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The Tennessee Titans drafted wide receiver Treylon Burks with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft as a replacement for A.J. Brown after he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, things have gotten off to a rocky start for Burks, as he had issues staying on the practice field during rookie minicamp due to asthma, and he was unavailable during mandatory minicamp for an unspecified reason.
Despite his issues, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso still believes Burks will finish as the second-most productive rookie receiver in 2022.
The Titans have an almost unfathomable amount of receiving production to replace from a season ago. They have the highest available target percentage (67.1%), overall available targets (351). and air yards (2,914), per 4for4.com. Of course, Robert Woods will eat into some of that availability; however, he’s now 30 years old and returning from a November ACL tear — not a major concern to Burks’ production value.
And while Burks isn’t quite as dynamic off the line as A.J. Brown, their games are strikingly similar. Burks won for years in the SEC with his strong lower half that allows him to laugh off contact to power through tackling attempts. He’s sneaky-good in traffic down the field too. While Derrick Henry will start the season as the focal point of the Titans offense, for as much of a unicorn as he is, the two-time rushing-yard champ is now 28 with nearly 1,600 career carries (including the playoffs) on his resume, and he’s returning from a serious injury last season.
As Trapasso points out, the Titans have a ton of targets to replace with Brown and Jones gone, so there will be ample opportunity for Burks to show out in 2022.
However, if he continues to miss practice reps like he has thus far, Burks is unlikely to have a significant role out of the gate, which, of course, will hurt his production
Who will lead all rookies in receiving yards? - Powered By PickUp
Titans FB Tory Carter talks rookie season, Derrick Henry
Ex-Titans RB Adrian Peterson to fight Le'Veon Bell in boxing match
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2022-07-01T23:30:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Titans’ Treylon Burks projected to finish among top rookie WRs
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https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-treylon-burks-projected-finish-190008028.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-treylon-burks-projected-finish-190008028.html?src=rss
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Sure, the preseason All-American and All-Big Ten lists give fans a great indication of the type of talent each roster has heading into any given season. Those are great media fodder when comparing teams’ rosters, too.
Still, one of my favorite pieces of each offseason is getting a look into what the coaches have to say anonymously about each program. Athlon Sports’ annual magazine delivers on that front each and every offseason and 2022 is no different.
Regardless of where you might rank them, the Big Ten has a collection of some of the finest coaches in all of college football. Iowa just so happens to have arguably the best head coach of anybody in the Big Ten. When those coaches and their assistants break down how they view a program, it’s some pretty fascinating stuff.
Once again, Athlon Sports tasked the Big Ten’s coaches with providing an anonymous breakdown of the Iowa Hawkeyes heading into the 2022 college football season. Here’s everything they had to say about Iowa.
'They do not care if you think they should do it different.'
In 2021, Iowa won 10 games for the seventh time under head football coach Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeyes also captured the Big Ten West for the second time and have won 19 Big Ten games over the past three seasons, the program’s most successful stretch since winning 20 league games during the 2002-04 seasons.
“Every year that goes by, it’s apparent this staff isn’t going anywhere until the head man (Kirk Ferentz) decides to leave. They do what they do, they do it well and they do not care if you think they should do it different. They’ve got total support, too. So if everyone’s calling for the OC’s (Brian Ferentz) head, it doesn’t really matter. This program moves at its own pace.” – Athlon Sports.
'They're a model of defense.'
Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker and the Hawkeyes boasted one of the nation’s stingiest defenses in 2021. The Hawkeyes held opponents to just 19.21 points per game last season, ranking No. 13 nationally in that category. Iowa also led the nation in interceptions with 25.
“They’re a model of defense. They’re assignment sound, physical up front and they’re rarely out of position. When you look at them on film, it’s all vanilla. It’s hard to see an ‘Iowa scheme’ in anything. The Iowa part of it is running base stuff with great fundamentals, or playing sound gaps and understanding assignments on the fly. They’ll cover your route concepts quickly because they’re smart, and they’re smart because they’re well-coached. That’s why you see so many flashier teams with more talent come in there and get brought down to Iowa’s pace and style. They command games, even with less talent.” – Athlon Sports.
'They're going to let those guys battle it out.'
Iowa has itself a full-fledged quarterback battle heading into fall camp. The majority believes that Spencer Petras will emerge as the Hawkeyes’ starting quarterback once more, but Alex Padilla will get his legitimate chance to win the job at least according to one anonymous Big Ten coach.
“The offensive line was young up front last year, and that showed at times. The issue is going to be production at the quarterback position. They’re going to let those guys battle it out.” – Athlon Sports.
'The program is the definition of overachieving in this sport.'
As another one of the anonymous coaches stated earlier, as long as Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz is around, fans and opponents have a great idea of what the Hawkeyes will be. Ferentz and his staff will squeeze every last drop of potential out of the personnel on campus.
At times, it might be frustrating for some fans that Iowa doesn’t recruit the same type of talent that the other heavyweights in the Big Ten are regularly able to bring into their campuses. And, yes, if Iowa could kick its offense into overdrive, then who knows what the ceiling might look like in Iowa City. Still, it’s almost impossible to argue with the proven track record Ferentz has delivered here and opposing league coaches get that.
He and his staff have a plan, they’re sticking to it and they’re going to win more games than they lose.
“The program is the definition of overachieving in this sport. Yes, they probably need to be more creative on offense, but they’re not listening to the outside, trust me.” – Athlon Sports.
Nobody should expect opposing Big Ten coaches to offer up any scathing reviews of Kirk Ferentz’s program. Why would they? He’s highly respected, and he should be. After all, Ferentz has been the model of consistency and now he’s the all-time winningest coach in Hawkeye history.
The rest of the league’s coaches understand some of the inherent challenges attached to building a consistently successful program at a place like Iowa versus say a Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State. The reviews are in, and, once again, it’s very high praise for the Hawkeyes from their peers.
Tropical storm Bonnie set to make landfall in Costa Rica and Nicaragua
Tropical storm Bonnie has formed, becoming the second named storm this season in the Atlantic.
FOX 11’s Sandra Endo interviews Princess Tiana.
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2022-07-01T23:33:57Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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‘Definition of overachieving’: Big Ten coaches sound off on the 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes anonymously
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https://sports.yahoo.com/definition-overachieving-big-ten-coaches-220058340.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/definition-overachieving-big-ten-coaches-220058340.html?src=rss
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On Friday, 2023 defensive lineman David Hicks Jr. announced his top seven schools. One of the schools listed was Alabama. The other six programs in the mix are Texas A&M, Texas, Oregon, Miami, Michigan State and Oklahoma.
Hicks Jr. is regarded as a five-star according to 247Sports’ recruiting rankings. He is listed at 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds. Interestingly enough, his size likely comes from his father. David Hicks Sr. played linebacker at Grambling State in the early 2000s before entering the pros. He is also a former bodybuilder in the state of Texas.
Although Hicks Jr. received his offer in March of 2021, he hasn’t taken any kind of visit to Alabama. Since the dead period opened up at the beginning of June, he took three official visits and one unofficial visit to other programs. The Texas native took his official visits to Michigan State (June 3), Miami (June 10), and Oregon (June 17). Then, he took a last-minute unofficial visit to Texas A&M on June 25.
The Tide have their work cut out for them if they still plan on recruiting Hicks Jr. It won’t be easy prying him away from the midwest. We will wait and see how his recruitment plays out in the future.
To go check out the other edit go to my Instagram https://t.co/KCgtkMnG7k pic.twitter.com/JW4peIMJl3
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football and the recruiting trail.
President Joe Biden's administration on Friday proposed up to 10 oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and one off the Alaska coast over the next five years — going against the Democrat's climate promises but scaling back a Trump-era plan that called for dozens of offshore drilling opportunities including in undeveloped areas. Administration officials said fewer than 11 lease sales — or even no lease sales at all — could occur, with a final decision not due for months. The proposal brought backlash from both environmentalists — who accused Biden of betraying the climate cause — and oil industry officials and allies, who said it would do little to help counter high energy prices.
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2022-07-01T23:34:03Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Five-star 2023 DL from Texas includes Alabama in his top seven
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https://sports.yahoo.com/five-star-2023-dl-texas-214721159.html?src=rss
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Really, take your pick on the skill talent for the Ohio State Buckeyes. If it wasn’t wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba somewhere on this list, then just look into the backfield at running back TreVeyon Henderson.
Smith-Njigba heads into 2022 as Crawford’s top skill player, though, and the Hawkeyes will see him and the Buckeyes on Oct. 22 on the road inside the Horseshoe. Smith-Njigba put on a historic performance, hauling in an Ohio State-record 15 grabs for an FBS bowl game record 347 yards receiving. He also had three touchdown receptions in the 48-45 come-from-behind win over Utah.
Perhaps most impressive, Smith-Njigba put on that type of performance after first-round 2022 NFL draft picks Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson opted out of the bowl game against the Utes.
Smith-Njigba took full advantage of his teammates opting out of the postseason and his record-setting bowl performance pushed him into the way-too-early Heisman conversation ahead of his junior season with the Buckeyes. You’re not going to find a more complete wide receiver nationally and the offseason hype is warranted. – Crawford, 247Sports.
Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy was a one-man wrecking crew against the Oklahoma Sooners in last season’s Red River Rivalry game. OU and then-Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams authored the Cotton Bowl’s largest ever comeback win, but Worthy went off to the tune of nine grabs, 261 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Depending on who you ask, Xavier Worthy might be the fastest wideout in college football. No one runs the fly better than the Longhorns’ top threat and Big 12 coaching staffs are well aware of his exploits down the field and believe he’s the most terrifying player in the conference from a he-can-score-from-anywhere standpoint. – Crawford, 247Sports.
Deuce Vaughn has Kansas State Wildcats fans thinking about the similarities between himself and former K-State great Darren Sproles. For those that know the Big 12 and college football, Vaughn has every reason to be ranked this highly. He’s a complete game-changer both rushing and receiving out of the backfield for Kansas State.
It comes as no surprise that Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn was one of the nation’s leaders in broken tackles forced last season. He’s 5-foot-6, 170 pounds and shifty as any player in the Power Five ranks. Over his first two seasons with the Wildcats, Vaughn has averaged 5.7 yards per carry and doubled his total number of catches as a sophomore compared to 2020. – Crawford, 247Sports.
USC and UCLA broke the internet with their decision to join the Big Ten in 2024. This star won’t be around then, but Jordan Addison is one of the biggest reasons that Trojan fans are envisioning lighting up the scoreboards under new head football coach Lincoln Riley and delighting the Los Angeles market in 2022.
Jordan Addison is part of the reason Lincoln Riley and USC are considered the Pac-12 favorites this season, his addition securing the Trojans’ No. 1-ranked transfer class across college football. As the top target for Heisman finalist and first-round pick Kenny Pickett last fall, Addison hauled in 100 catches for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns, lighting up ACC defenses with impressive speed, agility and a knack for getting open. – Crawford, 247Sports.
A transfer running back from Georgia Tech, Jahmyr Gibbs heads to Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he’ll be expected to be the next great Crimson Tide running back. It’s quite the landing spot alongside defending Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young.
The Dalton, Georgia, native arrives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, after spending the last two years at Georgia Tech, where he contributed 2,773 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns on 323 plays (8.6 yards per play). As a sophomore last season, he rushed for 746 yards and four touchdowns on 143 attempts. – Crawford, 247Sports.
LSU‘s Kayshon Boutte is back after suffering a season-ending injury in 2021. In just six games, Boutte racked up 509 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Boutte averaged 13.4 yards per reception as a sophomore. He was a freshman All-American in 2020 after setting a conference record for receiving yards in a game against Ole Miss with 308 yards and three touchdowns on 14 catches. He only made five starts as a first-year player, but led the Tigers in receiving yards with 735. – Crawford, 247Sports.
North Carolina’s Josh Downs reeled in 101 catches for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. That was with standout quarterback Sam Howell. UNC is breaking in a new signal-caller, but having Downs as a primary target will undoubtedly make life much, much easier.
Downs runs after the catch with great vision and several times last fall nearly scored on special teams as a punt returner before being tripped up with one defender to beat. He’s the most dynamic weapon in the ACC this season as the Tar Heels transition to a new starting quarterback. – Crawford, 247Sports.
The final skill player on Crawford’s list sends us back to the Big Ten and over to East Lansing, Mich., where Michigan State wide receiver and return specialist Jayden Reed returns after recording a 1,026-yard, 10-touchdown season in 2021 with the Spartans.
The former Western Michigan transfer averaged 17.4 yards per reception as a home-run threat and returned two punts for scores on just 11 attempts. Reed averaged 21.6 yards per punt return and 23.6 yards per kickoff return last season as a two-way player for Mel Tucker’s team. He’s flying under the radar a bit nationally in the Big Ten, but has a chance to emerge as one of the nation’s best players at receiver this fall. – Crawford, 247Sports.
Poston kept posting resounding numbers on his scorecard in Thursday’s first round of the John Deere Classic.
MORE: 2023 commitments Purdue has added a tight end to its Class of 2023 haul with a commitment from George Burhenn on Friday.The three-star Rivals.com prospect visited West Lafayette on the weekend of June 10.
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2022-07-01T23:34:16Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Iowa Hawkeyes set to face 247Sports’ most explosive skill player in 2022
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https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-hawkeyes-set-face-247sports-210053343.html?src=rss
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In a week where Michigan football lost a prized linebacker commit, would it be able to secure the services of another?
Earlier in the week, four-star Raylen Wilson decommitted, with eyes on him flipping to Georgia. While it stung to lose the highest-rated commit of the 2023 class, it didn’t take long for the Wolverines to fill up the coffers with another top prospect.
Hailing from Philadelphia (Pa.) Imhotep Institute, 2023 four-star linebacker Semaj Bridgeman has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and several other big names. He took official visits to Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina, and Rutgers, with Michigan and Rutgers appearing to stand out.
However, he committed to the Wolverines on Friday, thus giving the maize and blue another top-notch linebacker in the class with Wilson out of the fold.
Bridgeman is listed at 6-foot-2, 230-pounds, and is listed as the No. 175 player in the country, regardless of position, by ESPN. He’s considered the fourth-best in the state of Pennsylvania as well as the fourth-rated linebacker according to the ESPN300 as well.
He plays outside linebacker, tight end, and edge rusher at the high school level.
We have added a huge talent to our full-time staff as Greg Smith has been hired as our Senior Recruiting Analyst.
Dayton OSHP: Don’t get behind the wheel impaired this Fourth of July weekend
“Please don’t risk your life or the lives of others by getting behind the wheel impaired this holiday season,” Dayton Post OHSP said.
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2022-07-01T23:34:22Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Michigan football gets four-star linebacker commit
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https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-gets-four-star-223442881.html?src=rss
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It certainly looks like the end of the Pac-12 is on the horizon. At the very least, it will be the end of the conference as we know it. After the news came that both USC and UCLA were planning to leave the conference and join the Big Ten starting in 2024, the door is now open for other teams to follow suit.
So who will join the Trojans and Bruins in the Big Ten, and where will the other schools in the conference land? One of the main schools of thought is that some of the top teams in the Pac-12 — your Oregon’s, or Washington’s — will help form a super-conference in the Big Ten, while the remaining schools will likely merge with the Big-12 and form another super-conference.
If that were the case, which teams would go where? We make some predictions here:
Arizona Wildcats — Big 12
Reasoning: There’s an argument that Arizona could be a big enough brand to make it to the Big Ten, but a lot of that stems from the basketball success, not football.
Arizona State Sun Devils — Big 12
Reasoning: With the turmoil and sanctions that are currently taking place at Arizona State, it’s hard to see the Big Ten bringing them on.
California Golden Bears — Big 10
Reasoning: It wouldn’t shock me if Cal was one of the teams to go to the Big Ten. It also wouldn’t shock me to see them in the Big-12. They are right on the bubble of being a big enough name to go to the Big Ten, and I think being in a Berkley, California market will help.
Colorado Buffaloes — Big 12
Reasoning: If Cal doesn’t go to the Big Ten, I think it would be Colorado to take its place. The Buffaloes are well-known enough to draw some eyeballs in a strong midwest market. Plus, they used to play in the Big 12 until 2010.
Oregon Ducks — Big 10
(Photo courtesy of Ethan Landa)
Reasoning: An easy slam-dunk decision. The Ducks are arguably the biggest brand in the Pac-12, and they are continually at the top of the rankings. Oregon is among the teams best suited to compete in the Big Ten.
Oregon State Beavers — Big 12
Reasoning: The Beavers might not be a big enough name to make it in the Big 10, but they do feel like a solid option for the Big 12. It might be strange to have two OSU’s who wear black and orange playing in the same conference.
Stanford Cardinal — Independent
Reasoning: It just feels right that Stanford would go the Notre Dame route and go independent, doesn’t it? They are a prestigious institution that could do well out on their own. If they needed a home, though, I could see them fitting in the Big Ten.
UCLA Bruins — Big 10
Reasoning: Obviously, UCLA is headed to the Big Ten already. One of the strongest brands in the Pac-12 in a Los Angeles market, it just makes too much sense.
USC Trojans — Big 10
Reasoning: Much like UCLA, the move just made too much sense for USC. The Trojans project to be a strong team this year and have one of the best brands in all of college football. They will do well in the Big Ten.
Utah Utes — Big 10
Reasoning: It feels like Utah is getting overlooked in this whole “who will head to the Big Ten” conversation. They are the reigning Pac-12 champions and project to be right there in the competition again next year. Maybe the Utah market isn’t as strong as California or Washington, but the Utes could certainly compete in the Big Ten.
Washington Huskies — Big 10
Reasoning: Whether Oregon fans agree with it or not, the Huskies have a strong national brand, and they are in the Seattle media market, which is one of the biggest on the west coast. They would make a strong addition to the Big Ten.
Washington State Cougars — Big 12
Reasoning: Washington State doesn’t have the Seattle media market that Washington does, and historically, they haven’t even been close to as good as the Huskies. This seems like a good fit for the Big 12.
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2022-07-01T23:34:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Predicting where every Pac-12 team would end up if the conference disbanded
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https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-where-every-pac-12-132728470.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-where-every-pac-12-132728470.html?src=rss
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Arkansas Football has added another important piece to their 2023 recruiting class.
TJ Metcalf, a three-star safety from Pinson, Ala. has become the 17th commitment for Arkansas’ 2023 class, as he committed to the Razorbacks on Friday afternoon.
Metcalf announced his commitment in a video that was shot in his high school’s gymnasium. He began by being handed a shirt from his other three choices, Jackson State, Ole Miss, and Penn State. When he reached the top of the bleachers, he grabbed an Arkansas hat while talking to head coach sam pittman on the phone. Once he placed the hat on his head, he told Pittman, “I’m coming home.”
Metcalf chose Arkansas over Jackson State, Penn State, and Ole Miss. While the major recruiting services projected Metcalf to commit to Arkansas, most felt that Ole Miss was next in line due to the fact that he is cousins with former Rebel wide receiver, DK Metcalf.
With Metcalf’s commitment, Arkansas has jumped Baylor in the 2023 recruiting rankings, as they stand at No. 7 according to 247sports.
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2022-07-01T23:34:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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TJ Metcalf commits to Arkansas, giving boost to Hogs in recruiting rankings
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https://sports.yahoo.com/tj-metcalf-commits-arkansas-giving-215231659.html?src=rss
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USC and UCLA are now in the Big Ten. The news came quick and in shocking manner. Now, rumors are swirling about what other schools could join them.
Below, we look at 14 programs that could join the Big Ten if the conference intends to keep expanding.
Iowa State is reportedly one of the Big 12 schools interested in joining the Big Ten, and would make sense geographically for both parties. The Cyclones have become a consistently strong football program under Matt Campbell and would have some regional rivalry ties to the league with Iowa and Nebraska.
Ben Queen/USA TODAY Sports
It never made a ton of sense to me to have West Virginia in the Big 12 so I wouldn’t be shocked if the Mountaineers look to leave the league. The ACC may make more sense for West Virginia but don’t be surprised if the Big Ten is in the mix as well.
Pitt has obvious geographical ties to the league and is rivals with Penn State so this could be an easy match for the Big Ten. The Panthers would fit right in with the Big Ten should the league look to add another school from the state of Pennsylvania.
Adding Kansas to the Big Ten would strictly be a basketball move but could be a route the league goes. It’s the flagship school for the state of Kansas and is a basketball blue blood so that alone could draw attention from the Big Ten.
Jeremy Brevard/USA TODAY Sports
If the Big Ten wants to continue to beef up their east coast presence then stealing Syracuse from the ACC would help. Like with Kansas, this would be more of a basketball (and money/market move) but I see could this being a program the league looks at as a new member.
It feels like there have been rumblings on a marriage between the Big Ten and Georgia Tech for years. There’s a lot of reasons why the Big Ten would be interested — including adding the Atlanta market to the league’s footprint — so keep an eye on the Yellow Jackets if expansion talks continue.
Rob Ferguson/USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma State is already reportedly exploring options outside the Big 12, and the Big Ten is considered one of those options. So only fitting to include the Cowboys on this list.
Boston College is on this list as somewhat of a wildcard to keep an eye on. The football and basketball programs aren’t particularly stellar but adding another east coast big market could be enticing to the Big Ten.
Virginia was considered one of the teams to monitor for the Big Ten the last time we had conference realignment so don’t be surprised if we hear whispers again. The Cavaliers meet all of the needs of a Big Ten university and would be another east coast addition to further expand the league’s geographic footprint.
Like Virginia, there were rumblings of the Big Ten pursuing North Carolina during the last conference realignment. Could the league again make a push for the Tar Heels? If they do, would they also consider bringing in Duke to not break up that historic rivalry? There’s a lot of factors in play but North Carolina would be a slam dunk addition for the Big Ten.
Another wildcard to keep an eye on is Miami (FL). There’s been no rumors or any reports to suggest the Hurricanes are looking to leave the ACC but they do match a lot of what the Big Ten should be looking for in a new member. I’m not sure there’s any appetite from Miami but if there is, the Big Ten should make a heavy push.
Notre Dame has avoided joining the Big Ten for years so it seems unlikely they’ll now jump on the offer (if that offer is even still on the table) but the Fighting Irish can’t be left off this list. Notre Dame makes too much sense to not be included in an expansion list of this nature but I’m not holding my breath waiting on the Fighting Irish — and I’m guessing the Big Ten won’t either.
If USC and UCLA are heading to the Big Ten, Oregon could be the next big domino. A perennial powerhouse, Oregon would come into the Big Ten as a huge contender for the conference title.
Same as Oregon, the PAC-12 looks to be fizzling out with the loss of two of their biggest programs, so we could see Washington forced to make a move soon.
Sophomore pitcher was NFCA All-Mideast Region third team and All-MAC second team this past spring.
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2022-07-02T00:03:02Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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14 schools to monitor should Big Ten look to expand
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https://sports.yahoo.com/14-schools-monitor-big-ten-160337792.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/14-schools-monitor-big-ten-160337792.html?src=rss
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The obvious question as a result of Friday's deal is, what does this mean for Marcus Smart? The Celtics' backcourt suddenly boasts impressive depth with Brogdon, Smart, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard in the fold, but head coach Ime Udoka will have to decide whether to roll with Brogdon or Smart in the starting lineup.
Of course, that's a good problem to have heading into the 2022-23 campaign. If Brogdon is healthy -- a big "if" so far in his career -- he'll be a great complement to Smart with his scoring ability. Plus, in today's NBA, we can't rule out Udoka going small with lineups that include both Brogdon and Smart. Former Celtic Eddie House believes we'll see plenty of that next season.
"I think they both could be out there," House said Friday on NBC Sports Boston's Early Edition. "I think we live in a positionless right now in the NBA to where it doesn't necessarily have to be one point guard and have a backup point guard. You can have two guys that handle the basketball and make plays.
"I think what Marcus Smart does on the defensive end is invaluable, so you can't have him on the bench in crunch time because he's going to have to guard the best perimeter player on the other team. So, I think you have Brogdon out there, you have Jaylen Brown, you have Jayson Tatum. And then you have Rob Williams or Al Horford depending on how you want to work the game. I think that's the flexibility, that is what they have that other teams want to be able to have is that depth.
"I think that's what lacked in these playoffs. We had depth, but they just didn't show up. I think adding these pieces, you have an opportunity for these guys to show up. And these are vets. That's the difference. These are vets that we're going to be depending on coming off the bench as opposed to some real young players that we had last year."
Brogdon averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 36 games last season with Indiana. Another question mark will be the 29-year-old's health as he hasn't played in more than 60 games since the 2018-19 campaign due to injury.
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2022-07-02T00:03:08Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eddie House: What Malcolm Brogdon trade means for Marcus Smart
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eddie-house-malcolm-brogdon-trade-230800090.html?src=rss
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Nobody gets an easy schedule in the Big Ten conference.
The Ohio State Buckeyes enter 2022 as a trendy College Football Playoff and national championship contender, the Michigan Wolverines are the defending Big Ten champions and Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker seemingly has his Spartans on the rise.
Then, there’s also Penn State head coach James Franklin and his Nittany Lions that have plenty of talent and expectations of their own to meet in the Big Ten East.
What about the Big Ten West? Iowa is the defending Big Ten West champion and boasts one of the league’s best defenses. If they can find a way to improve offensively, it won’t be a surprise to see the Hawkeyes make a return trip to the Big Ten championship game.
Aside from the Buckeyes’ TreVeyon Henderson, Wisconsin has the Big Ten’s most explosive running back in Braelon Allen and—similarly to Iowa—the Badgers routinely have one of the Big Ten’s most frustrating defenses to match up against. Then, there’s Tanner Morgan who is back to quarterback Minnesota and Aidan O’Connell who’s generating some Heisman Trophy darkhorse consideration at Purdue.
You get the picture. It’ll be a challenging slate for everybody once more in 2022. Still, it’s a fun exercise to break down and debate who has it the most difficult, and who caught a couple of scheduling breaks?
CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli attempted to clear up that picture, ranking all of the Big Ten’s 2022 schedules from most difficult to easiest. Let’s take a look at how he sees the conference teams’ schedules.
The good news for Maryland is that they return one of the Big Ten’s better quarterbacks in Taulia Tagovailoa. He passed for 3,860 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2021. The bad news? According to Fornelli, Maryland winds up with the most treacherous schedule in 2022.
The conference slate starts with Michigan on the road before Michigan State comes to College Park, Maryland. It’s never easy for any Big Ten East team outside the top programs, but getting Michigan and Penn State on the road is hard. Plus, the draw from the West includes a road trip to Wisconsin. The killer stretch is November with the road game against Wisconsin, followed by the road trip to Penn State and a home date with Ohio State. By the time the Terps get to Rutgers, they could be banged up. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
An offense that’s headlined by quarterback C.J. Stroud, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back TreVeyon Henderson has Buckeyes fans thinking about the program’s third all-time trip into the College Football Playoff’s national championship game.
