text stringlengths 237 126k | date_download stringdate 2022-01-01 00:32:20 2023-01-01 00:02:37 ⌀ | source_domain stringclasses 60 values | title stringlengths 4 31.5k ⌀ | url stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ | id stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Auburn has landed their second transfer of the offseason and it is at a key position.
Pass rusher Elijah McAllister committed to Auburn Tuesday morning after spending the previous five seasons at Vanderbilt.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder was listed as a defensive lineman at Vanderbilt but will be either an edge rusher or defensive end for Auburn. Regardless of his position, he will primarily serve as a pass-rusher and will help sure up a group that desperately needs reinforcements. Dylan Brooks is the only scholarship edge player from last year’s squad set to return in 2023.
After redshirting in 2018, McAllister had his best season in 2019, making 26 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and forcing a fumble. He did not play during the 2020 covid season. In 37 career games, he finished with 65 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception.
The Rumson, New Jersey, native was a team captain in 2022 and he will have one season of eligibility on the Plains. He is Auburn’s second addition through the transfer portal after FIU tight end Rivaldo Fairweather committed to Auburn on Sunday.
Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about football now!SUBSCRIBERS: CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE!--------------------- What other coverage am I missing by not ... | 2022-12-20T17:55:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | Auburn lands former Vanderbilt pass rusher Elijah McAllister | https://sports.yahoo.com/auburn-lands-former-vanderbilt-pass-162514227.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/auburn-lands-former-vanderbilt-pass-162514227.html?src=rss |
Former Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne is transferring to Arizona State after visiting over the weekend and clicking with new ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham. Pyne is already the 26th recruit Dillingham has brought in since being hired less than a month ago.
The former four star Connecticut native started 10 games this season. He threw for 2,021 yards with 22 touchdowns and 6 INT. ND was 8-2 in his starts including a 4-1 record against top-25 teams. Pyne had a very good game against USC on November 26. He did commit two turnovers, but he was extremely accurate. He did not throw an incomplete pass until the fourth quarter of that game. He played noticeably better than he did in the earlier portions of the 2022 season. That gave Dillingham a belief that he could be a solid building block at Arizona State in 2023.
Arizona State finished last season 3-9. Many of the program’s top players fled to the transfer portal after the 2021 season as former coach Herm Edwards’ program unraveled. Edwards was fired in September by ASU.
Drew Pyne, a junior, will have three years of eligibility remaining with the ASU program.
Service Properties (SVC) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects. This might drive the stock higher in the near term. | 2022-12-20T17:55:38Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Notre Dame QB Drew Pyne goes to Arizona State, will face USC in back-to-back years | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-notre-dame-qb-drew-155706919.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-notre-dame-qb-drew-155706919.html?src=rss |
Mason Cobb, who entered the transfer portal this month, announced his commitment to Lincoln Riley and USC on Monday night. Cobb led Oklahoma State with 96 tackles and 13 tackles for loss this season while also recording two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in the 2022 season.
“I will forever be grateful for my time in Stillwater,” Cobb said. “After long conversations with my family members and mentors, I would like to announce that I have officially entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left. I will always be a Cowboy at heart. It’s time for me to move onto the next chapter in my life and make the decision that’s best for me.”
Add another star from another college to transfer to USC. The 2023 USC roster may be even better than the Year 1 team in the Lincoln Riley era which impressed us all season.
USC struggled to tackle for much of the season, especially in its two losses against Utah and most particularly against Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid. Mason Cobb’s identity as a consistent, reliable, high-volume tackler is precisely what makes him such a crucial addition to the USC roster. | 2022-12-20T17:55:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mason Cobb’s value to USC is clear: He can tackle | https://sports.yahoo.com/mason-cobb-value-usc-clear-161907993.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mason-cobb-value-usc-clear-161907993.html?src=rss |
We are a day away from the early signing period getting started in the world of college football, which means that in the next 24 hours, a ton of high school prospects are going to be putting pen to paper and letting it be known where they are going to start their college careers.
While there are still a lot of uncommitted prospects out there who will be making their final decisions known, some of the biggest fireworks on Wednesday could end up coming from top recruits who are currently committed to one school, but announce that they are flipping to another.
It’s flip season, and we already saw that have an impact on the Oregon Ducks with the news of 5-star QB Dante Moore going to UCLA on Monday morning.
We expect the Ducks to sign a star-studded class on Wednesday based on the guys who are currently committed and locked into the program, and there’s a chance that it could get even better with a couple of late additions that Oregon is still working hard to get.
The Buzz: Down the stretch, it looks like the recruitment for Bowen has become more of a race between Oklahoma and Oregon than it has for Notre Dame. If you were to determine which team is in the lead to land the 5-star safety at the moment, it would have to be the Sooners, who have picked up several recruiting predictions to execute the flip. That’s not to say that the Ducks are out of the running just yet, but they definitely have some work to do if they are going to leap Oklahoma and bring the talented DB to Eugene.
The Buzz: Hicks was one of the two players that I felt the most confident about landing with the Ducks a few days ago, and while I still think there’s a good possibility he flips to Oregon, Texas A&M is working hard to hold on to him and doing a good job of it. Hicks took a visit to College Station this past weekend, and it seems to have cooled off the flip potential for the moment. Again, I don’t think Oregon is out of the running, and this one will likely come down to a signing day announcement, but if forced to choose at the moment, I would lean Aggies.
The Buzz: This is the other player I felt extremely confident about Oregon being able to flip. All signs were pointing towards Proctor committing to the Ducks thanks to his relationship with Adrian Klemm, his multiple visits to Eugene in the past couple of months, and the parental support that was shown for Oregon. However, Proctor took a visit to Alabama this past weekend, and now there are several predictions coming in that have the No. 1 OT in the 2023 class headed to Tuscaloosa to join Nick Saban. Like Hicks, this feels like a Signing Day announcement with the Ducks working hard to get back on top of the race, but it feels like the smart bet is Alabama at the moment.
The Buzz: Throughout the recruitment for Matayo Uiagalelei, it’s felt like the Ducks are in the race for him, but never quite leading the charge. That remains the case with Oregon, Ohio State, and USC announced as the final three schools coming down to his commitment. The Trojans are believed to be the front-runner at this moment, and while the Ducks are still in the picture, current buzz shows that the 5-star EDGE will likely end up down in Los Angeles.
The Buzz: Finally a flip that I feel really good about. Almost anywhere you look, signs are pointing toward Limar flipping his commitment from Notre Dame to Oregon. He is one of the top prep players in the state of Washington, and the Ducks have been working on him constantly over the past several months, trying to get him to stay closer to home and join Carlos Locklyn in Eugene. A lot of predictions are in for Limar to flip to the Ducks before all is said and done, and I would be surprised if we didn’t see that announcement come out in the next 12-24 hours.
The Buzz: This is a new addition to the list and one that has come about since the announcement that 5-star QB Dante Moore flipped from Oregon to UCLA. The Ducks are now in search of another prep QB that they can add to the roster this offseason, and Novosad is a heck of a contingency plan. He’s got a relationship with Oregon OC Will Stein from his time in Texas, and though he is currently committed to the Baylor Bears, there’s a feeling out there that the Ducks are pushing hard to get him to Eugene.
The Buzz: Early beliefs were that Austin wasn’t planning to sign with a team until February, which had him down on the list of potential flips for Oregon, but some recent buzz shows that he is considering making a decision this week. The LSU commit has been on a couple of visits to Eugene over the past few months and I’m told that Oregon feels good about being able to get him. Whether that’s tomorrow or in February, I think the Ducks end up pulling off the flip.
The Buzz: The Ducks are making a strong late move on Johnson, who has been committed to the Cardinals since April. Johnson made it to Eugene in October and was on campus again this past weekend. I think the Ducks capitalize on the coaching change at Louisville this offseason and pull off the flip, bringing the 6-foot-5, 250-pound athlete to Eugene.
The Buzz: It hasn’t happened just yet (as of 8:000 a.m. on Tuesday) but I think Caleb Presley could announce his flip to the Washington Huskies at any moment. After taking an official visit to Seattle earlier this month, the No. 1 player from the state of Washington has been said to strongly reconsider his options and look at staying home instead of coming down south to Eugene. While that would hurt Oregon’s recruiting class, I think the Ducks have been prepared for this outcome and lightened the blow with the addition of Alabama transfer Khyree Jackson on Sunday.
The Buzz: This flip already took place, so it moves down to the bottom of the list. Most Oregon fans saw this one coming for a few days, and with the announcement that QB Bo Nix would be returning for the 2023 season, it took a little bit of the sting out, knowing that the Ducks at least have some time before needing to figure out their future at the position. Still, losing a player like Dante Moore is never easy, and losing him to an in-conference team like UCLA, with former Oregon coach Chip Kelly pulling off the flip, makes it sting a little bit more.
The Buzz: Porter was in Eugene over the weekend and looks to be leaning toward the Ducks ahead of signing day. He had a great visit and was able to get to know both the staff and the other players on the roster. At this point, all signs point toward the Ducks landing this 4-star out of Texas and adding some bulk to their defensive line.
The Buzz: While Davis took a visit to Stanford over the weekend and was said to have loved it, there are still several predictions for him to end up with the Ducks in the end, including one from 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong on Monday. Listed as an athlete but projected to play defensive back, Davis would be a great addition for the Ducks to make in the secondary this offseason.
Collegiate Stats: 34 Games Played
The Buzz: Angilau was on campus recently and the buzz coming from that visit is very positive so far. He is a veteran player from Texas who has a lot of experience moving around on the offensive line, showing versatility in playing multiple positions. I’m told that Angilau developed good relationships with the staff in Eugene, and at this point I expect him to transfer to the Ducks.
Collegiate Stats: 23 Games Played (22 started)
The Buzz: Cornelius is one of the most highly-coveted players in the transfer portal, and he is down to a final four of Oregon, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Ohio State. He will announce his commitment on Wednesday. Cornelius took a visit to Eugene earlier this month and I believe the Ducks feel good about their ability to get him, but we will see ultimately where he ends up landing tomorrow. | 2022-12-20T17:56:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Recruiting Watch: Potential Oregon flips and commitments a day out from early signing period | https://sports.yahoo.com/recruiting-watch-potential-oregon-flips-170555764.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/recruiting-watch-potential-oregon-flips-170555764.html?src=rss |
'I don't know if it's something I'll do again.'
Cale Makar declined a power play after New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was wrongly penalized for tripping on Monday. (Reuters)
On top of being one of the best players in hockey, Cale Makar looks like he's a good person, too.
Good sportsmanship is one of the first things any kid is taught when they take up sports. Winning is important, but upholding the integrity of the game should always come first. It seems as though sometimes we lose sight of that idea in the heat of competition, which is why it’s so refreshing to see those principles prevail at the highest level.
During his Monday night game against the New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar slipped while skating around his net, leading to a tripping penalty called against Mathew Barzal, who was pursuing him.
The instant referee Brandon Blandina blew the whistle and Makar understood what had happened, he waved his hand to speak with the official. Blandina then announced that there would be no penalty, to the dismay of the Colorado crowd.
“I don’t think he had a good angle on it, he just saw me fall,” Makar said after the Avalanche's 1-0 shootout win. “I would like to think most times I fall it’s usually because somebody trips me. That one I just lost an edge.”
Despite seemingly doing the right thing by asking the penalty to be overturned, the 24-year-old wasn't so sure about his decision after it set in.
"I felt a lot more guilty about doing that than probably if I would've said nothing," Makar said. "I don't know if it's something I'll do again."
Makar has been outspoken about his disappointment with how games have been officiated during the season and joked about saving Blandina “from some media attention.” Makar found himself in a difficult, no-win situation following that call. He would either be benefitting from a clear mistake by the official or would be letting his team down by depriving them of a power play in a tie game.
“It kind of shows you who Cale is,” said Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. “Typical Cale.”
Although he appreciated the honesty, Barzal isn't sure he would have been so forthcoming.
"Obviously, good sportsmanship on his part," he told reporters post-game. "I don't know if I would have done the same, to be honest with you."
What Makar has also done in this situation is be an exemplary role model to every amateur athlete in any sport. If a two-time NHL All-Star, Norris and Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and Stanley Cup champion can make the right decision, then you have no reason not to.
Ilya Sorokin makes 46 saves before Islanders fall 1-0 to Avalanche in shootout | 2022-12-20T18:08:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | NHL: Cale Makar regrets convincing referee to wave off penalty | https://sports.yahoo.com/avalanches-cale-makar-feels-guilty-about-declining-penalty-163741182.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/avalanches-cale-makar-feels-guilty-about-declining-penalty-163741182.html?src=rss |
Horford responds to ejection, fine for incident vs. Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Al Horford paid the price for his low blow on Mo Wagner during the Boston Celtics' loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
Horford elbowed Magic big man Mo Wagner in the groin early in the third quarter, resulting in a Flagrant 2 foul and an automatic ejection.
On Sunday, the NBA announced Horford was fined $25,000 for "making unnecessary and excessive contact to the lower body" of Wagner. The Celtics veteran shared his side of the story shortly before Sunday's rematch vs. Orlando.
“Just getting the ball inbounds, I felt like I was being kneed, kind of shoved, in an excessive fashion,” Horford told reporters. "I also thought his arm was trying to hit me, too. So I just kind of swung back with my arm, back at him.”
His teammate Jayson Tatum made it clear after Friday's game he did not agree with the ejection.
"That was unbelievable," Tatum said. "I couldn’t believe Al got thrown out of the game. I didn’t think that was warranted, especially once they went to go review and they saw that Mo fouled him first. That’s why I got to shoot free throws.
Horford will have a chance to make up for lost time on Sunday as the C's look to avenge Friday's defeat. They'll have to do so without Tatum, who was ruled out due to personal reasons. | 2022-12-20T18:08:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Celtics' Al Horford responds to ejection, fine for incident vs. Magic | https://sports.yahoo.com/celtics-al-horford-responds-ejection-202400380.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/celtics-al-horford-responds-ejection-202400380.html?src=rss |
Julius Randle / USA TODAY Sports/SNY Treated Image
The shortened rotation. A healthy Quentin Grimes. The steadying presence of Jalen Brunson. A stingy defense.
Plenty of factors are behind the Knicks’ seven-game winning streak.
One that may get overlooked? Julius Randle’s mentality.
Randle’s numbers have been hard to miss. Over the past seven games, he’s averaging 26.7 points and 11.4 rebounds.
One of the keys to his strong play of late? Randle’s approach to the game.
"Just trying to be more invested and in tune with what’s going on with our team," Randle said last week. "How can I help my guys? How can I make the best plays for my team? Next-play mentality. So the more I focus on that, the more the outside distractions become (unimportant)."
Last year, the outside distractions seemed to impact Randle and the Knicks. Randle wasn’t hitting shots in the same way he did in 2020-21, when he lifted New York to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference.
He got into it publicly with fans. His production dipped. The Knicks failed to meet expectations.
Dec 14, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso (6) defends against New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) during the first half at United Center. / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
But it’s been a different story this year. Over the past two weeks, Randle has been a key to New York’s resurgence. He’s playing within himself, engaged on switches in pick-and-roll defense and hitting shots when the Knicks need him to (Randle went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 45 seconds of New York’s win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday).
The production of late has changed the season for the Knicks. After their last loss -- a blowout defeat to the Dallas Mavericks -- there was speculation (grounded in reality) that the club was a few defeats away from a major shakeup.
Some people around the league certainly saw blood in the water. Even before that Dallas loss, people around one top Eastern Conference executive tried to convey through back channels that they would be the right candidate for the team president’s role if Leon Rose were to be fired.
Internally, the Knicks were well aware that things were teetering. Before this most recent winning streak, someone from the club reached out to the Toronto Raptors to ask about trading for OG Anunoby. That’s a trade that would come at a significant cost -- it’s not a move you make unless you know you have to shake up your roster.
Obviously, the Knicks are not on the same shaky ground today that they were earlier in the month. Seven straight wins can stabilize things in pro sports. And Randle has been in the middle of it, taking it all one possession at a time.
"Just making the right play," Randle said. "If they’re going to put two on the ball, there’s an advantage for us and a play to be made. Just make the correct play."
Lately, he’s done that again and again. And it may have changed the direction of this Knicks season. | 2022-12-20T18:08:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Julius Randle's approach may have saved season for Knicks, who pondered major shakeup | https://sports.yahoo.com/julius-randles-approach-may-saved-145413817.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/julius-randles-approach-may-saved-145413817.html?src=rss |
Augusta National Golf Club, in a rare statement, says it will use current criteria for its April tournament.
What will the PGA Tour look like in 2023?
While the tournaments and courses are largely the same, the PGA Tour will have three big changes in the coming year.
When I see a young girl on her dad’s shoulders at a tournament, my heart sinks and swells. This game will bond them for life. | 2022-12-20T18:09:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Masters to keep criteria, invite all eligible players in '23 | https://sports.yahoo.com/masters-keep-criteria-invite-eligible-155008412.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/masters-keep-criteria-invite-eligible-155008412.html?src=rss |
The forward is averaging career-highs in points, steals and rebounds as his pedigree continues to increase around the NBA.
Chelsea Leite
ESPN's Zach Lowe is reporting that O.G. Anunoby could fetch a surprisingly sizeable return if the Toronto Raptors were to trade the 25-year-old forward. (Getty Images)
As the Raptors season continues to go off-track, the trade scenarios continue to roll in.
One player at the centre of most of these scenarios? O.G. Anunoby, the 6-foot-7 forward the Raptors drafted 23rd overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Passed off in years prior as a 3-and-D wing, Anunoby has flourished this year – another example of the Toronto Raptors’ development system at work. As the Raptors hopes continue to decline, and the losing streak extends (currently at six losses in a row), the trade scenarios are coming in hot.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on his podcast on Tuesday that “the entire league wants O.G. Anunoby,” adding that the trade package that could go for him may be surprising.
"If he gets traded, the price and picks are going to surprise people because it might be on par almost with what the Cavs gave up for Donovan Mitchell."
Raptors fans surely know how much O.G. Anunoby means to their team. He leads the NBA in steals (2.4 per game) and at just 25 years old, he is averaging 18.7 points per game – a significant jump from his career average of 11.1 points per game.
His two best games of the season came against Miami and Orlando, where he scored 32 points in each contest. In the Raptors win against the Atlanta Hawks, Anunoby collected six steals. His strength is nearly unmatched for his position in the NBA and he is the ideal example of the kind of players the Raptors wanted to fill their team with.
Anunoby is the guy regularly tasked with guarding the opposing team’s superstar. This season, he has held Kevin Durant to 2-for-6 field goals, Donovan Mitchell to 2-for-7 field goals, and Jimmy Butler to just one field goal, among others. His size, mixed with his speed and agility, make him tough to get past, even for the most skilled players in the league.
Anunoby seems to be one of the only things working for the Toronto Raptors – so do they keep him and build around him, or do they deal him out and see what they can get back? No matter the outcome, Anunoby is positioning himself to be a vital player in this league for years to come.
December 20, 2022 The FPSO Cidade de Anchieta has safely resumed production following the inspection, repair and certification of 4 tanks in agreement with the client and approved by Class and local authorities. As announced on November 10, 2022, repair works on the remaining tanks will continue at least until the end of next year. Corporate Profile SBM Offshore designs, builds, installs and operates offshore floating facilities for the offshore energy industry. As a leading technology provider, | 2022-12-20T18:09:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | ESPN insider reports 'entire league' interested in O.G. Anunoby | https://sports.yahoo.com/raptors-og-anunoby-garnering-interest-from-entire-league-171504880.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raptors-og-anunoby-garnering-interest-from-entire-league-171504880.html?src=rss |
Only three weeks remain in the 2022 NFL regular season, which means the top of the 2023 NFL draft order is coming into clearer focus.
The one-win Houston Texans still have a two-game lead on the rest of the league for the No. 1 overall pick, but there’s still plenty of time for movement throughout the rest of the top 10 selections.
Here’s what the first-round order would look like if next year’s draft took place after Week 15 action (courtesy of Tankathon):
State ecology and environmental panels in Oregon and Washington have approved plans to transition vehicles in their states to meet zero-emission standards by 2035. The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission voted on Friday to require all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the state to meet zero-emission standards, while the Washington Department of Ecology updated… | 2022-12-20T19:05:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2023 NFL draft: Updated 1st-round order after Week 15 | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-nfl-draft-updated-1st-173548633.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-nfl-draft-updated-1st-173548633.html?src=rss |
00:00 – How should the NFL solve the officiating blunders?
06:00 – What is the dumbest play you’ve ever seen at any level of football?
10:02 – Is Jalen Hurts a system quarterback and easily replaceable?
15:00 – Is there anything about this win that makes you believe more in the now 11-3 Vikings?
Why is modern NFL officiating so consistently inconsistent?
(Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports)
Coming into Monday night’s game between the Rams and the Packers, there have been 101 games this season decided by a touchdown or less. That’s the most in NFL history through the first 15 games of a season. So, the little things matter more than ever, and it seems that officiating is not only worse than ever, but that it’s deciding games more than ever. This was the case in the Derek Carr to Keelan Cole touchdown pass that wasn’t for the Raiders over the Patriots, and that was the case in the obvious pass interference on Darnay Holmes against Curtis Samuel that put the game away for the Giants over the Commanders. It seems that every week, there are multiple officiating blunders that are glaringly obvious, they’re affecting the results, and things aren’t getting any better. How should the NFL solve this?
Doug: One thing that stands out to me is that, because there have been so many officiating mistakes, there are also more pool reports after games in which one reporter is chosen to speak to the referee after a game. Half the time, the referee doesn’t even talk – it’s Walt Anderson, the NFL’s VP of Officiating, who takes the questions either by himself or in conjunction with the referee. Why can’t the referees explain themselves? Why do they need Anderson’s help? And why aren’t those interviews put on video and on the internet like all coach and player interviews? Why don’t the referees hold post-game pressers?
Beyond that, I think the NFL needs to make officiating grades public. We now have metrics for just about anything. If you want to know which quarterback is the NFL’s best in trips right in the fourth quarter against six or more pass rushers and Cover-1, I can pull that up for you in 30 seconds. (It’s Jared Goff, by the way). Officials need to be made publicly accountable for their performances. The NFL grades officials after every game – or, at least the NFL says it does, though you have to wonder based on some Super Bowl assignments.
There are two things Bill Belichick has talked about for years – making everything reviewable (not more reviews, but simply making everything reviewable), and using technology to take as much as possible out of the officials’ hands. It’s beyond stupid that the league is still basing whether a guy is in bounds, or whether he made a first down, based on the eye test. There’s tracking technology to an extreme degree. Let’s use that to make officiating more accurate, and for the NFL to be less dependent on its officials.
