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At the conclusion of another week in the NFL offseason, it is time to take a trip around the NFC West to see what is happening with the Arizona Cardinals’ division rivals. What is new with the Los Angeles Rams?
Below are a few stories about the Rams from the last week for Cardinals fans to know.
OBJ won't be healthy until October or November
Beckham tore his ACL in the Super Bowl and is yet unsigned. Many believe he will ultimately end up with the Rams again but he said he won’t be fully healthy and ready to play until October or November. That would mean he won’t be available for at least the Cardinals’ first matchup with the Rams in Week 3.
Sean McVay didn't initially know about Aaron Donald's retirement rumors
Donald said he would consider retiring if the Rams won the Super Bowl. They did and he considered it, which led to a big raise.
Head coach Sean McVay was unaware that Donald was considering retirement until after the Super Bowl.
Jalen Ramsey had offseason shoulder surgery
Ramsey played last season with injuries to both shoulders. He had surgery on his left shoulder recently. He is expected to be ready before the start of the season.
Sean McVay getting a statue
McVay is now a Super Bowl-winning coach and has taken the Rams twice to the big game. He is getting a statue but not in Los Angeles. His alma mater, Miami of Ohio, is erecting a statue of McVay to be part of the “Cradle of Coaches.”
Rams' report dates set for training camp
The NFL announced the report dates for training camp for all NFL teams.
The Rams will have rookies and veterans report the same day, on July 23.
Former Patriots front office member compares Tua Tagovailoa’s arm to Tom Brady
He may not have the strongest arm in the league, but one former exec close to Tom Brady said that it shouldn't matter.
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2022-06-27T02:44:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jalen Ramsey’s surgery, Odell Beckham’s recovery and other Rams news for Cardinals fans
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https://sports.yahoo.com/jalen-ramsey-surgery-odell-beckham-012649916.html?src=rss
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The Green Bay Packers begin training camp practices on Wednesday, July 27. Over the next month, Packers Wire will break down the 90-man roster at every position group, highlighting roster locks, positional battles and strengths and weaknesses entering training camp.
We continue our training camp roster preview for the Packers at the running back position:
Roster locks (2)
1. Aaron Jones: He’s entering the 2022 season on the heels of producing at least 1,000 total yards and scoring 10 total touchdowns during each of the last three years. Jones has averaged at least 4.6 yards per carry every season of his career and now has three straight seasons with at least 40 catches. He can do it all.
2. A.J. Dillon: The 247-pounder broke out in 2021, rushing for 803 yards and producing 1,116 total yards over 17 games. He churned out the tough yards between the tackles while also catching 34 of 37 passes as a receiver. The Packers gave him 221 touches but he could handle much more. Expect his role to expand. There’s a good chance Dillon and Jones will handle 500 or more total touches in 2022.
Fighting for a roster spot (4)
1. Kylin Hill: He was lightning in a bottle last summer, but the Packers didn’t get much from him as a kick returner and then he tore his ACL on an ill-advised return in Arizona in October, ending his rookie season. He might miss camp and the start of the regular season. The Packers don’t have to rush him back, but Hill – a seventh-round pick in 2021 – isn’t necessarily guaranteed a roster spot once he’s healthy. Then again, he showed enough real talent during camp last year to believe he could be a legit long-term option at running back. The Packers will hope he returns at 100 percent at some point during the regular season or sooner.
2. Patrick Taylor: The Packers activated him to the 53-man roster after Hill went down midseason. He played in nine games, but almost all his production came in the season finale in Detroit. The Packers think he can do a little bit of everything at running back, making him a valuable backup option. If Hill isn’t ready to begin the season, Taylor is the heavy favorite to be the No. 3 back on the roster.
3. BJ Baylor: As a redshirt junior, he scored 13 rushing touchdowns and led the Pac-12 in rushing with 1,337 yards in 2021. He rushed for at least 100 yards in six games and scored at least one touchdown in eight games. There’s real rushing talent to develop here, but Baylor must get better in the passing game to have a chance.
4. Tyler Goodson: The Iowa star was a two-time Big 10 selection who led the Hawkeyes in rushing each of the last three seasons. Goodson (5-9, 197) rushed for 2,551 yards and 18 touchdowns and caught 70 passes over three seasons at Iowa. While undersized and lacking playstrength, his ability as a receiver could make him a player to watch during camp.
Position strength
Strong. The Packers have two legit No. 1 options at running back – and both Jones and Dillon have value in the passing game despite featuring two very different play styles at the position. This is as good a one-two punch as there is in the NFL. The Packers will lean on them even more now that weapons at receiver are gone and the offense is forced to evolve. Behind Jones and Dillon, the Packers have a skilled recent draft pick coming off a major injury (Hill) and a third-year player coming off an encouraging end to his second season (Taylor). This position group is a strength of the offense.
Position battle to watch
Hill vs. PUP list, and Taylor vs. UDFAs: It remains unclear if Kylin Hill will be back in time to make the team to start the regular season. The PUP list is a real possibility, which would open up another roster battle between Patrick Taylor and undrafted rookies BJ Baylor and Tyler Goodson. Taylor is entering his third season in Green Bay and his versatile skillset looked strong to end last year. He’s got size, a little wiggle and some value as a receiver. He’ll be tough to beat out for the No. 3 spot if Hill starts the season on the PUP list.
Wisconsin gets their 12th verbal commitment in the 2023 recruiting cycle:
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2022-06-27T02:44:46Z
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Packers training camp roster preview: Running backs
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Though NASCAR teams (which are nearly all headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina) traditionally have no regional fan bases, Trackhouse Racing essentially has adopted the Music City as its home.
Though only three of its 130 employees live in Nashville, Trackhouse still has a major presence there. Tootsies, one of the ubiquitous bars that form the neon-drenched “Nashvegas” scene on Lower Broadway, is a team sponsor. Team co-owner Justin Marks and president Ty Norris form the Nashville-based braintrust that has turned Trackhouse into the biggest story of the 2022 season as drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez have qualified for the playoffs with breakthrough victories in the Cup Series.
Yet the team has downsized on its original vision for having roots in Tennessee.
After buying the assets of Chip Ganassi Racing last year, it became readily apparent that Trackhouse would be unable to become the first major Cup team based outside the Charlotte area since Furniture Row Racing (which won the 2017 championship from its shop in Denver, Colorado).
In addition to Ganassi’s two charters, Trackhouse also took ownership of a 140,000-square-foot shop adjacent to the Concord, North Carolina airport and more than 100 people with homes in North Carolina.
“Nashville is very important to Trackhouse,” Marks told NBC Sports in a sitdown interview that ran during Sunday’s NASCAR on NBC prerace show. “We run our business out of Nashville. But everyone else is in Charlotte because we’ve got to put cars on the racetrack. The idea of the early days was to acquire a charter, build a team from scratch here in Nashville. We put an all points bulletin out to the sport saying, ‘We’ll pay for your moves, build a shop in Nasvhille, build a NASCAR team.
“That’s actually what I really wanted to do. Well, things changed when Chip Ganassi and I had this conversation about the acquisition.”
There’s no arguing with Trackhouse’s success this season as Chastain in particular has exhibited championship-caliber consistency while competing against stalwarts such as Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske.
But even if its results had been less than sterling, Trackhouse would have been hard-pressed to relocate – especially with Chevrolet opening a new technical center in the Charlotte area this season.
“You can’t take a company that exists and move it very easily, especially in our sport,” Marks said. “A big part of the fact that we had a huge commitment from Chevrolet. We’re fundamental partners. It just became obvious to us that the actual racing operations had to stay in Charlotte, but we’re also building a brand and have a lot of really exciting things in the pipeline, from a brand and marketing standpoint that we’re working on right now that are going to be quintessentially Nashville based.
“So my hope is that Trackhouse grows into a bigger, bettter Cup Series team based in Charlotte, but that bigger stuff will be run out of Nashville.”
Trackhouse is in its second year after being formed last year by entertainer Pit Bull and Marks.
“I grew up in an entrepreneur household,” Marks said. “My father started businesses. That was always something that fascinated me. But my heroes were always race car drivers, so I wanted to drive.”
After pursuing a driving career (which included an Xfinity Series victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2016), Marks shifted into becoming a racing businessman. After opening the GoPro Motorplex go-kart track in Mooresville, North Carolina, and owning a minor-league NASCAR team, Marks decided to take the plunge on a Cup team after learning about the details of Next Gen.
“NASCAR announced they’re bringing in this new car, and all of a sudden I saw an opportunity to go Cup racing in a way that we could be successful and build a brand,” Marks said. “The barriers to entry had come down a little bit. I went and flew to Daytona with Ty Norris, and met with Jim France and said, ‘Is this car real? How are you going to officiate it? What’s the vision for it?’
“I walked out of that meeting and (said) my driving days are over. It’s all about Trackhouse now.”
Marks, Chastain and Suarez sat down with NASCAR on NBC’s Marty Snider for the interview during the prerace show on Peacock for Sunday’s Nashville Superspeedway event.
Trackhouse Racing embraces Nashville as its home city despite shop in North Carolina originally appeared on NBCSports.com
Led by Riley Herbst, the NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers make their first lap at Nashville Superspeedway for the Tennessee Lottery 250.
The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting analysis here. I’ve taken a very conservative approach to betting on Sunday’s NASCAR Ally 400 (5 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM) at Nashville Superspeedway. In my mind, there are simply too […]
NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 returns after more than two-hour lightning delay
The NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 resumed after a delay of over two hours following lightning strikes within eight miles of Nashville Superspeedway.
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2022-06-27T03:08:25Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Trackhouse Racing embraces Nashville as its home city despite shop in North Carolina
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Former Clemson basketball guard David Collins has a shot at making a name for himself in the NBA.
According to Clemson basketball’s social media, Collins will play in the NBA Summer League with the Dallas Mavericks, which currently have four games on their schedule between July 8 and 14. The playoffs will begin on July 16 and will end the next day.
Collins played at South Florida from 2017 to 2021 before transferring to Clemson for the 2021-2022 season. As a graduate senior, Collins was third in scoring for the Tigers with 10.3 points per game, shooting 51.1% from the field and 38% beyond the arc. The 6-foot-4 guard was also the team’s leading rebounder at 6.9 per game.
Summer League hoops 🏀@Dcloading x @dallasmavs pic.twitter.com/ycdPaEqnCA
— Clemson Basketball (@ClemsonMBB) June 26, 2022
Minnesota junior forward Parker Fox, a potential starter in the frontcourt, will miss his second straight season with a knee injury.
Former Clemson wide receiver is headed to the USFL championship game
A former Clemson pass-catcher that was a part of the 2016 and 2018 national championship teams will now play in the USFL championship game.
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2022-06-27T03:27:49Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Clemson’s David Collins receives an NBA opportunity
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Bahamian basketball player
Mychal Thompson 'real proud' of Klay for this 'manly' thing originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Klay Thompson has come a long way from his rookie season in 2011, when he entered the league as a reticent shooting guard.
At age 32, Thompson is a four-time NBA champion and established himself as one of the best shooters in league history. He’s also carved out a brand as one of the more interesting personalities in the league.
And he’s now a mentor to the next generation of Warriors. For his father, former Los Angeles Lakers No. 1 overall pick Mychal Thompson, that is something to be proud of.
The elder Thompson was asked on 95.7 The Game’s “Morning Roast” last week for his thoughts on Klay being a mentor to players like Jordan Poole and Moses Moody.
“That makes me feel good to see that he wants to be a mentor to the younger players,” Mychal said.
Mychal revealed that when Klay was growing up, he was fortunate enough to spend time around NBA legends like Kobe Bryant, Clyde Drexler, Rasheed Wallace and Magic Johnson thanks to his father’s connections.
“And to see him give it back to a young guy like Moses Moody and James Wiseman – it makes me feel good, makes me proud to see that he’s sharing his advice and his wisdom for the younger guys,” Mychal said. “And trying to get those guys to try to live up to their potential. That’s real manly. Klay’s being a real man about that. That’s great to see.”
Klay’s journey over the past couple of seasons has been well-documented, as he has returned from not one, but two long-term injuries to get triumphantly back to the mountaintop this past season with another NBA championship.
Along the way, he has gained wisdom, perspective and taken the initiative to help younger players who were in his shoes 11 years ago.
And he’s made his father proud.
Chris Brown sits down with the 'Drink Champs' team for an extended 'Breezy'-promoting discussion touching on 'Verzuz' possibilities and much more.
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2022-06-27T03:36:36Z
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Mychal Thompson 'real proud' of Klay Thompson for doing this 'manly' thing
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https://sports.yahoo.com/mychal-thompson-real-proud-klay-013628935.html?src=rss
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Josh Keatley
Every season the coaching carousel in the college football landscape gets a bit weird. This past season may have been the oddest with the Lincoln Riley departing Oklahoma for Southern California, Mario Cristobal leaving Oregon for Miami (Fla.), and Brian Kelly leaving Notre Dame for LSU.
Despite all of this craziness going on across the nation, there were no head coaching changes in the Big Ten, but once the 2022 season is complete, I expect a few things will be different. There have been a number of Big Ten coaches who have struggled the last few seasons and have failed to meet expectations. The following are the three Big Ten coaches most likely on the hot seat heading into this fall.
Nov 26, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Scott Frost (right) walks off the field after a loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Why the seat is heating up
I am shocked that Scott Frost wasn’t given the ax after his abysmal 2020 season, but he received the benefit of the doubt due to COVID-19 and was provided an opportunity to have another terrible season last year. Frost has gone 15-29 in his four seasons at Nebraska and they have failed to have a winning season in the conference or reach a bowl game. Nebraska is giving their alum a ton of rope, but if he goes half a decade with no bowl, you have to reassess things.
Coach Greg Schiano and Marco Battaglia with NFL scouts as they watch and take notes while Rutger’s football players are evaluated as part of Pro Day 2022 held on campus in Piscataway, NJ on March 22, 2022. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
I may be the only one who feels that Greg Schiano is on the hot seat and I will admit I may be overreacting a tad, but this Rutgers squad needs to improve this season or he will be on every hot seat list next season. His first stint at Rutgers was magical, but so far in the two seasons of his second stint, he has gone 3-6 and 2-7 in Big Ten play.
Indiana’s football coach Tom Allen cheers on the Hoosiers during the second half of the Indiana versus Princeton women’s NCAA second-round game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Monday, March 21, 2022. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
Tom Allen is another coach I may be jumping the gun on. After all, Indiana did finish 2020 with only one conference loss, but that season has been his lone bright spot. I was rooting hard for the Hoosiers last season and thought Allen finally found his sweet spot, but they were pathetic at 2-10 and 0-9 in the Big Ten. That is unacceptable.
Former Alabama MBB F Alex Tchikou announces transfer destination
After spending one season with the Crimson Tide, Tchikous has announced where he will continue his collegiate basketball career.
For Panthers’ Rashard Higgins, it’s about being a father and rolling out his red carpet
New Carolina wide receiver Rashard Higgins signed with the Panthers after spending his entire six-year career with the Browns. He has a lot to prove and even more to show his new team.
Impact on Huskers OL as Nouredin Nouili ruled ineligible for 2022 season
The Nebraska junior started the final seven games of the 2022 season but will not be allowed to play this season.
Austin Butler Reveals Leonardo DiCaprio’s Baz Luhrmann Advice, Says Director Pushed Him ‘to the Edge’
Butler said the "Great Gatsby" star told him that Luhrmann would "constantly keep you off balance."
Marc Short, former Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff who was in the role on Jan. 6, 2021, said he had no reason to believe that Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) was personally involved in attempts to hand a list of fake electors to Pence in order to overturn election results the former vice president…
The Cincinnati Reds finally settled on a closer, at least temporarily
Since the start of May, Hunter Strickland has a 3.12 ERA across 17 1/3 innings with 19 strikeouts. He's recorded three saves this season.
Ohio State’s Adelaide Aquilla qualifies for World Championships
Aquilla just keeps on making her mark in the shot put. #GoBucks
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2022-06-27T04:29:51Z
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Three Big Ten football coaches on the hot seat
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Four USFL stars with best chance to make NFL roster
So with acknowledgement that I may have buried the lead, let’s get right to it: Which USFL players will we see in the NFL this fall?
I went right to the source: Jim Popp, USFL Director of Player Personnel. Playing defensive back at Michigan State for Nick Saban in the mid-80s set up Popp for more than three decades in professional football personnel, primarily in the Canadian Football League, where he was a part of 11 Grey Cups, winning five of them.
“The NFL isn’t coming [to the USFL] looking for a starters,” Popp told me. “The potential for these players lies in the back end of an NFL roster, which is constantly being overturned.”
Popp followed up with two points to keep in mind when considering which USFL players might be in the NFL this fall:
• Because of Covid and the extra season of eligibility granted to college players, the pool of undrafted free agent rookies was larger than ever.
• The abundance of young, available and willing players would cost the teams less money than signing USFL players. According to Spotrac, the minimum salary for rookies this season is $705,000; second-year players $870,000; third-year players $940,000.
Since most of the players in the USFL have had an NFL cup of coffee, or two or three, they’re more expensive. They potentially fill the same roster spot and play the same role for more money.
Those hurdles are reality this summer. But they’re not barriers. They won’t prevent the USFL’s best from getting a shot.
So, who will get the chance to beat the odds?
Michigan Panthers RB Reggie Corbin
Corbin was the first name out of Popp’s mouth. The Panthers running back led the USFL in rushing yards per game.
I called his final regular season game last week against the Pittsburgh Maulers. The Pittsburgh head coach is Kirby Wilson, who spent 23 seasons as an NFL running backs coach. With his RB expertise, I asked, “Which running back impressed you the most this season?” He answered quickly: Reggie Corbin.
I also asked Corbin’s own coach, Jeff Fisher, an NFL head coach of 20 seasons, which of his Panthers players belonged in the NFL. He started with Corbin.
Corbin, 26, is still waiting for his first shot in the NFL. He averaged 6 yards per carry in rushing for over 2,000 yards at Illinois from 2016-19. But Corbin didn’t play in a game of any kind from 2020 until the USFL this spring.
His one and only NFL chance became a Covid casualty. The Seahawks flew in Corbin for a workout late in 2021, but when he tested positive for Covid upon arrival in Seattle. Instead of going to the facility to try out, he went to a hotel. For a week and half, he waited for the green light. The Covid cases were so high in the NFL at that point of the season, he was sent home, before he could even work out.
“Heartbreaking” was the last word he said to me about that experience.
So now he awaits a call, confident it will come. “I’m grateful for the USFL,” Corbin told me.
Houston Gamblers LB Donald Payne
Donald Payne came in with an NFL résumé that got my attention before the season started.
Four seasons in the NFL
In 2017 for the Jaguars, Payne was in the top three for special teams tackles in the NFL. He stuck with Jacksonville in 2018, and in 2019, he started the last five games of the season. Payne produced at an eye-opening level, recording at least 12 tackles in all five games.
But Payne needed surgery on both feet after the season, and the Jaguars released him prior to the 2020 season. He spent some time on the Washington practice squad that year and went to training camp with San Francisco in 2021 but didn’t make the team.
The USFL gave Payne a chance to prove he was healthy, and to remind NFL scouts that even as an undersized middle linebacker (6-0, 225), he wouldn’t get swallowed up inside, could fend off 330-pound linemen and run down backs.
The final regular-season Defensive Player of the Week award belongs to @USFLGamblers LB @7PayneTrain 🎲🔒 pic.twitter.com/nAozNx01xG
“We all came to the USFL with different whys,” Payne told me. “Mine wasn’t to get back to an NFL camp. I’m on a mission to get back to an NFL 53.”
Two games into the USFL season, Payne served notice, racking up 34 tackles. By the end of the season, he was the only USFL player with over 100. “I needed the USFL to portray I’m still the same Donald I was in 2019,” he said. “I did what I had to do.”
The odds are against Payne and his USFL comrades as they eye roster spots in the NFL. But Johnston brought up a point to consider.
“Our guys are in football shape,” Johnston said. “That’s an advantage versus players who have been in shorts and have only done minicamps and OTAs. I’m excited to see what happens when the pads come on because they’re already used to it.”
New Jersey Generals WR/PR KaVontae Turpin
Turpin, the USFL MVP, led the league in receiving yards on a team that ran the ball more than any other in the league. And he showed his game-breaking abilities over the weekend with a punt return touchdown against Philadelphia in the semifinals.
THE MVP WITH THE GO-AHEAD TOUCHDOWN ‼️🏆
What a run by @KaVontaeTurpin
📺: @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/LNUy5c5iit
In production meetings, New Jersey coach Mike Reilly spoke of how much fun he was having devising different ways to get Turpin the ball.
Popp almost ran out of ways to describe him: “Electric. Fast. Quick. Makes you miss. Can take a hit.”
I think Turpin is an excellent candidate to make a team as a fourth or fifth wide receiver, and primary punt returner.
Houston Gamblers DE Chris Odom
Odom led the league in sacks and forced fumbles. Not bad for a player whose calling card was stopping the run before getting to the USFL.
Odom is 27 and has NFL experience with Atlanta, Washington and Green Bay. When I asked him which of those stops made the biggest impression on him, he didn’t hesitate: Green Bay.
Odom was with the Packers for the 2017 season. He had always been a “hand on the ground” defensive end, but in Green Bay’s scheme, defensive ends Clay Matthews and Nick Perry stood up, often looking like outside linebackers. This gave Odom a whole new view of the offense and a compete skill set as a defensive end. He displayed that in dominating the USFL this spring.
Four USFL stars with best chance to make NFL roster originally appeared on NBCSports.com
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2022-06-27T04:45:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Four USFL stars with best chance to make NFL roster
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USFL players, coaches believe ‘we’re all here for a reason’
I was in Birmingham in early April, a couple weeks before the season started, to gather info and develop relationships. When asking about schemes and calls and plans with quarterbacks and coordinators and administrators, I would also ask, “What is the USFL?”
I liked best the answer from Daryl Johnston, the USFL’s Executive VP of Football Operations, former Dallas Cowboys fullback and current FOX NFL Analyst:
“It’s a fork in the road.”
Most of the USFL players had some type of experience in the NFL. They crave that elusive “one more chance.”
Some are former NFL draft picks who played in games, but most were undrafted free agents who spent time with a handful of teams during training camps and offseason workouts. Maybe two months on the practice squad here, two days there, two months out of work, waiting for a call to return or start somewhere else anew.
And there’s the key phrase: waiting for the call. Without that hope that lives within hundreds of NFL hopefuls, there would be no USFL. It’s the call that says, “We’d like to work you out.” Or, better yet, “We’d like to sign you.”
New Orleans Breakers quarterback Kyle Sloter. (Getty Images)
The USFL provided an alternative to these players. Instead of waiting around for a phone to buzz, and players spending their time lifting and running and hoping, the USFL offered a chance to actually play football. And the USFL paid players to do it. Who says no? Players are so committed to making it back that they’re willing to put on the pads, play football each week, put 10 games on film and, as Johnston told me, “Demand a re-evaluation.”
I revisited the topic with Johnston this week, with the regular season behind him and the two-week postseason ahead. His initial assessment of What is the USFL evolved over the season, and he now views the league as a way for players to face why they didn’t stick in the NFL. The USFL gave players a chance to resolve those issues.
“That was the big epiphany for me during the season: How can they stay in the NFL?” Johnston said. “What was the disconnect between their talent, and their ability to stay in the NFL? Note taking? Punctuality? And how can you fix it?”
This is in sync with the one mantra I heard over and over from players and coaches of all teams: “We’re all here for a reason.”
Here are a few of those players and their reasons:
Frank Ginda, LB, Michigan Panthers: Tackling machine who once led the nation in tackles at San Jose State and finished second in the USFL in tackles. NFL experience with Arizona, Miami and New Orleans says Ginda needed the USFL not to pile up tackles, but to show he could be an asset in pass coverage.
Chris Orr, LB, New Jersey Generals: Excelling as a physical, old school, Big 10 linebacker earned him a season with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. But what he told me was a “lack of hip-flippin’ and running” experience got him sent home. Orr said yes to the USFL to show he’s an athletic, sideline-to-sideline linebacker, not just an inside-the-box thumper.
Sal Canella, TE, New Orleans Breakers: At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, has the perfect build to detach from the line of scrimmage to play a hybrid WR role, which he did primarily in his career at Auburn. But does he have what it takes to line up next to the tackle and hold his own in the run game? A brief six-day stint with the Dolphins made it clear Canella needed to look for chances to “display toughness, and prove I’m willing to block.” Notably, Canella shined in the USFL playoff semifinals over the weekend, with 12 catches for 154 yards in a tough loss for the Breakers.
Kyle Sloter, QB, New Orleans Breakers: The most wide-ranging, winding, diverse road to the USFL of all started when Sloter was an undrafted free agent in Denver in 2017. By 2021, he had been on the active roster or practice squad of six different teams. Sloter also spent a chunk of time as a “street free agent,” meaning he was at home, in between opportunities, waiting for the coveted call. Teams are allowed to bring in such players to their own buildings and put them through a specified workout to see if they want to sign them. Including those tryouts and the six teams he was actually with, Kyle has been inside the building of 26 of the 32 NFL teams.
Mind boggling.
When I sat with Sloter to talk about this story, he said his motivation to play in the USFL was simple, but lofty: to prove he could be PLAY in the NFL.
Excel in the preseason? Done that.
Get signed to the practice squad? Many times.
Earn a season on the active roster? Box checked.
Starting games is all Sloter wants. I applaud his confidence and willingness to talk about his aspirations so openly.
The USFL provided the 10 regular season games to show it, and the Breakers led the league in passing offense.
USFL players, coaches believe ‘we’re all here for a reason’ originally appeared on NBCSports.com
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2022-06-27T04:45:36Z
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USFL players, coaches believe ‘we’re all here for a reason’
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After failing to qualify for the 200-meter final Sunday to end her hopes for an individual medal at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson gave a statement to reporters asking for more respect in media coverage.
"I'm coming to speak, not just on my behalf but on all athletes' behalves, that when you guys do interviews, y'all should respect athletes more," Richardson said. "Y'all should understand whether they're coming from winning, whether they're losing, whatever the case may be. Athletes deserve way more respect than when y'all just come and throw cameras into their faces.
"Understand how an athlete operates and then ask your questions. Then be more understanding of the fact that they are still human, no matter just to the fact that y'all are just trying to put something out in an article to make a dollar. Thank you."
Sha'Carri Richardson asked for more respect from the media after she failed to advance to Sunday's 200-meter final.
Richardson, 22, walked out of the mixed zone interview area where reporters were gathered and did not take questions after she fell short of making the U.S. team for next month's world championships. Richardson had advanced Saturday to the semifinals, though she finished with the 10th fastest time (22.69) of four heats. In her semifinal Sunday, Richardson was fifth in 22.47.
Kentucky's Abby Steiner won the 200 final in 21.77, recording the fastest time in the world this year. Steiner chased down Tamara Clark and Jenna Prandini in the final 50 meters with Clark finishing in a personal-best 21.92. Prandini finished third in 22.01.
The 200 finalized a rough U.S. meet for Richardson, who bombed out of the 100-meter competition, her signature event, after just the first round on Thursday night.