First things first, Ohio State needs to take care of business and win the Big Ten unlike they were able to do in 2021. Instead, Michigan reversed recent history in their rivalry series and derailed those hopes for the Buckeyes. If there’s a team equipped to handle one of the league’s gauntlets, it’s Ohio State.
Fornelli notes that it’s unusual to see a team that’s expected to win the league ranked this highly on a strength of schedule ranking because they don’t get the “boost” of playing themselves. Ohio State opens the season against Notre Dame, though, and draws really all of the teams that most prognosticators feel are the Big Ten’s best heading into 2022 save for Purdue.
Conference play doesn’t get much easier, as the Buckeyes get Wisconsin and Iowa from the West (at home at least), but will hit the road for Michigan State and Penn State. As usual, the season finishes with Michigan. The Buckeyes will play three teams that have reached the College Football Playoff during the upcoming regular season and could face the top five teams in the conference outside of themselves. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Rutgers has to play a pair of road games at Boston College and at Temple before it even embarks on its Big Ten slate. Playing in the Big Ten East with this roster means life is going to be difficult any way you slice it.
The draw from the West could’ve been worse, but Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota could all be bowl teams in 2022. As for the “Big Four” games, the Scarlet Knights get Michigan and Penn State at home, but will hit the road for Ohio State and Michigan State. Getting to a bowl with this slate will not be easy. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Northwestern starts its 2022 season in Ireland against Nebraska. The Wildcats do get Wisconsin at home, but road trips to Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue makes this schedule one of the Big Ten’s most difficult.
We’re four teams into the rankings and we finally have a Big Ten West team. That’s what happens when your cross-division draw includes Ohio State and road trips to Penn State and Maryland. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
That 2020 season suddenly feels like a lifetime ago. Indiana opens on a Friday night against Illinois. After Idaho, Indiana will also see Western Kentucky and Cincinnati in its nonconference schedule.
The Hoosiers avoid dates against either Iowa or Wisconsin, so that part’s good. Again, it’s being in the Big Ten East and pairing that with a nonconference slate that houses Cincinnati.
The swing games here will be Illinois, WKU, Maryland, Rutgers and Purdue. If Indiana doesn’t win at least four of those games, a bowl berth is unlikely. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Illinois opens with a Wyoming team that saw some transfer portal casualties. There’s also a home date against a Virginia team that routed the Illini last season 42-14. Add those nonconference dates in with the likes of both Michigan and Michigan State to go along with its Big Ten West schedule and it winds up as one of the more challenging paths of any team in the league.
The East draw isn’t very kind, though. The Illini have Indiana on the road on a short week after the opener against Wyoming and will welcome Michigan State to Champaign in early November before heading to Ann Arbor to face Michigan a few weeks later. The divisional games could be worse. Wisconsin on the road isn’t easy, but Illinois isn’t likely to beat the Badgers anywhere. Meanwhile, getting Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue at home makes those games a little easier to deal with. A bowl game isn’t out of reach here, but a solid start to the season will be critical. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Fornelli looks at the nonconference date against Auburn and sees an opponent that suddenly doesn’t look as daunting as when the game was originally scheduled. Avoiding Iowa and Wisconsin and getting Purdue in the season opener does make the West opponents look a little more manageable.
What keeps the Penn State schedule from being ranked higher than this is its draw from the West. Getting Purdue, Northwestern and Minnesota (only Purdue is on the road in the season-opener) is the best draw Penn State could hope for. In the division, the Lions get Ohio State and Michigan State in Beaver Stadium, and their road trip to Michigan comes after a bye week. Also, the most demanding games are spaced well, so while it’s not going to be easy, it could’ve been a lot worse. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Payton Thorne and company check in with the Big Ten’s first schedule on the back half of the difficulty meter according to Fornelli. While Michigan State does head to Washington in week three for a suddenly spicier nonconference affair, that’s really the only roadblock before Big Ten play.
The good news is that they get Illinois, Rutgers and Indiana between those games. That’s nice. What isn’t as nice is a stretch of games from mid-September to mid-October. It starts with the road trip to Washington, followed by Minnesota, a road game against Maryland, then Ohio State and Wisconsin in consecutive weeks. Michigan State is going to need the bye week that follows. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Any schedule that features both Michigan and Ohio State seems pretty challenging from where I’m sitting, but Fornelli points out that Nevada shouldn’t pose much of a threat in the nonconference and generally feels like the Hawkeyes have one of the easier to navigate slates.
The Big Ten schedule starts with Rutgers, which is the conference’s way of saying, “we’re sorry we’re making you play both Michigan and Ohio State this season,” because that’s what it’s done. The good news for Iowa is that it gets Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium late in the year, but road games against Purdue and Minnesota will be tricky. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Nebraska plays host to Oklahoma in the nonconference in one of the most challenging out-of-conference games of any Big Ten team. Really, it’s Nebraska’s draw from the East that has Fornelli comfortable ranking this schedule as the 10th-most difficult.
The Huskers do well with their draw from the East. While playing Michigan on the road isn’t fun, getting Indiana and Rutgers as the other two games helps. However, if Nebraska wants to get to a bowl this year, it would be best served to get the wins early. November is a monster. It starts with Minnesota at home, then Michigan on the road, Wisconsin, and at Iowa on Black Friday. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Purdue opens the season at home against Penn State. If the Boilermakers are a legitimate darkhorse threat to win the West, then starting off with a win against the Nittany Lions would be quite the statement that its indeed Purdue’s throne. Its other two East opponents are Maryland and Indiana, so that helps, too.
Where I become skeptical about Purdue’s chances in its division are the road games against Minnesota and Wisconsin. There’s also a tough stretch of games that sees the Boilermakers playing Nebraska before a road trip to Wisconsin and then Iowa at home. At least there’s a bye between Wisconsin and Iowa. Also, those “coin flip” games that can determine a season against Maryland, Illinois and Indiana are all on the road. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
The likely preseason pick to win the Big Ten West has one of the conference’s easiest slates according to Fornelli. Washington State shouldn’t offer too much resistance in the nonconference and Wisconsin gets its road trip to Ohio State out of the way early to finish the month of September. Wisconsin has to travel to Michigan State in October as well.
The most pivotal stretch of the season will be November. That’s when Wisconsin will face its primary competition for the West. The final three games of the year are at Iowa, at Nebraska and at home against Minnesota. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Colorado State, Hawaii and Uconn in the nonconference schedule invokes no fear at all. A road trip to Ohio State will obviously be incredibly difficult, but the rest of the Wolverines’ schedule lays out pretty favorably.
While there is no such thing as an easy Big Ten schedule, Michigan’s is as manageable as you could hope. Sure, there’s the season finale at Ohio State, but the Wolverines get both Penn State and Michigan State in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a bye in between. Also, while it’s never easy going to Kinnick Stadium to play Iowa, drawing home games against Nebraska and Illinois is a fair trade-off. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Congratulations, Minnesota! According to Fornelli, this is the easiest schedule of any Big Ten team. The Golden Gophers get New Mexico State, Western Illinois and Colorado at home in the nonconference. With the Buffaloes coming off a 4-8 season, it’s easy to see why Fornelli doesn’t think Colorado is altogether imposing.
The good news is the home slate is manageable, as the Gophers host Purdue, Rutgers, Northwestern and Iowa. It’s hard to imagine the Gophers missing out on a bowl against this schedule, but drawing Michigan State and Penn State as road games from the East probably means winning the division isn’t a realistic goal. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Dansby Swanson's three-run mash
Dansby Swanson hits his 14th home run of the season, a three-run blast to left-center field, to break the game open, 5-1 Braves
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2022-07-02T01:19:34Z
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CBS Sports’ Big Ten strength of schedule rankings
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Grading Warriors' DiVincenzo move with GP2 and Porter out originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
With those two gone, along with Juan Toscano-Anderson and Nemanja Bjelica, the Warriors were left with an immediate need for a defensive-minded wing -- one who hopefully could stretch the floor as well. It appears they've checked another box there.
Donte DiVincenzo has agreed to a two-year, $9.3 million contract with the Warriors, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Friday, citing sources. Charania also reported the second year on the contract has a player option.
Using players like Payton and a handful of others, the Warriors have the examples to show free agents how much they can add to their value by being in their system and competing for a championship. That's where DiVincenzo now finds himself.
He's a former first-round draft pick, college champion and NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks. He's 6-foot-4, is only 25 years old and had the top vertical jump measured at the 2018 draft combine. Athletes like him should be scooped up early in free agency. But he was limited last season after coming off surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left ankle.
DiVincenzo doesn't completely make up for the loss of Payton, the Warriors' second-most important free agent going into the offseason. Still, it's a really nice move to add a motivated former first-round talent who can defend the perimeter, really run the floor and add some scoring as well.
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2022-07-02T01:36:40Z
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NBA free agency 2022: Donte DiVincenzo fills big Warriors roster holes
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San Francisco’s defensive line plays a Wide-9 style that forces linebackers to step in and fill gaps in the run game, which they do effectively. They also cover very well and can take away the quick, over-the-middle passing attack that teams thrive on in the modern NFL.
There’s not a ton of intrigue from a roster standpoint going into the year. Their starters are established and their depth is pretty strong. One battle to watch though will be between Dre Greenlaw and Azeez Al-Shaair for the starting Will LB job. That spot is on the field for three downs, while the third (Sam LB) is typically off the field in sub packages. Here’s what the LB group looks like going into camp:
Good luck finding a more prototypical modern LB than Warner. He’s athletic, has a tremendous football IQ, and is as good against the run as he is in coverage. Warner got off to a tough start in 2021 after being named an All-Pro in 2020, but it was evident by the end of the season that he’s still the game’s best off-ball linebacker. As long as he anchors the middle of the 49ers’ defense, they’re going to be hard to move the ball against.
Greenlaw, a fifth-round pick in 2019, put together a nice rookie year and was good again in 2020. Last season he was hurt for most of the year, but had his best season in a small sample size. He’s not perfect and sometimes struggles against the run. He also doesn’t offer much as a blitzer. Greenlaw is an effective player alongside Warner though and his improvement in coverage last season should give him a leg up in the race for the Will LB spot.
Al-Shaair was the next man up when Greenlaw went down with a groin injury in Week 1 last year. He slid from Sam to Will and had some clear ups and downs. There were missed assignments in coverage and tons of whiffed tackles, but when he was on he looked like one of the best LBs in football. It’s all about consistency for Al-Shaair this year. If he can cut down on the missed tackles and be a more effective player in coverage, he has a real shot to surpass Greenlaw on the depth chart.
Flannigan-Fowles is a converted safety who joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He’s quietly worked his way into a regular special teams role, and is the favorite going into camp to be the fourth LB on the depth chart. He saw a career-high 164 defensive snaps last year and acquitted himself well in that limited action. Flannigan-Fowles isn’t liable to overtake Al-Shaair or Greenlaw on the depth chart, but the 49ers should be okay if he’s pushed into extended action this year.
The 49ers added some depth to their LB corps with Burks, but he may not even be the first player off the bench. His larger impact will come on special teams where he starred for the Packers after they took him in the third round of the 2018 draft. San Francisco’s special teams were abysmal last year and Burks should at least improve that unit for the 49ers. His relatively small defensive sample size hasn’t been great, which doesn’t bode well for his placement on the LB depth chart going into training camp.
Robinson had a cup of coffee with the 49ers last season after starting the year with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie. In San Francisco he played three games with 37 special teams snaps at the end of the season. He figures to be the frontrunner for one of the final LB jobs, but he’ll win that via special teams contributions.
Gemmel is an undrafted rookie from North Carolina. During his last three years with the Tar Heels he posted 235 tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He’ll be a practice squad candidate if he doesn’t shine on special teams (this will be a pattern moving forward on this list, FYI).
McCrary-Ball spent a long time at the University of Indiana, where an injury robbed him of his 2017 campaign, and the COVID-19 pandemic knocked out his 2020 season. He returned for the 2021 season and posted 40 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and 1.0 sacks. His production fell off post-injury and he finished his career with 242 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 52 games. He’s another practice squad candidate unless he can shine on special teams.
Olubi is the third and final undrafted rookie who could be destined for the practice squad unless he dominates on special teams. He played at three small colleges before landing at San Diego State for his final two college seasons. In 19 games with the Aztecs, the LB/safety hybrid had 68 tackles, four tackles for loss and a pair of forced fumbles.
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2022-07-02T02:08:48Z
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49ers offseason roster: LB corps is NFL’s best and it may not be close
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Former Michigan State basketball star Miles Bridges has reportedly been arrested for domestic violence.
Bridges, 24, turned himself in Wednesday to authorities in Los Angeles for an alleged physical altercation that happened Tuesday, according to TMZ.
Initial attempts to reach Bridges' representation were unsuccessful.
Los Angeles County jail records show he was charged with a felony, booked about 5:30 p.m. local time Wednesday and released a few hours later after posting bond on a $130,000 bail.
A woman claimed she was in a verbal argument with Bridges that became physical, per TMZ, and law enforcement was called, but the Flint native left the scene before they arrived.
BEFORE THE ARREST: Why Pistons decided to pass on pursuing Miles Bridges in free agency
Charlotte Hornets draft pick Miles Bridges listens to a question during a news conference in Charlotte, June 22, 2018 after starring for two seasons at Michigan State.
The report also states the woman needed medical attention. Bridges' next court date is July 20.
A 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward, Bridges is one of the biggest names in NBA free agency this offseason. He had frequently been linked to the Pistons, though recent roster moves made that increasingly unlikely even before this allegation.
NBA FREE AGENCY RUMORS 2022: Live updates on deals, trades and reactions
POTENTIAL FITS IN DETROIT: Here are the 8 names to watch for the Pistons in 2022 free agency
Bridges, who has played for the Charlotte Hornets since being drafted in 2018, is coming off the best season of his career, putting up 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
"The Charlotte Hornets are aware of the situation involving Miles Bridges," the team said in a statement. "We are in the process of gathering additional information. We will have no further comment at this time."
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) drives past Milwaukee Bucks guard Wesley Matthews (23) during the first half of their game Monday, February 28, 2022 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis.
Bridges was expected to land a near-max contract, in the range of $30-40 million per season.
"As an organization, we love Miles," Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak said earlier this week. "We’re going to bring him back. He’s been great for the franchise, and I believe, with his work ethic, he’s only going to get better."
Bridges attended Flint Southwestern High School as a freshman before attending Huntington Prep (West Virginia) the next three seasons. A five-star recruit, Bridges was ranked the No. 12 player in the nation and No. 3 small forward when he announced he would return to his home state to play for Tom Izzo and Michigan State.
In his two-year collegiate career, Bridges averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He was Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2017 and an All-American in 2018.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hornets' Miles Bridges arrested for domestic violence: report
Ypsilanti native Emoni Bates transferring from Memphis to Eastern Michigan
Emoni Bates, a former star at Ypsilanti Lincoln and Ypsi Prep, is transferring to Eastern Michigan to play for his hometown school
Unabomber link to 'Dungeons & Dragons': New detail on terrorist case in Apple 'Project Unabom' podcast
The new Apple Original podcast “Project Unabom,” with reporting from host Eric Benson, reveals new information about the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, and the Dungeons & Dragons group that were original suspect in the terrorist case.
Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder invoked his right against self-incrimination Thursday and declined to answer questions at a civil trial arising from lead contamination in Flint's water in 2014-15. Snyder was called as a witness in federal court in Ann Arbor, two days after the Michigan Supreme Court in a separate case said criminal indictments against him and eight other people were invalid. Snyder's appearance was already planned.
El Monte police Sgt. Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana were gunned down earlier this month after responding to a report of a stabbing at a motel.
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2022-07-02T02:36:54Z
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Report: Former Michigan State star Miles Bridges charged with felony domestic violence
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Klay believes Poole has 'more sauce' on his moves than Steph originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Jordan Poole's rise from G League prospect to Warriors star throughout the 2021-22 season was among the biggest storylines throughout Golden State's championship run.
With Poole filling in for both Klay Thompson and Steph Curry at different points in the season, the Warriors' offense barely skipped a beat at times.
Thompson joined Warriors teammate Andre Iguodala and co-host Evan Turner on the latest episode of the "Point Forward" podcast, where he raved about the 23-year-old guard and even admitted that he might have saucier moves than Curry.
"[Jordan Poole], we don't do the same things, but we play off each other so well now, because we were staying off the ball with the rock on his hands and I try and space around the perimeter," Thompson said. "And he can pass, that's how good of a passer this man is, he puts it right in the pocket ... it reminds me of Steph so much, but even got a little more sauce on his moves ... they're just different."
Poole's rise to stardom has been an inspiring story after being selected late in the first round of the 2019 draft.
"(He's) pulling up from three, it's great," Thompson added. "And to see the growth, because I could only watch Jordan for the first couple years and then I finally got in the lineup with him. It's incredible, man. I was watching the draft (on June 23) and I was like I can't believe this man was the 28th pick and damn-near (shooting) 50-40-90 in the playoffs? That's crazy."
Before Thompson made his triumphant return to the court in January, Poole's time in the starting lineup was limited, eventually reverting back to a bench role but still playing starting-caliber minutes. He embraced the Sixth Man role and after a mid-season slump as a result of the lineup change, he proved to be a vital piece of the Warriors' offense down the stretch and throughout the playoffs.
RELATED: Grading Warriors' move to bring back Looney in free agency
Oddly enough, the Warriors had the No. 28 pick again this summer, selecting Milwaukee forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. With the success that Poole is having, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Golden State could have another late-round star on its hands.
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2022-07-02T03:03:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jordan Poole has 'more sauce' than Steph Curry, Klay Thompson believes
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How the gas industry aims to rebrand as ‘clean’ energy to appeal to Black and Latino voters
Pipeline companies facing opposition in blue states have launched a $10m PR campaign targeting the Democratic base
R. Kelly could be in his 80s before the singer is free again, based on a 30-year prison term imposed this week by a New York federal judge for parlaying his fame to sexually abuse young fans, including some who were children. A federal trial in Chicago is slated to begin next, on Aug. 15. Chicago is Kelly’s hometown and where many of his accusers live, so interest is expected to be especially intense.
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2022-07-02T03:04:11Z
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UFC 276 video: Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway get heated at final faceoff
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"At this time, no additional information is being released," the LAPD said in a statement.
In her Instagram post Thursday, Johnson said that she couldn't "be silent anymore" and that she wouldn't "allow the people around him to continue to silence me and continue to lie to protect this person."
"I’ve allowed someone to destroy my home, abuse me in every way possible and traumatize our kids for life," she wrote. "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."
The Instagram post included an image of a medical document listing her injuries: "Adult victim of physical abuse by male partner; Assault by strangulation; Brain concussion; Closed fracture of nasal bone; Contusion of rib; Multiple bruises; Strain of neck muscle."
Johnson said that she doesn't want what happened to her to happen to anyone else, that she is scared for her children who witnessed "everything" and that she wanted "this person to get help."
"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," she wrote. "I won’t be silent to protect others anymore because I value myself and my kids" more than anyone's "image."
Johnson asked for the public to respect her family's privacy.
Bridges' agent could not be reached for comment Friday.
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2022-07-02T04:16:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Wife of NBA's Miles Bridges posts photos of injuries after his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence
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Usually, if you want to land one of the most dominant players in a particular draft class, you have to trade up.
In the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys managed to pull off the exception to the rule, moving down two spots and still managing to snag do-it-all linebacker Micah Parsons at No. 12 overall.
A dynamic defender with a rare blend of athleticism, versatility and instincts, Parsons was a weekly highlight reel during his first NFL season. Injuries caused the Cowboys to try out the off-ball linebacker as an edge rusher, and it sent Parsons’ impact into another stratosphere, as he racked up 13 sacks on his way to being named the unanimous NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and a finalist for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Relive Parsons’ incredible rookie campaign with all the best highlights from last season:
Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons joined Sports Seriously and shared how to best use him in this year's Madden. An answer that might have also gave away how Dan Quinn will use him in real life this upcoming season.
Commission candidates running in the 3rd and 7th Districts participated in a forum, answering questions about their top concerns facing the community.
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2022-07-02T04:31:09Z
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WATCH: Top highlights from Micah Parsons’ rookie season
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Kayla Thornton (Dallas Wings) with a 3-pointer vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 07/01/2022
Quentin Eberhardt returning to Tennessee baseball as strength and conditioning coach
Quentin Eberhardt was the strength and conditioning coach for four seasons with Tennessee baseball. He was hired by the Chicago Cubs in December.
President Biden on Thursday said the U.S. and its allies would provide support “as long as it takes” for Ukraine to win its war against Russia. “We are going to stick with Ukraine, and all of the alliance is going to stick with Ukraine as long as it takes to in fact make sure that…
Michael Lorenzen's three K's
Michael Lorenzen strikes out three in his start against the Astros
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2022-07-02T05:02:48Z
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Kayla Thornton with a 3-pointer vs. Los Angeles Sparks
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Bulls fans went wild on Twitter after two-time All-Star Zach LaVine agreed to a max contract with Chicago.
A TikToker whose 18-year-old son was shot to death asked fans not to 'think badly' of him after police said he was selling drugs at the time
Ophelia Nichols, a TikToker known as Mama Tot, has asked fans not to judge her son, who was selling drugs when he was shot dead, according to police.
A 20-year-old woman was shot in the head from a “very close range” Wednesday night while pushing a baby stroller in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The woman had been a pushing a 3-month-old baby, who was not harmed in the incident, east on 95th street, when the suspect approached her at approximately 8:23 p.m. and fired a single gunshot into her head, according to a statement from police to Oxygen.com. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the woman, who has not been publicly identified by auth
Man caught on video stealing fuel from the van of a Moraine business is facing additional charges from other police agencies.
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2022-07-02T05:48:32Z
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Miles Bridges charged with felony domestic violence
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LAS VEGAS — Jared Cannonier has a secret weapon he can rely upon when he meets champion Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title Saturday in the main event of UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It’s not a punch he’s worked assiduously to develop, nor is it a flashy submission hold.
Since he joined the UFC as a heavyweight in 2015, Cannonier has been enhancing this weapon for exactly this moment. He knows full well the challenge that he faces in Adesanya, who is one of the elite pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
That, though, is where Cannonier’s secret weapon comes in. He’s faced four former UFC champions and one former interim champion in his 13 bouts in the promotion. It’s uniquely prepared him for the moment he’ll step into the cage against one of the greatest fighters of this generation.
He’s lost to former light heavyweight champions Glover Teixeira and Jan Blachowicz and former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. He’s beaten former middleweight champion Anderson Silva and former interim middleweight champion Kelvin Gastelum.
Winning a belt changes a fighter in many ways for the positive. They know what it takes to win at the highest level, because they’ve done it, and their confidence is often through the roof. Cannonier has learned from them what he needs to do to get past Adesanya on Saturday.
“It’s definitely a confidence boost,” Cannonier said of the stiff opposition he’s faced. “It’s definitely a nudge for your ego when you realize, ‘Hey, I’ve only lost to champions and former champions and, you know, title challengers,’ and stuff like that. Outside of one, Shawn Jordan, who is just a big animal, a big bear of a man anyway. But you know, it’s a little bit of confidence, a little bit of a boost of my ego. Good stuff. It feels good to know that I only lost to the cream of the crop.”
Jordan, a former LSU football player, is the only fighter Cannonier has lost to in the UFC who hasn’t at least fought for a world title.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 12: Jared Cannonier reacts after winning his middleweight fight against Derek Brunson via a second-round knockout during UFC 271 at Toyota Center on February 12, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
All those experiences have helped Cannonier to earn his spot in this title fight. Unlike some, he got here by taking the most difficult path imaginable.
He’s 5-1 in his six fights since moving from light heavyweight to middleweight, where he probably should have been all along. His only loss in that span was to Whittaker and, well, there’s a story behind even that.
Whittaker threw a kick at Cannonier’s head in the opening seconds of the fight, which Cannonier blocked. But in doing so, he was rendered nearly useless the rest of the way. He broke his forearm. For a guy who is a striker, that’s a bit of an issue.
Cannonier went the distance and put on a credible performance, but it wasn’t what he wanted. But, as always, he said, he took something from it.
“It was a good learning experience,” Cannonier said. “I realized that I wasn’t really engaging him the way I needed to to get the job done. And it was hard to do it with one arm, you know? But still, it's still a lesson that I learned from that: Moving in to really put my hands on my target. But man, it was not fun doing that s***. I don’t want to have to go through that again.”
Adesanya is arguably the best striker in the UFC and is a master at controlling distance. Cannonier said the loss to Whittaker showed him he just can’t allow the fight to be held at the distance Adesanya wants and expect good things to happen.
So while he’s not going to take crazy risks, he’s also not going to sit back and play Adesanya’s game, either.
“His control of distance and range is exceptional,” Cannonier said. “The only person who’s ever done that, not exactly like him but to an extent in a championship reign is Jon Jones. There’s a few guys at the smaller weight classes that do it as well, like Max Holloway. His boxing is just on point. He reminds me of one of those tall, skinny, long boxers who can touch you up and then move and then touch you up some more from a long distance away.
“I’ve learned over time that footwork controls time and space as far as combat sports goes. So if dude’s like Doctor Strange up in there with his footwork then I have to deal with that. But if he’s Doctor Strange, I’m Baron Mordo. So we got to have a fight.”
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2022-07-02T06:07:42Z
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The secret weapon that could help Jared Cannonier dethrone Israel Adesanya at UFC 276
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For the first time since 2018, Kyle Larson will compete in a NASCAR Xfinity Series event Saturday — and he will also start the race from the pole position in Hendrick Motorsports‘ No. 17 Chevrolet.
Larson won P1 Friday at Road America, posting a top qualifying speed of 108.495 mph and completing a lap around the 4.048-mile road course in 134.318 seconds. Ty Gibbs from Joe Gibbs Racing will line up next to Larson after falling 0.573 mph and 0.713 seconds slower. Larson was the only one in the 38-driver field to crack the 108-mph mark.
“It was honestly surprising when I read that it’s been since 2018,” Larson said. “It doesn’t feel that long ago. But yeah, I don’t know. Just getting into the car, I guess. The driving stuff is whatever. It’s just like the visuals of the tag and the gauges, it’s different style dash than what I was even used to when I was racing Xfinity for (Chip) Ganassi. So, just the little things like that. It’s hard to adjust to at first, but once you’re out there, it kind of becomes natural and it’s just another stock car at that point.”
RELATED: Road America’s full weekend schedule | Saturday’s lineup
This Hendrick Motorsports entry marks the team‘s first in the Xfinity Series since 2009. Tony Stewart was the last to pilot a Hendrick Motorsports car inside the second-tier level, winning the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Team owner Rick Hendrick holds 23 Xfinity Series victories in 339 starts.
Larson‘s return at Road America is the first of three Xfinity Series races Hendrick Motorsports has committed to in 2022. Alex Bowman will make his first start since 2018 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway‘s road course on July 30. William Byron will then run his second race this season — showed up for JR Motorsports at Texas Motor Speedway back in May; finished runner-up — at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 20.
Nas00495
The three drivers combine for 17 Xfinity Series wins. Byron adds a championship from 2017.