Luke: My family and I were just joking yesterday about the fact that it’s 2022, and with all the technology we have available, we’re still letting a side judge who’s 30 yards away mark the spot of the ball with his foot. The fact that so much weight hangs on whether or not that side judge is a size 9 regular or wide is ridiculous. Everything being reviewable should be another easy starting point, and having some kind of way to penalize officials who blow the whistle too early and take away huge turnovers that should have been obvious calls wouldn’t hurt. The league has more resources available to them than ever before, but the officiating keeps getting worse. It’s unacceptable.
What is the dumbest play you've ever seen?
Jakobi Meyers’ lateral attempt to Mac Jones, which was intercepted by Chandler Jones and returned for a 48-yard touchdown to push the Raiders over the Patriots at the end of their game, may very well have been the dumbest play in the history of professional football. It’s certainly in the running, as all the Patriots had to do was to run the clock out and head to overtime. Other than this particular instance of situational brain-cramp, what is the dumbest play you’ve ever seen at any level of football?
Doug: I still have to go with a certain skinny slant thrown by Russell Wilson to Ricardo Lockette in Super Bowl XLIX. The Patriots had subbed from base to nickel before that play. They had practiced it on defense during the week. This was back when the Patriots had more than a handful of good coaches, so they had this on lock. The Seahawks had no receivers on the field over six feet tall in a red zone situation. And they had Marshawn Freaking Lynch. Given the long-term ramifications of that interception, it might be the most meaningful play in NFL history in a profoundly negative sense. That said, this play on Sunday was pretty dumb.
Luke: I think that’s the easy answer, for sure. I’ll note a few others, though. Scott Mitchell spiking the ball on 4th down to seal a wild-card loss for the Lions on the road against the Bucs back in ‘97 comes to mind. Jim Marshall famously running the wrong way for a safety that he thought was a touchdown was on every NFL Films VHS tape I had growing up. In terms of the overall situation and impact, though, it’s the Hawks not just handing the ball to Money Lynch with the Lombardi on the line.
Why do people insist that Jalen Hurts is a 'system quarterback?'
Everybody from Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys to Chris Simms of NBC Sports has decided to jump on the narrative that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is a system quarterback. Now, let’s get this out of the way: Every quarterback is a system quarterback. But what Parsons and Simms mean is that Hurts is overly reliant on the Eagles’ offense, and that he’s easily replaceable. Where do you stand on that notion?
Doug: The thing that is so wrong about Hurts being portrayed as a system quarterback is that the Eagles have created their current offensive system specifically for his skill set. It’s as if you were to call Lamar Jackson a system quarterback. Hurts has not only completed 67.3% of his passes for 8.2 yards per attempt, 22 touchdowns, and five interceptions – he’s also run 156 times for 747 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is not a system quarterback – he is the system. Simms, who I know and respect, said that with this offensive line, receivers, and coaches, Gardner Minshew could do pretty much the same stuff that Hurts is doing. I am the president of the Gardner Minshew fan club, and I’m even calling malarkey on that. Yes, Hurts is in an ideal situation. But he is also making the absolute most of his ideal situation, and that’s what great quarterbacks do.
Luke: This is such a comical narrative, especially when you consider that last year, there were plenty of folks talking about how Hurts just needed more weapons, and now they’re punishing him for the fact that he has them. We’ve seen plenty of playmakers held back by bad QB play over the years. I don’t know how you can watch this team play and come away thinking that Hurts isn’t the engine that drives their success on offense. He’s one of the most dynamic, exciting players in the league, and those guys don’t just appear out of thin air. He was that guy at Alabama, he was that guy at Oklahoma, and he’s that guy in Philly.
Do we believe in the Vikings after the greatest comeback in NFL history?
We spoke just last week about how hard it was to take the Vikings seriously despite their 10-3 record due to their negative point differential, their historically bad defense,and their ridiculous luck (10-0) in one-score games. Well, their last one-score game came on Saturday, when they engineered the greatest comeback in NFL history to beat the Colts, 39-36 in overtime. Is there anything about this win that makes you believe more in the now 11-3 Vikings?
Doug: I’m still not sure. In the first half of this game, the Vikings looked a lot like the Vikings we were talking about last week. Actually they looked worse. They allowed 209 yards and gained 82. Their first half possessions ended thusly: Blocked punt, fumble, downs, downs, punt, interception, punt, end of half. The defense was terrible, the offense was way off, and the special teams were atrocious. Yes, they turned it all around in the second half and in overtime, but they did so against a Colts team that was busy throwing up all over itself all of a sudden. You level all that out, I think we are where we were with what we can actually see on the field.
Now, there is an intangible element of such a comeback that could carry over – when you do the impossible, and you suddenly believe that everything is possible… well, hey. Maybe it is. It was an amazing game, and kudos to the Vikings for that historic comeback. But I’m still not completely on the bandwagon.
Luke: I do think there might be some magic about this team. It doesn’t make all of their shortcomings disappear, and they won’t get to play against an interim head coach with no previous experience every week, but these are the kinds of things that can galvanize a locker room and make them believe that they can overcome anything. I still think that on paper, there’s a huge gap between the Eagles and the Vikings, but this game proved they should never be counted out.
The Utah county home to Zion National Park took the top spot. | 2022-12-20T19:05:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | 4-Down Territory: Bad officiating, dumbest plays, Jalen Hurts — system QB? (no), Vikings’ greatness | https://sports.yahoo.com/4-down-territory-bad-officiating-180728424.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/4-down-territory-bad-officiating-180728424.html?src=rss |
Reinforcements are on the way for the Chicago Bears offense. The Bears designated running back Khalil Herbert to return from injured reserve on Tuesday. Herbert can begin practicing with the team, but still remains on injured reserve until he’s officially activated. The second-year running back has missed the last four games due to a hip injury he suffered in the 31-30 loss against the Detroit Lions in November.
Prior to his injury, Herbert was the Bears’ most effective running back on the NFL’s best rushing team. He had 108 carries for 643 yards with four rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in 10 games. Herbert is averaging 6.0 yards per carry.
Head coach Matt Eberflus said on Monday he expects Herbert to be active for this week’s game against the Buffalo Bills. | 2022-12-20T19:05:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears designate RB Khalil Herbert to return from IR | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-designate-rb-khalil-herbert-173709188.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-designate-rb-khalil-herbert-173709188.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts are placing running back Jonathan Taylor on the injured reserve list due to the ankle injury he suffered in Week 15, effectively ending his season.
Seeing as the Colts are all but officially out of playoff contention, Taylor will miss the final three games of the regular season on the reserve list. According to Aaron Wilson, the Colts are promoting running back Jordan Wilkins from the practice squad.
This was the expected and logical move. Considering Taylor has been battling the injury for the majority of the season, there’s no reason to risk further injury just so he can play in three meaningless games to round out the season.
With his season over, Taylor played in 11 games (all starts) taking 192 carries for 861 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns while adding 28 receptions for 143 receiving yards.
This injury isn’t considered long term so the Colts are hoping he will be ready for the offseason training program.
Visiongain has published a new report entitled Contract Manufacturing Outsourcing (CMO) of Sterile Injectable Drugs 2022-2032. It includes profiles of Contract Manufacturing Outsourcing (CMO) of Sterile Injectable Drugs and Forecasts Market Segment by Molecule Type (Small Molecule, Large Molecule), Market Segment by Type (Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs), Cytokines, Insulin, Peptide Hormones, Vaccines, Immunoglobulins, Blood Factors, Peptide Antibiotics, Others), Market Segment by Application (Cance | 2022-12-20T19:05:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts to place RB Jonathan Taylor on IR | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-place-rb-jonathan-taylor-175917762.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-place-rb-jonathan-taylor-175917762.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts released defensive tackle Curtis Brooks from the practice squad, the team announced Monday.
A sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, there was some hope after the selection was made that Brooks would carve out a role as an interior pass rusher on the defensive line.
However, Brooks failed to make the initial 53-man roster after training camp and the preseason and spent the entirety of his rookie campaign on the practice squad.
It’s rare for late Day 3 picks in the draft to have long and productive careers, but Brooks’ athleticism gave him a chance to be a rotational player.
Instead, the Colts will part ways with a 2022 draft pick for the first time. | 2022-12-20T19:05:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts release sixth-round pick DT Curtis Brooks | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-release-sixth-round-pick-180604461.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-release-sixth-round-pick-180604461.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts signed linebacker Cameron McGrone to the active roster from the New England Patriots’ practice squad, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Tuesday.
McGrone, 22, was a fifth-round pick with the Patriots in the 2021 NFL draft out of Michigan. He spent his rookie season on the injured reserve list and the entire 2022 season on the Patriots practice squad.
An Indianapolis native, McGrone appeared in 16 career games at Michigan. He recorded 11.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and 91 total tackles (52 solo). At his pro day, he measured in at 6-foot-1 and 234 pounds with 32-inch arms.
EXLS vs. ADP: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option? | 2022-12-20T19:05:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts sign LB Cameron McGrone off Patriots practice squad | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-sign-lb-cameron-mcgrone-183148666.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-sign-lb-cameron-mcgrone-183148666.html?src=rss |
The 23-year-old cornerback sits atop the Bears’ depth chart at his position beside rookie Kyler Gordon. The tandem has put together some special games over the course of the season, and showed their potential against the Eagles, holding MVP candidate quarterback Jalen Hurts to just over 300 yards and no touchdowns. Johnson was Chicago’s second-leading tackler in the game behind linebacker Nicholas Morrow, and Gordon came down with an interception.
This duo of cornerbacks on the outside should prove to be a strength of the Bears’ defense in the future, and once the team gets some of the wrinkles ironed out on both sides of the ball, they should be able to contribute to a bounce-back winning season in 2023.
For Johnson, these kinds of performances are to be expected at this point in his career. A second-round selection by the Bears back in 2020, he was a two-time All-Pac-12 first-team selection as a collegian and became one of the most highly coveted prospects in his draft class. He played his college ball at the University of Utah and made an immediate impact for Chicago as a rookie standout.
Watch for Johnson to continue perfecting his craft and making incremental improvements to his game over the course of the last few weeks of the season. His talent is undeniable, and with a little more experience under his belt, it wouldn’t be a stretch to think that he could develop into one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks by the time he turns 25 in 2024. | 2022-12-20T19:06:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Defensive back Jaylon Johnson posted most productive game of his career vs. Eagles in Week 15 | https://sports.yahoo.com/defensive-back-jaylon-johnson-posted-181409911.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/defensive-back-jaylon-johnson-posted-181409911.html?src=rss |
Jalen Hurts on facing Cowboys: 'Definitely a chance' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Jalen Hurts said there’s “definitely a chance” he’ll be able to play in the Eagles’ game against the Cowboys Saturday.
Hurts got hurt in the third quarter of the Eagles’ win over the Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago and various reports suggested he would miss at least one game before being able to return.
But Hurts as well as coach Nick Sirianni both insist he could be ready for the Eagles' Christmas Eve game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“Definitely a chance,” Hurts said Tuesday. “I’m feeling fine, feeling fine. It’s a week where we’re keeping everything business as usual. We’re playing a really good team, a really good opponent and doing everything we can on a short week to be at full health.
Hurts was slow to get up after getting driven to the ground by Bears defensive end Trevis Gipson on a zone-read play late in the third quarter Sunday.
He didn’t miss a snap and in just over a quarter after the injury he was 7-for-10 for 110 yards, including a 68-yarder to A.J. Brown that set up a late 4th-quarter touchdown.
“I had to find a way,” Hurts said. “I had to find a way. And in the end that’s what it’s all about. As a team, as players, as individuals, we all have things that we want to accomplish together and ultimately we want to find a way to get them done.”
Despite throwing two interceptions in Chicago, Hurts has a 104.6 passer rating this year with 22 touchdowns, five interceptions and 67 percent accuracy. He ran for three touchdowns Sunday and has 13 this year, 2nd-most ever by a quarterback.
“I do not put anything past Jalen Hurts as far as his mental and physical toughness, so there’s a chance he can play this week,” Sirianni said. “He’s one of the toughest guys I know, and he heals fast.
“His body is not like yours or mine. His body is not like ours. He heals fast, he came back fast from his injury last year and I will not rule him out or put a timetable on him.”
Hurts missed a late-season game against the Jets last year, and backup Gardner Minshew threw two touchdowns to Dallas Goedert in a 33-18 win in East Rutherford. Hurts returned the following week.
If Hurts is unable to play, Minshew would start in Dallas Saturday. One win or one Cowboys loss the rest of the year gives the Eagles the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff bracket.
“It’s about the healing process,” Sirianni said. “With Jalen, he hurt that in the third quarter, and he was hurting and he had a freaking great 4th quarter, so pain tolerance with this guy I never worry about. He’s an unbelievable competitor, unbelievable toughness. It’ll be more about the healing than the pain because he can play through anything.”
Hurts is one of 13 quarterbacks to start all 14 games so far this year. The only Eagles quarterbacks to start every game in a season since 1970 are Roman Gabriel once, Ron Jaworski six times, Randall Cunningham three times, Donovan McNabb four times and Carson Wentz twice.
“I knew when it happened," Hurts said. "I’m very aware of my body, I’ve always been that way and I try to be mindful of those things and I’m pretty good at overcoming those different things.
“It’s not the first time I’ve had things I’ve had to overcome. Been in these type of situations, it just happens to be public. There’ve been many other things we’ve had to persevere through. There’s always things you really have to overcome.”
If it was up to Hurts, he’d be out there Saturday.
READ: Sirianni admits he should have used Miles Sanders more
Sirianni knows he has to protect Hurts from himself, and it’s ultimately not his call, either.
“You always have to do what you think is best for them,” Sirianni said. “’Can this injury get any worse? Can he play through this? Can he not do this?’ We have to do the things we need to do to protect them because I know our guys, and I know they’re going to want to play through everything.”
Sirianni said if Hurts is cleared, he’ll be cleared for everything. That means the Eagles won’t reduce his carries or change his approach to the game to protect him.
If he’s on the field, he’ll be running the complete offense.
“We will play him when he’s ready to play,” Sirianni said. “If that’s this week, that’s this week. If it’s next week it’s next week. When Jalen’s ready to play, he’s ready to play all aspects of it. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
“We’ll see what happens this week, but both guys will be ready to go.” | 2022-12-20T19:06:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles' Jalen Hurts on facing Cowboys: 'Definitely a chance' | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-jalen-hurts-facing-cowboys-175720334.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-jalen-hurts-facing-cowboys-175720334.html?src=rss |
Kenny Pickett set to start vs. Raiders originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
The Fed and other central banks hold a higher-for-longer view on interest rates, and that could rev up a slowdown in the global economy.
Vancouver Canucks vs. St. Louis Blues - Game Highlights
Watch the Game Highlights from Vancouver Canucks vs. St. Louis Blues, 12/19/2022 | 2022-12-20T19:06:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kenny Pickett set to start vs. Raiders | https://sports.yahoo.com/kenny-pickett-set-start-vs-173740028.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kenny-pickett-set-start-vs-173740028.html?src=rss |
The Philadelphia Eagles have been the best team in the NFL this year and have started with an incredible 13-1 record. The Eagles are likely headed to the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and Jalen Hurts is the odds-on favorite to win the NFL MVP currently.
However, it, unfortunately, sounds like Hurts may miss some time after an injury he sustained to his shoulder in the Eagles’ win against the Chicago Bears. Hurts is also the leading vote receiver for quarterbacks in the NFC so his loss would be tough for Philadelphia. Fortunately, the injury won’t be serious or long-term, and the Eagles aren’t going to rush him back until he’s ready for the playoffs.
The acquisition of A.J. Brown has been massive for the Eagles as well as DeVonta Smith’s emergence as a young star in this league. All of Alabama will be cheering for the Eagles to make a late run into February. | 2022-12-20T19:06:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL MVP front-runner, Jalen Hurts, suffers shoulder injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-mvp-front-runner-jalen-172615889.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-mvp-front-runner-jalen-172615889.html?src=rss |
The San Francisco 49ers are making it look Purdy.
Despite going through two starting quarterbacks and now relying on their third in rookie Brock Purdy, the 49ers continue their charge towards the playoffs.
For the first time since 2019, the 49ers locked up the NFC West. Recall the last time they did so they went to the Super Bowl.
The Dallas Cowboys apparently can only beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in either Texas or London — especially not in Florida.
The Philadelphia Eagles remain a juggernaut, and the Buffalo Bills continue their dominance over the AFC.
It is almost like the Colts are a team without a coach. That is the only way to explain how Indianapolis was able to blow a 33-0 halftime lead. Either that or the ghost of Jack Pardee possessed Jeff Saturday for the last half and overtime against the Minnesota Vikings. Proper game management would have been able to protect this lead and not give Matt Ryan a revisit of his lone Super Bowl appearance.
When you’re down to your third-string quarterback, it isn’t pretty — unless you’re the San Francisco 49ers. Nevertheless the Cardinals have never clicked on all cylinders in 2022. The last three games might be Kliff Kingsbury swan song.
They did a get win for the first time since Week 8, but it took the demoralized and depleted Arizona Cardinals to make it happen. There are still question marks a mile high surrounding this team.
Like the Texans, the Bears’ problem is finishing games. Unlike the Texans, Chicago actually has talent and has kept games competitive throughout the season. The Bears held their own against the Philadelphia Eagles, considered the best team in the NFL presently. A win would have been a bigger touchstone for rookie coach Matt Eberflus.
Surprisingly Sam Darnold played pretty well with a 108.1 passer rating and no turnovers. However, the offense was 4-11 on third down and 1-3 in the red zone. On the flip side, the defense allowed the Pittsburgh Steelers to convert 12-16 of their third down attempts. The right coaching hire and a solid draft may be all Carolina needs for a turnaround.
Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin-USA TODAY NETWORK
A week’s worth of practices weren’t enough for Baker Mayfield to look like anything other than a former No. 1 overall pick on his third team. The Rams are essentially in one big talent evaluation over the last three games as Sean McVay and Les Snead regroup over the offseason.
The on positive to come from the Falcons’ losses is at least they are giving valuable experience to Desmond Ridder. The rookie quarterback was tepid as he went 13-26 for 97 yards and rushed six times for 38 yards. Ridder can have Atlanta fans feeling confident in the offseason if he improves over the next three games.
It is fascinating to think the Browns still have a chance to finish with a winning record, even though they started Jacoby Brissett for most of the year, and their insertion of a quarterback who hadn’t played in 700 days noticeably affected the passing game. Even if Cleveland bungles their last chance to get into the playoffs, the final three games could offer a preview of what 2023 will look like.
For once lady luck favored the Raiders as they beat the New England Patriots on a screwy fumble recovery for a touchdown on the last play of the game. As long as the Raiders can keep the run game effective, as they did Josh Jacobs’ 22 carries for 93 yards, it should keep the offense diverse enough to stay competitive over the last three games.
Baltimore fans are having flashbacks to last season when the Ravens had a commanding 8-3 record only to lose out — in part due to Lamar Jackson’s availability issues — and miss the playoffs. Even though the Ravens are a game better than a year ago, it feels like it is happening again.
The Saints have been inconsistent throughout the year, and partially that is due to talent deficiency. They can still finish up 2022 with a statement win or two to have fans leaving the season feeling as sense of optimism.
If the Seahawks finish out as a 10-win team, that will still be quite the accomplishment given the impediments that faced the team in the post-Russell Wilson era. It also would reinforce the credibility of Pete Carroll.
Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buccaneers will undoubtedly be the weakest division winner to enter the playoffs. How do you blow a 17-0 lead and give up 34 unanswered points at home, even if it is to the indefatigable Bengals? Why the Buccaneers remain a threat, regardless of how the last three games play out, is that Tom Brady and the offense will activate in the postseason. Raymond James Stadium will still be an iffy venue in January.
Getting the Jets from being a doormat in the AFC East to competitive is one thing. Todd Bowles was able to do that. Getting the Jets from competitive to playoff contending is another, and it appears that is the stumbling block for Robert Saleh. The crux of the matter is Zach Wilson, and the Jets must figure out their franchise quarterback situation in the offseason or they will implode.
Speaking of teams with poor quarterback play, enter the Patriots. Mac Jones completed 13 passes on 31 attempts for 112 yards. Admittedly running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown, but elevated quarterback play wouldn’t have kept the game close enough for bad luck to strike.
The Giants got Saquon Barkley more involved with 18 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown along with five catches for 33. If your quarterback is not going to have big plays, then you have to force the opposing quarterback into negative plays, and that is precisely what happened with rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux. The defensive end’s sack-fumble and recovery for a touchdown was the difference in the game.
The Packers are laying the groundwork for next year. Nevertheless a win over the Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings in the coming weeks would be glimpses at what might have been in the postseason if not for their crippling five-game losing streak that spoiled their record.
The Titans could use a nice tune-up game against the Houston Texans. Aside from the Titans’ 2019 season that essentially built the reputation of Mike Vrabel’s team, Tennessee tends to collapse near the end of the year and into the playoffs. The Titans can rewrite that narrative with a home date against the worst team in football.
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio-USA TODAY NETWORK
Dallas gave up 40 points and 500 yards total offense for just the seventh time in franchise history. The last time it happened was against Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 of 2020. In a way, Dan Quinn’s defense is looking like Mike Nolan’s. However, the Cowboys have been hit with injuries on defense and there’s a chance Quinn tinkers with the personnel to retool the defense. The Cowboys sacked Trevor Lawrence just one time in Week 15.
When the 2022 season is finished, there will be a clear trajectory of how the Lions affected a team’s playoff chances in the latter part of the year. It is unfathomable that Detroit is just two games away from their first winning season since 2017, and three games away from their first 10-win season since 2014.
The Chargers are doing their part. The Boxing Day special should be a good barometer of where the team is. If they fail to beat the reeling Indianapolis Colts on the road, then Los Angeles is too inconsistent to make the postseason. A win would match their longest streak of the season: three.
The Bengals continue their inevitable march towards the AFC North title. A win over the Patriots in Week 16 would give them some insurance wins in case they have to sneak into the playoffs as a wildcard.