It has been quite the reversal for Richardson at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships after a successful showing at the inaugural NYC Grand Prix earlier in June, where Richardson won the 200 in 22.38 seconds, and came in second in the 100 in 10.85, which was her season-best heat.
Sha’Carri Richardson just came through the mixed zone at USAs and asked for media to treat athletes with more respect and thoughtfulness in post-race interviews. She did not take questions. pic.twitter.com/tTF06HgIMJ
Richardson had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the 100 but did not compete after testing positive for marijuana. She was handed a 30-day suspension that kept her out of the event in Tokyo, and she was also left off the U.S. team as part of the relay pool, although her suspension would’ve been completed by the time of the 4x100 relay.
Contributing: Lindsay Schnell, Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sha'Carri Richardson asks for respect after failing to make 200 final
NASA says the cockroaches and Apollo 11 moon dust being sold at a Boston auction for $400,000 belong to the agency and are not for sale
"At the end of the day, we want to act appropriately and lawfully." Mark Zaid, an attorney for RR Auction told The AP.
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2022-06-27T05:07:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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After crashing out of US championships, Sha'Carri Richardson asks for respect from media
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The Colorado Avalanche pose with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)
“We want to make sure that every five minutes is a focus: No matter what happens, we’re resetting and we’re going again because we want to be taking the game to teams,” said defenseman Josh Manson, one of Sakic's key trade deadline acquisitions. “We have a lot of speed, and our forecheck is a big part of our game, so we want to be resetting every five minutes to do exactly what we need to do.”
Avalanche, Andrew Cogliano beat Lightning to win 2022 Stanley Cup Final
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche squared off in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. Heres how the series played out..
Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic discusses winning his first Stanley Cup as an executive and the franchise’s first Cup since he won it as captain in 2001.
The Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t relinquish their grip on the Stanley Cup without a fight. In the end, another superb performance by the star goaltender wasn’t enough to keep the Colorado Avalanche from wresting the title away. “It definitely stings," defenseman Ryan MacDonagh said.
The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup, beating the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
Avalanche win Stanley Cup, end Lightning repeat bid in Game 6
Great fight by the defending champs, but the Avs got it done.
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2022-06-27T05:07:47Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Fastest 5 minutes in hockey: How speedy Avs won Stanley Cup
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It has been a miserable couple of decades for American men in the Grand Slams. Andy Roddick’s 2003 U.S. Open remains the last time an American won a major title, while Roddick’s epic five-set 2009 Wimbledon loss to Roger Federer remains the last time an American was even in a final.
That streak is not likely to be broken anytime soon, but the American male contingent is making its presence felt at Wimbledon thus far. With Brandon Nakashima, Jenson Brooksby and Taylor Fritz advancing to the third round on Thursday – and Jack Sock up two sets in a suspended match – Americans will represent eight of the final 32 players left for the title.
SERENA: It's time to let the GOAT retire on her own terms
Already, that makes this the Americans’ most successful first week of Wimbledon since 1993 when nine players made the third round. Since 1997, no more than five American men had advanced that far.
Here is a look at the remaining players representing the U.S. and their chances of winning two more matches and advancing to the semifinals.
John Isner reacts to a shot during his second round-match against Andy Murray.
Best Wimbledon result: Semifinal (2018)
Surprise level (out of 10): 7
Despite the big serve that has kept him around the top 20 in the world for a long time, Isner hasn’t had great success at Wimbledon. Despite the one semifinal run four years ago, this is only his fifth time in the third round out of 13 appearances. And to get here, he had to beat Andy Murray on Centre Court, a two-time Wimbledon champion who had beaten Isner in all eight prior meetings. (Murray, to be fair, has not been the same player since major hip surgery in 2019.)
Semifinal chances (out of 10): 2
Isner’s run could end Friday against Jannik Sinner, the 10th-seeded Italian with big power off the ground. Even if Isner gets by that one (they split their two meetings last year on hard courts), he’d project to face the 19-year old sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 16 and then No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.
Frances Tiafoe celebrates a point against Maximilian Marterer in the second round.
Best Wimbledon result: Third round (2018, 2021, 2022)
Surprise level: 0
Tiafoe got a great draw that foreshadowed a potential big run, and he easily defeated qualifiers in the first two rounds. Tiafoe has done well on the grass in the past, including a win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon last year and a Challenger Tour title last summer in Nottingham. His ability to hit the ball hard and flat is a real asset on this surface.
Semifinal chances: 7
This remains a very manageable section of the draw for “Big Foe.” Friday’s matchup will be tough against Alexander Bublik, a big server with an unpredictable and inconsistent streak. He’s a very tough customer when he’s playing well, but it's a match Tiafoe can absolutely win. An unseeded player – France’s Ugo Humbert or more likely Belgium’s David Goffin – would await in the next round. The highest remaining seed in this quarter is No. 9 Cam Norrie, who has never been past the third round of a Grand Slam. A ton of opportunity here.
Best Wimbledon result: Fourth round (2016)
Despite having a good grass court game style, Johnson hasn’t had good results the last couple years and is barely hanging onto a top-100 ranking. He was a big underdog in the first round to No. 18 seed Grigor Dimitrov, but Dimitrov was forced to retire with a groin injury in the second set. After that, Johnson took out British wildcard Ryan Peniston, who had never been in a grand Slam singles main draw before. Johnson will draw Norrie, which isn't an impossible matchup. He'd be an underdog again, though, against Paul in the fourth round and someone like Tiafoe in the quarters. It's not impossible, but it seems unlikely he can carry this much farther.
Best Wimbledon result: Third round (2022)
This is Paul’s debut in the Wimbledon main draw, but he's been in pretty good form lately with a career-high ranking of No. 32. He also made the quarterfinals at both Queen’s Club and Eastbourne warm-up events on grass, beating Denis Shapovalov, Stan Wawrinka and Sinner along the way. Paul has done very well to easily beat two aging veterans in Fernando Verdasco and Adrian Mandarin heading into his third-round match against No. 68 Jiri Vesely
Similar to Tiafoe, the draw has broken very favorably for Paul. He will be favored against Vesely and could definitely beat Norrie or Johnson in the round of 16. It wouldn't be much of a surprise to see him and Tiafoe face each other for a semifinal berth.
Sock was a top-10 player five years ago, but at this point he’s more of a doubles specialist. In fact, he came into Wimbledon with just eight ATP-level singles matches in 2022 (3-5) while playing mostly on the Challenger tour. Grass certainly suits his game with the big serve and forehand, and he had a favorable first-round matchup against qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles. It would’ve been hard to see him getting past No. 6 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round, but fellow American Maxime Cressy took care of that with an upset victory. Sock led Cressy 6-4, 6-4 in Thursday's second-round match that was suspended due to darkness.
Sock should absolutely win one more round but No. 11 seed Taylor Fritz would likely await in the round of 16 and then Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. Likely not happening unless someone knocks off Nadal in the meantime.
Taylor Fritz tosses the ball to serve during his match against Alastair Gray.
Best Wimbledon result: Third round (2021, 2022)
Fritz is having a career year and playing really good tennis lately, winning his biggest title in March at Indian Wells and the Eastbourne crown last week on grass. He's now a guy that the top players take seriously, and he’s been building toward a Slam breakthrough. As the No. 11 seed, he's taken care of business efficiently in the first two rounds.
It would be a big disappointment if Fritz didn’t make the quarterfinals given the relatively easy draw in front of him. But if it came down to it, could he beat Nadal for a semifinal berth? It’s unlikely, for obvious reasons. But Fritz does have a heavy serve and the kind of game that could trouble Nadal on grass. Worth noting that Fritz beat an injured Nadal earlier this year in the Indian Wells final.
Brandon Nakashima returns to Denis Shapovalov in a second-round match.
It’s been a slow build over the last couple years, but making back-to-back third rounds at the French Open and Wimbledon signals that he is on the right track. Known for his terrific backhand, the San Diego native and former University of Virginia star was able to take advantage of his second-round draw against No. 13 seed Denis Shapovalov, who has been in terrible form lately.
Colombian Daniel Galan, ranked No. 109, should be a favorable matchup for Nakashima in the third round. In the fourth round, he’d face either Nick Kyrgios or No. 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Though Nakashima would be a clear underdog against either one, both have shown they are beatable by lower-ranked players in Grand Slams. But the other half of that quarter is completely wide open.
Lots of people in tennis think Brooksby could be the guy to eventually break the Grand Slam drought with his unorthodox, hard-to-read game. He certainly put himself on the radar last year at the U.S. Open by making the fourth round and giving Novak Djokovic all he could handle in Arthur Ashe Stadium. But let's face it: Even with a good draw, the 34th-ranked Brooksby did not look ready at all for grass in the warm-up events. It’s pretty shocking that he's found some form here with straight set wins over Mikhael Kukushkin and Benjamin Bonzi.
Brooksby got a major break when Matteo Berrettini withdrew from his section of the draw due to COVID, so he'll face Christian Garin of Chile, who is mostly known for clay court prowess. Brooksby is no sure thing, but his section of the draw is not daunting. If he gets to the quarters, you could see his quirky game frustrating either Kyrgios or Tsitsipas.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wimbledon 2022: John Isner among eight American men in the final 32
Jailed Becker's girlfriend, son watch Djokovic at Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic said the family of jailed former coach Boris Becker "can always count on me" after he invited the tennis great's girlfriend and son to watch him at Wimbledon.
Copenhagen Set To Play Host To Stage 1 of the Tour de France
A short individual time trial through Copenhagen opens up this year's Tour.
Wimbledon 2022 Day 3: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz move on, Andy Murray loses heartbreaker, Emma Raducanu out in upset
Catch up with the biggest news of Day 3 right here.
Nick Kyrgios buried the rage he showed in his Wimbledon opener to ease into the third round on Thursday and warned: "I just wanted to remind everyone that I'm pretty good."
Millie Bobby Brown is set to star in a new Netflix sci-fi movie, Deadline reported on June 28. Titled "The Electric State," the film will star Brown as a teenage orphan who travels around the American West with a drifter and her well-mannered robot in an effort to find her lost brother.
Wimbledon 2022: Neal Skupski aiming for another slice of success at SW19
A year on from his maiden Grand Slam title, Neal Skupski is back in SW19 for another slice of success.
Four days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the heavy issue was still top of mind for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Buttler proud to succeed 'outstanding' Morgan as England white-ball captain
Jos Buttler said he had been given the "greatest honour" after being named as England's new white-ball captain in succession to "inspirational" World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan.
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2022-07-01T00:57:40Z
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American men keep winning at Wimbledon 2022. Evaluating the eight U.S. players in the final 32
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Oakland 'legend' JTA explains emotions on likely leaving Dubs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Juan Toscano-Anderson’s heartwarming story with the Warriors is coming to an end, but his legacy in the Bay will remain forever.
After The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported, citing sources, that Golden State wasn't extending a qualifying offer to Toscano-Anderson, the 29-year-old Oakland native opened up to The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II in response to the news.
“I got a championship with my hometown team,” Toscano-Anderson told Thompson in a phone interview Wednesday night.
“I’m stamped in the Town. I’m stamped in my country. That s--t can’t nobody take from me. You’ve got to give a little to get a little. And I gave up playing time to, you know, become a legend. I’m a legend in the Town. I’m a legend in Mexico. And I’m not saying that myself. It’s showing, know what I mean?”
Toscano-Anderson grew up off 95th Street in East Oakland and was a die-hard Warriors fan. Years later, the 6-foot-6 forward won a championship with the team he grew up watching.
But the journey wasn’t easy.
After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, Toscano-Anderson played for multiple teams across South America and competed with the Mexico national team.
In 2018, Toscano-Anderson returned closer to home. He played with the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State’s G League affiliate, until 2020.
And in February 2020, Toscano-Anderson became a Golden State Warrior, where he got to play for his childhood team and two years later win a ring with them -- all while sporting the number of the hood that raised him across his chest.
Toscano-Anderson was an easy fan favorite. He’s an Oakland kid, his story was inspiring and he did everything in his blood to represent both the Bay Area and his Mexican roots.
But as they say, all good things must come to an end.
It was originally believed that the Warriors would try to bring back Toscano-Anderson, who was in the final year of a two-year deal.
But according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Connor Letourneau, a roster crunch and financial concerns resulted in the Warriors letting him become an unrestricted free agent.
RELATED: Report: Lakers interested in Porter, other Warriors free agents
“At the end of the day, some of those things are out of my control,” Toscano-Anderson told Thompson. “I ain’t gon’ say I was unhappy about it. I know that I’m better than that. But it is what it is. It’s the way the cards fell. And, you know, I’m lucky to have a job, man. Gratitude. That’s what I wake up and remind myself of every day. Just be grateful that I have a job.”
Toscano-Anderson has the talent and championship experience that could suit well with many teams, not to mention his hustle and grinding mindset that could help younger players.
Some of those teams, Thompson II notes, are the Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trailblazers, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards, among others. His agent Erika Ruiz confirmed to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes on Thursday, however, that Toscano-Anderson agreed to a deal to play for the Los Angeles Lakers.
“In a perfect world, I would have loved to stay home and stay with this team," Toscano-Anderson told Thompson II. "It ain’t even about the Warriors. It’s about that locker room. That locker room is incredible. And that starts from the top down. Playing with No. 30, No. 23, No. 11, that’s an incredible experience.
"This is deeper than just playing for the Warriors. Wherever I go, I hope I find something similar — which I understand is gonna be hard to match. I just wish people understood what that locker room’s like. It was a hell of a time. When I get the opportunity to compete and show what I can do, then I’ma do that.”
As Toscano-Anderson begins a new journey in Southern California, Dub Nation will always love him from afar.
Warriors' Draymond Green describes post-NBA Finals 'fog,' missing celebrations
Draymond Green recalls missing a lot of the Warriors' postgame celebrations following Game 6 of the NBA Finals because of the "fog" he was in.
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2022-07-01T00:57:53Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Juan Toscano-Anderson 'forever thankful' to Warriors, ready for what's next
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The news comes after Golden State did not extend a qualifying offer to Toscano-Anderson ($2.1 million), as The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported Wednesday, citing sources, making the 29-year-old Oakland native an unrestricted free agent.
Toscano-Anderson spent the first three years of his career with Golden State and won his first NBA championship with his hometown team this past season.
In 139 games played, Toscano-Anderson averaged 4.8 points per game, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 52.3 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from 3-point range.
Quickly becoming a fan favorite as an energetic two-way player off the bench for Golden State last season, Toscano-Anderson's rise to NBA lightening rod earned him a spot in the 2022 dunk contest.
He celebrated with the hometown crowd in the Warriors' championship parade down Market Street in San Francisco, a perfect send-off for the Oakland native.
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2022-07-01T00:57:59Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Juan Toscano-Anderson, Lakers agree to contract in free agency, agent says
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They have needed upgrades in the frontcourt, both in terms of young, productive two-way wings and one or two centers who can defend and rebound.
Upgrades at the center position would have an added benefit, as they would allow Anthony Davis to play less time at that position and remain at his customary power forward spot more often.
He played 76 percent of his minutes this year at the 5, which many would agree is too much for him.
But now L.A. has agreed to sign Damian Jones, a 6-foot-11, 245-pound center.
Jones had actually played eight contests for L.A. during the 2021 season after signing two 10-day contracts with the team. He has been with the Sacramento Kings since, averaging 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 18.2 minutes a game this past season.
Jones also started to develop something of an outside shot this year, shooting 34.5 percent from 3-point range this year on 0.5 attempts per game.
NBA betting: Los Angeles Lakers are popular early bet to win 2023 NBA title
Coming off an extremely disappointing season, the Lakers are a popular bet once again.
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2022-07-01T00:58:19Z
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Lakers have signed center Damian Jones
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The NBA generated more basketball related income than ever this past season, the total number coming up just short of $9 billion. The first night of free agency underscored how good. Nikola Jokic and Bradley Beal both quickly agreed to deals that will be worth more than a quarter of a billion dollars by the time they expire, highlighting the moves made Thursday when the NBA's annual free-agent negotiating window opened.
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2022-07-01T00:58:26Z
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Lonnie Walker IV joins Lakers for mid-level exception
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Although Nick Faldo’s tenure as a golf commentator at CBS Sports is coming to an end, he’s not leaving the game completely.
The six-time major champion, who announced weeks ago that he’s retiring from his position on TV after the Wyndham Championship, was signed as a global brand ambassador for Hidden Links and a number of its sister companies — Golfpac Travel, Tee Times USA and Go Play Golf Gift Card.
Faldo, 64, won 33 times internationally and another nine on the PGA Tour. He won three green jackets at the Masters and three British Opens. His best finish in the U.S. Open was solo second in 1988; he also tied for second in the 1992 PGA Championship. Along the way, he held the top spot on the Official World Golf Ranking for 97 weeks.
Faldo also has a golf course design company, which has done work in more than 20 countries.
Meanwhile, Hidden Links books golf tours to Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales and other European destinations. The partnership makes sense since Faldo now lives in the Orlando area, but was born just north of London.
Golfpac Travel and Tee Times USA profess to be the largest golf tour operator in America.
Managing Partners Marc Bender and Adam Wachter released a statement saying they’re “absolutely thrilled to partner with Sir Nick Faldo. Sir Nick is a six-time Major Champion, Hall of Famer, universally respected figure in the world of golf, and for nearly 20 years has had an epic second career in network broadcasting sharing his wit, charm and knowledge. This partnership will be transformative for our businesses as we continue to positively impact the game of golf around the world.”
“With my upcoming plans to step back from full-time broadcasting, I will have the necessary time to be a great partner and contribute to their future growth,” Faldo said.
Missing players like Phil Mickelson, Hudson Swafford may impact American Express, but will that hurt the event?
No one knows if those players will still be suspended by the time the 2023 American Express rolls around
PGA wagers: Nothing runs like a John Deere Classic
Not top-50 golfers? No problem for Scott Pianwoski. We have three golfers this week for your choosing... and we aren't taking the favorite Webb Simpson. Bet $10 on any game at BetMGM and get $200 in free bets added to your account. You don't need to win your bet to receive the promotion. Go to BetMGM.com/YAHOOVIP to get started. New BetMGM customers only. Must be 21+. AZ, CO, IA, IN, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY only. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly.
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2022-07-01T00:58:45Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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What’s Nick Faldo’s next move after TV? He’ll start by teaming with a golf tour company
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What was thought to be just rumored has now been made official, the University of Southern California Trojans will be joining the Big Ten in 2024. This move is a major earthquake in the landscape of college athletics as a whole and will give the conference a presence on the west coast.
This move is certain to start an unraveling effect of other schools in the country to move conferences.
It's official: USC and UCLA are leaving Pac-12 to join Big Ten in 2024
USC and UCLA will leave the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten.
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2022-07-01T01:12:03Z
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Official: USC to join Big Ten in 2024
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All I can say is this absolutely sucks. Never mind what this might mean for Notre Dame. What about college football as a whole? Geographical regions and rivalries suddenly mean far less than who can make the most money out of having ESPN, Fox and whatever other network or streaming service pay for showing the games to audiences.
What happened to the thrill of preparing to beat an opponent only a few hundred miles away? Are we really going to see Rutgers travel to Los Angeles for a game that kicks off at 9 a.m. local time? This is an absolutely ridiculous thought, and one that inexplicably is about to become reality. Say goodbye to team buses for most conference games and hello to being jet lagged during those games on a regular basis.
Yes, I know this is all about money, and I know players are allowed to make it through NIL deals now. But this is where we have to bring up the cliche of money being the root of all evil. In this case, it’s destroying everything that has made college football beautiful for over a century. The future of the sport appears to be a professional league disguised as college football, and that’s not what it’s supposed to be about.
You might remember the major backlash when the European Super League was announced a year ago. Pretty much everyone who loved soccer demonstrated such an outrage over it that the league ultimately ended before it even began. Where’s the anger over this? It’s probably too late, but if fans don’t put up the slightest fuss, this will become our new reality:
If this has to be our new reality, there needs to be a complete realignment of the levels of college football. The idea that all Football Bowl Subdivision teams are under the same umbrella has been laughable at best and an outright lie at worst for some time now. When this all comes to pass, any remaining Power Five programs need to compete for their own championship, as do all Group of Five programs. No one from that latter group ever is going to make the College Football Playoff anyway, so why keep stringing them along?
This latest proposal means that the sport future generations watch will not be the one we, our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents watched. Only the most prominent college football programs will be allowed to compete for the mountaintop, and every other school can forget about ever ascending to that level. Very few of the best players in the country are going to Group of Five schools now, and this will ensure that none of them will go there because they want a chance to go all the way, and they want the most exposure possible.
If none of this bothers you even a little bit, I don’t know how you possibly can enjoy watching the rich get richer. It’s not like college football has a whole lot of integrity these days, and this will annihilate whatever is left of it. We are at a tipping point, and history will remember it as such. That is, if history hasn’t been bought and paid for by another power entity that will ruin that, too.
Josh Emmett: Alexander Volkanovski is the featherweight GOAT if he beats Max Holloway at UFC 276
Josh Emmett thinks Alexander Volkanovski could cement himself as the featherweight GOAT at UFC 276.
SEC announces conference opponents for Ole Miss, Mississippi State basketball
The SEC announced conference schedules for Ole Miss and Mississippi State basketball. The teams will play each other in a home-and-home series.
Arkansas, Kentucky to play twice in '22-'23, other SEC opponents announced
The two teams widely viewed as the best in the SEC in 2022-23 will meet twice during the regular season, it was announced Wednesday. For the first time in eight years, Kentucky is one of Arkansas’ two rotating home-and-home opponents for the upcoming season. The Razorbacks will also play Alabama twice, in addition to permanent home-and-home foes LSU, Missouri and Texas A&M.
Arizona's Republican governor candidates to face off in only televised primary debate
Arizona PBS will broadcast the debate among the GOP candidates for governor at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
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2022-07-01T01:12:28Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Super-conferences will ruin college football as we know it
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It has never been the transfer portal or giving the kids some money that was going to make college sports fundamentally worse, less fun and more corporate.
It was always going to be the proxy war between ESPN and Fox and the soulless college presidents and administrators who have been sucking on their teat for the last decade, unable to do anything remotely visionary with their sport besides convince television executives to shovel more money at them every decade.
And now here we are, at the precipice of a realignment that will not merely be about rearranging pieces on the chess board. This, finally, is the Big One: The ultimate abandonment of tradition, of rivalry, of geographic sanity and of the unique character that distinguished one conference from another.
In the end, we’ll still have the Big Ten and the SEC standing atop college sports, but they will no longer be college athletic conferences in the same way we’ve known them for a century. Now, with USC and UCLA abandoning their West Coast roots for the riches of a league that was founded in 1896 by a group of college presidents in the Midwest trying to establish some control over college athletics, they are headed for a future as generic, soulless corporate entities that exist purely for profit and excess. The future of the SEC vs. Big Ten will look no different than Coke vs. Pepsi, FedEx vs. UPS and Apple vs. IBM.
And college sports is never going to be the same.
This has been building quickly over the last dozen years, starting with the Big Ten’s foray into Nebraska and subsequent poaching of Maryland and Rutgers when it came time to negotiate a new TV contract. The Pac-12 tried, and failed, to crush the Big 12, settling instead for Colorado and Utah. But the instability from that exploration never went away, and shortly thereafter the SEC pounced, taking Texas A&M and Missouri. The ACC, having lost a founding member in Maryland, struck a fatal blow to the old Big East by adding Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Louisville, while giving Notre Dame a home for its non-football sports.
Meanwhile everyone else cobbled things together the best they could, administrators hoping the next big earthquake wouldn't happen until their 401ks got fat enough for them to get out of this ridiculous business.
The uneasy détente lasted until a year ago when word leaked that Texas and Oklahoma were headed to the SEC. After that, it was only a matter of time until what we saw Thursday. Apocalypse, now.
It’s hard to predict how exactly it will happen, but it will happen all the same. The Big Ten’s addition of USC and UCLA as early as 2024 — made official by an acceptance vote Thursday — opens the door to the future that everyone in college sports figured was coming but hoped might somehow be averted. It may go fast, or it may come in drips and drabs, but the free-for-all to get into either the SEC or the Big Ten is going to make "Squid Games" look like child’s play.
When there’s potentially $100 million annually on the line, climbing over dead bodies is just part of the deal.
Remember, in the wake of the SEC’s power play last year, the commissioners of the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC announced a so-called “Alliance" that was supposed to stabilize college sports in the midst of television negotiations and College Football Playoff expansion. Asked if the leagues had put anything on paper to, you know, prevent poaching from each other, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff said it was an “agreement between three gentlemen.”
Perhaps in retrospect, it was two gentlemen and one henchman. That would be Kevin Warren, the Big Ten commissioner that fans of the league (and many administrators within the league) had dismissed as a weak link given his clumsy handling of COVID-19 in the summer of 2020 when he announced that the football season would be delayed until spring and then reversed course when the SEC, ACC and Big 12 held firm that the season would be played in the fall.
As it turns out, Warren has a ruthless streak. And even if it was indeed USC and UCLA approaching the Big Ten rather than the other way around, as people within the Big Ten insist, the knife in the back cuts all the same.
ANALYSIS: With UCLA and USC looking to join the Big Ten, college football's future is two super-conferences
MORE: UCLA, USC bring major hardware to the Big Ten
USC running back Keaontay Ingram runs past UCLA Bruins Quentin Lake during their rivalry game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 20, 2021. UCLA won the game, 62-33.
This is college sports for the foreseeable future: Hunt or become roadkill, a message that is undoubtedly resonating not just among the remaining Pac-12 schools but at Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and, yes, Notre Dame.
In the coming world of college sports, there are two castes: The SEC and Big Ten, inhaling television money like oxygen, and everyone else trying not to suffocate. The gap between those two worlds will be massive, and everyone who can get to the other side will do whatever it takes to make that happen.
The Big Ten, now with 16 schools, is almost certainly going to expand more. Is it Oregon and Washington? North Carolina and Duke? Stanford and Notre Dame? Is the leadership at Clemson, Florida State and Miami going to sit idly by or push to do something dramatic?
These are the questions that were being asked all over college sports on Thursday, though there weren’t a lot of answers to be had. The only thing we know is that college football, and by virtue all of major college sports, will revolve around two leagues — and two television networks — that are only going to get bigger and more powerful.
They will, sadly, be mostly indistinguishable from one another, just two big corporate vessels taking the last bit of tradition and regional flavor that made college sports fun and turning into Applebee’s and TGI Friday’s.
Hope you enjoy the artichoke dip.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA, USC to Big Ten: College sports' regional charm is ending
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2022-07-01T01:12:34Z
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With USC and UCLA bound for Big Ten, college sports has become just another corporate proxy war | Opinion
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USC, UCLA join Big Ten, starting in 2024 originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
USC, UCLA to Join the Big Ten, Accelerating College Football’s Consolidation
The Pac-12 stalwarts’ potential defection is the latest move in a college sports shake-up driven by schools’ desire to secure ever-bigger payouts from rich conferences.
But If USC and UCLA wind up joining the Big Ten, the road trip will get a lot longer.