“I’m looking forward to competing with a lot of the young up-and-comers, as I’m sure they’re looking forward to compete with me also,” Larson said. “It should be a lot of fun this weekend and for the couple others I get to run the rest of the year.”
Larson alone has 108 career starts in the Xfinity Series, spanning from 2013-18. He has 12 wins, with the latest coming in 2018 at Bristol Motor Speedway. That year, he won in four of the six races he participated in. He ran a part-time schedule each year but 2013, when he turned out eighth in the season standings.
During that full-time gig, Larson was introduced to Road America. He came in seventh, didn‘t lead any laps. His next meeting with the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, track didn‘t come until 2021 in the Cup Series, where he placed 16th.
“I picked this one because I’ve only raced here twice,” Larson said. “I don’t remember all the race I ran here in 2013, but I don’t remember being that fast. And then, the Cup race last year, this was probably our worst road course we had of the season. So that’s why it was important for me to get to run in this race and just try to learn something every lap.”
Tropical Storm Bonnie made landfall around 11 p.m. EDT Friday night along the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border. The second named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane season was upgraded to tropical storm strength earlier on Friday following its unusual track across the southern Caribbean and northern coast of South America. The storm may now put a very unusual stamp in the history books after crossing Central America. Bonnie gained strength as it neared the east coasts of Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica
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2022-07-02T08:35:26Z
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Kyle Larson makes Xfinity return to add Road America laps to resume
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The Angels' Shohei Ohtani is congratulated by third base coach Mike Gallego after hitting a first-inning homer. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
Byron Buxton's walk-off homer
Byron Buxton smashes a two-run walk-off home run to left field in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Twins a 3-2 win over the Orioles
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2022-07-02T11:26:59Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Angels get just two hits in loss to Astros, who receive another gem from Cristian Javier
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In the Dodgers' 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres, however, it was the other who cemented himself as a strong early contender for this year’s honor.
In perhaps his best start in the big leagues, Tony Gonsolin stole the show in front of 48,076 at Chavez Ravine, giving up just one run in a career-high 7⅔ innings to tighten his grasp on the majors' best earned-run average.
Echoed catcher Austin Barnes: “He's going after hitters, and he knows what he's doing. He's got a lot of conviction in each throw."
After beginning his career with three solid yet unspectacular seasons, Gonsolin has emerged as one of baseball's most unexpected stars nearing the midway point this year.
He doesn’t have as hefty an innings total as some of the majors' other top starters, with a couple of short early-season outings to blame.
However, he had to battle constant traffic. After Max Muncy's solo blast opened the scoring in the second inning, Snell faced a bases-loaded jam in the third, runners at second and third in the fourth, and two more aboard in the fifth.
The Dodgers' Max Muncy and Padres starting pitcher Blake Snell watch the flight of Muncy's second-inning, solo homer. Snell struck out 12 in five innings. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
He escaped each time but had to leave the game after the fifth with a pitch count of 107. Gonsolin, meanwhile, had to that point thrown only 57, finding a groove even after Trent Grisham's solo blast tied the score at 1.
“He's got pitches going all kinds of ways, and he's showing his fastball both sides of the plate,” Barnes said. “It's hard I think for them to zero in on a specific speed and pitch."
They surged ahead with runs in each of their last three innings at the plate against the Padres' bullpen — on Cody Bellinger's solo home run in the sixth, Freddie Freeman's RBI double in the seventh and two insurance runs in the eighth.
“I wasn't gonna let Doc take me out after that seventh,” he said of Roberts, eventually getting lifted only once the top of the Padres' lineup came up for a fourth time. “Felt nice to go back out and feel good."
Asked whether he would have had the confidence at the start of the season to pitch like he did Friday, Gonsolin said "yes and no."
“I feel like I didn't believe in myself as much as I do now,” he said before countering that nothing he has done this season has surprised himself.
"Just trying to go out there and throw strikes,” he said. “And see what happens."
“There's no need to get ahead of myself,” he said. “I threw well today. I'm gonna celebrate today. The goal is to win tomorrow."
The Daily Sweat: Padres, Braves have been reliable for MLB bettors as road team
The San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves have been very reliable for MLB bettors as the road team.
WB Still Standing By Ezra Miller 'Flash' Movie—Despite New Controversy
Even more details about the star's erratic behavior have been released.
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2022-07-02T11:27:11Z
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Perfect 10: Tony Gonsolin excels to stay unbeaten as Dodgers defeat Padres
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Dylan Frittelli and a Rules Official discuss a possible animal hole inside tree roots. pic.twitter.com/zy7N000jg2
J.T. Poston took a four-stroke lead into the weekend in the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic, following an opening 9-under 62 with a 65 on Friday at TPC Deere Run. Coming off a second-place tie last week in Connecticut after also opening with a 62, Poston got to 15 under with a birdie on the par-4 13th and parred the final six holes in the afternoon round. “I feel great,” Poston said.
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2022-07-02T11:27:18Z
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WATCH: Dylan Frittelli disagrees with rules official after ball finishes inside tree
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The Indianapolis Colts are less than a month away from returning to Westfield for training camp at the end of July, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they continued to tweak the roster through free agency.
Though the majority of big moves have been made by general manager Chris Ballard, he’s always on the lookout to add depth and competition to the roster.
At this point in the offseason, there’s a reason these players haven’t been signed yet. It might be due to injuries, declining play, or their asking price is well above market value. Regardless, not all of these options are perfect fits for the Colts, and some of them would be brought in to training camp simply to see how they compete.
With that said, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on who is available in free agency. So here’s a look at the best available free agents for the Colts before training camp arrives later this month:
Colts fans already know what Hilton brings to the table, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if a reunion was in order.
Reuniting Jones with Matt Ryan would be interesting even if Jones has struggled to stay healthy over the last few seasons.
It won’t happen because Beckham Jr. is still likely too pricey, and he won’t be available until late in the season after tearing his ACL during the Super Bowl. But he proved in 2021 he can still be a catalyst in the passing game.
WR Will Fuller V
He rarely stays healthy so it’s a long shot, but Fuller’s talent could be worth taking a look on a cheap, one-year deal.
He may be 35 years old, but Sanders recorded 14.9 yards per reception and went over 600 receiving yards in 2021.
JPP certainly is not the player he used to be, but he would be some nice depth behind Kwity Paye at left end. Even in a limited role in 2021, Pierre-Paul registered 29 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Another former great pass rusher, Dunlap still has enough juice to play the Big End role on the strong side while adding additional pass-rush help in a rotation.
Bring the Muncie native back home to finish his career as a rotational pass rusher.
It was a pretty down year for Haden, but it wouldn’t be a bad move to see how he competes in camp if the price isn’t outlandish.
King has been extremely boom/bust throughout his career, and the last two years have been rough. But he fits the Colts’ profile and could be brought in to compete for depth behind the starting four.
Trufant shined with the Raiders under Gus Bradley in 2021, allowing an 84.4 passer rating in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. Why not see if there’s anything still there for the No. 5 cornerback role?
Gipson has the type of versatility to work both at free and strong safety so there could be some added value. He played more of a free safety role with the Bears in 2021, but he’s shown throughout his career that he can also make plays against the run.
Adams has always been a rotational player dating back to his days with the New York Giants. He can add solid depth while contributing heavily on special teams.
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2022-07-02T12:56:16Z
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13 free agents the Colts could sign before training camp
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Warren Moon
But then, Moon discovered Marlin Briscoe – a Black man who, after being forced to convert from college quarterback to NFL cornerback, got his shot at his natural position with the Denver Broncos when the team's veteran passers were sidelined with injury.
“Marlin the Magician,” as Briscoe was dubbed, parlayed a fourth-quarter relief effort in 1968 into a five-game stint as the starting quarterback to close out his rookie season.
Briscoe, who became the first Black starting quarterback in pro football’s modern era, didn’t just start. He dazzled.
Using his supreme athleticism and quick-twitch reflexes to elude defenders and his strong arm and keen instincts as a passer, Briscoe set a Broncos rookie passing record of 14 touchdowns.
“Marlin was the first guy that I saw that let me know I could keep pursuing this,” Moon told USA TODAY Sports this week while sharing his recollections of Briscoe, who on Monday died of pneumonia at 76.
“I had started playing quarterback at 10 and I always wondered what position I could play if I wasn’t able to keep playing it,” Moon continued. “But I was destined to be a quarterback and couldn’t turn my back on it, and Marlin was the inspiration. To see a Black man doing it, it really gave me a boost that helped me take off.”
Denver quarterback Marlin Briscoe looks to make a pass in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Denver, Dec. 14, 1968. Marlin Briscoe, the first Black starting quarterback in the American Football League, died Monday, June 27, 2022.
Moon eventually orchestrated a renowned 22-year career as a quarterback, earning inductions into both the Canadian and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He largely credits Briscoe for fueling his success, even though his idol wasn’t nearly as fortunate.
Briscoe’s name and plight might not hold a place of prominence in the minds of today’s Black quarterbacks and fans. But he should rank high on their list of heroes.
Briscoe’s NFL career embodied one of the ugliest chapters in NFL history while also providing a glimpse into a future where supremely talented quarterbacks of color, when finally given the opportunity, dominate at an elite level.
“They should look at Marlin as a trailblazer,” Moon said. “He’s a guy that blazed a trail for guys like myself, Randall Cunningham, Vince Evans and all the guys that came after us. He was a quarterback like those of today. He could throw but he could move. He was called ‘Marlin the Magician’ because of that.
"During that time, everyone was looking for the cookie-cutter, 6-3 to 6-5 white quarterback who could stand in the pocket and throw the ball. That wasn’t Marlin, but that’s the way the game has evolved. If people want to know where the game was headed, they can look at Marlin Briscoe.”
Briscoe’s numbers spoke for themselves – and still do. His 14 passing touchdowns remain a Broncos rookie record 54 years later.
He had what it took to play quarterback at the highest level. But others rejected, disrespected or hated him for his skin color.
After that five-game stint with Denver, Briscoe never again played his beloved position again. He didn’t even get to suit up for the Broncos again. The following offseason, he learned that Denver coaches and quarterbacks had been holding meetings without telling him, and the Broncos soon traded him to Buffalo, where the Bills required Briscoe to transition to wide receiver.
“When Marlin came to Buffalo, he was bitter, and I was bitter for him,” former teammate and roommate James “Shack” Harris told USA TODAY Sports. “He was bitter because he had played well and they didn’t give him a chance. I felt his pain. … I was bitter for him and all the guys that were denied a chance to play.”
That 1969 season, Harris was another Black quarterback trying to make it in the NFL. Buffalo drafted him in the eighth round out of Grambling State but buried him on a depth chart topped by veterans Jack Kemp and Tom Flores.
Harris leaned heavily on Briscoe, who despite focusing on his fight for a roster spot as a wide receiver coached up Harris on the nuances of professional quarterbacking.
“We had to call our own plays in those days, and Jack Kemp and Tom Flores were there, so we were moving at the pace of veterans, and it was hard,” Harris said. “I understood football but not at that pace. But Marlin had been in Denver. Being able to talk to him in the evenings about the whole thing, it really helped me. We talked about play-calling, any action, what he had been through, what I was going through, how he felt coming in and all of that. He was a big help to me, just having someone to come back to.
“And practicing each day, we had seven-deep, so I wasn’t getting a lot of practice, and he was a big help to me. And he was coming in as a receiver and he wasn’t getting a lot of practice,” Harris continued. “We both realized, him as an undersized guy switching positions, he had a slim chance of making the team. And me, a Black quarterback with no experience in the league, we understood I had little chance of making the team. Back then, they were cutting players every day – 150, 125 guys, just cut you there. Marlin and I would see each other and say, ‘Well, we made it another day.’”
Briscoe would ask Harris to throw to him for 30 to 40 minutes after each practice, and eventually the work paid off. Both made the regular-season roster, and in 1970, Briscoe morphed into a Pro Bowl wideout.
Briscoe and Harris’ football journeys took them away from Buffalo. Briscoe wound up in Miami, playing a role in helping the Dolphins win two Super Bowls and earn the distinction of being the only team in NFL history to go undefeated for an entire campaign. Harris wound up in L.A., where he garnered 1974 Pro Bowl MVP honors.
But the two remained close. Upon retirement, Briscoe moved two houses down from Harris in Los Angeles.
Despite Briscoe's championship accomplishments as a wide receiver, the racial mistreatment always stung.
“I know the hard times he went through because he wasn’t allowed to play quarterback,” Moon said. “He had a hard time with drugs and alcohol at one point in his life. He overcame that and was very involved with the Boys & Girls Club much of his life after his playing days were over. That period of his life really messed with him because he knew he had the ability. He had played it at a high level all his life and in college, and then it’s taken away from him, and he really struggled.”
Briscoe lived vicariously through Harris, Moon, Doug Williams and the Black quarterbacks who came after him. In 1988, while incarcerated for drug possession, he was moved to tears while watching Williams become the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
Years later, when meeting Williams for the first time, he made a point of telling the younger quarterback about the impact his triumph had on him.
Williams, meanwhile, felt a deep sense of gratitude to Briscoe.
“You’re talking about a pioneer. Marlin was a pioneer,” Williams told USA TODAY Sports. “When you look at it, his journey was way worse than mine. He was the first guy modern-day to play the position and evidently, he played it pretty good. But it was during the time where it just wasn’t happening for Black quarterbacks.
"When I think about Marlin, I think about the opportunities I had to play this game, whether we want to accept it or not, Marlin had a handprint on the whole situation to give me that opportunity to play. ... I was given the best opportunities of any black quarterback. Shack was a starter, but as far as coming in with an open mind of ‘you are a starter’ I was the first one to do that and owe that all to Marlin.”
Briscoe always found it important to support young Black quarterbacks because he understood the challenges of playing such a demanding position while also dealing with racial persecution. In the early 2000s, Briscoe, Williams, Harris, Moon, Cunningham and Evans formed a fraternity of Black quarterbacks called “The Field Generals,” with the goal of hosting camps for young Black aspiring quarterbacks and mentoring college and pro passers of color.
Now, 54 years after NFL teams forced Briscoe out of his natural position, some of the game’s most dynamic quarterbacks are Black. Some still find themselves subjected to racially charged criticisms or attacks. However, as Williams said, Briscoe bore a far heavier and more painful burden. And for that, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields, Trey Lance and their brethren should count themselves blessed.
Some of them may not have known much about Briscoe prior to this week, and some of them still may not. However, Briscoe deserves their admiration and gratitude, because without trailblazers like him, their opportunities could look very different.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why today's Black QBs owe late pioneer Marlin Briscoe a huge debt
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2022-07-02T12:56:41Z
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Today's Black QBs might not know Marlin Briscoe, but they owe late pioneer a huge debt | Opinion
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After a more than month-long manhunt, Texas fugitive Kaitlin Armstrong was detained overseas for her alleged involvement in the killing of elite cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson.
Azsia Johnson, 20, died on Wednesday night after she reportedly planned to meet up with the father of her three-month-old baby
Kaitlin Armstrong had been on the run since 11 May
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2022-07-02T15:06:44Z
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Hornets to pull qualifying offer for Miles Bridges?
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An Ocala native, Kinsler is well within Gator country. However, it looks like another Florida-based team is trying to stick their grubby paws into the area that should be Billy Napier’s home base of recruiting. Kinsler’s decommitment is coming hot on the heels of his official visit with Mario Cristobal’s Miami team. Then, immediately after dropping the news that he was stepping back from Florida, four 247Sports experts added crystal ball predictions in favor of the ‘Canes.
“Dear Gator Nation,” wrote Kinsler, “after days of deep thought and prayer, I have decided to decommit from the University of Florida. This was a very hard decision for me and my family. I would like to thank the entire Florida Gators coaching staff for the time, effort, and energy they put into recruiting me. Please respect this decision.”
There are two ways to look at this. The first is to shrug and point out that Kinsler is replaceable. He’s big, but so are a lot of other linemen in the country. His three-star rating reflects a possible SEC contributor, but a name-brand school like Florida can put a hard press on just about any three-star recruit and have a good chance at getting them.
On the other hand, it’s alarming that offensive line coaches Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton, who had such immense success with the Ragin’ Cajuns couldn’t get complete buy-in on their system from a hometown recruit they’ve been on since day one.
Here’s hoping a commitment from Monroe Freeling, Francis Mauigoa, or Payton Kirkland is right around the corner.
2023 Recruiting Profile: Will 5-star OL Francis Mauigoa stay in Florida?
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2022-07-02T15:17:06Z
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This big 3-star offensive tackle steps away from Gators commitment
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The Ohio State Buckeyes recruiting trail continues to heat up after flipping former Texas Tech commit Calvin Simpson-Hunt. On Friday they also added Jermaine Mathews Jr of Cincinnati pledged to play for Ohio State.
Currently, the Buckeyes have the No. 1 in the country with a total of 16 commits, two of which are five stars. Ohio State is edging out the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Texas Longhorns, Clemson Tigers, and the Penn State Nittany Lions for the top class in 2023.
Mathews is listed as an athlete but will likely play on the defensive side of the ball at cornerback. He was primarily recruited by secondary coach Tim Walton, who once played the position of cornerback for Ohio State.
Quick cover corner with the skills and tools to play man to man or in zone. Has good change of direction and recovery/closing speed. Shows he can play the ball in the air. Has to add weight and strength still. Was not a varsity starter until his junior year so still has learning to do, but has improved rapidly and has the movement skills to be a high-end college corner and have a chance to play on Sundays. Fits as a player who could play both in the slot and outside. – Allen Trieu, 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst
Mathews has drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill. Head coach Ryan Day and the staff continue to stack together a great class with plenty of work left to be done.
He joins Ohio State’s No. 1 Class in the ‘23 Team Rankings 🌰https://t.co/NUTAo0LFJi pic.twitter.com/taV9chKZLG
Predicting every Big Ten football team's record for 2022
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2022-07-02T15:17:25Z
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Ohio State add yet another cornerback with Jermaine Mathews Jr
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There are officially no limits on schools that can be considered expansion candidates for the Big Ten after extending invitations to join to USC and UCLA. With the Big Ten set to welcome the two iconic Pac-12 programs in 2024, the future of the Big Ten has never looked more open and there are so many directions the Big Ten could go next.
The Big Ten has made it a point to focus on schools that are members of the Association of American Universities when exploring potential expansion candidates. USC and UCLA are each members of the AAU, for example. But membership in the AAU is not necessarily a major deal-breaker, as is the case for Nebraska. Nebraska was voted into the conference when it was an AAU member, but the school lost its AAU affiliation months after heading to the Big Ten.
There are a number of AAU members not included in this list as they are current members or future members of the SEC. Of all the conferences out there, the SEC is likely the one conference that stands the least chance of having a school leave for another conference. The SEC is home to AAU members Florida, Missouri, and Texas A&M and Texas will soon join them.
This list of potential expansion targets for the Big Ten is based off the current membership of the AAU with one very notable exception. We may as well get that exception out of the way right now…
Notre Dame is the biggest exception to the Big Ten’s ideal list of expansion candidates. The Big Ten has twice pursued the Fighting Irish over the years, but to no avail. Make no mistake, however, Notre Dame is an academic institution that is on par with those members of the AAU and would be one of the most natural fits into the Big Ten if the school opted to join the Big Ten.
Notre Dame may not be the national draw it once was, but the school now sees so many of its traditional rivals in the Big Ten. The mere threat of not being able to play them on a regular basis could be one of the factors that tips the Irish off the edge of football independence.
AAU member: Yes
Following the news that USC and UCLA were leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, speculation about what Oregon does quickly fired up. Oregon may not necessarily bring the market size the Big Ten is looking for, but the Ducks have become a known and respected brand and they would help balance out the Big Ten’s new west coast presence.
And if the Big Ten does continue with westward expansion, there are a few more schools that should be considered.
If the Big Ten is adding Oregon too, then Washington would be the school that should be paired with them. The Huskies would give the Big Ten four west coast teams with a presence in the north and one in the south. Plus, the additions of Oregon and Washington would seize capitalize on the smaller yet potentially valuable Seattle and Portland markets.
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Network
If we are sticking to AAU members from the Pac-12, then we should at least consider the possibility of Arizona. Arizona may be a tough sell for most, and the Wildcats may not be on any short list for Big Ten targets at this point. But they’re an AAU member with some access to the No. 11 Phoenix market.
Sticking in the Pac-12 and AAU members, how about one of the Pac-12’s newest memberS? Utah certainly brings a lot to the table as a growing program with growing success. The Utes just won the Pac-12 football championship last season and battled Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Utah is a school that has grown over the years from being a Mountain West Conference power to earning a spot in the Pac-12 to being one of the top programs in the conference.
There may be one more Pac-12 fit for the Big Ten worth considering form the state of California. Stanford would be an easy fit into the Big Ten with USC and UCLA already heading to the conference, and the possibility of Oregon and Washignton joining them. Stanford sits in a terrific spot, although it may be lacking in football facilities.
But that No. 6 television market of San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose is sitting right there for the taking (unless the Big Ten feels USC and UCLA carry that enough already).
Penn State safety Neal Smith shown Nov. 25, 1969, about to tie the school record with his 12th career interception. The pass was intended for Colorado halfback Monte Huber (42). (AP Photo)
Another one of the Pac-12’s newest members, Colorado could start to make some sense for Big Ten expansion. The Buffs already have a history with current Big Ten member Nebraska, and it would help bridge the gap between the current Big Ten membership and USC and UCLA. This could even be more likely if the Big Ten manages to add Utah, as the two once were a package deal for the Pac-12. Adding Colorado and Utah at the same time could be an option for the Big Ten as well.
There is no question that Kansas would fit right in with the Big Ten and add a college basketball powerhouse to the mix. But the years of conference realignment have shown Kansas doesn’t pack a punch when it comes to football and football ratings. That may be the biggest reason Kansas is not already a Big Ten member and it may be why Kansas gets left behind once again.
North Carolina and Duke
AAU members: Yes
The inclusion of ACC members in this list is probably not worth the time considering the conference’s grant of rights terms in place with its members. Essentially, the grant of rights makes it fiscally irresponsible for any current ACC member to leave the conference for another until at least 2036. It would be a mammoth decision to leave the ACC with so much at stake in the budget.
But let’s toss that to the side for a moment and dip our toes into the ACC’s AAU membership. And let’s be honest, much like the Big Ten added USC and UCLA at the same time, the Big Ten would be getting North Carolina and Duke in a package deal. You don’t get one without the other at this point.
The other ACC options: Pitt, Virginia, Georgia Tech
For purely selfish reasons, the addition of Pitt would be incredibly fun from a Penn State perspective as it would renew the in-state rivalry on an annual basis. But the Big Ten doesn’t need Pitt to increase its viewing reach. It is already covered with Penn State and Ohio State in and around the Pittsburgh region.
Virginia doesn’t really add much to the Big Ten either. But Georgia Tech has the biggest card on the table nestled right in the Atlanta market, an area with as strong an SEC presence as you can imagine. As the two conferences appear on track to create a pair of dueling superconferences, Georgia Tech could be a nice asset for the Big Ten (and it’s one the SEC has no need for).
But those ACC grants of rights will be a major obstacle taking almost any ACC options out of the mix entirely.
One non-AAU ACC option: Syracuse
The limitations on Syracuse as a viable Big Ten expansion candidate have echoed here once again, but the grant of rights is a harsh limiting factor. But Syracuse would be a great fit in the Big Ten and would add another nice presence in the northeast to complement Penn State and Rutgers (and perhaps another expansion candidate to be mentioned soon).
The Big Ten has planted a flag in the New York market and is ready to take over the Los Angeles market. It is already established in Chicago. But what about that lucrative Dallas-Fort Worth market?
This is where TCU could come into play as a possibility despite not being an AAU member. If the Big Ten really wants a piece of that southwest market, then TCU is the only real option to consider. And TCU has a responsibility to contemplate its place in the changing landscape of the college athletics world as well. With the Big 12 not at all what it once was once Oklahoma and Texas leave for the SEC (two schools specifically left out of this conversation just for that reason), TCU would be wise to start pitching itself to the Big Ten.
Army and Navy
AAU members: No, but as American as they come
Imagine a world where the Big Ten is the home of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, USC-UCLA in the Rose Bowl, and the greatest college rivalry game there is, the Army-Navy Game.
The future of service academy football is not discussed enough as the college sports world continues to evolve. As history and tradition gets tossed aside amid conference expansion, the Army-Navy Game is a reminder that some traditions in the sport are not to be messed with. Even if the Big Ten managed to bring these two rival academies in as football-only members, it would be a massive win to be able to add the Army-Navy Game to its programming lineup in the media rights deal.
Feel free to throw Air Force into the mix if you want to keep the entire Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy under one roof (we know the Big Ten loves a good trophy game after all).
Here are three things we'd like to see from the organization before training camp begins.
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2022-07-02T15:17:50Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Top 17 Big Ten expansion candidates for consideration
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https://sports.yahoo.com/top-17-big-ten-expansion-121909772.html?src=rss
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The Cleveland Browns defense made some significant upgrades in 2021. It took them some time to figure things out together but the additions of John Johnson III, Jadeveon Clowney, Anthony Walker, Greg Newsome II and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah worked out very well for the team.
While the addition of Troy Hill left a lot to be desired and led him to be traded this offseason, GM Andrew Berry’s overhaul of the defense was impressive.
The Browns return most of the key pieces on their defense while adding a few other players. The development of Newsome and Owusu-Koramoah in their second years will be vital to the team’s success. Newsome is already being talked about as a Pro Bowl candidate.
If it were up to Pro Football Focus’ redraft, Cleveland wouldn’t have Newsome and would have had to use a much higher pick to get their linebacker. PFF has the New England Patriots selecting Newsome with the 15th overall pick while the Browns have to nab the Notre Dame product with their first round instead of their second-round pick.
On Newsome’s move up in the redraft:
As for JOK:
Another team to stick with one of their players but in a different draft spot, the Browns found a good one in Owusu-Koromoah, so much so that they would be happy to grab him again a round earlier. JOK looked like a defensive rookie of the year candidate early in the season before injury stalled his progress, but his all around skill set is game-changing for this defense. He had impressive PFF grades in every area except tackling, where 15 misses was more than you would like to see.
Thankfully, the Browns got both and are looking forward to seeing them develop in their sophomore seasons where more will be expected of them. Thankfully, the team has continued to surround them with talent to allow them to succeed and develop at the same time.
Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Oscar Gonzalez was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with an abdominal issue. The move was one of several made by the Guardians before playing a split doubleheader against the New York Yankees. Friday's series opener was postponed by rain.
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2022-07-02T15:33:09Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2021 NFL redraft has Newsome, JOK going much higher
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-nfl-redraft-newsome-jok-130617803.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-nfl-redraft-newsome-jok-130617803.html?src=rss
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It starts at the most important position: Quarterback, where quarterback Justin Fields has been the focal point this offseason. Aside from Fields, there were some big changes in the quarterback room, where Andy Dalton and Nick Foles are out and Trevor Siemian and Nathan Peterman are in.
