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Alabama quarterback Bryce Young enters the 2022 season as the reigning Heisman-winning SEC Champion who led his team to a win in the Cotton Bowl. Though he has two more years of eligibility, he will likely forgo his senior season to declare for the 2023 NFL draft.
There’s a lot of pressure on Young to not just repeat his Heisman season, but improve upon it. With a new cast of skill players surrounding him, that include a handful of high-profile transfer, the offense is expected to be the star of the show.
ESPN recently revealed quotes from anonymous in-conference coaches regarding quarterbacks from various schools.
It’s not much, but it’s spot on. Young’s abilities allow him to stand alone at the top of the SEC as the best quarterback in the conference. His accuracy and awareness to play the game at a high level are exactly the qualities that make him an attractive candidate for No. 1 overall in 2023.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Alabama football as the 2022 offseason comes to a close.
Will Anderson Jr.: ' I haven't reached my full potential yet'
Italian newcomers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi scored late goals and Toronto FC beat Portland 3-1 on Saturday night to end the Timbers' unbeaten streak at 10 games. Captain Michael Bradley set up Insigne’s tiebreaking goal in the 79th minute, scooping the ball into the penalty box toward Insigne. | 2022-08-14T22:50:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | What an anonymous SEC coach had to say about Bryce Young | https://sports.yahoo.com/anonymous-sec-coach-had-bryce-182101823.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/anonymous-sec-coach-had-bryce-182101823.html?src=rss |
Due to the early offer, many thought that Hanafin was an Irish lean. An official visit in June of this year continued to fuel that but ultimately that was not the case. Today, Hanafin announced his verbal commitment to Clemson, taking another name off the board for Marcus Freeman and the Irish.
Fortunately, the cupboard isn’t bare at the position, with commitments from Jaden Greathouse, Braylon James, and Rico Flores. What this does mean is that Freeman has to go back to the drawing board to find another receiver recruit if four in the 2023 class was the desired number. Time will tell if that is the case, but for now the Irish have three very good commitments for their current cycle. | 2022-08-14T22:50:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Notre Dame misses out on late rising athlete from Massachusetts | https://sports.yahoo.com/notre-dame-misses-rising-athlete-223709335.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/notre-dame-misses-rising-athlete-223709335.html?src=rss |
Christian Walker had four hits, including a 460-foot homer, and drove in four runs, leading rookie Tommy Henry and the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Colorado Rockies 7-4 on Sunday. Walker hit two doubles along with his 27th home run. Henry (2-1) won in his third career start, allowing three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Chris Bassitt hurled five scoreless innings, Francisco Lindor set the franchise record for RBIs by a shortstop and the New York Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 Sunday for their 17th win in 20 games. Burly slugger Daniel Vogelbach homered and Mark Canha had two hits for New York, which moved 35 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1988 season. The Mets posted their second straight shutout and kept 5 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta atop the NL East. | 2022-08-14T23:19:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mets take another series win, crush Phillies 6-0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/mets-another-series-win-crush-212200245.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mets-another-series-win-crush-212200245.html?src=rss |
Rafael Nadal's taking it slow after last month's abdominal tear at Wimbledon. He's hopeful he'll be ready to play Wednesday night in Cincinnati.
Chelsea Gray had 33 points, seven rebounds and nine assists and Las Vegas wrapped up the best regular-season record in the WNBA, defeating Seattle 109-100 in a regular-season finale on Sunday. Kelsey Plum, who had 23 points for the Aces, scored seven points in the final minute. | 2022-08-14T23:19:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Nadal puts fitness atop his Cincinnati priority list | https://sports.yahoo.com/nadal-puts-fitness-atop-cincinnati-165538234.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nadal-puts-fitness-atop-cincinnati-165538234.html?src=rss |
Al Pearce
Photo credit: James Gilbert - Getty Images
Kevin Harvick took the lead from Joey Logano with 66 laps to go and held off Christopher Bell at Richmond Raceway on Sunday for his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory. Harvick, who ended a 65-race drought last week at Michigan, won for the 60th time, the fourth time at Richmond and first time on the 0.75-mile oval since 2013. Harvick's victory also kept alive the intriguing battle for the final playoff position with two races remaining in the regular season. | 2022-08-14T23:19:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Richard Childress Still Fuming Over Tyler Reddick's Decision to Leave NASCAR Cup Team | https://sports.yahoo.com/richard-childress-still-fuming-over-215900156.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/richard-childress-still-fuming-over-215900156.html?src=rss |
“I felt like he was really, really good,” Lin said of his former teammate. "I did not think he was going to be that good.”
Curry, in his second NBA season that year, played 33.6 minutes per game -- a decrease from his playing time as a rookie. Multiple times, Curry found himself oddly getting benched in the fourth quarter by coach Keith Smart.
“As poorly as he was treated, he still averaged 18 or 19 points,” Lin said. “I thought, 'Imagine when this guy gets a couple more years of experience under his belt, and really gets the reins, the keys to the franchise, what he will be able to do.’
“So, I always knew he was going to be great. But I didn't know he was going to be like legendary, revolutionary, transforming the entire course of basketball. I did not expect all of that."
Curry, now the league's all-time 3-point king, changed the game forever.
Basketball at all levels -- from the NBA to weekend pick-up games at the YMCA -- gravitated towards the arc, prompting some online trolls to claim Curry damaged the game, a claim the superstar refutes.
“Stop tagging me in all these horrible basketball clips of people taking bad shots, telling me I ruined the game," Curry joked on the “Knuckleheads” podcast earlier this year. I did not tell you to shoot that shot.”
RELATED: Neymar nails Steph's 'night night' celly after dagger goal
"So, don’t skip that process. It is a fun way to play, and it’s dope to know that everybody feels an attachment to it."
Sure, Lin didn't see Curry developing into the generational, game-changing talent he is today. But he saw plenty of star potential in the young sharpshooter. | 2022-08-14T23:20:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steph Curry shocked Jeremy Lin by transforming basketball forever | https://sports.yahoo.com/steph-curry-shocked-jeremy-lin-213002332.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steph-curry-shocked-jeremy-lin-213002332.html?src=rss |
Some of the different regulations that were put in place around the COVID-19 pandemic were not just related to masks and testing. Some were pretty significant changes to how the football business was done in the NFL.
A few changes might linger but, like most if not all of the health and safety protocols, most have been eliminated going into the 2022 NFL season.
One of the biggest was the all-at-once cutting down of rosters from the 90-man to the 53-man at the end of the preseason. The chaotic nature, for both fans and the front offices around the league, was both fun and overwhelming.
Starting Tuesday of this week, that changes as we return to the slow steady reduction process. We have already seen teams over the weekend begin reducing their rosters from 90 to 85. Instead of risking injury to players they may cut in a couple of days, teams are getting ahead of things.
The Cleveland Browns have not made moves yet with this in mind. One of those moves could be placing OL Nick Harris on season-ending injured reserve. The same would be true if QB Deshaun Watson is suspended for the entire season.
It will be interesting if players like LB Jordan Kunaszyk and DE Chris Odom, both signed in the last two weeks, would be among the first set of cuts.
We will keep you up to date right here with all roster moves as the team starts the slow process of getting down to their initial 53-man roster. | 2022-08-15T00:19:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Browns must reduce roster by 5 players by Tuesday | https://sports.yahoo.com/browns-must-reduce-roster-5-234049623.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/browns-must-reduce-roster-5-234049623.html?src=rss |
The Raiders have completed their second preseason game of the year, defeating the Minnesota Vikings. But much like in the Hall of Fame game, most of the key starters did not play for the Raiders. That includes the likes of Derek Carr, Davante Adams, Darren Waller, etc.
One of the main differences in this game was that Josh Jacobs did not play in this contest. Instead, it was Zamir White who got the start. While his numbers were very pedestrian, it was notable that he did play ahead of veterans Kenyan Drake and Ameer Abdullah.
Both Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens led touchdown drives for the Raiders and made several big plays on third down. They were able to convert multiple fourth-down conversions to keep drives alive that led to points.
The biggest storyline from this game was the offensive line, once again. Brandon Parker remains out with an injury, but it was seventh-round pick Thayer Munford who got the start at right tackle.
Alex Leatherwood didn’t get onto the field until the second half and that feels somewhat notable considering he is in a battle for a starting job entering Year 2. Even after the Parker injury, it appears that Leatherwood continues to tumble down the depth chart.
Overall, it was a fairly successful preseason game for the Raiders. Their next preseason game will be against the Dolphins in Miami on Saturday at 7:00 PM ET. Don’t be surprised if this is the game in which Josh McDaniels plays some more of his starters on both sides of the ball. | 2022-08-15T00:20:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raiders defeat Vikings in second preseason game, 26-20 | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-defeat-vikings-second-preseason-231128545.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-defeat-vikings-second-preseason-231128545.html?src=rss |
The NFL preseason doesn’t count. No matter how great a team may have looked, or how many wins they stacked — as the Houston Texans did with a 17-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints Aug. 13 — they don’t count.
The same goes for mistakes and losses. Interceptions chucked, fumbles lost, or defeats don’t count against a player or team.
Nevertheless Texans quarterback Davis Mills treated his two series against the Saints inside NRG Stadium the same as if he were going against them with the first win of the regular season on the line.
“I think it’s kind of the same,” Mills told reporters. “You’re not getting some of the exotic pressures that you’ll get later in the season when teams really start game planning against you. But I mean, there’s still guys on the other side of the field that are NFL players and are extremely talented. You’ve got to go out there and play to the best of your abilities and win each rep on any given play. You can’t take anything for granted.”
Mills took to his “can’t go broke turning a profit” philosophy as he was a perfect 3-3 for 14 yards. Both of Houston’s first-team offensive drives ended with three-and-outs, which technically is better than ending in a turnover.
Even though the Texans still have two more preseason games, the mood in the locker room is to continue treating the next eight quarters as consequentially as regular season play.
Said Mills: “You’ve got to go out there and perform. We’re stressing that in the locker room too. These games do matter. Any time we’re keeping score out there, we want to win. The team believes that, and that’s what we did tonight.”
The Texans get back in action against the Los Angeles Rams Aug. 19 at SoFi Stadium. | 2022-08-15T00:21:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans QB Davis Mills treated preseason reps the same as regular season action | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-qb-davis-mills-treated-225345988.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-qb-davis-mills-treated-225345988.html?src=rss |
Jeff Driskel may have blown the game with his third interception with 4:10 to go, but the Houston Texans defense got the ball back.
With 2:15 left in the preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints Aug. 13 at NRG Stadium, the Texans had a shot to give new coach Lovie Smith his first win ever, even if it was in an exhibition contest.
“We practice two-minute every single day,” Driskel told reporters. “It’s something that we’re super comfortable with. Most games come down to a two-minute situation.”
For Driskel, who finished with 16-of-26 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, the positive play that gave Houston a realistic shot was receiver Chad Beebe’s decision on the Blake Gillikin 35-yard punt.
“Chad Beebe fair caught the ball on the 10-yard line,” said Driskel. “I thought that was an unbelievable decision. You know that ball hits the ground, bounces around a little bit and we’re backed up on the 1- or 2-yard line, it could be a different scenario. So, that was huge.”
The Texans were able to go 90 yards in seven plays, melting 1:50 off the clock as Driskel capped off the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to receiver Johnny Johnson to give Houston a 17-13 win.
“Obviously, the defense getting the stop to force the punt and then just going out and executing,” Driskel said. “That’s what it’s all about. The players are out there. We’ve just got to go execute, and we did that at a high level on that drive.”
The Texans will get another chance to showcase their consistency in execution when they take on the Los Angeles Rams Aug. 19 at SoFi Stadium.
The Virginia-class vessel is expected to launch in early 2023 at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Connecticut | 2022-08-15T00:21:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans QB Jeff Driskel credits WR Chad Beebe for heads-up fair catch to setup game-winning drive | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-qb-jeff-driskel-credits-232530496.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-qb-jeff-driskel-credits-232530496.html?src=rss |
Former American football running back
The first preseason game is an opportunity to make a great first impression.
Back in 1995, legendary Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis made a great impression on the first kickoff of the first game. He leveled the return man and set the tone for his Hall of Fame career.
While the story of rookie fifth-round pick Ty Chandler has yet to be written, his NFL career certainly looks to be off to a great start after his performance in Sunday’s preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.
On his first play, Chandler showed great patience and explosiveness on a simple zone run.
#Vikings rookie RB Ty Chandler picks up 14 yards on his first preseason carry pic.twitter.com/3LvvWfvi9O
He had a couple more nice runs on that drive as well.
His most impressive play came on a kick return after the Raiders scored a touchdown to take a 16-6 lead.
Chandler showed great contact balance at the beginning when he got blown up. He bounced the return to the right and took it 56 yards. That return led to a Kellen Mond touchdown pass to Albert Wilson. | 2022-08-15T00:21:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Vikings Rookie Ty Chandler run circles around Raiders | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-vikings-rookie-ty-chandler-224800595.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-vikings-rookie-ty-chandler-224800595.html?src=rss |
American football full backs
Steve Worster, one of the famed running backs in Texas’ vaunted Wishbone attack of the late ’60s and early ’70s, died Saturday at the age of 73.
Worster (No. 30 in the above picture) played for the Longhorns from 1968-70. Three years was it back then as freshmen were not eligible to play varsity ball.
He took part in Texas’ legendary 15-14 victory over Arkansas in 1969, a December triumph that saw then-President Richard Nixon crown the Longhorns national champions after the game.
To top that, he ran for 155 yards on 20 carries in the Longhorns’ 21-17 victory over Notre Dame in the 1970 Cotton Bowl.
Worster rushed for 2,353 yards and 36 touchdowns on 457 carries. With 898 rushing yards and a then UT record and SWC-leading 14 TD runs on 160 carries (5.6 yards per carry) in 10 games as a senior. One must remember the Wishbone offense divvied carries among three backs and the quarterback
Worster finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a senior behind Stanford’s Jim Plunkett, Notre Dame’s Joe Theismann and Archie Manning of Ole Miss.
Per Texassports.com:
Hall of Fame and legendary Longhorn Sports Information Director Bill Little says “Long before the buzz phrase ‘GOAT’ became a moniker for the ‘Greatest of All Time,’ there was Steve Worster. He was arguably the best that ever was in his time. For those who saw him play in the late 1960s as an All-American fullback at Texas, if he wasn’t the ‘best’ to play the game at Texas, no one was better.”
Although Worster was chosen by the Los Angeles Rams as the 12th pick in the fourth round of the 1971 draft (the Rams’ fourth pick overall), he did not play in the NFL. Worster spent one year (1971) in the CFL, playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, | 2022-08-15T00:38:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Legendary Texas Longhorns RB Steve Worster dies at 73 | https://sports.yahoo.com/legendary-texas-longhorns-rb-steve-231010873.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/legendary-texas-longhorns-rb-steve-231010873.html?src=rss |
Michigan State football’s assistant offensive line coach Jarrod James has announced via Twitter that he will be leaving his position at Michigan State to take a job as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans.
James will leave his position as assistant offensive line coach, where he served as offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic’s right-hand man. Look for Kapilovic to fill this role sooner rather than later.
After completing my #BillWalsh Fellowship, I’m humbled & excited to begin with the @HoustonTexans as an Offensive Assistant. Coaching in the @NFL has been my dream. Looking forward to pouring my best into the players, staff, organization & city!
— Jarrod James (@JarrodJames51) August 14, 2022
Michigan State football came up short on Sunday in a battle for four-star safety prospect Jayden Bonsu | 2022-08-15T00:38:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Michigan State football loses assistant coach to Houston Texans | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-loses-assistant-001434316.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-loses-assistant-001434316.html?src=rss |
Will Zalatoris forced, then survived a wild three-hole playoff on Sunday at the St. Jude Championship to secure his first win on the PGA Tour and the lead in the FedEx Cup Championship. The victory in the first of three championship playoff events gives him the inside track to the playoff's $18 million first-place prize.
Straka, meanwhile, took a drop and a one-stroke penalty after his drive landed near a water hazard that would have forced him to stand in the water for his shot. Like Zalatoris, he saved par to force the third and final playoff hole at par-3 11th. That's when the fireworks really started.
Zalatoris' approach shot to the waterside green came up short and right. But he averted disaster by the most dramatic of margins as his ball bounced softly off a waterside wall then wedged in between the wall and the greenside rough — instead of back into the water.
Straka wasn't as fortunate. His approach was likewise short and right. But his bounced back into the water.
The top 70 remaining players advance to next week's BMW Championship at Delaware's Wilmington Country Club. The top 30 from there advance to the Tour Championship at Atlanta's East Lake Golf Club, where the winner will take home the first-place $18 million prize. | 2022-08-15T00:47:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | Will Zalatoris survives wild ping-pong shot in playoff for first PGA Tour win, lead in $18M FedEx Cup playoff | https://sports.yahoo.com/will-zalitoris-survives-wild-ping-pong-shot-in-playoff-for-first-pga-tour-win-lead-in-18-m-fed-ex-cup-playoff-001615697.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/will-zalitoris-survives-wild-ping-pong-shot-in-playoff-for-first-pga-tour-win-lead-in-18-m-fed-ex-cup-playoff-001615697.html?src=rss |
Queen Egbo with a Block vs. Washington Mystics
Queen Egbo (Indiana Fever) with a Block vs. Washington Mystics, 08/14/2022
Anne Heche's Ex-Husband Coley Laffoon Bids Her Emotional Farewell, Vows To Take Care Of Their Son
Anne Heche's ex-husband is thanking her for all she brought into his life. Coley Laffoon shared a heartfelt Instagram message in the late actress' honor following the news that she was declared legally dead one week after a car accident. Laffoon reflected on Heche's memory and expressed gratitude for the condolences he and his family have received, promising to take care of their 20-year-old son, Homer. | 2022-08-15T00:55:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Queen Egbo with a Block vs. Washington Mystics | https://sports.yahoo.com/queen-egbo-block-vs-washington-213913503.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/queen-egbo-block-vs-washington-213913503.html?src=rss |
Shey Peddy with an Assist vs. Chicago Sky
Shey Peddy (Phoenix Mercury) with an Assist vs. Chicago Sky, 08/14/2022
In Mr. Malcolm’s List, the nature of love is as diverse as the groundbreaking period rom-com’s casting. The Regency-era film, adapted from Suzanne Allain’s book of the same name and directed by Emma Holly Jones in her feature debut, follows the romantic rollercoasters of four distinctly different people navigating the courting season: the handsome but […] | 2022-08-15T00:55:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Shey Peddy with an Assist vs. Chicago Sky | https://sports.yahoo.com/shey-peddy-assist-vs-chicago-231523814.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/shey-peddy-assist-vs-chicago-231523814.html?src=rss |
The 49ers had a light practice in their first action since Friday’s preseason opener. Despite a padless day they had eight players sitting out the session according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
This is the point of the preseason where injuries start cropping up. Pushing players back into action at this point could jeopardize their Week 1 status, so San Francisco will likely keep some players out longer than usual to ensure they’re fully healthy.