Sri Lankan medical staff, teachers protest fuel shortage
STORY: Left with just enough fuel for about a week and fresh shipments at least two weeks away, the government restricted supplies on Tuesday to essential services, such as trains, buses and the health sector, for two weeks.However, doctors, nurses and other medical staff said that even though they are deemed essential workers, they struggled to find fuel to get to work."Healthcare workers have no way to report to work. Nowhere to get fuel. Almost all vehicles in the country are parked along roads near petrol stations. Patients don't have transport to come to hospital. Patients are dying while on the way to hospital," said Namal Jayasinghe, spokesperson for 'Health Service Collective'.The island of 22 million has nearly run out of useable foreign exchange reserves to import essentials such as food, medicine, petrol and diesel. The government is looking abroad for help, to countries from the Middle East to Russia.
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2022-07-01T01:12:41Z
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USC, UCLA join Big Ten, starting in 2024
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The Colts have now made tickets available for the practice sessions against the Lions. Tickets are free but are required for entry at the Colts training facility north of Indianapolis. There are two dates with availability, August 17th and 18th.
It’s a worthwhile trip if you are interested. The Colts training facility is on a massive sports campus that includes multitudes of sports fields as well as the Indiana Pacers training facility, and it’s a very welcoming environment.
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2022-07-01T02:42:10Z
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Colts release tickets for the joint training camp practices with the Lions
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USC forward Chevez Goodwin, center, battles with UCLA guards Tyger Campbell, left, and Jules Bernard during a Bruins win on March 5. USC and UCLA will be playing in the Big Ten Conference, starting in 2024. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
USC coach Lincoln Riley talks with his quarterbacks during a practice session in March. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Columbus police and fire were called to the park around 1:50 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. The man died at the scene.
Former Vice President Mike Pence is seen presiding over the counting of the votes on Jan. 6, 2021, during a hearing of the House January 6 committee in Washington, D.C., on June 16, 2022. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)Lack of clarity in how Congress counts presidential electoral votes was highlighted in recent public hearings held by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Lawmakers and witnesses in those hearings also focused on how ambiguitie
The Irish are getting a very good one!
While Headey's "Thor: Love and Thunder" performance didn't make the final cut, her former agency believes she owes a hefty commission.
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2022-07-01T03:08:42Z
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Plaschke: Face it, UCLA and USC have long outgrown the decaying Pac-12
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USC and UCLA made the jump from the PAC-12 to the Big Ten, officially set to join the conference in 2024. It is no secret that other schools will likely make an attempt to follow the two schools. Two schools that are already prospecting the idea of piggybacking USC and UCLA to the conference are the Washington Huskies and Oregon Ducks. It is reported the two schools have applied for entry into the conference.
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2022-07-01T03:08:49Z
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Report: Washington and Oregon eyeing Big Ten admittance
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After the college football landscape was rocked on Thursday with USC and UCLA moving to the Big Ten in 2024, the Pac-12 Conference is in a state of chaos. We can speculative for hours about what’s next for the Pac, but there’s no doubt money will be lost without two of its biggest schools. A merger with the Mountain West is possible, or maybe it will simply run with 10 teams. In both scenarios, the grass doesn’t seem too green.
The Pac-12’s recent downfall could even produce a mass exodus, which I believe is most likely. If Colorado wants to thrive, there’s no way that remaining in a worsened Pac-12 is healthy.
Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News, who was first to break the UCLA-USC development, proposed that CU could link up with a few other nearby Pac-12 schools and apply for the Big 12:
Colorado football state of the position: Interior Offensive Line
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2022-07-01T03:28:20Z
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Colorado needs to make friends quick if it wants to leave Pac-12
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June 30 is a day that will leave the Pac-12 scarred for a long time.
Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News broke the news first, but it was eventually confirmed that both USC and UCLA will be leaving the conference in 2024 to join the Big Ten.
For the CU Buffs, this blow to their home conference isn’t ideal — that much is clear. We’re now all patiently waiting for Rick George to give his thoughts and perhaps lend some direction.
Trojans Wire managing editor Matt Zemek had a busy day and he offered a few ideas on what’s next for the Pac-12:
As such, the domino effect might be getting even crazier. The Pac-12 losing both Los Angeles schools would be a major loss and would force some other programs to come in. A significant reworking of the Pac-12 would have to occur to keep the conference afloat.
Could some Mountain West teams be involved? Or does the Pac-12 merge with the Big 12, which similarly took a hit in terms of football media rights value when Texas and Oklahoma left for the SEC?
Not to get Colorado State fans too excited, but for the Pac-12 to stay alive, the Mountain West will probably play a role. I would, however, venture to guess that most Buffs fans are hoping for a move to either the Big Ten or Big 12. It’s also likely that Pac-12 powerhouses Oregon and Washington will be looking for the nearest exit.
As Zemek said, there’s almost certainly going to be a domino effect.
Analysis: If this was it for Williams at Wimbledon, it works
If this turns out to have been the last time the world gets to watch Serena Williams at Wimbledon — and she says she doesn’t know, so how could the rest of us? As competitive as they come, Williams could never be satisfied by leaving with any defeat, let alone a first-round exit in a third-set tiebreaker against someone ranked 115th on Centre Court at the All England Club, where she earned seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles championships.
WOW...Major moves in collegiate athletics...
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2022-07-01T03:28:26Z
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What does the Pac-12’s future look like now that USC and UCLA are leaving?
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Wimbledon Virus Outbreak Tennis
“I won’t lie: When I have a cough or something, I get paranoid. It’s what we kind of have to learn to live with. I feel bad for people who test positive. A place like Wimbledon is definitely not where you want to have it," said Ajla Tomljanovic, a 29-year-old from Australia who is ranked 44th and won Thursday to set up a third-round match against 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova.
“If you have symptoms or you're feeling under the weather, it’s your responsibility. I think we all travel with home kits; at least I do. And then once you’ve tested positive, that’s where it comes in that you just say you have it," Tomljanovic said. "Because you could have lower symptoms and try to play, but that wouldn’t be the right thing to do.”
“Pretty easy: Vaccines work. Everyone has a right to choose, but more or less, the reason we don’t die from diseases from 50 years ago is because we got vaccines,” said eighth-seeded Jessica Pegula, who is from Buffalo and won Thursday to reach Wimbledon's third round for the first time. “Of course, it came out really fast, so, sure, there’s always that thought: ‘I hope nothing happens.’ Some people had bad experiences. But for me, I thought it was worth the risk.”
“The ATP, similar to the NFL, the NBA, MLB, they're kind of making you get it, in a way. They’re saying: If you don’t get it, you might not be able to play certain tournaments or in these games, and we’re going to kind of make things so miserable that you're going to have to get it," said Sam Querrey, an American who reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2017. "So for me, it was a combination that I think it was good to get it, and it makes your life a lot easier from a professional standpoint.”
Bautista Agut wrote on Twitter on Thursday that his symptoms weren't very bad but that withdrawing was "the best decision.”
Roberto Bautista Agut has become the third men's withdrawal at Wimbledon after testing positive for Covid-19. The Spaniard had been due to play Colombia's Daniel Galan, who now gets a walkover for the third round.
'I sucked today': Clayton Kershaw's All-Star path rockier after loss to Colorado
Clayton Kershaw endured his worst start of the season in the Dodgers' 7-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies, jeopardizing his chances of starting the All-Star Game.
Athletes call out "mental stress" of wearing Wimbledon uniform while on their period
Tennis players, including Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig, are calling out Wimbledon's all-white clothing rule.
LIV golf: What do the initials of Saudi Arabia-backed professional tour mean?
Among the unique things about the new professional golf tour, LIV is offering a $54 million bonus for anyone who shoots a 54 or lower at one of its events.
Wimbledon 2022 order of play: Day 3 schedule, seeds plus Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray start times
With Novak Djokovic, Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray scheduled to play on Centre Court, Day 3 at Wimbledon looks a lot like Day 1.
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2022-07-01T04:23:33Z
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COVID-19 at Wimbledon: 3 top-20 men out after positive tests
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The days of the Chicago Bears calling Soldier Field home aren’t over yet, but they’re likely dwindling as news continues to leak out that they’re inching closer to finalizing a deal to move to suburban Arlington Heights.
While most fans appear to be in favor of the change in location, one prominent former Bears player doesn’t want to see the team move away from the lakefront.
Former Bears quarterback Jay Cutler joined ESPN 1000’s Waddle and Silvy on Thursday afternoon and in between promoting his participation in the American Cornhole League tournament in Bedford Park, he reminisced about his time in a Bears uniform at Soldier Field and made it clear he doesn’t want them to move. “I don’t know if they’re going to move out, if they’re actually going to do that, but I hate that they’re going to be leaving the city at some point. It sucks.” Cutler said. “In the city, Soldier Field, you’re on the lake. I remember driving into the city and thinking ‘alright this is cool…’ It was just a cool atmosphere of being in the city of Chicago, in the winter playing there. It just had an atmosphere and a vibe to it.”
Cutler did admit the situation between the Bears and the stadium isn’t ideal considering they don’t own Soldier Field, it’s one of the smallest stadiums in the league, and they’re not able to make many renovations, but he still doesn’t want the the team to move into the suburbs. “They shouldn’t leave the city of Chicago,” He said emphatically.
The Bears’ all-time leading passer might appreciate his old home, but he didn’t exactly have a stellar career on the lakefront. He went 28-26 during his tenure with the Bears at Soldier Field, including the postseason from 2009-2016. But like many fans, he enjoys the tradition of football on the lakefront, including the notion of “Bear Weather” and playing in the elements. “It’s homefield! Leave it open.” Cutler said when asked about a new stadium potentially having a retractable roof in the winter.
Cutler may not get his wish as the Bears continue to do work on the Arlington International Racecourse land they purchased last fall, but they aren’t expected to make a final decision until 2023 at the earliest.
The Bears have had only five Pro Bowl quarterbacks since the all-star game was created in its present form in 1951. Mitchell Trubisky was one of those, serving as a Pro Bowl replacement for Jared Goff in 2018. But frankly, the Bears have experienced a lifetime of disappointment at the position in the Super Bowl [more]
Bucs Rewind: Tampa Bay blows out Falcons in Week 2
Relive the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' dominant victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season
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2022-07-01T04:50:04Z
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Jay Cutler doesn’t want to see the Bears move out of Soldier Field
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Apartment complex near University of Louisville is breaking leases and 'closing its doors'
On Sunday, at least some residents of The Bellamy were told their leases would not be renewed and they needed to be out of their apartments July 26.
'It makes you feel helpless': CareSource terminates Ohio marketplace contract with Cincinnati Children's
The move affects 1,000 patients and leaves parents to consider options for their kids with Affordable Care Act plans.
The 2022 NFL season officially kicks off on Thursday, September 8 as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills head to SoFi Stadium to take on Matthew Stafford and the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams. Kickoff time is at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch
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2022-07-01T04:50:23Z
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Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ranked as one of ‘scariest’ QBs by NFL.com analyst
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The Aggies learned their 2022-2023 Southeast Conference home and road schedule earlier this week. Their home slate will consist of Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Their road schedule has the Aggies playing at Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi St., Missouri and South Carolina.
Game dates, tip-off times, and viewing information will be confirmed and released at a later date.
The Aggies’ non-conference schedule will be announced at a later date, as well, when opponents and game details are finalized.
The Aggies will look to improve in conference play in 2022-2023 as they finished 9-9 in regular-season conference contests last season – a 5-4 home record and a 4-5 record away from Reed Arena. Finding greater success in the 2021-2022 SEC Tournament, Coach Williams will look to get his guys off to a strong SEC-start this season as conference success is one of the clearest paths to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
SEC announces home, road opponents for Texas A&M men's basketball team in 2022-23.https://t.co/nAsHT7sI3D
— Aggie Sports (@Aggie_Sports) June 30, 2022
Auburn basketball’s SEC opponents announced for 2022-23
The SEC announced Auburn basketball's 2022-23 schedule Wednesday. The Tigers will play five teams in home-and-home series.
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2022-07-01T05:49:11Z
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Men’s basketball 2022-2023 home and road SEC opponents announced
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The acknowledged road-course ace of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, AJ Allmendinger, has done nothing to diminish his reputation this season.
The driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet fashioned a 2.039-second victory over Austin Hill when the series traveled to Circuit of The Americas in March. In the series‘ debut at Portland International Raceway on June 4, Allmendinger started from the rear of the field and won a wet-weather race by 2.879 seconds over Myatt Snider.
RELATED: Road America schedule | Xfinity Series standings
Allmendinger, who is running for the Xfinity Series championship, is racing in both the Xfinity and Cup Series at Road America. But his primary focus will be on Saturday‘s Henry 180 (2:30 p.m. ET on USA, NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
A victory in that race would give Allmendinger three straight Xfinity road-course wins and would keep him in the series lead. He currently holds a 25-point edge over second-place Ty Gibbs.
Allmendinger would also become the first repeat winner at the track. The first 12 races at Road America have produced 12 different winners, including Allmendinger, who scored his first Xfinity Series win there in 2013.
“You have everything on that race track, long straightaways and really fast corners,” Allmendinger said. “The carousel is incredibly fast; Turn 1 is incredibly fast. But you also have big brake zones, like into Turn 5 (and) into Canada Corner.
“It‘s easy to use up the tires there. It‘s easy to make mistakes. But there‘s also a lot of passing opportunities if you get in the back of the field. I love the race track. I think Xfinity always puts on a great race. I think with the Next Gen cars, they are really going to put on a great race in the Cup race on Sunday. I‘m happy that I get to be a part of both.”
Scott Caan-Led Crime Drama ‘One Day As A Lion’ Lands At Grindstone; J.K. Simmons, Frank Grillo, Michael Carmen Pitt, Virginia Madsen, Others Co-Star
EXCLUSIVE: Grindstone Entertainment Group has acquired North American rights to the crime drama One Day as a Lion, written by and starring Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0), from Roxwell Films. The film currently in production in Oklahoma boasts a starry ensemble that also includes Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), Frank Grillo (Captain America and Purge franchises), Michael […]
Preview Show: Who will come out on top at Road America?
On this week's episode of the Preview Show, NASCAR.com's Alan Cavanna and Alex Weaver break down Sunday's Cup Series race at Road America.
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2022-07-01T07:23:16Z
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AJ Allmendinger heads to Road America looking for road course trifecta in 2022
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Forget about coaching for USC. James Franklin is just a couple of years away from coaching against USC as a conference opponent. USC and UCLA have officially been accepted into the Big Ten beginning with the 2024-25 academic year in what is widely viewed as a mammoth coup of the Pac-12.
The addition of USC and UCLA will bring the Big Ten’s full-time membership up to 16 schools in 2024, and the move has generated a ton of reaction from across the Big Ten, the Pac-12, and just about everywhere around the college athletics landscape.
“This is another big step in the ever-changing college football landscape and we embrace the change,” Franklin said in a released statement from Penn State on Thursday evening. “USC and UCLA are two institutions with a long-standing tradition of academic and athletic success. They will only strengthen our already very strong Big Ten Conference.”
Franklin’s sentiment was not alone. Other Penn State coaches offered similar statements reacting to the news of the Big Ten’s next major expansion strategy.
“The Big Ten has long been home to universities that compete at the highest level in both athletics and academics,” Penn State men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry said in another released statement. “UCLA and USC are not only two institutions whose values align with Big Ten, but whose basketball traditions will be great additions to bolster the Big Ten as the nation’s premiere basketball conference.”
The landscape of the Big Ten is about to change in a major way for both football and basketball, and how Franklin and Shrewsberry capitalize on it will be fascinating to watch.
K.J. Wright thinks the Seahawks should go with Geno Smith at quarterback
The quarterback competition between Geno Smith and Drew Lock resumes when training camp opens. The possibility of Baker Mayfield joining the fray still looms. Linebacker K.J. Wright, who knows a thing or two about the Seahawks, has an opinion as to the best move for Seattle. “I’ll tell you not Baker Mayfield,” Wright told I [more]
Metro Phoenix's Maricopa County had among the biggest population growth in white, Black, American Indian and Hispanic residents last year, as well as the biggest increase overall of any U.S. county. Meanwhile, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in California's Inland Empire also had some of the largest jumps in Hispanic and American Indian residents, according to population estimates released Thursday. Fort Bend County in metro Houston, Maricopa County and Tarrant County, home to Fort Worth, Texas, had the largest county-level growth in Black residents.
Fossils of early human ancestors found in a South African cave system may be 1 million years older than first thought, according to a study published Monday.
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2022-07-01T11:19:19Z
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James Franklin’s reaction to the Big Ten’s latest expansion news
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The Big Ten is preparing for its next big expansion move with the additions of USC and UCLA in 2024. You read that correctly. The two iconic programs are leaving their long-standing history with the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten in all sports in just a couple of years, which gives us all plenty of time to think about west coast trips to sunny Los Angeles in October and those road trips for the LA schools to Minnesota or Wisconsin in November.
Penn State’s football history with USC is a fun one to dive into, although the Nittany Lions have a losing record in the all-time series with their future Big Ten foe. Penn State is 4-6 all-time against USC. Four of those meetings have taken place in bowl games, including three in the Rose Bowl.
Penn State and USC first met in the 1923 Rose Bowl, when the Trojans were a part of the Pacific Coast Conference. USC took the first meeting in the series by a 14-3 score. It would be quite a while before the next meeting in the series. The two schools met in the 1982 Fiesta Bowl, with Penn State winning 26-10.
The two schools played four regular-season games from 1990 through 1994 as Penn State began making its move into the Big Ten with the home team winning each meeting. The regular season meetings continued with a pair of matchups in the old Kickoff Classic in Giants Stadium. No. 11 Penn State dominated No. 7 in 1996, but the Trojans were dominant in the 2000 meeting.
Since then, Penn State has gone 0-2 against the Trojans in the Rose Bowl, including the most recent meeting in the epic 2017 Rose Bowl that was full of offensive highlights.
Penn State is also on the losing end of the all-time series with UCLA, although the two schools have not met in football since 1968. Penn State won the first meeting in 1963 and the most recent meeting in 1968. But UCLS strung together four wins in between.
It will be great to see these schools work their way back onto Penn State’s regular-season schedule. How often Penn State and other Big Ten teams will see the Trojans and/or Bruins is just one thing to figure out for the conference. But odds are Penn State won’t have to wait too long to get a crack at either LA school.
The Big Ten announced Thursday it will add USC and UCLA as members in 2024.
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2022-07-01T11:19:38Z
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What is Penn State’s all-time record against USC and UCLA?
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Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney is coming off an impressive season where he emerged as Chicago’s top option. The former fifth-round selection recorded his first 1,000-yard season, which was made even more impressive considering the state of the Bears offense.
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr examined every NFC team’s most underrated players, and it wasn’t a surprise to find Mooney on the list. Especially considering he’s already made an impression just two years in.
I am in a bit of a kerfuffle with Bears Twitter at the moment, over my take that Justin Fields is in trouble and should flag down an Uber for the next flight out of town before his career gets seriously damaged. That said, I can still appreciate Mooney, who thrived in one of the most broken offenses in the NFL last year. His abilities after the catch are borderline reminiscent of vintage Odell Beckham Jr., allowing him to turn vacant space into a very dangerous weapon. I’ll venture to guess that if Chicago pulls off any stunning upsets this year, it will be in games where Mooney goes off. Four of his six best games were wins in Chicago last year, including a five-catch, 125-yard performance against the Lions in which he was virtually unguardable.
Following the departure of Allen Robinson in free agency, Mooney’s the top option for Chicago, which presents its own challenges. He’ll likely be the focus of double teams, which can open up opportunities for other receivers on the roster. And Mooney’s ready to serve as a decoy to help his teammates.
“I’m ready for whatever anybody brings to me,” Mooney said, via The Gadsden Times. “I’m ready for any task, any type of defense that we’re seeing, whatever it is, anyway, I can help the team. You know, if I get double teamed, I’ll be a decoy for the team so everybody else can be open. I mean, I’m good with that. Anyway I can help win.”
Mooney is the only proven commodity in the wide receiver room, but there are some intriguing names in Byron Pringle and Velus Jones Jr., who figure to benefit from Mooney getting the attention.
Notable Bears players who are 25 & under heading into 2022 season
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2022-07-01T13:38:53Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bears WR Darnell Mooney among NFL’s most underrated players
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Maddox lands on list of most important Eagles originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Eagles have one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL with Darius Slay and James Bradberry but it’s an even stronger as a trio when you include Avonte Maddox.
For whatever reason, the nickel corner position still doesn’t get the recognition it deserves in the NFL in 2022, but it’s an extremely important spot. And last year, Maddox proved that he’s one of the best nickel corners in the NFL.
In the modern NFL, the slot corner is basically a starter and Maddox ended up playing 68.5% of the Eagles defensive snaps in games he played in 2021. He played well enough that during last season he was rewarded with a three-year, $22.5 million extension.
“He's playing winning football,” Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said last season. “Like I said before, we put a lot on his plate. And he has a lot to process and think about. And we put him in that spot as a slot nickel corner. He wears a lot of hats. He's in the run game, he's covering man to man. He's in zone. He's got a pattern match. He makes a lot of adjustments.
“So, I mean, I like where Avonte is. I like where he's going. And he's doing a really good job for us playing winning football in that spot.”
Maddox, 26, in 2021 had a career-high 73 tackles with 5 TFLs, 1 interception and half a sack. He finished the season as PFF’s 23rd-best overall cornerback in the NFL with a career-high grade of 71.0.
The Eagles used a fourth-round pick on Maddox out of Pitt back in 2018 and he has shown off his versatility ever since. In addition to playing the nickel corner spot, he’s also played safety and outside cornerback. In 2020, out of necessity, the Eagles played Maddox opposite Slay outside as their CB2. Maddox battled but he was clearly out of position and didn’t have a great season.
But when the Eagles signed Steve Nelson as a free agent last summer, it allowed them to move Maddox inside where he belongs. Maddox thrived in 2021 and PFF recently called him the ninth-best nickel corner in the NFL.
Because of Maddox’s success in 2021, it was likely he was going to stay inside no matter what in 2022 and that was solidified when the Eagles signed Bradberry.
So, sure, those other cornerbacks are very good and will make their appearances on this countdown soon. But don’t forget about Maddox, who plays a unique position just about as well as anyone in the NFL.
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2022-07-01T13:39:01Z
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Eagles 2022 season: Avonte Maddox on list of most important players
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The story of the Cleveland Browns offseason has revolved around Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield but it is Jacoby Brissett that could see the most snaps at quarterback for the team. If that happens, the team’s excellent offensive line and deep running back group will have to lead the way on offense along with new addition Amari Cooper and the returning David Njoku.
The Browns would also need to rely on their defense to keep them in games with Brissett behind center. Thankfully, the defense looked up to the task in the second half of the 2021 season and returned most of their important players in 2022.
The return of Jadeveon Clowney was huge for the team as was the long-term extension given to Denzel Ward.
It is the development of some of their younger players that could take the defense to the next level including Grant Delpit, Greg Newsome II and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
According to Nick Shook of NFL.com and former writer for Browns.com, Newsome is well set up to make his first Pro Bowl in 2022:
Newsome looks like he was a wise choice for general manager Andrew Berry in the first round of the 2021 draft, and although he’ll have plenty of quality competition for a spot (starting with his teammate), Newsome has arguably the best chance of any current Browns player to make his first Pro Bowl.
Shook also notes Donovan Peoples-Jones as a potential first-time Pro Bowl candidate.
With Ward on one side, Newsome may get thrown at more often giving him a bigger chance to make plays on the ball. Interceptions, pass breakups and forced fumbles are a great way to draw the attention of voters.
If Watson is given a significant suspension, the defense will need to be outstanding to help the team reach its goals. Newsome having a Pro Bowl season would help that become a reality.
Ranking Jacoby Brissett among AFC quarterbacks
If Watson is suspended for most or all of 2022, which AFC quarterbacks are better than Brissett and what does that mean for the rest of the roster and coaching staff?
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2022-07-01T13:39:16Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Greg Newsome II has Pro Bowl potential in 2022
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Mason Rudolph among Steelers who reached out to Larry Ogunjobi originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Cody Bellinger homered, and the Los Angeles Dodgers took advantage of Germán Márquez's struggles and early injury exit to beat the Colorado Rockies 8-4 on Wednesday night. Trea Turner added a two-run double and Julio Urías pitched into the sixth inning as the Dodgers avoided a three-game sweep against their surprising nemesis. The last-place Rockies had been 4-1 against the NL West leaders.
Signing a nuclear deal with Iran ‘would destabilise the Middle East’
The renegotiated Iran nuclear deal would destabilise the Middle East if adopted, three former Tory Cabinet ministers will argue on Thursday in a warning shot to the Government.
Russia's unemployment rate dropped to a record low in May but industrial output fell and consumer demand, measured by retail sales, waned after a decline in real wages amid high inflation, data from Rosstat statistics service showed on Wednesday. Russia's economy is plunging into recession and inflation is still hovering near a 10-year high after Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, triggering unprecedented Western sanctions.
NC lawmakers budget $225M for Toyota's Phase II that could create 5,000 jobs
North Carolina lawmakers appear to be trying to convince Toyota to expand its operations coming to northern Randolph County beyond what’s been announced. The budget agreement legislative leaders announced earlier this week contains a section that would appropriate $225 million to a project that would create 5,000 jobs by 2034 and involve $4.7 billion in private investment in Randolph County. The state support would be conditioned on a company meeting the conditions set in last year’s budget bill that amounted to a second phase of a manufacturing project set to receive state incentives to get started.
A federal grand jury has indicted Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, one of the stars of “Tiger King,” on charges of wildlife trafficking and money laundering after he was arrested earlier this month. Antle — who is the owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, a wildlife preserve in South Carolina — gained national attention from his appearances in…
The NFL seeks an indefinite suspension for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Here are the league's most notable indefinite suspensions over the last 40 years.
Kendall Jenner's Denim Midi Skirt Is an Absolute Need
Here's where you can buy it.
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2022-07-01T13:39:22Z
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Mason Rudolph among Steelers who reached out to Larry Ogunjobi
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In a list ranking the top 32 running backs in the league going into the 2022 season, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry landed just inside the top three.
The rankings by Pro Football Network place Henry at No. 3 on the list, behind the Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor (No. 1) and the Cleveland Browns’ Nick Chubb.
After being overworked for years, Derrick Henry finally proved mortal. A foot fracture forced him to miss the second half of the regular season, but he did make it back in time for the Titans’ Divisional Round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Henry amassed a gargantuan 321 touches in 2019 and 397 in 2020, and he was heading towards an even larger total in 2021. Through eight games, Henry had posted 237 touches, good for 29.63 per game. At that rate, even over a 16-game season (as he played in 2019 and 2020), Henry would have collected 474 touches, the second-most by an RB since 1970 behind only James Wilder’s 492-touch 1984 campaign for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With A.J. Brown no longer around, the Titans may be tempted to heavily lean on Henry again next season. He’s clearly the beating heart of Tennessee’s offense, but the team should be cautious as Henry enters his age-28 campaign.
After a serious foot injury cut Henry’s 2021 regular season short, there are many experts out there who are down on the Alabama product ahead of the 2022 campaign, something he’s well aware of.
Henry was routinely ranked as the No. 1 running back in the NFL in recent years after back-to-back rushing titles and a 2,000-yard season, and Henry was well on his way to another 2,000-yard campaign in 2021 before the injury.