Great teams find ways to win games. However, the Chiefs have to take a demerit for allowing this game to need an extra period going against the worst team in the NFL — in a venue where weather wasn’t a factor no less. The Chiefs won’t see a presumptive playoff team over the course of the next three weeks, but can’t take any of the teams lightly as they endeavor for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
It is easy to criticize the Colts for their dysfunction in setting up such a scenario where the Vikings were able to overcome a 33-point deficit, but Minnesota deserve massive credit for actually pulling it off. The Vikings have a magical feel in 2022. The problem is there is another team of destiny that has a tiebreaker over them for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
What is impressive about what Brock Purdy is doing is he is missing Deebo Samuel, too. Kyle Shanahan is putting Purdy is situations to succeed, and the last pick of the 2022 NFL draft is executing, to his credit. As long as the run game remains effective, the defense is disruptive, and Purdy is in safe situations, San Francisco will frighten teams in the playoffs.
Is Jalen Hurts actually MVP material? The rest of the NFL will find out as the Eagles take on the Cowboys on Christmas Even presumably without their quarterback. The offensive line and defense are so impactful that they should adequately defend their position as the NFC’s top seed. | 2022-12-20T19:06:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Week 15 Power Rankings: 49ers surge, Cowboys fall | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-week-15-power-rankings-180548326.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-week-15-power-rankings-180548326.html?src=rss |
With three games left to go in what’ll be a mad dash (or at least some kind of dash) towards the NFC South title, the Carolina Panthers could certainly use a boost. And maybe they can get one from a three-time Pro Bowler.
On Tuesday, the team designated wide receiver Andre Roberts to return from injured reserve. The decorated return specialist will now have 21 days to be moved back to the active roster.
Roberts was placed on IR following the season opener back on Sept. 13. In his lone game in 2022, the 34-year-old returned two kickoffs for a total of 35 yards and one punt for 10 yards in a 26-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Fellow wideout Shi Smith and running Raheem Blackshear have taken up the bulk of responsibilities in Roberts’ place. Smith currently leads the Panthers in punt returns, as he’s fielded 20 tries for a combined 143 yards, while Blackshear has recorded 15 kickoff returns for a total of 413 yards.
The Panthers can win the NFC South by winning their final three games of the season and kick returner Andre Roberts could be part of that push. Roberts was designated for return from injured reserve on Tuesday. He can be activated at any point in the final three weeks, so he could be in the [more] | 2022-12-20T19:06:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers WR/KR Andre Roberts designated to return from IR | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-wr-kr-andre-roberts-182502920.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-wr-kr-andre-roberts-182502920.html?src=rss |
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers finished off the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night with a 15-play, 82-yard drive in the final 8:51 of the fourth quarter while up 24-12. But it appeared they were going for more.
They even threw into the end zone on a third down after the two-minute warning and then went for it on fourth down at the 4-yard line.
But in gambling terms, with the over-under at 39 (according to Tipico Sportsbook) and 39.5 in other books, it was an under.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Packers-Rams point total gets over-under attention on social media | 2022-12-20T19:07:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | Social media takes notice of how the Packers-Rams game ends for the over-under point total | https://sports.yahoo.com/social-media-takes-notice-packers-172751027.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/social-media-takes-notice-packers-172751027.html?src=rss |
The Houston Texans are still stuck at the bottom of the power rankings, but it isn’t as despondent as it has been in recent weeks.
According to Mark Lane from the Touchdown Wire, the Texans continued to show their fight from their Week 14 encounter with the Dallas Cowboys, which indicates the Texans aren’t as terrible as their No. 32 ranking indicates.
What has helped Houston look like more than a 1-12-1 team is their improved quarterback play. While Davis Mills isn’t approaching 300-yard games, he is making smarter decisions with the football along with getting the ball in the end zone. The fumble in overtime was the pock mark on the face of an otherwise great game from Mills, who threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another in the 30-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Across the rest of the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts dropped to No. 31 following their blown 33-0 halftime lead against the Minnesota Vikings — the largest blown lead in NFL history. The Tennessee Titans dropped to No. 12 after their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Jacksonville Jaguars, who are in second place in the division, were ahead of the Titans in the power rankings at No. 11 thanks to their win over the Cowboys. | 2022-12-20T19:07:44Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans remain a strong No. 32 in latest Touchdown Wire NFL power rankings | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-remain-strong-no-32-181325850.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-remain-strong-no-32-181325850.html?src=rss |
NFL power rankings are such an interesting exercise. In all honesty, they don’t mean a whole lot and they arbitrarily change from week to week. Why do we do them? It’s fun and interesting to compare teams on a weekly basis.
The Vikings are one of those teams that have been slotted all over the place throughout the season. Despite a 9-1 start, some analysts still had them towards number 10 while others ranked them at number one. All they needed to do to convice the national media that they were good is beat another team with some conviction. They haven’t done that since week one and that’s the issue.
This week’s power ranking are a lot of the same, but the blurbs from the analysts are what’s worth reading this week.
Davis gives the Vikings credit but also doesn’t believe in them come playoff time.
“Historic, wonderful comeback … blah, blah. The fact they fell into a 33-point hole — at home — to say nothing of the seven sacks Minnesota surrendered or its three turnovers, is going to give whichever team(s) travels to Minneapolis during the playoffs plenty of confidence it can leave with a victory.”
As per usual, Florio is taking a shot at the Vikings here with the power rankings.
Hanzus has the Lions, yes the Lions, ahead of the Vikings.
“The Vikings obviously have a sense of humor. They must know the football world has been in an ongoing debate about whether the team is a legitimate contender or an outright fraud — it’s the only possible explanation for falling behind the lowly Colts 33-0 at halftime on Saturday before mounting the greatest comeback in the 103-year history of the NFL. “You just need five touchdowns,” veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson told his offensive teammates at halftime. “That’s nothing.” The final touchdown came from Dalvin Cook, who nearly brought the roof down at U.S. Bank Stadium on the 64-yard screen-pass score with less than three minutes to play in regulation that set up Greg Joseph’s game-winner in overtime. Call them contenders, call them pretenders … just don’t call them boring.”
Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fans react during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Prisco isn’t sure what to make of the Vikings but also believes this could be the start of a run.
The Vikings have a talented quarterback and Schwab says what a lot of us are thinking.
Iyer has so little confidence in this team that he doesn’t have the blurb updated to include them winning the NFC North.
Austin Gayle-The Ringer
Gayle said what I am thinking: no team is better in improbable situations.
NFL Nation-ESPN
ESPN was impressed with the performance of one Duke Shelley.
“At one point this season, the Vikings had three of their top four cornerbacks — Cameron Dantzler Sr., Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth Jr. — on injured reserve. Shelley, a four-year veteran signed to the practice squad in Week 1, has helped them navigate that distress better than anyone could have imagined. He didn’t get a single defensive snap until Week 10, but he has started two games and made game-saving plays in both of them. Although Dantzler is back from injured reserve, it appears that Shelley has supplanted him as the starter opposite Patrick Peterson. He has gotten his hands on five passes since Week 12.”
NFL Staff: Bleacher Report
The NFL staff at Bleacher Report believes the defense will give them issues in the playoffs.
“Minnesota clinched the NFC North title with the victory. But the team’s nonexistent defense in the first half left Davenport wondering how this team will fare against the NFC’s best once the postseason starts.
‘Coming back from 33 down is a great story and all,’ he said. “But Minnesota allowed 36 points against one of the worst offenses in the league. This also marked the first time in over a month that the Vikings allowed less than 400 yards of offense.
‘The Vikings are a good team. But those defensive deficiencies can’t be overlooked—and they’re going to cost Minnesota in the playoffs.'”
The Gophers wide receiver corps got another influx of talent Monday when coach P.J. Fleck received verbal commitments from Kenric Lanier, who originally committed to Vanderbilt, and TJ McWilliams, who had pledged to Purdue. McWilliams, 6-1 and 170 pounds, is a three-star recruit from North Central High School in Indianapolis, while Lanier, 6-1½ and 180, is a three-star recruit from Decatur ... | 2022-12-20T19:07:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Vikings Week 15 NFL power rankings stay consistent | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-week-15-nfl-power-175956415.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-week-15-nfl-power-175956415.html?src=rss |
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Zach Wilson is getting another start for the New York Jets, and this one in prime time.
''With Zach, he knows to prepare like he's the No. 1 (quarterback),'' Saleh said.
''No one's going to give up on someone just because it feels like if it doesn't show up in Year One or Year Two, it's like, move on,'' Saleh said.
''Zach is growing,'' Saleh said. ''He's growing with this team, he's growing with all of us. It's just a matter of reps. And the more he sees it, the faster he'll play. The faster he plays, the faster he'll get the ball out. As things happen faster, his natural playing ability will come into play because he's not thinking.
''But to get to a world where you're playing without thought, you've got to get reps.''
Saleh said White remains ''week to week'' in his recovery, but the Jets have not ruled him out for the rest of the season. White can practice, but is waiting to be cleared to play in games.
''Everything for Mike is to give him the opportunity to seek a second opinion and for him and his team to kind of make sure all the boxes are being checked,'' Saleh said. ''So from our point as coaches, we're just allowing that process to happen and when everything aligns, we'll make a decision.''
NOTES: Saleh ruled out WR Denzel Mims (concussion) and CB Brandin Echols (quadriceps) for the game. ... WR Corey Davis (concussion) and DT Quinnen Williams (calf) are ''trending in the right direction,'' Saleh said. The coach added that Williams' availability will likely be determined shortly before the game. ''It feels a lot better than it did last week,'' Saleh said.
Justin Verlander says hello to New York, reveals why he joined the Mets | Mets News Conference
Justin Verlander met the media on Tuesday for the first time as a member of the New York Mets, and revealed how he was recruited to the team. | 2022-12-20T19:08:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Wilson to start at QB for Jets vs Jaguars on Thursday night | https://sports.yahoo.com/wilson-start-qb-jets-vs-164458263.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/wilson-start-qb-jets-vs-164458263.html?src=rss |
The newest iteration of the XFL kicks off on February 18, 2023, and more football means more opportunity for one former Ohio State player. Vegas Vipers selected former Ohio State running back, Rod Smith, in the ninth round of the open phase of their positional draft.
Most players in the XFL will be looking to use the league as an entryway into the NFL, but Smith actually had an incredibly successful NFL career given the expectation for undrafted players. Smith went undrafted in 2015 and had a cup of coffee with the Seattle Seahawks that season before spending the rest of 2015 through 2018 with the Dallas Cowboys. Smith had stints with the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Oakland Raiders. He then returned to the New York Giants in 2020 and finished his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers in 2021.
Most Buckeye fans will remember Smith as a former star recruit from Indiana who struggled with off-field issues throughout his time in Columbus. He started to see significant playing time as a redshirt freshman, but was placed in the doghouse for missing the flight to the 2012 Gator Bowl. As a junior, Smith was suspended for the season opener — and as a senior — he dealt with academic issues in the spring and was dismissed from the team after a failed drug test.
Smith has the pedigree to be a star in this league.
Rod Smith ⭕️🌰 #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/JGvsWuZMSh
— ⭕️SU V!Ds (@OSUViDs) May 7, 2020 | 2022-12-20T19:08:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | XFL’s Vegas Vipers adds former Ohio State running back | https://sports.yahoo.com/xfl-vegas-vipers-adds-former-181934074.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/xfl-vegas-vipers-adds-former-181934074.html?src=rss |
The Kings will be back at full strength when they open a six-game homestand against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday at Golden 1 Center.
Guard Davion Mitchell and center Alex Len have been cleared to return after being out with non-COVID-19 illnesses. Both are expected to be available against the Hornets.
The Kings (16-12) went 3-3 on their recent six-game road trip. They are coming off back-to-back wins over the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons.
The Hornets (7-23) have lost eight in a row. They are coming into Sacramento on the second night of a back-to-back after suffering a 119-115 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
The Hornets are healthier than they’ve been all season with LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward both back in the lineup. They have yet to submit an injury report for Monday’s game, but Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle), Cody Martin (knee) and Mark Williams (ankle) were out against the Nuggets.
Ball returned last week after missing 11 games with a sprained ankle. An injury to the same ankle caused him to miss the first 13 games of the season. Ball has appeared in only five games, averaging 21.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists. He scored 31 points in Sunday’s loss to Denver.
Rozier doubtful
Hornets guard Terry Rozier is considered doubtful for Monday’s game against the Kings due to a right hip contusion. Rozier, Charlotte’s second-leading scorer, is averaging 20.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists this season.
Rozier ruled out
Rozier was ruled out about an hour before tipoff. The 28-year-old guard was also out when the Kings beat the Hornets 115-108 on Oct. 31 in Charlotte.
Hornets at Kings
Kings: OUT — Chima Moneke (G League).
Hornets: DOUBTFUL — Terry Rozier (hip). OUT — Cody Martin (knee); Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle).
Terry Rozier with an assist vs the Denver Nuggets
Terry Rozier (Charlotte Hornets) with an assist vs the Denver Nuggets, 12/18/2022
Daniel Gafford with an alley oop vs the Los Angeles Lakers
Daniel Gafford (Washington Wizards) with an alley oop vs the Los Angeles Lakers, 12/18/2022
A buzzer-beater and what it means, the immediate and long-term future in football and some personal thoughts. | 2022-12-20T19:18:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kings-Hornets gameday live: Davion Mitchell, Alex Len set to return; Terry Rozier doubtful | https://sports.yahoo.com/kings-hornets-gameday-live-davion-120000637.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kings-hornets-gameday-live-davion-120000637.html?src=rss |
Justin Turner is reportedly joining the Red Sox after nine seasons with the Dodgers. (Darren Yamashita/Reuters)
The Dodgers mainstay who made two All-Star teams and won a World Series in L.A. is signing a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports. The 38-year-old infielder will make roughly $22 million on the deal, which comes with an opt-out clause, according to the report. He's expected to primarily play at first base and designated hitter, with All-Star Rafael Devers manning third base in Boston.
Turner started his career with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets but made his name after joining the Dodgers in 2014. A fan favorite, Turner received MVP votes in three consecutive seasons from 2016 to '18 and won a World Series as one of the Dodgers' longest-tenured players in 2020.
He made his most recent All-Star team in 2021 and rallied after a slow start to finish last season slashing .278/.350/.438 with 13 home runs and 81 RBIs. The Dodgers declined his $16 million option for 2023, but general manager Andrew Friedman described signing Turner to a new deal as a "priority" in November.
However, the two sides apparently couldn't reach an agreement, and Turner will now become a member of the Red Sox.
Turner is the latest familiar face to leave the Dodgers in an offseason that has seen two-time All-Star Trea Turner and former NL MVP Cody Bellinger sign with new teams. The Dodgers did retain three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw on a one-year deal but appeared to balk at a commitment to Justin Turner with a payroll that projects to be MLB's fourth-highest next season. The Dodgers reportedly signed 35-year-old former Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez to a one-year deal Saturday, one day before Turner's reported departure to Boston. | 2022-12-20T19:40:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dodgers mainstay Justin Turner reportedly signs with Red Sox | https://sports.yahoo.com/dodgers-mainstay-justin-turner-reportedly-signing-with-red-sox-031514227.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dodgers-mainstay-justin-turner-reportedly-signing-with-red-sox-031514227.html?src=rss |
At the risk of sounding like an old lady, here goes: journalists aren't supposed to become the story.
But on Monday, reporters who cover the Tampa Bay Buccaneers found themselves as one of the stories of the day on NFL Twitter (along with the gobsmacking lack of situational awareness from the New England Patriots' offense) after posting a video of their postgame interaction with backup running back Giovani Bernard.
For a recap: the Buccaneers were up 17-3 at halftime on Sunday against Cincinnati and got the ball to start the second half. Bernard fumbled a fake punt on fourth-and-1 with the ball on the Bucs' half of the field, and the Bengals got possession at Tampa Bay's 16-yard line. Despite the favorable field position for Cincinnati, the defense held the Bengals to just a field goal. It was an unfortunate mistake, and the Bengals went on to win the game 34-23, though Tom Brady's four turnovers that followed — on consecutive possessions — arguably played a much larger role in the loss.
In the locker room after the game, reporters said Bernard initially declined to comment on the play, then acquiesced after being badgered.
To be clear, it isn't the interaction with Bernard that's the problem. Any reporter who does the job for any reasonable length of time will have interactions that are confrontational or awkward, especially when the team just lost a game or the topic is a bad play by a player or bad call by a coach. While there is a 10-minute "cooling off" period before coaches are at podiums or locker rooms are opened, the truth is for some athletes and in some situations, that's not nearly long enough.
And it's not about Bernard not wanting to talk either. By many accounts, the veteran is one of the nicer guys media will encounter in an NFL locker room, but he isn't the first nor last player who had no interest in talking to reporters after a tough loss or mistake.
It's the fact that we saw the interaction at all.
Posting that video reeks of trying to publicly and unnecessarily shame Bernard, and there are moments that are uncomfortable. There was a meme that circulated online years ago, of an empty white laundry basket and the words, "your dirty laundry belongs in here. Not on Facebook." In the same way, not every interaction reporters have with athletes needs to become social media fodder.
Bernard initially told reporters that he wasn't going to talk Sunday because they hadn't wanted to talk to him at any other point in the season. He missed nine weeks to an ankle injury suffered in Week 2, and the Bucs, like most teams, don't make players available to media when they're on injured reserve. Sunday was his third game back, and his fumble did play a role in the loss.
Tampa Bay Bucs running back Giovani Bernard, pictured here in August after a preseason game against Indianapolis, had an awkward interaction with media after Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
But as we see in the video, as he's walking through the locker room one reporter tells Bernard, "you were injured all year" as justification for why he hasn't gotten media attention before then. Someone else says, "what have you done for us to talk to you about all year?"
Yes, players are technically obligated to make themselves available to media once during the week and after the game. But any analysis of Sunday's game could be done without Bernard's input, and telling the audience that he wouldn't comment after the game may lead to some fans judging him negatively for not holding himself to account for his error. And that consequence is for Bernard to deal with, not reporters.
To Bernard's credit, he eventually obliged. He said it was a miscommunication, it was all on him and "I messed up." After the third time he gave that response, it was clear he wasn't going to offer more, but still he got four more questions. Four more variations on the same answer followed.
If there was an intent to make Bernard look bad with how things went down, for many it had the opposite effect: it's the media members who look bad, not to mention unprofessional.
Asking him what has he done to merit media members talking to him is foul. Bernard is a 31-year-old running back who is playing on a one-year contract for the minimum a player with his experience can earn. He didn't want to suffer an injury that took him off the field for half the season. He is likely well aware that this could be his last season as a professional athlete and may be embarrassed that a guy who once had three straight seasons with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage is now relegated to playing only special teams.
Beyond that, he's a human being. That fact seems completely lost in the interaction. It comes across that the reporters wanted something from Bernard, and damn if they aren't going to get it.
Journalism requires first and foremost great curiosity, but almost as important, an ability to foster and maintain relationships. Insulting a man in a low moment because you demand he explain his mistake seems completely antithetical to good relationship-building. Maybe to some reporters only the starters or stars are worth treating well, which is wrong. You never know when a backup will be a star, and by focusing only on the bold names, an amazing story in a different corner of the room could be missed.
And if you really want to know how the sausage is made sometimes, a good reporter knows disgruntled players can be the best sources, especially on struggling teams. But that's only after a relationship has been established, usually through an investment of time. If something goes down that the team doesn't want the public to know about, maybe you get a text one snowy morning and break a big story.
Of course fans want to know how a winning play came together or what went wrong on the fake punt attempt, but Bernard didn't want to offer his breakdown Sunday. Maybe he would have Monday had he been treated differently.
What differentiates a beat reporter is access. What's done with that access is important. | 2022-12-20T19:40:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giovani Bernard didn't deserve to be pestered by media after Buccaneers loss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giovani-bernard-didnt-deserve-medias-pestering-after-buccaneers-loss-010931709.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giovani-bernard-didnt-deserve-medias-pestering-after-buccaneers-loss-010931709.html?src=rss |
One of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the transfer portal is headed to Kentucky as the likely successor to Will Levis.
Former North Carolina State quarterback Devin Leary committed to Kentucky on Tuesday, according to On3.com. 247Sports ranked Leary as the No. 2 available transfer at any position and the No. 1 quarterback in the portal as of early December.
In four years at N.C. State, Leary completed 60.2% of his passes for 6,807 yards, 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. His best season came in 2021 when he completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns and five interceptions. That year, Leary was named one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which goes to college football’s best quarterback.
Kentucky was in the market for a transfer quarterback following the departure of Levis, who is widely projected as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In two seasons as Kentucky’s starting quarterback after transferring from Penn State, Levis tallied a 17-7 record.
Leary will be the heavy favorite to start Kentucky’s 2023 opener, but he will face competition from returning backups Kaiya Sheron and Destin Wade. Sheron and Wade are expected to play in the Music City Bowl against Iowa after Levis opted out of the game to begin preparing for the draft. Wade, a former four-star recruit rated as an athlete, will be making his college debut in the bowl as a dual-threat option at quarterback.
Here are three things you need to know about Kentucky’s new quarterback.
1. A significant injury ended Leary’s 2022 season early
While Leary’s breakout 2021 season earned Leary a spot on preseason Heisman Trophy candidate lists, he was unable to duplicate that success in 2022 when his season ended after six games because he tore a pectoral muscle on his right side during N.C. State’s Oct. 8 game against Florida State.
The injury required surgery just more than a week later. In November, Leary told reporters in Fayetteville he was waiting to see how his rehab progressed before deciding whether to return to N.C. State or enter the 2023 draft.
Instead, Leary entered the transfer portal. Had he remained at N.C. State, Leary would have worked with a new offensive coordinator since Wolfpack coordinator Tim Beck was hired as the new head coach at Coastal Carolina.
It is unclear when Leary will be able to return to practice.
The torn pectoral muscle was the second significant injury for Leary in college. His 2020 season was ended early by a fractured fibula.
Quarterback Devin Leary is assisted off the field by medical staff during North Carolina State’s game against Florida State on Oct. 8. The torn pectoral muscle tear on his right side ended Leary’s season.
2. Leary broke one of Phillip Rivers’ N.C. State records
While 2022 had to be considered a disappointment for Leary, he left N.C. State as one of the best quarterbacks in program history.
Leary ranks sixth on N.C. State’s career passing yards list (6,807) and fourth in passing touchdowns (62). His 35 passing touchdowns in 2021 broke Phillip Rivers’ school record for most in a single season.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Leary is the only N.C. State quarterback to throw for at least four touchdowns in five games against ACC opponents in one season and the only Wolfpack quarterback to throw at least four touchdowns in three consecutive games. At one point, he threw 228 consecutive passes without an interception.
Leary’s record-breaking performances were not limited to 2021 either.
Earlier this fall, he became the third N.C. State quarterback to account for six touchdowns in a single game in a win over Charleston Southern. He was the only player on that list to throw for four touchdowns and rush for two in the same game.