This new regime under general manager Ryan Poles has been criticized for its handling of Fields this offseason, especially when it comes to the lack of unproven weapons and the state of the offensive line. But they also brought in new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy to put Fields in a position to succeed.
Let’s take a look at the quarterbacks heading into training camp:
The handling of then-rookie Justin Fields last season was questionable at best and negligent at worst. Fields is coming off a rough rookie season that resulted in the firings of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy, an indication this organization has Fields’ potential success in mind. Now, despite the criticisms about his supporting cast and offensive line, it’s hard to argue against the notion that Fields is in a better position in Year 2 under Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus.
That starts with new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who has built this entire offense around Fields. Unlike the Nagy regime, we’re going to see the Bears utilize Fields’ strengths, including his mobility and deep ball, while also putting him in a position to succeed, through utilizing play action and establishing a run-heavy scheme. All eyes will be on Fields’ development this season, where him taking a big step forward will feel like a winning season.
The Bears backup quarterback situation got worse this offseason following the departure of Andy Dalton in free agency. Instead, general manager Ryan Poles brought in Trevor Siemian to serve as Fields’ backup, where the indication was that Poles believes Siemian is a better fit in this offense than Nick Foles, who was released earlier this offseason.
Siemian, a seventh-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos in 2015, saw starting time from 2016-17. But since his departure from Denver, he’s served mostly in reserve role during stints with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints. The hope is we won’t see much — or any — of Siemian during the regular season. But with the unpredictability of the NFL, the backup quarterback is always one play away. And Chicago is banking on Siemian being a seamless potential transition.
Last season, the Bears had the best third-string quarterback in the league with Foles. Now, they have one of the NFL’s most turnover-prone quarterbacks in Nathan Peterman waiting in the wings as the third-string QB. Peterman spent his first two seasons with the Bills from 2017-18, where he made four starts. He opened the 2018 season as Buffalo’s starting quarterback before being replaced by first-round rookie Josh Allen, after Peterman posted a 0.0 quarterback rating and was later released.
Peterman spent the last few years with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he’s served as a backup to Derek Carr. He briefly faced the Bears last season in place of Carr, where he had two rushes for two yards. Unlike last year — and Foles’ high salary cap hit — the Bears aren’t likely to carry three quarterbacks on the roster. Peterman will likely be shelved on the practice squad in an in-case-of-emergency role.
Big question: Will Justin Fields take a step forward in his second season?
No one’s expecting this Bears team to be contenders in 2022. But the season will still be considered a success if Fields takes a step forward in his development. While there’s been plenty of criticism about how Chicago has handled Fields this offseason — when it comes to a lack of proven weapons and the offensive line — there’s still reason to believe he will improve.
The Bears are implementing a new offense under Getsy, one that’s centered around Fields’ skillset. Getsy understands the importance of building the offense around the quarterback first, where we’re expected to get plenty of Fields on the move, utilizing play action and letting him throw it deep. While Fields might not be primed for his breakout season yet, the pieces are in place for him to take a step forward in his development.
Running back (coming 7/4/22)
Safety (7/20/22)
Special teams (7/22/22)
The Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
Rowdy Tellez homered for the fifth time in five games and drove in five runs, Corbin Burnes took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 19-2 Friday night. Willy Adames hit a grand slam as the Brewers connected five times. The Brewers got seven runs in the second inning and eight more in eighth — it was the first time in franchise history they had scored at least seven runs twice in an inning in the same game.
The White Sox and Giants were scoreless heading into the ninth inning, but the South Siders pulled ahead with some lucky baseball bounces.
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2022-07-02T15:33:16Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bears 2022 training camp preview: Quarterbacks
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https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-2022-training-camp-preview-134502985.html?src=rss
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The Indianapolis Colts are expecting the moves made this offseason will help them compete for the top spot in the AFC South, an achievement they haven’t earned since 2014.
As training camp is set to begin for the Colts on July 27, ESPN and Pro Football Focus came together to rank each team’s roster while listing their biggest strength, weakness and X-factor going into the 2022 season.
The Colts were ranked 15th overall in terms of their roster, and it’s no surprise that Jonathan Taylor and the rushing attack were featured as the strength of the team.
The Colts were one of two NFL teams that averaged a positive EPA per play in the running game during the 2021 regular season, joining the Eagles. That’s a combination of an impressive run-blocking unit and arguably the league’s top running back entering the 2022 season. Jonathan Taylor’s 1,272 rushing yards after contact last season were more than any other running back in the league had before and after contact. That run game and Indianapolis’ offensive environment as a whole represents a big positive change for Matt Ryan after his past few years in Atlanta.
Taylor should be in for another big season as he looks to capture the league’s rushing title for the second year in a row. His role should remain relatively the same even if the Colts wind up passing a bit more than they did during the second half of the season.
The weakness listed for the Colts has been the same one featured throughout the offseason. A lack of prominent receiving weapons leaves the Colts with several question marks. Relying on rookie Alec Pierce and speedster Parris Campbell brings equal parts upside and risk.
The X-factor listed for the Colts should also come as no surprise. Second-year defensive end Kwity Paye is expected to take a big step forward, and he was featured as the one who could help change the fate of the pass rush.
Kwity Paye missed some time early in his rookie season with a hamstring injury, but he bounced back to show some promise as a pass-rusher with a 71.3 PFF pass-rushing grade in 2021. Paye stands out as a potential breakout candidate entering his second season, particularly given the talent around him on that defensive line with DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Yannick Ngakoue.
The Colts will be out to prove to the football world that the late-season collapse at the end of 2021 was a fluke and that the moves made this offseason will lead to a competitive roster in 2022.
Ranking the Colts' position groups by strength.
In this week's episode of @TDJaguarsPod, the crew previewed six Jags who have something to prove this upcoming season.
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2022-07-02T15:33:28Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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ESPN ranks Colts roster middle of the pack
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https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-ranks-colts-roster-middle-130941395.html?src=rss
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To Indianapolis Colts fans, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. may not be viewed as an underrated player considering they got to watch his breakout season every week in 2021.
Relative to the rest of the league, however, Pittman Jr. does have a case as one of the more underrated players in the NFL. As ESPN and Football Outsiders named each team’s most underrated player, Pittman Jr. was the choice as the Colts’ representative.
Pittman was the eighth receiver to come off the board in the 2020 NFL draft, after receivers like Justin Jefferson who can make you fall under the radar. However, he is due for a year finally placing himself in the conversation of top young receivers.
In 2021, Pittman caught 88 passes for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns, and finished 18th in DYAR — a large increase from finishing 64th in 2020. He often wins with his size, and when lined up out wide, his DVOA was 12.1%, the exact same as Davante Adams. With Matt Ryan under center for the Colts, Pittman is due for a breakout.
One might argue that Pittman Jr. already had his breakout season in 2021, but the notion that he could continue to ascend up the ladder of wide receiver rankings with Matt Ryan under center holds true.
For those who have been paying attention to the Colts, none would be surprised if Pittman Jr. found his way over 1,200 receiving yards. It might be the higher end of his projection, but considering the lack of YAC opportunities he had in 2021, there’s an argument that his numbers will boom even more during this upcoming campaign.
We’ll see just what kind of production Pittman Jr. will have with Ryan under center as many are expecting another jump for the young wide receiver.
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2022-07-02T15:33:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Michael Pittman Jr. named Colts’ most underrated player
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https://sports.yahoo.com/michael-pittman-jr-named-colts-134409167.html?src=rss
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There are still a lot of unknowns for the Cleveland Browns with training camp opening in under a month. Will Deshaun Watson be suspended and, if so, for how long? Will Baker Mayfield be traded (most likely) and, if so, when and to where?
What we do know is that the team will play 17 games next year and, if healthy, have a great offensive line, run game and #1 wide receiver in Amari Cooper no matter who is the quarterback. The defense was elite at the end of last year and has a lot of developing talent.
While we await the final decision from Judge Sue Robinson, it is interesting to think about who might become the team’s secondary receiver in 2022 from a production standpoint.
There seem to be four options:
The most logical answer is the receiver who is set to play outside as their #2 guy. Peoples-Jones has shown flashes of good play but hasn’t really stood out. In 2021, the former sixth-round pick had 34 receptions for 597 yards and three touchdowns.
Given that he led the team in receiving yards last year, Peoples-Jones is the favorite to come in second behind Cooper in 2022 but not the only possibility.
TE David Njoku
Njoku was third on the team in receiving yards last year despite Mayfield having some struggles throwing over the middle. With his new contract extension and Watson’s success throwing to tight ends, Njoku could see a huge jump in numbers in 2022.
The former first-round pick’s career high of 639 yards would have led the team in 2021.
Cleveland’s third-round pick, Bell doesn’t have the explosive ability that Peoples-Jones and Njoku have but is a precise route runner with great hands. He also is in line to take a majority of the slot receiver snaps.
While just a rookie, Bell is seasoned and could be a safety valve for whichever quarterback is taking snaps.
Hunt is the wild card of the group. While he is unlikely to have the pure volume that the other three could get, Hunt could rack up big yardage in the screen game. With Cooper on the field, defenses may be more susceptible to screens on the other side of the field.
Hunt has been a good pass catcher throughout his career including 53 receptions for 455 yards as a rookie in Kansas City. He also has a chance to steal some slot receiver snaps from Bell as he pursues a new contract.
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2022-07-02T15:33:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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More receiving yards for Browns this year: DPJ, Njoku, Bell or Hunt
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https://sports.yahoo.com/more-receiving-yards-browns-dpj-134410050.html?src=rss
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Brothers Domata, left, and Joseph Peko of Calabasas are the sons of NFL defensive lineman Domata Peko Sr. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
The Peko brothers, Domata Jr. and Joseph, have been able to hang out and learn from their father, Domata Sr., a defensive lineman in the NFL for 15 years. They've been on the field at NFL stadiums before games watching, listening and trying to understand what it takes to succeed.
Now they're using those lessons at Calabasas High, where Domata Jr. is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior defensive end and Joseph is a 6-foot, 245-pound freshman lineman.
Defensive lineman Domata Peko Sr., then with the Baltimore Ravens, is fired up after a game in 2019. (Getty Images)
Joseph, known around Calabasas as "Baby Peko," is built similarly to his father, who is 6-3, 325 pounds.
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2022-07-02T15:33:47Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Peko brothers from Calabasas are showing toughness like NFL father
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https://sports.yahoo.com/peko-brothers-calabasas-showing-toughness-130004198.html?src=rss
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been a very polarizing figure since he entered the NFL as the fifth overall pick back in 2020. The fanbase and media are completely split on whether or not the team should continue to build around him going forward.
One analyst who has seemed to jump on the Tagovailoa bandwagon this offseason is former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III. Last week, Griffin posted a tweet stating that Miami’s signal-caller would be taking a big leap in 2022.
Tua will make a BIG LEAP this year because the @MiamiDolphins set him up for success better than any other young QB. Surrounded by playmakers like Tyreek, Jaylen Waddle, Cedrick Wilson, and Mike Gesicki, IMPROVED PROTECTION and a stable of running backs to show the NFL who he is.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) June 23, 2022
This week, Griffin joined “The Rich Eisen Show” and was asked to explain his reasoning for his tweet just a bit more.
“Tua really hasn’t had an opportunity to truly go out and show the NFL world who he is,” Griffin said. “Last year, he was throwing the ball in the pocket behind the 32nd-ranked pass-block unit in the league. It seemed like, at times, the coaching staff wasn’t truly sold on him. Whether it was bringing in Ryan Fitzpatrick, or seeming like they wouldn’t let him push the ball down the field even though, like I said before, it just seemed like he didn’t have the time to do so… I just think that they’ve put so many weapons around Tua, and they’ve brought in an offensive-minded head coach in Mike McDaniel that Tua’s got one of two options. He’s either gonna prove that he’s the guy this year, or he’s gonna prove that they need to draft a quarterback next year. I’m on the side of I think he’ll take a big leap because I don’t think he has a choice with all the weapons that they brought in for him…”
Like many Griffin points to the additions that the team has made this offseason. McDaniel’s offensive system, combined with an improved line and more dynamic playmakers, should lead to a better year for the former Crimson Tide quarterback.
What type of numbers could we see from Tagovailoa?
“I think if he goes 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions, I think that’s a great year for Tua,” Griffin said. “The benefit that Tua has that a lot of other quarterbacks don’t is there’s no expectations for a Super Bowl this year for the Dolphins.”
Those aren’t numbers of an elite quarterback in the league, but that’s a quarterback who’s playing safe and playing within a system. Jimmy Garoppolo has been doing a lot of that during his time with the San Francisco 49ers, in an offense that runs the same schemes as Miami’s will.
Griffin goes on to say that he doesn’t believe Tagovailoa needs to lead the Dolphins to the postseason for it to be considered a productive season for him. That’s tough to argue considering they were just a game out last year, and their roster is much improved. Most would probably say that making the postseason is a must this year.
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2022-07-02T15:34:00Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Robert Griffin III says Tua Tagovailoa ‘will make a big leap this year’
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https://sports.yahoo.com/robert-griffin-iii-says-tua-144051702.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/robert-griffin-iii-says-tua-144051702.html?src=rss
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The Tennessee Titans are set to sport a talented and exciting inside linebacker duo in 2022 with David Long and Zach Cunningham, but where do they rank as compared to others in the NFL?
According to Pro Football Focus’ Seth Galina, the pair ranks 16th. Here’s what he had to say about both:
Zach Cunningham, if nothing else, stops the run. He’s aggressive, has a quick trigger and finds the ball carrier. He’s not great in other facets, but stopping the run is still an important aspect of the position. David Long, meanwhile, was playing at a solid level before an injury forced him to miss most of the second half of the 2021 season.
A 2019 sixth-round pick of the Titans, Long is entering his second season as a full-time starter after securing the role in 2021. The West Virginia product is also entering the final year of his rookie deal.
While he’s been more known for his ability to play against the run, Long did make strides in coverage last season. His completion rate (70.7 percent) and QB rating allowed (61.0) were both career-bests.
Cunningham fell into the Titans’ lap via waivers after the Houston Texans cut him last season. He immediately secured the starting role alongside Long, further making both Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown expendable.
Cunningham needs to improve in coverage in 2022, but he did lead the Titans in tackles area during his five games (including playoffs) with the team in 2021, and he remained an impact run defender, also.
Beyond Cunningham and Long, it’ll be interesting to see the strides 2021 third-round pick Monty Rice makes in his second season.
Rice, who saw his rookie campaign end early because of injury, is set to play a backup role in his second season, and could be auditioning for a starting role in 2023.
This ranking from PFF is fair considering this duo hasn’t had much time together, but there’s plenty of reasons for optimism that Long and Cunningham could jump up this list by the time 2022 ends.
Titans land in bottom half of PFF's 2022 roster rankings
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2022-07-02T15:34:06Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Titans’ LB duo lands smack-dab in the middle of PFF’s rankings
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https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-lb-duo-lands-smack-124413121.html?src=rss
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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor enjoyed an incredible season during the 2021 campaign, bursting onto the second as the league’s best rusher.
Part of the reason Taylor was so successful was due to his ability to force missed tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, Taylor’s 66 forced missed tackles were the most in the NFL in 2021.
But as Pro Football Focus went back to rank the most elusive running backs in the league, Taylor came in at No. 15 overall, getting knocked a bit due to his high volume.
Here’s what they said about Taylor’s ranking on the list:
It’s to absolutely nobody’s surprise that Taylor was the best NFL running back last season. He leads the list in just about every category. The Colts’ back earned the third-highest grade (90.0) and recorded the most missed tackles forced (66), attempts (332), yards (1,811), yards after contact (1,272), touchdowns (18) and first downs (106). Obviously, his forced missed tackle total comes with a high number of carries, but he still averaged a missed tackle about every five attempts.
Taylor’s ability to work through contact is one of his many elite traits. According to Pro Football Focus, his 1,272 yards after contact were more than the total rushing yards of every running back outside of Joe Mixon.
His 3.83 yards after contact per attempt also were the third-most of any running back with at least 100 carries.
It should be a fun season to see Taylor go for the rushing crown once again as he enters the prime of his career.
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2022-07-02T15:34:12Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Where did Jonathan Taylor rank among most elusive RBs in 2021?
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USC defensive lineman Christian Rector tries to get past UCLA offensive lineman Sean Rhyan. The Trojans and Bruins sports programs will be getting out of the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024. (Associated Press)
I have been a UCLA fan since the days of Red Sanders. That said, I need to borrow Dylan Hernández's doom and gloom baton for a moment. UCLA football is barely competitive in the Pac-12. The move to the Big Ten means the program will be mediocre (.500) at best. That will be the price for getting the athletic department out of the red.
The fact that the Pac-12 was caught completely off guard by USC's and UCLA's decision to move to the Big Ten tells you all you need to know about how incompetent the leadership of a once grand conference has become.
Forty-seven million. Yes, you are seeing that correctly. That's how much Russell Westbrook decided to opt-in for. Like he would test the free agent market instead? I don't fault any player for taking these crazy amounts. Who wouldn't take it? The Clippers are signing a guy who got paid $31 million last season. To stay home! The owners can do this because our addiction to sports is not deterred by the ever escalating costs to watch or attend. Somewhere along the way we all decided that really the only thing our spending would go on unchecked is for sports. Not schools or charities or faith. We have truly lost our compass.
The last thing the world needs right now is to watch a bunch of "professional" baseball players fight in the middle of a baseball field in front of children. How does a parent explain to their baseball idolizing children that it is not appropriate to fight over a sporting event when the children see their favorite baseball idols acting like thugs?
Anyone can act like a thug. A thug is not a tough guy. A true "tough guy" would try to impress his peers and fans by hitting a walk-off home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when the other team throws a baseball at their best player. The lack of discipline and sportsmanship displayed by the Angels and the Seattle Mariners may be an indicator as to why these teams are more than 10 games out of first place.
Reports: Big Ten adding USC, UCLA
The Big Ten is expected to add USC and UCLA, according to multiple reports.
The Nationals activated reliever Mason Thompson from the IL on Friday after he suffered a bicep injury opening weekend.
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2022-07-02T16:52:16Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Letters to Sports: Big Ten defection by UCLA, USC infuriates readers
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https://sports.yahoo.com/letters-sports-big-ten-defection-120014216.html?src=rss
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Nets' reported asking price for Kevin Durant trade revealed, and it's huge originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The two-time NBA Finals MVP has formally requested a trade, and two of the team's on his reported list of preferred destinations are the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns.
The real question here is what do the Nets want in return for Durant. He's 34 years old, but when healthy he remains one of the top three players in the world. A strong case could be made that Durant is actually the best player in the league.
Therefore, the Nets' return package for Durant could be historically large.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst provided an update on this subject during an appearance on "SportsCenter".
"There are a number of teams that have made interesting offers," Windhorst said. "From what I've been told, the Nets are telling teams that they want a young star player and they're looking for at least three first-round draft picks."
Windhorst later added: "That seems to be a baseline where you would start: A star player and a bevy of picks."
Brooklyn also doesn't have to rush this process. Durant has very little leverage because his four-year contract extension worth $194 million begins with the 2022-23 campaign. He's not anywhere close to free agency. The Nets can take their time and survey the landscape before moving on what they feel is the best possible return.
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2022-07-02T16:52:23Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NBA rumors: Nets' asking price for Kevin Durant trade revealed, and it's huge
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Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson checked in with the third-fastest time of 134.672-seconds, followed by Chevrolet counterpart Tyler Reddick (134.74 seconds) in fourth. Austin Cindric (134.78 seconds) rounded out the top five, contributing to an impressive Ford effort in qualifying. Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, Alex Bowman renowned road racer Joey Hand and Cole Custer each raced inside the top 10.
Group A’s short session went without many incidents, but there were some. But most notable was Kyle Larson’s spin near the end of his six-lap run. The No. 5 only suffered minor damage and set a 135.278-second lap time, good for fifth overall.
Toyota’s road-racing woes continued early with Christopher Bell fastest among the bunch in 12th. Bubba Wallace and Martin Truex Jr. finished 16th and 18th, respectively, with Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch slotting in outside the top 20. Neither driver made it into the final round of qualifying.
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2022-07-02T17:57:43Z
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Elliott sneaks past Briscoe late to earn Busch Light Pole at Road America
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The first batch of Season 4 episodes from Netflix juggernaut Stranger Things propelled the series to an all-time record for U.S. streaming in a single week, Nielsen said. All 32 episodes of the show racked up 7.2 billion minutes of streaming from May 30 to June 5. That’s the most of any title since Nielsen […]
All the action from Wednesday's Cape League games.
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2022-07-02T18:01:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former NFL cornerback predicts Trevor Lawrence to take ‘huge step’ in year two
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Former stand-out Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver, Amari Cooper, was traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Cleveland Browns this off-season and for the first time, we get a look at him in his new Browns threads.
After being selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders, the Raiders sent Cooper to the Cowboys in 2018. Through his eight years in the league, Cooper has 517 catches, 7,076 yards, and 46 touchdowns.
Cooper will immediately fill a position need for the Browns as Odell Beckham Jr. departed for LA mid-season last year and Jarvis Landry signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent.
Cooper will be a pillar of the Browns’ offense, especially with all of the turmoil going on inside of the organization right now.
Cooper looks to have one of the most impactful seasons of his career thus far.
Alabama Basketball: 2022-2023 SEC schedule rotation
Amari Cooper ready to grow into role of team leader
Amari Cooper turned 28 earlier this month. He’s not old, but he’s the second-oldest receiver on the roster with Jakeem Grant Sr. 20 months older. That leaves Cooper in an unfamiliar position of the old guy in the receivers room. The nine other receivers on the team’s roster are 24 or younger. “That’s the position [more]
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2022-07-02T18:01:33Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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LOOK: First photos of Amari Cooper in Browns uniform
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https://sports.yahoo.com/look-first-photos-amari-cooper-153218978.html?src=rss
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Busy Philipps is arrested for protesting for reproductive rights at the Supreme Court
Busy Philipps was arrested while protesting for abortion rights. On Thursday, Vice Media reported via Twitter that the Girls5eva actress was arrested in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Protesters have taken to the court in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed federal protection for abortion, on June 24. In Vice Media’s video, Philipps was asked by an offscreen person why she came to the protest, to which she responded, “For equality.”
Jelani Hamilton, a four-star shooting guard out of the Cumberland Christian Academy, is the first commit in the Cyclones' 2023 class.
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2022-07-02T18:01:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ranking NFC East quarterbacks for the 2022 season
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Four-star offensive tackle recruit Tyree Adams is planning to play college football in the SEC. Adams is a member of the class of 2023 and plays high school football for St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Tyree Adams considers his top four schools to be LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Florida. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive tackle has scholarship offers from Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, Penn State, Texas A&M and Florida among others.
Adams is ranked as the No. 209 prospect in the rising senior class. He is the No. 21 offensive tackle and the No. 14 recruit in Louisiana.
Adams played right tackle for much of his junior season at St. Augustine. The talented offensive tackle is very mobile and is a sturdy pass blocker that can get to the second level in the run game.
Adams’ recruiting stock has recently risen significantly. Georgia offered the four-star offensive tackle on April 16, 2022.
First-year head coach Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers should have an advantage recruiting Adams. Kelly has an excellent history of developing offensive line talent and LSU is the school of choice for most of the top talent within the state.
Tyree Adams announced his top four schools via Twitter:
Georgia football offers under the radar 2023 linebacker
4-star DL Sydir Mitchell locks in commitment date
UGA football offers 3-star DB Rickey Gibson
From dual-sport athlete at Jackson Lumen Christi to NFL starter, Khari Willis is starting a new chapter in his life.
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2022-07-02T18:09:13Z
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4-star OT names top schools list with only SEC teams
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Apparently, John Walker has seen all he needs to see. The four-star defensive lineman had originally set his commitment date for October 22 later this year. However, on Friday, Walker updated that date and will be committing much sooner and now has the date set for July 28
The Kissimmee, Florida native will be choosing between Ohio State, Florida, Miami (FL), Michigan, and Central Florida. He is the No. 11 ranked D-lineman in the nation according to 247Sports composite rankings and a top-100 player overall. At the current time, there are two crystal ball predictions in favor of the Buckeyes.
Larry Johnson has had Walker as a top priority since offering the young man in November of 2020.
Who will it be? ⏱🖤…7/28 pic.twitter.com/3Fh0FnQ3jI
Currently, it seems that the Gators are the biggest threat to OSU’s chances of landing Walker. As of now, Ohio State has only one defensive tackle committed in the current class, that being Will Smith of Dublin, Ohio.
College baseball: Southeastern coach, players reflect on national title
Fire had plenty of memorable moments on the way to collecting second NAIA World Series championship in four years
247Sports' Nick Kosko took a look at why Iowa Hawkeyes fans have reason to be optimistic about the team's 2022 fortunes.
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2022-07-02T18:09:20Z
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Ohio State defensive line target John Walker moves up commitment date
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ohio-state-defensive-line-target-164731255.html?src=rss
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TAMPA — Nick Paul remembers the moment he felt a part of the Lightning. His head was still swirling, trying to digest a March trade from Ottawa to Tampa Bay, where he had to adjust to a new team in the middle of a push to the postseason. About two weeks into his time here, while the team was on an up-and-back road trip to Washington, he went to dinner with a group of his new teammates, ...
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2022-07-02T18:09:30Z
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Report: Florida football’s recruiting budget sees substantial increase under Napier
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https://sports.yahoo.com/report-florida-football-recruiting-budget-170626041.html?src=rss
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Cristiano Ronaldo asks to leave Manchester United but club insist forward is not for sale - AP
Manchester United will fight to keep Cristiano Ronaldo after their iconic striker indicated he wants to leave the club.
The Premier League club declined to comment on Saturday night after it emerged that the 37-year-old icon has asked to end his second spell with the club should United receive a suitable offer.
But their position is very much that Ronaldo is not for sale and remains under contract at Old Trafford for at least one more season, after he re-joined them less than 12 months ago.
United also insist they have not received any offers for the veteran forward, despite uncertainty over his future and agent Jorge Mendes apparently investigating the possible market for his star client in recent weeks.
Chelsea, Napoli and Bayern Munich, who have distanced themselves from the pursuit of Ronaldo, publicly at least, are all understood to have been informed of the situation by Mendes.
Ronaldo is due back at pre-season training with new United manager Erik ten Hag on Monday after being given an extended break following a summer of international duty.
And, with United leaving for their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia on Friday, his immediate future is sure to dominate Ten Hag’s agenda.
Erik ten Hag talks to his players during first-team training - GETTY IMAGES
Ronaldo cut an unhappy figure over the closing weeks of last season as United’s bid to finish in the top four floundered badly.
And it was widely reported that the veteran striker had demanded a summer of significant squad strengthening for him to commit to the second year of his contract.
That deal, signed in late August 2021, was a two-year contract, with a standard club option to extend it for one more year.
But it has been widely accepted in the game that, given Ronaldo’s status, the decision of whether to see out the second year would lie entirely with him.