Despite missing the final nine games, Henry still managed to finish with 937 yards, good for the ninth-most in the NFL, and his 10 rushing touchdowns were tied for sixth.
Henry’s expected downfall is premature and until we see another injury-plagued year or a season in which he’s outproduced over a full 17 games by the likes of Taylor and/or Chubb, he remains the best back of the three in our eyes.
Ben Jones' contract named Tennessee Titans' best for 2022
Trading for Robert Woods named Titans' best offseason move
Should fantasy managers be in or out on Saquon Barkley?
In the Yahoo Fantasy Football Forecast, Liz Loza and Dalton Del Don look at the fantasy potential for the Giants fifth-year running back in 2022.
Shavkat Rakhmonov: Colby Covington ‘crosses the limit’ with trash talk, but he’s ‘actually a very good fighter’
UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov respects Colby Covington as a fighter.
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2022-07-01T13:39:54Z
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Titans’ Derrick Henry lands in top 3 of PFN’s RB rankings
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The Tennessee Titans are set to take part in training camp later this month, but they might not be done adding players ahead of the 2022 season.
Tennessee has a slew of question marks at the wide receiver position, leading many to believe that a signing of a veteran will come at some point before or during training camp.
And the Titans have the money to get something done. Tennessee has $11.8 million in cap space currently, per Over the Cap, although they do have two draft picks left to sign, so not all of that is freed up.
As things stand now, the Titans are spending $121.4 million on their offense, which ranks as the fourth-highest total in the NFL, per OTC. Only the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders are spending more.
On defense, Tennessee ranks 26th in spending, coming in at $84.2 million. That’s quite an impressive mark when you consider the Titans are going to sport an elite defense in 2022.
Now, let’s take a look at a position-by-position breakdown of Tennessee’s spending on both sides of the ball and see where the team ranks among the rest of the NFL at each.
Biggest cap hit: Ryan Tannehill ($38.6 million)
Biggest cap hit: Derrick Henry ($15 million)
Biggest cap hit: Robert Woods ($10 million)
Biggest cap hit: Austin Hooper ($2.69 million)
Biggest cap hit: Taylor Lewan ($14.6 million)
Biggest cap hit: Denico Autry ($8.6 million)
Biggest cap hit: Bud Dupree: $19.2 million
Rank: 23rd
Biggest cap hit: Zach Cunningham ($3.9 million)
Biggest cap hit: Caleb Farley ($3 million)
Biggest cap hit: Kevin Byard ($7 million)
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2022-07-01T13:40:00Z
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Where Titans rank in positional spending among rest of NFL
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Four-star class of 2023 defensive back Daniel Harris is ready to commit. Harris has excellent length and is committing on July 1. Harris’s top schools are Michigan, Georgia, Ohio State, and Penn State.
Harris has offers from elite college football programs across the country and has received recruiting interest from schools like Jackson State, Miami, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Cincinnati and Tennessee.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound defensive back ranks as the No. 19 cornerback in the class of 2023 recruiting cycle. Daniel Harris is the No. 151 recruit in the rising senior class and is the No. 30 recruit in Florida. Harris’ brother, Donell Harris, plays defensive line for the Texas A&M Aggies.
Harris received a scholarship offer from the University of Georgia in Feb. 2022. The four-star cornerback plays high school football and runs track for Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida. Harris is favored (per 247Sports) to commit to the Georgia Bulldogs.
As a defensive back, Harris does a good job of reading the quarterback. He pins receivers to the sideline and uses his size well in coverage. Harris is a willing run defender, but could improve upon his tackling form before playing at the highest level of college football.
Daniel Harris announced his top schools and commitment date via his Twitter account:
July 1st ⏰. pic.twitter.com/vDTzIWtWjU
— Daniel Harris (@h9rrisdaniel) June 27, 2022
Things are heating up for the class of 2023. Top recruits across the country are committing to schools in droves ahead of the 2022 high school football season.
Update: Daniel Harris plans to commit at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Commitment at 1o clock tomorrow #blessed
K-State adds Stony Brook transfer Tykei Greene
Kansas State landed the 11th player for the 2022-2023 roster on Wednesday when they picked up a commitment from Stony Brook graduate transfer wing, Tykei Greene. Greene was not in the transfer portal a long time. Greene brings a ton of experience after having played in a total of 114 games, while starting in 88 of them over his career.
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2022-07-01T13:40:13Z
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4-star CB Daniel Harris is ready to commit
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Sometimes, you don’t have a long way to go in your memory files to come up with something. Other times, well, you have to look it up.
I had to look this one up, so I will present it in the form of a trivia question: Who was the last Florida running back to be named all-SEC?
Now you are the one racking your brain.
Obviously, it has been a while and it will be a while before I give you the answer. He is included in the latest Dooley’s Dozen as I bring you the 12 best running backs in Florida history.
This was not an easy list because some of the best running backs ever at UF were not technically running backs (Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Wes Chandler) and others had injuries that shortened their careers (Nat Moore).
Before we get to the list, it is important to recognize the passing of former UF running back James Massey, who played during the late ’80s subbing for the first player on this list and starting when No. 1 was injured. He died in a car accident earlier this week.
Without further ado, here is this edition of Dooley’s Dozen, focusing on the 12 best backs in Gators history.
We can forget that Florida’s probation-riddled teams were 20-14 when he was here. Or that he would not be eligible for the Ring of Honor if he wasn’t in the NFL Hall of Fame. There was a buzz around this program when Emmitt got it rolling. He was all Florida had on offense and still put up numbers to be in the top 10 for the Heisman twice and SEC Player of the Year in 1989.
Florida’s all-time rushing leader is the only player to lead the team in rushing yards four straight years. While everyone talked about the Fun ‘N’ Gun, Rhett was the thunder to Steve Spurrier’s lightning. The other day, he was telling me how the best thing about Rhett was the way he got stronger as the game wore on. I concur.
Taylor had to step into Rhett’s shoes and added a speed element to the rugged style of running. He led the team in rushing as a freshman and as a senior and – despite splitting time during his career – had 14 games with more than 100 yards rushing. And he’ll always have that FSU game in ’97.
Some people know him from “The Catch” more than anything, but Jones was an all-SEC back twice who could beat you a number of different ways. He led Florida in rushing three straight years and that was in a loaded backfield. I actually covered him at Pompano Ely and his nickname was “the Franchise.”
Jimmy Holt / The Tennessean-Nashville
He knows that he was my favorite player when I was in my early teens because I have told him so many times. I will always have the moment imprinted in my brain of him circling the left end to score the game-winner against Miami in his final game. He was all-SEC three times.
Larry Dupree
Another early hero of mine who led Florida in rushing for three straight years and led the SEC as a sophomore. Unassuming and humble, Dupree was as rugged as his haircut in an era where you had to run the ball.
Neal Anderson
Anderson was part of a historic backfield in 1984 that eventually saw three players go in the first round of the NFL draft (1985 and ’86). Before there was a transfer portal, he threatened to leave because he couldn’t get on the field. Now, he is tied for third on the all-time list for 100-yard games.
I don’t think Graham gets the credit he deserves for being a great back, but we all know how different 2001 would have been if he wasn’t injured for UF’s two losses. He is also UF’s fourth-leading rusher of all time and had a 1,000-yard season under [autotag]Ron Zook[/autotag].
Ciatrick Fason
The man they call “C-4” still looks like he could play. Most gator fans will never forget the game he had catching the ball out of the backfield in 2003 at LSU, which went on to be the national champs that year despite a loss to Florida. It was the following year that he really blossomed with the sixth-best rushing season in UF history.
Jimmy DuBose
AP Photo/Mark Foley
The only reason I don’t have Jimmy Du a lot higher is that Florida took some time to figure out how to use him the right way. But as a senior in 1975, he rushed for 1,307 yards and was the SEC Player of the Year. Not bad, Du.
Another running back who may be underrated even though you can never get that mental video of him going on that tackle-breaking 88-yard TD run against Auburn three years ago. He rushed for more than 2,400 yards in his career.
John. L Williams
Stephen Dunn-Imagn
Williams was never first-team All-SEC. He never led the team in rushing. But if you ever saw him play in the 1980s and I left him off this list, you would be really angry with me.
Courtesy: University of Florida SID
There are so many that I left off this list that probably deserve to be on it. But let’s make sure we acknowledge the great Charlie Hunsinger, a two-time All-SEC player and good enough to have a song written about him (“Hunsinger the Humdinger”) and the last UF player to be an All-SEC tailback, Mike Gillislee in 2012. That’s a long time.
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2022-07-01T13:40:25Z
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Dooley’s Dozen: Florida football’s 12 best RBs packed with big names
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Texas is continuing their hot streak on the recruiting trail.
Four-star cornerback Malik Muhammad announced the top three schools left in his recruitment on Thursday. The Longhorns made the cut alongside Alabama and Texas A&M.
Steve Sarkisian’s staff has been trending as the favorite to land Muhammad over the last few days, as several predictions were entered in favor of Texas this week.
Muhammad is rated the No. 6 cornerback in the country for the 2023 recruiting class and the No. 7 overall prospect in the state of Texas, according to 247Sports composite.
The South Oak Cliff product recorded 68 tackles, six pass breakups and three interceptions as a junior last season.
It’s unclear when Muhammad plans to make a decision, but he currently has an official visit scheduled with the Aggies on July 29. This will certainly be one to watch closely for Texas fans.
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2022-07-01T13:40:32Z
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Four-star CB Malik Muhammad announces top three schools
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Mychelle Johnson, the wife of Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, broke her silence and released frightening images and videos of herself this week two days after Bridges was arrested and allegedly charged with domestic violence.
Johnson wrote she suffered a fractured nose, a fractured wrist, a torn eardrum, torn muscles in her neck, a "severe concussion" and was choked until she "went to sleep." The post also included photos of Johnson's face, hands, neck, back, arms, legs as well as a medical report that said Johnson was an “adult victim of physical abuse by a male partner." Johnson also posted a video where Johnson's son asks "did Daddy choke Mommy?" on a video call with an unnamed woman.
"I hate that it has come to this but I can’t be silent anymore," Johnson wrote in the post. "I’ve allowed someone to destroy my home, abuse me in every way possible and traumatize our kids for life. I have nothing to prove to the world, but I won’t allow anyone who could do something so horrible to have no remorse and paint a picture of something I’m not. I won’t allow the people around him to continue to silence me and continue to lie to protect this person. It’s unethical, it’s immoral, it’s truly SICK. It hurts my heart because I’ve always had hope, and so much love and as scary as this is for me to do it’s time I stand up for myself. I won’t be silent to protect others anymore because I value myself and my kids more than anyones ‘image’.… a fracture nose, wrist, torn eardrum, torn muscles in my neck from being choked until I went to sleep and a severe concussion. I don’t need sympathy, I just don’t want this happening to anyone else, I just want this person to get help, my kids deserve better. That’s all I want. It hurts, everything hurts, this situation hurts, most importantly I’m scared and hurting for my kids who were witness to everything. Please respect my families privacy and stop with the disgusting rumors and allegations."
Bridges, 24, was arrested in Los Angeles Wednesday night, according to multiple reports and confirmed by the L.A. Sheriff Department's website, and released on a $130,000 bond. The exact charges Bridges faces have not been confirmed yet, but TMZ reported Wednesday that Bridges was arrested for domestic violence. He is due in court on July 20, per the LASD website.
The Hornets released a statement Thursday in response to Bridges' arrest.
Bridges recently finished his fourth season with the Hornets and was set to become a free agent. The Hornets extended a qualifying offer to Bridges before the arrest. He averaged 20.2 points, seven rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this past season.
If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 with free, anonymous help by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), texting “START” to 88788 or online at thehotline.org.
Images from Miles Bridges' alleged domestic assault arrest were released by his wife. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Charlotte Hornets star was set to become a restricted free agent.
The chief of police in Rhode Island's capital has recommended that a city officer charged with assaulting a woman during an abortion-rights protest should lose his job. Patrolman Jeann Lugo's “disturbing, egregious, assaultive and unprofessional behavior while off duty, has brought discredit to your name and has tarnished the proud reputation of the Providence Police Department," chief Col. Hugh Clements wrote in a five-page document outlining the results of an internal investigation released Tuesday. Lugo, 35, was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct in connection with the confrontation at the State House on Friday.
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2022-07-01T13:49:58Z
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NBA: Miles Bridges' wife shares scary images of alleged assault
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https://sports.yahoo.com/miles-bridges-wife-mychelle-johnson-shares-disturbing-images-of-alleged-assault-125955879.html?src=rss
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Owens has pitched peanuts at presidential inauguration festivities, on "The Tonight Show," and in two movies and three television series in which his role was always the same: peanut vendor. His wedding guests included Tom Bradley, then the mayor of Los Angeles, and Don Sutton, the Dodgers’ Hall of Fame pitcher.
Roger Owens tosses a bag of peanuts to a fan during a game at Dodger Stadium in 2009. (Christine Cotter/Los Angeles Times)
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2022-07-01T14:57:39Z
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Commentary: He made a name tossing peanuts at Dodgers games. That's a no-no now
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Andrew Blankstein and David K. Li and Diana Dasrath
Monica Davey
Former major league baseball player Jeremy Giambi suffered a life-altering blow to the head six months before he died by suicide, a coroner's report revealed on Thursday.
Giambi, 47, who played for the Kansas City Royals, the Oakland Athletics, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox, was found dead in his parents' home in suburban Los Angeles on Feb. 9 from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Giambi had struggled with drug abuse — methamphetamines and Percocet — in the past and was even put on a psychiatric hold at one point eight years before his death, according to the report, written by Coroner Investigator Ricardo Lopez.
But it was "not believed the decedent was using drugs recently," Lopez wrote. A post-mortem screen for drugs such as fentanyl, methamphetamines, cocaine and various opiates came back negative, coroner's records showed.
Giambi's family said he had been working as a pitching coach in August when he was "struck in the head by a baseball and fractured his zygomatic bone," which is just below the eye, according to Lopez.
Giambi had surgery to repair the break, but he "seemed different since the injury," his mother told Lopez.
"She said since the injury, the decedent was very emotional, very negative and would let the smallest things ruin his day," Lopez reported.
Giambi was scanned, but a neurologist could not make any diagnosis, his family told investigators.
Giambi left a suicide note behind. The corner did not detail its contents.
A fictionalized version of Giambi was portrayed in the 2011 movie "Moneyball." He was cast as a low-cost alternative signed by Oakland to replace his superstar brother, Jason Giambi, who left the A's for a big-money deal with the New York Yankees.
But the movie's telling was not accurate, as the Giambi brothers were already teammates when Jason left for New York after the 2001 season.
In 510 career games over six seasons in the majors, Jeremy Giambi hit 52 home runs and had a well-above average on-base percentage of .377, a fact hammered home by Brad Pitt's fictionalized version of A's general manager Billy Beane in the movie.
Giambi played college baseball at Cal State Fullerton and won a College World Series title in 1995, alongside current Oakland A's manager Mark Kotsay.
Officials in San Francisco vote to move forward on the Howard Terminal in Oakland, a move that they hope will keep the Athletics in town and not move to Las Vegas. Tina Nguyen reports.
Kings a possible landing spot for Tobias Harris if Sixers talk trades
The Sacramento Kings could be a potential landing spot for Tobias Harris should the Philadelphia 76ers engage in trade talks.
A California agency on Thursday has cleared the way for the Oakland Athletics to continue planning a $12 billion waterfront ballpark project. The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission voted 23 to 2 to reclassify a 56-acre terminal at the Port of Oakland as a mixed-use area where a new ballpark could be built. The vote is the first in a series of legal hurdles the team would have to overcome before it gets permission to break ground for the project.
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2022-07-01T14:57:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ex-MLB player Jeremy Giambi 'seemed different' after baseball head injury before death by suicide
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-mlb-player-jeremy-giambi-215621247.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-mlb-player-jeremy-giambi-215621247.html?src=rss
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Sources: Jalen Brunson to meet with Knicks, Mavericks before making free agent decision
It would likely take somewhere close to a five-year, $125 million commitment from the Mavericks to prevent Brunson from signing with the Knicks, sources said.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Karl-Anthony Towns is under contract for six more years, after agreeing to an extension Friday to remain with the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's a huge commitment from the Timberwolves, and one they made as quickly as they possibly could: Starting in 2024-25, Towns will make $224 million over four years, and that follows the $70 million he's slotted to make over the next two seasons. Towns deftly bounced back during the 2021-22 season from a couple of rough years, when he was dogged by a wrist injury and waylaid by COVID-19 like so many other players.
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2022-07-01T14:58:11Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NBA free agency 2022: Jalen Brunson, Andre Drummond and more notable Night 1 moves
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-free-agency-2022-jalen-132400846.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-free-agency-2022-jalen-132400846.html?src=rss
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The start to Bryan Harsin’s tenure at Auburn began promising but took a wild turn halfway through the 2021 season.
After starting the season with a 6-2 record, Auburn would finish the season with five straight losses, which included a 17-13 loss to Houston in the Birmingham Bowl.
The rough end to the season carried over to the offseason, as Harsin battled a coup by Auburn boosters who aimed to remove him from his position.
He survived the attempt, and everyone seemed to move past it. But, how much longer does Harsin survive? A trio of SEC coaches weighed in.
In the Athlon Sports College Football Preview Magazine, anonymous coaches spoke on the drama surrounding Harsin, and what he will have to do this season to remain the Tigers’ head coach in 2023.
One coach says that the offseason spectacle has hurt, and will continue to hurt the program in the world of recruiting.
“You could argue a lot of the wounds they’re nursing are self-inflicted by both the head coach and the people around the program,” said one anonymous coach. “It certainly drove coaches and players out of the program, and it absolutely made it easier to recruit against them.”
While Harsin’s back is against the wall from the recruiting standpoint, another coach says that the current on-field product will suffer this season as well.
“As far as the football, they need a quarterback, they need a much better offensive line, they need to replace a ton of guys in the secondary and receiving corps, and they’ve bled a lot of Gus Malzahn’s guys in the portal because of all the off-field stuff.”
Harsin looks to rebuild his image, as well as the Auburn football program in 2023 by getting a fresh start with the addition of five new coaches, including two new coordinators.
Bigsby, Wooden among top 20 most impactful SEC players
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2022-07-01T15:53:05Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Does Bryan Harsin survive the 2022 season? Anonymous SEC coaches weigh in
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https://sports.yahoo.com/does-bryan-harsin-survive-2022-143018477.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/does-bryan-harsin-survive-2022-143018477.html?src=rss
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The plan on the table offered almost certain annual access to the playoff and a tie, both politically and financially, to the mighty SEC and Big Ten. The deal was expected to earn over $1 billion per year.
A path to compete for a championship is the single most important factor in recruiting. It's why in basketball even small schools from small conferences such as Gonzaga can routinely sign future NBA lottery picks. Additionally, a guaranteed route to the playoff makes both regular season and conference championship games more valuable and relevant.
It is part golden ticket, part life preserver.
And the Pac-12 and ACC decided to throw it aside.
Now it’s possibly gone for good.
After the Big Ten raided the Pac-12 Thursday for league members USC and UCLA, the era of the super conference has arrived. The Power Five is now the Big Two. The SEC and the Big Ten are the sport's northstars; their size, strength and financial resources dwarf everyone else.
Just like that the Pac-12 and ACC moved closer to the AAC and Mountain West than the Big Ten and SEC. Their spot at the cool kids' table in the cafeteria has been revoked. Their power is gone.
The future of not just the playoff, but of the Pac-12 itself, is up in the air. A league whose roots stretch proudly back to 1913 could be out of business by 2024. In the hours after USC and UCLA left, sources across college athletics said all 10 of the remaining Pac-12 schools inquired about leaving as well, mostly to the Big Ten or Big 12. Everyone is trying to jump ship.
The ACC isn’t in immediate trouble yet, but its days as anything close to an equal partner with the SEC and Big Ten are all but over.
The uneven nature of media rights likely would have lured USC and UCLA to leave anyway. Big Ten schools may earn $50 million or more per year than Pac-12 schools when its new television contracts are announced.
Had the Pac-12 made a deal for the playoff six months ago, though, at least the conference would be sitting on a near-certain spot in the postseason.
The proposal called for six automatic bids to the champion of the six highest-ranked leagues each season. The Pac-12 and ACC would achieve that virtually every season. If they really wanted to haggle, they probably could have negotiated auto-bids for the five biggest leagues (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC), plus one for the best of the rest.
Instead they remained angry with the SEC for adding Texas and Oklahoma last summer (the schools will begin play in the SEC in 2025). As such, they pushed aside a plan that was created, in part, by SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. They then tried to villainize the SEC and aligned themselves with the Big Ten in what was deemed the “Alliance.”
It was a disastrous decision. The playoff plan wasn’t just fair, it was a gift to all of college athletics. Meanwhile, it took less than six months for the Big Ten to immolate the Alliance by backstabbing the Pac-12 for its Los Angeles schools.
Now, when discussions about the future of the playoff resume, there is no reason the Pac-12 or ACC will have much of a say. The current four-team model ends after the 2026 season and something new needs to replace it.
That format will no longer need to be a unanimous agreement of all 10 conferences and Notre Dame. It will almost assuredly be whatever the SEC and Big Ten decide it will be. They have the most powerhouse teams, the biggest brands, the most money. There is no playoff without them and both leagues know it.
There is zero motivation for the SEC and Big Ten to prop up other conferences at the expense of their own programs. They are under no obligation to help, or even consider, anyone else.
They could stick with the current four-team format knowing that most years their two conferences would fill three or even all four of the slots.
They could set up an eight-team or 12-team system and offer no automatic bids, confident they would combine to get the vast majority of the bracket. Only a spectacular season by an ACC or Pac-12 team would get them in, the way it works for Group of Five schools now.
The SEC and Big Ten could even stage their own personal four-team playoffs and then have their respective champions meet in a pseudo-Super Bowl. That would gobble up all the money and effectively end the other leagues as major entities in the sport.
The Pac-12 lost two of its biggest brands to the Big Ten on Thursday. It might've played out differently if the conference had agreed to a new playoff deal when it had the chance. (Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
With the Big 12 and Pac-12 greatly diminished, there is almost no need now to award a slew of automatic bids. It may not be good for the overall health of college football, but this is business. The SEC and Big Ten need only to deal with each other. Everyone else is just everyone else.
Losing USC and UCLA would represent a jarring and dark day even if the 12-team, six-automatic-bid playoff was in place for the next dozen years. And USC and UCLA may have jumped for the Big Ten cash anyway.
But the future will look much different for those left behind. The remaining 10 schools may have struggled with less revenue or a foothold in Los Angeles, but it would still have had automatic access to the playoff and at least that playoff revenue stream.
At least some of the most competitive and talented recruits would still play in the conference. And while the lack of media cash is daunting, schools such as Oregon or Stanford are wealthy enough to bridge gaps.
They could have brushed this off and tried to push forward. A very competitive program such as Oregon could have looked at an almost clear path to the playoff on an annual basis.
Now? Who knows.
This is a mistake others made before.
Back in the 2000s, the Big East was a top-six football conference and would have merited an automatic bid to a proposed playoff. Instead it illogically opposed any and all playoff plans. Its membership was quickly picked apart and by 2013 it stopped fielding football.
The Big 12 similarly opposed all larger playoffs and automatic bids when the current playoff was created back in the 2010s. After the SEC raided Texas and Oklahoma, the Big 12 saw the light and became a vocal auto-bid proponent. The ACC and Pac-12 didn't listen though.
There is little doubt they would switch their votes today if they could. Even in January, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff stated the league was in favor of an expanded playoff with automatic bids, yet for whatever reason voted against it anyway.
That may have signed the league’s demise.
A big playoff with lots of guaranteed room for everyone and a long-term, multi-billion dollar contract was there for the taking.
Yet the ACC and Pac-12 said no. Less than six months later, reality has hit. College football is on the brink.
They have only themselves to blame for this.
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2022-07-01T15:53:36Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Pac-12, ACC had chance to save themselves with failed College Football Playoff proposal
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https://sports.yahoo.com/pac-12-acc-had-chance-to-save-themselves-botched-playoff-142405174.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/pac-12-acc-had-chance-to-save-themselves-botched-playoff-142405174.html?src=rss
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This past season, the Crimson Tide managed to bring in a stellar recruiting class. There has been just one recruiting class that ranked outside the top ten since Saban’s first year in Tuscaloosa in 2007. That class finished ranked No. 12 according to 247Sports’ recruiting rankings.
Now, the coaching staff is looking to assemble another outstanding recruiting class. With a surplus of talent across the state of Alabama and innumerable talent in other parts of the country, we fully expect this class to be among the best.
Today, Roll Tide Wire will make some early predictions for the Crimson Tide’s 2023 recruiting class. Read along to learn more about the possible future of the Alabama football program.
Michael DeMocker / For The Daily Advertiser-USA TODAY NETWORK
Eli Holstein – It didn’t take too long for Alabama fans to recognize why Holstein was “the guy.” In his junior season at Zachary High School, he led his team to an unblemished 15-0 record as well as a class 5A state championship. More recently, he was given an invite to the Elite 11 (premier quarterback event held for the best quarterbacks in the nation). The coaching staff became enamored with Holstein and have their guy at the quarterback position for the ’23 recruiting class.
Andrew West/The News-Press-USA TODAY NETWORK
Richard Young – Over the years, Alabama has produced some of the best running backs in the country. That will hold true with five-star Richard Young coming to Alabama. He has been a priority for the coaching staff for quite some time now. The Florida native has been to Alabama four times over the past two years. Keep in mind, that he is a rising senior. Coach Saban and his staff have kept in close contact with Young for a while. Other schools like Notre Dame, Georgia, and Oregon are in the mix as well. However, I think he ultimately chooses Alabama.
Billy Watson/The Hutchinson News-USA TODAY NETWORK
Malik Benson – Coach Saban usually doesn’t recruit junior college wide receivers, but that doesn’t hold true with Hutchinson Community College wideout Malik Benson. Benson has certainly showcased his playmaking abilities at the junior college level. This past season, Benson hauled in 43 receptions for 1,229 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. Ever since he received an offer from Alabama in March, the Tide have kept close contact. Other potential suitors are Tennessee and Georgia. However, I firmly believe he will end up in Tuscaloosa.
Cole Adams – Alabama fans received some good news on Wednesday as the Oklahoma native, Cole Adams, committed to the Tide. He is the first wide receiver to commit in the ’23 recruiting class and seems like he is locked in with the Tide. At his high school, he also competes in track. With his size and versatility, he will be a valuable piece to the class.
Demetrius Bell – This prediction can be seen as a surprise by some Alabama fans. However, I will stick with my gut on this one. The Tide recently extended an offer to Bell, the Michigan State commit, on June 25th. It certainly won’t be easy to get him to flip. If anyone can make it happen, it is Alabama. Over the years, the coaching staff has been able to flip wide receivers JoJo Earle and DeVonta Smith. Now, they will do the same for Bell. I think the goal is to sign three wide receivers in this class.
SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK
Luke Hasz – This could also be a stretch, but I believe that Arkansas commit Luke Hasz will flip to Alabama. It won’t be easy considering he has been committed to the Razorbacks since January. The Tide haven’t really gone after any tight ends outside of Hasz. 2023 tight end Riley Williams is likely to commit to Miami. Another tight end the Tide have offered is Jelani Thurman, but the chances of him committing to Alabama are likely slim. I believe that the coaching staff is all in on trying to flip Hasz and I believe it will pay off.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise-Imagn Content Services, LLC
Samson Okunlola – After being offered in March, Okunlola took an official visit to Tuscaloosa in June. It seemed to have gone well for the Massachusetts native. The coaching staff is extremely high on him and I think the Tide are high on his list. The other schools that received official visits were Miami and Michigan State. In the end, Alabama does enough to earn his commitment.
Wilkin Formby – A Tuscaloosa native, Wilkin Formby is the talk of the town. The product of Northridge High School recently committed to the Tide. He became the first offensive lineman to commit in the ’23 class. He is locked in with the Tide and will likely be an early signee.
Olaus Alinen – The Finland native is a priority target for the coaching staff at Alabama. Since receiving an offer from the coaching staff in November of 2021, Alinen has been very high on the Tide. He has visited Alabama more than any other school as well. When his recruitment is all said and done, he will sign with the Tide.
Miles McVay – I’m not sure massive is even the word to describe Miles McVay. He stands at 6-foot-6 and 358 pounds. Not only is he massive in terms of physique, but he is also a massive target for the coaching staff. The Illinois native has been to Tuscaloosa several times since receiving his offer before his junior season. He is high on the Tide, and I firmly believe he ends up signing with Alabama.
Peter Woods – The Alabama coaching staff as well as the Alabama fans have their eyes on Peter Woods’ commitment coming up on July 8th. The product of Thompson High School is seemingly down to two schools — Clemson and Alabama. Many experts believe that he is extremely high on Clemson after recent visits. However, I don’t think that he will pass up on an opportunity to team up with Thompson teammate Tony Mitchell at the college level. Also, he will be close to home. Alabama lands Woods.
Kelby Collins – There is another defensive lineman from the state of Alabama that will also head to Tuscaloosa. That is Kelby Collins — the product of Gardendale High School. He has taken two unofficial visits to the Capstone and seems to be high on the Tide. His recruitment has been somewhat silent in recent months, but it doesn’t change the fact that the coaching staff is in pursuit to land Collins. He ends up signing with Alabama.
Jordan Renaud – Alabama has seen abundant success over the years in the state of Texas. This recruiting class will be no different as the Tide will land Renaud. The native of Tyler, Texas has taken one official visit so far — Alabama. It could be soon that he makes his decision, but I believe that he signs with Alabama.
Edric Hill – The Missouri native recently took an official visit to Alabama this past weekend. He fits the profile of a prototypical Alabama defensive lineman at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds. The coaching staff is in hot pursuit. It is also worth mentioning that he hasn’t visited any of the schools in Texas. For that reason as well as his interest in the program, Hill signs with Alabama.
Elijah Davis – Davis is yet another junior college prospect that the Alabama coaching staff is high on. He has made one trip to Tuscaloosa so far, and he will likely return for another visit in the fall. The South Carolina native is entering his sophomore season at East Mississippi Community College.
Bai Jobe – The Senegal native has only played organized football for two years. That doesn’t change the fact that he has become a household name in the recruiting world. Jobe has been highly recruited by the Alabama coaching staff since receiving an offer in February. Since then, he has made two visits to Tuscaloosa. It won’t be easy being out the hometown team — Oklahoma. However, Alabama will come through and land Jobe in the end. His commitment is also expected to come in the near future.
Yhonzae Pierre – Pierre was the third commitment of the 2023 recruiting class. The native of Eufaula, Alabama shined last season for his high school as he recorded 55 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Pierre has made it clear that he plans on signing with the Tide.
Alabama football-Pete Golding-De'Rickey Wright
Justin Jefferson – Yes, you read that right. Justin Jefferson is his name. It isn’t the current Vikings wide receiver. This Justin Jefferson plays linebacker for Pearl River Community College. It is also key to mention that he recently committed to Alabama several days ago. The Tennessee native has run a 4.3 forty-yard dash according to reports. Alabama fans should be really excited to see Jefferson in an Alabama uniform.
Malik Bryant – Everyone knows that Nick Saban will not go a year without landing a recruit from IMG Academy. This time he will haul in the highly-coveted linebacker Malik Bryant. He has Alabama in his final four and is set to commit on July 23rd. Keep an eye on Bryant’s commitment.
Raul Aguirre – The Alabama coaching staff couldn’t wait to get Aguirre on campus for a visit. The Georgia native took his official visit to Tuscaloosa on June 10th. He has taken other visits as well to schools like Texas, Ohio State, and Florida. He will announce his commitment on July 16th, and I would be shocked if he didn’t choose Alabama.
Defensive Back (5)
Jack Williams/Tallahassee Democrat-USA TODAY NETWORK
Makari Vickers – This won’t be the first time that Nick Saban has landed a promising recruit from Tallahassee, Florida. In the past, he landed two safeties in Ronnie Harrison and Terrion Arnold. He will continue his success in Florid State’s backyard by landing Vickers.
Tony Mitchell – Alabama fans were stoked to hear that Mitchell had committed to the Tide. The coaching staff has recruited him since his freshman season of high school. He has great upside at 6-foot-2 and can play safety or cornerback at the next level.
Jahlil Hurley – Hurley was the second commitment in the 2023 recruiting class. Although there were rumors of him de-committing, he seems to be locked in with the Tide. If all goes as planned in this cycle, he could be a part of one of the best secondaries that Nick Saban has ever recruited.
Brayson Hubbard – Hubbard is an interesting recruit, to say the least. The Mississippi native plays both quarterback and safety for Ocean Springs High School in Pascagoula, Mississippi. However, the coaching staff sees him as more of a defensive player. He recently committed and appears to be locked in with Alabama.
Elliot Washington – To be quite honest, I contemplated putting Washington on this list. The main reason is that he has taken two official visits in the past month to Michigan State. Not to mention, he also took an official visit to Penn State. Now that doesn’t mean that I’m saying he will de-commit. It is something to keep an eye on. However, he hasn’t wavered yet after he announced his commitment to Alabama in January. His father, Elliot Washington Sr., also played basketball at Alabama in the early 1990s. Ultimately, I think he will stick with the Tide.
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2022-07-01T15:53:49Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Predicting Alabama’s full 2023 recruiting class
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https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-alabama-full-2023-recruiting-152947485.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-alabama-full-2023-recruiting-152947485.html?src=rss
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Wow, the dust has begun to settle after one of the craziest days we’ve had in college football since USC fired Lane Kiffin on the airport tarmac. Seemingly out of thin air, the University of Southern California and the University of California Los Angeles will leave the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten in 2024.
Everything we know about the college football landscape has quickly eroded in the past few years, beginning with Colorado and Nebraska departing from the Big 12 in 2010 to the end of the BCS era and the start of the College Football Playoff in 2015.
Power five programs Texas, Oklahoma USC and UCLA plus group of five programs BYU, Houston UCF and Cincinnati have all left their conferences in roughly the past year. It is safe to say that quite a few more drastic changes are on the horizon.
There is a widespread belief that we could be facing two mega-conferences with 20 members a piece building around the current SEC and Big Ten.
However, consolidating everything down to two major conferences would be difficult. Four conferences at 20 teams apiece sounds more realistic.
So, what is this ultimately going to look like?
The numbers in bold indicate the number of programs in the conference if the schools listed preceding them join that respective conference.
The SEC has shown over the past decade that they will continue to do whatever is best for the conference. In 2011, they added Texas A&M and Missouri and then a decade later they added Texas and Oklahoma. So if the SEC continue to pioneer the way, who will they look to add?
Existing members: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt (14)
Verified joining members: Oklahoma, Texas (16)
Rumored joining programs (Keep four): Clemson, FSU, Miami and Georgia Tech (20)
the obvious SEC response is raiding the ACC for Clemson, FSU, Miami. but Oklahoma State should be openly throwing itself into the mix. showing up to league meetings uninvited, whatever it takes.
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) July 1, 2022
In what was an absolutely massive move by the Big Ten, they have made the additions of USC and UCLA to the conference. The Big Ten gains two historic universities and athletic programs for further notoriety, plus vacations to California every year! While the two programs will make hundreds of millions of dollars by making this move and improve their viewership across the country.
Existing Members: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin (14)
Verified joining members: UCLA and USC (16)
Rumored joining programs (Keep four): Stanford, Oregon, Washington and Notre Dame (20)
Here’s where things get interesting. We have already reached our two conferences of 20 teams, but there are still plenty of quality universities available, so what can the Big 12 muster up?
Existing members: Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia (8)
Verified joining members: Cincinnati, BYU Houston and UCF (12)
Rumored joining members: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah (16)
Speculated joining members: With four spots available, there are plenty of great programs to choose from. However, I think the Big 12 adds Duke and UNC to pair with Kansas for basketball. The last two spots would then go to California and Utah to make a massive imprint on both coasts.
ACC/Pac-12
In what would be the absolute doomsday scenario, the two coastal conferences, the Pacific and the Atlantic, would need to salvage what is left to make a cross country conference.
Programs left (ACC): Boston College, Louisville, Syracuse, NC State, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Virginia and Virginia Tech (8)
Programs left (Pac-12): Oregon State and Washington State (10)
Notable G5 programs: Army, Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai’i, Memphis, Navy, San Diego State, SMU, USF and Utah State (20)
It would definitely require some salvaging, but I think you could almost make another conference out of the ten power five programs and your choice of ten group of five.
Future going forward
Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
This is going to have massive ramifications on so many different things from NIL to recruiting to transfers to bowls, and so much more. The gap between the SEC/Big Ten and everyone else is only going to expand, mainly because of the money disparity because of television contracts, licensing and other assets. It will change the bodies of area that people recruit, the amount of money that must be factored in via NIL a massive viewership advantage and slowly begin to pull away. I think the bowl system will have to change, and hopefully this means the playoffs can expand. With so many different conferences it’s wise to expand and to continue the push the game to be less geographic. It will be interesting to see what moves the conferences make in the coming days.
Matt Salmon leaves race for Arizona governor
The former Arizona congressman said he would leave the race barely a week before early voting begins, acknowledging he trailed other GOP candidates.
Ohio State's Catholic student ministry to get new leadership at Newman Center
St. Thomas More Newman Center priests, who have ministered to Ohio State University students for 65 years, soon will no longer lead campus ministry.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has appealed against the British's government decision last month to order his extradition to the U.S. The appeal was filed Friday at the High Court, the latest twist in a decade-long legal saga sparked by his website's publication of classified U.S. documents. Assange's supporters staged protests before his 51st birthday this weekend, with his wife Stella Assange among people who gathered outside the Home Office on Friday to call for his release from prison.
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2022-07-01T15:53:55Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Predicting the new CFB landscape: 4 conferences, 20 teams apiece
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https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-cfb-landscape-4-conferences-150738568.html?src=rss
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Basketball player Miles Bridges has reportedly been arrested in Los Angeles on a felony warrant.
Officer Matthew Cruz, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department, confirmed to The Times that a 24-year-old named Miles Bridges was arrested Wednesday in West L.A. on a warrant, but Cruz was not able to confirm information about the warrant, further information about the case or whether the person arrested is the NBA player.
TMZ reported Wednesday that Bridges was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
Bridges turned himself in after an alleged physical altercation that occurred Tuesday, according to the website.
Los Angeles County jail records show Bridges was arrested at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday.
He was released on $130,000 bail, records show. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 20.
Jail records did not state the nature of the suspected crime other than its felony status.
Bridges is a forward for the Charlotte Hornets.
He appeared in 80 games during the 2021-22 season and will be a restricted free agent when the NBA's free agency period begins Thursday afternoon, according to the league.
Investigators find human remains and arrest 57-year-old Clarence Catron after executing search warrant in Columbus, GA. Here’s the latest information.
A team searching the basement of a Mississippi courthouse for evidence about the lynching of Black teenager Emmett Till has found the unserved warrant charging a white woman in his 1955 kidnapping, and relatives of the victim who initiated the hunt want authorities to finally arrest her nearly 70 years later. A warrant for the arrest of Carolyn Bryant Donham — identified as “Mrs. Roy Bryant” on the document — was discovered last week inside a file folder that had been placed in a box, Leflore Co
The discovery has led the family to press for fresh action in a decadeslong case that helped ignite the civil-rights movement.
Warrant found in Emmett Till case
Wild trades Fiala to Kings for first-rounder and Gophers’ Faber
One of the Wild's best players won't be back, and it was the team that sent him away. The financially strapped Wild couldn't afford a new contract for winger Kevin Fiala and traded the 30-goal scorer to Los Angeles on Wednesday in exchange for a first-round draft pick and Gophers defenseman Brock Faber. Fiala will reportedly receive a seven-year deal from the Kings worth approximately $55 ...
Hoping to cut down on the use of illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July, the city of Los Angeles will hold a fireworks buyback program Saturday, providing gift cards for people who surrender fireworks at an event in Mission Hills.
The unserved warrant was located in the basement of a Mississippi courthouse.
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2022-07-01T15:57:38Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NBA forward Miles Bridges reportedly arrested in L.A. on suspicion of domestic violence
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-forward-miles-bridges-reportedly-054848285.html?src=rss
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Brett Eagleson was 15 years old when he lost his father in the collapse of the World Trade Center. “We want the golfers to know who they’re getting in bed with, who they’re doing business with,” Eagleson said. Eagleson, now 36, is among those criticizing the LIV tournament and it's connection to a regime that has flouted human rights.
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2022-07-01T16:14:49Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Rutgers basketball recruiting: Elmarko Jackson pulls in offers from Michigan, Texas and Indiana on Friday
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https://sports.yahoo.com/rutgers-basketball-recruiting-elmarko-jackson-150246620.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/rutgers-basketball-recruiting-elmarko-jackson-150246620.html?src=rss
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Call Kyle Tucker an innovator, or at least a person willing to take a chance when he sees it.
The Houston Astros outfielder tried to take advantage of New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino pausing to adjust or fix his PitchCom device on Thursday, but was thrown out stealing home on a last-second throw.
MLB introduced PitchCom this season to combat electronic sign-stealing and cut down on time used to relay signals from catcher to pitcher. The system works by the catcher pressing buttons on a wrist device, with the pitcher hearing the call through an ear piece. Severino was doing something with the earpiece on the mound when he noticed Tucker booking it for home.
That truly may be a first in MLB history. There's also a certain amount of irony in the Astros, whom you may remember being responsible for much of the sign-stealing discourse, trying and failing to take advantage of MLB's intended fix for the issue.
One could argue Tucker's move was cheap or unsportsmanlike, but if you're going to fiddle with an electronic device with runners on base and not call time, the consequences are on you.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the game that even though Severino didn't call timeout, he said Tucker being thrown out shows his pitcher didn't mishandle the situation.
From YES Network:
"I think he showed he had the situation under control. Yeah, you can definitely call timeout and get some things set up, but I think Sevy was in command of the situation.
Tucker entered the game hitting .256/.354/.492 with 15 homers and 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts. He is now 14-for-16.
Despite losing that runner on third, the Astros would ultimately win 2-1, improving their record to 48-27. They lead the NL West by 11.5 games, behind only the Yankees (12.5 games) for the largest division lead in MLB.
This did not end well for the Astros' Kyle Tucker. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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2022-07-01T16:25:18Z
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Astros' Kyle Tucker tries to steal home during Yankees' apparent PitchCom malfunction
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“Jalen Ramsey, of course, is a top-tier cornerback,” said Jefferson. “His ability to be long and to be aggressive. That’s definitely one of the three things that is so difficult to get by him. …Marshon Lattimore is also a difficult corner to go up against. He’s twitchy, he’s fast and you can’t really beat him off the ball too much. So it’s all technical.”
Vikings reveal key training camp dates, including joint practices with 49ers
ESPN.com projecting Vikings take receiver in first-round of 2023 mock NFL draft
Vikings projected to add more firepower in 2023.
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2022-07-01T16:25:24Z
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Justin Jefferson names two toughest corners he’s faced in NFL
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CLEVELAND (AP) Free agent point guard Ricky Rubio has agreed to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers on a multiyear contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday. Rubio, who was instrumental in Cleveland's turnaround last season before injuring his left knee, agreed to a three-year, $18.4 million deal, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not yet announced the agreement. The 31-year-old Rubio was having one of his best NBA seasons before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against New Orleans in December.
Taking a Look at ProHogs on Summer League Rosters
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports NOT A SUBSCRIBER? SIGN UP TODAY FOR ACCESS TO ALL OF HAWGBEAT'S PREMIUM CONTENT AND FEATURES The Razorback brand will be represented well during NBA Summer League competition in July.
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2022-07-01T16:25:49Z
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NBA rumors: Otto Porter Jr., Raptors agree to two-year contract
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WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom near Moscow on Friday. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / Associated Press)
Two witnesses were questioned by the prosecution: an airport customs official, who spoke in open court, and an unidentified witness in a closed session, according to the Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti. The trial was then adjourned, the agency said, when two other witnesses did not show up, and the next session was set for Sunday.
Alexander Boykov, an attorney for Griner, told reporters outside court that “I wouldn’t want to talk on the specifics of the case and on the charges and to comment on our position on it, because it’s too early for it.”
Griner’s supporters had kept a low profile in hopes of a quiet resolution until May, when the State Department reclassified her as wrongfully detained and shifted oversight of her case to its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, who is, in effect, the U.S. government’s chief hostage negotiator.
Cristiano Ronaldo is asking a U.S. judge to order a woman’s lawyer to pay the international soccer star more than $626,000 after claiming in a failed lawsuit seeking millions of dollars that Ronaldo raped the woman in Las Vegas nearly a decade earlier. In a bluntly worded court document, Ronaldo’s attorney, Peter Christiansen, asks U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey to make the woman’s attorney, Leslie Mark Stovall, personally responsible for the amount. Stovall did not immediately respond Wednesday to telephone and email messages.
Several of the disgraced singer's victims address him directly in court during his sentencing.
The findings of a review into claims Meghan Markle bullied staff will remain private, a senior Buckingham Palace source has revealed.
Mississippi State women's basketball has size again. How does Sam Purcell make the pieces fit?
Mississippi State women's basketball had no size last season. That won't be the case for new coach Sam Purcell. How can he make his forward fit together?
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2022-07-01T16:54:24Z
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U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner's trial begins in a Moscow-area court
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Sue Wicks
There's a level of messiness in looking back at history, one that the team behind the documentary "Unfinished Business" takes care with throughout its focus on the New York Liberty and WNBA. Its strongest moment — outside of a fun John Oliver loves Jazmine Jones cameo and Joan Jett with a voodoo doll at Madison Square Garden — might be looking back at the league's early years.
It is no secret how the league, fans and media treated the 1990s-to-2000s era players and fans. "Family friendly" was the name of the game and that included ultra-feminine marketing and no room for players to feel safe about living outside that box. The documentary showcases the pushback to former Liberty forward Sue Wick publicly saying she was a lesbian when a journalist was forced to ask her, then beautifully transitions to the 2013 WNBA draft in which the Phoenix Mercury selected Brittney Griner first overall.
Griner shared her sexual identity with media outlets ahead of the draft, once she left Baylor, and added LGBTQ+ community pioneer to her blooming basketball legacy. The word "pioneer" has been thrown out a lot over the past few months while Griner remains "wrongfully detained" in Russia, according to the U.S. government. Her trial is scheduled to start on Friday.
It's the visual of Griner as a true pioneer in "Unfinished Business" that is so hard, but necessary, to watch.
"It was and continues to be an incredibly emotional topic for players and even for us as filmmakers who obviously are a step removed," producer Nicholas Ma said on Yahoo Sports' "All In (Orange)." "I just want to say I hope that we and our government is doing everything they possibly can to resolve this and get Brittney home.
"We wanted to be really careful. We didn’t want to — she’s been such a vital force within the league, such a vital force among the players that we wanted to honor that, but we also wanted, we recognized the situation that’s in flux and that’s tricky. I feel so grateful that we were able to include that footage and dedicate the film to everyone that’s fighting for the W, but particularly to Brittney."
The final frame of the film, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, shows the Mercury's court with the BG42 decal and a dedication. Griner's part in the film is small and she is one of many stars, past and present, to take part in the story of the Liberty from 1997 to its 25th season in 2021.
"I also love the fact that we can cut from the story about Sue Wicks to Brittney and her coming out and then to Sami [Whitcomb] and Sami’s there with her wife and her kid," Ma, who directed and wrote the hit "Won't You Be My Neighbor," told Yahoo Sports. "It’s amazing the work that the league has done quietly to normalize those experiences over a period of time. And really I don’t know if there’s any other sports league that has been as far along as they [have], so it hasn’t been an easy journey but credit to people like Sue and like Brittney who paved a path forward to fight the next fight."
The documentary, directed and spearheaded by Alison Klayman, is all about the continued push not only for the Liberty to win an elusive WNBA championship but for the league to be given its rightful recognition and due. Its title is from the aforementioned voodoo-doll carrying Jett, who wrote and performed the song titled "Unfinished Business" for the Liberty in 2001 after they lost to the Houston Comets in a second consecutive WNBA Finals.
Liberty co-owner Clara Wu Tsai executive produced the film and Teresa Weatherspoon, Rebecca Lobo, Wicks, Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu, Michaela Onyenwere and Didi Richards are all centered. Their behind-the-scenes moments and on-camera interviews give insight not typically seen in women's sports. It gives a glimpse into obstacles from 1997 to 2021 and the places of growth, but also continued pain points.
"I would love for this story to be extended, to let it give birth to even more stories," Ma said. "I think to have people walk out being like, 'I wish I could learn [more], I wish I knew more about all these characters,' that's great."
In this week's "All In (Orange)," Ma goes into how he became a WNBA and Liberty fan, what it was like to talk to Jett about her fandom and the messaging the film wants to convey.
Teresa Weatherspoon is greeted by jubilant fans after the New York Liberty eliminated the Washington Mystics in the 2002 Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Andrew Savulich/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
Lynx rising, Aces falling ahead of back-to-back
It would be wise to keep an eye on the Minnesota Lynx this weekend with back-to-back games against the Aces in Las Vegas. The Lynx are a mere 2.5 games out of the eighth playoff spot and have won three of their last four. Their four losses since June 12 are by a combined 10 points to the Fever (4), Storm (2), Aces (1) and Sky (3).
They rank second offensively (91.2 ppg, 24.0 apg, 48.3 FG%) over the past two weeks trailing the surging Sky (93 ppg, 26.4 apg, 50.8 FG%). The Lynx have led the league in rebounding (40.8 rpg) while allowing opponents a league-best 28.8 in that span. Jessica Shepard is averaging a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double over five games. Moriah Jefferson is averaging 16 points, seven assists and 4.2 rebounds in the 3-2 run for Minnesota.
Meanwhile the Aces have lost three of four while allowing opponents 89.4 points per game the last two weeks, better than only the Fever (90.8) and nearly 15 points more than leaders Sun (75) and Liberty (75) in that span. None of the stats are solid for the Aces' defense: 38.6 rpg, 26.2 apg, 4.8 bpg, 11 3-pointers per game, 47.1 FG%
"Basically, I thought they kicked our ass," Hammon said following the 88-78 loss on Wednesday, pointing out the Storm's 23 points off turnovers.
Hammon has cautioned this since the Aces' historic offensive start. It will be about more than scoring down the stretch and into the playoffs and Las Vegas needs to step up to keep atop the standings. Their offense is still averaging 86.8 ppg, led by All-Stars Kelsey Plum (21.6 ppg, ranking second amongst players) and A'ja Wilson (20 ppg, third; 12 rpg, first). It's down three points from their league-long average of 89.8, which leads the league.
The "Kelsey Mitchell should have been an All-Star" crossover:
😂😂😂😂 I ain’t mad at it . 🤝🏾 https://t.co/iUN5RzkUH2
— Diamond DeShields (@diamonddoesit1) June 30, 2022
And then off the court, kids camp day is great for the tipoff time, but goodness is the racket annoying. Kids looking in awe at autographs by W players, though? All on board for that.
Calvin was NOT letting up 😂😂 so glad we could make it happen! 🫶🏾 https://t.co/4m6ci7IZuE
— A'ja Wilson (@_ajawilson22) June 30, 2022
Games of the weekend
The top five teams in the standings heading into Thursday night were packed in tight with 2.5 games separating the two first-place teams (Sky, Aces) from fifth place (Mystics). In between are the Sun and Storm. It's hard to imagine this third and final game of the Sun and Mystics' regular season series won't largely impact the final standings and playoff picture.
The Sun took the first game, 79-71, on May 28 under the leadership of assistant coach Brandi Poole while Curt Miller was in health and safety protocols. And the Mystics won the second, 71-63, two weeks ago with Elena Delle Donne, who missed the first meeting for rest, leading the offense. The Sun won the boards, 41-19 and 43-30, but it was defense in the second meeting that made the difference for the Mystics, who have played three more games than the four teams above them.
And in obvious top-shelf beef of the week notes, the Sky host the Mercury again in another WNBA Finals rematch on Saturday. The Sky won Round 1, 73-70, around Memorial Day weekend when Diana Taurasi was thrown out before halftime. It's not a great holiday without that spice.
Candace Parker is reaching milestones every week these days. Oh hey, so is Sue Bird.
And another one: Moriah Jefferson registered a triple-double against none other than the team that waived her days into the season and is paying the majority of her salary.
Skylar Diggins-Smith leads All-Star reserve crew voted on by coaches.
We can't stop watching Courtney Vandersloot's latest buzzer-beater.
Brittney Griner's detention was extended early in the week and her trial set for Friday. Olympic teammate A'ja Wilson broke down thinking about seeing photos of Griner in the courtroom.
We spoke with Michaela Onyenwere in last week's notebook about reproductive health, fertility and anger at the potential of Roe v. Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court. The day it went live, that exact thing happened and we want to re-share the conversation here.
WNBA weekend TV schedule
Games are available on WNBA League Pass, unless aired by broadcasters as listed below (excluding Facebook and Twitter). All times ET.
Friday: Sparks at Wings (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network), Aces at Lynx (8 p.m., NBA TV), Fever at Storm (10 p.m., Facebook)
Saturday: Mercury at Sky (1 p.m., ESPN); All-Star draft (3 p.m., ESPN)
Sunday: Mystics at Sun (1 p.m., ESPN), Storm at Dream (3 p.m., NBA TV), Liberty at Sparks (6 p.m., CBS Sports Network), Aces at Lynx (7 p.m., Amazon Prime)
Monday: Mercury at Sparks (7 p.m., ESPN)
American basketball star Brittney Griner went on trial Friday, 4 1/2 months after her arrest on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for a Russian team, in a case that has unfolded amid tense relations between Moscow and Washington. The initial session of the trial, which was adjourned until July 7, offered the most extensive public interaction between Griner and reporters since the Phoenix Mercury center and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Griner, 31, was escorted into the courtroom in the capital's suburb of Khimki while handcuffed and wearing a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt.