Devin Leary was rated by 247Sports as the No. 2 available transfer at any position and the No. 1 quarterback in the portal as of early December.
3. Like Levis, Leary comes to UK from the northeast
Levis, a Connecticut native, was the rare Kentucky football player from New England. Leary also was raised in the northeast, though in the Mid-Alantic rather than New England.
A former star at Timer Creek High School, Leary graduated as the all-time leader in passing yards (9,672) and passing touchdowns (117) in New Jersey high school football history. He was twice named the Gatorade Player of the Year for New Jersey.
As a senior in high school, Leary was rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and 247Sports. The 247Sports Composite ranked Leary as the No. 16 pro-style quarterback in the high school class of 2018.
Next season, Leary and 2023 high school defensive back commitment Naasir Addison could become the first New Jersey natives to play for Kentucky since 2018 National Defensive Player of the Year and current Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen. | 2022-12-20T19:40:38Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kentucky football lands commitment from No. 1 quarterback in transfer portal | https://sports.yahoo.com/kentucky-football-lands-commitment-no-172333153.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kentucky-football-lands-commitment-no-172333153.html?src=rss |
Kerr predicts where Steph, Klay, Dray will be in 20 years originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Over the last decade, the Warriors’ Big Three of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have gone through the highest of highs and lowest of lows together. Injuries. Tears. Doubt. Six NBA Finals appearances. Four championships.
While Golden State’s latest title proved that the trio has still got it and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, the reality is that this Dynasty eventually will come to an end.
When that happens, Warriors coach Steve Kerr has an idea of what the future might hold for each of his stars.
Kerr sat down with NBC Sports Bay Area Warriors reporter Dalton Johnson and predicted where he sees Curry, Thompson and Green 20 years from now.
“Draymond will be coaching in the NBA,” Kerr said without hesitation. “He’s going to get away from playing. Retired. He’ll go into TV for a while and be wildly successful. And then he’s going to get bored because he’s going to miss the competition, so he’s going to go coach.”
While all three players are known for their competitiveness, Green is the most outspoken out of the bunch and his passion for the game is unmatched.
Green, 32, constantly is coaching up the younger guys on the squad like Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman, who have credited Green for his continuous mentorship and guidance.
His love for the game goes beyond the floor, though. His podcast, The Draymond Green Show, has been proof of that as Green takes his knowledge on the court and shares it with the world through a microphone.
He has also sporadically appeared on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” show through his multiyear deal with Turner Sports.
But as Kerr mentioned, Green’s competitive fire might make it hard for him to not return to the game in some shape or form down the road.
Coach Green has a nice ring to it.
For Curry, 34, Kerr's prediction seems spot on.
"Steph will be on the Senior Tour, playing golf," Kerr said, firmly.
Curry is the greatest 3-point shooter of all time and singlehandedly changed the game of basketball. But he has always shown his love for the game of golf. And he's good too.
Curry is a regular contender at the American Century Championship and has made multiple appearances on the Korn Ferry Tour.
The cross-sport star was even added to PGA 2K23 as a playable character in the video game.
It wouldn't come as a surprise if Curry took his talents from the basketball court to the golf course, and succeeded there too.
While all of Kerr's predictions seem like probable outcomes in the future, his foreshadowing of Thompson's future is almost a given.
"And Klay will be sailing around the world and nobody will be able to find him," Kerr said.
If there's anything Thompson loves more than basketball, it's the ocean. After back-to-back lower leg injuries that kept him off the court for more than two years, he turned to the ocean and boated through the long, long road to recovery alongside his best furry friend Rocco.
The emphasis, however, lies on the last part of what Kerr said.
Nobody will be able to find him.
Thompson's never been one to care for much attention, and he tries to lay low as much as a professional athlete possibly could. After he retires from the NBA, whenever that might be, there's probably a good chance Thompson willingly will fall off the map as he continues to live his best life.
In the end, there's really no telling what the future holds for the Warriors' Big Three. Whatever it is, though, there's no doubt that Dub Nation will never forget what they accomplished together in the Bay. | 2022-12-20T19:40:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Where Steph Curry, Warriors' Big Three will be in 20 years, per Steve Kerr | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-steph-curry-warriors-big-181500320.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-steph-curry-warriors-big-181500320.html?src=rss |
World Cup: How many times have the US, Canada and Mexico hosted?
Cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada were selected as hosts for the 2026 World Cup. Heres a look at how many times each country has previously hosted.
Why Messi Wore a Bisht to Lift the 2022 World Cup
After Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup last night, Lionel Messi was honored by the Emir of... | 2022-12-20T19:40:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | World Cup’s Argentina-France Final Delivers 22.3 Million Viewers | https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-argentina-france-final-174519419.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-argentina-france-final-174519419.html?src=rss |
A former Auburn linebacker is set to lead his first defense at the Power Five level.
travis williams, who played for Tommy Tuberville from 2002-05, was officially introduced as the next defensive coordinator at Arkansas. Williams makes the move to the SEC following a two-year stint at UCF, serving as defensive coordinator under former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn.
When scouting his next defensive coordinator, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman says that he found exactly what he was looking for in Williams.
“I didn’t interview anybody that I didn’t feel like was a good coach, from watching film on their product that they’re putting out there,” Pittman said of his hiring process. “When I got in front of (Williams), I can remember calling (Arkansas athletics director) Hunter Yurachek and saying ‘I found him.’ There was no doubt in my mind.”
Like many of their SEC counterparts, Arkansas hopes to play tough, physical football in order to compete for conference championships. Williams ensures Arkansas fans that his defense will bring that level of intensity every game day.
“We’re going to play intimidating defense,” Williams said Monday. “When you watch us, we’re going to play hard, we’re going to play physical. We’re going to have that mental and physical toughness that you need to play. We’re going to get our tails to the ball, and it’s going to be sound.”
Williams took on his first defensive coordinator role in 2021 at UCF. In two seasons, the Knights allowed 24 points and 369 yards per game. After spending three seasons at Auburn as a graduate assistant from 2009-11, Williams coached linebackers at Northern Iowa during the 2012 season. After spending one season at Creekside High School in metro Atlanta, he returned to the Plains from 2014-20, working as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach during that seven-year span.
WATCH: Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman introduces Travis Williams, Morgan Turner
Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman answers questions alongside new defensive coordinator Travis Williams and tight ends coach Morgan Turner. | 2022-12-20T19:44:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | Arkansas, Sam Pittman officially introduces Travis Williams as defensive coordinator | https://sports.yahoo.com/arkansas-sam-pittman-officially-introduces-180032031.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/arkansas-sam-pittman-officially-introduces-180032031.html?src=rss |
NEW YORK, NY, Dec. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- ILUS International Inc. (OTC: ILUS) is a Mergers and Acquisitions company focused on acquiring and growing public safety and industrial companies across the globe. The company filed its Form 10 Registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on the 19th of October 2022 and following one filed amendment, the Form 10 became effective on the 19th of December 2022. ILUS is now subject to the repor | 2022-12-20T19:44:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Alabama five-star OT Tommy Brockermeyer transferring to TCU | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-alabama-five-star-ot-190124356.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-alabama-five-star-ot-190124356.html?src=rss |
Defensive back Corey Collier Jr. is leaving the Gators football program to join the Nebraska Cornhuskers, according to a post he made on social media Sunday.
Collier played in just four games this season for UF primarily in a special teams role. He logged enough snaps against Eastern Washington to receive a defensive grade from Pro Football Focus of 66.1, a run defense grade of 60.0, a tackling grade of 74.3 and a coverage grade of 66.2. Although it’s a small sample size, these are the numbers we have to work with. Granted, coaches are looking at tape more than they are at data sheets.
After redshirting in 2021, Collier could not do so again in 2022. The good news is he still has three years of eligibility left.
Collier has some connections to the incoming class of players Nebraska has under commitment. Incoming three-star cornerback Dwight Bootle II played at the same high school as Collier, Miami Palmetto, and the two will reunite in Lincoln.
A former four-star recruit and a top-6 safety in the class of 2021, Collier should have no problem finding playing time at Nebraska. Florida has a strong class of incoming defensive backs to replace the flurry of players it’s losing from the unit, so this could be a good move for both sides when all is said and done. | 2022-12-20T19:45:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Gators DB Corey Collier transferring to this Big Ten program | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-gators-db-corey-collier-191618253.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-gators-db-corey-collier-191618253.html?src=rss |
Joseph Kosinski’s first meeting with Tom Cruise about directing a sequel to the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun” was in 2017. Five years later, “Top Gun: Maverick” finally opened, after the pandemic led Paramount to delay its 2020 release until May of this year, when it could play to a global theatrical audience — and did it […] | 2022-12-20T19:45:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | A look at notable names on the Mike Leach coaching tree | https://sports.yahoo.com/look-notable-names-mike-leach-190958246.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/look-notable-names-mike-leach-190958246.html?src=rss |
The Alabama Crimson Tide suffered their second season loss of the season in Birmingham on Saturday to the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The Tide, who were ranked No. 4 last week, now fall to No. 9 in this week’s AP poll and stand at 9-2 on the year.
The Tide defeated the Memphis Tigers earlier in the week, but couldn’t hold off a very good Gonzaga side to complete the week’s sweep. Alabama turned the ball over 21 times and certainly did themselves no favors all evening. However, Brandon Miller is a blooming superstar as he erupted for a career-high 36 points.
The Tide have one more out-of-conference game against Jackson State on Tuesday evening before starting SEC play at No. 15 Mississippi State three days after Christmas.
A shakeup in the top 5 of the men's college basketball AP poll 👀 | 2022-12-20T19:57:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Crimson Tide Hoops falls to No. 9 in AP Poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/crimson-tide-hoops-falls-no-181503648.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/crimson-tide-hoops-falls-no-181503648.html?src=rss |
If USC, coming off the big win over Auburn, might be inclined to look past the Colorado State Rams, Sunday night should have helped the Trojans to avoid that temptation.
Colorado State had struggled for a good portion of its college basketball season. The Rams had lost to Charleston by 10, Penn State by 12, to Northern Colorado at home, and by 28 points at Colorado, four very ugly losses. The Rams allowed 88 points to Northern Colorado and 93 to Colorado. They seemed dead in the water when they went to Saint Mary’s on Sunday night without key players Taviontae Jackson and Jalen Lake.
Guess what? Though they were shorthanded, they weren’t short on toughness and resilience. They defeated a Saint Mary’s team which had just defeated San Diego State, one of the favorites to win the Mountain West title, in Moraga, Calif., a very tough place to win. Saint Mary’s beat No. 1 Gonzaga in Moraga last February. The Gaels have become a formidable program under coach Randy Bennett.
Colorado State shrugged off its recent stinging losses to take down Saint Mary’s without two key players. The Rams won 62-60 by shooting over 55 percent from the field and preventing the Gaels from hitting a single field goal attempt in the final four minutes of regulation.
USC will have its hands full with a CSU team which can obviously get the most out of its lineup even if not fully healthy. The good part of the CSU win over Saint Mary’s, in addition to making sure the Trojans aren’t overconfident for this game, is that Colorado State just boosted its resume and will likely be a much higher quality win for the Trojans if they can get the job done.
USC-Colorado State starts just after 8 p.m. Pacific time on Wednesday in Phoenix. | 2022-12-20T19:57:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | USC’s next opponent just showed how tough it is, even without key players | https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-next-opponent-just-showed-175023846.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-next-opponent-just-showed-175023846.html?src=rss |
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) Chicago Bears offensive lineman Teven Jenkins might practice this week after being carted from the field with a neck injury.
Jenkins was at the team's practice facility Tuesday, two days after he was injured against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Matt Eberflus said ''it's a possibility'' Jenkins practices this week with Chicago set to host the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Bears held a walkthrough on Tuesday.
''He's here, engaged, walking around, moving around, looking good,'' Eberflus said. ''He's day to day. We'll see where it goes from there.''
Jenkins was carted from the field and taken to a hospital during Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jenkins went down while blocking for David Montgomery on a running play on the game's opening drive. The right guard was surrounded by many of his teammates as he was loaded on to the cart. | 2022-12-20T20:57:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears' Jenkins may practice this week after neck injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-jenkins-may-practice-week-200132326.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-jenkins-may-practice-week-200132326.html?src=rss |
There are still three weeks left in the regular season, but the Los Angeles Rams’ fate has already been decided. They’ve been eliminated from playoff contention, meaning they’ll strictly be playing for pride and player evaluation in the final three games.
But in Cam Akers’ mind, he wants to play spoiler, too.
After Monday night’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, Akers said he and the rest of the team will treat their last three games like they’re playing for a championship. He used a colorful metaphor to describe what the Rams hope to do to the Broncos, Chargers and Seahawks.
“We can (urinate) in other people’s coffee or cornflakes,” Akers said, via the Los Angeles Daily News. “So if we can, we’re gonna do that. We’re gonna play the last three games like it’s the championship.”
Akers had his best game of the season Monday night, rushing for 65 yards and adding 35 yards receiving. Even despite his best efforts, the Rams still managed to gain just 156 net yards on offense, scoring a measly 12 points on the road.
The Broncos are a much easier opponent than the Packers were, so perhaps the Rams can steal a win on Christmas Day, but beating the Chargers and Seahawks the following two weeks will be a challenge.
If nothing else, the Rams can hurt the Chargers and Seahawks’ playoff chances with the season winding down. | 2022-12-20T20:58:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cam Akers: Rams will play spoiler, treat final games ‘like it’s the championship’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/cam-akers-rams-play-spoiler-193400221.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cam-akers-rams-play-spoiler-193400221.html?src=rss |
According to head coach Brandon Staley, Derwin James could return to practice this week ahead of Monday’s game against the Colts.
“He’s progressing,” Staley said of James. “We are hoping to see him back in practice at some point this week. With the extra day, we’re going to make sure that we take full advantage of it, but I still consider him day-to-day.
He’s feeling better, for sure. If you were able to see him work out during pregame, he is trending in the right direction.”
James has missed the last two games due to a quadriceps injury he sustained in Week 13 against the Raiders.
Even without James on the field, Los Angeles still played at a high level in its victories over the Dolphins and Titans.
Over the past two weeks, the Bolts rank third in defensive DVOA.
Alohi Gilman, who’s filled in as the starter for James, has been playing really good football alongside Nasir Adderley.
Getting the do-it-all defender back will be huge as the Bolts hit the final three games of the season and likely into the playoffs.
The Augustana alumnus had a key touchdown in the Vikings' record-setting comeback win over the Colts | 2022-12-20T20:58:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chargers’ Derwin James could return to practice this week | https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-derwin-james-could-return-192315210.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-derwin-james-could-return-192315210.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts signed former New England Patriots linebacker Cameron McGrone off New England’s practice squad Tuesday, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
So McGrone’s time in New England officially comes to an end.
McGrone was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft. The former Michigan star didn’t play in 2021, as he was recovering from a torn ACL. The linebacker had a solid college career, recording 91 total tackles in two seasons with the Wolverines. His best season came in 2019, when he recorded 65 tackles and a pass deflection.
New England elevated McGrone from the practice squad to the active roster for their game against the Arizona Cardinals. However, he did not play in the game. The linebacker did not appear in any games during his time in New England.
But the Patriots liked him enough to keep him stashed on the practice squad, and apparently, the Colts liked him, too.
‘It’s going to be very cold’ this week: Here’s how cold and how weather could affect travel
It’s unclear how much snow will accumulate due to strong wind gusts.
The Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee met Tuesday to vote on whether to publicly release years of Donald Trump's tax returns, which the former president has long tried to shield. Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., has kept a close hold on the actions of the panel, which planned to vote on the release in a closed session. The committee received six years of tax returns for Trump and some of his businesses. | 2022-12-20T20:59:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts sign up-and-coming linebacker off Patriots practice squad | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-sign-coming-linebacker-off-202057197.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-sign-coming-linebacker-off-202057197.html?src=rss |
A former New England Patriots player is praising wide receiver Jakobi Meyers after his response to the costly blunder in the final stages of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Former Patriots tight end Ben Watson appreciated the wide receiver’s response to the incident in what was a heartbreaking defeat for the Patriots.
Meyers and Watson were teammates in 2019 and played with each other that season.
The final play against the Raiders saw Meyers take a lateral handoff from running back Rhamondre Stevenson in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. Meyers then threw a ball that was intended for quarterback Mac Jones, and the pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by former Patriot Chandler Jones.
The loss stung for New England fans and players alike. Watson praised the wide receiver on Twitter as he reacted to the difficult play in real-time, following the loss.
This is how you acknowledge a bad play in a tough situation. Kobi is a great young player that has worked tremendously hard to be a dependable difference maker for this team. Loved being his teammate his rookie year and can’t wait to see all he will continue to accomplish. https://t.co/gsWI4YdU63
With the loss, New England’s playoff hopes grow slimmer. The team has a tough schedule from here on out that includes the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.
All three teams are expected playoff contenders that should be heavily favored against the Patriots. | 2022-12-20T20:59:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Patriots TE Ben Watson praises Jakobi Meyers’ post-game response | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-patriots-te-ben-watson-201000901.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-patriots-te-ben-watson-201000901.html?src=rss |
The Jacksonville Jaguars will wear their Christmas best on Sunday for a road game against the New York Jets.
On Tuesday, the Jaguars announced they’ll wear white jerseys over white pants for their Thursday Night Football contest at MetLife Stadium.
❄️❄️❄️#DUUUVAL | @PPG pic.twitter.com/8NwLgXqMcR
The Jaguars’ Stormtrooper look will be matched up against the Jets’ all-black uniforms, complete with their new black helmets.
Jacksonville wore the all-whites on the road during a 38-10 blowout win in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Since then, the white jerseys have made several appearances, but the white pants have stayed on the shelves.
The Jaguars wore white-on-white twice during the 2021 season, once at home against the Denver Broncos and then later in the year for a road game against the New England Patriots.
Jacksonville is 8-7 all-time against the Jets in the regular season. The teams met in the playoffs in January 1999, but New York won to advance to the AFC Championship.
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson: ‘We’re flipping this culture’
The culture is finally changing for the Jaguars. | 2022-12-20T21:00:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jaguars reveal uniform combination for Week 16 vs. Jets | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaguars-reveal-uniform-combination-week-195853719.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaguars-reveal-uniform-combination-week-195853719.html?src=rss |
Last season was Micah Parson's rookie season in the NFL. He won the defensive rookie of the year award in runaway fashion. In fact, he even finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year, behind only T.J. Watt. In his rookie year, he was already establishing himself as an elite talent.
Parsons took big lead, but Bosa has caught up
Micah Parsons entered amongst the favorites to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and he took that position over for good early in the season. By the end of Week 2, Parsons was the betting favorite to win the award at BetMGM. Watt had been injured, Donald and the Rams were struggling and Parsons was dominating games.
Prior to Week 13, Parsons was a -1400 favorite to win the award. That made him an extremely prohibitive favorite and nearly entered the "sure thing" category as far as odds are concerned. You would have had to bet $1,400 on Parsons winning Defensive Player of the Year in order to return a profit of just $100. Those odds imply a probability of over 93% that the Cowboys' do-it-all defender would win the award.
There's not much separating Nick Bosa and Micah Parsons. Both are elite talents at one of the most important positions in the sport. However, a look at their stats would confirm what the odds are saying; Bosa has been slightly better.
Bosa currently leads the NFL in sacks with 15.5. Parsons ranks fourth with 13 sacks. Bosa is tied for second in the league when it comes to tackles for loss, racking up 16 TFLs. Parsons is tied for 10th in the league with 13. Bosa leads the NFL in quarterback hits with 38 while Parsons ranks fifth with 24. Bosa leads the NFL by a wide margin when it comes to pressures, racking up 47. Parsons ranks fourth with 34.
On top of that, Bosa plays on the better overall defense. San Francisco's defense leads the NFL in defensive DVOA, yards per game and points per game. Dallas ranks third, eighth and seventh in those respective categories. Recency bias also probably doesn't hurt. Bosa and the 49ers just shut down the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, while the Cowboys blew a 17-point lead by giving up 40 points to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
These two players are both world-class talents and there's certainly not much separating them. However, Bosa has been slightly better. He's the rightful favorite to win the award at this point, but as we've seen, that can change in a week. Nobody would have expected anyone but Parsons to win this award a few weeks ago, but here we are. On the bright side, if you still like Parsons to win the award, you can now bet him at plus-money.
“The Terminator” franchise just won’t die…maybe. James Cameron revealed on the “Smartless” podcast (via The Playlist) that discussions are taking place about him continuing the long-running action franchise, which kicked off in 1984 on a high but has since experienced one box office flop (“Terminator Genisys”) after another (“Terminator: Dark Fate”). “Dark Fate” was a […]
Diddy Gifts Booked And Busy Twin Daughters Matching Range Rovers Possibly Worth Over $200K Each
Over the last few decades, the world has watched Diddy evolve. | 2022-12-20T21:00:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL betting, odds: Nick Bosa passes Micah Parsons as betting favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-odds-nick-bosa-passes-micah-parsons-as-betting-favorite-to-win-defensive-player-of-the-year-195543478.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-odds-nick-bosa-passes-micah-parsons-as-betting-favorite-to-win-defensive-player-of-the-year-195543478.html?src=rss |
The biggest question mark heading into Week 16 for the Carolina Panthers, at least in terms of health, was cornerback CJ Henderson. But it was his fellow starter that may be more questionable after all.
On Tuesday, Jaycee Horn was listed as a limited participant in the first practice session ahead of the team’s matchup with the Detroit Lions. The second-year defensive back, who is dealing with a shoulder issue, was wearing a green jersey on the afternoon.
Henderson, on the other hand, was a full go for the day. The former ninth overall pick left Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with an ankle injury and was replaced by Keith Taylor Jr.
Here’s the full injury report for Tuesday: | 2022-12-20T21:01:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers CB Jaycee Horn limited in Tuesday’s practice | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-cb-jaycee-horn-limited-193549324.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-cb-jaycee-horn-limited-193549324.html?src=rss |
With 1.5 sacks on Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt now has 76 sacks for his career. This was Watt’s 84 career game which makes him the third-fastest NFL player to have 75 career sacks.
The player to get to 75 sacks the fastest was Reggie White to did it in only 65 games while T.J.’s big brother J.J. is in second at 82 games.
Going into the season it seems like a foregone conclusion the younger Watt would top 75 sacks well ahead of his big brother’s mark but a partially torn pectoral sidelined him for nearly half of the season.