Among the players who did suit up for the 49ers on Sunday were defensive linemen Drake Jackson and Hassan Ridgeway. Jackson left Friday’s game vs. the Packers with a shoulder injury that turned out to just be a stinger. Ridgeway strained his quad the first week of camp and made his first appearance in practice since the injury.
Here’s who didn’t participate:
Mitchell was also out of Friday’s game with a hamstring strain. He’ll miss at least the second preseason game vs. the Vikings, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team holds him out until the regular season begins.
Ward strained his hamstring in the week leading up to the preseason opener. He may not have played in any exhibition games anyway, so the team surely won’t rush their top cornerback back onto the field. He’s another player we may not see until after preseason games are over.
Armstead sprained his MCL the first week of camp. He was expected to be out a couple weeks. Shanahan on Saturday indicated he could conceivably come back right away, but the team isn’t in a rush to get such an important player back for the preseason. If he practices again it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the team wait until after their joint practices with the Vikings.
OL Jaylon Moore (lower leg strain)
Moore is still out with an injury he suffered in the first week of padded practices. Shanahan in early August indicated Moore’s return could be imminent, but he’s still not suiting up with the second preseason game looming.
WR Danny Gray (hip, back)
There’s nothing too alarming here. Shanahan said the team would hold Gray out with some back and hip soreness after his first professional game. The good news for the 49ers and their rookie wide receiver is Gray should return for joint practices in Minnesota.
Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Brunskill’s chances to start on the 49ers’ offensive line might’ve been derailed when he suffered a hamstring strain in the preseason opener. Shanahan said it’ll be a few weeks before he returns to action, so Week 1 could be on the table, but if not it’ll be Jake Brendel at center for San Francisco in Chicago.
There’s a sliver of good news in the bad news that McGlinchey is dealing with some irritation in his knee. Shanahan said that while McGlinchey did have some irritation, there’s nothing wrong with the surgically repaired areas of his leg following last year’s quad injury. This is another scenario where the team will take extra precaution to ensure he can play in the opener.
The most significant injury for the 49ers in their preseason opener came when Johnson took a knee to the ribs and fractured cartilage. He’s week-to-week per Shanahan so his absence was expected.
Moseley wasn’t expected to be out long when he strained his hamstring in the lead-up to Friday’s game. One week was the original timeline for his return, but the team may be waiting for padded practices to bring him back.
Robinson was another player to go down in the preseason opener. He’s dealing with a groin strain that Shanahan said will keep him out a week. Robinson is on the outside looking in at a roster spot, so he could be a player the club gets back into action as soon as possible to give him a chance to compete for a job. | 2022-08-15T01:49:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | 10 49ers out of practice following preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/10-49ers-practice-following-preseason-000917917.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/10-49ers-practice-following-preseason-000917917.html?src=rss |
Bears running back David Montgomery is one of the NFL’s most underrated players. But it seems like he’s garnering respect from his peers.
Montgomery has clocked in at No. 98 on NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2022. It’s Montgomery’s first time appearing on the Top 100 but hopefully not the last.
Montgomery has been the primary back since being drafted by the Bears back in 2019, which included logging his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2020. He was on pace for his second straight 1,000-yard campaign before being sidelined for four games with a knee injury. Montgomery finished his 2021 season with 225 carries for 849 yards (3.8 YPC) and seven touchdowns.
🗣️ YESSIRSKI@MontgomerDavid makes his #NFLTop100 debut at No. 98 pic.twitter.com/VRpqM5jW1Y
Montgomery will once again be the featured back in Luke Getsy’s offense, which will be a run-heavy scheme. But Montgomery will be sharing the workload with Khalil Herbert and possibly Trestan Ebner, similar to what we’ve seen in Green Bay with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
Montgomery is in the final year of his rookie deal, but he’s not worried about a contract extension right now. We’ll see if he factors into the Bears’ future plans.
But for now, it’s good to see Montgomery get the respect he deserves.
30 Most Important Bears of 2022: No. 13 David Montgomery
Implementation of these services will begin immediately with the goal of all schools having access to telehealth services by the end of this school year, according to the district. | 2022-08-15T01:49:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears RB David Montgomery lands at No. 98 on Top 100 Players of 2022 | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-rb-david-montgomery-lands-003325213.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-rb-david-montgomery-lands-003325213.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Jimmie Ward No. 96
San Francisco 49ers free safety Jimmie Ward has been voted as the No. 96 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T01:50:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Jimmie Ward No. 96 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-jimmie-004150864.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-jimmie-004150864.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Leonard Williams No. 97
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams has been voted as the No. 97 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T01:51:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Leonard Williams No. 97 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-leonard-003455373.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-leonard-003455373.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Odell Beckham Jr. No. 90
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been voted as the No. 90 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T01:51:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Odell Beckham Jr. No. 90 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-odell-011616318.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-odell-011616318.html?src=rss |
A product of Boston College, Barros was a local guy who was born in Boston in 1967. Drafted with the 16th overall pick of the 1989 NBA draft by the Seattle Supersonics, Barros would play for that team and the Philadelphia 76ers before joining the Celtics in 1995 and would be dealt to the Dallas Mavericks in a massive, four-team deal in 2000.
He would be dealt yet again to the Detroit Pistons two months later.
Dana Barros Celtics
Dana Barros signed a deal as a player after being out of the league for nearly two seasons, having worked as an assistant for the Celtics before inking the deal as a player.
Barros would play one more game as a Celtic before retiring. He averaged 10.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while a Celtic.
Happy birthdays Chucky Atkins, Frank Brickowski and Fred Roberts! pic.twitter.com/c1gykwLdwQ
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) August 14, 2020
It is the birthday of ex-Boston big man Frank Brickowski, born this day in 1959 in Bayville, New York.
A product of Penn State, Brickowski would also play for the Supersonics, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, and Charlotte Hornets before signing as a free agent with the Celtics in 1996.
Brickowski averaged 4.8 points and 2 rebounds per game with the Celtics retiring at the end of the 1996-97 season.
Boston Celtics’ Marcus Banks, center, is congratulated by teammates, Chucky Atkins, left, and Walter Mc Carty, right, after Banks forced a key turnover against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at the Fleet Center, Friday, April 2, 2004, in Boston. The Celtics won the game, 111-106. (AP Photo/Jim Rogash)
Former Celtic point guard Chucky Atkins shares the birthday with Brickowski, born in 1974 in Orlando, Florida.
Atkins played his NCAA ball at the University of South Florida and would play for the Orlando Magic and the Pistons before coming to Boston in a trade with Detroit.
Indiana Pacers’ Jamaal Tinsley, left, knocks the ball away from Boston Celtics’ Chucky Atkins in the fourth quarter during the fourth game of their NBA playoff game in Boston, Sunday, April 25, 2004. Pacers won 90-75.(AP Photo/Jim Rogash)
Atkins was with the Celtics for 24 games of the 2003-04 season, averaging 12 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game while with Boston.
He would be dealt with Jumaine Jones and Chris Mihm to the Los Angeles Lakers for Rick Fox, Gary Payton, and draft assets.
May 15, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics logo is seen at center court before game seven of the second round of the 2022 NBA playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis, center, cheers with the Boston Celtics on Thursday, Jan. 15, 1988, in Brookline, Massachusetts during a taping of an anti-drug and alcohol video for anti-drug school program. Dukakis is surrounded by Celtics Fred Roberts, upper-left; Kelvin McHale; lower left and Larry Bird, with Greg Kite, upper-right and Artis Gilmore seated behind Dukakis at Hellenic College in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Carol Francavilla)
It is also the birthday of Boston big man Fred Roberts, born in Provo Utah on this day in 1960.
BYU alumni, Roberts played for the Spurs and Utah Jazz, who traded him to the Celtics for the pick that would be used to draft current Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan and would play two seasons for Boston.
He averaged 5.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and an assist per game with the team before being drafted by the Miami Heat in the 1988 NBA expansion draft.
Bowman Gum Company
It is also the day former Celtics guard Jack “Dutch” Garfinkel passed away in 2013.
A product of St. John’s University, Garfinkle would play in the rival American Basketball League (ABL) and National Basketball League (NBL — not to be confused with today’s Australian league) before joining Boston in its inaugural campaign of 1946-47.
He would average 5.2 points and 1.5 assists per game while with the Celtics. | 2022-08-15T02:18:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | On this day: Barros signed; Atkins, Brickowski, Roberts born; Garfinkle passes | https://sports.yahoo.com/day-barros-signed-atkins-brickowski-175449825.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/day-barros-signed-atkins-brickowski-175449825.html?src=rss |
Aug. 14—From the outside, it's not hard to imagine new Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire's arrival being somewhat uncomfortable.
The remaining Red Sox haven't made any attempt to hide their disappointment at seeing Vazquez go, but if there is any lingering resentment over the deal, it hasn't been directed at McGuire.
Nearly two weeks into his time with the Red Sox, McGuire is getting settled in and has begun to establish his own place within the clubhouse. Though it'll be a while before he develops anywhere near the same rapport and knowledge of the pitching staff that Vazquez had, McGuire said his new teammates have been accepting and he's getting more comfortable in his new role each day.
"I've been welcomed," McGuire said. "I played with Christian Arroyo growing up a little bit with travel ball and Team USA so I knew him for a long time, and I knew Bobby Dalbec a bit from playing against him. Baseball is a small world so a couple of guys I've known definitely makes it more comforting."
"Obviously the events that led to him getting here hurt, we lost Vazqy, a guy who's been here for 15 years, but looking forward from that moment, Reese fits us perfectly," Arroyo said. "He's a good baseball player, he's got a good IQ when it comes to the game and he fits in great with our guys and in our clubhouse. He's been a very welcome addition."
Acquired in exchange for left-handed reliever Jake Diekman, McGuire was a 2013 first-round pick who is now in his fifth season as a big league catcher. He played his first four years in Toronto, where he regularly faced off against the Red Sox, and since his arrival he's regularly worked with club legend Jason Varitek, fellow catcher Kevin Plawecki, pitching coach Dave Bush and the rest of the pitching staff to get up to speed.
"He's learning the whole staff pretty well and individually we're all sitting down with him trying to get on the same page and figure out what we like throwing to different hitters and all that kind of stuff," said relief pitcher John Schreiber. "So he's been good."
Varitek, who serves as the club's game planning coordinator, said he's been impressed by McGuire since he arrived, calling him a bright young man with a lot of ability. He added that they haven't been shy about putting a lot on his plate and so far he's done a good job rising to the occasion.
"We've tried to jam as much information down his throat and he's handled all of it," Varitek said.
McGuire said working with Varitek in particular has been a treat, and he's been pleasantly surprised by how involved the longtime Red Sox catcher is behind the scenes.
"He's one of the hardest working coaches I've seen and I've only been here a week and a half," McGuire said. "Like today I saw him on the treadmill with his iPad in hand marking up some things as he's doing his conditioning, so when I saw that today I kind of smiled, like man I'm in a good place. Tek's been nothing but amazing for me and I really look forward to working with him more."
Though McGuire has historically been a non-contributor offensively throughout his career, he has always been well regarded defensively and has come up with some big hits since joining the Red Sox. Entering Saturday he was batting .467 with a .500 on-base percentage through five games, and he also reached on a bunt in the 10th inning of Friday's 3-2 win over the New York Yankees, which immediately preceded Tommy Pham's walk-off single.
Going forward McGuire said he's excited for this new chapter, and while he's respectful of how much Vazquez meant to his new teammates, he doesn't feel any pressure to live up to him.
"I've always had respect for Vazqy back there, competing against him, and I've learned a lot watching a guy like him," McGuire said. "If anything I want to come in and be myself, not be anything more, because I feel like what I can bring to this team is a winning mentality as well.
"It's nice to join a club that wants to win and is hungry to win and be better and show up to the ballpark looking for ways to get better," he continued. "We've got two months of baseball left and the way we look at it we hope we have three months of baseball left."
"The stuff is good, obviously he had a hard time there in Philly," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "We feel like there are a few things that we can adjust and maximize his repertoire."
Familia was officially activated prior to Saturday's game against the Yankees.
Since Chaim Bloom arrived in Boston a certain dynamic has developed that's somewhat paradoxical the more you think about it.
Chris Sale's $30 million per year over a three-year stretch he's barely pitched is an obvious culprit, but the problem goes deeper than that. The Red Sox have also continued paying David Price $16 million per year each of the past three seasons since he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade, and until last offseason the club was still paying long-retired Dustin Pedroia $12.1 million as well.
But Price's money finally comes off the books this offseason, along with nearly $100 million in existing payroll from pending free agents. Bloom has never had anywhere near that kind of financial flexibility before, so it will be telling how he approaches this offseason.
If Bloom continues to take an incremental cost-conscious approach, then we can presume that truly is his preferred method. But he could also take a much bolder, more aggressive approach this offseason too with the purse strings loosened, and if so he may have a chance to rewrite the narrative that has followed him through his first three years on the job.
"At the time in Cleveland we were renting a house. Four bedroom, a yard, it was huge," Cora said. "The price was the price, right? So I get traded for Ramon we go ok we just switch places. It was pretty similar as far as the price of the house and... his one bedroom apartment."
"When I got here it was like the shower, the living room and that's it," he continued. "It was for the same price and he got the benefits of the house."
Cora shared the anecdote on Friday while talking about how the team's new trade deadline acquisitions have settled in. He said having the off day on Monday helped to work out all the logistics and that Tommy Pham, Eric Hosmer and Reese McGuire are now all ready to contribute from here on out.
Methuen's Jacob Wallace endured a bit of a rough patch this summer after a strong start with the Portland Sea Dogs, but over the past three weeks he has been lights out.
Since July 22 Wallace has appeared in seven games, and during that time he's posted a 0.96 ERA in 9.1 innings while holding opposing batters to a .097 batting average and a microscopic .394 OPS. He's also limited batters to a .095 batting average on balls in play, and in his most recent outing on Aug. 10 Wallace pitched two perfect innings to earn the win in Portland's 10-inning, walk-off victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
Overall Wallace is 3-2 with a 4.73 ERA, 55 strikeouts and a save in 40 innings on the season at Double-A. He currently ranks as the No. 59 prospect in the Red Sox system according to SoxProspects.com's latest rankings. | 2022-08-15T02:18:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Despite sting of losing Vazquez, Sox have embraced new catcher McGuire | https://sports.yahoo.com/despite-sting-losing-vazquez-sox-111800232.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/despite-sting-losing-vazquez-sox-111800232.html?src=rss |
Coming out of the MLB trade deadline, the new-look Royals returned to Kansas City with a scrappy, young roster — featuring seven rookie position players — and a whole lot of good vibes. But they were also set to welcome three playoff-contending teams to Kauffman Stadium for the longest homestand of the season.
As the dust settled on an 11-game stretch that included series with the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, the Royals (48-68) walked away having won two of the three series and seven of 11 games during homestand.
While they didn’t take the final series from the Dodgers, a World Series favorite with the best record in the majors, they won the final game and snapped the Dodgers’ win streak at 12 games behind a spectacular pitching performance from Brady Singer.
The Royals’ record of 7-4 during the homestand marked their most wins on a homestand since they went 7-1 from Aug, 24-Sept. 2, 2018. And Royals rookies drove in 42 of the 57 runs (73.7%) during the homestand.
The Royals bounced back against the Dodgers after having been routed on Saturday night in a 13-3 loss.
Their 4-0 win on Sunday, behind six one-hit innings from Singer, gave the Royals’ pitching staff its seventh shutout win of the season, with relievers Amir Garrett, Dylan Coleman and Scott Barlow (19th save) keeping the Dodgers’ offense stifled in the late innings.
“I think when you look at the homestand as a whole, it was a pretty successful one,” Royals rookie first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. “I think a lot of guys in this clubhouse are going to take a lot of pride in today’s win and a team that kind of, yesterday, handled us pretty good. We were able to come back on a quick turnaround and be able to get a win. So I think that was kind of a good morale thing for this team.”
Pasquantino, whose three hits Sunday included a home run, went 14 for 33 at the plate with two doubles and four home runs in nine games during the homestand.
Saturday night’s game also marked the largest crowd at Kauffman Stadium this season, with a large contingent of Dodgers fans contributing to the 29,689 attendance figure.
The Royals now head out on a seven-game road trip that includes three games in Minnesota against the AL Central-rival Twins followed by four games in St. Petersburg, Florida, against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“It was fun, having a lot of life and energy and the fans into it and excited about our club,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “It was good to show these guys too, show a really good team what kind of club we can be when we get things clicking.
“We showed it to them that first day a little bit too. I think they knew that they were in a fight. To come through with it today to cap off a really good homestand and have the kind of support that we’ve had here, it’s been a special homestand.”
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Kansas linebackers coach Chris Simpson thinks, over the last year, no one in his position group has improved more than Taiwan Berryhill. | 2022-08-15T02:18:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kansas City Royals star Sal Perez: ‘We showed who we can be during this homestand’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/kansas-city-royals-star-sal-004811771.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kansas-city-royals-star-sal-004811771.html?src=rss |
Red Sox vs. Yankees live stream: How to watch series finale at Fenway Park originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox cannot afford to lose too many more games if they're going to secure one of the three wild card playoff spots in the American League.
The Red Sox entered Sunday 4.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the third and final wild card berth. Including the Rays, there are four teams ahead of the Red Sox in the race for that postseason spot.
Boston needs to go on a winning streak to put itself in a strong position going into September, and Sunday night's series finale against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park is a good time and place to get that started.