United paid £12.85 million to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford after a 12-year absence last summer - a fraction of the €100m Juventus paid Real Madrid in his previous transfer three years earlier.
Reports claim that Ronaldo has requested to be allowed to leave if a “suitable” offer is incoming, although there is no indication whether his contract contains a release clause.
At the start of last month, United’s official website published an interview in which their star asset described how he was looking forward to the new season.
And, as recently as last week when reports surfaced linking Ronaldo with Chelsea, United were adamant that he would stay with the club.
At the time, a spokesman said: “Cristiano is not for sale. We want, and fully expect, him to be with us next season.”
However, on Saturday night United declined to comment on reports that Ronaldo has decided he does not wish to remain at a club that struggled in finishing sixth in the Premier League last season and which has yet to add a new summer signing.
For the first time since 2010, United went through the month of June without having added a single new player in the summer window.
And, although deals are on-going for midfielder Frenkie de Jong, left-back Tyrell Malacia and Ajax centre-half Lisandro Martinez, United have yet to complete any of them for their new manager.
Given his phenomenal fitness levels, Ronaldo feels that he could still play at the highest level for three or four more years, outstripping former United stars Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham who were both playing in the Premier League well past their 40th birthdays.
But he is apparently not prepared to “waste” one of those seasons in the relative obscurity of the Europa League, where United will be forced to play in the coming season.
Significantly, reports in Germany recently claimed Mendes had “offered” Ronaldo to Bayern - with the Munich club publicly refuting any interest.
Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes - REUTERS
And Mendes was seen meeting with new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly. Given the agent’s standing in the game, any number of targets could have been under discussion, but it is believed that Ronaldo’s status was one of the topics.
The striker, who turns 38 in February, was one of the few successful elements of United’s disastrous 2021-22, easily ending the campaign as the club’s top scorer, with 18 Premier League goals and 24 in all competitions.
His possible departure would also present Ten Hag with a major headache. Ronaldo’s countryman Bruno Fernandes was the only other United player to reach double figures in goals last season, and only just, with 10.
Mason Greenwood, suspended in January, was United’s third highest league scorer with five goals and Ronaldo’s exit would force Ten Hag into immediate and urgent action to land a striker replacement.
United’s frustrations in the transfer market to date will ease slightly with left-back Malacia due for a medical ahead of completing his move from Feyenoord for around £13m.
Mr Drueke said he has not seen Mr Huynh in several days
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2022-07-02T18:25:19Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Cristiano Ronaldo asks to leave Manchester United but club insist forward is not for sale
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Former Eagles seventh-round pick Beau Allen announced his retirement on social media Friday afternoon, after having not played a down in almost three years.
Allen missed all of the 2020 season while on injured reserve as a member of the Patriots and was released last March.
Allen finished his Eagles career with 87 tackles, 2 sacks, and 11 QB hits after initially being drafted to play nose tackle out of Wisconsin in 2014.
J.T. Poston fired a six-under par 65 to build a four-stroke lead in Friday's second round of the US PGA John Deere Classic.
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2022-07-02T20:12:09Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former Eagles’ defensive tackle Beau Allen announces his retirement from the NFL
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Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report listed seven such additions that some folks may have missed but can be interesting players for their teams in 2022. And a Cincinnati Bengals player made the list.
That player was tight end Hayden Hurst, coming in at No. 5 on the list.
“Hurst might be one of the most unlucky players in the NFL. After the Ravens took him in the first round of the 2018 draft, he only caught 13 passes for 163 yards in his first season. By his second year, Mark Andrews had become a bona fide weapon.
Then he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons, where he posted respectable numbers as the team’s top tight end. He drew 88 targets and converted them into 56 catches for 571 yards and six touchdowns.”
It is pretty easy to overlook Hurst, as he has effectively been passed over by another tight end on two teams now (Mark Andrews in Baltimore, Kyle Pitts in Atlanta). This time, there is no tight end to overtake him, unless Drew Sample all of a sudden breaks out this season. Hurst has a chance to quietly be a key piece of the Bengals offense as defenses focus on Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins.
Marvin Lewis, Marty Brennaman, Mick Cronin, Dan Hoard and Bob Castellini congratulate Paul Daugherty on his retirement from The Enquirer.
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2022-07-02T20:12:12Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Hayden Hurst named one of NFL’s most overlooked additions
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Not at all. Why? Because this very likely blows up the Rose Bowl and the bowl system. It removes a remaining swath of college football traditions which are important to me and other fans of the sport who are over 40 years old and who grew up on the cherished rhythms and rituals of New Year’s Day. How does the Rose Bowl retain a claim to being part of college football tradition today? The Pac-12-Big Ten relationship which made the Rose Bowl what it is has been demolished. The Rose Bowl will cease to be a significant part of college football in the way we have known it to exist. You won’t have Michigan or Ohio State playing USC, Oregon or Washington in Pasadena anymore. That’s done. The Rose Bowl might continue to exist as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal or semifinal, but that makes it one game in a sea of other games, without any special standing. There might be a playoff game in Pasadena every year, but the destruction of the Pac-12-Big Ten dynamic makes this game a Pasadena game, and not “The Rose Bowl” as we have known it.
It’s a sad day for anyone who values college football’s traditions.
That’s some heavy stuff, but it’s great to see at least someone valuing tradition over money.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Buffaloes, along with the other nine remaining Pac-12 schools, have been put in a strenuous position. Rick George expressed his disappointment and we’re now in wait-and-see mode for what happens next.
USC and UCLA will be leaving the Pac-12.
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2022-07-02T20:45:40Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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College football traditions will be lost upon USC and UCLA’s Pac-12 exit, says Trojans Wire
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We’ve already looked at the quarterback position and running backs. Now we’re moving on to the wide receiver position where Ohio State has begun to recruit better than anyone. It’s a position that might eventually be considered Cadillac group in the history of Ohio State over the next few years because it’s already well on its way with a lot of momentum.
We’ll keep voting up for five days, and at the end of it, we’ll reveal the winner of each. Make sure you scroll to the bottom to cast your vote from the nominees and write in a candidate if you think of another player.
David Boston (1996 to 1998)
Ohio State Football: All time program leaders in receiving yards
*** NOTE: Photo also ran on 4/18/99 (4E); and 12/20/98 (1E) — OSU Football — vs. Michigan — Wolverines — 31-16 — 11/21/98 — David Boston gets into the endzone with Michigan #30 Andre Weathers hanging on. Doral photo.
So, who’s the greatest receiver in Ohio State’s storied history?
David Boston can lay a claim, at least for now. He ranks second in career receptions, second in career touchdowns and second in receiving yardage. He also posted the second-best single-season by a Buckeye receiver because of Jaxon-Smith-Njigba’s record-setting season last year, catching 85 passes for 1,435 yards in 1998. That total includes a 217-yard effort against Michigan, sparking OSU to a 31-16 victory.
Boston also had a successful NFL career, playing eight years in the league. His best season was 2001 when he had 98 catches for 1,598 yards, which was good enough to earn a spot in the Pro Bowl.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2020 to current)
Sat., Jan. 1, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) looks back to Utah players after a reception during the fourth quarter of the 108th Rose Bowl Game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Utah Utes at the Rose Bowl. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Yes, Jaxon Smith-Njigba belongs in the conversation despite still playing for the Buckeyes and only having two years of stats accumulated. When writing this, I began to think that Smith-Njigba might eventually end up on this list after his career is done, but when I started looking at the list of accomplishments you start to realize the special things he’s already done.
Smith-Njigba is already first in Ohio State history in yards (1,606) and catches in a single season (95), receiving yards per game (347), most pass receptions in a game (15 twice), most receiving yards in a game, receptions per game in a career (5.3), receptions per game in a season (7.3), and most consecutive games with at least 100 yards receiving (5).
Yeah, that’s ridiculous. Some of the per averages could change, but Smith-Njigba is going to continue his assault on the receiving records at Ohio State and climb some of the other categories as well.
There’s no doubt, he’s in the conversation, and if you throw away the fact that some believe recency bias might play into it, he could very well be the best receiver to ever play for Ohio State … right now.
Cris Carter (1984 to 1986)
Oct, 1985; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Cris Carter (2) during the 1986 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Admit it — as soon as you saw the name, you thought of Chris Berman quipping, “all he does is catch touchdowns.”
All kidding aside, Carter was one of the best – if not the best – receivers to wear the Scarlet and Gray. He ranks fourth in school history in receiving yardage, fourth in touchdowns, and second in receptions. He also posted the fourth-best individual season by a Buckeye receiver in 1986, hauling in 69 passes for 1,127 yards. Not surprisingly, he was a consensus All-American that year.
His stats could have been even bigger had he not left college early because of an issue with working with an agent while still an amateur. Actually, it appears that the agent knew what he was doing.
As great as he was in college, Carter was even better in the NFL. In sixteen NFL seasons, he caught 1,101 passes for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns. He led the league in receiving touchdowns three times (1995, 1997, 1999) and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
Terry Glenn (1993 to 1995)
Nov 18, 1996; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes reciever Terry Glenn (83) runs after a catch against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes best the Hoosiers 42-3. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
As athletic and dynamic as Terry Glenn was, he really had just one year where he starred for Ohio State. But oh, what a year it was. Glenn made big play after big play, often of the acrobatic variety in 1995 and nearly helped lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and shot at a national title, save a loss to Michigan at the end of the year.
Glenn wracked up 1,411 yards and 17 touchdowns on 64 receptions in his senior season, averaging a whopping 22.0 yards per catch. It was good enough to win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver, the only OSU player to do so to date.
Twitter Poll: Vote and help us decide!
When you think of receiver at Ohio State historically, who do you think of? Terry Glenn, @DbossBoston, @criscarter80 — How about current playmaker @jaxon_smith1? Vote below or write in a candidate. It's a position that's bound to keep getting better. #GoBucks #FaceOfThePosition
— Buckeyes Wire (@BuckeyesWire) July 2, 2022
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2022-07-02T20:45:47Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Face of the Position: Wide Receiver
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https://sports.yahoo.com/face-position-wide-receiver-195903519.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/face-position-wide-receiver-195903519.html?src=rss
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The college football recruiting trail was blazing hot in June matching the rising mercury, and while there were some ups and downs over the past 30 days, overall the Gators hung tough as the dog days of summer continue to roll in.
One of new head coach Billy Napier’s biggest goals in turning around a struggling Florida football program is to dominate the recruiting scene within his school’s home state. Despite the recent decommitment from one three-star Sunshine State prospect, seven of the Gators’ current eight commits hail from the Sunshine State. However, the Orange and Blue were not the overall winners on their home turf last month.
According to Jon Santucci and Chris Boyle over at the Gainesville Sun, it was the Ohio State Buckeyes who lured the most top prospects from the Gators’ own backyard in their recent ranking of the 10 schools that fared the best on the recruiting trail in the nation’s southern-most state. Here is how they justified their No. 1 pick.
While a northern school coming in and carpetbagging talent from the south is enough to get any Gator fan’s blood boiling, Florida did rank second on the list (keeping in mind that this was published before the recent decommitment news).
Florida is followed by the Miami Hurricanes at No. 3, with the South Carolina Gamecocks, Clemson Tigers, Pitt Panthers, Michigan State Spartans, Cincinnati Bearcats, Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Maryland Terrapins trailing behind, respectively. The Alabama Crimson Tide, Oklahoma Sooners, Tennesee Volunteers, Texas A&M Aggies and UCF Knights all earned honorable mentions on the list.
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2022-07-02T20:46:12Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Who ruled Florida in football recruiting for June? The answer might surprise you.
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As a football program, few programs have had as much success or more than the Oklahoma Sooners in their history. They’ve been the powerhouse in the Big 12 for the last two decades, winning more conference championships than the rest of the programs combined.
Nestled in the heart of Oklahoma, the Sooners have built themselves into a blue blood program thanks in part to the work of Bennie Owen, Bud Wilkinson, Barry Switzer, Bob Stoops, and yes, even Lincoln Riley. They’re a team synonymous with winning, offensive football, and Heisman trophies.
They’ve never been a flash-in-the-pan program. While the Sooners have had short-lived periods of poor play on the field, they never lasted long, and rarely did it mean a losing season. According to College Football Reference, the Oklahoma Sooners have had just 11 losing seasons in their 114-year run. That’s a remarkable run of success. By comparison, the Texas Longhorns have had 17 losing seasons in their history.
That record of success has helped them build one of the largest college football fanbases in the country despite their home state’s small population.
Strategy analyst Tony Altimore underwent a process to analyze the fan bases of Football Bowl Subdivision teams, and the Oklahoma Sooners came in at No. 17 in the study.
Here’s what they looked at in their study:
Includes inbound conference teams only, excluding some newly promoted FCS teams lacking prior data. Source: New York Times and NYT 538 studies of fanbases in 2011 and 2014 and of Vivid Seats ticket sales data in 2014, normalized with 2020 U.S. Census data and Google trends data and multiple studies of overall national CFB fan support. Inputs from each study are averaged based on number of inputs to avoid penalizing (primarily G-3) teams not included in all three studies. – Tony Altimore
Ohio State came in at No. 1, followed by Notre Dame at No. 2. Texas, with Oklahoma heading to the SEC, had the third-biggest fanbase in the study’s estimation. Coming in ahead of Penn State at No. 4 and Michigan to round out the top five.
The new-look SEC fared very well in the study as 15 of the 16 schools made the top 40 in estimated fan base. Vanderbilt, who has struggled in football in recent seasons, was tied at No. 63 with the Big Ten’s Northwestern, who was the only school in the new-look conference outside the top 50.
While Texas has a sizeable advantage in the fanbase size, one must also consider that the state of Texas has a much larger population than Oklahoma. It’s the age-old discussion about why Oklahoma has so many players from Texas on the roster. There’s simply a larger player pool to recruit from.
The study has certain limitations, which is why it’s an estimate. The studies used are nearly a decade old. However, it’s interesting to see how the teams and leagues stack up based on the numbers involved. It’s unlikely things have changed so radically in support that teams would drop off, but that’s not to say things might look different if they were based on more recent numbers, were they available.
It’s not surprising that the SEC leads the way in average fanbase per school, followed by the Big Ten. Those two conferences are considered one and two in unofficial rankings of the Power Five. It’s also not surprising to see the Big 12 fall to fifth among the Power Five, with Texas and Oklahoma shifting to the SEC.
Because this study came out before the moves of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten, it’s not been updated to reflect the recent realignment. However, when you add the former Pac-12 schools, they still lag behind the SEC.
And when you take out USC and UCLA from the Pac-12, they still rank ahead of the Big 12 in average fanbase per school by more than half a million.
The ever-changing landscape of college football has led to discussions about brand recognition and drawing power. With that, let’s take a look at the top 25 schools in estimated fan base according to this study.
Sep 7, 2019; Boulder, CO, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers fans cheer at the end of the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers fans show their support against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks fans cheer against the Tennessee Volunteers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2021; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels fans celebrate on the field after the game at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2018; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles fans watch the game against the Florida Gators during the second half of action at Doak Campbell Stadium. Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes fans react after Miami turned the ball over on downs during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans fans celebrate after the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners fans during the game against the Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
81.5% of the population.
Oct 10, 2020; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers fans brave the heavy rain and strong winds during the first quarter of the Auburn Tigers game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Syracuse Orangemen
October 18, 2008; Tampa FL, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe (8) gets tackled as he runs with the ball by Syracuse linebacker Mike Mele (50) during the first half against the Syracuse Orangemen at Raymond James Stadium. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs fans celebrate with Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Travon Walker (44) and offensive lineman Justin Shaffer (54) after defeating Michigan Wolverines in the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2021; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; LSU Tigers fans cheer before the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans fans react during a game against the Stanford Cardinal at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide fans cheer against the Texas A&M Aggies in second half at Kyle Field. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin high-fives a young fan prior to the Blue White spring game at Beaver Stadium. Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2019; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns fans in the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans celebrate a touchdown by lifting each up during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Soldier Field. Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes fans cheer from the stands against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Ohio Stadium. Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
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2022-07-02T20:46:24Z
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Where do the Oklahoma Sooners rank in study of largest college football fan bases?
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We are almost exactly one week out from the WNBA All-Star Game festivities, which will take place in Chicago on July 10.
Former Oregon Ducks legend Sabrina Ionescu will be in attendance, representing the New York Liberty after a ridiculously strong start to the season – notably in the early part of June when she went on a torrid, record-breaking stretch.
While she’s cooled down in recent games, she remains one of the most fun to watch and all-around talented performers in the league, and should find herself playing in the midsummer classic for years to come.
She won’t be joined by any other Oregon alumni this year, with Satou Sabally nursing injuries and missing the early part of the year while still overseas. Sabally is healthy with Dallas now, however, and she provides a big boost to this Wings squad.
Ruthy Hebard remains in a reserve role for the defending champion Chicago Sky, while Nyara Sabally remains out for the year with an injury after going No. 6 overall in the 2022 WNBA draft.
Here is a look at how the last week has gone for each Duck in the WNBA:
Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Ionescu got off to a scorching hot start in the month of June, and while she has cooled off in recent contests she’s still quite clearly among the most dynamic players in the league.
She recorded a double-double with eight assists in a loss to the Storm on June 19, and had 11 points and 11 boards against Connecticut a few days later.
She followed those two performances up with a 21 point, nine rebound, eight assist line in a win over Atlanta, and closed out the month with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists against Atlanta again six days later.
Ruthy Hebard (Chicago Sky)
Hebard played almost exactly 20 minutes against Indiana on June 19, recording six points, six boards, two steals, and one assist in the two point loss.
She only saw the floor for four minutes in Chicago’s next game, however, continuing a trend of inconsistent playing time for the third year pro.
Nyara Sabally - New York Liberty
Sabally was a top pick by the New York Liberty this year, but she will miss her entire rookie season with a knee injury.
Satou Sabally - Dallas Wings
Photo by: Maximilian Haupt/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Sabally was out for a few weeks with an injury, but she returned for Dallas on Friday evening and had seven points on 1-5 shooting thanks to a 5-5 line from the free throw line.
She’ll look to shake the rust off (she also had turnovers) in the second half of the year.
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2022-07-02T21:04:05Z
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How former Oregon Ducks performed in WNBA Week 6 action
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The ultimate summer tank is down to $14 for July 4th — and it comes in 42 colors!
It's soft and flowy, and has a slight swing to it. Dress it up or down!
Nick Kyrgios beat fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in a wild third-round match at Wimbledon. Kyrgios will face Brandon Nakashima of the United States for a spot in the quarterfinals. Rafael Nadal advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory over 27th-seeded Lorenzo Sonego.
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2022-07-02T21:33:42Z
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Rafael Nadal explains Lorenzo Sonego disagreement after fiery Wimbledon match
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The Eagles have a loaded roster that’s been improved by solid free agent signings, timely NFL draft trades, and the selection of two All-Americans from the University of Georgia.
You don’t officially become a star in the NFL until you are selected to a Pro Bowl and Philadelphia has almost a dozen players who have the potential and dynamic skill sets to receive the honor outright.
With training camp a little under a month away, we’ve highlighted ten players that could be first-time Pro Bowlers (Non-Alternates) in 2022.
1. QB Jalen Hurts
A Pro Bowl alternate in 2021, Hurts had a passer rating of 87.2 with 3144 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions in 15 games in 2021.
2. WR DeVonta Smith
Smith broke DeSean Jackson’s rookie record in 2021 with almost 1,000 yards receiving and he’ll look for his first Pro Bowl appearance.
3. LT Jordan Mailata
Mailata improved each year, and after logging 733 snaps in 2020, the former Australian Rugby star burst onto the scene in 2021, earning an 87.4 overall grade with an 83.3 pass-blocking grade and 87.8 run-blocking grade, while generating the second-most Wins Above Replacement among all tackles in 2021, behind only San Francisco 49ers tackle Trent Williams.
4. LB Shaun Bradley
Bradley, a New Jersey native, and former Temple standout was a special team ace for the team in his second season. He’s played almost 80% of the Eagles’ special teams snaps and was one of the league leaders in tackles on those downs.
5. LB Haason Reddick
(Photo by Georgia Soares/SPP/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
Reddick has racked up 23.5 sacks in the last two seasons combined, and he’s primed for a breakout season.
6. TE Dallas Goedert
Goedert is the guy at tight end with Zach Ertz now in Arizona.
In 15 games last season, Goedert racked up a career-high 830 receiving yards, fifth among tight ends in the NFL, with 56 receptions and four touchdowns.
7. LG Landon Dickerson
A versatile player on the offensive line in college before settling at the center position at Alabama, Dickerson started the final 12 games of the 2021 regular season and a playoff contest at left guard, for the Philadelphia Eagles who love the dominant duo he’s formed with Jordan Mailata.
8. DE Josh Sweat
A Pro Bowl alternate who replaced 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, who was unable to participate due to injury, Sweat logged a career-high 7.5 sacks for Sweat in 2021, a number that matched Javon Hargrave for the team lead last season.
9. RB Miles Sanders
The fourth-year running back has never had 900 yards rushing in a season and never scored more than six touchdowns in a season, but he’s one of the most explosive players in the league.
A talented linebacker, Edwards will need to be at a Pro Bowl level to hold off Nakobe Dean and or Kyzir White at the position.
The 25-year-old signed an extension last season, but Philadelphia made additions this offseason that were perceived as upgrades at the WILL and middle linebacker spots.
Edwards played a total of 61 percent of the snaps in 16 games, and that was after not playing a significant role until after Week 7.
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2022-07-02T22:20:55Z
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10 Eagles who could be first time Pro Bowlers in 2022
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Up next at No. 25 is safety Eddie Jackson, a familiar face on the defense, but someone who is more familiar with underperforming in recent seasons.
Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson (4) break up a pas sin the end zone intended for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) during the second quarter of their game Sunday, December 12, 2021 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 45-30.
Packers13 8
Postion: Safety
It’s hard to believe, but Jackson is one of the longest-tenured Bears still on the team. He was one of a couple key veterans on the defense with a large contract to still remain on the team after players such as Eddie Goldman, Khalil Mack, and Danny Trevathan were jettisoned during the offseason.
Jackson was still unable to recapture the magic he had during his first few seasons in the league in 2021. For the second season in a row, he failed to record an interception after totaling 10 during the first three years of his career. His pass defense continued to plummet as quarterbacks had a rating of 143.6, the worst of his career. But though he was constantly criticized for his tackling skills, Jackson actually improved in that area, posting a missed tackle percentage of 9.5, the best of his career. On the year, he had 76 total tackles (54 solo) and four tackles for loss, along with one forced fumble.
Jan 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bears free safety Eddie Jackson (4) defends the pass of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not hyperbole to say Jackson is at a crossroads in his career. He hasn’t come close to living up to the contract he signed over two years ago when he was made the highest-paid safety in the league. His cap hits the next two seasons are $17 and $18 million, respectively and he’ll be 29 in December. This could be Jackson’s last season in Chicago, but there’s still hope he can turn things around under Eberflus.
The Bears bolstered their secondary in both free agency and the draft, signing defensive backs Tavon Young and Dane Cruikshank, while drafting Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker with both of their second-round picks. Fortifying the secondary should make Jackson’s job easier and he’s a fan of what Eberflus and his new staff bring to the table. “I love the type of identity the coaches have built here, just flying around, hard nosed, creating turnovers, putting us in position, playing with our eyes.” Jackson told reporters last month.
Turnovers have eluded Jackson in recent years, but perhaps with new coaches and players surrounding him, he can get back to what he did best early in his career.
Big question: Can Jackson finally re-discover his old magic?
Jan 2, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears safety Deon Bush (26) and free safety Eddie Jackson (4) reacts after a play against the New York Giants during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
It’s the question Bears fans have been asking for a few years now. Jackson’s been in the league for five full seasons. He played at a Pro Bowl-caliber level for those first three years. The last two have been a struggle for him. But with the new pieces in place, can he finally re-discover the success he had? That could hinge on the Bears’ new rookie safety.
With Brisker, their rookie safety out of Penn State, now in the fold, Jackson should be in a better position to make plays at the free safety spot. Brisker can play an effective strong safety and has already made noise in the offseason practices about getting his hands on the football. Jackson was at his best when he was playing next to former teammate Adrian Amos from 2017-18, someone who also plays more of a traditional strong safety.
If Brisker and Jackson can establish a solid chemistry early on in this new system that emphasizes turnovers and discipline, this could be a surprise comeback season for the former All-pro defender.
30 Most Important Bears
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2022-07-02T22:21:01Z
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30 Most Important Bears of 2022: No. 25 Eddie Jackson
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Rice believes Lance is 'very experienced' and 'ready to go' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
"Trey Lance, I think he's ready to go," Rice said. "And I think he's incredible because he has that one aspect that Jimmy doesn't have, and that's the threat of running with the ball and stuff like that. So his mobility, his strong arm, and this guy, he's before his time."
"He's a young kid, but he's very experienced and I think he's ready to go," Rice added.
Rice has been a fan of Lance since Day 1 and has gone on record claiming that the 22-year-old has the "it factor."
It won't be long before Lance will have an opportunity to prove the Hall of Famer right.
It took 12 starts, but James Kaprielian finally notched a win in 2022.
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2022-07-02T22:21:07Z
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49ers' Trey Lance 'ready to go,' is 'before his time,' Jerry Rice believes
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Storm guard Sue Bird (10) celebrates with Breanna Stewart, right, and other teammates after making a three-point shot against the Liberty. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press)
“We can do legend for legend. OK, I got that. I’m good with that,” Wilson said. "I feel good about that. We’re back on track. That was a good one.”
Stewart also acquired Nneka Ogwumike for Sabrina Ionescu in a separate trade with Wilson. Wilson had the first pick in the draft and chose Candace Parker, who will be playing in front of her home fans.
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2022-07-02T23:00:43Z
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Breanna Stewart trades for teammate Sue Bird in WNBA All-Star draft
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2022 NBA free agency: Tracking all signings, latest news originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Off the heels of an enthralling 2022 NBA Finals and the NBA draft, it’s onto the next phase of the offseason: free agency.
To continue building a roster for the upcoming season, teams will spend money – if they have such a tool – to sign the best available talent in order to compete for a championship.
The 2022 NBA free agency period began the negotiating stage on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET, but deals won’t become official until about a week later on July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET.
So which free agents are headed where? Here’s a tracker of all the latest moves to satisfy all your free agency questions:
Zion Williamson signs massive extension with Pelicans
Former No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson and the Pelicans reportedly agreed to a five-year rookie max extension worth up to $231 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal is expected to include "protections," which it's safe to assume will be injury-related. Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season following surgery for a stress fracture in his foot and multiple setbacks in his rehab process.
Cody Martin stays with the Hornets
The Hornets inked restricted free agent Cody Martin to a four-year deal worth $32 million, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Martin proved last year he could be a valuable two-way rotational player in his third NBA season after averaging 7.7 points and shooting 38% from deep.