Watt’s 76 sacks are also good enough for third on the Steelers all-time list. He currently trails Jason Gildon who has 77.0 sacks and James Harrison who 80.5. Even after missing seven games, Watt still has plenty of opportunities to be the franchise sack leader by the end of the season. | 2022-12-20T21:01:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers LB T.J. Watt becomes third-fastest to 75 career sacks | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-lb-t-j-watt-195246790.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-lb-t-j-watt-195246790.html?src=rss |
The defensive woes for the purple and gold have been well documented. They are currently the worst defense in the league per total defense allowing a shade under 400 yards per game.
They needed to make some changes, as the defense was becoming stagnant and predictable. That can be the case with the defense that Ed Donatell is running. It runs a lot of the same coverages and, without the players to maximize the system with checks and disguises, it becomes very predictable and easy to manipulate.
On Saturday against the Colts, we finally saw some adjustments and it came when the Vikings needed it most: in the second half.
For a team that had been blitzing about 17% of the time, they did so on 12/20 dropbacks in the second half, a whopping 60% of the time. They utilized a lot of linebackers with their blitzes and Brian Asamoah is getting some real run with the Vikings’ defense, including playing a career-high 21 snaps. Getting him more playing time could be key in turning the defense around.
The Vikings showed that they adapt on defense. Now it’s time to keep that up and keep the momentum going.
Vikings blitzed on 12 of 20 dropbacks after halftime. Total of 16 plays with an extra rusher in 37 dropbacks. By far a season high. Mostly LBs: Eric Kendricks (10 times). Jordan Hicks (8), Brian Asamoah (3). Also, S Harrison Smith (4).
Is There Now An Opportunity In Monash IVF Group Limited (ASX:MVF)?
Monash IVF Group Limited ( ASX:MVF ), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw significant share price movement...
The Colts have been eliminated from the wild card but can still win the AFC South.
All the different 'Spider-Man' movies, ranked by critics
From Tobey Maguire to Tom Holland, several actors have portrayed the web-slinging hero. Here's a ranking of all the different "Spider-Man" films.
In the last year, many Amgen Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMGN ) insiders sold a substantial stake in the company which may have... | 2022-12-20T21:02:04Z | sports.yahoo.com | Vikings finally blitzed heavy vs. Colts and it worked | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-finally-blitzed-heavy-vs-202002937.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-finally-blitzed-heavy-vs-202002937.html?src=rss |
Editor‘s note: This begins the series of season reviews for select 2022 NASCAR Cup Series drivers.
See more: Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, Kevin Harvick, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suárez, Chase Briscoe
Driver: Chris Buescher
Car: No. 17 RFK Racing Ford Mustang
Crew chief: Scott Graves
Final 2022 ranking: 21st
How 2022 ended: Buescher was eliminated from playoff contention after the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway, but the best moments of his 2022 campaign were still yet to come. The No. 17 driver finished Daytona in 21st place in the standings and stayed there through the end of the season. The result is tied for his worst standings finish since placing 24th in 2018 and is a drop-off from finishing 19th in 2021. Still, there’s more optimism here than you might think.
Best race: Bristol Night Race. Buescher’s moment in the sun came after he was eliminated from championship contention, flat-out beating the field in the Round of 16 finale at Bristol Motor Speedway for his first non-rain-impacted Cup Series victory. The native Texan led a career-high 169 laps — eclipsing his career total laps led of 157 entering 2022 — to win one of NASCAR’s biggest races.
RELATED: Buescher wins Bristol, champs eliminated
Other season highlights: Bristol wasn’t his only strong playoff performance, however, as Buescher also turned in a P6 effort at the Charlotte Road Course. It continued a 2022 trend of the RFK Racing driver being a top competitor on road courses all season long as it followed other strong showings at Sonoma (second), Road America (sixth), Indianapolis (10th), Watkins Glen (ninth). Buescher also added solid runs at Richmond in the summer (third) and led 18 laps from the pole in an eighth-place showing at Dover in the spring.
Stat to know: 6.6 average finish in the final five road-course races of 2022. We’ll let COTA (21st) slide as it was just the sixth-ever race in the Next Gen era, but it’s clear Buescher and the No. 17 camp had road courses figured out in 2022, even if it didn’t result in any trophies. There’s plenty of opportunity in 2023 for this team on the rise to snag a potential playoff spot next year, and that’s before you factor in any gains made on ovals as well.
Quotable: “This is No. 1 on the list right here. This is it. Thank you all for coming. That was a great crowd, great weather. We appreciate it. Hope you enjoyed the race. Come back and do it again.” — Buescher to the Bristol crowd on the significance of winning at the Tennessee track.
RELATED: Keselowski, RFK Racing hope to continue rise in 2023: ‘We‘re constantly evolving‘
Looking ahead: The past decade-plus hasn’t been the most decorated one for RFK Racing, but the future at the moment feels like the brightest it’s been in some time. Brad Keselowski’s first year as a driver/owner wasn’t without its hiccups, but he’s talked at length about how much support and belief he has in Buescher as a driver, so it’s likely resources will continue to flow heavily toward the No. 17 team to give him every opportunity to compete. We haven’t quite seen Buescher in a top-tier car since his Xfinity Series days, and he proved to be championship material there. Taking a leap that far in the Cup Series in 2023 might be a stretch, but we’ve obviously seen over the past year how quickly teams — specifically Trackhouse Racing — can maximize short-term gains and make a Championship 4 run. RFK is an organization with a championship pedigree, and it might only be a matter of time before it works its way back into the sport’s prominence — with Buescher perhaps leading the charge. | 2022-12-20T21:02:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chris Buescher season in review | https://sports.yahoo.com/chris-buescher-season-review-093420406.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chris-buescher-season-review-093420406.html?src=rss |
Five-star pass rusher Damon Wilson is ready to decide where he will play college football. Wilson, the top-ranked uncommitted player in the senior class, is expected to decide between Georgia and Ohio Stare.
The elite class of 2023 pass rusher will commit at noon ET on ESPN on Dec. 21. Wilson took an official visit to Georgia for the Auburn game.
Damon Wilson plays for Venice High School in Venice, Florida. Venice plays against a high level of high school competition. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound edge rusher won the 8A state championship in Florida back in 2021. Wilson made a clutch interception in the 2021 state title game.
The five-star is favored to sign with Georgia, but his recruitment is very competitive. Kirby Smart and Georgia football have commitments from a pair of four-star class of 2023 edge rushers in Gabriel Harris and Samuel M’Pemba.
Wilson has also participated on the school’s weight lifting team. Impressively, Wilson recorded 15 sacks during the 2021 high school football season and was named as the Herald-Tribune Defensive Player of the Year, per 247Sports.
Damon Wilson has also been considering Miami, Alabama, and Texas.
Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Bill Norton is transferring to the Arizona Wildcats
The best news for the Arizona Cardinals is that the season is nearing an end. The Cardinals were eliminated from the NFC playoff race after losing to the Broncos 24-15 on Sunday and the team's avalanche of injuries continued. Now fourth-year coach Kliff Kingsbury — who's refused to blame the season's failures solely on injuries — has the familiar dilemma of trying to make lemonade out of a truckload of lemons. | 2022-12-20T21:33:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5-star edge rusher Damon Wilson is ready to commit | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-star-edge-rusher-damon-194433537.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-star-edge-rusher-damon-194433537.html?src=rss |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Illinois signed coach Bret Bielema to a new six-year contract through 2028 on Tuesday, a big reward for transforming a struggling program into a winner in his second season.
''I am proud of the progress we have made in two years and I could not be more excited about where our program is going,'' Bielema said in a statement.
''He has assembled an exceptional staff, developed the existing players on our roster, and recruited talented student-athletes to join our program,'' Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said. ''He has worked tirelessly, with an eye for detail and tremendous competitive urgency, to set a new standard of excellence for Fighting Illini Football. Perhaps most importantly, he has brought an immediate identity to our football program and represented the University of Illinois with class, humility, and confidence.'' | 2022-12-20T21:33:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Illinois rewards Bielema with new contract through 2028 | https://sports.yahoo.com/illinois-rewards-bielema-contract-2028-193824254.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/illinois-rewards-bielema-contract-2028-193824254.html?src=rss |
Michigan football continues diving into the transfer portal and grabbing players to come to Ann Arbor.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Wolverines received a commitment from a former Indiana Hoosier.
Jack Tuttle — a former four-star recruit in the 2018 class — announced on Twitter that he would continue his college football career at Michigan.
Tuttle is the No. 109 ranked player in the transfer portal. He started his career at Utah before transferring to Indiana back in 2019. Tuttle played four seasons in Bloomington before ultimately deciding to finish his career in Ann Arbor.
In his four years at Indiana, Tuttle has completed 104-of-182 attempts (57.1%) for 901 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions thrown.
Michigan recently lost backup Alan Bowman to the transfer portal, so the Wolverines are getting some valuable experience back in the locker room with the addition of Tuttle.
This marks Michigan’s sixth transfer commitment in this cycle. The Wolverines currently have the No. 1 transfer class coming in. | 2022-12-20T21:33:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Michigan football lands a quarterback from the transfer portal | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-lands-quarterback-transfer-202225739.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-lands-quarterback-transfer-202225739.html?src=rss |
Michigan State has just gained a commitment from the transfer portal at the linebacker position. Belleville native Aaron Alexander has announced his commitment to MSU.
Alexander, a member of the 2022 recruiting class, was at one point committed to the University of Michigan, but flipped late in the cycle to the University of Massachusetts to reunite with former Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown.
Alexander played in 3 games on special teams for UMass in his one season with the school.
It is unclear if he will be on scholarship or will be added as a preferred walk on. | 2022-12-20T21:33:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Michigan State football gets commitment from former Michigan commit, UMass transfer | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-gets-commitment-211943294.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-gets-commitment-211943294.html?src=rss |
Auburn may have missed out on its quarterback transfer targets, but it will get a new recruit at the position for the 2023 class.
Hank Brown, a three-star quarterback prospect out of Nashville, Tennessee, announced on Tuesday that he has committed to play for the Auburn Tigers under new head coach Hugh Freeze. Brown is the second three-star quarterback in Auburn’s 2023 class, with the first being quarterback Keyone Jenkins out of Miami.
Brown’s move should come as no surprise, as he was originally committed to the Liberty Flames June 16 — Freeze was the head coach there at the time, and Brown de-committed from Liberty in the aftermath of Freeze’s hiring on the Plains. He was offered by UAB on Dec. 12, but that wouldn’t be enough to sway him, and Brown will commit to the Tigers despite not having visited campus and only being offered on Monday.
With Brown’s commitment, Auburn now stands at No. 23 in 247Sports’ official rankings, up multiple spots from where the class was at when coach Bryan Harsin was fired.
Illinois signed coach Bret Bielema to a new six-year contract through 2028 on Tuesday, a big reward for transforming a struggling program into a winner in his second season. Bielema, 13-11 with Illinois, gets a bump in salary from $4.2 million to $6 million. “I am proud of the progress we have made in two years and I could not be more excited about where our program is going,” Bielema said in a statement.
Vols earn conference awards for 2022 championship season
Tennessee players and coaches earn conference awards for the 2022 championship season. | 2022-12-20T21:33:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Three-star quarterback from Tennessee commits to Auburn | https://sports.yahoo.com/three-star-quarterback-tennessee-commits-200004062.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/three-star-quarterback-tennessee-commits-200004062.html?src=rss |
On the twentieth SKOL of Christmas, the Vikings gave to me: Bernard Berrian scoring on a 99-yard touchdown pass.
Who remembers this absolute 💣 from Gus Frerotte to Bernard Berrian for a 99 Yard TD!!? #skol #minnesotavikings #nfl #vikings pic.twitter.com/pB6sHY9Rhf
— Climbing the Pocket (@Climb_ThePocket) May 30, 2020
The 2008 season was one with issues and successes, especially at the quarterback position. The Vikings tried it with Tarvaris Jackson but it didn’t work out and Gus Frerotte got an extended run as well. They finished with a 10-6 record and made the playoffs. They lost right away to the Philadelphia Eagles, but the success in 2008 gave them the platform for the special 2009 season.
One of the best parts of the 2008 season came on Sunday Night Football against division rival Chicago. They ended up winning the game 34-14, but a five-play series changed the tide of this game completely.
After a long Matt Forte run got the Bears to the Vikings’ one-yard line, they ended up getting a goal-line stop. The very next play, Frerotte hit Berrian for the longest touchdown in NFL history.
Considering how the Vikings have had so many of these types of plays go against them in their history, it was nice to see it go the other way. | 2022-12-20T22:38:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | 25 SKOL’s of Christmas: Bernard Berrian scores from 99 yards out | https://sports.yahoo.com/25-skol-christmas-bernard-berrian-212710109.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/25-skol-christmas-bernard-berrian-212710109.html?src=rss |
The meeting of the Jaguars and Jets will officially be the No. 1 pick of 2021 vs. the No. 2 pick.
Taxpayers will not receive an additional stimulus payment with a 2023 tax refund because there were no Economic Impact Payments for 2022. By the way, the IRS has also issued a warning about when you can expect this year's refund. If you're accustomed to receiving a refund check or direct deposit into your checking account by a particular date, you'll want to make an alternative plan this year.
The entire B-2 fleet has been grounded out of safety concerns, so there won't be a stealth bomber fly-over at the Rose Parade on Jan. 2. | 2022-12-20T22:38:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bengals could get DE Trey Hendrickson back vs. Patriots | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-sam-hubbard-declared-suffering-231021639.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-sam-hubbard-declared-suffering-231021639.html?src=rss |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Patrick Mahomes has always pushed the boundaries of what is possible on the field.
''I want to always have that aggressiveness in me. That's what got me here and who I am,'' Mahomes explained Tuesday, as the newly crowned AFC West champions turned their attention to Saturday's visit from the Seahawks.
''But you have to find that spot where you're still aggressive but take what you can underneath,'' Mahomes continued.
''I always want to be pushing it to where it's right at the edge. That's who I am. It gives guys a chance to make plays, and we are coached that way. Coach (Andy) Reid wants us to push it right to the limit and don't go past it.''
''He's always striving to be better, no matter what type of game he has. He comes in Monday, right to the next script,'' McKinnon said. ''The thing about him, no matter what the score is, no matter how many points we are down, how many points we're up, he wants to have his foot on the gas the whole time.''
''I thought he had a tremendous game, and I mentioned it after the game, in particular, coming off the prior one,'' Reid said Tuesday. ''It's a great example for our football team how you go back and fix an issue, if he had an issue there, and do it the right way, and that's what he did. He dug in and really came out and had a great game.''
''Certainly, there were some question marks about the offense this year,'' Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said, ''given the changes that we had at the receiver position. I think he's showed that he is the best quarterback in the NFL, and he's been able to adapt his game to be able to win and put up pretty impressive numbers on a weekly basis.''
NOTES: Reid said ''there's a good chance'' that WR Mecole Hardman (abdominal injury) will play Saturday for the first time since Week 9. ''He'll practice with the guys today and see if we can get him in there a little bit,'' Reid said. ... An illness is running through the Chiefs defensive line room. Chris Jones, Mike Danna and Khalen Saunders did not practice as a result Tuesday. ... TE Jody Fortson (elbow) also did not practice and is unlikely to be available against the Seahawks. | 2022-12-20T22:39:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chiefs' Mahomes making MVP bid with more balanced approach | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-mahomes-making-mvp-bid-205653006.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-mahomes-making-mvp-bid-205653006.html?src=rss |
While it’s not official yet, it sure sounds like the Detroit Lions will be without starting safety DeShon Elliott when the team visits the Carolina Panthers on Saturday. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell was not optimistic about Elliott’s availability when asked about the safety during his Tuesday press conference.
“I would say right now he’s looking like he probably won’t be able to make it,” Campbell said of Elliott.
The veteran safety left the Week 15 win over the New York Jets with a shoulder injury and did not return.
When asked if it was going to be a longer-term injury, Campbell kept his response vague.
“It’s hard to say that,” Campbell stated. “As of right now, it looks like — it doesn’t look very promising. But there again, we’ll see how he feels every day.”
Special teams ace C.J. Moore took over for Elliott at safety and figures to do so again in Carolina if Elliott cannot play.
The evolution of fighting games starts with our traditional Fighting Ground, and then we're turning the genre on its head with World Tour and Battle Hub for a total of three modes where anyone can play to their liking. No one starts off as a champion. You get there step by step, punch by punch. Take up the challenge and bring your game to the next level. | 2022-12-20T22:39:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dan Campbell not optimistic Lions S DeShon Elliott will be able to play vs. Panthers | https://sports.yahoo.com/dan-campbell-not-optimistic-lions-205635222.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dan-campbell-not-optimistic-lions-205635222.html?src=rss |
With the 2022 season coming down to the last three games, the Miami Dolphins are doing their best to maintain quality depth along the offensive line.
On Tuesday, Miami released practice squad offensive lineman Lamont Gaillard and signed Lester Cotton to take his spot.
Gaillard only signed with the Dolphins at the beginning of November. He was never elevated to the active roster.
Cotton, 26, was originally undrafted out of Alabama in 2019. He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders and spent his last four seasons with them, appearing in 15 games and starting one.
The Dolphins have been lucky on the interior with only Liam Eichenberg missing significant time, and even he should be ready to come back soon. Cotton gives them another depth piece with some at least some NFL experience. | 2022-12-20T22:39:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dolphins sign OL to the practice squad, release another | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-sign-ol-practice-squad-211659543.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-sign-ol-practice-squad-211659543.html?src=rss |
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) The Atlanta Falcons are planning to have veteran defensive coordinator Dean Pees call the plays in Saturday's game at Baltimore following his scary pregame collision on the field that forced him to miss last week's game in New Orleans.
As Pees was carted off the field, Bush said he was approached by Smith, who said '''I think they're taking him in and you're going to have to call it,''' Bush said. ''I think I went numb a little bit.''
''You have to,'' Smith said. ''It puts things back in perspective with health, life. He's doing better. He's here, working. So we'll make sure he's doing all right and will continue to follow up.''
Bush said Pees ''seems like Dean, back to his normal self.''
''He was able to come back in the office and do the things that we normally do,'' Bush said. ''... I'm totally confident he'll be ready to operate when it's time to operate.''
''Obviously that scared us all,'' Bush said. ''I have such an affinity for the guy. He's taught me so much football in just this short amount of time we've been together and how to see the game and then to have that happen, you get a little bit worried.''
Bush said Atlanta's players were ''side-swiped a little bit'' by seeing Pees carted off the field.
''You've got to give New Orleans credit but ultimately it was different,'' Bush said. ''... When you're not dealing with what is normal ... it's going to be a little bit of consternation involved in that. They did kind of rally and come back and do the things we were asking them to do.''
NOTES: The Falcons placed RB Caleb Huntley (Achilles) on injured reserve and signed edge rusher David Anenih off Pittsburgh's practice squad. | 2022-12-20T22:40:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Falcons' Pees resumes lead role with defense following scare | https://sports.yahoo.com/falcons-pees-resumes-lead-role-211402049.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/falcons-pees-resumes-lead-role-211402049.html?src=rss |
Shanahan sees greater risk resting healthy 49ers down stretch originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — Coach Kyle Shanahan is not even thinking about resting some of the team’s top players with the 49ers’ playoff spot secure and three games remaining in the regular season.
For now, it’s full steam ahead for the NFC West champs' upcoming games against Washington, Las Vegas and Arizona, Shanahan said on Tuesday.
And that might even go for wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who appears to be close to being able to play after sustaining knee and ankle injuries in the team’s Week 14 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Samuel definitely will not play Saturday against the Commanders, but Shanahan left open the possibility that the team's All-Pro wide receiver could be available for the final two games of the regular season.
“He’s week to week,” Shanahan said of Samuel. “I think this week maybe there would be a chance if we were that desperate. But I’m not even looking into this week, and we’ll see how he is next Monday and make that same decision.”
Shanahan believes there is a greater risk to holding out healthy players late in the regular season than keeping them on the field.
The only concession Shanahan said he will make is to confirm any player coming off an injury is fully healthy before getting back on the field.
“Like last year when it came to our last game, you have guys who are fighting to play because they’re right on the bubble of not being able to play,” Shanahan said. “In this situation, those guys you’d definitely rest. So anybody who has an injury that could risk them for the following week, the decision is that there’s no decision. You definitely rest them.” | 2022-12-20T22:41:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kyle Shanahan sees greater risk resting healthy 49ers players down stretch | https://sports.yahoo.com/kyle-shanahan-sees-greater-risk-214037773.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kyle-shanahan-sees-greater-risk-214037773.html?src=rss |
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is the second Pinocchio movie of the year. But, while Robert Zemeckis and Disney remade its animated adaptation in live action, del Toro returned to the original Carlo Collodi book for a stop-motion take. It took him 14 years to bring it to life, but Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is now […] | 2022-12-20T22:41:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Packers' playoff chances are slim. Then again, Aaron Rodgers knows all about improbable comebacks | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-playoff-chances-are-slim-then-again-aaron-rodgers-knows-all-about-improbable-comebacks-220819453.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-playoff-chances-are-slim-then-again-aaron-rodgers-knows-all-about-improbable-comebacks-220819453.html?src=rss |
Ravens claim Sammy Watkins with Devin Duvernay dealing with foot injury originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
BUENOS AIRES—The plan was straightforward: Members of Argentina’s World Cup championship team, smiling and waving from atop an open-air, double-decker bus, would take a 50-mile victory lap through the vast capital to celebrate with fans. The scene in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and in the city turned chaotic from the moment the team started off from its headquarters in Ezeiza, near the airport.
Over the past day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have repelled Russian attacks, as well as hit command posts and clusters of military equipment belonging to the invaders. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 19 December Details: Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defence forces have repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of the settlements of Stelmakhivka, Makiivka, Chervonopopivka and Bilohorivka (Luhansk Oblast) and Verkhnokamianske, Bakhm | 2022-12-20T22:42:04Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens claim Sammy Watkins with Devin Duvernay dealing with foot injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-claim-sammy-watkins-devin-212201240.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-claim-sammy-watkins-devin-212201240.html?src=rss |
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sammy Watkins (11) in action prior to the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Former NFL first-round receiver Sammy Watkins didn't last long on the waiver wire. Watkins was reportedly claimed by the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The news comes a day after Watkins was cut by the Green Bay Packers hours before the team played on "Monday Night Football."
Once the move is official, it will mark the second time in his career Watkins played for the Ravens. He played 13 games with the team last season, putting up 394 yards and one touchdown on 27 catches.
Watkins failed to top those numbers in Green Bay this season. In nine games, he had 13 catches for 206 and no scores with the Packers.
Though he has yet to practice with the Ravens, Watkins could work his way into playing time quickly. Ravens wideout Devin Duvernay reportedly injured his foot Tuesday and will undergo tests, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Baltimore WR Devin Duvernay is undergoing tests for a foot injury that he suffered today at practice.