The Red Sox won the first game Friday night on a walk-off hit by Tommy Pham. The Sox were in a position to win Saturday night's matchup, too, but blew a 2-0 lead late and lost 3-2. American League East competition has been tough for the Red Sox this season. They are 14-30 against division opponents, which includes a 5-7 record versus the Yankees.
The Red Sox will send Michael Wacha to the mound for Sunday's game. The Yankees will counter with Jameson Taillon.
Here's everything you need to know to watch the series finale between the Red Sox and Yankees.
What time do the Red Sox play the Yankees?
First pitch at Fenway Park is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
What TV channel is Red Sox vs. Yankees on?
Red Sox-Yankees will air on ESPN.
How to stream Red Sox vs. Yankees live online
Live stream: Watch ESPN | 2022-08-15T02:18:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Red Sox vs. Yankees live stream: TV channel, live stream info for rivalry game | https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-vs-yankees-live-203229024.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-vs-yankees-live-203229024.html?src=rss |
Joe McDonald, Telegram & Gazette
WORCESTER — There’s still plenty of baseball remaining in the 2022 season, but the Red Sox organization already has accomplished many of its goals from a developmental standpoint.
The WooSox have used 67 players (27 position players, 40 pitchers) this season, which is close to the organization's Triple A all-time record of 72 players set during the 2021 season. Worcester also has sent 21 players to Boston this season. The number of transactions is evidence the system is working.
Many of the organization’s top prospects have made an impact for the Red Sox this season, while other have fallen short of expectations.
Pitchers Connor Seabold, John Schreiber, Josh Winckowski, Ryan Brasier, Phillips Valdez, Kutter Crawford, Silvino Bracho, Brayan Bello, Michael Feliz, Kaleb Ort, Darwinzon Hernandez, along with catchers Connor Wong and Ronaldo Hernandez, outfielders Jarren Duran, Rob Refsynder, Franchy Cordero and Jaylin Davis, and infielders Jeter Downs, Yolmer Sanchez, Jonathan Arauz all have played for Boston this season.
“It’s been great to see guys go up and have an impact on the positive side and show what they can do with that opportunity at the big league level,” Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham said. Boston manager Alex Cora and the big league staff “care about having that transition be effective and efficient. There will be ups and downs, and it’s certainly not easy to play in the big leagues, so there will be growing pains and we try our best to help prepare them for that.”
Since there’s a little over a month (42 games) remaining in the season, it’s a good time to check in on a few of the top prospects in the organization:
An injury derailed Red Sox prospect Triston Casas this season, but the first baseman is healthy and starting to heat up down the stretch.
There’s one player who could have been on the road to Boston already this season, but an early-season injury sidelined first baseman Triston Casas for 10 weeks.
When the 22-year-old returned from a high ankle sprain, he admitted it was frustrating to witness all the player movement, while he was on the mend.
The Red Sox don’t believe it was a major setback for Casas. He maybe didn’t get the amount of reps he wanted this season, and his goal was to reach the big leagues in 2022, but he did face plenty of upper-level pitching at Triple A.
He faced better overall velocity and improved his at-bats against left-handed pitching.
“He’s come back strong. He’s come back healthy,” Abraham said. “He picked up where he left off, but (the injury) limited him to get more experience, and that’s always vital when you’re talking about a guy who is close to an appearance in the big leagues.”
After the Red Sox acquired veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer at the trade deadline, the club reiterated its plan for Casas moving forward.
“We always have conversations with our players about how we feel about them, and one of the things we focus on is having these guys focus on what they can control,” Abraham said. “There are decisions that are made that sometimes don’t seem like they’re in the best interest of our players, but we ultimately have to make decisions that will help push the organization forward and get us closer to a World Series championship. The guys in the minor leagues need to progress and develop and do what they can to make an impact at some point.”
Worcester Red Sox pitching prospect Brayan Bello throws a pitch during a game earlier this season against the Toledo Mud Hens.
Bello’s progression moved quickly this season from Double A to Triple A before he made his debut with the Red Sox. Currently, the right-hander is on the injured list with a groin strain. His numbers with the Red Sox don’t jump off the page at the moment, but he’s learned from his success and failures already this season.
“He’s progressed fairly quickly, but he’s also made some pretty significant adjustment to his pitch mix. He’s also shown the ability to get upper level players out. He’s realized how hard it is to pitch in the majors,” Abraham said.
Bello, 23, possesses impressive velocity and routinely reaches upper 90s with his fastball. He can back it up with a nasty changeup and recently added a slider to his mix. While he cruised through the top minor league levels this season, he received a bit of a wakeup call when he reached Boston.
“It’s a really good learning experience for him to understand the importance of being consistent and basically succeeding with every pitch,” Abraham said. “Before he went on the IR, we started to see him turn the corner in terms of what he was expecting out there, and what we expect out of him. We’re really happy with the progress he’s made.”
The Red Sox organization is high on prospect Jeter Downs, shown hitting a home run earlier this season, citing his improvement over the season as a big factor.
Downs, 24, has made the biggest improvements from last season, which is one reason he was given an opportunity in his major league debut with the Red Sox this summer. He’s a big league defender and possesses power at the plate, but he needs to build more offensive consistency into his game.
“Understanding that he’s now major league depth for us, and he’s had an opportunity to go up there and make an impact very quickly, and for some guys that’s a difference-maker to show that they can have an impact at the major league level,” Abraham said.
When Downs was sent back to Worcester, he arrived even more motivated after his taste of the majors. The Triple-A field staff of manager Chad Tracy, bench coach Jose Flores, along with hitting coaches Rich Gedman and Mike Montville have had a major influence on Downs this season.
It also helps that he’s had another full season in the Red Sox organization. and he understands exactly what’s expected.
“We’ve seen tons of progress,” Abraham said of Downs.
WooSox infielder Enmanuel Valdez tosses a ball to fans in the stands at Polar Park Wednesday, August 3, 2022.
When the Red Sox acquired infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez at the trade deadline from the Houston Astros as part of the Christian Vasquez deal, Red Sox fans had no idea what to expect from the 23-year-old newcomer. He was sent to Worcester, and in the small sample size, he’s proven to be a welcomed commodity. The left-handed hitter crushed a pair of opposite-field home runs in his first three games with the WooSox.
“The first thing you see is the impact with the bat,” Abraham said. “He can drive the baseball to all fields and hit a couple of opposite-field home runs at Polar Park, which I haven’t seen too often from a left-handed hitter. It’s pretty impressive. He’s shown the ability to control the zone, and he hits the ball really hard.”
He also possesses defensive versatility. He has played mostly second base for the WooSox, but the organization is comfortable enough if they needed him to play shortstop.
“He’s a guy with some versatility and some athleticism,” Abraham said. “He’s a guy who can impact the baseball. He’s a guy who can change the game is all phases.”
During his minor league career, he has played first base, second base, third base, left field, right field and catcher.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: WooSox receiving high marks for getting top prospects ready for Boston
Who are the top lacrosse players within the Class of 2023? PaPreps resolves that question now!SUBSCRIBERS: Click to the see the full article here now!--------------------- What other coverage ... | 2022-08-15T02:19:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Worcester Red Sox receiving high marks for role in getting top prospects ready for Boston | https://sports.yahoo.com/worcester-red-sox-receiving-high-160828459.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/worcester-red-sox-receiving-high-160828459.html?src=rss |
College football is a quarterback-driven sport now, and it’s not even close. Sure, there are teams out there that still win with the fundamentals of the game and with ball-control offenses, but it’s hard to win anything special without a dynamic playmaker under center.
It’s no secret Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is one of those special athletes that could take this year’s Buckeye squad to some pretty lofty places including a Big Ten championship, College Football Playoff appearance, and national title.
But it’s one thing for Ohio State fans and coaches to think that, it’s another when opposing coaches heap praise on a player because you know it’s genuine.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg spoke to anonymous college football coaches to get feedback on quarterbacks and the attention turned to the Big Ten at one point. And while we don’t know which coach it is that provided praise, it was pretty telling. So much so that this “veteran” coach went as far as to say Stroud might be in a stratosphere of his own.
“He’s pretty special,” a veteran Big Ten coach told Rittenberg. “He’s the best one they’ve had since I’ve been here. They’ll be hard to beat with him.”
We don’t know what the definition of veteran is, but that would make you believe that it’s a coach that is one of the more tenured in the Big Ten. That would most likely mean that the coach is including at least a couple of great quarterbacks in Justin Fields and Dwayne Haskins, maybe even J.T. Barrett. All of which were pretty special.
Ohio State vs. Nebraska: Three and out halftime review | Buckeyes Wire
Nov 6, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) looks to throw a pass during the second quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the season, Stroud is one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy, has talent around him to succeed in his second full year under center, and might just end up being the first pick in next year’s NFL draft. If all that he is — and all that he can still be — comes together, don’t be surprised if this year is a truly memorable one on the banks of the Olentangy.
After all, opposing coaches are even singing his praises.
Top three draft-eligible Big Ten quarterbacks for 2022 | 2022-08-15T02:21:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | ‘Best one they’ve had since I’ve been here’, says anonymous Big Ten coach this Ohio State player | https://sports.yahoo.com/best-one-ve-had-since-175131177.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/best-one-ve-had-since-175131177.html?src=rss |
Bears linebacker Roquan Smith has established himself as one of the best linebackers in the NFL. Unfortunately, he’s been vastly underrated — apparently both by analysts and his peers.
Smith has landed at No. 84 on NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2022, which marks his debut on the Top 100 list. But it feels far too low a ranking, especially considering Patriots quarterback Mac Jones came in right behind him.
Smith is coming off another impressive outing in 2021. Last season, Smith totaled 163 tackles (4th in NFL), 12 tackles-for-loss (4th among linebackers), 27 pass tackle stops (1st), had a 3.6 missed tackle percentage (2nd) and a 76.8 passer rating allowed (7th for LBs).
Roquan Smith checkin' in at No. 84 in the #NFLTop100 👏 pic.twitter.com/MjefQ6aJeI
Unfortunately, Smith is currently locked in a contract dispute with the Bears, where he recently requested to be traded after revealing he feels like he’s being disrespected by the new regime.
It’s likely just a negotiating tactic by Smith, who previously expressed his desire to finish his career with the Bears. I guess we’ll see if it ends up working out for him.
New general manager Ryan Poles said his intentions remain to sign Smith to an extension, although he’s going to ultimately do what’s best for the team.
Anderson throws out Rosario
Brian Anderson fields a base hit and throws to home in time for Nick Fortes to tag out Eddie Rosario in the 2nd | 2022-08-15T03:20:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears LB Roquan Smith lands at No. 84 on Top 100 Players of 2022 | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-lb-roquan-smith-lands-015059488.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-lb-roquan-smith-lands-015059488.html?src=rss |
Rookie Jackson back at practice, 'loved' first NFL experience originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — Drake Jackson returned to team drills at 49ers practice on Sunday, which wasn't a surprise to the rookie pass rusher.
Jackson left the 49ers' preseason opener early in the first half on Friday night at Levi's Stadium. In the process of chasing Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love to the sideline, the rookie landed awkwardly on his shoulder.
After the game Kyle Shanahan shared that Jackson was dealing with a stinger which the head coach confirmed on Saturday after multiple tests. The USC product was back on the field for a light non-padded practice the following day.
“[I was] not really scared,” Jackson said on Sunday. “I kind of wanted to come back and play, so I knew everything was going to be fine at the end of the day. [The shoulder] feels good, just taking it day by day.”
In the short time Jackson was on the field, he had a clear impact on the game, getting pressure on Love a few plays in a row. Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans was pleased with the rookie's performance but reiterated that there are still things the pass rusher needs to work on.
“Drake did some good things that translate to us winning games,” Ryans said. “The effort, attacking the throwing arm, those things translate to us winning games. We are expecting even more out of him. It was a good first outing, still learning and still growing.”
Jackson has been keeping good on his promise to be a sponge when it comes to learning from veterans, remarking that Nick Bosa and Trent Williams have been great resources. The rookie isn’t afraid to ask any of his teammates questions in meetings or on the practice field.
At 260 pounds, Jackson has returned to what he finds the most comfortable weight to play. The young pass rusher said that he missed playing at this weight and is still able to move the way he needs to in order to get into the back field and affect the play.
RELATED: Jackson captures attention of Trent Williams during training camp
Overall, Jackson knows he has work to do to improve and be as consistent as possible on the field. He shared that playing all across the line is a possibility and a great challenge, but most of all, he is just happy to be back on the field.
“Man, I loved it,” Jackson said. “It felt crazy being out there, just being in the NFL being able to be on the field. It felt good, it felt like I’m back.” | 2022-08-15T03:20:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Drake Jackson returns to 49ers practice two days after shoulder stinger | https://sports.yahoo.com/drake-jackson-returns-49ers-practice-013500162.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/drake-jackson-returns-49ers-practice-013500162.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Antoine Winfield Jr. No. 75
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has been voted as the No. 75 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T03:20:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Antoine Winfield Jr. No. 75 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-antoine-024433391.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-antoine-024433391.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Kenny Moore II No. 82
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II has been voted as the No. 82 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T03:21:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Kenny Moore II No. 82 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-kenny-021222080.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-kenny-021222080.html?src=rss |
As Donald Trump and his legal team continue to shift their narrative surrounding classified documents, the fear mongering by the former President and his allies continues to have a far-reaching impact. On Thursday, a fervent Trump supporter was shot and killed by police—after he fired a nail gun into an FBI office in Cincinnati. All week, right-wing Republican leaders have been ironically threatening to “Defund the FBI” as punishment for the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search. Meanwhile, Trump fan pages on social media have ratcheted up calls for a bloody “civil war.” Yale Professor and historian Joanne Freeman takes issue with that language. In addition to being “threatening,” Freeman says the “civil war” crowd isn’t organized enough to spark a war. And ultimately, it undermines “the real ugliness and violence on the surface of what’s going on right now.” “Words and rhetoric really matter,” says Freeman, “particularly if they are coming from someone high up. Not only do they frame things, but they are a way of sort of setting things in motion.”
Casseroles never fail to be cozy, hearty and tasty, which is why you should try these recipes ASAP. They taste like they were baking in the oven all day long, but these casseroles only take an hour or less from start to finish, which can help you get dinner on the table in no time. Plus, each dish is loaded with complex carbs like whole grains and lower in saturated fats and sodium, meaning they're appropriate for a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. | 2022-08-15T03:42:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Olivia Nelson-Ododa with a 2-pointer vs. Dallas Wings | https://sports.yahoo.com/olivia-nelson-ododa-2-pointer-012319633.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/olivia-nelson-ododa-2-pointer-012319633.html?src=rss |
The 2022 college football season is quickly approaching and for Mack Brown’s Tar Heels, they are hoping to improve on a disappointing 2021 campaign.
UNC enters this season with lower expectations and won’t find its name in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll. And that might not be a bad thing in terms of expectations.
As we continue to countdown the days until Week 0 and the matchup against Florida A&M, we wanted to look at some updated bowl projections and where the Tar Heels stand. Jerry Palm of CBS Sports released his updated bowl projections and he has UNC in El Paso.
The latest projections have the Tar Heels in the Sun Bowl facing off against Oregon State on December 30th.
UNC has been in the Sun Bowl before, most recently back in 2016 when they fell to Stanford. The game has a ACC-Pac-12 tie-in and with the Tar Heels likely not being a team that will play in a New Year’s Six bowl, it could make sense for them to land there.
The two have been closer than just teammates over the past four years, and Smyrna's Jayden Marable and Arion Carter will take that bond to Memphis. | 2022-08-15T04:04:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Latest bowl projections has UNC football program in El Paso | https://sports.yahoo.com/latest-bowl-projections-unc-football-025903957.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/latest-bowl-projections-unc-football-025903957.html?src=rss |
7:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS1
7:30 a.m., Best of Radioactive: 2022 season (re-air), FS1
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Boundless: Betty Skelton, FS1
7 p.m., Game Night: Xfinity Series Edition, FS1
9:30 p.m., Austin Dillon’s Life in the Fast Lane: To Catch a Prankster, USA Network
12:02 a.m., Austin Dillon’s Life in the Fast Lane (r-air), USA Network | 2022-08-15T04:31:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | NASCAR TV Schedule: Week of Aug. 15-21, 2022 | https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-tv-schedule-week-aug-170609112.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-tv-schedule-week-aug-170609112.html?src=rss |
The top half of the NFL Top 100 list is being unveiled Sunday night on NFL Network, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now represented by a third member of the team.
Following fellow Bucs defenders Shaq Barrett (No. 86) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (No. 75), linebacker Devin White took the No. 64 spot on this year’s list, after another impressive campaign last season.
Watch the video above to hear some of White’s fellow linebackers from across the league talk about why he’s such a dynamic player. | 2022-08-15T04:53:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Top 100: Bucs LB Devin White at No. 64 | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-top-100-bucs-lb-034532874.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-top-100-bucs-lb-034532874.html?src=rss |
The top half of the NFL Top 100 list is being unveiled Sunday night on NFL Network, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their first member.
Outside linebacker Shaq Barrett takes the No. 86 spot on this year’s list, coming off another season of double-digit sacks for the Bucs.
Watch the video above to see teammates and opponents alike break down what makes Barrett one of the league’s best. | 2022-08-15T04:53:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Top 100: Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett at No. 86 | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-top-100-bucs-olb-033147230.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-top-100-bucs-olb-033147230.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens began their 2022 preseason by defeating the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday by the score of 23-10. Preseason gives rookies and players on the roster bubble an opportunity to show why they should be on the field during the regular season, while starters often get plenty of rest.
Following training camp practice on Saturday, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson spoke to the media. When asked if he is content with not playing in the preseason, the quarterback was unsure, saying he’s not sure if he’ll play or not over the final two weeks of the exhibition period.
.@Lj_era8 on whether he'll play in the preseason: pic.twitter.com/FqFbRD8tSB
“I don’t know. I don’t know. I might give it a shot. I don’t know yet. I don’t know yet.”