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2022-07-01T16:54:37Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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'Unfinished Business' shines light on New York Liberty and WNBA's history from Sue Wicks to Brittney Griner
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Next up at No. 26 is edge rusher Robert Quinn, who’s coming off an impressive year but whose future also remains up-in-the-air ahead of the 2022 season.
Following a brutal first year with the Bears, Quinn bounced back with one of the best seasons of his career. He recorded a single-season franchise record 18.5 sacks, where he registered at least half a sack in 14 of 16 games he played. He logged 13 sacks in the final nine games. He also totaled 49 tackles and 17 tackles-for-loss, a team-high.
Quinn’s Pro Bowl season was made all the more impressive considering he did it mostly without star pass rusher Khalil Mack, who landed on injured reserve after season-ending foot surgery after Week 7. Quinn rose to the challenge of being the top guy off the edge, and he helped a defense that struggled in the secondary. It was a sensational bounce-back season after a rough first year in 2020, where Quinn totaled just two sacks.
The reason why Quinn ranks this low on our list is that his outlook for the 2022 season is cloudy at best. After missing the entire offseason program, including mandatory minicamp, there are obvious questions about whether the Bears will deal him before the start of the regular season. That would place a greater emphasis on other defensive ends like Trevis Gipson and Al-Quadin Muhammad when looking at the immediate future for this team.
But if Quinn is still on the roster come Week 1, he’ll obviously be an integral part of this defense. Following Khalil Mack’s departure this offseason, Quinn is the top option off the edge for Chicago. With the transition to a 4-3 defense, Quinn returns to his natural defensive end position, where he has the potential to build off his Pro Bowl season. But, right now, it’s hard to know for sure the role Quinn will play when his future remains up-in-the-air.
Big question: Will Robert Quinn be traded this season?
There has been plenty of discussion about Quinn’s future in Chicago with a new regime taking over. The Bears traded Mack to get an expensive contract and aging veteran off the books, and many speculated Quinn could be next. There has been no shortage of interest in Quinn this offseason, as there have been reports that teams inquired about his availability.
Even if Quinn is still on the roster come Week 1, there’s a chance that he could be a hot commodity come the trade deadline. There will plenty of contending teams looking to add a star pass rusher to their roster, and Poles could see a decent return. If Chicago moves Quinn, it would free up $12.9 million in salary cap space with a $4.24 million dead cap hit. At this point, it’s fair to assume Quinn’s future will remain a hot topic throughout the 2022 season.
The Wisconsin Badgers picked up a commitment from the No. 46 interior offensive lineman in the class of 2023:
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2022-07-01T17:24:24Z
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30 Most Important Bears of 2022: No. 26 Robert Quinn
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The New York Giants surprised some folks when they selected LSU cornerback Cor’Dale Flott with the 81st overall pick in the Round 3 of this year’s NFL draft. Many experts felt it was a bit a reach as Flott was still considered a work in progress.
The Giants didn’t think so, and neither did many who played with — and against — Flott in college. One of those players was Kentucky wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who the Giants selected in the second round this year.
“There were a couple times I came over to the sideline to my coach, and I said, ‘It’s like [Flott] knows what I’m running a couple times,'” Robinson told Giants.com. “That was really the only guy I felt like that against.”
Flott’s coach was none other than former Giants cornerback Corey Raymomd. Raymond played three seasons for the Giants from 1992-94 before embarking on a long coaching career.
Raymond, who has moved on from LSU to Florida, told the Giants Huddle podcast that he was “trying to find another corner like Flott” and also had this to say about the 6-foot-1, 175 pounder from Saraland, Alabama.
“Him being a smart player allowed him to do different things,” said Raymond. “He picks up defenses well. He understands a lot of different things that are happening out there. He has great instincts. He has an understanding of the game. He has all those attributes that are going to help him.”
Raymond believes the Giants could reap some immediate benefits from Flott as a rookie since he played in the SEC, where the last three National Champions came out of.
“I think he’ll be able to do it just because of coming from the conference we’re playing in,” Raymond said. “He had the heart because he went against NFL guys in practice every day, plus every week [you’re playing against maybe] not a first-rounder but it’s a draftable guy. He’s been in the fire, and that’s what’s going to help him. He’ll be able to adjust to the speed of the game. It’ll get him going faster.”
The Giants apparently would like to use Flott in the slot to start but things are fluid heading into camp.
Over/Under: 2.5 Flott INTs as a rookie? - Powered By PickUp
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2022-07-01T17:25:08Z
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Ex-Giant Corey Raymond raves about Cor’Dale Flott’s football IQ
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Daughter of Buffalo Bills owner Kim Pegula, Jessica Pegula, gave a second positive update on the health of the co-owner of the Buffalo Bills.
A tennis pro playing at the annual Wimbledon tournament, Jessica Pegula said her mother is “doing a lot better” during an interview, according to the Buffalo News.
“If she wasn’t doing well, I probably wouldn’t have come. I flew out Wednesday last week, and within that time she was in a really good condition, where I felt like everything was fine, and I felt like my family had everything under control,” she said. “She’s progressing and she’s been doing rehab. I felt comfortable coming here. But that’s why I didn’t play any warmup tournaments.”
That comes after a first positive sign earlier in the week.
On Tuesday, the Bills released a statement from Pegula Sports and Entertainment which gave a first positive update on Kim Pegula’s heath. That stated:
“Kim is progressing well and is resting and rehabilitating from a health issue. We are grateful for the medical professionals providing her care and to everyone for their prayers and well wishes. We ask that you please continue to respect our need for privacy during this time.”
Since June 14 had been receiving treatment for an “unexpected health issue.”
MADRID (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday the United States supports the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey and that he is confident the congressional approval needed for the sale can be obtained. Speaking at a news conference in Madrid at the end of a NATO summit, he rejected suggestions that Washington's support for the sale was in return for Turkey lifting its block to the NATO membership of Sweden and Finland.
Watch: Kevyn Adams discusses Sabres offseason approach
Sabres GM Kevyn Adams discusses NHL offseason.
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2022-07-01T17:25:14Z
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Jessica Pegula says mom Kim is doing better amid health issue
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Jerry Jeudy hasn’t quite lived up to his first-round draft status since joining the Denver Broncos as an extremely talented prospect out of Alabama in 2020.
Playing with underwhelming quarterbacks, Jeudy showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, but only scored three touchdowns in 2020. Last year, he missed seven games due to injury and COVID-19 and failed to score a single TD.
Jeudy is now healthy again and the Broncos have a new coaching staff, a new offense and a new, star quarterback in Russell Wilson. All that could lead to Jeudy finally living up to his first-round expectations.
“Jerry is going to be dangerous,” safety Justin Simmons said on June 14. “The way that they’ve been using him and the way we’ve had to really key in on him in just OTAs. Training camp is obviously going to be amped up more. Jerry is going to have a heck of a year; I can’t wait to watch him play and just to be let go. Just run free and do what he does best. He’s one of the best route runners I think I’ve consistently gone up against over and over.
Jeudy caught 38 passes for 467 yards in 10 games last season. Simmons — and all of Broncos Country — expects much better results this fall.
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2022-07-01T17:25:33Z
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Justin Simmons says Jerry Jeudy will have ‘a heck of a year’ in 2022
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An autopsy of former Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson revealed he died from the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Friday. His death was also ruled an accident, according to the office.
No other information regarding the nature of Ferguson's death has been publicized, but the office said they plan to complete most of a written autopsy report within 90 days.
Ferguson was found unresponsive at his home in North Baltimore on June 21 before police were called to the scene that night. According to police, "Ferguson never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics." He was 26 years old.
The Ravens announced Ferguson's death the next morning and his agent, Safarrah Lawson confirmed it soon after. NFL players, fans and media paid tribute to Ferguson on social media as well. Ferguson's family released a statement on June 23 calling his death "one of the darkest moments" in their lives.
Ferguson holds the NCAA record with 45 sacks in four years at Louisana Tech to earn the nickname "Sack Daddy." The Ravens selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft, where he played 38 games over the past three seasons and tallied 4.5 sacks and 57 tackles.
According to The Baltimore Banner, Ferguson had recently been dealing with the death of his grandmother and a fire at his home in Owing Mills, Maryland. A friend also told police Ferguson suffered from depression. His family also started an online fundraiser for his three children.
Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson died at the age of 26 in his home earlier this month. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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2022-07-01T17:26:18Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ravens LB Jaylon Ferguson reportedly died from combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine
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Four-star wide receiver recruit Tyler Williams has announced his top five schools. Williams is the No. 24 wide receiver in the country. He plays high school football for Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. Williams is a member of the class of 2023.
Tyler Williams is a good student and has over 30 scholarship offers to play football. He plans to announce his commitment in several months on Sept. 27.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound receiver is ranked as the No. 148 recruit in the country. Williams is also a talented basketball recruit with a scholarship offer from Florida Gulf Coast. He plays point guard in basketball and was All-County first-team.
The four-star receiver previously played high school football for Winter Haven. Who are Tyler Williams’ top five schools?
Top school: South Carolina Gamecocks
Williams ranks South Carolina among his top schools. The four-star receiver took an official visit to Columbia, South Carolina, in June.
Top school: Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss made Tyler Williams’ top five, but the Lakeland standout has not officially visited Mississippi as recently as his other top schools. Ole Miss’ offensive system helps make it an attractive destination for receivers.
Tyler Williams is favored to commit to Kirby Smart and Georgia football, per 247Sports. The talented four-star wide receiver visited Athens, Georgia, on June 10-12. Georgia is always looking to sign several talented wide receivers.
Top school: Clemson Tigers
The Lakeland star visited Clemson on the first weekend of June. Tyler Williams considers Clemson to be one of his favorite schools.
Top school: Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M recently extended a scholarship offer to Tyler Williams on May 9. Williams took a June official visit to College Station, Texas, and considers Texas A&M to be among his top five.
Oscar winner Denzel Washington, gymnast Simone Biles and the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs are among this year’s 17 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House announced today. Presented to individuals who have “made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace or other significant societal, […]
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2022-07-01T17:58:37Z
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4-star WR Tyler Williams names top 5 schools
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USC and UCLA shook the college football on Thursday with the announcements that they’re joining the Big 10 conference. That’s nearly a year after the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns did the same thing last summer with their announced move to the SEC.
The Pac-12’s realignment hasn’t been met with the same angst that Oklahoma’s has, but that’s primarily because USC and UCLA are rivals moving together and happen to be in the biggest media market on the west coast.
Funny how that goes.
The Oklahoma Sooners’ departure to the SEC with their rival Texas was a pairing that had to happen. Preserving Red River was something that both OU, Texas, and the SEC wanted. Left out in the cold, though, was Oklahoma’s in-state rival Oklahoma State.
In the aftermath, Oklahoma State leadership didn’t mince words about their frustration and disappointment in reaction to Oklahoma leaving the conference and potentially leaving Bedlam behind. While the Sooners have remained open about Bedlam remaining part of their nonconference schedule, Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State President Kayse Shrum weren’t so optimistic.
But with conference realignment reshaping the college football landscape once again, there may be an opportunity for Bedlam to continue.
As the Big 10 expands its membership to 16 with the additions of USC and UCLA, there are hints that they could be looking to get even bigger by adding Oregon and Washington. If the Big 10 goes to 18 or works to get to 20 as has also been rumored, then the SEC could look to respond by adding members themselves. They could go to 18, or 20, or bigger.
While everyone looks at ACC powers Clemson, Florida State, and Miami (at least historically), Shrum and Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg have an opportunity to get back into Bed(lam) with Oklahoma. If they want to.
Picking up the phone and calling SEC commissioner Greg Sankey could get the ball rolling on further expansion of Oklahoma’s future home and reunite the in-state rivals in a game that’s been played since 1904.
Bedlam might not move the needle in terms of national recognition as a rivalry, but next to OU-Texas, it’s the biggest regional rivalry going since Texas A&M and Nebraska left for the SEC and Big 10 a decade ago.
Though Oklahoma has dominated the rivalry, the 2021 edition showed the magnitude of the game as Oklahoma State pulled off the 37-31 win in Stillwater. The environment was rocking and the game was electric.
Oklahoma’s move to the SEC wasn’t a personal decision, it was a business one. While it certainly created a lot of feelings, if there’s any desire to keep Bedlam going in the future, then Oklahoma State has to put those feelings aside and do business.
Where would the 'Palace on the Prairie' and Darrell K. Royal rank among SEC Stadium Capacities?
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2022-07-01T17:59:09Z
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With realignment at the forefront again, Bedlam has a chance at a future
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BREAKING: Four-Star RB Jeremiah Cobb has Committed to Auburn, he tells @On3Recruits
The 5’11 190 RB from Montgomery, AL chose the Tigers over Tennessee, Clemson, and othershttps://t.co/xoIkkXGxml pic.twitter.com/Ymbka4kQEv
Jeremiah Cobb's 2023 Auburn recruiting profile
One of Los Angeles’ — and the world’s — most captivating pieces of architecture, Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall is seen by most downtown L.A. visitors from street level. Now, the 93-year-old architect’s new Grand LA complex — a $1 billion, 15-years-in-the-making, two-tower mix of retail, a hotel and luxury residences located just across […]
Though Florida was the only state that didn't pre-order the vaccines, some Space Coast pediatricians were able to obtain them and are dispensing them.
Sleeping Texan wakes to find venomous ‘creature from hell’ in bed. And there’s video
Getting up in the morning is hard enough without finding a terrifying creature next to you.
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2022-07-01T17:59:15Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Running back target Jeremiah Cobb commits to Auburn over Clemson, Tennessee
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https://sports.yahoo.com/running-back-target-jeremiah-cobb-170851439.html?src=rss
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American basketball player-coach (1937-2011)
NEW YORK (AP) Coming off a Final Four appearance, Villanova and new coach Kyle Neptune will face Tom Izzo's Michigan State in one of the major attractions of the seventh Gavitt Tipoff Games.
Zach LaVine is back with the Bulls, as the two-time All-Star agreed to terms on a five-year, $215.2 million contract on the second day of free agency.
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2022-07-01T19:19:50Z
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Villanova-Michigan St highlight Gavitt Games in BEast-BTen
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The college landscape changed pretty dramatically on Thursday evening when it was officially announced that both USC and UCLA would be leaving the Pac-12 conference and heading to the Big Ten starting in 2024.
Once the news broke, most of the Big Ten teams were issuing their own statements on accepting USC and UCLA into the conference and showing their excitement. On Friday morning, the University of Michigan put out its statement.
President, Mary Sue Coleman, and Athletic Director, Wards Manuel, wrote the following:
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — On Thursday (June 30), the Big Ten Conference unanimously voted to accept the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California as full members in all sponsored sports effective August, 2024.
The conference was previously sitting at 14 teams, and with the two incoming teams joining, the Big Ten will now consist of 16 teams. There will presumably be talks about division realignment and scheduling in the coming months.
Continue to follow WolverinesWire for any additional breaking news on the matter.
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2022-07-01T19:30:32Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Michigan issues statement on USC and UCLA entering Big Ten play
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Mike DePrisco
The Boston Bruins have six picks in the 2022 NHL Draft. Here's when they'll be on the clock.
Hollywood has a Chris problem. There are simply too many of them, all identikit hunks starring in similar superhero and sci-fi franchises. Chris Pine, Chris Pratt, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth… Who has the time or inclination to tell them apart? That being said, Chris Pratt is marginally my favourite, thanks to his breakthrough role as endearingly goofy slacker Andy Dwyer in mighty NBC sitcom Parks & Recreation. He’s since hit the gym, lost several stone and become a bona fide leading man.
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2022-07-01T19:30:39Z
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Nationals have their own 'Bobby Bonilla day' now with Max Scherzer
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What's next for Warriors after tough start to free agency? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
And at this publishing time, Kevon Looney still is on the open market.
This isn't time to panic. As long as the Warriors still have Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, they'll be in better position than most teams. It doesn't hurt having Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, plus other exciting young talent, too. But that doesn't mean there aren't questions to be asked.
So, where do the Warriors go from here? And what does this all mean?
Well, the starting point has to be Looney. He was priority No. 1 going into the offseason, and his importance has only grown. Losing three players, including two key rotation pieces from a championship roster, will be missed. All three also were respected voices in the locker room.
Losing Looney would hurt the most.
For all that Payton, Porter and Toscano-Anderson brought to the table, the center is the focal point of the Warriors' defense and the only player at that position on the roster is a 21-year-old coming off a knee injury who hasn't played an NBA game since April 10, 2021. Retaining Looney is a must.
Replacing what Payton provided won't be easy. His combination of being a 6-foot-3 guard who can defend multiple positions and is the dunker on offense is unheard of. It would be a group effort to make up for his loss.
One that starts with Moses Moody, along with Jonathan Kuminga. A healthy Ryan Rollins figures to be part of that equation down the road, and this also could pave a clear path to a roster spot for Quinndary Weatherspoon.
Porter often was called the "perfect Warrior" by Steve Kerr this past season. His plus-minus would speak for itself. It always felt like he was the most likely Warriors free agent to leave in the offseason, and his loss also will be felt. It calls for two things: A shooting big/wing and more minutes for Kuminga.
The return of Nemanja Bjelica would help fill the gap of a veteran big/wing who can space the floor. He reportedly might be headed back to Europe to play overseas. There's a handful of those still on the open market. Is there the right fit, though? Outside of Looney's return, that's the next challenge for general manager Bob Myers and the rest of the front office right now.
RELATED: Warriors deal with massive loss as GP2 leaves for Blazers
Finding more minutes for Kuminga won't be a challenge, though. A second-year jump always is part of the plan for a No. 7 overall draft pick. After the promise and potential he showed as a 19-year-old rookie, he figures to be a key part of the Warriors' success and see a whole lot of playing time.
Either way, it's non-stop entertainment with Kuminga. This should be fun.
The first order of business is making sure Looney doesn't leave the Bay Area. There are other holes to fill, and the future is here with Kuminga and Moody -- at the very least.
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2022-07-01T19:30:45Z
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NBA free agency 2022: What's next for Warriors after tough start?
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Thaddeus Young to return to Raptors
Chris Haynes: Free agent forward Thaddeus Young has reached an agreement with the Toronto Raptors on a two-year, $16 million deal with the addition of performance incentives, his agents Jim Tanner and Max Wiepking of @Tandem Sports tell ...
The Trail Blazers are also re-signing Drew Eubanks.
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2022-07-01T19:30:51Z
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Report: Free-agent Otto Porter Jr. agrees to deal with Toronto Raptors
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The Cardinals' Tommy Edman has played star-level defense at shortstop and second en route to becoming one of the majors' most valuable players in 2022. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images)
How 'Cardinals Devil Magic' went from joke to fact
This is the story of the Cardinals. Just when everything points to a slide into mediocrity, or toward a rebuild, a new star sprouts. Or a sweetheart Nolan Arenado trade falls out of the sky. They're not locks to reach October this year, but it's hard to envision them falling out of a race with the Milwaukee Brewers that few expected them to be in.
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2022-07-01T19:31:04Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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The Cardinals are never going to be bad again. How St. Louis concocts a magic brew to play winning baseball every year
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https://sports.yahoo.com/the-cardinals-are-never-going-to-be-bad-again-how-st-louis-concocts-a-magic-brew-to-play-winning-baseball-every-year-172453337.html?src=rss
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STORY: The trial began in Russia Friday for a U.S. basketball star accused of bringing hashish oil into the country.
Brittney Griner heard the drug charges against her that could lead to 10 years in a Russian jail. She was charged with intentionally importing narcotics into Russia.
The case is unfolding against a backdrop of high tension between Moscow and Washington over the conflict in Ukraine. U.S. officials say Griner has been wrongfully detained.
Elizabeth Rood, a U.S. diplomat based in Russia, said she was able to speak with Griner in the courtroom.
"She is doing as well as can be expected in these difficult circumstances, and she asked me to convey that she's in good spirits and is keeping up the faith. The Russian Federation has wrongfully detained Miss Griner. Wrongful detention is unacceptable, wherever it occurs, and it endangers the safety of everyone traveling, living, working, studying abroad. I can assure you that the United States government at the very highest levels is working very hard to bring Miss Griner - as well as all wrongfully detained U.S. citizens - safely home."
Griner, who has played regularly in Russia and in the WNBA, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February, allegedly with vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.
Griner told Reuters she was finding detention hard because she doesn't speak Russian, and that she was unable to keep up her fitness.
The next hearing is set for July 7th.
American basketball star Brittney Griner went on trial Friday, 4 1/2 months after her arrest on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for a Russian team, in a case that has unfolded amid tense relations between Moscow and Washington. The initial session of the trial, which was adjourned until July 7, offered the most extensive public interaction between Griner and reporters since the Phoenix Mercury center and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport. Griner, 31, was escorted into the courtroom in the capital's suburb of Khimki while handcuffed, carrying a water bottle and what appeared to be a magazine, and wearing a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt.
In a message posted to Twitter, John Wall thanked Rockets ownership, front office, teammates, and fans for his brief time in Houston. He is reportedly set to join the Los Angeles Clippers.
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2022-07-01T19:46:55Z
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WNBA star Brittney Griner begins trial in Russia
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There’s always the chance the Big Ten isn’t done expanding and adds two or more teams into the mix by the 2024 season.
But let's say USC and UCLA were stepping right into the conference this August. How would the Trojans and Bruins fare against some of the top heavyweights in the Football Bowl Subdivision?
Here's a glimpse at the Big Ten power rankings with the newcomers included, weighing factors such as recent success, current program prestige and the odds of winning the conference championship in 2022.
There are two teams capable of stepping right into the Big Ten and unseating the Buckeyes from atop the conference. Those teams: Alabama and Georgia. The Trojans and Bruins aren’t doing that in 2022. (And maybe not ever.)
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh runs onto the field with his team before the Big Ten championship against Iowa.
The defending conference champions are going to control things along the line of scrimmage on offense. Keep an eye on quarterback: Cade McNamara is the incumbent starter, but youngster J.J. McCarthy may be too good to keep on the sidelines. Even if the defense takes a step against the run, the Wolverines are good enough to repeat atop the Big Ten and reach the College Football Playoff.
The Nittany Lions will bounce back and contend for the top spot among the league’s potent second tier of teams. Bringing in former Miami (Fla.) coach Manny Diaz as defensive coordinator is one of the most impactful offseason hires in the Power Five.
OPINION: Apocalypse, now! College sports mayhem as USC, UCLA bolt for Big Ten
ANALYSIS: With USC, UCLA move, college football future is two super-conferences
CHAMPIONS: A look inside the trophy cases at USC, UCLA
Having taken a big leap back into playoff contention under Mel Tucker, the Spartans look to build off last year’s breakthrough. Quarterback Payton Thorne is the most underrated passer in the Big Ten and the new face of the offense with running back Kenneth Walker III off to the NFL.
The Badgers must upgrade a middling passing game to contend along the league’s top four. But Wisconsin does look like the best team in a deep and likely competitive Big Ten West, where at least five teams are anticipating seven or more wins in the regular season and at least three can make a valid argument for reaching the conference championship game.
Southern California head coach Lincoln Riley talks with his quarterbacks during a March practice.
USC could very well win the Pac-12 in Riley’s debut should the offense click behind star quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Jordan Addison. Depth is a major problem, however, and the lack of experienced bodies across the board would be a big issue in the grind of Big Ten play. The guess: USC would win seven or eight games as a member of the conference, feasting on the bottom half of the league but not matching up well with Ohio State, Michigan and the best of the best.
Iowa’s a lock for bowl play and should spend much of the year at least on the fringes of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. That might be selling the Hawkeyes short. Like Wisconsin, the offense has to get more at quarterback to take advantage of possible All-America tight end Sam LaPorta and very promising young receiver Keagan Johnson.
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson returns as a super senior, bolstering Chip Kelly's offense.
Look for the Bruins to start the year on many preseason Top 25 lists. Like the rival Trojans, UCLA is poised to make a strong push for the Pac-12 South Division crown, the conference championship and a New Year’s Six bowl. Admittedly, it’s been a slog to get here: Kelly won three, four and three games in his first three seasons before last year’s eight-win finish. The Bruins should match that total in the Pac-12. The guess: They would land more in the seven-win range in this year’s Big Ten.
The boom-or-bust Cornhuskers have put faith in a number of Power Five transfers to change the program’s trajectory under coach Scott Frost. The biggest addition is former Texas quarterback Casey Thompson, who can lock down the starting job in preseason camp. If everything works, this team could win the West; if it’s more of the same, look for four or five wins.
Minnesota needs to rebuild up front without four of last season’s starting offensive linemen. (Though the one returning starter, center John Michael Schmitz, is a fantastic building block.) While those personnel losses are concerning, the Gophers will get a boost from the return of former offensive coach Kirk Ciarrocca, who previously held the position from 2017-19.
Purdue won’t rise to the top of the Big Ten West without taking a big step forward on defense, which seems unlikely. Aidan O’Connell and the Boilermakers’ offense will carry this team to six or seven wins, however, and it’s not hard to see Purdue knock off Iowa or Wisconsin during the regular season and shake up the divisional race.
A brutal November — starting with Wisconsin and Penn State on the road and Ohio State at home — means Maryland needs to hit the ground running in September and October to secure another bowl bid. Good thing the schedule could allow for a 6-2 start.
NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS: Failures, successes and the future of the legislation at one-year mark
OPINION: Could Big Ten come after Notre Dame next?
The defense has miles to go before simply joining the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. Last year’s group gave up 7.1 yards per play against opponents with a winning record, fourth-worst among teams in the Power Five. Greg Schiano might coax six wins out of this group, but it’ll be close.
It’s still early in the rebuilding process for coach Bret Bielema. But there were very positive signs coming out of his debut: Illinois won four games in conference play, including an epic overtime win against Penn State and a physical road victory against Minnesota. His second team could improve but still top out at four or five wins.
Pat Fitzgerald has suffered back-to-back losing seasons just once since taking over at Northwestern in 2006. Three times in the past decade he’s taken a losing team to a Top 25 finish the following year — in 2012, 2015 and 2020. Serious personnel questions on both sides of the ball make a similar leap this season highly unlikely. So does the schedule, which includes crossover games against Penn State and Ohio State.
Any one of the bottom four teams could end up as the caboose of the Big Ten. Let’s go with Indiana even if the Hoosiers and coach Tom Allen are not far removed from one of the top seasons in modern program history.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big Ten college football power rankings: How USC, UCLA would do in '22
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2022-07-01T19:53:58Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Big Ten college football power rankings: Where USC, UCLA would rate if they joined in 2022
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Things seemed to move very swiftly on Thursday as the Big Ten once again decided on expanding the conference’s membership. And this time, the Big Ten is going west to take two iconic programs from the Pac-12. The Big Ten announced on Thursday evening it has voted to accept applications for membership from USC and UCLA. The two west coast schools will join the Big Ten in all sports beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.
“As the national leader in academics and athletics for over 126 years, the Big Ten Conference has historically evaluated its membership with the collective goal to forward the academic and athletic mission for student-athletes under the umbrella of higher education,” Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said in a released statement on Thursday evening. “The unanimous vote [Thursday] signifies the deep respect and welcoming culture our entire conference has for the University of Southern California, under the leadership of President Carol Folt, and the University of California, Los Angeles, under the leadership of Chancellor Gene Block.”