Darius Garland agrees to max extension with Cavs
All-Star guard Darius Garland and the Cavaliers have agreed to a five-year, $193 million rookie max extension worth up to $231 million, his agent told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Garland joins Zion Williamson and Ja Morant as players from the 2019 draft class to land max extensions in the opening days of free agency.
Bismack Biyombo returning to Suns
Veteran center Bismack Biyombo has agreed to a deal to remain in Phoenix, according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. The terms of the deal were not immediately reported. Biyombo signed with the Suns in January and went on to appear in 45 games, including the postseason.
Suns acquiring Damion Lee
The Warriors lost another free agent late on Friday. Damion Lee, who spent the last four seasons with Golden State, agreed to a one-year deal with the Suns, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
Bryn Forbes agrees to deal with Timberwolves
After acquiring Rudy Gobert in a blockbuster trade earlier on Friday, the Timberwolves made another move by agreeing to terms with Bryn Forbes, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski reported. The guard split time with the Spurs and Nuggets last season.
Jalen Smith sticking with the Pacers
Jalen Smith agreed to a two-year deal with the Pacers, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported. The Suns selected Smith with the 10th pick in the 2020 draft and traded him to the Pacers in February.
Warriors bring in Donte DiVincenzo
The Warriors saw a number of players from their championship roster leave in free agency, and they brought in a new face on Friday. Donte DiVincenzo reportedly agreed to a two-year, $9.3 million deal with Golden State that includes a second-year player option.
Celtics retain Luke Kornet
After making two splashes on Friday, the Celtics made another move further back on their bench. Reserve center Luke Kornet reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with the reigning Eastern Conference champs.
Nemanja Bjelica heading overseas
Fresh off an NBA championship in Golden State, Nemanja Bjelica is leaving the NBA entirely to play in Europe, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole reported. According to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops, Bjelica has agreed to sign with Fenerbahce Beko in Turkey on a two-year, $4 million contract.
Timberwolves add Rudy Gobert in blockbuster trade with Jazz
Utah is blowing it up. The team reportedly is trading Rudy Gobert to Minnesota in exchange for a massive haul. The Timberwolves, who locked up Karl-Anthony Towns with an extension early Friday morning, are dealing Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, 2022 first-round selection Walker Kessler and four future first-round picks to the Jazz to bring in the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Derrick Jones Jr. to return to the Bulls
Free agent forward Derrick Jones Jr. has agreed to return to the Bulls, NBC Sports Chicago confirmed. The deal reportedly is for two years, $6.6 million a player option in his second season.
Celtics agree to terms with forward Danilo Gallinari
Boston reportedly has agreed to terms with forward Danilo Gallinari, who plans to sign a two-year deal at the full value of the taxpayer mid-level after he clears waivers.
Looney agrees to return to Warriors on three-year deal
Free agent Kevin Looney reportedly has agreed to return to the Warriors on a three-year contract worth $25.5 million. Looney has spent all seven seasons of his NBA career with Golden State, which he will continue this upcoming season.
Celtics acquiring Malcolm Brogdon from Pacers
The reigning Eastern Conference champions have made a significant addition to their backcourt, as Boston reportedly is acquiring guard Malcolm Brogdon from Indiana for Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan and a 2023 first-round pick. Brogdon, who turns 30 later this year, appeared in just 36 games last season due to injuries. He's signed through the 2024-25 season after getting a two-year, $45 million extension last October.
Kevin Huerter acquired by Kings
The Kings brought in a sharpshooter on the second day of free agency. The team reportedly acquired Kevin Huerter in a trade that sent Justin Holiday, Moe Harkless and a 2024 protected first-round pick to the Hawks.
John Wall agrees to two-year deal with Clippers
Free agent John Wall has agreed to a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers for $13.2 million, according to his agency. The five-time NBA All-Star will be leaving the Rockets after three short seasons.
Jusuf Nurkic stays with Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are keeping Jusuf Nurkic around as the Bosnian center agreed to a new four-year, $70 million deal with Portland, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Zach LaVine gets five-year max from Bulls
One of the best players in the 2022 free-agent class is off the board. Two-time All-Star Zach LaVine has agreed to a five-year, $215 million max deal with the Bulls, NBC Sports Chicago's K.C. Johnson confirmed.
Warriors losing Otto Porter Jr. to Raptors
It looks like Gary Payton II isn't the only valuable bench player the Warriors will be losing in free agency. Otto Porter Jr. reportedly is joining the Raptors on a two-year deal. The second year of the deal is a player option.
Nuggets poach Bruce Brown from Nets
Amidst the Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant drama, the Nets have lost one of their top role players. Bruce Brown reportedly reached a two-year pact worth over $13 million with the Nuggets. The second year of the deal is a player option.
Hawks adding Aaron Holiday to backcourt
The Hawks are adding some backcourt depth behind Trae Young and the newly-acquired Dejounte Murray by reportedly bringing in Aaron Holiday on a one-year deal. Holiday appeared in 63 games total with the Wizards and Suns last season.
Mitchell Robinson gets $60 million deal from Knicks
After securing the point guard spot with Jalen Brunson, the Knicks didn't waste much time figuring out the center position. New York and Mitchell Robinson reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal to keep the big man in the Big Apple.
Ricky Rubio staying with Cavs on multi-year deal
Veteran point guard Ricky Rubio reportedly agreed to a three-year, $18.4 million deal to remain in Cleveland. Rubio, who turns 32 later this year, appeared in 34 games with the Cavs in 2021-22 before suffering a season-ending torn ACL.
Zion Williamson nearing massive extension with Pelicans
Former No. 1 overall Zion Williamson and the Pelicans reportedly are closing in on a five-year rookie max extension worth up to $231 million. The deal is expected to include "protections," which it's safe to assume will be injury-related. Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season following surgery for a stress fracture in his foot and multiple setbacks in his rehab process.
Gary Payton II on verge of leaving Warriors for Blazers
The Warriors could be close to losing a key piece of their championship team as guard Gary II Payton reportedly is finalizing a three-year, $28 million deal with the Trail Blazers. NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole reported that the Warriors still have a "slim chance" to retain GPII, although it appears they have reached their limit in what they can offer him.
Nikola Jokic, Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns and Ja Morant land massive extensions
Nikola Jokic, Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns and Ja Morant are getting max extensions from their respective teams, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Here is how each contract looks:
Jokic: Five years, $270 million (NBA record)
Booker: Four years, $224 million
Towns: Four years, $224 million
Morant: Five years, $193 million
Bulls finalizing deal with Andre Drummond
The Bulls are finalizing a two-year, $6.6 million deal with center Andre Drummond, NBC Sports Chicago confirmed. Chicago will be Drummond’s fifth team in the last three years.
Jalen Brunson leaving Mavericks for Knicks
The Knicks’ cap-clearing moves paved the way for the team to land a new point guard. Jalen Brunson reportedly is joining New York on a four-year, $104 million deal, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes. Brunson averaged career highs with 16.3 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game in 2021-22, helping the Mavericks reach the Western Conference finals.
The Knicks reportedly also agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with former Clippers big man Isaiah Hartenstein.
Kyle Anderson agrees to two-year deal with Timberwolves
Kyle Anderson is choosing to play with a team he just knocked out of the playoffs. The former Grizzlies forward reportedly agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal with the Timberwolves.
Javale McGee moving to the Mavericks
Javale McGee will be doing the opposite of Anderson by joining the team that ended his 2022 playoff run. The former Suns center reportedly agreed to a three-year, $20 million deal with the Mavericks, who won a Game 7 in Phoenix to advance to the Western Conference finals.
Nets re-sign Patty Mills, Nic Claxton
Brooklyn’s busy day involved a couple of players agreeing to new deals. Backup guard Patty Mills agreed to a two-year, $14.5 million deal and center Nic Claxton, a restricted free agent, agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
Lakers make four additions
After losing Malik Monk to the Kings, the Lakers added a couple of guards in the opening hours of free agency. Lonnie Walker is joining the organization on a one-year, $6.5 million deal and Troy Brown Jr. is joining on a minimum deal, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The team wasn’t done there. Center Damian Jones, who played eight games with the Lakers in the 2020-21 season, agreed to a two-year deal with the team, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Former Warrior Juan Toscano-Anderson also agreed to a deal with the Lakers.
Marvin Bagley III gets three-year deal from Pistons
Marvin Bagley III is staying in the Motor City. The former Kings big man arrived in Detroit in a February trade and will be there for the next three years on a $37 million deal, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
The Pistons are also bringing in an outside player, Kevin Knox, on a two-year, $6 million deal, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Lu Dort cashes in with Thunder
The Thunder’s biggest acquisitions of the offseason came through the draft, but the organization rewarded one of its longest-tenured players in free agency. Lu Dort agreed to a five-year, $87.5 million deal with OKC, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
Memphis keeps its backup point guard
Tyus Jones is back as Ja Morant’s backup. Jones agreed to a two-year, $30 million deal in Memphis, where he has been since 2019, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Raptors re-sign Chris Boucher, Thad Young
Chris Boucher and Thad Young reportedly are staying put in Toronto. Boucher agreed to a three-year, $35.25 million deal and Young agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal, according to reports.
Heat hang on to Victor Oladipo, Dewayne Dedmon
The Heat retained a couple of bench players that contributed to the team’s Eastern Conference finals run. Victor Oladipo agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal and Dewayne Dedmon agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Bucks retain key free agents, bring in Joe Ingles
The Bucks are keeping some key players who could’ve gone elsewhere. Bobby Portis (four years, $49 million), Wesley Matthews (one year) and Jevon Carter (two years) are all staying put, according to reports. Additionally, Joe Ingles will join the team on a one-year deal.
Mo Bamba, Gary Harris staying with Magic
Mo Bamba and Gary Harris will get a chance to play alongside No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero. Bamba, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 draft, agreed to a two-year, $21 million deal to stay in Orlando, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reports. Harris’ reported agreement is for two years and $26 million.
James Harden reunited with P.J. Tucker, Danuel House Jr. in Philly
James Harden will be joined with a pair of former Rockets teammates with the Sixers. P.J. Tucker is expected to finalize a three-year $33.2 million deal, a source told NBC Sports Philadelphia, while Danuel House Jr. is also reportedly finalizing a deal. The Sixers made a third move by reaching a reported two-year, $3.3 million deal with Trevelin Queen.
One of Harden’s former teammates is staying put in Houston. Jae’Sean Tate agreed to a three-year, $22.1 million deal with the Rockets on Thursday, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Anfernee Simons agrees to $100 million deal with Blazers
The Trail Blazers locked up one of their best young players to kick off free agency. Anfernee Simons reportedly agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension to stay in Portland. The 23-year-old averaged a career-high 17.3 points per game across 57 games for the Blazers in 2021-22.
Bradley Beal re-signs with Wizards on five-year, $251 million contract
There was little doubt Bradley Beal would re-sign with the Wizards after the guard opted out of his prior extension. That opt-out allowed Beal to sign a new extension, one that will put $251 million in his bank account over five years, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He has spent his whole 10-year NBA career with the Wizards, and now he’s under contract for five more years.
Along with Beal’s quarter-billion-dollar deal, the Wizards also agreed to a more modest, two-year deal with forward Anthony Gill and another reported two-year deal with guard Delon Wright.
Malik Monk headed to Sacramento
Malik Monk is back in a backcourt with former Kentucky teammate De’Aaron Fox. Monk reportedly agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with the Kings after spending the 2021-22 season with the Lakers.
Clippers keep Nicolas Batum, Amir Coffey
Los Angeles agreed to a two-year, $22 million deal with the Clippers, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported. The veteran Frenchman has been in L.A. since 2020.
The Clippers also reportedly retained Amir Coffey on a three-year, $11 million deal.
DeAndre Jordan joining the Nuggets
The Nuggets have another backup center to put behind its two-time MVP. DeAndre Jordan reportedly agreed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal with Denver at the start of free agency.
Denver made another early free agent move by agreeing to a three-year deal with Davon Reed, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Kevin Durant makes trade request
It turns out Kyrie Irving opting into his player option for the 2022-23 season was far from the biggest offseason news for the Nets. Kevin Durant made a trade request to owner Joe Tsai on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Suns and Heat reportedly are among the teams Durant has on his “wish list,” but Wojnarowski also noted that the Nets are seeking a trade with the team that can give them the most return.
Within minutes of news breaking about Durant’s trade request, the Nets also reportedly traded a first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for Royce O’Neale. Brooklyn later confirmed the trade.
Kemba Walker finalizing contract buyout
For the second time in as many summers, Kemba Walker reportedly plans to reach a contract buyout. He was traded to the Pistons from the Knicks in a draft day deal. Now, he reportedly is expected to get a buyout from the organization, clear waivers and become a free agent.
On this day: Tyler Zeller waived; Curtis Rowe, Rich Niemann born
On this day, the Boston Celtics waived center Tyler Zeller; it is also big men Curtis Rowe and Rich Niemann's birthday.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki to join Iowa Cubs on rehab assignment
The Iowa Cubs lineup will get a big boost with the addition of Seiya Suzuki who is joining the team on a rehab assignment.
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2022-07-02T23:01:33Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 NBA free agency: Tracking all signings, latest news
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-nba-free-agency-tracking-203100118.html?src=rss
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Roger Owens, who began pitching peanuts at Dodger Stadium in 1962, told the Los Angeles Times that the stadium’s concessions company Levy Restaurants cited fan safety as a reason for the ban.
Owens, whose skills once earned him an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” said he didn’t want to “pick a fight” with the company but is puzzled by the decision, according to the newspaper.
“They have time to see it coming,” Owens told the LA Times.
Owens began his peanut pitching “out of necessity” when a fan yelled for him to toss a bag roughly 60 years ago, according to a “SportsCenter” profile in 2005.
“And I was kind of surprised so I went home and started practicing to an invisible man on the couch.”
HuffPost has reached out to Levy spokesman Kevin Memolo with questions regarding the reason for the ban.
Peanut pitching bans are no stranger to the stadium as bans occurred in both 1976 and 1985, the LA Times reported.
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2022-07-02T23:01:45Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Dodgers' Peanut Pitcher Asked To Stop Doing The One Thing He's Known For
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https://sports.yahoo.com/dodgers-peanut-pitcher-asked-stop-053451886.html?src=rss
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One of the top players in Louisiana released his top four on Friday, and LSU made the cut.
Tyree Adams, an offensive tackle out of New Orleans, took to Twitter to announce that his recruitment would be coming down to LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia and Florida.
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Adams is the 21st-ranked tackle in the class of 2023 and the 14th-ranked player in Louisiana. He attends St. Augustine in New Orleans, a high school that has produced a handful of LSU players including Leonard Fournette.
247 had yet to enter any Crystal Balls for Adams, but On3’s prediction machine has LSU in the lead.
Adams is a must-get for LSU. The state of Louisiana hasn’t produced a ton of blue-chip offensive tackles over the years, so when there is one available, it has to be able to close the deal.
The Tigers have been up and down with in-state recruits in the 2023 cycle. Landing Adams could help reassure that Brian Kelly and staff know what they are doing with in-state recruits.
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2022-07-02T23:03:36Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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LSU makes the cut for four-star offensive line prospect
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https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-makes-cut-four-star-222340004.html?src=rss
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By 2025, the Big Ten will have 16 members. The coming additions of USC and UCLA extend the league from sea to shining sea. The obvious question is what, or more precisely, who, is next.
Notre Dame is the prime target but that’s been true for decades now.
The Big Ten has almost always wanted Notre Dame, but the Irish long ago put them in the friendzone. Thanks for asking, but we treasure our independence and the ACC is always there to serve our needs.
The Big Ten has remained undeterred, believing that maybe if it just went to the gym a little more or cracked a few more jokes then Notre Dame would see what it was missing and commit.
Well, this time the Big Ten is sitting out front in a Lamborghini, waving the keys to its new LA beach house and saying it’s now or never. While no one is sure what Notre Dame will do this time, let’s just say the Irish are at least taking a second look.
If the Irish say no, again, then the obvious move for the Big Ten is just to stay out West and take the whole place.
If you’re going to have 16 teams, why not 20? Add Cal and Stanford for the academic prowess and Bay Area. Grab Oregon and Washington for some competitive teams and the Pacific Northwest. Be the league of the Midwest and the West. The Big Ten always loved the Rose Bowl. Now they can own it all.
The hook here is whether four more schools are even worth it, and this is part of the media rights mentality that isn’t getting a ton of attention.
A detailed view of the Big Ten logo is seen during the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 4, 2021. (Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Industry sources said the Big Ten was on its way to signing a deal that would pay at least $1 billion per year. Adding USC and UCLA will only drive that number higher, but not merely because they are big brands from a big media market.
The real value, sources said, is that the Big Ten made itself even more coveted by gutting the competition.
Right now Fox controls half of the Big Ten television rights. Two other entities are expected to split the other half. The main candidates are obvious:
* ESPN (which has exclusive rights to the SEC).
* NBC (which would like to pair games around Notre Dame).
* CBS (which just lost its SEC affiliation).
* Turner Sports (which would like to get into college football).
* Various streaming platforms and tech companies (namely Amazon and Apple) that could jump in.
Until Thursday’s expansion news, all of the above were staring at a college football media landscape where the broadcast rights for Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 were either up or about to come up in the next few years.
The ACC, meanwhile, is signed until 2036. The SEC/ESPN deal goes until the 2033-34 college season.
The Big Ten was the big draw that was available, but if you were, say, NBC or CBS, the Pac-12 and to a lesser extent the Big 12, it was a pretty nice consolation prize. If you couldn’t afford the sky-high demands of the Big Ten, you could make a deal with the Pac-12 and go from there. It wasn’t a total disaster.
Well, it would be now.
The Big Ten isn’t just the biggest fish in the pond. After decimating the Pac-12, it’s essentially the only fish.
The Pac-12 no longer has its marquee national program (USC) or its biggest media market (Los Angeles). The Big 12, which will lose Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC after the 2024 season, are in the same boat. The number of games featuring the remaining teams that can draw big numbers — 4 million or more viewers — is limited.
Not only are the Pac-12 and Big 12 weakened right now, but the disastrous decision last January by the Pac-12 and ACC to not agree to a proposed playoff plan that included automatic bids leaves the future in doubt.
Whatever playoff format exists after the current four-team system ends following the 2025 season is now unlikely to include automatic bids. It is expected to be drawn up by the Big Ten and SEC, who due to their strength will likely maximize access for their schools by favoring at-large selections. Or they could simply stage a tournament among themselves.
The race to win the championship of the Pac-12 or Big 12 would have been of national relevance (and thus a television draw) under a 12-team, six-automatic-bid playoff. Now it may not matter at all. Weak will become weaker without access to the postseason.
So in one surgical move — taking just two Pac 12 schools — the Big Ten has not only left the Pac 12 drifting, but created a reality where it is the only appealing television package.
If NBC and CBS want to broadcast the sport then they have to pay up for the Big Ten. There is no consolation prize. The Big Ten is the last house for sale in the neighborhood. That urgency alone is worth huge amounts in up-bidding that wouldn’t exist if the Pac-12 was still a viable Plan B.
There is the added angle, per SportsBusiness Journal, that Fox has executives Mark Silverman and Larry Johnson “taking active roles” while serving as advisers for the Big Ten in the league’s negotiations with other media companies. As such, Fox is part of driving up acquisition costs for some of its chief media rivals, a wide-ranging victory for the company.
So while more schools out west might make some sense, the Big Ten doesn’t need any of them right now. It got its foothold in California already and drove up its value by becoming the only show in town.
If this is just about television money, and Notre Dame is still holding out, then 16 might be enough.
UPDATED with confirmation: USC and UCLA made it official Thursday: the schools are moving from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten Conference in 2024. The jump, which both schools confirmed late in the day amid swirling media reports of a deal in the works, is the latest major disruption of the college sports landscape, […]
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2022-07-02T23:04:01Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Will Big Ten expand further after seismic power grab? Here's why that may not be the case
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https://sports.yahoo.com/whats-next-for-big-ten-college-football-after-seismic-power-grab-221423872.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/whats-next-for-big-ten-college-football-after-seismic-power-grab-221423872.html?src=rss
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Both receivers join teams in need of some help on the offensive side of the ball but aren’t expected to have an immediate impact on their respective teams, according to Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports.
Trapasso listed five rookie wide receivers that are likely to have high expectations when the 2022 season begins.
Both Williams and Metchie are coming off of knee injuries that they suffered in crucial games for the Crimson Tide late in the season.
While they are expected to make their professional debuts early in the season, neither are currently fully cleared for action.
It’s difficult to predict how wide receivers will do in their rookie seasons, as the massive jump from the collegiate level to the NFL is a drastic one that comes with higher-level defensive backs and a brand new system.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Williams and Metchie as the 2022 NFL season approaches.
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2022-07-03T00:19:04Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jameson Williams, John Metchie III left off list of rookie WRs expected to make an impact
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https://sports.yahoo.com/jameson-williams-john-metchie-iii-232754822.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/jameson-williams-john-metchie-iii-232754822.html?src=rss
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LAS VEGAS — Israel Adesanya is ready to level up.
The UFC middleweight champion, who defends his belt on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena against Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC 276, has made a career out of proving others wrong.
But now, as he transitions into the next stage of his career, he’s ready to make that star turn.
For a long while, Adesanya had to prove he could defend the takedown, because he was a kickboxer and not many were foolish enough to willingly stand toe-to-toe with him and try to get him to the ground. But after brilliant performances defending takedowns in wins over Marvin Vettori and Robert Whittaker, that is now in the rear view mirror.
And given the level of his striking, he’s a threat to deliver an explosive finish at any point should he not have to spend so much of his time fending off takedown attempts.
He’s not sure exactly how the fight will go, but he does firmly believe one thing: It’s not going to end well for Cannonier.
“Honestly, I just I really think I’m going to f*** him up,” Adesanya said. “I’ve said this already multiple times, but I really feel I'm going to f*** him up. If he wants to try and take me down, go ahead. You won’t be the first one. If you want to stand up with me and test the stand-up skills, I welcome that too, because that’s what I specialize in. But yeah, just stay tuned, and expect the unexpected.”
Israel Adesanya is ready for his star turn. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Adesanya hasn’t been getting a lot of knockouts recently — four of his last five have gone to decision, including a challenge for the light heavyweight title against Jan Blachowicz that he lost — though a lot of that is the quality of opposition.
The higher up a rung a fighter gets, the more difficult it is to score KOs.
But UFC president Dana White pointed out that Adesanya has scored 15 knockouts among his 22 MMA wins. Given Cannonier’s style, White sees the bout as a brawl.
That might lead Adesanya to the kind of emphatic ending that he seeks. He’s a master counter striker and if he can lure Cannonier into his range and land something, it could be lights out. But what has White so excited about the fight is that Cannonier has serious power, as well.
Cannonier has 10 victories by KO among his 15 wins, and has been KOd twice in his five losses.
“This should be an absolute gunfight,” White told Yahoo Sports. “I don’t see either guy coming in and trying to wrestle or get this thing to the ground. I see a gunfight coming.”
Since he won the title in 2019 by knocking out Whittaker, Adesanya has been as active as any top-level UFC fighter. That’s getting him a lot of face time with the UFC audience and that’s important in developing into a superstar.
Conor McGregor did it faster than most because he was one of the best trash talkers ever and was delivering spectacular performances at the same time. Ireland was significantly, and passionately, behind him and that support helped make his story more compelling. It was similar to how the support boxer Manny Pacquiao drew from the Philippines helped push him into mainstream status in the U.S.
Israel Adesanya won't look past Jared Cannonier, plans to "f*** him up" at UFC 276. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images for UFC)
Adesanya was born in Nigeria, fought extensively in China and now lives in New Zealand, so that passionate home-country support that McGregor and Pacquiao got isn’t as obvious with him.
But beating elite opponents, fighting regularly and taking time to do media all contribute to the development of a superstar.
And Adesanya seems poised to burst into superstardom. He’s already one of the biggest names in MMA, but there are indications he may expand beyond the MMA fan base. He’s got an endorsement deal with Puma, a prominent shoe brand, and he’s outspoken on social issues.
That’s the recipe for success. He’s built the foundation fight by fight and is now ready to take it to the next level.
And one of his secrets is that while he sets goals and has a game plan for moving forward, he values fluidity. He’s able to adapt as necessary and that makes a huge difference.
“I’ve got good balance physically and mentally, so I know how to walk the fine line of not underestimating them, but not overestimating them,” he said of his opponents. “You know, being in the present and not looking in the future, or just peeking. I know the main thing for me is, if I don’t beat Jared, then all my plans that I have just push back. So that’s why I don't fret.
“I don’t hold on to the plans I have too dearly. I focus on the now, because if I don't get it done now, those plans become null and void. So that’s what helps me. Like I said, I have a good balance.”
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2022-07-03T00:34:08Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Israel Adesanya has perfected his recipe for success. Now he's ready to take it to the next level
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https://sports.yahoo.com/israel-adesanya-has-perfected-his-recipe-for-success-now-hes-ready-to-take-it-to-the-next-level-211803536.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/israel-adesanya-has-perfected-his-recipe-for-success-now-hes-ready-to-take-it-to-the-next-level-211803536.html?src=rss
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Report: Not matching GP2 contract 'stung' several within Dubs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
On Monday, just days before the start of NBA free agency, the Warriors reportedly were viewed as the "favorite" to sign Gary Payton II.
That's what the Portland Trail Blazers did. Payton reportedly is finalizing a three-year, $28 million contract to head back to the Pacific Northwest. The Warriors ultimately decided that price tag (salary plus subsequent luxury tax penalty) for the 29-year-old wing was too much for them.
The Athletic's Anthony Slater reported Friday, citing sources, that the decision by the Warriors' front office and ownership not to bring back Payton "stung several in the organization."
And that's understandable for the people within Golden State who scouted, developed and played with Payton over the last year.
Per Slater and The Athletic's Sam Amick, the Warriors offered Payton a two-year contract for the $6.4 Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception each season, well below Portland's offer. And for someone like Payton who has bounced around the G League and NBA, he can't pass up any money. This is his first real payday.
Amick also reported Friday, citing sources, that Steph Curry and Draymond Green were "unsuccessful" in their attempt to convince Payton to stay with the Warriors.
As Green said recently after the Warriors' 2022 NBA championship, it was him and Curry who convinced the the front office to bring Payton back for a second 10-day contract at the end of the 2020-21 season.
But in the end, Green and Co. weren't able to convince team president Bob Myers one last time.
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2022-07-03T00:34:21Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NBA rumors: Not matching Gary Payton II contract 'stung' several with Warriors
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-rumors-not-matching-gary-201159602.html?src=rss
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U.S. women’s water polo team wins world championship, extends unrivaled... Ryan Lochte’s Olympic silver and bronze medals listed for auction U.S. men’s soccer team qualifies for 2024 Olympics, ends historic drought
The official US Open Twitter account went scorched earth on a Seahawks fan who said tennis wasn’t a sport
Don't EVER mess with the US Open.
South Carolina added a second 4-star commit Saturday with a pledge from quarterback Dante Reno from The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn.