Jackson not playing in the preseason wouldn’t be a bad thing for Baltimore. He has shown growth over his four seasons in the NFL and doesn’t need to prove himself to the coaching staff, who have plenty of confidence in the former league-MVP. Jackson is also coming off an injury that forced him to miss the final few games of the regular season in 2021, so the team may want him to rest until meaningful football resumes. | 2022-08-15T04:53:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson noncommittal on playing during remainder of 2022 preseason | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-qb-lamar-jackson-noncommittal-034858495.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-qb-lamar-jackson-noncommittal-034858495.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Cameron Jordan No. 69
New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan has been voted as the No. 69 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T04:53:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Cameron Jordan No. 69 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-cameron-032358178.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-cameron-032358178.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Chandler Jones No. 62
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones has been voted as the No. 62 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T04:53:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Chandler Jones No. 62 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-chandler-040100914.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-chandler-040100914.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Darren Waller No. 58
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller has been voted as the No. 58 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T04:54:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Darren Waller No. 58 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-darren-042554398.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-darren-042554398.html?src=rss |
Etienne’s teammates were happy to see him back on the field Friday, as he made a few solid plays in both the passing and running game. That includes quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who not only was drafted in the first round with Etienne last year, but played with the star rusher while attending Clemson University.
When asked about the return of Etienne after the game, Lawrence said it felt “great” to see him return after all the work he put in during rehab.
“Yeah, it’s just great to see him back out there,” Lawrence said. “It’s been a long time since he’s played. He’s had a rough year. Last year wasn’t the easiest year for anyone, but on top of that, he’s hurt and rehabbing and not really as much a part of the team as you’d like to be in your rookie season, so I know that was tough for him. But just seeing how he’s fought back and rehabbed really hard to get back and be 100 percent, and I think he looks great.”
“He’s still kind of getting back in the, I guess, rhythm of things because he hasn’t played in so long, but just to see the plays he made tonight, that catch he made, ran a great route, catch he made on the sideline coming up the field, he had some great plays. He’s going to help us a lot.”
Etienne ended the night with nine carries for 23 rushing yards. While that was only good for an average of 2.6 yards, there were moments where he flashed his explosiveness as a rusher, like on his first carry where he registered a 12-yard gain. Etienne also had the aforementioned catch from Lawrence where he converted a third-and-six scenario with a 10-yard reception.
It’s plays like those that should excite fans about how Etienne will help the offense, but he still has a lot of work to do. After the game, Jags coach Doug Pederson said he was glad to see the second-year player back, but added that he got a little antsy at times.
“It’s kind of interesting because I thought he did some things really well,” Pederson said. “He stayed disciplined in his path, in his track, and I thought maybe sometimes he got a little antsy and tried to make some moves that probably weren’t there. But that just comes with time, as you know, and he hasn’t had the time. These are valuable reps for him. He’s going to get better. He’ll watch the film either tomorrow or the next day and make the corrections. But I thought overall for the first time back out, it was good to see him and put him in those situations.”
As Pederson pointed out, patience and decisiveness come in time for young rushers. After all, Friday’s game was just Etienne’s third, and even when considering the preseason games he participated in last season, he was only on the field for a limited amount of time.
Etienne has a great opportunity to learn coming up this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With notables like T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward on their defensive unit, Etienne should have a good challenge ahead, and it’s one he could take in a lot of lessons from. | 2022-08-15T06:25:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jags QB Trevor Lawrence, HC Doug Pederson discusses having Travis Etienne back on the field | https://sports.yahoo.com/jags-qb-trevor-lawrence-hc-050327624.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jags-qb-trevor-lawrence-hc-050327624.html?src=rss |
The top half of the NFL Top 100 list is being unveiled Sunday night on NFL Network, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now boast a fourth member among the league’s best.
After three Bucs defenders made the cut, wide receiver Mike Evans checked in at the No. 53 spot on this year’s list.
Watch the video above to hear teammates and opponents alike talk about why Evans has been one of the most consistently dominant pass-catchers in the NFL throughout his entire career. | 2022-08-15T06:25:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Top 100: Bucs WR Mike Evans at No. 53 | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-top-100-bucs-wr-050954788.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-top-100-bucs-wr-050954788.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Alvin Kamara No. 51
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been voted as the No. 51 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T06:26:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Alvin Kamara No. 51 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-alvin-050841137.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-alvin-050841137.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Matthew Judon No. 52
New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon has been voted as the No. 52 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T06:26:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Matthew Judon No. 52 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-matthew-050136736.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-matthew-050136736.html?src=rss |
'Top 100 Players of 2022': Mike Evans No. 53
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has been voted as the No. 53 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2022" rankings. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-15T06:26:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | 'Top 100 Players of 2022': Mike Evans No. 53 | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-mike-045545077.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-100-players-2022-mike-045545077.html?src=rss |
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said College Football Playoff access will be a key factor if the school ever decides to join a conference.
The Fighting Irish are college football’s most famous school without a conference and a natural focus for fans in the wake of USC and UCLA’s surprising decision to move to the Big Ten as the conference expanded to 16 teams. If the conference wanted to grow even further, it reasons that Notre Dame would be its top target.
Would the Irish want to join the Big Ten? Clearly the school is not currently in a rush to join a conference. And Swarbrick said Wednesday in a question and answer session that the school felt “validated” in its decision to remain independent amid the latest conference shuffle.
“I don’t know if we’re stronger but it’s certainly felt like a validation of our decision to be independent,” Swarbrick said. “So many of the stories have been ‘What will Notre Dame do?’ and discussing Notre Dame’s significance and the importance of we made a decision to do one thing or another.”
If Notre Dame did make a move to a conference at some point, Swarbrick said that the school would take its potential media rights deals into account along with access to the playoff. The Irish have made the College Football Playoff twice in the last four seasons.
“One is, do we have a committed broadcast partner who not only will carry all of our home games nationally but will compensate us for our media rights in a way that allows us to be competitive?” Swarbrick rhetorically asked. “It starts with the question of media partner. Second is our access to the College Football Playoff. Do we, as an independent, retain adequate access? I think we’ve proved conclusively in the last eight years that we’ve had it. Both those things will play out over time, I can’t predict how much time.”
The current four-team playoff looks set to expand at some point by the end of its current deal through 2024 and Swarbrick said he expected the playoff to be figured out in the near future. While expansion seems like a near-unanimous topic, how the playoff will expand has been the holdup so far. Conferences can’t yet agree on how the playoff should be structured.
Swarbrick: Big Ten heading to NBC a good thing for Notre Dame
Notre Dame famously has a deal with NBC for its home football games as part of its independent status. The Irish’s road games are broadcast by the TV partners of their opponents’ conferences and the school currently has an alliance with the ACC for both home and road opponents in football to go along with its ACC status in basketball.
With the Big Ten is likely selling some of its media rights to NBC after the expiration of its current deal with ESPN, the network looks set to broadcast a Big Ten game in the evenings starting in 2024. Swarbrick said that he was happy with NBC’s impending Big Ten deal because it would help boost the network’s college football profile.
“I think it’s great, I think it’s great for college football,” Swarbrick said. “[The Big Ten] made a decision to have three linear broadcast partners in Fox, who will principally have the Big Noon game, CBS, who will have the 3:30 kick and NBC, who will have the primetime kick. And the more broadcasters, the major networks we keep involved in college football, the better it is for everybody because they’re invested, they want to promote the game, they want individual properties.”
“I think it was a brilliant strategy by [Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren], I think it played out marvelously for him … but it’s also perfect for Notre Dame. We need NBC to have more college football. They can more effectively promote our games and talk about our games, and to have NBC seen in that light. That was great for us that they got a big piece of this.”
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick believes the Big Ten's new media deal with NBC is a great thing for the Irish. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | 2022-08-15T07:24:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Notre Dame AD: Media deals and playoff access will be key factors if Fighting Irish ever join a conference | https://sports.yahoo.com/notre-dame-ad-media-deals-and-playoff-access-will-be-key-factors-if-irish-ever-join-a-conference-182943918.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/notre-dame-ad-media-deals-and-playoff-access-will-be-key-factors-if-irish-ever-join-a-conference-182943918.html?src=rss |
It’s been quite the year for Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. Just before training camp opened in 2021, Allen signed a four-year, $72 million extension to remain in Washington for the foreseeable future.
Allen went on to have the best season of his NFL career, recording 62 tackles, including 10 for loss, nine sacks and 30 quarterback hits. He earned a trip to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his five-year career.
Now, Allen receives another honor, as he was named as one of the NFL Network’s top 100 players, coming in at No. 88. The top 100 is determined by player votes, making the honor even more prestigious.
It’s an #NFLTop100 debut in D.C. 🙌@Commanders DT @jonallen93_ lands at 88! pic.twitter.com/QIjBzoaEkC
Allen is one of the NFL’s top defensive tackles by any metric and a team captain. In addition to his outstanding work on the field, Allen is also active off the field. He was Washington’s 2021 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
While Washington’s defense struggled as a unit last season, Allen was outstanding. The Commanders are counting on a bounceback season from their defense in 2022, but there are no concerns with Allen. | 2022-08-15T10:18:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jonathan Allen named one of the NFL’s top 100 players | https://sports.yahoo.com/jonathan-allen-named-one-nfl-095703115.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jonathan-allen-named-one-nfl-095703115.html?src=rss |
Former LSU coach Ed Orgeron may not have a gig this fall, but that hasn’t kept him away from the game.
Orgeron attended a Notre Dame practice in April with his sons, as well as a Miami camp earlier this summer. He was spotted on the sidelines once again on Saturday, this time closer to home.
Coach O made an appearance at the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns’ first fall scrimmage. His son, Parker, is currently an offensive analyst working with tight ends on new coach Michael Desormeaux’s staff.
Desormeaux told the Lafayette Daily Advertiser that Orgeron had also visited the team in the spring and simply came to check things out.
Ed Orgeron, LSU's former coach who guided the Tigers to the 2019 national championship, was on campus to see the Ragin' Cajuns first preseason scrimmage. https://t.co/svSvtiCYRr
Orgeron was the head coach of the Tigers from 2016-21, initially taking over as the interim for the fired Les Miles before earning the job full-time.
He orchestrated one of the best seasons in college football history in 2019, when the Tigers captured a national title in a perfect season that ultimately produced the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in Joe Burrow. However, the Tigers regressed in the two years that followed, and Orgeron went just 11-11 in his final 22 games.
Orgeron is 61, and it’s unclear if he wants to return to coaching. However, he can’t seem to stay off the sidelines even though he won’t have a coaching position for the first time since 2014 this fall. | 2022-08-15T11:21:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former LSU coach Ed Orgeron spotted at Ragin’ Cajuns’ scrimmage | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-lsu-coach-ed-orgeron-110030121.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-lsu-coach-ed-orgeron-110030121.html?src=rss |
Penn State continues to put together a fine Class of 2023 with some four-star talent across the roster. One of the last pieces of the class added to the recruiting haul is wide receiver Carmelo Taylor, who surprised many by committing to the Nittany Lions over South Carolina.
Taylor is a recruiting prize out of Virginia, a state that has been kind to Penn State over the years and continues to produce talent for the program as a pipeline state.
Here is a brief overview of Penn State’s wide receiver commit.
Height: 5′-11″
[4-star] | [No. 49 WR in the nation] | [No. 6 player in the state of Virginia]
Offered on May 27, 2022
High School Athletic Career
Taylor received a Crystal Ball to South Carolina, but eventually made the decision to come to Penn State.
He was also a multi-sport athlete, competing in track and field, and his speed certainly translated to the football field.
Taylor didn’t have too many big offers. Penn State and South Carolina were his biggest ones he received.
The biggest trait of Taylor’s that stands out is his speed, and that will be a key factor in his success at Penn State.
Taylor becomes the second wide receiver in Penn State’s 2023 recruiting class, with the other one being Ejani Shakir.
He comes into a wide receiver room full of young talent that will be headlined by KeAndre Almbert-Smith, Kaden Saunders and Malick Meiga when Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley could both likely depart for the NFL after this upcoming season.
It’s likely Taylor will be a reserve player in his first season with the Nittany Lions. But it’s also early in Penn State’s 2023 recruiting process and we could very likely see more receivers commit to Penn State. | 2022-08-15T11:21:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Penn State recruiting snapshot: 4-star Carmelo Taylor | https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-recruiting-snapshot-4-090045559.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-recruiting-snapshot-4-090045559.html?src=rss |
Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Sam Howell made his NFL debut in Saturday’s preseason loss to the Carolina Panthers. Howell played the entire second half, completing nine of 16 passes for 145 yards while also rushing for two touchdowns.
The Commanders trailed 20-6 in the fourth quarter when Howell led a pair of impressive touchdown drives, both of which he capped off with touchdown runs. After the second touchdown, Howell found wide receiver Alex Erickson for the two-point conversion to give Washington its first lead of the game.
While Washington didn’t win the game, Howell came out as a winner, according to CBS Sports. Howell was one of four rookie quarterbacks who were deemed “winners.”
Howell isn’t the first rookie quarterback to come into a preseason game and look like a star. And he won’t be the last. However, Howell was once considered a potential top-10 pick in the NFL draft. In Saturday’s performance, Howell displayed the athleticism and arm talent required to succeed in today’s NFL.
Carson Wentz is Washington’s quarterback for 2022 — and perhaps beyond. But, for once, it looks like the Commanders may have a young passer in the pipeline who could one day ascend into that spot without the pressure of being a top pick.
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Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Nathan's... | 2022-08-15T11:30:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Commanders QB Sam Howell named one of the NFL’s ‘winners’ from Week 1 of the preseason | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-qb-sam-howell-named-104538895.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-qb-sam-howell-named-104538895.html?src=rss |
Earlier in the week, it seemed like HC Kevin Stefanski was leaning toward more key players getting on the field but that could just be the semantics.
This week the Browns host the Philadelphia Eagles in Berea for joint practices. With the chance to bang against others in practice for a few days, Stefanski made it clear many starters won’t be on the field for the actual game between the two teams.
Instead, key players will get a chance to knock the rust off and get used to the pounding of the NFL without risking themselves in full-game activities. With the first roster reduction set for Tuesday, there will still be 170 players working on the field together, barring injury.
For fans with tickets to the second preseason game, it will be a chance to get to know some of the backups and rookies a little bit better. | 2022-08-15T12:23:14Z | sports.yahoo.com | Few, if any, Browns starters will play against Eagles in second preseason game | https://sports.yahoo.com/few-browns-starters-play-against-103326277.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/few-browns-starters-play-against-103326277.html?src=rss |
Dave Gettleman made many mistakes during his time as New York Giants general manager, but his trade for defensive lineman Leonard Williams wasn’t one of them.
Joe Schoen, Gettleman’s GM replacement, recently went as far as to say Williams is one of the team’s foundational pieces. That was likely spurred on by The Big Cat’s dominance in training camp this summer.
Williams was also just recently recognized by his peers, again. He was voted in at No. 97 on the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2022 list.
“He silently molded himself into a well-rounded player,” New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said. “His ability to flex in, flex out and just his ability to grow the last couple years has been pretty great.”
Although Williams did drop 13 spots from a year ago, he is more than deserving of back-to-back appearances on the NFL’s top 100.
Takeaways, stats, big plays and individual players that stood out during Arkansas' first scrimmage of fall camp. | 2022-08-15T12:23:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants’ Leonard Williams named to NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2022 list | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-leonard-williams-named-nfl-105552947.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-leonard-williams-named-nfl-105552947.html?src=rss |
Former Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive tackle Khalil Davis made a highlight play during an NFL preseason game.
Davis was a member of the Cornhuskers from 2015 to 2019. In his senior season, he recorded 44 total tackles, eight sacks, and 11 tackles for loss. As a result, he was a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches.
Davis was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Now, Davis is with the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Saturday, the Steelers were facing the Seattle Seahawks in their preseason opener.
With three seconds to go, the Seahawks were trailing the Steelers by seven points. They attempted to execute a trick play, but Davis took down tight end Tyler Mabry with a huge hit-stick tackle.
.@khalildaish94 ends the game with a BANG 😧#Preseason on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/pxY5xZ2JUJ
Political analysts on both sides of the aisle said on Sunday TV programs that former President Trump’s supporters are more firmly in his corner after the FBI search at his Mar-a-Lago residence last week. Fans backed Trump before and after the FBI retrieved some super-secret material that he removed from the White House in 2021.… | 2022-08-15T13:01:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Nebraska DT Ends Steelers Preseason Game With Highlight Tackle | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-nebraska-dt-ends-steelers-214825163.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-nebraska-dt-ends-steelers-214825163.html?src=rss |
Jan 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban waves to fans after Alabama defeated Ohio State 52-24 to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports
Terry and Nick Saban greet Galu Tagovailoa, Tua’s father, during the Luau with Tua at The Zone inside Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa Wednesday, April 13, 2022. The event raises money for the Tua Foundation, the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama, and Nick's Kids. Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News
Alabama football coach Nick Saban arrives in Indianapolis sporting a leather bomber jacket.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How Nick Saban transformed Alabama — and changed a culture forever | 2022-08-15T13:01:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | How Nick Saban transformed Alabama football — and changed a blueblood forever | https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-saban-transformed-alabama-football-115748986.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-saban-transformed-alabama-football-115748986.html?src=rss |
USF has announced that Baylor transfer Gerry Bohanon will be the Bulls’ starting quarterback this season. The Bulls made the announcement via social media. Bohanon beat out incumbent Timmy McClain for the job. Bohanon was one of the Big 12′s top quarterbacks last year with the Bears. He started a dozen games for the conference champions in 2021, amassing 27 touchdowns (18 passing, nine ... | 2022-08-15T14:23:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | Carson Wentz, Ron Rivera pleased with QB's debut, but plenty of room to grow | https://sports.yahoo.com/carson-wentz-ron-rivera-pleased-130000020.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/carson-wentz-ron-rivera-pleased-130000020.html?src=rss |
Derek Wolfe expects Dre’Mont Jones to ‘step his game up’ in Year 4
Derek Wolfe
Recently retired NFL defender Derek Wolfe has high hopes for Dre’Mont Jones.
Wolfe played for the Denver Broncos for eight years from 2012-2019, before finishing his career with the Baltimore Ravens. But in his time with the Broncos, he played his final year with the team alongside Jones. So he knows what Jones can do, and he expects the fourth-year player from Ohio State to step it up in a big way in 2022.
“I liked him his rookie year,” Wolfe said when he returned to the team’s facility last month to retire as a Bronco. “I thought he had the ability. This is the first time I’ve seen him face-to-face in probably two years, and I was like, ‘Oh, you put some weight on. You look good.’ When I say weight, I mean muscle. He looks good. He could already move, and he had the ability. I think he’s going to step his game up, especially in Year 4.”