Duvernay, 25, has 407 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. He entered the year as the Ravens' No. 2 receiver behind Rashod Bateman, but was pushed up the depth chart when Bateman sustained a foot injury. It's unclear if Duvernay will miss time due to his injury. | 2022-12-20T22:42:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens claim Sammy Watkins on waivers as Devin Duvernay sustains foot injury in practice | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-claim-sammy-watkins-on-waivers-as-devin-duvernay-sustains-foot-injury-in-practice-214655334.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-claim-sammy-watkins-on-waivers-as-devin-duvernay-sustains-foot-injury-in-practice-214655334.html?src=rss |
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network first reported the news.
Watkins, 29, caught 13 passes over nine games in Green Bay. He signed with the Packers this offseason after playing 14 games and catching 27 passes for the Ravens in 2021.
Despite a strong start, Watkins missed four games with a hamstring injury and never regained his footing in the Packers offense after returning. He played just 11 snaps over the last two games and was released before the Packers hosted the Rams on Monday night.
While the Packers move on with Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and rookies Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure at wide receiver, Watkins will get new life in the AFC.
The Ravens are already without Rashod Bateman, who is on injured reserve, and starter Devin Duvernay is now dealing with an injury, opening an opportunity for Watkins to contribute right away in Baltimore.
The Packers are 6-8 and fighting for playoff life, but the Ravens are 9-5 and in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot in the AFC. | 2022-12-20T22:42:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens claim WR Sammy Watkins off waivers from Packers | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-claim-wr-sammy-watkins-212619686.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-claim-wr-sammy-watkins-212619686.html?src=rss |
Following the worst game of Mac Jones’ NFL career, New England Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown liked a social media post featuring a quote from ESPN’s Bill Barnwell talking about the quarterbacks the team would likely pursue in 2023.
Of course, one of the quarterbacks was the greatest of all time, Tom Brady, while the other was Brady’s former backup and current San Francisco 49er Jimmy Garoppolo.
In the likes on Instagram, Brown’s profile was shown as having liked the post.
No one is saying it’s wrong for Brown to wish for the Patriots to pursue other options internally. The jury is still out on whether Jones is rightfully the future face of the franchise or not.
But it’s not a good look to be liking a post like that when Jones is still his teammate and the starting quarterback for the Patriots. That’s all assuming Brown has sole control over his social media account, too.
If he didn’t like it, maybe he’ll come out and say as much. But a picture is worth a thousand words, and Brown liking that post doesn’t speak too highly of his faith in Jones at quarterback.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to visit the U.S. Capitol in person on Wednesday, a Senate aide confirmed to The Hill. It would mark the first time the Ukrainian president has left his country since before Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) sent a letter to lawmakers on… | 2022-12-20T22:42:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Trent Brown liked post of Tom Brady or Jimmy Garoppolo replacing Mac Jones | https://sports.yahoo.com/trent-brown-liked-post-tom-220642745.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/trent-brown-liked-post-tom-220642745.html?src=rss |
The Jacksonville Jaguars are rolling with three wins in the last four weeks, all against teams that are .500 or better.
The latest win was the most impressive with the Jaguars, rallying from down 27-10 against the 10-win Dallas Cowboys to beat the team with a pick six in overtime.
With three weeks left in the regular season, the Jaguars are now just one game behind the Tennessee Titans in the AFC South and are on the verge of setting up a Week 18 duel for the division title.
Unsurprisingly, Jacksonville’s reversal of fortunes has impressed much of the national media. Here’s a sampling of the Jaguars’ sharp rise up weekly power rankings:
Their ascent has coincided with QB Trevor Lawrence’s. But WR Zay Jones, who scored three times in Sunday’s upset of Dallas, has also been a huge part of Jacksonville’s surge.
Rayshawn Jenkins has been significantly more impactful in his second season in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are using Jenkins as more of a box safety, resulting in career highs in tackles (95), solo tackles (60) and forced fumbles (2). He also has a career-high three interceptions, including two in the team’s overtime victory over Dallas on Sunday. He took the second one back 52 yards for the winning score.
They could make things very interesting in the AFC playoff field, if they get there.
At 6-8, they will be a playoff team if they win out. That is simply incredible. Trevor Lawrence has been special the past month. | 2022-12-20T22:42:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Where the Jaguars landed in power rankings after Week 15 | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-jaguars-landed-power-rankings-220100363.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-jaguars-landed-power-rankings-220100363.html?src=rss |
Kadyn Proctor, a five-star offensive tackle prospect, has officially announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide just hours ahead of Early Signing Day.
Proctor, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, received an official offer from Alabama in April of 2021. He committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes in late June of 2022.
His decommitment from Iowa just a few days ago came as a surprise to many. With that news, analysts began discussing the possibility of Proctor joining Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
He was in Tuscaloosa four days before removing his commitment to Iowa. Today, he shared a picture on Twitter stating his commitment.
Proctor is a 6-foot-7, 330-pound offensive tackle that ranks in the top-five players in the entire country and is rated as the highest offensive tackle.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Alabama football and the recruiting trail for the 2023 season.
Whimsical retreat for sale in Tennessee is made from shipping containers. Take a look
“This one is unique because it’s built with nine full-size shipping containers from around the world,” the listing agent told Realtor.com | 2022-12-20T23:13:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Alabama lands 5-star OT Kadyn Proctor, former Iowa commit | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-lands-5-star-ot-220653655.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-lands-5-star-ot-220653655.html?src=rss |
Alabama junior safety, Brian Branch, was a key piece for the Crimson Tide defense this year and has been a first-round selection in many NFL mock drafts. Despite this, Branch is still undecided on his future and only focusing on Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl.
In only Branch’s third season in Tuscaloosa, he posted 78 tackles with two sacks seven passes defended and one interception. Branch will more likely than not go to the NFL, but for now, he wants to suit up with his teammates one last time.
To the surprise of many, Bryce Young and Will Anderson decided to play in the bowl game, and everyone else, including Branch, followed.
Kansas State upset TCU to win the Big 12 Championship and the Sugar Bowl will be no easy outing for Nick Saban’s squad.
Alabama junior safety Brian Branch on entering NFL draft: "I haven't really thought about that yet. My mindset is on this game, and this game only, for right now. As far as the NFL, that's going to come, so I'm really just focusing on Kansas State." | 2022-12-20T23:13:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Brian Branch undecided on NFL draft, focused on Sugar Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/brian-branch-undecided-nfl-draft-221325540.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/brian-branch-undecided-nfl-draft-221325540.html?src=rss |
Florida Gators’ offensive lineman Richard Gouaige has officially declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, according to a statement made on his Twitter account.
The 6-foot-5-inch, 271-pound senior was considered one of the cornerstones of the Florida offensive line this season. Along with Louisiana transfer O'Cyrus Torrence, Gouaige was vital in establishing the Gators’ rushing attack as one of the best in the nation. Torrence also declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and was named a Consensus First-Team All-American for the 2022 season.
Gouaige’s Twitter announcement came on the Monday after the Gators’ 30-3 Las Vegas Bowl loss to Oregon State, giving Florida a 6-7 record to end the season. While not made official before the bowl game, Gouaige was always expected to declare for the draft. So much so, that analyst Pat McAfee mentioned early on in the game that Gouaige was playing in the game despite his professional aspirations. Monday’s announcement can as more of a formality than a surprise.
Thank you GatorNation 🧡💙🐊 pic.twitter.com/wFkNgcU9Oy
— Richard Gouraige (@richardg813) December 19, 2022
Florida is expected to be active in the transfer portal this offseason, with over a dozen players having left the program via the portal since the end of the regular season. With Gouraige and Torrence heading to the draft, and three more in the portal (Joshua Braun, Yousef Mugharbil, Griffin McDowell), the offensive line is officially a position of need in the portal and in recruiting.
Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 21. The Florida Gators currently have the No. 11 class in 2023, with 19 of their 21 commitments coming from four-star prospects, according to 247Sports. | 2022-12-20T23:13:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | Florida offensive lineman officially declares for the 2023 NFL Draft | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-offensive-lineman-officially-declares-215045646.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-offensive-lineman-officially-declares-215045646.html?src=rss |
The Florida Gators are in the mix for former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall, with On3’s Pete Nakos reporting Monday that the Orange and Blue are “serious contenders” for the transfer quarterback.
According to On3’s transfer portal rankings, McCall is the No. 4 quarterback in the portal and the No. 19 overall. He is behind recent Kentucky commit and former NC State quarterback Devin Leary (No. 1), former Virginia quarterback Brendan Armstrong (No. 2), and former Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders (No. 3).
Florida is in desperate need of reinforcements in its quarterback room. With Anthony Richardson declaring for the NFL draft and Jalen Kitna’s dismissal from the football program, Florida is left with just two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster: Jack Miller III, who started the Las Vegas Bowl game (and was underwhelming in his Orange and Blue debut) and freshman Max Brown, a former three-star prospect from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jaden Rashada, a top prospect in the 2023 class and Florida commit, would be the third scholarship quarterback on the roster.
McCall would be a good fit for Billy Napier and his offensive system. Having started 34 games across four seasons at Coastal Carolina, McCall is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation amassing over 9,000 scrimmage yards and tallying 94 touchdowns.
A three-time Sun Belt player of the year, Napier is familiar with McCall from his time at Louisiana. Bringing in a top transfer quarterback to compete with Miller and, potentially, Rashada after he enrolls for the spring semester would be a big boost for the program. | 2022-12-20T23:13:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Florida a ‘serious contender’ for this top transfer portal QB | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-serious-contender-top-transfer-222410814.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-serious-contender-top-transfer-222410814.html?src=rss |
After two years with the Florida Gators, tight end Nick Elksnis is transferring to South Carolina, according to a social media post he made on Sunday.
Elksnis played through the first five weeks of Florida’s season, mostly in a special teams role. He got some work in at tight end in the win over Eastern Washington, but that was his final appearance of the season. He then was added to the injury list for the rest of the year and was seen in a sling. He recently told Rivals that he fractured his shoulder but said that it is completely healed. Once he knew that he was likely to enter the portal, Elksnis allowed his shoulder to fully heal instead of rushing it.
South Carolina should offer Elksnis more playing time with two players at the position transferring out and another stepping away from football. He visited the team on Thursday to observe a bowl practice and made his decision official two days later.
Spurs Up🤙 let’s get to work @CoachSBeamer @WrightJody pic.twitter.com/KRNF7GFOEb
— Nick Elksnis (@NickElksnis) December 18, 2022
Elksnis said that he needed a “fresh start” and that South Carolina was a good fit for him based on playing time and culture. Shane Beamer recruited him while he was at Oklahoma, so there’s some familiarity there for Elksnis.
He’ll join the Gamecocks for spring practices and should be in line for some playing time. He has Oct. 14 circled on his calendar and is looking for revenge against his former team. | 2022-12-20T23:13:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Florida TE in transfer portal commits to this SEC East program | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-te-transfer-portal-commits-214356606.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-te-transfer-portal-commits-214356606.html?src=rss |
''This is not a rebuild. Our program is not broken,'' said Newberry, who was promoted Monday. ''We've got a great nucleus of players coming back. My expectations for what we can achieve next year are sky-high.''
''We're not going to necessarily get the biggest, the strongest and the fastest, but we're going to recruit people with incredible desire and determination,'' Gladchuk said. ''Developing those players and making good players great players is something that's really important at the Naval Academy.''
''Both sides of the ball,'' Gladchuk said. ''You'd think that the defensive players that are closest to Coach Newberry would be his greatest advocates, but that wasn't necessarily the case. The offense as well, were extremely supportive.''
''We know we've got to be able to run the football, we know we have to have an element of triple option,'' Newberry said. ''There's a lot of ways to skin a cat, talking to a lot of different people, a lot of people out there really creative in what they're doing.''
''Being a head coach has never necessarily been the end-all, be-all for me. I didn't grow up with that being the main goal for me,'' he said. ''I love being a coordinator, I love calling the plays. It wasn't until probably the last really three or four years ... that I really started to see myself in that role''
LOS ANGELES (AP) The inevitable became official Monday night when the Los Angeles Rams were officially eliminated from playoff contention, their Super Bowl victory followed up by one of the worst title defense seasons in NFL history. One more loss will make them the league's worst defending champions, since only these Rams (4-10) and the 1999 Denver Broncos ever lost 10 games after raising the trophy. Los Angeles is the first defending champ to miss the playoffs since 2016. | 2022-12-20T23:14:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Newberry expects quick turnaround after taking over at Navy | https://sports.yahoo.com/newberry-expects-quick-turnaround-taking-215957078.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/newberry-expects-quick-turnaround-taking-215957078.html?src=rss |
Mat Ishbia, the former Michigan State University guard turned billionaire executive, is finalizing a purchase of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury from controversial owner Robert Sarver, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The deal is reportedly valued "in the neighborhood of $4 billion," a record price for the NBA.
Ishbia played three seasons as a walk-on at Michigan State, coming off the bench for a single minute apiece in the 2000 NCAA championship victory against Florida and a 2001 Final Four loss to Arizona.
Upon graduating in 2003, Ishbia worked for his father's lending company, United Wholesale Mortgage. He succeeded his father as president and CEO in 2013 at age 33 and took the company public at a valuation of $16.1 billion last year. Ishbia's brother, Justin, the founder of a Chicago-based private equity firm, will join the ownership group and serve as the Suns' alternate governor, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported.
Fans arrive to Footprint Center before Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs between the Phoenix Suns and the New Orleans Pelicans on April 26, 2022 in Phoenix. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Sarver announced plans to sell the Suns and Mercury in September, soon after the NBA published the findings of an independent investigation into allegations of racism, misogyny and other hostile workplace misconduct by the owner. The league suspended Sarver for the 2022-23 season and fined him $10 million for his behavior.
Sarver apologized and pledged to return to the NBA a better man next season, but public pressure — from the players' association, sponsors, his own ownership group and the league office — convinced him to sell.
"I expected that the commissioner's one-year suspension would provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I and so many fans love," Sarver said in a statement in September, when he announced his intent to sell, eliding the investigation's determination that his misconduct spanned the entirety of his ownership from 2004 through ESPN's bombshell exposé in 2021. "But in our current unforgiving climate, it has become painfully clear that that is no longer possible — that whatever good I have done, or could still do, is outweighed by things I have said in the past."
The projected $4 billion sale price of the Suns eclipses the record $2.35 billion that Joe Tsai paid for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 and also marks a steep escalation from the $2 billion that Steve Ballmer paid for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014 and $2.2 billion that Tilman Fertitta paid for the Houston Rockets in 2017.
Sarver's ownership group bought the Suns in 2004 from Jerry Colangelo for a then-record $401 million.
News of the sale agreement comes one day after ESPN's Baxter Holmes, who first reported the allegations against Sarver in November 2021, published another investigative report into alleged misconduct by current Suns executives, including team president and CEO Jason Rowley. The NBA is also investigating further.
Earlier this month, the Detroit Free Press won a lawsuit against Michigan State regarding a freedom of information inquiry into Ishbia's $32 million donation to the school's athletic department in February 2021. The judge ruled the university has until Friday to provide the publication with the documentation requested. | 2022-12-21T00:18:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Mat Ishbia finalizing deal to purchase Phoenix Suns and Mercury from Robert Sarver | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-mat-ishbia-finalizing-deal-to-purchase-phoenix-suns-and-mercury-from-robert-sarver-174929036.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-mat-ishbia-finalizing-deal-to-purchase-phoenix-suns-and-mercury-from-robert-sarver-174929036.html?src=rss |
Kerr names all-time starting five comprised of former teammates originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Across his 15-year NBA playing career, Warriors coach Steve Kerr shared a court with some of the best to ever play the game.
That's exactly what NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson asked Kerr on the latest episode of "Dubs Talk," and the coach didn't take long to answer.
"Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Tim Duncan, Shaq -- I played with him in Orlando for several months -- and Mark Price," Kerr told Johnson.
Kerr and Duncan then won the NBA Finals together in 1999 and 2003 as members of the San Antonio Spurs. The Warriors coach had a chance to share the floor with Shaquille O'Neal when Kerr was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Orlando Magic during the 1992-93 season, and Mark Price was Kerr's Cavs teammate from 1989 until the trade.
While Price is the only member of Kerr's all-time starting five who isn't enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Kerr raved about his former teammate and compared Price to Golden State star Steph Curry.
"Mark was incredible," Kerr told Johnson. "He was one of the first guys that I had ever seen that could shoot 3-pointers off the dribble and off the catch really well, and was just so dynamic with the ball in his hands. He was actually a lot like Steph in that you had to pick him up well beyond the 3-point line ... and this was in an era where 3-pointers weren’t really emphasized.
"Mark was probably taking four or five [3-pointers] a game. If he played today and he were taking 15 to 20 threes a game, as strong and fast as he was, and just how dynamic he was, he’d be an All-Star every year."
And not only has Kerr been blessed to play alongside NBA legends like Jordan, Pippen, Duncan, O'Neal and Price, but he also has had the privilege of being coached by an incredible group of leaders including Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, Lute Olson and Lenny Wilkens.
So, which of that group would Kerr choose to coach his all-time starting five? He'll let them guess.
"I will respectfully decline to answer that question,' Kerr laughed. "I don’t think any of them would care, actually, but they would all be just fine coaching that group." | 2022-12-21T00:18:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Warriors' Steve Kerr names all-time starting five comprised of NBA teammates | https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-steve-kerr-names-time-230000471.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-steve-kerr-names-time-230000471.html?src=rss |
Apparently, things aren’t going well inside the Chicago Bulls’ locker room.
It’s not just that the Bulls aren’t winning. Chicago is 11-18 this season, a disappointing start for a team many expected would make significant noise in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls have lost four straight headed into Tuesday’s game against the Miami Heat.
And now, stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are reportedly not getting along.
DeRozan and LaVine have had several one-on-one sit-downs, along with full-team meetings, to try to work out their issues in recent days and weeks, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry. While the two “maintain a good personal relationship,” tensions are growing as the Bulls keep losing.
DeRozan isn't the only one with whom LaVine is reportedly having issues. LaVine, who is in the first year of a five-year, $215 million contract, is reportedly not “seeing eye-to-eye” with the organization.
“There’s a certain level of frustration in people trying to figure out what we can do to help right the ship,” LaVine told The Athletic on Tuesday. “I think with the players that we have, we try to put it on each other to right the ship. We have those type of guys, those type of mentalities where each of us have been No. 1 options on a team before, and then we all come together collectively. It’s not going to take one person. It’s going to take all of us as a unit. I think that’s what guys are trying to figure out how to help the group.”
Things got so rough that there was a reported "blowup" between players at halftime of Sunday's 150-126 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The incident was so loud, per The Sun Times' Joe Cowley and NBC Chicago's KC Johnson, that coaches stopped their meeting right outside the locker room to intervene. It was the second time that has happened this season, and it was apparently directed at LaVine specifically.
Will the Bulls move LaVine?
LaVine has averaged 21.8 points this season, along with 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists. His scoring output is his lowest since he landed in Chicago from Minneapolis, aside from his 2017-18 season, which was cut short due to an ACL injury.
The Bulls, in theory, should've been good this season. LaVine and DeRozan, along with center Nikola Vucevic, led the Bulls to the playoffs last season for the first time in five seasons. Yet they’ve struggled in this campaign, and point guard Lonzo Ball is still out due to a knee injury. He hasn’t played for nearly a year, and his return feels anything but imminent.
If LaVine isn’t “seeing eye-to-eye” with the Bulls' front office, that’s a significant issue. He has been dealing with minor knee injuries throughout the season following offseason surgery, and he had a brief issue with head coach Billy Donovan last month after he was benched during a game.
While his play hasn’t been great, LaVine insisted that his struggles don’t have anything to do with expectations with his max deal.
“It hasn’t weighed [on] anything for me. I don’t understand how that gets put into context,” LaVine told The Athletic. “Just because you sign a deal, it’s supposed to be added weight to it? I think there’s added weight each time you step on the court if you don’t perform or you don’t play the right way. But everybody’s open to their own opinion.
With that contract comes a limited availability to move LaVine, should that be the end result. Another team would have to be willing to pay the 27-year-old an average of $43 million per season through 2026-27 — which is a lot to ask, especially considering his recent play and injury history.
For now, there’s only one clear way out of this for LaVine and Chicago: Start winning.
“We’ve got to get out of the mindset of worrying about scoring and how it’s going offensively and realize the ball scores,” Donovan said via The Athletic. “And if the ball’s moved and passed whoever scores, scores … When we get the mentality that, ‘I feel like I’m doing it for him. And I’m going to do it for him, and I’m going to do it for him. And I’m not letting the guy I’m out there with down.'”
The Bulls have reportedly held several team meetings, including one-on-ones with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, to try to fix their issues. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Report: Zach LaVine, Bulls ‘not seeing eye-to-eye’ | 2022-12-21T00:18:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Zach LaVine reportedly not ‘seeing eye-to-eye’ with Bulls front office, DeMar DeRozan amid struggles | https://sports.yahoo.com/zach-la-vine-reportedly-not-seeing-eye-to-eye-with-bulls-front-office-de-mar-de-rozan-amid-struggles-215449632.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/zach-la-vine-reportedly-not-seeing-eye-to-eye-with-bulls-front-office-de-mar-de-rozan-amid-struggles-215449632.html?src=rss |
Rams C Brian Allen and WR Ben Skowronek both have strained calves and will miss the rest of the season, per HC Sean McVay.
The inevitable became official Monday night when the Los Angeles Rams were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, their Super Bowl victory followed up by one of the worst title defense seasons in NFL history. One more loss will make them the league's worst defending champions; only these Rams (4-10) and the 1999 Denver Broncos ever lost 10 games after raising the trophy. Los Angeles is the first defending champ to miss the playoffs since 2016. | 2022-12-21T00:23:04Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ben Skowronek, Brian Allen out for season with calf injuries | https://sports.yahoo.com/ben-skowronek-brian-allen-season-230122851.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ben-skowronek-brian-allen-season-230122851.html?src=rss |
We’re in for the New Orleans Saints’ first cold-weather game of the year, and there’s already a narrative buzzing that the Saints can’t win in the wind and snow. It’s a lazy narrative built on their status as a dome team from a warm-weather locale, but on its face there’s some merit to it. They’ve only won 6 of their 17 games played at below-freezing temperatures, per Stathead via Pro Football Reference, but that’s more of a product of the Saints playing bad football for several decades.