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2022-07-03T00:34:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Nick Kyrgios curses, asks for default, demands supervisor in Wimbledon win
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-kyrgios-curses-asks-default-211943305.html?src=rss
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To Adele, the decision to postpone her Las Vegas residency is now water under the bridge. The British songstress, who is headlining two festival shows at BST Hyde Park this weekend, told BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs that going forward with her planned Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace earlier this year was impossible, […]
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2022-07-03T02:10:38Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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UFC 276 play-by-play and live results
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ufc-276-play-play-live-215845531.html?src=rss
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Utah State Aggies: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Utah State Aggies: Key To The 2022 Offense
Chill out on the turnovers.
The running game has to be more effective – averaging over four yards per carry would be nice – and the turnovers didn’t turn out to be that much of a make-or-break deal in most games, but the 23 giveaways were way too many.
The defense helped make up for them with 23 takeaways, but the Aggie O gave up the ball in seven games including all three of the losses.
There were three times when Utah State was -2 in turnover margin. Those were in all three of the losses.
Utah State Aggies: Key To The 2022 Defense
Keep on not breaking.
The defense gave up way too many first downs, and it got hit for way too many yards at strange times. However, the D did a decent job of holding.
Considering how great the Aggie O should be, giving up field goals isn’t that big a deal.
There were plenty of trips allowed inside the red zone, but Utah State only allowed offenses to come up with touchdowns 45% of the time – tenth best in college football.
How good was the red zone defense? It didn’t allow more than one touchdown when teams got inside the 20 over the last seven games.
Utah State Aggies: Key Player To The 2022 Season
DE Byron Vaughns, Jr.
Who’s going to pick up the slack for the loss of Nick Heninger? The former star end made 75 tackles with nine sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss, but he’s done, and the 6-4, 225-pound Vaughns has to be the new go-to guy in the backfield.
He made 43 tackles with four sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss last year, and now he has to do even more heavy lifting.
Utah State Aggies: Key Transfer
WR Brian Cobbs, Sr.
The offense makes the receivers almost as much as the other way around, but it still hurts to lose all the big-time producers who made last year so special.
Enter Cobbs, a 6-2, 205-pound former Maryland Terrapin who made 59 catches for 880 yards and two scores averaging 15 yards per catch in his four years. He’ll be a featured part of the attack right out of the gate.
Utah State Key Game To The 2022 Season
at Colorado State, Oct. 15
This is about to be a much, much better Colorado State team this year with head coach Jay Norvell coming over from Nevada to super-charge the program.
Utah State has won three straight in the series, but this time around it’s a midseason road game in the midst of a run of four away dates in six games.
The back half of the schedule, though, isn’t that bad. Win this, and there’s a good chance to go on a big run before closing out the regular season at Boise State.
Utah State Aggies: 2021 Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: Opponents 106 – Utah State 62
– 4th Down Conversions: Utah State 16-of-30 (53%) – Opponents 5-of-20 (25%)
– Penalties: Opponents 113 for 1,046 yards – Utah State 86 for 763 yards
Utah State Aggies Season Prediction, What Will Happen NEXT
Utah State Aggies Season Prediction, What Will Happen
After Utah State took a year off in 2020 – like most of the world did – everything is now back to normal.
There have been dips over the years, and losing seasons, and a few misfires, but there’s nothing to suggest that this should be anything less than a fourth winning campaign in five years with – at the very least – a fifth bowl appearance in six tries.
The receiving corps has to refresh, the defensive front has to keep getting into the backfield, and there has to be a few breaks along the way.
Give the Aggies credit for starting the season with a Pac-12 win over Washington State and ending it with a Pac-12 win over Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, but it helped that San Diego State got hammered by COVID before the Mountain West Championship, and there were only two regular season wins over FBS teams that finished with winning records.
Whatever. Utah State was 11-3 with a Mountain West Championship and a bowl victory – and it might just be good enough to do something close to that again.
It also helps to miss San Diego State, Fresno State, and Nevada.
Set The Utah State Aggies Regular Season Win Total At … 7.5
Can the Aggies win at least one of the rough road games?
Forget about the trip to Alabama, going to BYU will be rough, and closing at Boise State will be nasty – unless the Broncos have a spot in the Mountain West Championship wrapped up. At Colorado State, at Wyoming, and this year, at Hawaii in mid-November will all be challenging.
But Utah State should be good enough to come up with a few big victories, it has to get by Air Force at home, and there can’t be any misfires.
Or everything keeps on rolling from last year and the Aggies rip through the Mountain West with another huge season.
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2022-07-03T03:20:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Utah State Aggies Preview 2022: Season Prediction, Breakdown, Key Games, Players
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https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-state-aggies-preview-2022-015930535.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-state-aggies-preview-2022-015930535.html?src=rss
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Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat
Former Florida A&M All-American safety Markquese Bell signed to the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2022
Florida A&M safeties Markquese Bell (5) and Antwan Collier (3) celebrate making a hit in the Florida Classic. FAMU defeated the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 46-21 at Camping World Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.
Newton went undrafted out of FAMU in 1983 and had to tryout for the Cowboys, which led to an All-Pro and Super Bowl winning career.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Markquese Bell preps for Dallas Cowboys' training camp
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2022-07-03T03:41:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former FAMU All-American Markquese Bell taking next step to make Dallas Cowboys' roster
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https://sports.yahoo.com/former-famu-american-markquese-bell-230010534.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/former-famu-american-markquese-bell-230010534.html?src=rss
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American basketball executive and former player, and baseball player
The Philadelphia 76ers backcourt of James Harden and Tyrese Maxey is ranked as the 7th best backcourt in the NBA.
Luka Garza was quickly picked up by the Portland Trail Blazers after being cut this offseason. How can he go about making the final roster?
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2022-07-03T03:42:05Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Reusse: Why fret about Wolves trading their future for Rudy Gobert? Start with Danny Ainge ...
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During their Super Bowl season in 2020, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers barely scratched out a “Monday Night Football” on the road against the New York Giants.
When they got the same opportunity last season, this time in front of their own home crowd, things were far less dramatic for the Bucs.
Led by another stellar outing from Tom Brady and the offense, as well as some timely big plays from the defense, Tampa Bay cruised to a blowout win in front of the national audience in Week 11 of their 2021 campaign.
Relive all the action with his highlight reel from the Bucs’ 30-10 victory:
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2022-07-03T04:05:38Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bucs Rewind: Tampa Bay dominates Giants on ‘Monday Night Football’
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https://sports.yahoo.com/bucs-rewind-tampa-bay-dominates-015958808.html?src=rss
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Freddie Freeman waves to fans after he hit the first of the team's three first-inning home runs against Padres starter Yu Darvish in a 7-2 win that pushed the Dodgers' NL West lead to 4½ games. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Saturday’s victory was the Dodgers' 12th in their last 17. They also extended their division lead over the second-place Padres to 4½ games, their largest of the season.
Stefanos Tsitsipas said Nick Kyrgios has an "evil side" after a stormy clash at Wimbledon on Saturday in which the victorious Australian called for his Greek opponent to be kicked out of the tournament.
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2022-07-03T05:15:32Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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With Mookie Betts' return near, Dodgers set off early fireworks to beat Padres again
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Report: Donte DiVincenzo agrees to join Warriors on two year, $9.3 million... Warriors re-signing Kevon Looney, losing more members of NBA Finals rotation Report: Gary Payton II agrees to three-year, $28 million deal with Trail...
Netflix crashed for a brief period early on Friday following the hotly-anticipated debut of the...
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2022-07-03T05:15:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Report: Warriors bench player Damion Lee leaving, signs with Suns
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What a week for Robert Wickens, who picked up his second win in seven days on Saturday while celebrating the birth of his first child. Wickens returned to his native Canada and teamed with countryman Mark Wilkins to win the Touring Car class of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The win followed their victory last week at Watkins Glen in New York, which marked Wickens' first victory since he suffered a career-halting spinal cord injury in a 2018 IndyCar race.
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2022-07-03T05:15:51Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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UFC 276 results: Bryan Barberena out-brawls Robbie Lawler for TKO win
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The hot recruiting streak continued for Mack Brown and his UNC football program. On Saturday, a day after they landed three commitments, the Tar Heels added another player to their 2023 class.
Legacy prospect D.J. Geth pledged his verbal commitment to North Carolina, picking the Tar Heels over in-state South Carolina.
The Roebuck, South Carolina native had a total of 11 offers in his recruitment but made two visits, going to UNC and South Carolina before deciding to pick the Tar Heels. While UNC got a visit in early June, Geth took his visit to the Gamecocks in late June and UNC did enough to earn the commitment.
1000% Committed!!🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/YHn2tWynE5
— DJ Geth (@dj_geth) July 2, 2022
Geth has ties to UNC as his father, Ed, played basketball for the Tar Heels in the 90’s. His mother also graduated from the university.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound interior offensive lineman is ranked No. 911 overall, No. 64 interior offensive lineman and No. 11 player in the state of South Carolina per the 247Sports recruiting rankings. His commitment gives UNC 13 total recruits in the 2023 which ranks No. 23 overall now.
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2022-07-03T05:19:40Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Tar Heels add three-star OL to 2023 class
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In an article published by Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus, he named one trade or free agent acquisition for all 32 NFL teams before 2022 training camp. When it came to Baltimore, Kyed believed the team should sign Miami Dolphins free agent wide receiver Will Fuller V. When explaining his reasoning, Kyed said Fuller could hold a role similar to what Brown had.
“The Ravens are currently set to start 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay and James Proche at wide receiver after trading away Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals and losing Sammy Watkins in free agency. Fuller has had trouble staying healthy, but he could be a reasonable facsimile of Brown if he’s looking to play in 2022. The Ravens were identified as an attractive landing spot for veteran wide receivers, per one source.”
Fuller, 28, has had a hard time staying healthy through the course of his career. He has not once played a full NFL season throughout his six year career. Prior to the 2021 season with the Dolphins, Fuller played with the Houston Texans where he showed flashes of greatness at the position, even if his seasons were cut short.
The Ravens could be in the hunt for a wide receiver and Fuller makes the most sense for the team right now, even if they roll the dice on him playing a full season in 2022. He is a deep-threat that could replace some of the production that the team lost in Brown, and could be worth taking a chance on for Baltimore.
In six seasons as a professional, Fuller has caught 213 passes for 3,136 yards and 24 touchdowns.
When A League of Their Own premiered 30 years ago on July 1, 1992, it was not expected to be a hit. Director Penny Marshall, coming off of Big (1988) and the Oscar-nominated Awakenings (1990), had watched a PBS documentary about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which launched in the 1940s, and sent the […]
'Don't You Worry': The Miz Responds To Being Called Out By Logan Paul, Talks Reality Series
Mike “The Miz” Mizanin appeared on the “Today” show Friday where he discussed his USA Network reality series, “Miz & Mrs,” as well as being called out by newly signed WWE Superstar, Logan Paul. As Season 3 of the Mizanin family’s reality show forges ahead, the A-Lister himself joined the hosts of the show to discuss how crazy his life is getting these days with his TV and WWE obligations. Fortunately, it seems the only ones who love being on-camera more than The Miz are his family members. “It’s
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2022-07-03T05:49:05Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Pro Football Focus names one player Ravens should sign ahead of 2022 training camp
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https://sports.yahoo.com/pro-football-focus-names-one-035014638.html?src=rss
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Johanna Huybers
The Timberwolves will send Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro and a package of first-round picks to the Jazz, according to Wojnarowski.
The move signals the Jazz's desire to move on from the Gobert-Donovan Mitchell pairing that had grown strained since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The locker room tension between the Jazz’s two All-Stars has been well-documented since March 2020. The latter half of the 2021-22 season did nothing but stoke the flames.
The Jazz bowed out of the playoffs in the first round for the third time in four seasons, a disappointing end to a roster built to win now. On Thursday before free agency opened, the Jazz also dealt starting forward Royce O'Neale to the Brooklyn Nets and could still be looking for additional trades.
According to The Athletic's Tony Jones, the Jazz are not planning to trade Mitchell. The 2023 NBA All-Star Game is in Salt Lake City, and the Jazz are committed to building around the 25-year-old star.
Rudy Gobert reportedly is on his way to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster trade. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Gobert will now be paired with Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota. Both have long-term contracts after Towns agreed to a supermax extension on Thursday. Gobert has four seasons left on his supermax deal.
The big-man pairing could be productive for the upstart Timberwolves. Gobert, a three-time All-Star, averages 12.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game for his career. Towns, a three-time All-Star, averages 23.2 points and 11.3 rebounds over 34.2 minutes in his career.
Gobert led the league last season in rebounds at 14.7 per game.
Newly hired Timberwolves executive Tim Connelly was the Denver Nuggets' general manager in 2013 when the team traded out of their first-round pick that became Gobert at No. 27 to Utah.
Anthony Edwards not a Rudy Gobert fan?
One of the more interesting side plots in the reported trade is third-year shooting guard Anthony Edwards' apparent lack of respect for Gobert's role.
In December 2021, Edwards said Gobert "don't put no fear in my heart" after one of three matchups against the Jazz that month. The Jazz won all three. Edwards had 18 points in the first game and 26 in the third, but was out for the second due to health and safety protocols.
this won't be awkward at all pic.twitter.com/gmxpW4FxeD
— Justin Phan (@jphanned) July 1, 2022
How does Rudy Gobert trade change the market for Kevin Durant?
Two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday before free agency opened. The return package for a Durant trade is expected to be massive, and the Gobert return signaled just how much teams could offer for Durant.
Durant's preferred destinations reportedly are the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns. Both teams may need a third team to facilitate the type of trade needed to fetch Durant.
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2022-07-03T09:47:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Report: Utah Jazz trade Rudy Gobert to Minnesota Timberwolves
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https://sports.yahoo.com/report-utah-jazz-trade-rudy-gobert-to-minnesota-timberwolves-194113073.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/report-utah-jazz-trade-rudy-gobert-to-minnesota-timberwolves-194113073.html?src=rss
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The Indianapolis Colts made several moves this offseason as they look to compete for the AFC South crown yet again.
The moves made by general manager Chris Ballard included a quarterback swap, adding a starting cornerback to the secondary and bringing in several rookies who will compete for starting roles in Year 1.
Between free agency, trades and the 2022 NFL draft, here are the 10 best offseason acquisitions for the Colts:
After trading away Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders, the Colts didn’t really have a plan for what they were going to do at quarterback. Then, Ryan became available as the Atlanta Falcons engaged in trade talks for Deshaun Watson.
While Ryan isn’t in his prime anymore, he fits the mold of what successful quarterbacks have looked like under head coach Frank Reich. He’s a strong leader, he has a quick release and he “makes the layups” as Ballard would put it.
Getting their quarterback situation stabilized this offseason was the biggest priority, and finding a way to get Ryan was a massive win for the front office.
While figuring out the quarterback situation was a must, the Colts needed to upgrade their pass rushers in the worst way. Even though it came at a high price by sending away cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, the addition of Ngakoue should go a long way for the defense.
As Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo enter the second year of their careers, the pass rush should take a step forward. They still have one of the best three-technique defensive tackles in DeForest Buckner as well. Bringing in Ngakoue, who has never recorded fewer than 8.0 sacks in a season, will be a major boost.
Moving the aforementioned Ya-Sin to the Raiders was a big blow to the cornerback room. But it helps a bit when a five-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year is available in free agency. Replacing Ya-Sin with Gilmore is a huge get for the Colts in a secondary with some question marks.
Gilmore dealt with injuries during the 2021 season but when he was on the field, he was still a highly valuable asset. The veteran will be starting on the boundary opposite Kenny Moore II (pending his contract situation), giving the Colts a strong 1-2 punch if all goes well during training camp. The secondary could have already improved with a better pass rush, but now they get a bonafide stud to work on the boundary.
One of the few surprises during the draft was this selection. Pierce was one of the players thought to be a near-perfect fit for the Colts. Even after they traded back from their first selection in the second round, Pierce was available at No. 53. Now, he’s set to compete for a starting role right away.
Though a healthy Parris Campbell might take the No. 2 role in the wide receiver room, Pierce is going to compete for the starting Z role. That means we’re likely going to see a lot of him on the boundary and potentially as a starter in two wide receiver sets.
Pierce’s size and speed make him a perfect fit for the Colts. He can get vertical in a hurry, he has sure hands and has shown solid body control on contested catches. Pierce will have a solid role during his rookie season. The only question that remains is how big.
There are few players that bring more excitement than Woods. His potential to be a star is unmatched. At 6-foot-7 and 253 pounds, Woods ran a 4.61 in the 40-yard dash while posting elite numbers in the vertical jump (37.5 inches), broad jump (10’09”) and three-cone drill (6.95).
Almost every relevant pass-catching tight end in the NFL has a baseline of athleticism that needs to be met. Woods not only met those standards—he obliterated them.
Though this may be more of a long-term play simply because tight ends don’t produce at a high rate during their rookie seasons, Woods could turn out to be a star in a few years.
Maybe the Colts knew that Khari Willis was going to retire this offseason. Maybe they just got lucky with their moves. But bringing in McLeod now looks even better than before because of the massive hole Willis left in the secondary.
McLeod is a savvy veteran who should fit in right away in Gus Bradley’s defense. He can work both at free and strong safety until rookie Nick Cross (more on him soon) is ready for the starting role at the latter position.
McLeod brings a much-needed versatile skill set to the secondary when the. Colts need it the most. They may need to rely on him as a starter to begin the season with Willis now out of the picture.
The Colts have yet to find their replacement for Anthony Castonzo, but there’s a chance Raimann could be that starting as soon as 2022. The third-round pick has immense potential given his elite athleticism but may need some time to learn the nuances of left tackle.
While Raimann will enter training camp as the second-string left tackle behind Matt Pryor, who was re-signed this offseason, the Colts are extremely high on his potential to be the anchor on the blindside for the next handful of years.
Though he will already be 25 years old by the time the season starts, Raimann could still find his way into a starting role before the midway point of the regular season. If it works out, this selection will look like a steal in the third round.
Frank Reich has been waiting a long time to get Foles in the building. Ever since he took the job in 2018, Reich has been wanting Foles to be his backup quarterback. Finally, he got his wish.
While Matt Ryan will be leading the offense, the Colts desperately needed a backup quarterback. Sam Ehlinger likely wasn’t ready for that role even though he held it for the majority of his rookie season in 2021. Foles gives the Colts a better chance to keep the offense afloat if something happens to Ryan.
Another long-term play for the Colts, Cross has all of the potential in the world. He’s an athletic specimen capable of playing either safety spot. He has the size to work near the line of scrimmage but the speed to cover immense ground as a deep safety.
Not even 21 years old yet, Cross may be forced into a bigger role than expected because of the retirement of Khari Willis. While the aforementioned McLeod could very well start the season at safety, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say Cross could take over that role during the second half of the campaign.
He’s still extremely young so the Colts could be patient with him, but the potential with the third-round pick could pay off in a massive way.
Having the rushing leader in the backfield means the running back position isn’t a massive priority but depth is always needed. The combination of Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines won’t leave much room for another back to see work, but Lindsay is as strong of insurance as it gets.
The former undrafted rookie had two 1,000-yard seasons during his first two campaigns in the NFL and even though his production has slipped a bit, it’s hard to find that kind of production in a backup running back.
Lindsay may have to contribute a bit more on special teams than he’s used to but if something were to happen to Taylor, they wouldn’t be completely lost with Lindsay holding the early-down role.
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2022-07-03T12:16:03Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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10 best Colts 2022 offseason acquisitions
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The Bruins' Jaime Jaquez Jr. shoots over the Trojans' Drew Peterson during a game Feb. 6, 2021. On Thursday, UCLA and USC officially announced they are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
With the Pac-12's recent struggles and archaic TV deal, the conference’s teams were simply getting left behind, and jumping ship to the Big Ten gives USC and UCLA their best financial lifeline to compete in a college sports scene that is blurring the lines between professional and amateur more each day.
Splitting $1 billion of annual TV revenue among 16 Big Ten schools yields an average of $62.5 million per school. That alone, before additional revenue streams such as NCAA men's basketball tournament payouts and bowl games, is almost twice what UCLA earned from the Pac-12 two years ago.
The money can go toward facility upgrades, salaries to attract and keep top coaches, and improved travel. UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement that the "resources" from the deal will help manage the logistical nightmares that will surely follow West Coast teams that have to travel at least 1,500 miles to get to their closest Big Ten foe, Nebraska.
In its statement announcing the move, USC also noted that, starting this upcoming academic year, all athletes could receive up to $5,980 annually in “direct financial support in the form of academic achievement awards, consistent with the Supreme Court's recent Alston ruling.”
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2022-07-03T12:17:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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How much money waits for UCLA and USC in the Big Ten Conference?
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Report: Celtics put smart protection on first-round pick in Brogdon trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics made a bold move to acquire point guard Malcolm Brogdon in a trade with the Indiana Pacers on Friday.
The Celtics also did a great job protecting themselves from risk in this deal.
The main asset the Celtics sent to the Pacers was a 2023 first-round pick. However, according to MassLive's Brian Robb, this selection is top-12 protected and would become a second-rounder if not conveyed next year.
So, if the Celtics have a horrible 2022-23 season and their pick lands anywhere in the top 12, they keep it and instead send a second-round pick to the Pacers to complete this Brogdon trade.
The chances of the Celtics landing a top 12 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft are incredibly slim, but you have to give Boston's president of basketball operations Brad Stevens credit for protecting the franchise in case of catastrophe.
If the Celtics do send their 2023 first-rounder to the Pacers, which is by far the most likely outcome, they will go three consecutive years without owning their first-round pick. That's not a horrible scenario, though, it's often the cost of business for contending teams in win-now mode. It also helps that the Celtics nailed many of their previous first-round selections over the last seven or so years, including Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard.
The Brogdon trade cannot become official until July 9.
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2022-07-03T12:53:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Celtics' first-round pick in Malcolm Brogdon trade has strong protection, per report
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New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has been able to enjoy a full off-season for the first time in his career. It seems he is making the most of it.
Jones’ girlfriend Sophie Scott posted a photo on her Instagram story Thursday in which he has a slimmer physique, and appears to have added quite a bit of muscle.
This is an encouraging development for the Patriots organization and fans alike. Jones will be looking to take the next step in his sophomore season, in what has become a crowded AFC East division. he has already worked out with some wide receivers over the past couple of months, most recently on Wednesday with Nelson Agholor and Tre Nixon.
Time will tell if this leads to positive results on the field. Nevertheless, a slimmer Jones could lead to success for the Patriots.
In the span of just seven days, Robert Wickens grabbed his first two racing wins in five years and witnessed the birth of his first son.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are actively engaged in discussions on a trade package that would send star point guard Russell Westbrook to Brooklyn in exchange for star point guard Kyrie Irving, league sources told Yahoo Sports. There's ...
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2022-07-03T12:53:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Mac Jones shows off impressive, slimmer physique in Instagram story
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The nation is celebrating its independence this holiday weekend, and the Big Ten has certainly packed some fireworks in the headlines in recent days. The additions of USC and UCLA becoming official have created a world of possibilities for the future of the Big Ten as two iconic members of the Pac-12 begin to make the transition to the Big Ten, and there is a good chance they may not be coming without a little company.
The additions of USC and UCLA will open the doors for Big Ten recruiting to the state of California and the west coast just a little bit more in the coming years. The impact of the next wave of Big Ten expansion will likely not be felt on the recruiting trail until at least the next recruiting cycle for the Class of 2024, so the work being done on the Class of 2023 probably won’t be too impacted by these latest Big Ten headlines.
The month of June was a busy one for Big Ten recruiting, however. Ohio State had a major surge in the recruiting rankings after a successful June welcomed a handful of elite wide receivers to the program among its latest commitments. Penn State also held firm to its high national ranking after a successful June on the recruiting trail as well. Both the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions, as expected, overtook Northwestern in the national rankings that were updated at the start of June, and each continues to outpace the Wildcats and the rest of the Big Ten in their respective recruiting efforts.
But as we grill some burgers and hot dogs this weekend and await future commitment announcements from some of the nation’s top recruits in the Class of 2023, where do things stand in the recruiting rankings among Big Ten teams?
National ranking: 2 (up 2)
Jim Young-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Robbins-USA TODAY Sports
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2022-07-03T13:56:50Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Big Ten football Class of 2023 rankings as of July 4th weekend
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While the Indianapolis Colts remain bullish on their wide receiver corps, there are many others who believe the position should be higher on the team’s list of priorities.
In listing a 2023 NFL draft prospect to watch for each team, Pro Football Focus suggested the Colts should have their eyes on wide receiver Jordan Addison, who recently transferred from Pittsburgh to USC.
With two big-bodied playmakers on the outside, the Colts are still missing that natural separator. Even if Parris Campbell does somehow turn into that guy this fall, he’s in a contract year and is no guarantee to stay. Addison may not be imposing physically, but the dude can run routes in his sleep. It’s why he was your Biletnikoff Award winner last fall as just a sophomore.
Addison proved he will be among the top wide receiver prospects in the 2023 draft when he exploded onto the scene in Pittsburgh. Working with first-round pick Kenny Pickett under center, Addison caught 100 passes for 1,593 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
Though he boasts a leaner frame at six-foot, 175 pounds, Addison makes up for it with his route running.
The Colts used their second-round pick to bring in Alec Pierce out of Cincinnati, and there’s a good chance he captures a starting role pretty early on. But adding another weapon to the room shouldn’t be off the table in 2023.
We’ll see how Addison does following his transfer to the West Coast, but the Colts are likely to be several teams keeping an eye on the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner.
The team cleaned house with its coaching staff, but still needs to choose a new GM.
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2022-07-03T14:25:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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USC WR Jordan Addison tabbed as ‘prospect to watch’ for Colts
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https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-wr-jordan-addison-tabbed-120616201.html?src=rss
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Welcome back, previously, we’ve seen my wife rank Big Ten mascots and uniforms here on Cornhusker wire, and she’s returned once again. Today we’ll be taking a look at Big Ten helmets. The helmet is, without a doubt, the most identifiable marking of any college football program. But, unfortunately, there’s so much variety nowadays that we sometimes forget that each program has its own traditional look.
Buckle up and get ready because we’re not only in for an exciting list, but we’re sure to have a funny comment or two along the way. So please sit back, relax, begin scrolling, and check out my wife’s rankings of Big Ten helmets. It can’t be any stranger than the uniform list.
My wife’s thoughts: It looks like they just bought it at the store right before the game.
Penn State Helmet (Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports)
My wife’s thoughts: Why do they have dragonfly stickers on their helmet?
My wife’s thoughts: The “N” is in a font that you could only find on a word processor.
My wife’s thoughts: “She points at the computer screen and shrugs her shoulders.”
My wife’s thoughts: I wish they would’ve used their mascot. How cool would a beaver look on the side of a helmet? (I then informed her that they are the Golden Gophers and her response is “whatever, you know what I mean.”)
My wife’s thoughts: I wish there was more on the helmet.