Wolfe also elaborated why he expected a jump. By year four, according to Wolfe, NFL players begin to come into their own.
“This is when you start seeing guys come into their own. I think he’s going to have it. I think he has what it takes. He’s one of those guys you can look up to, for sure. He knows how to win. He won championships, and he’s been a part of championships before. He knows what he’s doing.”
We will get a chance to watch Jones attempt to live up to Wolfe’s expectation beginning next week when Denver’s starters are expected to make their preseason debuts against the Buffalo Bills.
Organto Foods Inc. (TSX-V:OGO), (OTC:OGOFF), (FSE:OGF) ("Organto" or "the Company"),an integrated provider of branded organic and value-added organic fruit and vegetable products, today announced that it has launched its I AM Organic products in the Netherlands with a leading petrol and charge station provider. Initial products launched will include organic bananas followed by organic apples shortly thereafter. | 2022-08-15T14:23:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Derek Wolfe expects Dre’Mont Jones to ‘step his game up’ in Year 4 | https://sports.yahoo.com/derek-wolfe-expects-dre-mont-140057438.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/derek-wolfe-expects-dre-mont-140057438.html?src=rss |
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones might not be able to silence all of his critics, but he can sure make them look silly on the football field.
On Sunday, it was revealed that Jones had landed at No. 85 in the NFL’s Top 100 list, which is a ranking compiled by other players around the league. It’s a monumental accomplishment for the former No. 15 overall draft pick out of the University of Alabama.
Jones was thrown right into the fire as a rookie quarterback for one of the league’s most winningnest franchises coming off a year where they didn’t even make the playoffs.
The weight of the world has been on his shoulders since day one.
And to top it all off, he was playing in the shadows of the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady. Sure, Cam Newton was the starting quarterback in 2020, but Jones was the one viewed through the long-term scope as Brady’s legitimate successor.
Not only did the rookie quarterback help lead the Patriots back to the playoffs, but he also received a Pro Bowl nod in his first year with the team. He finished the season throwing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
And now, after only one year in the league, his name is already being propped up by his peers as one of the top 100 players in the game. Actions speak louder than words, and Jones is clearly giving critics something to think about. | 2022-08-15T14:24:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mac Jones proving critics wrong with NFL Top 100 appearance | https://sports.yahoo.com/mac-jones-proving-critics-wrong-125154815.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mac-jones-proving-critics-wrong-125154815.html?src=rss |
New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon was one of the most disruptive defensive forces on the football field in the 2021 season.
And his peers took notice.
The three-time Pro Bowler has been revealed to be the No. 52-ranked player on the NFL’s Top 100 list, which is a yearly ranking compiled from polling players around the league.
Judon joins Patriots quarterback Mac Jones on the list.
It shouldn’t come as any surprise for the defensive standout to land on any top list considering he’s coming off a career-season with 12.5 sacks. They should call him the quarterback whisperer given the number of times he was in the opposing quarterback’s face last season.
The Patriots will clearly need more of that effort heading into the 2022 season, especially if their offense continues to struggle. It could once again fall on Judon and others on the defensive side of the ball to lead the way. | 2022-08-15T14:25:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Patriots LB Matthew Judon lands on NFL’s Top 100 list | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-lb-matthew-judon-lands-133348653.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-lb-matthew-judon-lands-133348653.html?src=rss |
With the first week of preseason in the books, the first round of cuts is expected to begin for the Chicago Bears, who will need to trim the roster from 90 to 85 players by Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT.
There are a number of roster bubble players who made a strong case for a roster spot — or to at least get through this round of cuts — in the Bears’ preseason opener.
We’re breaking down 10 players who could be among the first cuts of the summer and then sharing our predictions for the first five cuts.
CB Jayson Stanley
The Bears have been ravaged by injuries at wide receiver and cornerback. Stanley was the latest cornerback to suffer an injury during Saturday’s preseason opener. He was carted off with what was confirmed to be a knee injury, which should end his time with Chicago.
DB Michael Joseph
Joseph has been with the Bears since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2018. But he’s spent most of his time on the practice squad, which is likely where he was headed. But a hamstring injury sidelined him during Saturday’s preseason game, which puts him at risk ahead of the first round of cuts.
Delance joined the Bears as an undrafted rookie free agent, where he was always a long shot to make the roster. Delance is an intriguing prospect but he’s also at the bottom of the depth chart, which puts him at risk of being cut rather early on into the preseason.
WR David Moore
With injuries at wide receiver, Moore is someone who took advantage of increased opportunities during practice. Unfortunately, Moore suffered a significant leg injury that’s going to sideline him for awhile, which all but ends his bid for a roster spot.
Harris is one of the newest Bears on the roster, and he comes into what’s already a loaded secondary. Harris had some struggles with tackling during the preseason opener, which won’t help his chances at a roster spot. The fact that the cornerbacks room is a tad banged up could be in his benefit.
White had a tryout with the Bears this summer before signing with them, and he had interest from around the league. But he unfortunately suffered a knee injury during a kickoff return in the preseason opener, where he ultimately had to be carted off. That should mark the end of his Bears tenure.
Keyes joined the Bears last year, where he made his debut in Week 15. But he’s been a practice squad player. Keyes struggled with tackling in the preseason opener, which is not the way to make the roster. But similar to Harris, it might be the injuries at cornerback that get him through this first round safe.
Tuggle signed with Chicago as an undrafted rookie free agent this offseason. He had some nice runs in Saturday’s preseason opener, but Tuggle is at a disadvantage when it comes to landing a roster spot. That’s what happens when you’re part of arguably the deepest position group on the roster.
Shaa, an undrafted rookie, has made some plays during training camp. But he didn’t help his chances to earn a roster spot after failing to haul in either of his two targets in the preseason opener. But could the injuries at wideout be a reason to keep him around?
Thomas signed as an undrafted rookie with the Bears this offseason. While Thomas is a long shot to make the roster, he should be a practice squad contender. But a strong performance in his preseason debut — including an impressive tackle on third down — should be enough to save him this round.
Predicted cuts (5)
S Michael Joseph
The fact that the Bears have some injuries makes this a lot easier than expected. Stanley, Moore and White all have knee injuries that all but end their time with Chicago, while Joseph suffered what can be a nagging hamstring injury. Those four should be among the first cuts, waived with an injury designation. While the Bears are banged up at cornerback, Harris could become among the first cuts of the summer. | 2022-08-15T14:25:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Predicting the first 5 roster cuts for the Bears after preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-first-5-roster-cuts-131548568.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-first-5-roster-cuts-131548568.html?src=rss |
The Miami Dolphins are in need of some more cornerback depth after Trill Williams suffered a torn ACL, likely ending his season.
According to Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, the Dolphins are working out former Baylor cornerback Raleigh Texada.
Texada (5-foot-10, 188 pounds) went undrafted in May and was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent before being waived in July. He also worked out for the Washington Commanders just a couple of weeks ago.
During his five active seasons at Baylor, Texada recorded 142 tackles, 15 passes defended, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two sacks.
It’s unclear if the Dolphins will end up signing Texada after the workout. | 2022-08-15T14:25:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Dolphins working out CB Raleigh Texada | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-dolphins-working-cb-raleigh-132420857.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-dolphins-working-cb-raleigh-132420857.html?src=rss |
Seattle Seahawks free safety Quandre Diggs remains one of the league’s most underrated defenders. His peers understand just how impactful he can be, though.
For the second year in a row, Diggs has been named to the NFL’s Top 100 list. He came in at No. 72 for his work this past season, five spots higher than where he landed in 2021. Here’s what some of Diggs’ competitors had to say about his game.
Diggs was the only Seattle player named from Nos. 100-50. The rest will be revealed later this week.
Wide receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are both deserving, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Metcalf is the only other player on the Seahawks who makes the cut this year. | 2022-08-15T14:26:12Z | sports.yahoo.com | Seahawks FS Quandre Diggs rises 5 spots in NFL Top 100 rankings | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-fs-quandre-diggs-rises-140023255.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-fs-quandre-diggs-rises-140023255.html?src=rss |
Rookie running back Kyren Williams broke his foot in OTAs and began training camp on the PUP list. He was activated recently and began practicing, but he was absent from the Rams’ first preseason game against the Chargers.
The Rams are being safe with him right now as he works his way back from the injury, and Sean McVay isn’t sure if Williams will play at all in the preseason. Ideally, he’d like to see Williams on the field, but it’s not necessary because it sounds like he’s already earned a roster spot.
“I’m not sure about that,” McVay said of Williams playing in the preseason. “He’s done a really good job. He’s basically been a full participant with the way we’ve practiced as of late. I think that’s gonna be predicated on some of the health of the other situations, but I have not determined that yet. You’d like to see him in an ideal situation, but kind of similar to Tutu, some of those things are flexible situations. This is a guy I loved coming out of Notre Dame. We loved as a coaching staff. I know Les and his group felt the same way. Hated that he got the foot injury that set him back but this guy is locked in. … I think this guy’s gonna be a really good player for us. Whether he plays in the next two preseason games, not 100% sure. But he’s gonna have really heavy workloads at practice and I expect him to be a guy that’s gonna help us this year.”
Raymond Calais, A.J. Rose, Jake Funk and Trey Ragas all got between four and eight carries in the preseason opener, and they’re all battling for a roster spot behind Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr. Williams, being a fifth-round rookie, likely has an edge on those players as the No. 3 running back, but if the Rams keep four at the position, Calais, Rose, Funk or Ragas will be on the final roster, too.
NEW YORK and TOKYO, Aug. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HeartCore Enterprises, Inc. (“HeartCore” or “the Company”), a leading software development company, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. Second Quarter 2022 and Recent Operational Highlights Grew total number of global enterprise customers to 877 as of June 30, 2022.Launched “truRes-12K”, the world’s first 12k-compatible real-time 360° virtual reality camera.Released Robot Store, an e-commerce website t
Josh Heupel indicated most of Tennessee's depth chart could be settled at the end of this week. Here's where things stand at key positions.
Conference Call to Be Held Today at 11:00 am ETBELVIDERE, N.J., Aug. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edible Garden AG Incorporated (“Edible Garden” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EDBL, EDBLW), a leader in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), locally grown, organic, and sustainable produce, today provided a business update and reported financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Mr. Jim Kras, Chief Executive Officer of Edible Garden, commented, “We continue to gain traction in the m | 2022-08-15T14:26:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Sean McVay unsure if Kyren Williams will play in preseason | https://sports.yahoo.com/sean-mcvay-unsure-kyren-williams-123352503.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/sean-mcvay-unsure-kyren-williams-123352503.html?src=rss |
Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is getting recognition as one of the top 100 players in the NFL going into the 2022 season.
NFL Network unveiled the first half of the list on Sunday, and Simmons landed at No. 54. He was the only Titans player to be ranked from 100-51.
Here’s a look at the release schedule for the rest of the list:
Sunday, Aug. 21: 50-21
Sunday, Aug. 28: 20-1
As far as other Titans making the top 100 is concerned, we fully expect to see at least safety Kevin Byard and running back Derrick Henry make the cut in future releases.
Simmons is coming off a career year in 2021 in which he emerged as one of the best interior defenders in the NFL and played a key role in the defensive revival in Nashville.
The Mississippi State product notched a career-high 8.5 sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl nod as a replacement.
He's a problem 😈 @GrindSimmons94
📺: Watch #NFLTop100 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/2ZEcVmVAMD
Simmons is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, and while he still has the fifth-year option, he’s looking for a contract extension sooner rather than later — and the Titans would be wise to oblige.
According to Spotrac, Simmons’ estimated market value comes in at a four-year deal worth $94 million ($23.6 million annually). That number will only go up the longer Tennessee waits. | 2022-08-15T14:26:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Titans’ Jeffery Simmons makes NFL Top 100 Players of 2022 list | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-jeffery-simmons-makes-nfl-133652146.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-jeffery-simmons-makes-nfl-133652146.html?src=rss |
After a superb debut with the team last season, defensive end Trey Hendrickson has looked unstoppable at Cincinnati Bengals training camp so far.
Naturally, it’s only right he lands a spot on the NFL Network top 100 list, which features votes by Hendrickson’s peers and others.
Hendrickson lands at No. 78 this year, which is a bit of a surprise considering it is five spots shy of where he ranked the year prior. He has 27.5 sacks since 2020, ranked third over that span. The fact last season proved he wasn’t a fluke and instead confirmed he’s one of the best outright in the NFL while helping a team to a Super Bowl should be reason enough for the rank to climb, not fall.
Regardless, Hendrickson gets a nod that at least acknowledges he’s one of the league’s best and gets another chance to prove he should keep climbing. | 2022-08-15T14:27:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Trey Hendrickson lands on NFL Network’s top 100 list | https://sports.yahoo.com/trey-hendrickson-lands-nfl-network-134414019.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/trey-hendrickson-lands-nfl-network-134414019.html?src=rss |
On Sunday night, the NFL began releasing their Top 100, where players vote for the best players in their league. The first release showed the players who were voted 100 to 51.
In 2021, the only representative that the Miami Dolphins had on the list was cornerback Xavien Howard. However, this year, there have already been two Dolphins who received recognition from their peers in the first half of the Top 100.
There could be more coming when they release the remainder of the list, but for now, let’s take a look at the two that we know made it.
No. 63 - WR. Jaylen Waddle
Waddle, as a rookie, finished the season breaking the NFL’s record for receptions by a first-year player. While many will complain that it was a 17-game season, Waddle still played only 16. At No. 63, he’s the highest rookie on the list so far.
No. 56 - CB Xavien Howard
This is Howard’s third time making the list and the second year in a row. In 2021, the former Baylor cornerback got out to a slow start, but he finished strong down the stretch, eventually appearing in the league’s Pro Bowl. At this point, he’s one of the most respected players at his position in the league. | 2022-08-15T14:27:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Two Dolphins land in the second half of 2022 NFL Top 100 | https://sports.yahoo.com/two-dolphins-land-second-half-140132335.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/two-dolphins-land-second-half-140132335.html?src=rss |
Harper to take important step on way to minor-league rehab; Schwarber progressing originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
NEW YORK – It’s all about the progression for Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Both continue to make progress on their way back to the Phillies’ lineup.
Schwarber is closer than Harper. He did not start for a third straight game on Sunday because of a sore right calf. Schwarber described his recovery as a series of steps: Step 1 is pinch-hitting, Step 2 will be getting back in the lineup as the designated hitter, Step 3 will be playing left field.
Schwarber was used as a pinch-hitter in Saturday night’s 1-0 loss to the New York Mets. He was available in a similar role Sunday afternoon.
As for Monday night in Cincinnati …
“We’ll see,” he said. “It’s up in the air.”
Schwarber grew up and still lives in Middletown, Ohio, about 40 minutes outside of Cincinnati. As eager as he is to play in front of family and friends, he will listen to his body and the team’s medical staff.
“I don’t want to do this again,” he said of the calf strain, “so I’m building back up, making progress.”
At the very least, Schwarber can sleep in his own bed and be a bat off the bench and maybe – maybe -- a DH during the Phils’ three-game visit to Cincinnati.
“It’ll be nice to see family in the morning before heading down to Cincinnati and trying to win a ballgame,” he said.
Harper, who was injured on June 25, has pointed toward a “September-ish” return. His thumb is completely healed. He is pretty much in the driver’s seat as to when he wants to go out on minor-league rehab. The determining factor will be when he feels ready to see competitive, live pitching so just taking batting practice is an important step.
The Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown has had many notable players advance to college fame and beyond. Here are a few to remember from the series. | 2022-08-15T14:31:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber injury updates as Phillies end series vs. Mets | https://sports.yahoo.com/bryce-harper-kyle-schwarber-injury-180800426.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bryce-harper-kyle-schwarber-injury-180800426.html?src=rss |
It's always nice to see a plan come together. In the seventh season of the Jim Harbaugh era, the Ann Arbor faithful finally had its time. Michigan's magical run in 2021 included a dominating win over Ohio State, a Big Ten Championship and a trip to the College Football Playoff. Harbaugh's recruiting power finally paid off on the field, and his breakthrough 12-2 season marked one of college football's best stories. Now it's up to bettors to decide whether Michigan can continue its momentum into 2022.
The ability to handle turnover is what gives the top programs staying power, and that's where recruiting goes much further than players. Harbaugh lost defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald to the NFL, along with Heisman runner-up Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, and Daxton Hill. Jesse Minter comes over from Vanderbilt to call the shots for an overhauled defense that only returns four starters. Michigan won't be able to repeat as the eighth-best scoring defense in college football, but this year's offense should ensure they don't have to.
Losing offensive coordinator Josh Gattis stings, but all the key players on that side of the ball are returning. Quarterbacks Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy give the Wolverines two solid options under center, and they will have the luxury of playing behind the third-best offensive line in the nation. In addition, the running back tandem of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards ensures Michigan will gash defenses on the ground, and WR Ronnie Bell returns to be the top target in the passing game. So whether it's McNamara with another year of experience or McCarthy's explosive arm, the Michigan passing game should be much more potent in 2022. That's a scary thought for opposing Big Ten defenses.
Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh has the Wolverines primed for another good season. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
The schedule sets up nice for Michigan
After last year's 11-1 regular season, the Wolverines' 9.5-game win total at BetMGM makes sense, considering the inevitable step back on defense. I don't think they will be as strong as last year's playoff team, but they may look just as good in the standings.
The first four games are layups, with Colorado State being the only defense in the top 80 in yards per play allowed last season. That's especially critical if McCarthy, the higher-ceiling quarterback, wins the job. The first four games can be confidence builders as the quarterback and new coordinator get on the same page. They finish the year at Ohio State, but the other three road games (at Iowa, Indiana, and Rutgers) should not pose a problem. The Wolverines catching Michigan State, Penn State, and Nebraska at home is a huge benefit. Even if the Wolverines drop the Penn State game, they have a clear path to a 10-2 season.
Michigan over 9.5 wins (-125)
Michigan won't be back in the College Football Playoff or the Big Ten Championship, but the schedule sets up the Wolverines perfectly to win 10 games. That's the best way to bet the Wolverines in the futures market. Ohio State is in a tier by itself, but I believe Michigan has an even wider edge over the other teams in the Big Ten than last season. I expect Michigan State to take a step back without Kenneth Walker III, and Penn State isn't physical enough upfront to take advantage of Michigan's inexperienced defensive line.