The Saints went 4-7 in cold-weather games before Sean Payton was hired as head coach, a period in which they won just 237 of the 594 games they played from 1967 to 2005. New Orleans fielded bad teams often, regardless of the weather forecast.
But the narrative is the narrative, and we’re about to hear a lot of chatter on the Saints not being built for the wind and snow. Even though New Orleans has won each of its last two games played in freezing temperatures. Here’s their game-by-game history under 32 degrees:
Dec. 8, 1968: Saints lose to Eagles, 29-17
Saints quarterback Billy Kilmer completed 19 of 32 pass attempts for 210 yards and a touchdown reception, also running 4 times for 19 yards and a touchdown carry in the loss. Eagles running back Tom Woodeshick put the game away with 18 carries for 122 yards and a 30-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
No. 28, 1971: Saints beat the Packers, 29-21
The Saints were 8-point underdogs in this matchup at Milwaukee County Stadium, but kicker Charlie Durkee set a franchise record with 5 successful field goals on 6 tries to steal an upset win, connecting from distances of 12, 12, 35, 26, and 11 yards on a cold, windy Wisconsin afternoon in late November. His record was later tied by Morten Andersen (4 times) and John Carney (3 times), but no Saints kicker has ever made more than 5 field goals in a single game since then.
Dec. 1, 1974: Saints lose to Vikings, 29-9
Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Saints kept this one close up to halftime, but Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton shut the door on them in the fourth quarter with two touchdown passes to (who else?) wide receiver John Gilliam, a member of the inaugural Saints squads in 1967 and 1968. Gilliam finished the day with 5 receptions for 109 yards, catching touchdown passes of 13 and 22 yards to put the game away against his old team.
Nov. 7, 1976: Saints lose to Packers, 32-27
Green Bay Press-Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK
This one was brutal. The Saints took an early lead off of a big-time interception from linebacker Jim Merlo, who returned it 45 yards for a defensive touchdown — and the both squads traded blows in the second half, with two lead changes. Down by a field goal in the final minutes, the Saints offense had a chance to drive downfield and beat the Packers on their home turf, but they were clipped in the end zone and Green Bay won with a safety.
Dec. 5, 1976: Saints lose to the Patriots, 27-6
Yeah, the Saints didn’t play offense in this one. Quarterbacks Bobby Douglass and Bobby Scott combined for just 136 passing yards, and the running backs didn’t make much headway either — Tony Galbreath, Chuck Muncie, and Mike Strachan were each limited to fewer than 40 rushing yards on the afternoon. It was a big game for Patriots running back Don Calhoun, who ran 22 times for 113 yards on the ground. Second-year New England quarterback Steve Grogan only completed 9 of his 23 pass attempts but scored 2 touchdowns on completions to Ike Forte and Al Chandler.
Dec. 14, 1980: Saints beat the Jets, 21-20
Talk about drama: this matchup came down to the wire, with three lead changes in the final quarter. Archie Manning was effective, completing 20 of his 30 pass attempts to 6 different receivers for 198 yards and a score, but Tony Galbreath took over down the stretch to hammer in a pair of a critical touchdown runs. The New Orleans defense intercepted Jets quarterback Richard Todd twice in big moments.
Dec. 10, 1989: Saints beat the Bills, 22-19
Rick Stewart /Allsport
The Saints went into this game as 6.5-point underdogs, but they roared to live with 13 points in the first quarter — including a 54-yard touchdown reception by running back Dalton Hilliard, who logged 32 carries on the afternoon. John Fourcade threw for a career-high 302 passing yards. The Buffalo wind chill put the on-field temperature at about 15 degrees Fahrenheit, but the “Dome Patrol” defense smothered the Bills, sacking legendary quarterback Jim Kelly twice and intercepting him thrice, also forcing and recovering a fumble out of his arms. It was just the second home loss for Buffalo that year.
Jan. 6, 1991: Saints lose to Bears, 1991
This was a sloppy, sloppy afternoon to ring in the new year. Two different Saints quarterbacks threw interceptions (John Fourcade was picked off twice; Steve Walsh lost one, too) and New Orleans didn’t have a single player put up 100-plus yards as a passer, runner, or receiver. Bears running backs Neal Anderson and Brad Muster ran all over them to the tune of 173 combined rushing yards. Of course future Saints head coach Mike Ditka was patrolling the opposing sideline.
Dec. 26, 1993: Saints lose to Eagles, 37-26
Some late-game heroics from Tyrone Hughes weren’t enough to salvage this one, with the returns ace setting a franchise record on an 83-yard punt returned for a touchdown late in regulation. That helped make the final score look a little less lopsided, but it was already over at that point. Eagles cornerback Eric Allen intercepted Saints quarterback Steve Walsh twice in the second half and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns on the returns, traveling 33 and 25 yards. New Orleans later signed him as a free agent but Allen never met his previous heights.
Dec. 3, 1995: Saints beat the Patriots, 31-17
The Saints pulled away in the second half here, with fullback Lorenzo Neal scored on a 69-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jim Everett midway through the fourth quarter. It was also a banner day for Saints running back Mario Bates, who put the game out of reach with a 66-yard touchdown run of his own. Bates scored twice, totaling 123 rushing yards on just 15 attempts. Everett outdueled Drew Bledsoe to throw for 293 passing yards, completing 17 of his 26 attempts.
Dec. 21, 1997: Saints lose to Chiefs, 25-13
Brian Bahr /Allsport
Talk about a muddy, miserable afternoon. The Saints actually outgained the Chiefs in this one with 252 yards of offense against 176 from Kansas City; the Chiefs also lost 81 yards on 10 penalties. But New Orleans committed five turnovers (including 3 interceptions from quarterback Billy Joe Hobert), losing all of them, to repeatedly give the Chiefs advantageous field position. Danny Wuerffel wasn’t able to provide much of a spark, though he did connect with wide receiver Keith Poole for a garbage-time touchdown reception.
Jan. 21, 2007: Saints lose to Bears, 39-14
Yeah, this one hurt. The Saints offense couldn’t get going and the Bears exposed one of Sean Payton’s major flaws — taking advantage of his impatience with the run game. After going into halftime down 16-7, Payton’s worst instincts got the better of him and he only called four rushing attempts in the entire second half, the final one coming on fourth down near midfield (a Reggie Bush run that went nowhere). Drew Brees finished the day with 49 pass attempts, having thrown an interception and taken three sacks while losing a fumble. It was a painful end to what had been an inspiring season. If it’s any consolation, the Bears didn’t do anything after winning this NFC championship game; they wasted the momentum from Devin Hester’s all-time great kickoff return touchdown to open Super Bowl XLI, and they haven’t known success since.
Dec. 30, 2007: Saints lose to Bears, 33-25
The Saints returned to Chicago hoping for revenge, and they made a good fight of it, though the Bears enjoyed a good game from running back Adrian Peterson (no, not that one). Peterson ran 21 times for 91 yards and completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bernard Berrian on a trick play, but the Saints offense couldn’t make much headway against the Chicago defense. They went 3-of-14 on third down and 1-of-4 on fourth down, losing 72 yards to 8 penalties. Three drives stalled out in Chicago territory with no points to show for it. It was a good game for Pierre Thomas, though, who showed out in front of his friends and family as a Chicago native — Thomas totaled 105 rushing yards and 121 receiving yards, plus a last-second touchdown catch and ensuing two-point conversion.
Dec. 11, 2008: Saints lose to Bears, 27-24 (in overtime)
Third time’s the charm, right? This was just a quality game between two equally-matched opponents, and the Bears ultimately came through with a couple of late-game Robbie Gould field goals. Pierre Thomas scored as both a runner and as a receiver while racking up 146 scrimmage yards, but two interceptions from Drew Brees and 97 penalty yards gave Chicago too many opportunities to rally back.
Jan. 3, 2010: Saints lose to Panthers, 23-10
This game wasn’t much more than a speed bump on New Orleans’ road to Super Bowl XLIV, with the Saints having chosen to rest Drew Brees and some other starters at the end of the 2009 regular season. They’d already sewn up everything they needed as far as playoff seeding was concerned, putting Mark Brunell in the limelight for his final start in the NFL. He went on to appear sporadically with the New York Jets as Mark Sanchez’s backup in 2010 and 2011.
Dec. 5, 2010: Saints beat the Bengals, 34-30
This was a vintage Drew Brees game. He completed 24 of 29 pass attempts to gain 313 yards and score a pair of touchdowns, including 52-yard completions to wide receiver Robert Meachem and tight end Jimmy Graham, plus a 43-yarder to wideout Marques Colston. 8 different players caught a pass from Brees in this game. New Orleans established a lead early in the second quarter and held onto it for most of the game, but the Bengals rallied late in the fourth quarter to briefly take it away — only for Colston to secure the game-winning touchdown pass with 31 seconds left in regulation, capping a classic 4-minute scoring drive led by Brees, who baited the Bengals defense into jumping for a penalty on fourth down deep inside their own territory.
Jan. 4, 2014: Saints beat the Eagles, 26-24
Not only was this the first time the Saints won in Philly in the cold — it was the very first road playoff win in franchise history. And they won on their own terms. The Saints took over with about five minutes left in the game, starting out with fantastic field position thanks to a great return by Darren Sproles and a penalty on the Eagles special teams unit. From there on out, it was clockwork with Mark Ingram, Khiry Robinson, and the Saints offensive line bludgeoning the Philadelphia defense into submission. Brees steered the offense down to the Eagles 14-yard line for a chip-shot field goal from Shayne Graham, and the rest is history. | 2022-12-21T00:23:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | A brief history of the Saints in cold-weather games | https://sports.yahoo.com/brief-history-saints-cold-weather-222530006.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/brief-history-saints-cold-weather-222530006.html?src=rss |
LOS ANGELES (AP) The inevitable became official Monday night when the Los Angeles Rams were officially eliminated from playoff contention, their Super Bowl victory followed up by one of the worst title defense seasons in NFL history.
''You can make sense of why you have gotten here, but it still doesn't make it any easier, and it is a very humbling season for sure,'' McVay said.
''It is extremely tough ... but it's NFL football,'' cornerback Jalen Ramsey said. ''It happens. Some years you'll be super healthy, and then some years like this year the injury bug will hit you all over the place. It's part of the game that we play and love and sign up for.''
The Rams have less than three weeks left before their early offseason, but they insist they're not packing it in. They've got a short week of preparation for an extremely winnable Christmas home game against the Denver Broncos, who share their 4-10 record.
''Playoff contenders, whoever we can knock out, make it harder for them, that's what we want to do,'' running back Cam Akers said. ''Go play our game. We've got three more left. We want to win all three of them.'' | 2022-12-21T00:23:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Champion Rams' playoff hopes gone with 3 weeks left to play | https://sports.yahoo.com/champion-rams-playoff-hopes-gone-221654312.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/champion-rams-playoff-hopes-gone-221654312.html?src=rss |
The Kansas City Chiefs have officially designated TE Blake Bell to return from injured reserve per the NFL’s daily personnel notice.
Bell was spotted back at practice on Tuesday, signifying the team had officially opened his practice window. The veteran tight end was placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 1 after he suffered a hip flexor injury during the preseason tilt with the Chicago Bears.
The team maintained that Bell had a chance to return from the injury at some point this season. He missed the first 15 weeks of the season recovering from the hip injury, but he returns at the perfect time with TE Jody Fortson suffering an elbow subluxation. Now, Bell will have a chance to come back and contribute for the stretch run.
Bell appeared in all 16 regular season games with the Chiefs last season, catching nine passes for 87 yards. He also had four carries for 10 yards and four first downs on the season. That’s a part of his presence that the team has sorely missed, as they’re one of the worst in the league this season at converting on third-and-short.
Remember, being designated to return doesn’t mean that Bell is returning to the 53-man roster for the upcoming Week 16 game against the Seattle Seahawks. When a team designates a player to return from injured reserve it opens a 21-day practice window where they can begin practicing with the team. Bell still needs to be activated to the team’s 53-man roster. If he isn’t activated by the end of that 21-day window he’ll remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season. | 2022-12-21T00:23:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chiefs designate TE Blake Bell to return from injured reserve | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-designate-te-blake-bell-223830351.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-designate-te-blake-bell-223830351.html?src=rss |
The Detroit Lions likely will be without starting safety DeShon Elliott for Saturday's game against the Carolina Panthers because of a dislocated shoulder, and Lions coach Dan Campbell said he's not sure yet if Elliott will return this season.
Detroit Lions safety DeShon Elliott (5) stops Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary (26) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022.
The Lions held a walk-through instead of a practice Tuesday, and along with Elliott listed center Frank Ragnow (foot), guard Kayode Awosika (ankle) and fullback Jason Cabinda (illness) as out on their estimated injury report.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions' DeShon Elliott likely out vs. Panthers with dislocated shoulder
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives committee met on Tuesday to decide whether to release publicly details of Donald Trump's tax returns, which could lead to more unwelcome scrutiny for the former president as he mounts another White House bid. The House Ways and Means Committee went into a closed-door meeting to discuss the documents secured after a years-long court fight, but it is unclear whether the panel will decide to make them public. Democrats have little time to act, as Trump's Republicans are due to take control of the House in January. | 2022-12-21T00:23:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Detroit Lions S DeShon Elliott 'probably won't be able to play' vs. Carolina Panthers | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-lions-deshon-elliott-probably-224402281.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-lions-deshon-elliott-probably-224402281.html?src=rss |
The deal with DirecTV is up after this season. The league has been hunting for a new home for the service for some time. Other than Google, Apple was a rumored favorite.
“I would say it’s in a very critical point for us,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said of the deal earlier this month, via NBC Sports. “We’ve had a lot of interest in this, and we continue to. Our decisions are not based on timelines. They’re based on it being the best outcome with the best party.”
It’s unclear how much the deal between YouTube and the NFL will be worth. It will mark the second major streaming deal the league has launched in as many years. Amazon Prime Video is now the exclusive home for Thursday night football games through the 2033 season. It is paying the league about $1 billion per season. | 2022-12-21T00:24:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Google reportedly close to deal to bring NFL's 'Sunday Ticket' to YouTube | https://sports.yahoo.com/google-reportedly-close-to-deal-to-bring-nf-ls-sunday-ticket-to-you-tube-000721814.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/google-reportedly-close-to-deal-to-bring-nf-ls-sunday-ticket-to-you-tube-000721814.html?src=rss |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Trevor Lawrence boarded the eight-hour flight home, grabbed a seat near teammates, pulled out his tablet and pushed play.
Lawrence was frustrated and fed up. The Jaguars' season was unraveling. They had just lost their fifth consecutive one-score game, and Lawrence had chances in several of those to rally his team - and failed.
''Obviously, it wasn't a good day for me, and I really just felt like ... I let the team down,'' Lawrence recalled. ''Should've won that game. I never forgot how I felt in that locker room because I never want to feel like this anymore.
''I'm going to start taking care of the ball. I just want to be the player that I know I can be, and I think that kind of flipped a switch in me.''
''I have a little bit more of a chip on my shoulder now just because (of) the last year and a half,'' he said. ''I don't really forget what's been said and what people have written, and now you see people change their mind after a couple weeks, but I remember everything.
''I don't use that necessarily as my only fuel, but I definitely use that.''
He was in a much different state of mind at the end of October, a winless month that receiver Zay Jones called ''spooky.''
''You saw the dejection in him,'' offensive coordinator Press Taylor said. ''I remember him coming up and sitting next to me on the plane for a long time. We just had a long conversation about where we were.''
''You don't put on a smile and act like everything's all right,'' Lawrence said. ''It's not. Everybody's (ticked) and frustrated, not at each other. There's no pointing the finger, but we all understand and we've had that dialogue of what we need to do. Everybody knows what we need to do, and we've just got to go do it.''
''He found his groove, and this is the Trevor Lawrence that we knew we all had,'' linebacker Josh Allen said. ''It was never, `Oh, you got to do better.' It was never like that. It was about getting it right.
''He's going to continue to grow, and I think he's going to get better than the performance he had (Sunday).'' | 2022-12-21T00:24:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | London eye-opener: Lawrence, Jags on rise after overseas low | https://sports.yahoo.com/london-eye-opener-lawrence-jags-225347115.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/london-eye-opener-lawrence-jags-225347115.html?src=rss |
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Aaron Rodgers realizes the easy part is over for the Green Bay Packers as they try to continue their improbable path from a 4-8 hole to a playoff berth.
''They're all good football teams,'' Rodgers said after the Packers' 24-12 Monday night win over the Rams. ''Miami's playing for the playoffs, Minnesota's obviously division winners and coming off a big win. Detroit's won six out of seven, they're playing really well. So it's going to be three difficult games.
''But two of them are at home against dome teams. It'll be January for those two. We've notoriously been pretty good in those games over the years. So, yeah, this one's really important because it's on the road.''
''We came in and said, `Let's dominate and let's get a win,''' cornerback Rasul Douglas said. ''Now, we're moving on to step two and that's Miami.''
LB Quay Walker forced a fumble and had a sack and two passes defended. ... OLB Preston Smith had two sacks. Smith has four sacks over his last four games to improve his season total to 7 1/2. ... Douglas has two interceptions and a forced fumble over his last four games. . KR/CB Keisean Nixon had a 52-yard kickoff return, his league-leading third return of at least 40 yards. Nixon is the first Packer since Sam Shields in 2010 to have a kickoff return of at least 30 yards in four straight games. ''In all my 18 years, I've never once, until tonight, seen an opposing team's kicker kick away from one of our returners on purpose,'' Rodgers said after the game. ''That's fun. That's pretty incredible.''
''It'll be a day-to-day thing, I would say,'' LaFleur said. ''We've just got to make sure that he is healthy come game time. He is a guy that is going to battle through everything.''
5,100 - Jones' career rushing total after running for 90 yards on 17 carries Monday. He also had a 7-yard touchdown catch. Jones overtook John Brockington's 5,024 yards to move into third place on the Packers' career rushing list. Jones remains behind Ahman Green (8,322 from 2000-06 and 2009) and Hall of Famer Jim Taylor (8,207 from 1958-66). | 2022-12-21T00:24:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Packers face grueling 3-game stretch run in playoff bid | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-face-grueling-3-game-221652465.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-face-grueling-3-game-221652465.html?src=rss |
Sammy Watkins was released by the Packers on Monday and claimed by the Ravens on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Former NFL first-round receiver Sammy Watkins didn't last long on the waiver wire. Watkins was claimed by the Baltimore Ravens, the team announced on Tuesday. The news comes a day after Watkins was cut by the Green Bay Packers hours before the team played on "Monday Night Football."
It marks the second time in his career Watkins played for the Ravens. He played 13 games with the team last season, putting up 394 yards and one touchdown on 27 catches.
Watkins failed to top those numbers in Green Bay in 2022. In nine games, he had 13 catches for 206 and no scores with the Packers.
Though he has yet to practice with the Ravens, Watkins could work his way into playing time quickly. Ravens wideout Devin Duvernay was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
Duvernay, 25, has 407 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. He entered the year as the Ravens' No. 2 receiver behind Rashod Bateman, but was pushed up the depth chart when Bateman sustained a foot injury of his own. Duvernay will miss multiple weeks, according to ESPN's Field Yates.
WASHINGTON—The spending bill unveiled in the Senate early Tuesday contains $45 billion to support Ukraine in its battle against Russia. If passed by Congress, it would arm and equip Ukrainian and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces, fund a surge of U.S. troops and materiel to Europe, bolster the U.S.’s domestic defense industry, extend budget and economic assistance to the Kyiv government and much more. $9 billion to arm, equip and train Ukrainian forces. | 2022-12-21T00:24:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens claim Sammy Watkins on waivers as Devin Duvernay sustains foot injury in practice | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-claim-sammy-watkins-off-waivers-as-devin-duvernay-sustains-foot-injury-in-practice-214655098.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-claim-sammy-watkins-off-waivers-as-devin-duvernay-sustains-foot-injury-in-practice-214655098.html?src=rss |
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — He stepped up when Michigan football has needed him most.
With Luke Schoonmaker injured and somewhat limited entering the Ohio State game, and Erick All out for the season, there was no fully healthy, veteran presence for the Wolverines at a prime position. In the weeks leading up to the game against the Buckeyes, the offense reflected that, as QB J.J. McCarthy didn’t have his reliable outlet in the pass game when the wideouts were covered up on the outside.
Enter Colston Loveland, who, from Week 12 on, now has two touchdowns to his name, including the go-ahead score over OSU as the first points of the game against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship game. After starting off with at least one catch in his first three games, he didn’t reel in any receptions in the next five. But in the last five, he’s managed eight catches for 171 yards and the aforementioned two touchdowns.
But what’s allowed him to succeed, especially when he was needed? How has he changed since he first arrived in Ann Arbor last spring? | 2022-12-21T00:53:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | What veteran Michigan football TE sees from Colston Loveland | https://sports.yahoo.com/veteran-michigan-football-te-sees-001433316.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/veteran-michigan-football-te-sees-001433316.html?src=rss |
With that in mind, The Root thought of some Black billionaires (and millionaires) who could use their connections and fellow billionaire and millionaire friends to save Twitter from the villain that is Elon Musk. While they might not be able to do it alone, they have the connections to make something happen.
Aside from Halle Bailey, Here Are Other Black Disney Actors and Characters We Love
Megan Thee Stallion Becomes 1st Black Woman to Land Forbes 30 Under 30 Cover
The founder of BET and the former owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, Johnson has always been one to invest in companies and projects he believes in. With this billionaire at the forefront, he could put together a group of investors that could help make Twitter fun again.
Awotona is the CEO and founder of the scheduling software company Calendly. Similar to other billionaires on this list, he already works in the tech space and could make a smooth transition into Twitter. Awotona is a businessman just like Musk, he could be the man who helps fix his mess.
One of the richest Black men in the world, Smith is the founder of Vista Equity Partners. Remember, he pledged $34 million to help Morehouse students pay off student loan debt, so we know he’s down with Black Twitter. Smith focuses on investing in software companies. Investing in Twitter would be a natural pivot for this Master of the Universe.
LeBron James has close relationships with Dr. Dre and Jay-Z, if these three put their minds together and use all of their connections, they could bring Twitter back to its past glory.
