NBA championships may have changed perceptions about Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. But those titles didn't change the 42-year-old who prides himself on doing the same things, with the same people, as he did before he won. Read More