The offense will be just as dominant in the running game as last year, but with more of an explosive element. The high-end potential was enough for me to bet the Wolverines over the win total of 9.5 games. The favorable out-of-conference and road schedules make it hard to find the three losses required to prevent them from double-digit wins. When you can get downhill behind one of the strongest offensive lines in college football, it's easier to put inferior teams away. Michigan should be favored in their first 11 games, and it's a solid bet Harbaugh handles business in at least 10 of them.
*Stats provided by cfbstats.com and Athlon sports.
Michigan's defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is another branch off the John Harbaugh coaching tree that has found its way to Ann Arbor. Much like last year, Mike Macdonald branched off from Baltimore to get a year of seasoning as a defensive coordinator before the Ravens brought him back to the NFL game. For Minter, he is walking into a situation where he considers the Wolverines' current system to be in year two.
Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson has the skills and the leadership for the Razorbacks. | 2022-08-15T15:38:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | College football betting, odds: Jim Harbaugh set to keep Michigan rolling | https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-betting-odds-jim-harbaugh-set-to-keep-michigan-rolling-150800100.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-betting-odds-jim-harbaugh-set-to-keep-michigan-rolling-150800100.html?src=rss |
Michigan State returns quarterback Payton Thorne for his second year as the starter, and that is one reason why some are high on the Spartans entering the 2022 season. But where does he ranks compared to his peers in the Big Ten and on the national level?
I have Thorne as one of the top quarterbacks in the league entering this season and would rank him in the top 25 nationally. However, Steve Lassan at Athlon Sports feels differently about the Spartans’ starting signal caller.
See where Lassan has Thorne and the rest of the Big Ten starting quarterbacks in his position ranking for the upcoming 2022 season:
From Athlon: “Northwestern’s offense did not score more than 14 points in seven out of its last eight games and ended the year by averaging only 4.4 yards per play in Big Ten contests. Yikes. The passing game was a primary culprit in the offensive struggles (just 16.6 points a game for the season), as quarterbacks for the Wildcats managed to average only 57.9 in completion percentage and tossed 10 picks to 10 interceptions in Big Ten play.”
Click here to read full review from Athlon Sports
From Athlon: “A Rutgers quarterback hasn’t passed for more than 10 touchdowns in a season since Chris Laviano eclipsed that mark (16) in 2015. Although inconsistency and up-and-down play have marred this quarterback room, the Scarlet Knights have at least one reason for optimism for ’22. Noah Vedral returns after starting 20 games for Rutgers the last two years, and Wimsatt’s continued development could help this offense take a big step forward after averaging only 19.7 points a game and 4.5 yards per play in ’21.”
From Athlon: “The unquestioned strength of Illinois’ 2022 offense is its ground game, but coach Bret Bielema will need a little more out of his passing attack to get to a bowl game. After averaging only 20.2 points a game and 4.9 yards per play in Big Ten games, Bielema took steps to jumpstart this group, hiring Barry Lunney Jr. from UTSA to call plays and securing DeVito’s commitment from the transfer portal.”
From Athlon: “It’s no secret Iowa’s offense struggled last season and heads into 2022 as a concern once again. Although the Hawkeyes won the Big Ten’s West Division, this unit averaged only 23 points and 4.5 yards per play in conference action. Both Petras and Alex Padilla saw significant snaps under center last fall, but neither played well enough to stake a clear claim for the job. Petras held an edge in completion percentage (57.3 to 49.1) and led the team with 1,880 passing yards and 10 touchdowns.”
From Athlon: “Significant changes were made on offense after the Hoosiers managed only 10.4 points a game and 3.9 yards per play in Big Ten games last fall. Coach Tom Allen hired a new play-caller (Walt Bell), and brought in help to the skill positions through the transfer ranks, while also dipping into the portal for a new signal-caller. As a team, Indiana threw just nine touchdown passes to 15 interceptions and averaged only 5.4 yards per attempt last fall. Bazelak’s arrival should help stabilize the play under center and provide a needed spark for this offense.”
From Athlon: “After a promising debut against Illinois in 2020, Mertz’s play has been up-and-down and a better ’22 season is needed if Wisconsin is going to return to the Big Ten title game. The Kansas native ranked ninth in the conference in quarterback rating (121.3), yards per attempt (6.9), and completion percentage (59.5) while throwing for 1,958 yards and 10 touchdowns to 11 picks over 13 games last fall. Over the last two seasons, Mertz has passed for 19 scores. However, 10 of those came in three games – Illinois (2020), Northwestern (’21) and Rutgers (’21).”
From Athlon: “Despite Nebraska’s offense averaging 6.4 yards per play and ranking second in the conference in total yardage (447.6), change was needed after a 3-9 mark in Lincoln. Coach Scott Frost revamped nearly all of his offensive staff and hired veteran Mark Whipple to call plays in ’22. In addition to the scheme tweaks and coordinator switch, the ‘Huskers have a change under center after Adrian Martinez transferred to Kansas State. Thompson – a transfer from Texas and the son of former Oklahoma quarterback Charles Thompson – left spring as the front-runner to start and should be a good fit for Whipple’s attack.”
From Athlon: “The return of Kirk Ciarrocca as play-caller is good news for a Minnesota offense looking to get back on track after a sluggish performance (25.5 points a game) in 2021. With Ciarrocca as the offensive coordinator in ’19, the Golden Gophers ranked third in the Big Ten in scoring (34.1 points a game) and second in yards per play (6.4). Also, Morgan had the best season of his career, throwing for 3,253 yards and 30 touchdowns to just seven picks.”
From Athlon: “The Nittany Lions need Clifford to play better after a disappointing 7-6 finish last season, but not all of what hindered the offense was on the quarterback. Penn State struggled up front (34 sacks allowed), while the ground game managed only 3.2 yards per carry and 96.6 rushing yards in Big Ten contests last fall. Improving the supporting cast would boost Clifford’s performance, but the senior could also be pushed by talented freshmen Drew Allar (true) and Christian Veilleux (redshirt) if he struggles early on.”
From Athlon: “Thorne’s first year at the controls of Michigan State’s offense resulted in a record-setting season. The Illinois native set a new school record for most touchdown passes in a single season (27) and posted the third-most passing yards (3,233). Back-to-back efforts of four-touchdown tosses against Youngstown State and Miami in September were a good sign of what was to come from Thorne, as he later tossed four scores against Maryland and finished the season by posting 354 yards and three touchdowns against Pitt in the Peach Bowl.”
From Athlon: “We are going to cheat a bit and list both Michigan quarterbacks here. Although there’s a battle between McNamara and McCarthy in fall practice to start, both are likely going to play a lot in 2022. Essentially, we are ranking the quarterback room here, but if one starts and plays the bulk of the season snaps, the guess here is that signal-caller ends up earning second-team All-Big Ten honors (and ranks higher on this list).”
From Athlon: “Tagovailoa took a big step forward in his second year as Maryland’s starting quarterback. The Alabama transfer completed nearly 70 percent (69.2) of his throws for 3,860 yards and 26 touchdowns and 11 picks. Additionally, he seemed to get stronger as the year progressed, throwing for at least 300 yards in four out of the Terrapins’ last six contests – including a 419-yard performance against Indiana in a 38-35 win.”
From Athlon: “From walk-on to All-Big Ten quarterback: That’s O’Connell’s story at Purdue in just a few seasons. The Illinois native did not play in his first two years on campus and made six starts from 2019-20 before a breakout season in ’21. O’Connell threw for 3,708 yards and 28 touchdowns vs. 11 picks for the Boilermakers last fall en route to guiding the team to a 9-4 finish – the best mark under coach Jeff Brohm. O’Connell was lethal with his accuracy (71.8 percent, a single-season Purdue record) and posted two 500-yard efforts against Michigan State and Tennessee.”
From Athlon: “Major expectations surrounded Stroud as he inherited the controls of Ohio State’s high-powered offense last season. After a slow first half against Minnesota and dealing with the effects of a shoulder injury early on, Stroud quickly emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in college football. The California native guided the Buckeyes to an average of 45.7 points a game and led the Big Ten with 4,435 passing yards and 44 scores.” | 2022-08-15T15:38:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Where Payton Thorne ranks, compares to fellow Big Ten QBs in Athlon’s position rankings | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-payton-thorne-ranks-compares-151818073.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-payton-thorne-ranks-compares-151818073.html?src=rss |
But the success didn't follow those expectations early in the season. The Guardians starting rotation has been solid but unspectacular, hovering around league average. But "league average" was well below what Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale saw as possible, or, even probable.
"Really exciting. We feel it in the clubhouse, for sure," Bieber said on March 15, referencing all five starters being healthy after a injury-plagued 2021 for the entire group. "There’s a lot of good arms and a lot of just good athletes and good players all around. We have a high standard and guys continue to push it higher and higher and that’s always a good thing within a clubhouse, within an organization, and it’s crazy to think that we have a lot of those arms and a lot of those names but we haven’t all thrown together just yet."
It took several months, but just as the Guardians have surged into first place in the American League Central, the starting pitchers are finally living up to expectations.Since Aug. 6, Guardians starters have thrown seven consecutive quality starts (at least six innings pitched, no more than three earned runs allowed) with the exception Civale's outing, which was his first since returning from the injured list and was therefore shorter than normal. During that time, the rotation has a combined 1.38 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 52 innings.For the season, the Guardians ranked 15th in the majors in fWAR (7.3), 17th in ERA (4.05) and 15th in FIP (4.08). But in the month of August, those rankings improved to eighth in fWAR (1.3), 11th in ERA (3.44) and 12th in FIP (3.67). At one point during this run, the starters combined to throw 21 consecutive scoreless innings.And that group has been the key improvement as the Guardians (61-53) grabbed ahold of first place with fewer than 50 games remaining.
"It's setting the tone each game for how we want to play," Quantrill told Bally Sports in Toronto this weekend. "I think we're grown to count on our defense, our relief [pitchers], our closer has been pretty special, but we still all take pride in setting the tone each game, giving our team a chance to win, battling, never quitting on an inning, surviving and thriving, and giving our team a chance to do what they're capable of. So, absolutely trying to build off of what the last guy has done and set an example."Quantrill has been integral to the rotation's recent success after throwing 13 scoreless innings in his past two outings. McKenzie has continued his 2022 surge, which included eight scoreless innings in a win over the Houston Astros. And Bieber has looked much closer to the 2020 version of Bieber that won the American League Cy Young Award.Including his outing in Sunday's 7-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, Bieber has posted a 1.67 ERA with 30 strikeouts compared to only three walks in his past four starts. And his velocity, which has been a continued storyline all season after sustaining another dip, was up a few ticks Sunday. Bieber's fastball averaged 93.1 mph in Toronto, 2.1 mph above his 2022 average. In fact, Bieber's velocities were up across the board — his change-up was 2.6 mph over his 2022 average."I thought that was his best fastball of the year," manager Terry Francona told reporters in Toronto. "That bodes well. Anytime you're in the middle of August — you hear me say it all the time, our guys, they work. I think that's why the tank doesn't look like it's half empty. It looks like it's more going toward the full side."
The right-handed pitcher joined the Clippers for the first time in his second season in the Cleveland Guardians organization.
Here are the snap counts from the #Jaguars’ preseason game against the Browns. | 2022-08-15T16:03:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Guardians starting pitchers finally living up to their own expectations with hot stretch | https://sports.yahoo.com/guardians-rotation-finally-living-own-095513422.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/guardians-rotation-finally-living-own-095513422.html?src=rss |
August in the NBA isn't exactly the most exciting time, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is here to save us.
In a Sunday interview with Fox 32 Chicago, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar was asked if he'd consider playing for the Chicago Bulls in the future. Keeping in mind the Bulls' storied past, Antetokounmpo said he would.
Before Bucks fans start weeping in the streets, let's remember a few things. First, Giannis didn't say he wants to leave or is even considering leaving. Because he was doing an interview with a Chicago news station, he was asked whether he'd consider playing for the Bulls someday. Of course he said he would, because they're Michael Jordan's team and a Chicago newscaster was asking that question.
And second, Giannis signed a five-year, $228.2 million contract with the Bucks less than two years ago. Just months later he led the Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years. The earliest he could be a free agent is the 2025-26 season, but that doesn't even matter right now because Giannis is happy and "committed" to Milwaukee. All he said was "down the line, you never know," which is an objectively true statement. Down the line in 2026 we could finally have those flying cars that "The Jetsons" promised us all those years ago. Anything could happen.
Most players, when asked, would probably say "yes, I would consider playing for the Chicago Bulls someday," because of the Bulls' incredible history. But for now, Giannis isn't going anywhere.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo recently said that he'd be open to playing for the Bulls "down the line." (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Yes, Bulls fans. Giannis Antetokounmpo is telling you there's a chance. Maybe. One day.
"After the moves even happened, the coaches called me, players called me, like, ‘Time to just go out there and be Bizzy.'" | 2022-08-15T16:03:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giannis Antetokounmpo says he's open to playing for Bulls 'down the line' | https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-says-hes-open-to-playing-for-bulls-down-the-line-150613232.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-says-hes-open-to-playing-for-bulls-down-the-line-150613232.html?src=rss |
Patriots continue offensive transformation originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
As it transitions to new ownership, the CW will likely not look dramatically different in the near term, but Nexstar Media Group intends to turn it into a more broad-audience and cost-conscious broadcast network. The company earlier Monday confirmed it is set to take a 75% ownership stake in the network, with previous 50-50 owners […] | 2022-08-15T16:04:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Patriots continue offensive transformation | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-continue-offensive-transformation-145411637.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-continue-offensive-transformation-145411637.html?src=rss |
Bears undrafted rookie linebacker Jack Sanborn had the standout performance in the team’s 19-14 preseason victory over the Chiefs.
Sanborn was all over the field on defense and special teams, where he showed off his instincts and athleticism while reminding the other 31 NFL teams why they made a mistake passing him over.
He totaled five tackles, including one tackle-for-loss, and one pass breakup on defense. He added two tackles on special teams, but another tackle didn’t count due to a penalty on the Bears. But it was Sanborn’s affinity for takeaways that made his performance even more impressive.
Sanborn spawned Chicago’s second-half comeback with a pair of takeaways, including an interception and a fumble recovery that led to 10 points for the Bears.
“It’s something that we harp on all the time in practice,” Sanborn said, via ChicagoBears.com. “Takeaways are the name of the game here in the NFL. We got a takeaway and then we got another one right after that and kind of built some momentum.”
Not only did Sanborn made a strong case for a roster spot, but he’s certainly earned more playing time, specifically with the starters during the preseason.
Outside of Roquan Smith and Nicholas Morrow, the linebacker group is up for grabs. Sanborn is someone who could compete for playing time, and perhaps even shake things up in the linebacker corp.
“He made plays on defense and special teams,” quarterback Justin Fields said of Sanborn, “so just seeing him go out there, ball out, just seeing him coming to work every day, seeing him put in the work, he’s a baller, and of course he showed it out there on the field today.”
With Smith in the middle of a contract dispute, the Bears should see what Sanborn can do with the starters during Thursday’s preseason game against the Seahawks.
Sanborn played both middle and outside linebacker during Saturday’s opener against the Chiefs. But the Bears should experiment a little bit with moving Morrow to the weak side and seeing what Sanborn can do in the middle with the first-team. | 2022-08-15T16:18:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears rookie LB Jack Sanborn deserves playing time with the starters | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-rookie-lb-jack-sanborn-144545931.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-rookie-lb-jack-sanborn-144545931.html?src=rss |
The road from 90 players down to 53 is never an easy one for NFL teams. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020, the league changed its training camp roster rules so that teams would get more time to evaluate talent.
The Atlanta Falcons had a successful preseason debut on Friday, but the team must part with at least five players by Tuesday in order to get the roster down to 85 players. Then the following week, the Falcons will have to get that number down to 80, before final cuts on August 30.
While we aren’t expecting to see any notable players get released by the Tuesday deadline, the Falcons could look to cut more than the minimum of five players if they wish to sign someone released by another team.
Check out our latest 53-man roster projection and 90-man roster tracker as the team prepares for its second preseason game on August 22 against the New York Jets. | 2022-08-15T16:18:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Falcons must cut roster down to 85 players by Tuesday | https://sports.yahoo.com/falcons-must-cut-roster-down-153033480.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/falcons-must-cut-roster-down-153033480.html?src=rss |
New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas enters his third year in the NFL in a different place than in years past. He is finally healthy and firmly entrenched as the team’s premier lineman.
Last week, the Giants rushed for 177 yards against the New England Patriots in their 23-21 preseason victory up in Foxborough. The offensive line was huge reason for that success.
“For the first time, a new unit being together, not terrible, but a lot of things we’ve got to clean up,” Thomas told reporters this past weekend at training camp. “We didn’t have that big of a sample size, so we have to be really efficient in the plays that you get. Just going back, working on the technique, and making sure we get it like coach wants it.”
The goal is to gel and become a cohesive unit. That may take more time now that injuries to guard Shane Lemieux and others have disrupted things. Thomas was pleased with the success but knows improvement is still needed.
“We want to be dominant in the run game and that definitely opens up the passing game. But like I said it’s still some things on film that we want to clean up technique-wise, but the effort and energy was high,” Thomas said.
In practice, Thomas got to face off against his old Georgia teammate, outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, who was returning to action after sitting out the first three weeks of camp with a hamstring injury.
“Azeez first has freak athleticism, good get-off on the ball, and he has pretty good length and then his power at the point of attack. He’s a good rusher, he mixes it up, so it makes it hard on tackles to figure out what he’s doing,” he said.
Ojulari will be joined this year by rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux. Thomas was asked his early impression of the Giants’ upgraded pass rush.
“Definitely explosive, and not just those two. We’ve got a pretty good outside linebacker group right now. I’m excited to see what they do. It’s still early in training camp, but we definitely have some guys who can make some plays,” he said. | 2022-08-15T16:19:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants’ Andrew Thomas: Offensive line has things to clean up | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-andrew-thomas-offensive-line-145531596.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-andrew-thomas-offensive-line-145531596.html?src=rss |
With the deadline to reduce the roster to 85 players looming on Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers got a headstart on Monday morning, releasing injury-plagued outside linebacker Randy Ramsey, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
An undrafted free agent out of Arkansas in 2019, Ramsey was attempting to come back from a significant ankle injury suffered during training camp last August. He missed all of last season and had only recently returned from the PUP list, but the ankle issues lingered and he was held out of several practices and last Friday night’s preseason opener in San Francisco.