The addition of USC and UCLA will bring the Big Ten’s membership to 16 full-time members in 2024, although it remains to be seen if the Trojans and Bruins will be coming alone. Conference realignment rumors will continue to be flying hot every which way you look as the Pac-12 attempts to figure out its future and other conference members could explore their best options available. Oregon and Washington joining USC and UCLA in the Big Ten is not nearly a far-fetched idea anymore as it once could have been. Notre Dame is another school that will be in the spotlight as the ACC looks to avoid suffering a similar fate now seen in the Big 12 (Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC) and the Pac-12.
The expansion to the west coast is clearly driven by the Los Angeles television market opportunities for the Big Ten. With a new media rights deal in the works, the Big Ten now has a vested interest in the four largest television markets in the country with New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Washignton D.C. is the nation’s seventh-largest market. To prove this is a real priority, Apple has reportedly reignited interest in negotiating with the Big Ten to be a part of the media strategy in a new rights package.
There will be much to digest in this news as we also wait to learn what could possibly come next. But with USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten, it is evident that nothing can ever be considered off the table.
Parker Washington gets some NFL draft love from On3
Ohio State men's basketball coach Chris Holtmann is enthused about the Big Ten's addition of UCLA and USC.
(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court moved boldly in its first full term with three Donald Trump appointees, delivering far-reaching rulings on guns, religion and federal regulatory power along with a historic decision that eliminated the constitutional right to abortion.Most Read from BloombergUS Will Face High Gas Prices ‘as Long as It Takes,’ Biden SaysCrypto Meltdown Claims Rolex and Patek Philippe as VictimsThe Wheels Have Come Off Electric VehiclesHow Europe Became the Epicenter for This Su
In a surprising and seismic shift in college athletics, the Big Ten voted Thursday to add Southern California and UCLA as conference members beginning in 2024. The expansion to 16 teams will happen after the Pac-12’s current media rights contracts with Fox and ESPN expire and make the Big Ten the first conference to stretch […]
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2022-07-01T19:54:04Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Big Ten officially announces additions of USC and UCLA
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As always, the Big Ten will be part of numerous major non-conference matchups — including the Spartans who will take on Washington in mid-September.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 most anticipated Big Ten non-conference games on the schedule for this upcoming season:
Date: Sept. 3 at 12 p.m. EDT
A pair of east coast programs will battle it out in week one, with the goal of starting the season off right. Both Rutgers and Boston College reached bowl games last year, and will be looking to build off that momentum in 2022.
Date: Sept. 17 at 12 p.m. EDT
Purdue is a darkhorse contender to win the Big Ten West Division this fall — and personally a team I’m high on entering this year. Syracuse isn’t going to be great this fall but should contend for a bowl game, making this a tough early-season test for the Boilermakers.
SMU has consistently been a solid program in the American Athletic Conference and generally brings a potent passing attack to the field. Maryland is the same thing in the Big Ten so this should be a high-scoring matchup.
Sam Greene/The Enquirer via Imagn Content Services
Indiana will be looking for a bounce-back season in 2022 and upsetting Cincinnati would certainly help achieve that. The Hoosiers played the playoff-bound Bearcats tight last year so this could be a sneaky good game for Big Ten football fans in late September.
Wisconsin is one of the favorites to win the Big Ten West Division this fall, but getting past Washington State in early September could be tough. The Wildcats finished last season strong and are a darkhorse contender in the Pac-12 this year. This will be a fun early-season matchup for both teams.
Iowa owns the in-state series with the Cyclones — winning the last six meetings. But this rivalry is always a fun matchup and worthy of watching early in the season. Iowa will be favored again but maybe this is the year Iowa State ends the streak.
Michigan State’s trip to the West coast should be a very anticipated matchup for both Spartans and college football fans. Under a new head coach, we aren’t sure what to make of Washington heading into 2022 but it’s never easy winning on the road so this should be a fun hard-fought battle.
It isn’t often we see a Big Ten-SEC matchup that isn’t played in a bowl game or at a neutral field. Penn State will take its return trip to Auburn this year, and it should be a fun nationally-televised game for college football fans everywhere. Penn State on paper is the better team but winning on the road at a place like Auburn won’t be easy for the Nittany Lions.
If you’re not high on Nebraska then you won’t consider this a great game — but I’m someone who expects a decent season from the Cornhuskers in 2022. So this traditional rivalry matchup against the Sooners is one that I’m looking forward to this fall. If Nebraska pulls the upset, then they’ll be in line for a great season.
A preseason top 10 matchup between two of the game’s most historic programs — this is easily the top non-conference game for the Big Ten this year and arguably for the entire country. The Buckeyes will enter as a two-score favorite but don’t be surprised if Notre Dame keeps it closer than the betting experts predict. Regardless, this is the most anticipated non-conference game in the league and I’m excited for this matchup on opening weekend.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said she'll run for president in 2024 "if there's a place for me."
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2022-07-01T19:54:10Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Big Ten’s top non-conference games this upcoming season
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Alabama’s 2023 recruiting cycle didn’t start out so hot in comparison to other elite programs like Texas, Georgia and Ohio State. However, as of this past week, things seemed to be trending in the right direction.
In this week alone, Alabama has landed five-star Tony Mitchell, three-star Brayson Hubbard, four-star Cole Adams and junior college linebacker Justin Jefferson. If it is a sign of things to come, Alabama fans should be stoked.
As for the coming months, many expect the Tide to land a lot of recruits. Thus far, the class is mainly defensive players, with the only offensive players in the class are Eli Holstein, Wilkin Formby, and Cole Adams. That is subject to change over the next few months with numerous highly-touted recruits favoring the Tide. On the other hand, Pete Golding and the defensive staff could receive quite a few commitments on that side of the ball as well.
Today, Roll Tide Wire discusses the five recruits that Alabama fans should keep a close eye on in the coming months and why.
Peter Woods - Five-star defensive lineman
This is a recruit that the Alabama coaching staff has been after since 2020. Woods is rated as the No. 24 recruit in the entire country by 247Sports’ recruiting rankings. He has been to Tuscaloosa on several different occasions with the majority of them being unofficial visits. As for other schools in the mix, he has taken two official visits — Clemson and Florida. He has set his commitment date for July 8. Realistically, this is a Clemson-Alabama race for the product of Thompson High School. Some say it will be Clemson while others have high hopes that he commits to Alabama. We will have to wait and see.
Malik Bryant - Four-star linebacker
Gary Cosby Jr.- USA TODAY NETWORK
Malik Bryant is a highly-coveted linebacker from the Sunshine state. He spent two years at IMG Academy before transferring back to his hometown high school — Jones High School. He has taken two unofficial visits to Tuscaloosa. Meanwhile, he has also visited other schools like Maryland, Miami and Florida. His commitment date is set for July 23. This is likely a recruiting battle between Alabama and Florida to land Bryant.
Raul Aguirre - Four-star linebacker
The Alabama coaching staff seems to be high on Aguirre. The Georgia native was offered by the staff in February and has become a priority for the Tide at the linebacker position. He has taken official visits to Alabama, Florida, Ohio State and Texas. He is scheduled to announce his commitment on July 16 and would be a huge boost to the recruiting class if he commits to Alabama.
Malik Benson - Four-star wide receiver (JUCO)
Billy Watson/The Hutchinson News
Alabama fans have probably heard of Malik Benson. He is rated as the No. 1 overall player at the junior college level according to 247Sports’ recruiting rankings. In case you haven’t, he is the top target at the wide receiver position for the Tide. He is set to announce his commitment on July 5th. Benson has taken all five of his official visits and is likely definitively locked in with his commitment. The frontrunners appear to be Georgia and Alabama. However, other schools like Tennessee, Oregon and LSU are also in the mix.
Dylan Lonergan - Four-star quarterback
The one position that seems to always have a superstar is quarterback. Over the years, there has been profound success at the position. Now, it is time for the coaching staff to bring in some new quarterbacks for when quarterback Bryce Young leaves. One of those targets is Dylan Lonergan. The Georgia native appears to be down to three schools — Stanford, South Carolina and Alabama. He has made two trips to Tuscaloosa and plans to commit on July 12. Alabama is on the outside looking in, but don’t count the Tide out in his recruitment. The goal is to sign two quarterbacks in this year’s class.
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2022-07-01T19:54:17Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Five recruits that the Alabama faithful should be keeping a close eye on
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https://sports.yahoo.com/five-recruits-alabama-faithful-keeping-192617789.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/five-recruits-alabama-faithful-keeping-192617789.html?src=rss
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Jamaal Westerman
Jamaal Westerman has made a move within the Rutgers football program, the former Scarlet Knight shifting from a role as a defensive assistant to the strength and conditioning program.
RutgersWire has confirmed that Westerman is now an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Westerman was a standout defensive end at Rutgers, where he played under head coach Greg Schiano and was named All-Big East twice. He played in four bowl games during his time with the Scarlet Knights.
Following his playing career at Rutgers, Westerman played six seasons in the NFL, most notably with the New York Jets. He also played several seasons in the Canadian Football League, being named an All-Star and consistently being among the best edge rushers in the league.
Westerman is also frequently seen on SNY where he makes appearances talking about the Jets and the NFL.
As a former NFL player, Westerman is obviously no stranger to workout and conditioning. During offseason workouts, Westerman went so far as to utilize a device to limit oxygen in-take when doing cardio and strength work:
Earlier this week, former Penn State football standout Steven Gonzalez announced on social media that he is joining the Rutgers football program as an intern. Gonzalez, a multi-year starter and All-Big Ten selection in 2019 as a senior at Penn State, will be spending his time with the strength and conditioning program.
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2022-07-01T19:54:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jamaal Westerman makes a move within the Rutgers football program
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https://sports.yahoo.com/jamaal-westerman-makes-move-within-142323234.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/jamaal-westerman-makes-move-within-142323234.html?src=rss
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The Pac-12 announces: "The Pac-12 Board met this morning and authorized the Conference to explore all expansion options. The 10 university presidents and chancellors remain committed to a shared mission of academic and athletic excellence on behalf of our student-athletes."
WATCH: Morgan Hoffmann hits one shot off his hat and another off the flagstick
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2022-07-01T19:54:48Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Report: Pac-12 to ‘explore all expansion options’ in wake of USC, UCLA departures
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https://sports.yahoo.com/report-pac-12-explore-expansion-185656812.html?src=rss
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Kevin Durants wants out of the Brooklyn Nets and ESPN has already created an article full of mock trades that’d send him out to a new team.
One of those trades include the Oklahoma City Thunder, who’d send out Derrick Favors and three first-round picks for Ben Simmons in a three-team deal with the Nets and Denver Nuggets.
While public opinion on Simmons is at an all-time low and is better than what most people think he is, the fit with the Thunder doesn’t make much sense since the team already has plenty of guards and forwards to give minutes to.
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2022-07-01T20:14:42Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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ESPN proposes a three-team Kevin Durant trade that lands the Thunder Ben Simmons
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https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-proposes-three-team-kevin-160004817.html?src=rss
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Moody's role, readiness increases with GP2 reportedly gone originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Warriors were hit with a massive loss on the first day of NBA free agency, as Gary Payton II reportedly agreed to a three-year, $28 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers that can be worth up to $30 million.
Instead of watching Payton guard Portland stars like Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons up and down the court, now the Warriors will have to face the feisty guard three times a season. There's no fully replacing Payton's unique skill set. It will be a group effort.
And it starts with Moses Moody.
When the Warriors selected Moody with the No. 14 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the freshman out of Arkansas was seen as the more pro-ready prospect between him and Jonathan Kuminga, the No. 7 pick by Golden State. But Kuminga continued to open eyes and his pure athleticism was too much to keep off the floor at times. Steve Kerr also showed how much he already trusts Moody at a crucial point when the rookie was still only 19 years old.
Moody, now 20, essentially was given Payton's minutes in the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks with the veteran on the shelf to a fractured left elbow. He averaged 12.8 minutes per game in the conference finals, averaged 4.6 points and made half of his 3-point attempts. Where he really stood out was the other side of the ball.
Kerr didn't wait to bring Moody off the bench early while being surrounded by shooters. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard/small forward has a 7-foot-1 wingspan and already plays very technically sound, and isn't afraid to get on the ground for a loose ball. Not everything is seen in the box score, but watching the way he would put a hand in the face of Mavs star Luka Doncic shows how much the little things already matter to him.
His impact was seen more than ever when the Warriors almost pulled off a wild 29-point comeback against the Mavs in Game 4 with the backups and role plays taking over. Moody scored eight of his 10 points in the fourth quarter and made both of his 3-pointers. He didn't hesitate with the ball in his hands and looked like a seasoned veteran ready for the big stage. The rookie also had two steals and four deflections.
The expectation already was that Moody would take a leap and see his role expand in Year 2. Now with Payton reportedly headed to Portland, his timeline has moved up a bit and his readiness just became that much more important.
"Resilience, discipline," Moody said Wednesday to reporters when asked what he learned as a rookie. "It was a lot of different things, a lot of different points in this year that called for me to be a different person or for me to think a different way, have a different mindset and I was kind of impressed with my ability to do so, recognize who I need to be during that time and shift my mindset to be OK with it and being on my toes on and off the court and being able to maneuver it.
"At the end of the day, I was 19 years old. This is all new to me. I've never been in a work environment. It's a business. This is my first time having co-workers. I'm learning how to become an NBA player. I'm learning how to be an adult, how to have a job, how to be a celebrity. All of that stuff is new, so I was impressed with the way I was able to maneuver."
So were the Warriors.
And Moody isn't taking any time off with the NBA Finals and the Warriors' championship parade in the rearview mirror.
RELATED: How Warriors could replace GP2 if he leaves in free agency
He already is back on the court practicing with the Warriors' summer league team and is expected to play at least one of the Warriors' games this weekend in the California Classic at Chase Center. It's still to be determined if he also will play in games in Las Vegas. What is Moody's main focus right now?
The entirety of basketball. Literally.
"I'm working on everything," Moody said. "Everything needs work. I'm working on my jumpshot -- spot-up shooting, shooting off the catch, shooting off the dribble. Defense -- on-ball defense, off-ball defense. Transition -- pushing the ball, playing with pace, making quick decisions. Finishing in transition, finishing around the rim.
"I could sit here and name everything I want to work on, but I'd explain the whole game of basketball if I did."
Moody was praised all season long for his poise, maturity, work ethic and being able to stay ready as a rookie. Now all those aspects are about to be put to the test. The work has just begun.
He sure seems more than ready for his next challenge, too.
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2022-07-01T20:15:01Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Moses Moody role increases with Gary Payton II reportedly leaving Warriors
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https://sports.yahoo.com/moses-moody-role-increases-gary-164519943.html?src=rss
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Porter Jr. was the third overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft and the Raptors will be his fifth team in the last six seasons. Porter Jr. has a connection to Toronto, though, as his wife is from the Canadian city.
Also in free agency, another piece of the Warriors' title-winning roster left Golden State. Gary Payton II reached an agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-year, $28 million deal late Thursday.
Otto Porter Jr. is leaving the Golden State Warriors after a productive season in the Bay, league sources told Yahoo Sports. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Mo Bamba NBA free agency 2022: Center, Orlando Magic agree on 2-year, $21 million deal
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2022-07-01T20:15:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Otto Porter Jr. NBA free agency 2022: Forward, Toronto Raptors agree to 2-year deal
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https://sports.yahoo.com/otto-porter-jr-nba-free-agency-2022-forward-toronto-raptors-agree-to-2-year-deal-152237499.html?src=rss
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The Arizona Cardinals elected this offseason to mostly bring back key contributors from their 11-win 2021 season for 2022. They lost receiver Christian Kirk and linebackers Jordan Hicks and Chandler Jones, but they also added receiver Hollywood Brown and guard Will Hernandez. They also signed cornerback Jeff Gladney, but he later died in a car accident.
This team was a playoff team last season and had double-digit wins. For a while, the Cardinals were the best team in the NFL.
However, Pro Football Focus does not believe this is a very talented roster in 2022. PFF ranked all 32 rosters and the Cardinals were in the bottom 10, ranked 23rd.
Their greatest strength from Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, while their biggest weakness is at cornerback, where there is uncertainty for the third spot on defense.
The X-factor for 2022, though, is linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who could be a breakout stud in his third season in the league.
As for the rest of the NFC West, the Los Angeles Rams are No. 4, the San Francisco 49ers are 13th and the Seattle Seahawks are ranked 29th.
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2022-07-01T20:38:07Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Cardinals have bottom-10 roster in talent, per PFF
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https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-bottom-10-roster-talent-174832282.html?src=rss
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Cowboys sign Lirim Hajrullahu originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
STORY: Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers have received military training in the UK.More than 450 troops were taught how to use a range of weapons by the British Army, including the Multiple Launch Rocket Systems - which Britain is supplying to Ukraine.Media were invited to Salisbury plain, in southern England, where the exercises were taking place.The training is part of a wide-ranging international support package following Russia's invasion in February.Captain James Oliphant of the Royal Artillery was involved in the three-week long training of the MLRS:"At the end of the day, it's another component to their own balance, it's a force multiplier. Because it's a truck vehicle, their rocket systems are wheeled, it's going to give them more mobility, which is going to aid in their survivability. Naturally, it's an ammunition that's able to punch up to 84 kilometers."Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation" to disarm its neighbor and rid it of quote "fascists".Ukraine and its Western allies say Russia is waging an unprovoked war of aggression.During a surprise visit to Kyiv this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a separate training operation for Ukrainian forces, with the potential to train up to 10,000 soldiers every 120 days.And on Wednesday (June 29), the British government announced it would provide another $1.2 billion of military support to Ukraine, including air defense systems, uncrewed aerial vehicles and new electronic warfare equipment.Meanwhile, back on Salisbury plain - British trainers praised the attitude of their Ukrainian counterparts."They are extremely keen to learn and we have had for long days when we've been teaching them from eight in the morning till six at night, seven days a week for the whole period that they've been here. Their appetite at the beginning was as you can imagine, extremely high and very needy. But as they become more attuned and accustomed to being able to operate this system, that started to calm down and are now in a position where the battery commander himself is now exercising his troops under his own doctrine and tactics."
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2022-07-01T20:38:19Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Cowboys sign Lirim Hajrullahu
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https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-sign-lirim-hajrullahu-190002023.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-sign-lirim-hajrullahu-190002023.html?src=rss
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The Eagles’ entire five-man 2022 NFL draft class is now under contract after the team agreed to the standard four-year deal with their second-round pick, Cam Jurgens.
Jurgens was one of the last players to sign and according to the Boston Globe’s senior NFL writer Ben Volin, the Texans gave safety Jalen Pitre a contract that guaranteed the first three years of the deal, signaling a trickle-down reaction from agents.
Jurgens, who was taken 51st overall, is estimated to earn a four-year contract worth $6.9 million and a $2.2 million signing bonus.
Drafted as the eventual successor at center for Jason Kelce, Jurgens could see time at the right guard spot as a rookie.
The Eagles kicked off July by signing their lone unsigned 2022 draft pick to his first NFL contract. Second-round center Cam Jurgens was the last of the five picks to agree to his deal. It is a four-year pact for Jurgens. Jurgens was a three-year starter in the middle of the offensive line at Nebraska. [more]
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2022-07-01T20:38:26Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles entire 2022 NFL draft class signed after agreeing to rookie deal with Cam Jurgens
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-entire-2022-nfl-draft-175656421.html?src=rss
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New England Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith was one of the team’s prized free agent acquisitions last March. After a rough 2021 season, he is being pegged as a major X-factor heading into 2022.
Smith caught 28 passes for 294 yards and a touchdown last season. Although he showed flashes of his playmaking ability throughout the season, he was never able to put it all together in the season’s entirety.
ESPN’s Ben Lindsey tabbed Smith as one player that could be a major piece for the Patriots next season. New England hopes to replicate the two tight end production that was a staple of the offense in the early part of the 2010s.
Smith’s emergence will be key for the Patriots offense, as they look to piece things together at the tight end position. With new faces in the wide receiver room, tight ends may be relied upon heavily.
With a new offense in place, and a more confident quarterback in Mac Jones, this could be a recipe for success for Smith. If Smith fails to have a good season, that will leave a gigantic gap at the tight end position.
Patriots land playmaking WR in ESPN's way-too-early 2023 mock draft
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2022-07-01T20:38:38Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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ESPN tabs this player as Patriots X-Factor for 2022 season
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https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-tabs-player-patriots-x-190046911.html?src=rss
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Another Super Bowl Eagle announces his retirement originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Former Eagles defensive tackle Beau Allen on Friday announced his retirement from professional football.
Allen, 30, played his first four seasons with the Eagles, his last game with the Birds being Super Bowl LII.
Allen made his announcement on social media:
The Eagles drafted Allen out of Wisconsin in the seventh round back in 2014 and Allen carved out a nice career for himself in the NFL. In his four seasons with the Eagles, Allen played in 63 games with 8 starts and played in every game during the Super Bowl run.
He finished his Eagles career with 87 tackles, 2 sacks and 11 QB hits. Allen was a prototypical nose tackle his first two years under Chip Kelly and Billy Davis but became a 4-3 defensive tackle in the next two seasons under Jim Schwartz.
After the 2017 season ended, Allen signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In two years with the Bucs, Allen played in 27 games with 8 starts.
From Tampa Bay, Allen signed a two-year deal with the New England Patriots but never got to play for them. He ended up on Injured Reserve in 2020 and was unable to return that season. The Patriots cut him the following March. Allen hasn’t played in an NFL game since the 2019 season.
Allen will be remembered in Philly as an affable guy who was a solid contributor on the only Eagles team to ever hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Milwaukee Bucks extend qualifying offer to Jordan Nwora
Nwora, 23, has flashed his potential as a shooter, but hasn't earned consistent playing time.
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2022-07-01T20:38:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former Eagles NT Beau Allen announces his retirement from NFL
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https://sports.yahoo.com/former-eagles-nt-beau-allen-195221417.html?src=rss
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Eric DeCosta
The Baltimore Ravens have long been respected as one of the best front offices in the entire NFL, and despite the recent departure of legendary general manager Ozzie Newsome, they continue to earn that reputation.
Under new GM Eric DeCosta, the Ravens delivered yet another gem of a class in the 2022 NFL draft, landing some incredible value picks, swinging bold trades, and filling all of their biggest needs in all three phases of the game.
From arguably the biggest steal of the first round, so a ton of bargains in the middle and later rounds, here’s a look at every Ravens pick from this year’s draft:
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2022-07-01T20:38:57Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Meet the Baltimore Ravens’ 2022 NFL draft class
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https://sports.yahoo.com/meet-baltimore-ravens-2022-nfl-190834543.html?src=rss
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The Tennessee Titans entered the 2022 offseason with a problem at the quarterback position after Ryan Tannehill’s debacle in the 2021 playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tannehill’s three picks doomed the Titans, leading to their being one-and-done in the playoffs once again. The contest was a microcosm of the team’s issues, as Tannehill struggled with turnovers and ineffectiveness all season.
In the span of three years, Tannehill has gone from franchise savior to a player fans are ready to run out of town thanks to his inability to lead Tennessee to a Super Bowl.
And it appears the Titans were willing to move on this offseason, also, as the team reportedly explored trades for some big-name quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson.
Unfortunately, none of Tennessee’s attempts to replace Tannehill worked out, but they did make an interesting move by drafting Malik Willis in the third round, which will start the clock on Tannehill’s inevitable departure.
With training camp less than four weeks away, we’re taking a closer look at the quarterback position to see where things stand right now and how the position will shake out in 2022.
Roster locks (2)
There are two different scenarios for the Titans at quarterback going into 2022: they either keep two or three; however, there is no world in which Willis isn’t one of them.
He’s the future after Tannehill, and the only question right now is if he can do enough to secure the backup job over Logan Woodside in 2022.
On the bubble (1)
Woodside has managed to stick with the Titans the past few years, much to the chagrin of fans who want a more experienced backup. He has a great shot to make the roster once again in 2022, especially if Tennessee’s doesn’t add another veteran signal-caller.
Tannehill is safe… for now
Despite a disastrous 2021 campaign for Tannehill, there is no quarterback controversy in Tennessee this offseason. The embattled veteran remains Tennessee’s starter for at least one more year.
However, after 2022, all bets are off, as Tannehill carries a reasonable dead-cap charge of $9.6 million in 2023 if cut with a post-June 1 designation.
As things stand now, the only competition at quarterback is for the backup job.
Before the Titans can move on from Tannehill, they’ll need Willis to prove he has what it takes to take the reins in 2023. His first test will be passing Woodside on the depth chart this offseason.
Willis’ skill set is vastly superior to Woodside’s, so it’s certainly possible he wins the job, and doing so would be a good sign that he’s moving in the direction of being ready for 2023.
But Woodside should be considered the favorite here. Willis will likely need at least one year to develop and the Titans don’t want him an injury away from seeing the field before he’s ready.
Making the cut: Ryan Tannehill, Logan Woodside, Malik Willis
Until we see Willis really pulling away from Woodside in training camp, we project the Titans will carry three quarterbacks.
Woodside will serve as the primary backup to Tannehill, making it unlikely Willis sees the field barring something catastrophic. The most we’ll see of Willis in 2022 is during the preseason, with an outside chance he gets a package of plays on offense during the regular season.
The sky is the limit for Willis, but the Titans have to make sure they don’t do anything to hurt his confidence in his first season. Let him sit, develop, and then evaluate where he is in 2023 before letting Tannehill go.
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2022-07-01T20:39:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Tennessee Titans 2022 training camp preview: Quarterback
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https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-titans-2022-training-camp-150045298.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-titans-2022-training-camp-150045298.html?src=rss
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The Houston Texans did not have a player go to the Pro Bowl following the 2021 season. Such is the side effect of going 4-13 and not having a face of the franchise.
According to Nick Shook from NFL.com, defensive end Jonathan Greenard is a candidate from the Texans to make the Pro Bowl in 2022.
For Greenard to make the Pro Bowl, he will need to at least hit the 10.0 mark. The former 2020 third-round pick from Florida will also need to add a few forced fumbles and tackles for loss to his stat line in order to show coaches and players across the league he is a force off the edge.
What will also help Greenard’s candidacy is if the Texans are competitive. If Greenard is tallying his 10.0-plus sacks while Houston is 1-7 and starting Kyle Allen at quarterback, Greenard’s good work is going to get buried amid the losing. If Greenard’s efforts are part of even a 4-4 campaign and the losses are by a touchdown or less, the perception will be the Texans have finally gotten out of the rebuilding phase.
The last Pro Bowl defensive end the Texans had was J.J. Watt in 2018 when he collected 16.0 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits, seven forced fumbles, and four pass breakups.
Former Wimbledon champ Halep advances to third round
Former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep beat Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday to advance to the third round at the All England Club.
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2022-07-01T20:39:48Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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What will it take for Texans DE Jonathan Greenard to make the Pro Bowl?
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https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-jonathan-greenard-pro-bowl-183111052.html?src=rss
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The Tennessee Titans have very different situations on each side of the ball ahead of the 2022 season.
On defense, Tennessee is mostly set, returning all but one of their starters from a 2021 season in which they saw a revival and had one of the better units in the NFL.
The biggest question mark on what figures to be an elite unit is at cornerback, where Caleb Farley is set to take over for Jackrabbit Jenkins.