15 Priceless Black Twitter Moments Worth Remembering
Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Storylines about women who abuse their power are coming to the fore.View Entire Post ›
A Different World is truly an underrated classic. The ‘90s comedy does not get enough credit for how influential and ahead of its time it was. There are countless successful Black people fighting to change the status quo because A Different World inspired them to go to college or because they identified with Dwayne, Freddie, Kim or Whitley. Cast member Jada Pinkett Smith is using Red Table Talk to celebrate the show that launched her career, hosting a reunion with series stars Jasmine Guy, Kadee
The Rock Comments On Black Adam’s Future In The DC Universe
Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, comments on the […]
The Best X-MEN Comics Arcs That Haven’t Been On Film…Yet
The X-Men are coming to the MCU, and here are several great storylines they can pull from that never made it to screen before. | 2022-12-21T01:15:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | The Black Billionaires Who Could Save Twitter | https://sports.yahoo.com/black-billionaires-could-save-twitter-195600728.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/black-billionaires-could-save-twitter-195600728.html?src=rss |
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts waive veteran DE Ifeadi Odenigbo in surprising move
A parade to celebrate the Argentine World Cup champions was abruptly cut short Tuesday as millions of people poured onto thoroughfares, highways and overpasses in a chaotic attempt to catch a glimpse of the national team that won one of the great World Cup finals of all time. “The world champions are flying over the whole route on helicopters because it was impossible to continue by land due to the explosion of people’s happiness,” Gabriela Cerruti, the spokesperson for President Alberto Fernández, wrote on social media. After flying over key points of Buenos Aires where fans had gathered, the helicopters returned to the headquarters of the Argentine Football Association outside the capital. | 2022-12-21T01:49:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | What we know about the Colts surprisingly waiving veteran DE Ifeadi Odenigbo | https://sports.yahoo.com/know-colts-surprisingly-waiving-veteran-205813075.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/know-colts-surprisingly-waiving-veteran-205813075.html?src=rss |
As the clock struck zero, New England Patriots fans expected to head to overtime when one of the most shocking plays in NFL history occurred.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson tossed a lateral to receiver Jakobi Meyers, who then attempted to do the same to quarterback Mac Jones, before Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones picked off the backwards pass and scored the game-winning touchdown.
Even though it was a disappointing loss, there are still some positives to draw from a few stars that offered a glimmer of hope, mostly by doing everything they could to at least keep the Patriots in the game.
First Star: Rhamondre Stevenson
Rhamondre Stevenson carried the ball 19 times for 172 rushing yards and a touchdown. Clearly, the only glimmer of hope for the Patriots offense this season has been Stevenson’s emergence.
He can pound out the tough yards on the ground, but he also has the versatility to serve as a reliable receiver as well. The arrow is pointing higher every week on the second-year running back.
What’s even more impressive is this is all being done in an offensive system crumbling around him, but he still managed to keep the Patriots in the game with his feet.
Second Star: Ja'Whaun Bentley
Bentley has been an unsung hero this season for the Patriots defense, but this game really showed it. He led the Patriots in tackles and notched a sack against the Raiders .
More importantly, his tackles all seemed to come on important downs and assisted in the passing game.
Even though he has been considered more of a downhill linebacker, he showed up in both facets and has been the field general all year long for the Patriots defense. His continued evolution as a big-time playmaker can only mean good things for the team considering how heavily they rely on their defense.
Third Star: Nick Folk
Nick Folk scored 10 of the 24 points in this game and came up huge from a 54-yard distance when called upon.
In a seemingly terrible game across the board from a Patriots team that imploded in the end, Folk was a true mainstay and is deserving of the third star for this week.
Perhaps the most impressive part is that Folk is still doing it at 38 years old. He has come up clutch time and time again for the Patriots in a year where they’ve struggled to come away with touchdowns, particularly in the red zone, and Sunday’s game against the Raiders was no different. | 2022-12-21T02:03:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | 3 standout stars in Patriots’ gut-wrenching loss to Raiders | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-standout-stars-patriots-gut-010817886.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-standout-stars-patriots-gut-010817886.html?src=rss |
Kinlaw believes he has chance to play against Commanders originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers on Tuesday opened the practice window for Javon Kinlaw, and while the defensive tackle did not practice, he hopes to play against the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium on Saturday.
Kinlaw was in the best place emotionally and physically in his football career prior to the start of the 2022 NFL season, living without pain in his knees for the first time after having a season-ending procedure in 2021.
The 49ers placed the former first-round pick on injured reserve after Week 3 when fluid on his knees repeatedly built up.
“Me, personally, I do,” Kinlaw said on Tuesday when asked if he expects to play. “Another day under the sun. I’ve been through worse. Nothing has changed.”
Kinlaw has been “staying out of the way,” not watching games from the sidelines, believing he can see more watching the TV broadcast. The 49ers' medical staff also has not wanted Kinlaw to travel to road games as the altitude on long flights can have an adverse affect on his knees in regards to swelling.
Kyle Shanahan said that the staff has been patient and careful with Kinlaw’s rehab, attempting to prevent any setbacks. The head coach has the utmost confidence that the 25-year-old can contribute, but wants it to happen without an adverse effect on him physically.
“He’s been [working] for a while here without any setbacks,” Shanahan said. “We’ve done as much as we can. The only thing left for him to do, is put pads on, and go out there and play. There’s always a risk of it, but he is at the point where it’s time to find out.”
If Kinlaw does return to the field on Saturday, it would likely be as a rotational piece to see how his body and knees react to the extra strain. Without Hassan Ridgeway, who was placed on IR with a pectoral strain and Kevin Givens suffering an MCL injury, Arik Armstead has been carrying the load.
RELATED: Shanahan sees greater risk resting healthy players down the stretch
Shanahan hopes that Kinlaw finally gets a chance to return to the field after the months of rehab work he has put in.
“It’s been so frustrating for him,” Shanahan said. “It’s been a long battle going back to the Cowboys game couple of years ago. I know he feels as good as he’s felt. I know how hard he’s worked to get to this point. I know how pumped he is to have an opportunity to come back and be a part of a playoff team.
“Just talking to him this morning, he is geared up, ready to go, as good as I’ve seen him. Spirits are high.” | 2022-12-21T02:03:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | 49ers' Javon Kinlaw believes he has chance to play vs. Commanders | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-javon-kinlaw-believes-chance-221536903.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-javon-kinlaw-believes-chance-221536903.html?src=rss |
It was a well-rounded performance by the Green Bay Packers in all three phases in their win against the Los Angeles Rams as they keep their playoff hopes alive for another week.
The offense kept it simple and took what the Rams’ defense gave them. The Packers’ defense, meanwhile, controlled the line of scrimmage, and Keisean Nixon provided some big plays on special teams.
Now have had the chance to look back at Monday’s game, along with diving into some of the numbers, here is an up-close look at the stats and figures you need to know from the Packers’ performance.
Has the Green Bay Packers defense all of a sudden figured it out? I wouldn’t bet on it, but credit to them for getting the job done against a not-so-good Rams offense. While the hope was that they would have a performance like this, considering how this season has gone, it wasn’t exactly a given either.
Behind a beaten-up offensive line that has struggled in the run game, along with a receiver position dealing with injuries, the Rams posted only 156 total yards at 3.9 yards per play. For reference, the Rams rank 32nd in the NFL currently in yards per play this season with 4.6. The Packers’ front seven controlled the game, holding the Rams to 3.9 yards per rush while pressuring Baker Mayfield 41% of the time. We saw more blitzing and tighter coverages from Joe Barry, and overall, the secondary held up well.
Aaron Rodgers currently ranks third in the NFL in pass attempts of 20-plus yards, per PFF, but of his 32 passes against the Rams, only one traveled that far. We saw Los Angeles play mostly two-high and quite soft in an effort to limit the big play. The Packers, meanwhile, didn’t force anything and took what the defense gave them, which was a lot of easy completions underneath via the quick passing game, along with a heavy dose of the run game. It was refreshing to see things come easy for this offense and nothing really being forced.
Christian Watson’s emergence over the last month has, of course, contributed to the Packers success on offense. But so has the run game. In Green Bay’s three games against Dallas, Philadelphia, and Chicago, where they averaged over 30 points, AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones combined for 400-plus rushing yards at more than five yards per attempt. In the two games against Tennessee and Detroit, where the Packers combined to score 26 points, Jones and Dillon didn’t break 70 total yards in either outing and barely averaged three yards per run.
On the flip side, when the passing game has had to carry the offense, things, for the most part, haven’t ended well, with the Tennessee and Detroit games again being prime examples. So this week, against a very good Rams run defense and a secondary that has taken its lumps, I wasn’t sure if the Packers were going to become pass-happy and one-dimensional, which could have very well hampered their offense. But instead, this was one of the more balanced games they’ve had, with 32 carries for the running backs compared to 30 pass attempts for Aaron Rodgers.
7 and 4.5
As already mentioned, the Rams entered the game with one of the best run defenses in football, led by Aaron Donald. However, Donald was again held out with an ankle injury, and no surprise, his presence was very much missed. The Green Bay running backs had wide running lanes, and Rodgers had plenty of time in the pocket. Overall, the Packers’ ball carriers averaged 4.4 yards per rush, with Jones averaging 5.3, and the offensive line was credited with only seven pressures.
31.7 and 18
Keisean Nixon has provided quite the spark for these Green Bay Packers return teams – which again begs the question, what took the coaching staff so long to make this change? Nixon would average 31.7 yards per kick return with a long of 52 against the Rams and had two returns for 36 yards on punts. Despite not taking over these return duties until as of late, Nixon ranks second in total kick return yards and second in yards per punt return. In addition to his return man responsibilities, Nixon also played 100% of the defensive snaps, holding the Rams’ pass catchers to less than seven yards per reception. As Matt LaFleur said after the game, Nixon is a “difference maker.”
With the performances of the offensive and defensive units, the Packers controlled the clock, holding the ball for 37:19, nearly 15 minutes longer than the Rams. This resulted in the Packers running 25 more plays on offense. You’re going to win a lot of games doing that.
Christian Watson didn’t stuff the stat sheet like he has over the last month, totaling just 46 yards and no touchdowns, but his presence was absolutely felt. For one, the Rams heavy usage of cover-2 and playing off was in part because of Watson’s big play ability. A month ago, defenses weren’t giving the Packers receivers this much respect. This, along with the attention that he drew from defenders, created opportunities for others in the passing game, with the pass to a wide-open Allen Lazard that was intercepted being a prime example of this. We also saw Watson draw a pair of penalties to move the chains, and he threw a key block on Jones’ second-half touchdown. LaFleur would say after the game that Watson has an impact with or without the ball because of his ability to dictate coverages just
The Packers, as we know, need to win their final three games if they’re going to have any hope of making the playoffs. In addition to that, they need either New York to finish 0-3 or Washington to end the year 1-2 or worse. On top of of that, one more loss from Seattle is required, and because of tiebreakers, it would hurt to root for one more Detroit loss in addition to the Packers needing to beat them. | 2022-12-21T02:03:38Z | sports.yahoo.com | Behind the Numbers: Packers keep playoff hopes alive with well-rounded win over Rams | https://sports.yahoo.com/behind-numbers-packers-keep-playoff-002835204.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/behind-numbers-packers-keep-playoff-002835204.html?src=rss |
Benjamin St-Juste says he'll play vs. 49ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Washington Commanders' cornerback Benjamin St-Juste has missed the last three games with a high-ankle sprain, but his absence is not expected to last much longer.
The second-year cornerback, who was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday's walkthrough, told reporters that he will play on Saturday for Washington's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
"I'm about to get in there and get some reps this week in practice, make sure everything is good, make sure I'm up to speed with the playbook," St-Juste said. "I'm going to be out there this weekend."
Earlier on Tuesday, head coach Ron Rivera was asked about his confidence in St-Juste being able to make his return this week. Unlike St-Juste, Rivera didn't commit to the second-year cornerback playing but did offer confidence that he was trending in the right direction.
"He moved around very well," Rivera said. "He had the kind of week last week where he was progressing, you just feel like he's going to be there." The head coach later added St-Juste has "looked pretty good lately" in his rehab.
St-Juste initially injured his ankle in Washington's Week 11 victory over the Houston Texans. He was able to finish that contest, however, but then was unable to practice over the next two weeks before the Commanders' late Week 14 bye.
Coming out of the bye, St-Juste was a limited participant in all three of the Commanders' practices last week but was ultimately unable to play this past Sunday against the New York Giants.
"It's a tricky situation with an ankle sprain. I've never had it before, so I didn't know how to feel when it was good or not," St-Juste said when asked how close he was to suiting up against the Giants.
"At [game time], it wasn't ready for what I need to do at my position," he added. "There's a lot of breaking, cutting, breaks on the dime ... so I want to make sure I'm 100% for my team. I think this week is a way better week to start it off."
Rivera stressed the importance of St-Juste being able to confidently plant and drive off his injured ankle before returning to the field. "Coming off a high ankle, that's one of the things you really have to see," he said.
Prior to his injury, St-Juste had been playing arguably the best football of his career thus far. The 2021 third-round pick began the season as Washington's nickel cornerback but shifted to his natural outside position following the benching (and eventual trade) of William Jackson III.
Since that switch, St-Juste has been given a lot more responsibility -- including often taking on the opponent's No. 1 receiver. He held his own against Vikings star Justin Jefferson and has performed admirably against other top wideouts. Rivera said Tuesday that Washington's defense had to change some of its tactics since St-Juste went down.
With three games left, the Commanders sit in seventh place, the final Wild Card spot in the NFC. Washington controls its own playoff destiny but has a difficult schedule with San Francisco, Cleveland and Dallas remaining. Should he be able to play this week, St-Juste will provide a major boost to Washington's defense -- not just on Saturday but for the remainder of the season as well. | 2022-12-21T02:03:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Commanders CB Benjamin St-Juste says he'll play vs. 49ers in Week 16 | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-cb-benjamin-st-juste-003100019.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-cb-benjamin-st-juste-003100019.html?src=rss |
Jerry Jones: Prescott's 'outstanding' play in loss vs. Jaguars is enough to 'win most games'
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says that Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's 'outstanding' play in the team's Week 15 regular season loss on the road to the Jacksonville Jaguars is enough to 'win most games' against other NFL teams.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Trevor Lawrence boarded the eight-hour flight home, grabbed a seat near teammates, pulled out his tablet and pushed play. Lawrence was frustrated and fed up. The Jaguars' season was unraveling.
Travis Konecny with a Shorthanded Goal vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers) with a Shorthanded Goal vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 12/20/2022 | 2022-12-21T02:04:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jerry Jones: Prescott's 'outstanding' play in loss vs. Jaguars is enough to 'win most games' | https://sports.yahoo.com/jerry-jones-prescotts-outstanding-play-003606894.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jerry-jones-prescotts-outstanding-play-003606894.html?src=rss |
The Saints are allowing 22.5 points per game in 2022 and scoring just 20.4 points per game. The Browns are allowing 23 points per game and scoring 22 per game, though they haven’t been lighting up the scoreboard with Deshaun Watson.
After scoring 24 or more points in six of its first eight games, New Orleans has hit that mark just once in its last six games. The Saints did score 21 in a three-point win over the Falcons in Week 14.
Conversely, both offenses are outside the top 15 in turnover percentage. And it's going to be really cold in Cleveland. Really cold. It's set to be windy with a projected high of 12 on Saturday.
The total for the Saints' visit to Cleveland on Saturday is the lowest NFL total in quite some time. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit) | 2022-12-21T02:04:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL betting: The point total for the Saints' visit to Cleveland is the lowest in years | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-the-point-total-for-the-saints-visit-to-cleveland-is-the-lowest-in-years-010457495.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-the-point-total-for-the-saints-visit-to-cleveland-is-the-lowest-in-years-010457495.html?src=rss |
The New England Patriots didn’t waste time adding another linebacker to their practice squad, after losing Cameron McGrone to the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday.
It’s a blast from the past for the Patriots, who announced the signing of veteran linebacker Terez Hall to the practice squad.
Hall appeared in eight games with New England back in 2020 and started in four games. So there’s definitely some familiarity as far as the team’s defensive concepts are concerned. He wrapped up that season with 50 total tackles and two pass deflections.
McGrone, a former fifth-round draft pick for the Patriots, was plucked off their practice squad by the Colts. He was a promising player looking to carve out a spot for himself in a talented linebackers room.
Now, he’ll have an opportunity to do so in Indy, while Hall will try to do the same in his return to New England.
A look at the shareholders of Mikron Holding AG ( VTX:MIKN ) can tell us which group is most powerful. With 43% stake... | 2022-12-21T02:04:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | Patriots sign LB to practice squad after losing Cameron McGrone | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-sign-lb-practice-squad-001316816.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-sign-lb-practice-squad-001316816.html?src=rss |
The New England Patriots held practice Wednesday, and several players were on the injury report, as the Patriots get set to take on the Cincinnati Bengals Saturday. Corner Jalen Mills and wide receiver DeVante Parker did not participate, as noted in a report from Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar.
Mills is dealing with a groin injury, while Parker is dealing with a concussion he suffered against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14.
Some other Patriots had limited participation. The running back position continues to be banged up, as Damien Harris is still dealing with a thigh injury, while Rhamonde Stevenson is still bothered with an ankle injury.
The injury to Stevenson is particularly significant, as he has been a key piece of New England’s running back room this season. He has 914 yards on the year, as well as five touchdowns.
The full list of practice participation statuses is below.
Here is the #Patriots projected injury report on Tuesday. If they had practiced, CB Jalen Mills (groin) and WR DeVante Parker (concussion) would've been DNPs.
The limited participants were all on the injury report last week. So no new injuries coming off Sunday's loss. pic.twitter.com/gX3WskOhxo
New England will have to heal quickly, as they take on the Cincinnati Bengals this Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET. | 2022-12-21T02:04:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Patriots still without two key starters for Wednesday’s practice | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-still-without-two-key-003445758.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-still-without-two-key-003445758.html?src=rss |
San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro (2) scrambles with the ball against Eastern Michigan in the second half of the Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. Eastern Michigan won 41-27. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)
BOISE, Idaho (AP) Eastern Michigan quarterback Taylor Powell got emotional after winning the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl MVP honors and leading the Eagles to a 41-27 victory over San Jose State on Tuesday.
''I'm just really thankful for the opportunity here,'' said Powell, who threw for 298 yards and a pair of touchdowns. ''My college career has been a journey. I've had two coaches fired and had to find different homes. But it's hard to talk about (coach Chris Creighton's) belief in me. He was unwavering.''
Creighton's unwavering belief in Powell - especially after a rocky start to the game - might be the start of something special at Eastern Michigan (9-4), which won its second bowl game in school history. Its only other victory came in the 1987 California Bowl, also against San Jose State.
''We're fortunate to get this one,'' a teary-eyed Creighton said. ''I'm super proud of our guys. . They just continue to fight and they believe and they love and care about each other. So, when it all comes together like that, it's a pretty special moment.''
''I can't tell you that our sideline was on fire after that play, but it was something positive after two monster negatives,'' Creighton said. ''I talked about turnovers, takeaways and special teams. You saw early on that wasn't going our way.''
''If you're going to win against good teams and one side of your game is struggling, the other side has to respond,'' San Jose coach Brent Brennan said. ''And we didn't answer. We didn't do that in either phase of the game.''
San Jose State: Losing Elijah Cooks and his 1,000-plus yards of receiving will hurt looking ahead to next season for the Spartans. But all the other starters on offense - including Cordeiro at quarterback - return for a team that will be poised to keep building on the program's recent success. | 2022-12-21T02:29:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | E. Michigan beats San Jose St. in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/e-michigan-beats-san-jose-004015561.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/e-michigan-beats-san-jose-004015561.html?src=rss |
Eastern Michigan Eagles quarterback Taylor Powell (7) looks for an open area during the first half of action of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against the San Jose State Spartans at Albertsons Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Eastern Michigan football tops San Jose State in Potato Bowl, 41-27 | 2022-12-21T02:29:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eastern Michigan football storms back from early deficit, tops San Jose State in Potato Bowl, 41-27 | https://sports.yahoo.com/eastern-michigan-football-storms-back-004737059.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eastern-michigan-football-storms-back-004737059.html?src=rss |
YouTube TV has emerged as the favorite to land the NFL's ''Sunday Ticket'' package of out-of-market games, but the sides have not finalized a deal, two people with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday evening.
''Sunday Ticket'' has been on DirecTV since 1994. The satellite provider has paid $1.5 billion per year on an eight-year contract that expires at the end of this season.
Viewers pay around $300 a season for ''Sunday Ticket,'' which averages 2 million subscribers. As of August, DirecTV had a total of 13.9 million subscribers.
Besides Amazon, Apple and ESPN were believed to be contenders for ''Sunday Ticket.'' | 2022-12-21T03:43:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | AP sources: YouTube TV front-runner for NFL "Sunday Ticket" | https://sports.yahoo.com/ap-sources-youtube-tv-front-013710392.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ap-sources-youtube-tv-front-013710392.html?src=rss |
How McCaffrey has exceeded 49ers' sky-high expectations originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Christian McCaffrey certainly has lived up to the 49ers' expectations through eight games with the team so far.
San Francisco traded for the 26-year-old running back on Oct. 21 before the NFL trade deadline, sending 2023 second-, third- and fourth-round draft picks and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers.
The thought of how coach Kyle Shanahan would utilize the multifaceted McCaffrey in his offensive scheme immediately excited the 49ers Faithful. Shanahan has made the most of the running back since the acquisition, but McCaffrey's production has exceeded what even the coach was expecting from him.
“Just that he was exactly what was advertised,” Shanahan told reporters Tuesday. “Everyone, we knew what we were getting from what we see on tape, but everyone telling us how hard he worked at things, how consistent he was, how fast he would be able to pick things up, and that’s what I’ve been the most impressed on because everyone told us, but I think it’s even been stronger than that.”
Since joining the 49ers, McCaffrey ranks No. 1 in receptions, No. 2 in yards, No. 1 in yards after catch, No. 1 in first-downs, and No. 1 in PFF receiving grade among running backs.
Really, the 49ers' numbers since the McCaffrey acquisition speak for themselves.
Since Christian McCaffrey joined the #49ers, they've been the most efficient team in the sport.
They're in their own tier and the others aren't even close. It's just a matter of consistency with Brock Purdy over the last 3 weeks and into the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/0gBnYps8BP
Overall, the 49ers star has 115 carries, 534 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Meanwhile, through the air, McCaffrey has 41 receptions, 346 receiving yards, and three touchdowns.
RELATED: 49ers overreactions: Should Kyle Shanahan limit Christian McCaffrey touches?
The Stanford product clearly enjoys being back in the Bay, and he'll look to continue his dominance against the Washington Commanders on Saturday at Levi's Stadium. | 2022-12-21T03:43:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | Christian McCaffrey exceeding 49ers' expectations, Kyle Shanahan believes | https://sports.yahoo.com/christian-mccaffrey-exceeding-49ers-expectations-024414425.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/christian-mccaffrey-exceeding-49ers-expectations-024414425.html?src=rss |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.