The Packers will move forward with Jonathan Garvin, Ladarius Hamilton, Tipa Galeai, Kinglsey “JJ” Engabare, Kobe Jones and rookie Chauncey Manac as the competition at edge rusher behind starters Rashan Gary and Preston Smith.
The Packers are now down to 89 players, meaning four more cuts are coming before Tuesday afternoon’s deadline.
Ramsey, 26, played 203 special teams snaps and was one of the Packers’ best special teamers during the 2020 season. He was expected to be in the mix for the team’s backup edge rusher jobs opened this summer, but it’s clear the ankle wasn’t willing to cooperate.
Ramsey played in 12 games for the Packers, tallying 11 total tackles. His nine special teams tackles ranked third on the team in 2020. | 2022-08-15T16:19:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Packers release injury-plagued OLB Randy Ramsey | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-release-injury-plagued-olb-160256810.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-release-injury-plagued-olb-160256810.html?src=rss |
Green Bay Packers rookie Zach Tom keeps getting closer to accomplishing his goal of becoming a five-position player along the offensive line.
After playing 35 excellent snaps at right tackle during the preseason opener in San Francisco, Tom – who has also repped at left tackle during training camp – worked inside at left guard for the first-team offensive line during Sunday’s practice.
Coach Matt LaFleur wants to keep moving Tom around the line to up the competition level across the board.
“We’re just going to continue to work through different combinations and create as much competition as possible, and let’s see where it goes,” LaFleur said Monday.
Tom replaced starter Jon Runyan Jr. at left guard for a stretch of Sunday’s practice, adding another position to his list through the first three weeks of training camp. He’s up to three – left guard, left tackle and right tackle – so far, and he previously played center in college.
LaFleur has been impressed with how the rookie has handled cross-training at several positions, especially this early in camp.
“Yeah, he’s done a great job,” LaFleur said. “It’s not easy to do that with a rookie, that doesn’t have the time on task where you feel really good about him at one position, and then you start to cross-train him at another. But for a young guy to handle it the way he has, I thought it’s been pretty impressive.”
The return of Elgton Jenkins provides the Packers with an increasing number of options for configuring the offensive line, meaning Tom could be in the competition for playing time at several different spots, including tackle and guard. If Tom is terrific at right tackle, it could give the Packers the freedom to keep Jenkins inside at guard, where he was a Pro Bowler in 2020.
Tom, a fourth-round pick out of Wake Forest, started 24 games at left tackle and 13 more at center in college. His versatility could eventually rival that of Jenkins, who has started games at left tackle, left guard and center through his first three seasons at the NFL level.
The Heartland of the United States has endured a multitude of weather events in recent weeks, ranging from the heavy rain and major flooding that occurred in the St. Louis area last month to the ongoing drought across portions of the High Plains. Heading into this week, however, AccuWeather meteorologists say a slow-moving system will allow clusters of thunderstorms to develop, bringing swaths of heavy rain and localized flooding to the region. Heavy thunderstorms closed out the weekend across e
The statement by Arnitta Holliman came as Johnson was scheduled Monday morning to make an announcement about the future of the office. | 2022-08-15T16:19:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Packers rookie OL Zach Tom gets first-team work at new position | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-rookie-ol-zach-tom-152506429.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-rookie-ol-zach-tom-152506429.html?src=rss |
The Miami Dolphins are continuing to work out cornerbacks after it was revealed that second-year cornerback Trill Williams suffered a torn ACL in the preseason opener.
On Monday morning, Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson reported that the Dolphins were working out former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander. This is the second workout that Wilson has reported at the position, as he also stated that Miami would be looking at Raleigh Texada.
Alexander was originally selected by the Vikings in the second round of the 2016 draft out of Clemson. He spent four seasons in Minnesota, but he never really became a full-time starter, peaking at 60% playtime in 2019.
The former Tiger then signed with the Cincinnati Bengals for a season before returning to Minnesota last year.
In his career, he’s totaled 201 tackles, 32 passes defended, 4.5 sacks and three interceptions.
Alexander may not have lived up to his draft position, but he could still provide some serviceable depth with Williams likely missing the rest of the season.
6 takeaways from Dolphins' preseason win over Buccaneers
Graduate student defensive end Xavier Thomas was injured in Clemson's scrimmage Saturday at Memorial Stadium. | 2022-08-15T16:20:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Dolphins working out CB Mackensie Alexander | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-dolphins-working-cb-mackensie-144424764.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-dolphins-working-cb-mackensie-144424764.html?src=rss |
Another thing that has impressed Moore about Philip is his ability to create separation.
In a cover story in the new edition of Elle, Adele speaks at length on her decision to postpone her Las Vegas residency on January 20 of this year, the day before it was to begin, reiterating in greater detail that it was purely an artistic decision — one that was painful, but that she […] | 2022-08-15T16:20:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | How Titans WR Kyle Philips earned the nickname ‘The Professor’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-wr-kyle-philips-earned-143520304.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-wr-kyle-philips-earned-143520304.html?src=rss |
Every year, the NFL puts out the Top 100 list. They give players a ballot and let them decide who makes the cut. While there are some no-brainers on the list, others are quite puzzling.
The festivities started on Sunday night with the NFL dropping 100-51. Early on, there were some interesting rankings, including one for the Minnesota Vikings.
Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins saw his name called early, ranking 99th on the NFL’s Top 100 list.
His spot at No. 99 caused some controversy, as a few of the names ahead of him were surprising, including Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker at No. 96 and New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones at No. 85.
Needless to say, Cousins will have a massive chip on his shoulder this upcoming season. | 2022-08-15T16:20:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Vikings QB Kirk Cousins Ranks No. 99 on the NFL’s Top 100 List | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-qb-kirk-cousins-ranks-155842145.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-qb-kirk-cousins-ranks-155842145.html?src=rss |
Javien Toviano is going into his senior season at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas, where during his junor season, he was named a Texas 8-6A first-team all-district selection, while recording 26 tackles, 3 pass breakups and and 1 interception on defense, while rushing for 415 yards and 8 touchdowns on offense. After makin four visits to College Station in the last year, his last visit was on April 9th. In a recent interview with Aggie Scoop from On3, Toviano stated, | 2022-08-15T17:33:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2023 Safety Kylin Jackson commits to LSU; What this means for the Aggies | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-safety-kylin-jackson-commits-162504708.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-safety-kylin-jackson-commits-162504708.html?src=rss |
For the third time in two weeks, Texas A&M has been listed as one of the most overrated teams heading into the 2022 college football season after recently landing in the Top 10 in USA TODAY’s Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, ranked 7th in the country. With multiple media outlets such as On3 and Athlon Sports noting Texas A&M’s recent problems of failing to live up to preseason expectations, the cries have only gotten louder as the Aggies kick off the season in 20 days.
Last week, USA TODAY writer Erik Smith detailed his reasoning for labeling the program as overvalued, listing Texas A&M among five other “Overrated” teams including USC, Pittsburgh, Texas, and Cincinnati. Smith took the historical route with his explanation for including the Aggies:
Yes, there are question marks on both offense and defense mostly having to do with youth and inexperience, but the line between “good” and “great” for this 2022 squad is getting thinner and thinner as the quarterback battle reaches its final stages, the offensive line solidifies its starting rotation, and the defense figures out its rotation as one of the deepest and most talented groups since the days of the Wrecking Crew. It’s not perfect, but the reason or optimism mirrors its initial ranking; This year will be different. | 2022-08-15T17:33:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Aggies are again listed as “Overrated” after USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll ranking | https://sports.yahoo.com/aggies-again-listed-overrated-usa-155426076.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/aggies-again-listed-overrated-usa-155426076.html?src=rss |
Last week, Michigan football managed to come in at No. 6 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, but yet another poll had yet to be released.
The Wolverines return nearly everyone on offense, but the media at-large has had a lot of questions about the defensive side of the ball considering the losses of Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, and Dax Hill. Though the maize and blue has a lot of returning experience on that side of the ball (though not starting experience), 2021’s success is being credited much to those players who departed.
On Monday, the preseason AP top 25 was finally released, and the Michigan Wolverines came in ranked at No. 8.
In addition, Ohio State is ranked No. 3, MSU is ranked No. 15, and Wisconsin (who Michigan doesn’t face) is ranked No. 18.
Here is the full ranking:
The Boilermakers were tested for the first time in camp with game-like conditions. The results? Mixed
With three weeks until the Bearcats open their 2022 campaign, Luke Fickell said he wanted the team to treat the scrimmage like an actual game day.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers just added a massive commitment to their 2023 class, with a four-star prospect likely to play receiver. | 2022-08-15T17:34:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | Where does Michigan football rank in preseason AP poll? | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-does-michigan-football-rank-160737026.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-does-michigan-football-rank-160737026.html?src=rss |
Head Coachs' Antonio Conte of Tottenham Hotspur and Thomas Tuchel of Chelsea square up to each other after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Tottenham Hotspur scores a goal to make it 1-1 during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur - Robin Jones/Getty Images
But sources insist Taylor will not be taken off Chelsea games for good, as head coach Thomas Tuchel suggested he should be, even if the panel agree with the Blues’ list of grievances.
Telegraph Sport can reveal that Premier League clubs are this season receiving weekly independent reports on the standard of officiating, which are put together by a panel of three former players, a Premier League representative and a Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) official.
And Chelsea could provide an early test case for how effective the new system of assessment, introduced this season as part of the Elite Referee Development Plan, is if the panel supports their opinions on where Taylor and the officials got it wrong on Sunday.
It is currently unclear whether or not the PGMOL would act as a direct result of the report, but Chelsea could use it to help submit a complaint or back-up their grievances.
The panel sits on Thursday, which means Chelsea will not receive the report on their game against Tottenham until towards the end of the week. All clubs get the full report on the weekend’s games, meaning all managers and directors can see where errors have been highlighted.
Tuchel admitted it might be better for Taylor not to referee Chelsea games after the official infuriated the home side by failing to spot incidents ahead of both Tottenham equalisers.
But, however the incidents are viewed by the independent panel, the PGMOL are not expected to consider taking Taylor off Chelsea games for good, although the rotation process of officials means he will not be in line to officiate on a Blues match again for some time. Chelsea are also highly unlikely to make such a request, despite Tuchel’s post-match comments.
The Football Association are investigating Tuchel’s comments in which he suggested Chelsea players, as well as supporters, believe Taylor is biased against their club, with the German facing the threat of a fine.
Chelsea will test resolve of new referee’s review panel before deciding on Anthony Taylor complaint - GETTY IMAGES
Both Conte and Tuchel are expected to be charged by the FA for their part in the bust-up that resulted in them receiving red cards after the final whistle. It remains to be seen whether or not Conte, who suggested he was not the aggressor, decides to appeal.
As revealed by Telegraph Sport on Monday, Conte and Tuchel were the only two who did not attend the pre-season briefing laid on for the 20 Premier League managers by the referees’ organisation.
The Premier League encourages all managers to attend one of the two briefings by the PGMOL, so that they can be told of any law changes or parts of the law that referees will be focussing on in the forthcoming season, as well as ask questions. There are two identical briefings held, one in the north and another in London for those based in the south.
Tuchel and Conte were notable by their absence and neither man sent an assistant in his place. Sources have indicated that Conte was ill on the date of the southern briefing and was unable to attend. The club sent a letter to PGMOL to apologise.
Issues at the managers’ briefings last month included penalising players more heavily for time-wasting with an emphasis on keeping the ball in play longer than last season’s average – just 55 mins 7 secs across all 380 Premier League games. Taylor booked Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy on Sunday for taking too much time releasing the ball.
The major organisations in the game, the Premier League, FA and EFL have also come together to promote better supporter behaviour at games after a number of incidents at the end of last season. A joint statement also released with the Football Supporters’ Association last month called upon fans to resist pitch invasions and using smoke grenades and emphasised the role of managers and players in promoting better behaviour. It said: “We are working with clubs to highlight the important role that fans, clubs, players and coaches all have to play in helping to create a safe environment.” | 2022-08-15T17:35:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chelsea will test resolve of new referee’s review panel before deciding on Anthony Taylor complaint | https://sports.yahoo.com/antonio-conte-thomas-tuchel-only-143400223.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/antonio-conte-thomas-tuchel-only-143400223.html?src=rss |
We’ve been waiting for a major domino to fall in LSU’s tight quarterback battle this offseason, and that news came on Monday.
According to a report from WWL radio host Kristian Garic, sixth-year quarterback Myles Brennan — who some considered the favorite to win the starting job — is walking away from the game of football after two injury-plagued seasons.
Garic reports that Brennan was told by coach Brian Kelly that he will not win the starting job. We are still awaiting confirmation from Brennan or LSU of the report’s veracity.
With Brennan’s departure, it would seemingly open the door for Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels to win the job. Daniels was Kelly’s hand-picked transfer portal option after three years as the starter in Tempe.
After two productive seasons in which he tossed 22 touchdowns with only three interceptions, Daniels struggled a bit in 2021. He threw as many interceptions (10) as touchdowns, and his yardage total dropped significantly from his first season as the starter despite playing in more games. He did, however, register a career-high in completion percentage (65.4).
Daniels still faces at least nominal competition from redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier, who saw some action last fall and impressed this spring.
For Brennan, this decision marks the end of a long and winding career that didn’t go exactly as planned. After three seasons as a backup — two of which were spent behind the best passer in school history in Joe Burrow — Brennan entered the 2020 season as the starter.
After a strong start to the season, an abdominal injury in Week 3 ended his campaign. He was expected to retain the starting job entering 2021, but he suffered a non-football arm injury right before camp, which cost him his season.
Brennan initially entered the transfer portal after the season, but he chose to stay at LSU, even after it added Daniels. After a solid spring game, he appeared poised to compete for the job, but it seems he is choosing to move on to endeavors that don’t include football. | 2022-08-15T17:36:04Z | sports.yahoo.com | BREAKING: LSU quarterback Myles Brennan reportedly walking away from football | https://sports.yahoo.com/breaking-lsu-quarterback-myles-brennan-170649883.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/breaking-lsu-quarterback-myles-brennan-170649883.html?src=rss |
The Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears played at Soldier Field to open the preseason on Saturday.
The turf looked more like a golf course after a 72-hole tournament.
To say there were divots would be kind. Place the blame on Elton John if you are looking for a fall guy.
The rock star played at Soldier Field last week and fans did a number on the field as John played his number of hits.
The turf issue was noticed by Chicago kicker Cairo Santos long before kickoff.
Per Chiefswire:
“I was going to a turf field at a high school, which was perfect,” Santos said. “It was almost like, ‘OK. I’m getting too comfortable.’ So in my neighborhood, there’s a soccer field and the grass is a Bermuda grass. It’s real long. I was like, ‘OK. This is more like it.'” | 2022-08-15T17:36:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Elton John concert leaves Soldier Field turf in rotten shape | https://sports.yahoo.com/elton-john-concert-leaves-soldier-174128755.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/elton-john-concert-leaves-soldier-174128755.html?src=rss |
The 49ers on Monday announced four of their first roster cuts. NFL rules stipulate clubs must cut their rosters to 85 by August 16, so the 49ers have until 1:00pm PT on Tuesday to let go of one more player.
Their first batch of cuts had a bit of a surprise, so let’s run through them and see what each player’s release means:
This was something of a surprise since Dennard appeared to be the favorite to land the nickel cornerback job going into the first preseason game. We had him making the team in our last 53-man roster projection. Rookie fifth-round pick Samuel Womack was in the running for that spot though and announced his presence with authority by snagging a pair of interceptions and playing well in the preseason opener. Dennard wasn’t going to offer much beyond depth if he stuck around, so it makes sense for the 49ers to let him go if they think Womack or another player is a better option inside.
Johnson was the first of several WRs we can expect to see let go by the 49ers. He made a nice catch on a goal line fade for a two-point conversion in the first preseason game, but he was always a long shot to make the final roster. If he doesn’t catch on elsewhere the 49ers could aim to put him on their practice squad.
Given that fullback Kyle Juszczyk just signed an extension that’ll keep him in San Francisco through 2025, having an additional fullback in the building doesn’t make much sense. Hokit has been with the team since 2019 and hasn’t been able to make a dent in his chances of making the active roster. Perhaps the 49ers try to get him to the practice squad, but they’d likely find other avenues to replace Juszcyzk if he’s unavailable at any point during the year.
DT Tomasi Laulile
Laulile was brought on to help alleviate some of the pressure on the defensive line after injuries left that unit shorthanded. The writing was on the wall for his time in Santa Clara with the preseason winding down and defensive linemen starting to get healthy. | 2022-08-15T18:04:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | 49ers 2022 roster: 1 surprise among first 4 roster cuts | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-2022-roster-1-surprise-174110716.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-2022-roster-1-surprise-174110716.html?src=rss |
The Grizzlies are in line to be part of that holiday’s NBA showcase for the first time. Ja Morant and the Grizzlies will face Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the rest of the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Dec. 25 in San Francisco, according to a person with knowledge of the league’s scheduling plans. Given that the league has not announced the final 1,230-game season slate, it is still possible that the Christmas schedule could change — though such a move is unlikely. | 2022-08-15T18:04:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | 49ers FS Jimmie Ward Week 1 status in doubt after hamstring injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-fs-jimmie-ward-week-163636480.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-fs-jimmie-ward-week-163636480.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts must reduce their roster from 90 to 85 players before the end of the league day Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, which means five players are getting the unfortunate call.
Sometimes a player will be released simply because they don’t fit in the plans for the Colts. Other times, it may be so that a player can get more reps with another team before the season arrives even if they are a solid player. That was likely the case with veteran offensive lineman Jason Spriggs.
The first five cuts may not be as difficult for the Colts because it’s likely coming down to a numbers game at deeper positions.
Here is a prediction of the Colts’ first five cuts following the preseason opener:
Kalinic played just four snaps during the preseason opener, which was the fewest on the entire offensive roster among the players who logged snaps. Kalinic signed a futures deal with the Colts this offseason so there’s no investment to keep him around. In addition, the four spots in the tight end room are already locked down so putting Kalinic through waivers isn’t going to impact the depth.