Farley is coming off a shaky first season in the NFL. Not only did he tear his ACL, adding to existing injury concerns, but he wasn’t very effective even when he was on the field.
Things are far less certain on offense. Ryan Tannehill is coming off a down year and is on the hot seat, and Tennessee traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Titans will look to replace Brown and WR Julio Jones, who was released this spring, with rookie Treylon Burks and veteran Robert Woods. Burks has had issues staying on the practice field, and there’s no telling what Woods will provide in his first year back from a torn ACL.
Also, the Titans will have two new starters along the offensive line. Dillon Radunz figures to take the right tackle job, and left guard will see a competition between Jamarco Jones and Aaron Brewer. All three players vying for starting roles have little to no experience as a starter, though.
As a result of at least some of these question marks, Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey placed the Titans at No. 20 on his list ranking the rosters of all 32 teams. Here’s his take on Tennessee’s roster:
Biggest strength: The Titans have some uncertainty at the cornerback position, but they have one of the best playmaking safeties in the league to help clean things up in the secondary. Since 2017, Kevin Byard ranks first among safeties in interceptions (23) and is tied for second in pass breakups (29), behind only Adrian Amos. He is joined by Amani Hooker, who had an extremely impressive 2021 season (85.9 PFF grade) in his own right.
Biggest weakness: The Titans replaced A.J. Brown and Julio Jones at wide receiver with Robert Woods and Treylon Burks this offseason. There are certainly worse ways to go about replacing that talent at wide receiver, but Tennessee will now be heavily reliant on a 30-year-old coming off a midseason torn ACL and a rookie who spent most of his time in the slot against off coverage at the college level. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (509 career receiving yards) is Tennessee’s top option behind those two.
X factor for 2022: Caleb Farley, Tennessee’s 2021 first-round pick, wasn’t able to escape an injury history that was his biggest concern coming out of Virginia Tech in his first season with the Titans. Farley appeared in just three games before a torn ACL cut his rookie season short. He has the size, speed and ball skills to develop into a true No. 1 cornerback, but he has to remain on the field to do so.
While the Titans’ secondary has plenty of talent, we disagree with Linsey that the team’s biggest strength is in that area. Instead, it’s the pass rush.
Tennessee finished tied with the ninth-most sacks in the NFL last season, and there’s room for improvement in that area after Bud Dupree struggled in his first season back from a torn ACL. Dupree did round into form later in the season, though, so there’s hope better things are ahead.
Linsey hits the nail on the head in calling the Titans’ biggest weakness the wide receiver position. We already mentioned the concerns about Burks and Woods, and there is a lack of experience throughout the group.
We fully expect Tennessee to make a move here and add a veteran body before or during training camp.
Farley is a decent pick for the team’s X-factor, but we’d go with Burks instead considering Tennessee’s dire need for someone to step up at the position.
Despite their issues, the Titans have a playoff-caliber roster. The only question is whether this same playoff-caliber team has what it takes to go all the way.
Titans' Kyle Philips already well-versed in blocking for the run
Titans' Nate Davis talks changing diet, how he can improve in 2022
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2022-07-01T20:39:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Titans land in bottom half of PFF’s 2022 roster rankings
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Grading Warriors' move to bring back Looney in free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Warriors' tough start to free agency this year just got a whole lot better. Kevon Looney has agreed to a three-year, $25.5 million contract, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported Friday, citing sources.
Looney became the Warriors' latest folk hero this past season during their title run, and his value became more obvious by the minute. He set single-game career highs in points and rebounds during the playoffs, and the MVPs were very real. It wasn't long ago that Looney's tenure with the Warriors looked to be wrapping up.
"Loon, what more do we need to say about Loon?" Warriors coach Steve Kerr said on June 22. "He's a championship center, modern-day defender, switch defender, which is what it takes in the playoffs. As the 30th pick in the draft seven years ago, the way he's developed, the way he's worked, the way he has become such a big part of our internal leadership and our fabric, he's a huge component to our success.
"We all want him back. We also are rooting for him personally to get a really good contract, so hopefully, it's from us."
It is from the Warriors, and all those reasons are why bringing him back was mandatory. He knows the nuances of the game, he knows all the little things that are required out of a champion center. Looney also is the perfect mentor for 21-year-old center James Wiseman, and the two should be able to complement each other with their different skill sets.
The Athletic's Anthony Slater reported the first year of Looney's contract is worth $7 million, but the last year is only a partial guarantee of $3 million. If Wiseman has propelled to a much bigger role by then or Looney, unfortunately, deals with injury issues, this becomes even more of a steal for the Warriors.
Down the stretch, Looney became an absolute difference-maker for the Warriors to win another ring. He's one of the most respected voices in the locker room. The 26-year-old is the perfect fit for Golden State and vice versa.
Losing Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Juan Toscano-Anderson, along with Nemanja Bjelica most likely, certain hurts. Watching Looney go would have turned this into a loss of an offseason.
Bringing him back eases the wound and slaps a big bandage of the Warriors' roster holes.
Grade: A-plus
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2022-07-01T20:59:10Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NBA free agency: Kevon Looney's Warriors return was mandatory move
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-free-agency-kevon-looneys-193558348.html?src=rss
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"I’m excited, man," Brogdon told The Athletic in a phone interview Friday. "We have a chance to win the championship, so I’m excited to join the family."
Walker Hayes headlining Bragg's Fourth of July. Here's what to know about Monday's event.
Walker Hayes will headline Fort Brag''s July 4 celebration Monday.
Prime Video is delivering the star power this month with the release of the much-anticipated “The Terminal List,” starring Chris Pratt. The entire first season of the action series arrived on the streamer today and is already No. 3 in the U.S. Based on James Carr’s best-selling novel of the same name, the revenge thriller […]
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2022-07-01T20:59:16Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NBA Rumors: Celtics acquire guard Malcolm Brogdon in trade with Pacers
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-rumors-celtics-acquire-guard-175100279.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-rumors-celtics-acquire-guard-175100279.html?src=rss
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Warriors' free-agent strategy indicates move towards future originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
“He's a unique player,” coach Steve Kerr said last week. “A different kind of player.”
The crowd came to celebrate. They wept instead. Several hundred people had gathered at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum on that February day in 2006. Buck O’Neil was going to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. That was the proper outcome for a man of his achievement, resiliency, and legendary optimism. O’Neil
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2022-07-01T20:59:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Warriors' free-agent strategy indicates accelerated move to new era
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https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-free-agent-strategy-indicates-194802380.html?src=rss
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The four-time most popular driver in NASCAR wasn’t disappointed by the action. Drafting in tight packs on the banks of Daytona International Speedway while banging fenders through the track’s infield road course, the race produced a thrilling finish with the top four separated by less than 0.2 seconds at the checkered flag.
“That was one of the best races I’ve ever watched, just as a fan sitting there,” Elliott said with a broad smile while recalling the event at Nashville Superspeedway last weekend. “I thought it was really cool. And those guys put on a great show, but I think that track really suited the way those cars were kind of set up and they could draft, they were going slow enough where they really drafted on the straightaways. And then they looked really fun to drive through the road course section. And it had this really cool balance. I thought it was really entertaining.”
Elliott has become one of many NASCAR connections to the Mazda MX-5 Cup. By virtue of being sanctioned since last year by IMSA (which is owned by NASCAR), there already are some natural instances of convergence, but the Road America entry list features several more ties. MX-5 Cup rookie Connor Zilisch is managed by Kevin Harvick Inc., and series title contender Chris Nunes hails from the same Southern California region as seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
Parker Kligerman will get firsthand experience with a doubleheader Saturday and Sunday (both race will be streamed at 10 a.m. ET on IMSA.com), making his MX-5 Cup debut in the No. 75 of Thunder Bunny Racing. Kligerman, who races part time in NASCAR while also working as an NBC Sports pit reporter, caught the eye of MX-5 Cup officials when he tweeted that the series consistently delivered outstanding racing.
“It’s a cool thing. I’ve always wanted to experience this, and I got to race a spec Miata at Lime Rock (the track co-owned by Kligerman) last year and had a blast, and this is the top level of that, essentially. So I was like, ‘Sign me up!’ I’m pumped because I think it just looks like some of the most fun, pure racing. You grow up thinking as a kid this is what racing is going to be like all the time. Packs of cars, using aerodynamics, slingshot passes and that sort of thing. It doesn’t quite work out that way when you get to the top, but this looks like it would be that.”
With Chase Elliott and Mike Helton as fans, MX-5 Cup draws NASCAR crossover interest originally appeared on NBCSports.com
"I think he's going to play in the Major Leagues with that bat."
Chase Elliott plays guitar, Bubba Wallace goes nuts, Kurt Busch wants to 'throw fenders'
Chase Elliott took us all by surprise Sunday, Bubba Wallace has had it with his crew and did Kurt Busch let Chase off the hook?
Republicans, hawks fear border crisis will get worse after SCOTUS 'Remain-in-Mexico' ruling
The Supreme Court decision ruling that the Biden administration can terminate the "Remain-in-Mexico" policy was greeted with disappointment by conservatives.
A man and his son were visiting Yellowstone National Park when they got too close to a male bison. They were flung into the air, and the father is now being treated for injuries to his arm.
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2022-07-01T21:14:28Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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With Chase Elliott and Mike Helton as fans, MX-5 Cup draws NASCAR crossover interest
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https://sports.yahoo.com/chase-elliott-mike-helton-fans-150048378.html?src=rss
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Niece Motorsports announced Friday that Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks will make his return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this month, driving the organization’s No. 41 Chevrolet at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Marks, 41, will return to the 2.258-mile circuit where he scored his lone NASCAR national-series win during an Xfinity Series race in 2016. The Truck Series will make its debut at Mid-Ohio with the O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 on July 9 (1:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).
RELATED: Truck Series schedule
Marks has made 79 NASCAR national-series starts, including 38 in Camping World Trucks. The Mid-Ohio race will mark his first national-series appearance since 2018.
Sponsorship for the Niece Motorsports No. 41 effort comes from Worldwide Express, which also backed Trackhouse’s Ross Chastain in the Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway last month. Marks is in his second year of Cup Series competition as a team owner with Trackhouse, which has netted three victories so far this season.
“I‘m glad I can help support Niece Motorsports and thrilled to be in the Worldwide Express colors,” Marks said in a release provided by the team. “Their Silverados have been fast this year so we are going to Mid-Ohio this weekend with the mindset of not only having fun, but believing we will run well.”
Marks is racing in Trans-Am competition this weekend at Road America, which also hosts the Cup Series and Xfinity Series for a NASCAR doubleheader.
Niece’s No. 41 Chevy has been a part-time entrant in Camping World Truck Series competition this year. Chastain has driven it in five races this season, including a victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Tyler Carpenter made his series debut in the No. 41 last month at Knoxville Raceway.
Julio Rodríguez homered for the second day in a row, Cal Raleigh had a two-run triple in the fifth inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 8-6 Thursday night. Seattle has won 17 of 19 games against Oakland and earned its third straight victory overall to improve to 37-41. Seattle has also won 8 of 10.
This is finally the time for Rebekkah Brunson to sit back, relax and enjoy herself, at least for the hour prior to the Lynx’s game Sunday night game against Las Vegas, before she returns to the Minnesota bench to resume her duties as assistant coach. But prior to that, she’ll get to revel in her years of success, born out of an unrelenting, singular focus to do one thing: Win. She did just ...
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2022-07-01T21:14:53Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Trackhouse's Justin Marks to make Truck Series return at Mid-Ohio in Niece's No. 41
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https://sports.yahoo.com/trackhouses-justin-marks-truck-series-115747058.html?src=rss
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Michigan football hasn’t been lighting things up on the recruiting trail, but perhaps that’s about to change. From missed targets to decommitments, it hasn’t been solid on the maize and blue front, but Friday brought good news for the Wolverines.
One of the key official visitors in the month of June was St. Louis (Mo.) Cardinal Ritter College Prep three-star wide receiver Fredrick Moore, who checks in at 6-foot, 175-pounds. A track runner who ran an 11.55 100-meter dash, Moore has offers from every Big Ten school other than Ohio State, Purdue, and Northwestern, but also boasts offers from Texas A&M, Cincinnati and Arkansas.
Deciding between Michigan and Illinois, Moore announced on Friday that he’ll be wearing a winged helmet, committing to the Wolverines.
He announced the commitment on Spotify Live.
Per the 247Sports Composite, Moore is ranked the No. 491 player in the country, the 61st-best receiver, and the No. 12 player in the state of Missouri. According to Gabe Brooks of 247Sports, he finished his junior season of high school with over 1,000 yards receiving with an average of 24.6 yards per catch.
He joins Semaj Morgan as the second wideout commitment in the 2023 class.
HEAT CHECK: Assessing Michigan's chances with multiple July 1 announcements
Breaking down Michigan's chances with multiple 2023 recruits that have July 1 announcement dates.
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2022-07-01T21:45:01Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2023 wide receiver commits to Michigan football
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-wide-receiver-commits-michigan-200635104.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-wide-receiver-commits-michigan-200635104.html?src=rss
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Parker Ballantyne
Conference realignment is (still) here.
Conference realignment is here, and for the Mountain West, it’s getting closer to home. It first reared is ugly head in the fall of 2021. Now just as things started to settle down, it has stuck again. PAC-12 powerhouses, UCLA and USC have announced their intentions to leave the PAC-12 for the Big 10.
The Mountain West got out of the last round of realignment unscathed. Texas and Oklahoma left the Big 12 for the SEC. They were replaced by BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF. The American Athletic Conference, losing three of its top teams, added UAB, FAU, UNC Charlotte, North Texas, Rice, and UTSA and the effects were all downstream from there, getting further and further away from the Mountain West. Now, another monumental shift in the college athletics landscape is here and it’s happening right in the Mountain West’s backyard.
Lot of folks wishcasting about Mountain West schools who might be on the move, but just keep in mind it's probably not about splitting the financial pie any more than is absolutely necessary. The reactionary moves will probably revolve around consolidating among the "haves".
— Mountain West Wire (@MWCwire) June 30, 2022
The Pac-12 famously survived with 10 teams for a long time. Other than the Ivy League, the Pac-10 at the time, had the longest-tenured lineup of schools. But it’s clear the Pac-12 will move to replace UCLA and USC, and it’s even possible that the conference will take this opportunity to try to get to 14 or even 16 members. So where will those teams come from? Some Mountain West fans are getting their hopes up that the Mountain West could provide some of those teams. Boise State and San Diego State, in particular, have generated a fair amount of meaningless online chatter.
The first thing to understand is that any Mountain West school will be a downgrade in athletics and/or academics and/or revue. If the PAC-12 wants to expand and is willing to significantly lower its admission standards, the Mountain West might not be a bad place to start. It would be a goldmine of overly eager schools willing to join the PAC-12 and never look back. It’s not likely to happen, though.
The Pac-12 has very high standards for admission. For starters, those schools are, without much exception, generally public schools. Private non-religious institutions can fit in, although one of only two private schools in the conference is on the way out, leaving Stanford University the sole private institution. Furthermore, all PAC-12 schools are, by requirement, classified as R1 institutions by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education, and nine of the 12 current schools are members of the Association of American Universities.
Pac-12 schools play all major sports. This, of course, includes the “revenue sports” such as football and basketball, but extends to baseball and golf. Colorado is the only team in the conference without a baseball team. The conference itself sponsors 24 sports and the average team in the conference fields about 8 men’s sports and 11 women’s sports.
Pac-12 schools are also very deep-pocketed. The only school in the PAC-12 with an endowment under a billion dollars is Oregon State. The Beavers’ meager $819 million endowments would be the largest in the Mountain West by far. The average endowment is about $5.5 billion. The athletic programs in the Pac-12 are consistently among the nation’s top earners.
Other than reverting back to the PAC-10, the PAC-12 has two options. It can change its standards for admission or it can get very creative. That won’t be easy. Any candidate that is well-suited in one respect, is often equally ill-suited in others. Kansas, Iowa State, and West Virginia seem to fit in on the athletic and research categories but are far from the well-established California/Pacific Northwest/Four Corners regions the PAC-12 currently operates in. San Diego State and Fresno would be the perfect geographic replacement for the Pac-12 maintaining a southern California footprint while keeping the balance of four California teams, but both schools are unqualified in terms of research, academics, revenue, and most likely athletics too. Colorado State and Utah State, both from the four corners region, match the geographic and research requirements but are not up to par with the impressive Pac-12 athletic departments.
Texas Tech may be the best fit. The school is a public R1 institution, it has an impressive record in both football and basketball, and while Lubbock is a bit out of the PAC-12’s wheelhouse, it would extend the conference’s footprint into the Lone Star State. However, with the newly formed Big 12, the Red Raiders might not be satisfied with remaining in a weakened yet steady conference rather than roll the dice on a conference with higher upside but on the brink of falling apart.
Simply, the perfect fit doesn’t exist. Until now, the top schools in the west were already in the PAC-12. The Conference of Champions had its pick. Any school that fit the rigorous academic and athletic standards of the PAC-12 was already in the PAC-12.
On the surface, it seems the Mountain West will once again avoid the fray. While this round of realignment certainly hits closer to home, the initial moves should miss the conference entirely, although that may not be true of the aftershocks.
One major obstacle is in the way of any Mountain West team joining the PAC-12. It’s the PAC-12. This isn’t the Big 12 or some other mid-tier power conference. It’s the Conference of Champions. Even without UCLA and USC, a conference with the prestige of the PAC-12 has no business entertaining membership applications from Mountain West schools. The PAC-12 might not even have to entertain membership applications from any G5 schools. So the Mountain West is safe for now, although the moves by the PAC-12 in the next few weeks could seriously jeopardize the makeup of the Mountain West.
For the PAC-12, changing the academic and research standards seems like the obvious choice to an outsider sports fan, but there is a reason it hasn’t been done yet. It’s a crucial part of the brand to be prestigious in every sense. There is a certain allure to exclusivity, and the PAC-12 thrives on it. They are not alone however. The new home of the PAC-12 escapees, the Big 10, is even more selective. The Big 10 is the only conference to consist entirely of AAU members with R1 designations. To say academics doesn’t matter in college sports would be very untrue. The top teams and conferences in the county take great pride in being well balanced, and that status doesn’t come cheap. Schools and conferences have been known to be ruthlessly protective of their brands and reputations.
If the PAC-12 were to expand to allow private religious schools and schools with lower research designations, it could risk off-putting some of the remaining schools. Stanford and Cal, for example, are two of the premier academic and research universities in the world. Academically, Stanford is unofficially known as one of the “Ivy Plus” schools along with schools like MIT, Caltech, the University of Chicago, and Northwestern. On the other hand, if the PAC-12 were to expand to allow prestigious public universities with inferior athletic programs, the conference could risk upsetting the parity within the league and could produce a less interesting and entertaining product. To fans, lowering the PAC-12’s admission standards might sound like an enticing opportunity for some Mountain West schools, but its not likely to happen, and even if the PAC-12 made some exceptions, it probably wouldn’t be for Mountain West schools.
The most likely way for the Mountain West to get pulled into the drama is if the PAC-12 pulls teams from the new Big 12 to survive. This could certainly ignite a violent round of conference realignment reaching every level of the sport. Outside of the elite schools in the Mountain West, great teams remain in the G5 level, such as App State, Army, Marshall, Memphis, Navy, NIU, SMU, and many others. All these teams are insecure about their future and any major realignment would beckon the involvement of the Mountain West, the American, and other G5 conferences.
The PAC-12 attempting to raid the Big 12 might not be that unlikely. Back in 2010, what was then the PAC-10 considered adding six schools to become a 16 team league. The aforementioned Texas Tech was one of those six schools, as was Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. For obvious reasons, Colorado can be ruled out of future expansion, as can Texas and Oklahoma assuming they are happy in the SEC. Texas Tech and Oklahoma State remain in a somewhat interesting situation however.
The Big 12 is weakened, and although it seems to have solidified its future for the time being, it is still in a fragile state. If the PAC-12 decides to, it could possibly persuade Big 12 schools to jump ship and join the PAC-12. If that happens, the Big 12 has already shown interest in Boise State and San Diego State and in the wake of another exodus would probably rely on those schools to be a lifeline.
Then what would become of the Mountain West? As the Big 12 and PAC-12 have learned, replacing two top teams in the conference is extremely difficult. So, the first and best option is to prevent Boise State, San Diego State, or any other school from leaving. The conference could try to entice any schools tempted to leave by expanding. Large conferences are becoming the new standard, after all. The conference could prey on the new and insecure AAC by recruiting SMU, Memphis, and/or Wichita State. The conference could finally rescue Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s from nonchalantly dominating the WCC every year. The conference could even dive into Texas or California and take a bet on one of the many smaller schools in one of those states. If the Mountain West is threatened, that might be enough. It also might not be. If the Mountain West isn’t careful, it could be left with the daunting task of replacing some of its top programs. If top teams in the Mountain West do leave, replacing them quickly will be crucial. Conference realignment is an eat or be eaten situation. It moves fast and it can destroy schools and conferences that aren’t prepared.
It is simply impossible to predict the major effects of this move by UCLA and USC and even though Mountain West isn’t in immediate danger, it shouldn’t get too comfortable either. This whole thing might blow over with minimal damage and without affecting the Mountain West, but the more realignment rages on, the broader the impact will get.
So, once again the Mountain West needs to be vigilante and aware. As of now, no action is needed for the survival of the conference but a more proactive approach could become necessary. If the Big 12 loses any teams, such as Texas Tech or Oklahoma State, it should be assumed that the the Mountain West is in danger.
Until expansion is inevitable, the Mountain West should be making every effort to keep the band together. Boise State and San Diego State, after being left out of the last Big 12 expansion, seem to be the likely suspects to bolt, but now that geographic don’t seem to matter, any number of Mountain West schools could try to find a better fit somewhere else. Air Force could try to find a home that suits its unique profile as a federal service academy. UNLV could try to use its new football stadium and great location as a ticket to a new conference. The list goes on. If the Mountain West misplays its hand, it could find itself disparaged leaving most of its schools homeless. If the Mountain West handles this round of realignment properly, it can avoid being raided, while staying alert for any opportunistic chance to improve, the conference will turn out just fine, or even better.
Kristin Chenoweth speaks with 3 News Now about Friday's free concert in Gene Leahy Mall
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2022-07-01T21:45:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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College Football Is At A Crosswords, Who Ends Up Where?
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https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-crosswords-ends-where-200803467.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-crosswords-ends-where-200803467.html?src=rss
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On Friday, NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole reported, citing sources, that Bjelica is planning to leave the NBA to pursue playing opportunities overseas.
The move likely marks the end of Bjelica's NBA career. Bjelica, EuroLeague MVP in 2015, played seven seasons in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat and Warriors.
Bjelica went out on top, helping Golden State clinch the 2021-22 title in his lone season in the Bay. Bjelica averaged 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 16.1 minutes per game during the regular season. He appeared in 15 of the Warriors' 22 postseason games, scoring a playoff-high 10 points in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Denver Nuggets.
While Bjelica isn't irreplaceable, his decision means the Warriors lost another role player in free agency. Per reports, Juan Toscano-Anderson landed with the Los Angeles Lakers, Gary Payton II scored a three-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers and Otto Porter Jr. packed his bags for Toronto.
RELATED: Warriors' free-agent strategy indicates move towards future
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2022-07-01T22:34:32Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Source: Nemanja Bjelica leaving Warriors to play overseas in Turkey
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https://sports.yahoo.com/source-nemanja-bjelica-leaving-warriors-212233070.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/source-nemanja-bjelica-leaving-warriors-212233070.html?src=rss
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TAIPEI (Reuters) -Freedom in Hong Kong has "vanished" and China has failed to live up to its promises of 50 years without change, Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang said on Friday, the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule. Chinese President Xi Jinping, on a rare visit to the global financial hub on Friday, swore in Hong Kong's new leader, former security chief John Lee, who is sanctioned by the United States over his role in implementing a national security law there. Most people in Chinese-claimed Taiwan have shown no interest in being run by Beijing, and the government has repeatedly rejected China's offer of "one country, two systems" to rule the island, as with Hong Kong and Macau.
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2022-07-01T23:30:02Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Patrick Beverley’s Twitter bad luck strikes again with reported Rudy Gobert trade after he praised Timberwolves signing
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https://sports.yahoo.com/chris-mara-no-longer-giants-105514832.html?src=rss
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Singer-songwriter Luke Combs is making big leaps this year in his unprecedented rise to the top of country music, both personally and professionally. The North Carolina-born singer, who holds a Billboard record with 14 consecutive No. 1 country airplay singles with hits like “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and “Beautiful Crazy,” graduated from arenas to selling out football stadiums this year. As it turned out, Combs became a first-time dad with the birth of their son, Tex Lawrence Combs, on Father’s Day.
Dylan Dreyer And Family Share Their Boston Accents And They’re Wicked Good
Dylan Dreyer is showing off her killah Boston accent. Her husband, Brian Fichera, posted a hilarious video of each family member saying 'microprocessors'.
Distance-running star broke two records in recent Class 3A state championships.
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2022-07-01T23:30:21Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Kicking Tires: Cowboys bring back placekicker for another shot at gig
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https://sports.yahoo.com/kicking-tires-cowboys-bring-back-205001827.html?src=rss
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All 32 front offices across the NFL were recently ranked by Pro Football Network, and the Miami Dolphins finished in the bottom half of the league at No. 20 overall.
General manager Chris Grier has been with the organization since 2000, starting as an area scout, and he made his way up the ranks to his current position that he took over back in 2016.
Here’s what PFN’s Dallas Robinson wrote about the general manager and rest of the front office:
“The Dolphins seemingly made all the right moves during their rebuild, trading away veterans and acquiring more future draft capital while looking ahead to tomorrow. Grier’s process was sound, but he hasn’t been able to hit his draft selections. Miami’s decision to take Tua Tagovailoa over Justin Herbert looks like an all-time mistake. The team also whiffed on its other two 2020 first-rounders (Austin Jackson and Noah Igbinoghene).
Thankfully, the early returns on Grier’s 2021 draft class, which included Jaylen Waddle, Jaelan Phillips, and Jevon Holland, are incredibly strong. With Tyreek Hill now in Miami, this is a make-or-break year for Tua — and it could be for Grier as well.”
The only teams behind the Dolphins with general managers who aren’t in their first years were the Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers.
In Grier’s tenure, the Dolphins have made the postseason only once – his first year as general manager. However, many credit Mike Tannenbaum, who was Miami’s executive vice president of football operations from 2015-18, for most of the work done before his departure.
This offseason, Grier and his staff have done a ton to garner support from fans, trading for wide receiver Tyreek Hill and signing impact free agents like Terron Armstead, Connor Edmonds and many others.
Making the postseason and proving to be Super Bowl contenders would shoot the Dolphins’ front office up the list, and if they can’t do that, they’ll either continue being down toward the bottom of the NFL or they’ll eventually find a new general manager completely.
Ranking the projected Dolphins' offensive starters for 2022, 1 through 11
Some of these players should be in talks for extensions.
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2022-07-01T23:30:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL writer ranks Dolphins’ front office in bottom half of NFL
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-writer-ranks-dolphins-front-214104555.html?src=rss
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