Patton didn’t log a snap during the preseason opener and considering he was a late addition to the roster this offseason, it’s likely that he’s on the list for the first wave of cuts. Patton was an undrafted rookie out of Texas State and while the Colts may like him for the practice squad, he’s unlikely to factor into the defensive tackle depth leading into the season.
WR D.J. Mongtomery
Montgomery joined the Colts midway through training camp. The wide receiver room is likely to bring only five or six players to the active roster, and four of those spots are already locked up. The return of Mike Strachan makes this spot a numbers game, and the Colts may want to get a better look at the undrafted rookies before the final cuts.
Kemp played 11 snaps during the preseason opener, which was the fewest of any offensive lineman that entered the game. There is no denying the Colts need depth at right tackle, but Kemp was likely going to be the fourth-stringer on the depth chart. It’s unlikely he would make the initial roster, and his lack of playing time in the preseason opener means the Colts may want to get a better look at other projects.
CB Alex Myres
The cornerback position is extremely crowded and with only two spots available, Myres may be the odd man out. He played 26 snaps during the preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, but it’s likely the Colts would want to take a longer look at players like seventh-round pick Rodney Thomas and undrafted rookie Dallis Flowers. | 2022-08-15T18:07:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Predicting the Colts’ first 5 roster cuts before Tuesday’s deadline | https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-colts-first-5-roster-174957831.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-colts-first-5-roster-174957831.html?src=rss |
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones is a “big fan” of New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.
For Mac, it’s high marks when any NFL defensive player hurls praise in his direction, especially when it’s a two-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler.
During a segment on the NFL’s Top 100, Chandler spoke about the first time the two actually met face-to-face at the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl.
“Mac Jones, I never met him, but I saw him during registration. And I said, ‘Hey Mac, I’m Chandler Jones, I’m a big fan.’ And he looked at me, and he goes, ‘I know who you are,'” said Chandler. “I think he’s a hell of a player. He’s going to be good for the Patriots’ franchise for a very long time. I believe that.”
Chandler was drafted by the Patriots with the No. 21 overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft. So he knows a thing or two about playing under coach Bill Belichick.
He has since gone on to become one of the best pass-rushers in the league.
Mac came in at No. 85 on the NFL’s Top 100 list in his first year in the league, despite facing waves of criticism. Chandler isn’t the type of player to just heap effusive praise on somebody for nothing.
There’s so much potential for growth ahead with Mac only being in his second season with the Patriots. Chandler Jones already sees it, and in time, perhaps others will as well. | 2022-08-15T18:07:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | All-Pro DE Chandler Jones raves about Patriots QB Mac Jones | https://sports.yahoo.com/pro-chandler-jones-raves-patriots-170629086.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/pro-chandler-jones-raves-patriots-170629086.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens signed kicker Justin Tucker to a four-year extension, which will keep him with the team through the 2027 season. By that time, Tucker will have likely made many more amazing memories in a Ravens uniform, winning the team plenty of games with his leg just like he’s done over the first 10 years of his NFL career.
Tucker was able to speak to the media after signing the extension, and gushed about how grateful he was towards the organization and the city of Baltimore. He mentioned how he’s both fired up and motivated, showing his excitement throughout his answer.
"I feel beyond blessed. I'm fired up. I'm motivated." @jtuck9 on his contract extension: pic.twitter.com/yTOR6R3jiu
“I feel beyond blessed. I’m fired up, I’m motivated – all the things that I was feeling before I signed, but maybe a little bit more after putting pen to paper. But no, I’m fired up, I’m blessed. I know that I get to come to work at an amazing place with amazing people. We get to continue working on building something great and working toward championships. Just to know that I will be in the plans for exactly that makes me feel very special”
The Ravens’ front office has always been one to take care of players that are fits for the team both on and off of the field, and the former Texas star is certainly one of those players. Tucker has meant so much to Baltimore since making the team as an undrafted free agent, and he’ll be booming kicks through the uprights for many more years at M&T Bank Stadium. | 2022-08-15T18:07:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens K Justin Tucker ‘beyond blessed’ to continue career in Baltimore | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-k-justin-tucker-beyond-175150826.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-k-justin-tucker-beyond-175150826.html?src=rss |
Rival players praise Patriots LB Matthew Judon in NFL 100 Players special originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
NFL Network's yearly top 100 players program aired Sunday night, and most of the conversation from a New England Patriots perspective involved Mac Jones.
The former University of Alabama quarterback made the list at No. 85 following an impressive rookie season during which he led the Patriots back to the playoffs. Jones was ranked ahead of other quarterbacks such as Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings, which didn't sit well with some people.
But Jones wasn't the only Patriots player to be featured on this top 100 list.
Veteran linebacker Matthew Judon was ranked No. 52, just ahead of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.
Judon had a strong first season in New England, tallying a career-high 12.5 sacks with 60 tackles in 17 games.
In the league's video highlighting Judon's place in the NFL Top 100, a couple rival defensive players had plenty of praise for the Patriots pass rusher.
Tyrann Mathieu, S, Saints: "He can cover running backs out of the backfield. He can obviously pass rush. He can defend the run. Being with a guy like Bill Belichick, they run a versatile system and it allows guys like him to really show who they are."
Lavonte David, LB, Buccaneers: "Yeah, I'm a fan of his game. I think he sacked Tom (Brady) this year when we played him. ... I don't think they've had a guy like that since Chandler Jones, maybe. They definitely have a gem in him."
Jones also had kind words about Judon.
"I remember our first couple practices, he was back there making plays, just having fun with it," Jones said. "I think that's something I've taken from him -- just enjoy the game and do what you're supposed to do, but also have fun."
The Patriots saw plenty of turnover at linebacker over the offseason with Kyle Van Noy being released, plus Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower not being brought back as free agents. Given the lack of experience the Patriots now have at the position, they will need Judon to be even better in 2022 if the defense is going to be a top 15 unit. | 2022-08-15T18:07:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rival players praise Patriots LB Matthew Judon in NFL 100 Players special | https://sports.yahoo.com/rival-players-praise-patriots-lb-172718678.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rival-players-praise-patriots-lb-172718678.html?src=rss |
Davis Mills was atrocious in toto in 2021.
The Houston Texans’ No. 67 overall pick in Round 3 that year went 2-9 as a starter, thanks to an 0-6 losing streak to start his career. Mills threw 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and posted an 88.8 passer rating. If not for the last five games of the season when Mills went 2-3 with a 9-2 touchdown to interception ratio and a 102.4 passer rating, his rookie season may have been worse.
According to Peter King from NBC Sports, who visited Texans training camp, Mills is using his experiences in 2021 as points to build upon, and referenced Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning’s rough rookie season in 1998.
Interesting thing I talked about with Mills: He’s lucky to have been the 67th pick in the 2021 draft with zero pressure on him, instead of the first (Trevor Lawrence) or second (Zach Wilson), with instant production demanded. “Didn’t Peyton [Manning] set the rookie interception record?” Mills said. “I got to play, then watch and learn, then play, in my first year, and I thought I had a lot of growth by the end.”
Manning threw 28 interceptions as the Indianapolis Colts finished 3-13. The following season the Colts turned around their fortunes with a 13-3 finish. Manning still threw the same number of touchdowns as his rookie campaign — 26 — but he had cut the interceptions down a more manageable 15.
Similarly Mills already has a penchant for being careful with the football, as his 3-of-3 for 14 yards stat line in the preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints proved. If Mills is able to take any measure of growth along with the rest of the team under new coach Lovie Smith, the Texans should be able to get out of the four-win funk that has plagued their regular season records for the past two seasons. | 2022-08-15T18:07:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans QB Davis Mills uses Peyton Manning rookie record as example of growth | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-qb-davis-mills-uses-165800035.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-qb-davis-mills-uses-165800035.html?src=rss |
Texans HC Lovie Smith says that they don’t have an update right now when it comes to the playing time of rookie CB Derek Stingley Jr. this Friday. He will have a better idea after Tuesday’s practice. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/fkVu6o9lTf
Coach Lovie Smith was playful in his Monday morning presser when asked about the chances of rookie cornerback Derek Stingley playing against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 19 at SoFi Stadium.
“Like a percentage? 35 or 36, 59 or 60? Help me out a little bit,” the Houston Texans coach remarked according to a video from Brian Barefield.
The mystery surrounding Stingley relates to how his final season at LSU ended. In 2021, the eventual No. 3 overall pick was limited to three games due to a Lisfranc injury. Although completely recovered from the injury, the Texans have nevertheless been deliberate with their blue-chip defensive back throughout offseason workouts, training camp, and preseason.
Smith acknowledged that they needed to something from Stingley during the exhibition phase.
“Derek needs to play this preseason, true enough, but a little bit later on, like after Tuesday’s practice, when we get a little closer to LA, we’ll talk about who’s going to play then,” Smith said. “Right now, I know that Derek is going to scrimmage tomorrow and we’re excited about seeing him continue to get better daily, which he’s doing; getting more and more comfortable each day.
A little bit later on in the week, we’ll let you know our ideas, our plans for how we’re going to play our guys this second preseason game.”
The Texans defense cultivated three takeaways in the 17-13 win over the New Orleans Saints Aug. 13 at NRG Stadium. Having Stingley produce positive results, even in a preseason setting, would be another suggestion that the Texans defense will be much improved throughout the 2022 campaign. | 2022-08-15T18:08:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans want to see more from CB Derek Stingley before making plans against the Rams | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-want-see-more-cb-160614232.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-want-see-more-cb-160614232.html?src=rss |
Why Shanahan believes Lance won't 'make or break' 49ers' season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
One year after making an appearance in the NFC Championship Game, coach Kyle Shanahan is entrusting the keys to the 49ers’ offense to an inexperienced quarterback, 22-year-old Trey Lance.
“Is Trey ready to take it on his shoulders?” Shanahan said to NBC Sports columnist Peter King in the latest “Football Morning in America” column. “He shouldn’t be. He hasn’t gone through it enough.”
As King pointed out in his piece, Lance has only attempted 389 passes in game action since graduating from Marshall High School in 2018 -- 318 in college at North Dakota State and 71 for the 49ers as a rookie last season.
“I believe in him as a man, as a person. I believe in his talent,” Shanahan told King. “I don’t think he is going to make or break our season, just like in 2019 and last year, I didn’t think Jimmy was going to make or break our season.”
The 49ers advanced to last year's NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams without Garoppolo tearing up the field in the postseason. He threw for just 535 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions over three playoff games.
Shanahan foresees the 49ers continuing their winning ways despite the guarantee that Lance will endure the hard lessons of what it takes to be an NFL signal-caller.
“What sucks is when you’re learning how to play and you’re not there yet,” he said. "How do you not get worse sometimes when that pressure’s on you, and you need to go through the growing pains?"
Lance passed his first 2022 preseason test Friday night with flying colors. On the field for 11 snaps, Lance completed four of five pass attempts for 92 yards and a touchdown, the highlight being his 76-yard strike to rookie Danny Green for six points.
“Mentally, I feel like things are a lot more clear for me," Lance told King, comparing himself now to his rookie season. "I understand the offense, and I’m able to play fast.”
Lance beginning the exhibition season with a burst of bold confidence was encouraging to see. But Shanahan acknowledges the speed bumps ahead for the second-year quarterback, and believes the team will win as Lance learns on the job. | 2022-08-15T18:08:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Trey Lance won't 'make or break' 49ers' season, Kyle Shanahan believes | https://sports.yahoo.com/trey-lance-wont-break-49ers-173016943.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/trey-lance-wont-break-49ers-173016943.html?src=rss |
Myles Brennan has decided to call it a career.
LSU announced Monday that Brennan, a sixth-year senior quarterback, has decided to step away from football. Brennan was competing for the starting job during preseason camp with Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels and redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier.
“We are grateful to Myles for everything he has done for LSU football,” Tigers head coach Brian Kelly said. “Myles is a great leader who has made a tremendous impact on this program and he has earned the respect of everyone here through his commitment and love for LSU.”
Brennan arrived at LSU as a four-star recruit in the class of 2017. He redshirted his first season and was the backup behind Joe Burrow for two seasons, including for LSU’s national championship run in 2019. He opened the 2020 season as LSU’s starter, but suffered a season-ending injury after three starts.
Entering 2021, Brennan was expected to compete for the starting job with Max Johnson until he broke his arm in an accident that occurred during a fishing trip. He missed the entire 2021 campaign and announced in November that he was putting his name into the transfer portal.
After more than a month of surveying his options, Brennan opted to return to LSU after speaking with Kelly, who left Notre Dame after 12 seasons to come to Baton Rouge.
LSU quarterback Myles Brennan (15) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Since Kelly’s arrival, Brennan has been competing with Daniels and Nussmeier for the starting job. According to local reports, Brennan took snaps with the second-team offense during a recent scrimmage last week while Daniels worked with the ones and Nussmeier sat out with an ankle sprain.
With Brennan deciding to move on, Daniels and Nussmeier will continue to compete for the job. Daniels was a three-year starter at Arizona State who threw for 6,025 yards, rushed for 1,288 yards and combined for 45 touchdowns. Nussmeier played in four games as a freshman and was able to preserve his redshirt. He completed 29-of-57 passes for 329 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and drew praise from Kelly for his performance in the spring.
LSU opens up the 2022 season against Florida State on Sept. 4 in New Orleans. | 2022-08-15T18:37:44Z | sports.yahoo.com | LSU QB Myles Brennan decides to end his college football career | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-qb-myles-brennan-decides-to-end-his-college-football-career-175018082.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-qb-myles-brennan-decides-to-end-his-college-football-career-175018082.html?src=rss |
Dwayne Johnson’s DC passion project “Black Adam” will finally open in theaters this October, but the character could’ve debuted in 2019’s “Shazam!” had Warner Bros. went ahead with its original plan. The “Shazam!” movie went into development in 2014 with a script that included origin stories for both the title character and Black Adam. The […] | 2022-08-15T18:37:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Odell Beckham Jr. comments on Baker Mayfield’s Panthers debut | https://sports.yahoo.com/odell-beckham-jr-comments-baker-162056529.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/odell-beckham-jr-comments-baker-162056529.html?src=rss |
May 23, 2022; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) makes a catch at the team's OTA at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots offensive lineman Cole Strange (50) takes part in drills with offensive lineman Trent Brown, left, at the NFL football team's practice facility in Foxborough, Mass., on May 23, 2022. | 2022-08-15T19:12:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Live from Patriots training camp: Nelson Agholor steals the show on Day 12 | https://sports.yahoo.com/live-patriots-training-camp-know-124209511.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/live-patriots-training-camp-know-124209511.html?src=rss |
Where are the Mountain West teams
Of course, the G5 is undervalued
College football is extremely close to happening as we are just over two weeks away from Week 0. The USA TODAY coaches poll was released last week with zero Mountain West teams cracking the top 25, but five teams received votes, so that is at least something.
The AP poll is seemed as more valued since the coaches poll had someone give Texas a first-place vote and also it is also usually not the coach who casts a ballot.
Going through some of the voters who put theirs out there publicly, odds seem slightly better that the Mountain West will get represented.
John Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News put Fresno State at No. 21. Brett McMurphy of The Action Network placed Air Force at No. 24. Those are just a few of the believers in the Mountain West.
So much for wishcasting, the Mountain West had zero teams ranked in the AP poll.
There are five Mountain West teams earning a vote (in order) with Fresno State, Boise State, Air Force, and San Diego State.
Per usual, the Group of Five is undervalued with three teams outside the Power 5 are ranked with BYU, Houston, and Cincinnati. All three are off to the Big 12 next year.
6 Texas A&M Aggies 1212 (25)
The season is a week closer for the Sooners and that means it's time for some more predictions - who'll make All Big 12? | 2022-08-15T19:25:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2022 Preseason AP Top 25 Poll Is Out; Zero Mountain West Teams | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-preseason-ap-top-25-162228761.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-preseason-ap-top-25-162228761.html?src=rss |
The first Associated Press college football rankings came out and they tend to think a little more highly of the Oregon Ducks than the coaches.
Oregon will begin the season as the No. 11 team in the nation, one spot better than the coaches, who have the Ducks No. 12 in their poll.
To no one’s surprise, Alabama is the No. 1 team in the land with Oregon’s first opponent, Georgia, coming in at No. 3. The Bulldogs received three first-place votes. Ohio State is No. 2.
But the Ducks are not the highest ranking Pac-12 school. That accolade goes to Utah, which comes in at No. 7. USC is ranked No. 14, and BYU, Oregon’s third nonconference opponent in 2022, starts the season at No. 25.
UCLA was the only other Pac-12 team to receive votes with two. | 2022-08-15T19:26:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | Associated Press ranks Oregon just outside the Top 10 | https://sports.yahoo.com/associated-press-ranks-oregon-just-170009952.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/associated-press-ranks-oregon-just-170009952.html?src=rss |
The Florida Gators did not claim one of the coveted spots on the preseason Associated Press Top 25 College Football Poll on Monday. UF received just 14 votes to finish an unofficial 38th overall.
A lack of support among the national media isn’t surprising, especially considering the circumstances heading into the 2022 season. Last year’s team wasn’t very good, several expected starters left the transfer portal and Billy Napier was left to piece together a recruiting class in a matter of two months.
Napier brought in a robust transition class, ranked 10th overall by 247Sports, and added players at key positions via the portal. The big question is how long it will take for Napier’s system to work at Florida. Most of the offense is unproven, including first-year starting quarterback Anthony Richardson. If the Gators gel under the new scheme early on and upset Utah in the season opener on September 3, expect Florida to have more than 14 votes in the next update.
For now, the Florida players can use this poll as yet another source of motivation for the upcoming season. Not only is UF the 11th SEC team to appear on this list, but even UCF has received more votes (27) than Florida. Miami is ranked No. 16 to lead all in-state programs.
Beating No. 7 Utah would be a big statement for Napier in his first game at the helm, and it would certainly shake up the rankings.
AP College Football Top 25
Last Wk.
Amazon will legitimately get to double dip when it begins exclusively broadcasting Thursday Night Football next month. The viewers will be paying for Amazon Prime, and the advertisers will be paying for what could be prime commercial placement. But there’s a real question as to the value that corporate partners will receive. How many people [more] | 2022-08-15T19:26:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Florida receives votes but left out of preseason AP Poll top 25 | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-receives-votes-left-preseason-183605380.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-receives-votes-left-preseason-183605380.html?src=rss |
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