My wife’s thoughts: The gold to black ratio is way off.
My wife’s thoughts: What?! That’s an “I” and a “U”. I thought it was a trident or something.
My wife’s thoughts: The “W” at least fills the helmet.
My wife’s thoughts: At least they didn’t use a letter.
My wife’s thoughts: I like the colors, the size of the “I”, and the stripe down the middle. It’s a cool helmet.
My wife’s thoughts: I don’t understand. What do wings have to do with Wolverines? But, it’s a unique helmet.
My wife’s thoughts: It’s cool but there is a lot going on.
My wife’s thought: It’s a real sharp-looking helmet. For someone who doesn’t know football, I know exactly who that belongs to.
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2022-07-03T15:35:16Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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My wife ranks the Big Ten helmets
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https://sports.yahoo.com/wife-ranks-big-ten-helmets-143405702.html?src=rss
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Roob's Observations: Why it's nearly a lock Hurts will be Eagles' QB in 2023 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
A look back at the Eagles' historically bad 1998 offense, my Eagles Mount Rushmore and why Jalen Hurts will almost certainly be the Eagles' starting quarterback after this year.
It's this week's Roob's 10 Random Eagles Offseason Observations.
2. Donovan McNabb is the only quarterback in Eagles history to win a playoff game before his 28th birthday. Ron Jaworski and Nick Foles were 28, Randall Cunningham and Rodney Peete were 29, Tommy Thompson was 31, Norm Van Brocklin was 34 and Jeff Garcia was 36.
3. The Eagles scored 17 touchdowns in 1998. All year. Seven passing, 10 rushing. Only five teams have scored fewer TDs in a season since the NFL went to 16 games in 1978. Only two teams have had fewer passing TDs. That 1998 Eagles team won three games — each with a different QB. Koy Detmer beat the Rams, Peete beat Washington and Bobby Hoying beat the Lions. Those three threw for 387 yards in the three wins combined. The 1998 Eagles are one of only three teams in history to play 16 games and never score more than 21 points. They averaged 10 points per game.
4. Jalen Hurts Stat of the Week: Hurts had 29 runs of 10 yards or more last year. Only Jonathan Taylor (50), Nick Chubb (41) and Dalvin Cook (36) had more. That’s the most double-digit runs by any Eagle in a season since LeSean McCoy had 34 in 2014.
5. The Eagles’ 1993 free agent class: Tim Harris (three years, $4.7 million), Erik McMillan (three years, $3.8 million), Michael Carter (one year, $500,000), Mark Bavaro (two years, $2.2 million) and Keith Millard (one year, $500,000). All former Pro Bowlers. Harris played four games as an Eagle and didn’t record a sack. McMillan played six games and was released halfway through the season. Carter retired a week after signing. Bavaro actually caught 43 passes on knees that forced him to retire a year later. Millard started six games in his final NFL season. At least they drafted Lester Holmes and Leonard Renfro in the first round. Yikes.
6. The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, is an incredible place, jammed with fascinating displays chronicling the history of the game, priceless artifacts from throughout NFL history and interactive exhibits that bring legendary players and teams to life. But the Hall virtually ignores the 1948 and 1949 Eagles teams, the only teams in NFL history to win consecutive NFL Championships via shutout. I don’t get it. The Hall does such a terrific job for the most part, but ignoring one of the greatest two-year runs in the game’s century-long history is a massive oversight.
7. We all say how the NFL is such a passing league these days, but has it really changed that much? As far back as 1989 — 33 years ago — NFL teams averaged 32 pass attempts, 211 passing yards and 1.3 TD passes per game. This past season, those numbers were 35 pass attempts, 228 passing yards and 1.5 TDs per game. Those are very small increases over three and a half decades. What has changed significantly since 1989 is completion percentage (56 percent to 65 percent) and interception percentage (one every 25 passes in 1989, one every 42 this past season). It’s always been a passing league. It’s just a far more efficient one these days.
8. When the Eagles beat the Cards 7-0 to win the 1948 NFL Championship Game in a blizzard at Shibe Park, Eagles QB Tommy Thompson was 2-for-12 for 10 yards, no TDs, two INTs and a 0.0 passer rating. He’s the only QB in NFL history to win a postseason game with a 0.0 passer rating.
9. Lot of questions in the past couple weeks about the Eagles’ Mount Rushmore. It’s not easy. The way I see it, Steve Van Buren, Chuck Bednarik and Reggie White are locks. You can’t do this without them. Guys like Harold Carmichael, Tommy McDonald, Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Pete Pihos, Jason Peters, Fletcher Cox, Pete Retzlaff, Eric Allen, Seth Joyner and Mike Quick are in the conversation. But for me, it comes down to Brian Dawkins vs. Jason Kelce for the final spot. Both made 1st-Team All-Pro four times. Dawk has seven Pro Bowls to five for Kelce (so far), but Kelce got robbed a few years early in his career because he was a sixth-round pick. Dawk is a Hall of Famer, but Kelce will be. Both are among the best ever at their position and both truly altered the way their position is played. How do you choose? For me it comes down to Super Bowl LII. Kelce helped lead this team to its greatest achievement in the last half century. It’s unimaginable to omit Dawk, but I’ve got to give Kelce the fourth spot.
10. Some other Eagles Mount Rushmores: Quarterbacks: Nick Foles, Donovan McNabb, Ron Jaworski, Randall Cunningham. Running backs: LeSean McCoy, Brian Westbrook, Steve Van Buren, Wilbert Montgomery. Wide receivers: Mike Quick, Tommy McDonald, Harold Carmichael, DeSean Jackson. Pass rushers: Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, Trent Cole, William Fuller. Defensive backs: Brian Dawkins, Eric Allen, Troy Vincent, Bill Bradley (by a nod over Malcolm Jenkins). Offensive linemen: Jason Kelce, Jason Peters, Tra Thomas, Bob Brown. Linebackers: Chuck Bednarik, Seth Joyner, Jeremiah Trotter, Bill Bergey. Head coaches: Andy Reid, Doug Pederson, Dick Vermeil, Greasy Neale. Specialists: David Akers, Sean Landeta, Jon Dorenbos, Brian Mitchell. Assistant coaches: Jim Johnson, Bud Carson, John Harbaugh, Jeff Stoutland.
Watch this hilarious video as rookie running back Kenneth Walker III tries to draw the Seattle Seahawks logo from memory.
Check out all of the best plays from Kyle Pitts' impressive rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons
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2022-07-03T16:21:06Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles Observations: Why it's nearly a lock Jalen Hurts will be Eagles' QB in 2023
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-observations-why-nearly-lock-142200788.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-observations-why-nearly-lock-142200788.html?src=rss
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Renowned music producer Dave Cobb was working on a film job where he recreated the music of one singing icon — Tammy Faye Bakker — when he got the assignment to do the same for an even more significant vocalist, high a bar as that may have been: Elvis Presley. Truly, both figured into his […]
Conference realignment in college sports has been going on since 1984, when the Supreme Court invalidated the NCAA's national television contract for football. The conference juggling has gone through ebbs and flows through the years since, from small schools bumping up to bigger leagues to power programs switching to other major conferences. The latest move, Southern California and UCLA bolting the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, could be part of a tectonic shift.
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2022-07-03T16:21:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL defender reveals one trait that makes Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert elite
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-defender-reveals-one-trait-143707407.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-defender-reveals-one-trait-143707407.html?src=rss
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There are a handful of NFL trades that are universally loved or hated right away. When the Houston Texans gave away DeAndre Hopkins, everyone laughed. That's rare. Even the ultimately awful Trent Richardson trade, when the Indianapolis Colts sent a first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns, was debated at the time it was made.
Everyone seemed to hate the Carson Wentz trade to the Washington Commanders. Immediately.
The few Commanders fans who haven't given up on the team through decades of Daniel Snyder ruination will talk themselves into Wentz. But even the most optimistic person has to wonder what Washington was thinking.
Washington traded a 2022 second-round pick, 2022 third-round pick and a conditional 2023 third-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for Wentz as well as a 2022 second-round pick and a 2022 seventh-round pick. The conditional 2023 third turns into a second if Wentz plays 70 percent of the snaps in 2022. That's a lot for a quarterback who was discarded by the Philadelphia Eagles and then, under the guidance of his old coordinator and reported mentor Frank Reich, failed with the Colts.
After the season, Indianapolis didn't even hide that they wanted to dump him. Colts owner Jim Irsay said his team trading for Wentz was a mistake, and it was "very obvious" the team had to move on.
That's what Washington signed up for. And they paid in draft picks and all $28 million Wentz is owed in 2022. Washington reportedly made an offer for Russell Wilson, who was traded to Denver instead, leaving the Commanders scrambling. It's never good to shop for a quarterback when you're desperate.
And yet, Washington is still better off at quarterback. That's not saying much. Since Kirk Cousins left, Washington's starting quarterbacks have been Alex Smith, Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy, Mark Sanchez, Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Garrett Gilbert and Ryan Fitzpatrick. If you had to suffer through that for four seasons, you might overpay for a known mediocre option too.
Wentz is better than what Washington has had. He just hasn't been good for many years. Whatever magic he had in 2017, when he was an MVP frontrunner, is long gone. If he couldn't do it with the Colts, it probably wasn't going to happen. He's just 29 years old and has flashes of being good, so maybe there's something to mine. Probably not, though.
That Washington would invest heavily in a quarterback who the Colts openly disliked and the NFL mocked is pretty telling of what the Commanders franchise has become. They might have a new name but the same owner, who can't dodge any scandals or field a winner. Yes, Wentz is better than what the Commanders have had. He's also unlikely to be an exciting short- or long-term answer. That's the Commanders, making moves without much of a clear purpose.
Carson Wentz is better than what the Washington Commanders have had at the QB position recently, but that's not saying much. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
There was some hope before last season. Washington overcame poor quarterback play to win the NFC East in 2020, with the foundation of a good defense in place. That defense entirely disappeared in 2021. Defensive excellence is often not sticky from one season to the next, but Washington going from No. 3 in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA in 2020 to No. 27 last season was startling.
Chase Young was having a surprisingly quiet season before a torn ACL ended it, and there were other injuries as well, but that doesn't fully explain the collapse. Washington still has a very good defensive line and perhaps can have a big rebound.
The offense has some pieces. Terry McLaurin is a great receiver being held back by poor quarterback play. Washington has some good running backs, led by Antonio Gibson. The offensive line is solid, even after losing five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff. Wentz isn't in a terrible situation.
It just seems underwhelming. The best Washington can probably hope for is Wentz playing well enough to make the Commanders a middle-of-the-road team, and maybe Snyder can avoid further embarrassing the franchise off the field. The former seems a lot more likely than the latter.
The Commanders overpaid for Carson Wentz. It would be a more palatable deal if they just took him off the Colts' hands for little draft capital or if Indianapolis was forced to pay a lot of Wentz's salary. That didn't happen. That was the key addition. Washington lost guard Brandon Scherff on a three-year, $49.5 million deal to the Jacksonville Jaguars and then replaced him with former Jaguar Andrew Norwell for $10 million over two years. Guard Trai Turner was also added. Re-signing valuable pass-catching running back J.D. McKissic after he was all but locked up by Buffalo was a good move. They lost edge rusher Matt Ioannidis and defensive tackle Tim Settle, which erodes a strength of the team. First-round pick Jahan Dotson, a sure-handed receiver, was seen as a reach. So was second-round pick Phidarian Mathis, a defensive tackle. Unless you love the Wentz move, it's hard to get too excited about the offseason.
If Carson Wentz plays well, the Commanders will look smart. What if he doesn't? Would the Commanders be willing to admit that sending two second-round picks and a third was a mistake and move on right away? If Wentz fails again in 2022, no other team is trading for him. Wentz has salary cap hits of a little more than $26 million and $27 million the next two seasons, according to Spotrac, and that's a lot for a player who has struggled like Wentz recently. However, there's no dead cap hit if he's cut after this season because none of his future money is guaranteed. Washington could move on after one season and not feel it on the salary cap, but it would be at the cost of valuable picks for one presumably bad year. It gets more complicated if fifth-round pick Sam Howell, considered a possible first-round prospect before the 2021 college season started, shows something in training camp, preseason and any possible regular-season action. On one hand you can frame the Wentz trade as not being too risky because Washington can get out of the contract after a season, but that still seems less than ideal.
Washington's win total at BetMGM is 7.5, which shows the market isn't out on the Commanders after a disappointing season. Washington has finished with exactly seven wins in four of the last five seasons. Maybe the Commanders get the over. I'm more likely to bet Washington to make the playoffs at +195, with a much softer schedule this season and a weak NFC, given the better odds. Some mediocre team is going to get a wild-card spot in the NFC. Maybe two of them will.
From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "Much like D.J. Moore in Carolina, Terry McLaurin is a star-level receiver who’s been held back by his quarterbacks. McLaurin is 10th in receiver catches and yards over the last two cumulative years, but he’s scored just nine times — that ranks 33rd at the position.
"Maybe Carson Wentz represents an upgrade over Washington’s recent quarterbacks, but it’s unlikely to be a major improvement. Although Wentz was surrounded by key pieces in Indianapolis last year — a star running back, a plus offensive line, a coaching staff that knows his game well — the Colts couldn’t wait to move on from him after the year.
"McLaurin also faces more competition for the ball this year, with Curtis Samuel coming off an injury and rookie Jahan Dotson impressing in early workouts. A key to fantasy managing is mining the gap between real-life talent and expected fantasy production; McLaurin presents one of those situations. He’s a better actual receiver than fantasy one, and as much as I admire his game, I will not draft him proactively unless he gets past the Top 50 overall."
Last season, coming off a first-place finish, Washington had the toughest schedule in the NFL according to Football Outsiders. This season Washington has the sixth-easiest schedule according to Warren Sharp, who uses betting win totals to project strength of schedule. (Washington had the easiest schedule by that method earlier this offseason before some win total shifts.) It's rare to see a difference like that from one year to the next. Washington still went 7-10 with injury issues and the NFL's toughest schedule. Maybe a much easier schedule is an underrated boost for the 2022 Commanders.
Can the defensive line bounce back?
The enduring moment from the Washington Football Team's 2021 season came in a truly humiliating 56-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. During the blowout, defensive linemen Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen got heated and fought each other on the sideline. To use a cliched line, that was more fight than the line showed for much of the season.
Injuries to Chase Young and Montez Sweat didn't help, but that doesn't totally excuse the subpar play of the defensive line most of the season. Washington was tied for 17th in the NFL in sacks. The line's big step backward, along with disappointing play from free-agent addition William Jackson III at cornerback and first-round linebacker Jamin Davis, contributed to a big plunge. The improvement has to start with the line. Young blossoming into a superstar after a fantastic rookie season is the key to that.
“Everybody’s expectations across the board — players, mine, coaches, fans, everybody — was probably a little bit out of whack,” Rivera said about the defensive line, via the Washington Post. “One of the biggest things that we tried to do was we tried to show what we were capable of and who we are instead of trying to just go out and play football the way we were supposed to. … There were some things that we were doing when we weren’t supposed to do; we were popping gaps when we were trying to make plays instead of staying home. Just knowing the play doesn’t care who makes it.”
If you want, you can view Washington as a team that went 7-10 despite the toughest schedule in the NFL and key injuries, and just upgraded at quarterback regardless of the cost. The defensive line could still be one of the five best in football, and if that happens maybe Washington is closer to a top-10 defense than the embarrassment it was at times last season. The schedule is among the easiest in the NFL. It's hard to see Washington winning the NFC East, but a wild-card spot isn't too much to ask.
The 2021 Colts were a more talented team than the 2022 Commanders. The Colts missed the playoffs, in part because of Carson Wentz's mistakes. He has turned off two teams in two years, and perhaps he's just not a good enough leader or player to be a regular NFL starting quarterback. The 2017 version of Wentz, who was in line to win NFL MVP, probably isn't coming back. It's possible Wentz has another rough season and Washington does too. Then Washington admits to a mistake, cuts Wentz and laments wasting those draft picks. It's possible Washington's defense doesn't bounce back, disappointing 2021 additions like receiver Curtis Samuel never pan out, and the Commanders look like they're back in a rebuild by the 2023 offseason.
It's possible this ranking is a little too harsh on the Commanders. They were disappointing but not too far from a playoff spot last season. They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as part of a four-game winning streak. Carson Wentz, warts and all, is a better quarterback than what they've had the past few years. The defense has some good pieces, and if they can find better linebacker play and get more out of cornerback William Jackson III, it could be a difference-making unit. Still, it's hard to trust Wentz. The Eagles were so sick of Wentz they took on a then-record $33.8 million to trade him. The Colts didn't hide their contempt after one season. That's hard to ignore, in addition to Wentz's turnovers that we all see. Washington will probably be what it has been for a few years, a team with about seven wins and no real long-term answer at quarterback.
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2022-07-03T17:29:28Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 NFL Preview: Commanders overpay for QB Carson Wentz
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-nfl-preview-on-bright-side-commanders-did-upgrade-qb-in-trade-for-carson-wentz-120049349.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-nfl-preview-on-bright-side-commanders-did-upgrade-qb-in-trade-for-carson-wentz-120049349.html?src=rss
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Earn a title shot
WWE held its Money in the Bank pay-per-view event on Saturday. The Superstars who wound up with the briefcases put themselves in a position to earn a shot at the champion, whoever, that might be, whenever they want. Here are the results and some of the best shots from the event…
The best shots from WWE's Money in the Bank
: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey defeated Natalya but …
Liv Morgan defeated Ronda Rousey to win the SmackDown Women’s title (:31).
Zolani Tete looked like the champion of old in his knockout victory over Jason Cunningham on Saturday in London.
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2022-07-03T17:29:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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The best shots from WWE’s Money in the Bank: Liv Morgan, Theory rule the night
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https://sports.yahoo.com/best-shots-wwe-money-bank-040842417.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/best-shots-wwe-money-bank-040842417.html?src=rss
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From the infield, Báez told Garrett — standing in the Royals' dugout — to ask manager Mike Matheny if he could pitch the seventh inning. Báez, eager to face Garrett, instead dueled right-handed reliever Wyatt Mills to begin the seventh. He struck out swinging on four pitches.
In May 2021, Báez jumped out of the Cubs' dugout and walked toward the mound to defend his teammates. Garrett had shouted at the Cubs once again, this time after striking out Anthony Rizzo.
Báez hit a walk-off to center field on the first pitch, then taunted and mocked Garrett by moving his bat in a sweeping motion as if it were a broom, though the Cubs didn't sweep the Reds. (They lost the next two games in the series.)
In 2022, the Báez-Garrett rivalry will be one to watch with both players in the American League Central. The Tigers and Royals, including Sunday's matchup, have 14 games remaining on the schedule.
The Tigers called up right-hander Garrett Hill for his MLB debut in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader. He replaced righty Rony García, placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder soreness.
"Being in the (strike) zone is the biggest part," Hill said. "You can't defend the walk. Just attacking. If they hit it, they hit it. More times than not, if you make the pitch, you're going to get outs. I'm not necessarily chasing strikeouts. I'm just trying to get quick outs in three pitches, four pitches or less."
In 2022, Hill posted a 3.23 ERA with 25 walks and 98 strikeouts across 69⅔ innings in 15 starts for Double-A Erie (seven starts) and Triple-A Toledo (eight starts). The 26-year-old is the Tigers' No. 23 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
Grossman will play both games in Monday's doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians. He is hitting .212 with two home runs, 28 walks and 72 strikeouts in 60 games this season, as well as a .315 on-base percentage and career-worst .286 slugging percentage.
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2022-07-03T17:29:40Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez's beef with Amir Garrett continues, and it sure is fun
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https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-tigers-javier-b-ezs-165421919.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-tigers-javier-b-ezs-165421919.html?src=rss
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Seemingly everyone has a take on what the Big Ten welcoming USC and UCLA means for college football in general. One pressing issue is the long-term future of Notre Dame’s coveted independence. With the Big Ten and SEC on their way to becoming the sport’s two super-conferences, now might be the time for the Irish to consider how they will be able to stay competitive both on and off the field in the distant future. At least that’s what Pete Sampson, the Irish’s beat writer for The Athletic, says.
In a piece available only to subscribers, Sampson mentions Notre Dame’s effort to keep expenses from piling up and how it hasn’t been so easy in recent years. It appears the best path forward is the Irish finally joining the Big Ten, the conference that famously snubbed it multiple times when many of today’s great-grandparents were being born. With the ACC being left behind the changing landscape of college football, it makes less sense for the Irish to have a long-term relationship there.
Sampson concludes his piece with the following:
The question for (Jack) Swarbrick now is how far he can see ahead in the fog of realignment war. Because as much as Notre Dame values its independence, the cost-benefit analysis of that expense may be changing.
Sometimes, traditions must go by the wayside to keep up with the times, even if it’s Notre Dame’s independence.
About 673 pounds of illegal fireworks were collected during the city of Los Angeles' second annual fireworks-buyback event in Mission Hills, a 31% increase over last year's event.
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2022-07-03T17:29:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Pete Sampson: Big Ten news, expenses threaten Notre Dame independence
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https://sports.yahoo.com/pete-sampson-big-ten-news-220443262.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/pete-sampson-big-ten-news-220443262.html?src=rss
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Louis C.K. and the cast of his new film “Fourth of July” gathered for a panel discussion on Thursday night at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan. Directed, written and edited by C.K., the indie drama stars co-writer Joe List, who quipped about C.K.’s fall from grace after the moderator praised C.K. for being able to […]
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2022-07-03T18:17:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Odell Beckham Jr. played 2nd half of 2021 season without an ACL
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https://sports.yahoo.com/odell-beckham-jr-played-2nd-164523601.html?src=rss
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The SEC is home to a handful of nationally competitive programs, a few of which are recent national champions. It has been considered one of the most competitive conferences in the nation and it is due in large part to the high level of play.
All 14 teams are capable of bringing in some of the top recruits from all across the country.
Though the 2022 season is still a few months away, the 2023 recruiting trail is red hot and the SEC is near the center of it all.
There may be plenty of time for recruits to change their minds and flip commitments, but here is where all 14 teams rank nationally according to 247Sports.
SEC: 1
Nationally: 6
Nationally: 12
Cardi B performs her own racy rendition of Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’ during an Instagram Live to promote her own new single, ‘Hot S**t.’ The ‘WAP’ rapper gets a little intoxicated and performs a hilarious version of Queen Bey’s house music mix. Cardi breaks out into song and dance while promoting her new track, which features Kanye West. She’s so wasted she almost forgets to mention who she collaborated with on her new music.
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2022-07-03T18:44:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2023 Recruiting Rankings: Where SEC teams rank in-conference and nationally
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-recruiting-rankings-where-sec-175601851.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-recruiting-rankings-where-sec-175601851.html?src=rss
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Defense wins championships. At least, the Tigers will certainly hope that’s true.
LSU has now landed two four-star edge rushers in the past two days in Jaxon Howard and now Joshua Mickens, who announced his commitment on Sunday. Mickens is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound edge rusher from Indianapolis, where he plays for Lawrence Central.
According to On3, Mickens is a top-50 player in the country. He becomes the eighth commit of the 2023 class for LSU and the second edge rusher. He’s rated as the No. 2 prospect in the state of Indiana and the No. 164 player in the country.
Coach Brian Kelly is known for building great recruiting classes and he is well on his way as he already has eight four-stars committed for 2023. The Tigers’ class now ranks 37th nationally with the addition of Mickens, so there is still a lot of work to do between now and signing day.
Still, LSU has had a solid stretch on the trail after things were quiet for a bit.
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2022-07-03T18:44:50Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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BREAKING: LSU lands another four-star edge rusher
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https://sports.yahoo.com/breaking-lsu-lands-another-four-180941248.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/breaking-lsu-lands-another-four-180941248.html?src=rss
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With his third draft having just been completed, we take a look back at the first two drafts and what has been seen so far. His first selection was LT Jedrick Wills:
Movement, Speed – Wills has shown the ability to get out in front of plays in the wide zone scheme. Wills gets out of his stance well and gets moving quickly.
Strength – When the former Alabama tackle gets his hands on a defender he is often putting them into the ground. He has the ability to control defenders with his hands and strong body.
Development – As a very young player, Wills has shown the ability to improve starting with his move to left tackle from right tackle. He has also dropped his penalities from 11 as a rookie to 4 in his second year.
Consistency – While Wills has had his strengths, one of his biggest weaknesses has been his consistency. There are plays where Wills just doesn’t sink his hips, doesn’t maintain control of defenders or isn’t able to get to his spot in pass protection.
Health – Wills hobbled his way through the 2021 season with a problematic ankle. He ended up missing four games and being pulled from others.
Penalties – As noted, 15 penalties including 11 false starts has to be cleaned up.
Wills has been good, not great as Berry’s first draft pick. Going into his age- 23 season, Wills is looking to take the next step in his development. Improvement is not always linear but he has so far shown that he can make strides forward.
Coming into training camp healthy and in his third year as a left tackle, Wills is set to move into the top level of left tackles in the game if he can continue to develop. If he does, Berry’s first pick will be a home run.
If Wills’ development plateaus this year, it will be interesting what type of contract discussions happen in the next two seasons.
For now, Wills is a solid pick by Berry with a chance to be even more. So far so good for the 10th pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
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2022-07-03T20:05:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Andrew Berry draft review: Jedrick Wills time to shine
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https://sports.yahoo.com/andrew-berry-draft-review-jedrick-183849814.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/andrew-berry-draft-review-jedrick-183849814.html?src=rss
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is seeing his NFL stardom grow. Jersey sales tell the story.
Through the first few months of 2022, Allen’s No. 17 jersey is amongst the most popular in the NFL. According to figures released by NFL Shop and the NFLPA, Allen clocks in at the No. 2 spot.
The only player to out-sell Allen is Russell Wilson, who joined the Denver Broncos this offseason.
Here’s the full top-10 list released:
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2022-07-03T20:05:19Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bills QB Josh Allen ranks No. 2 in NFL jersey sales
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https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-qb-josh-allen-ranks-181532015.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-qb-josh-allen-ranks-181532015.html?src=rss
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Now that we’re in the month of July, the smell of football is in the air and hitting like aromas from a July 4 barbeque. While there are still a few weeks until the Miami Dolphins open up Mike McDaniel’s first NFL training camp as a head coach, there’s a solid chance several players are not in vacation mode at the moment.
With an influx of talent in all areas and phases of football, a number of Dolphins could be in jeopardy of losing their role. Not only that, but some rooms also seem over-occupied at the moment, and cuts or trades could very well happen as Miami prepares to trim their roster through the summer and preseason.
When looking at the offseason acquisitions in South Florida, a certain room added three veterans through free agency, as well as an undrafted rookie. They joined a trio of contracted Dolphins in Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed as well as practice squad seventh-round 2021 draft pick Gerrid Doaks.
Ironically, the two Washington Huskie friends in Gaskin and Ahmed could be the ones with their work cut out for them. The emergence of rookie UDFA ZaQuandre White impressing in camp could make one or both expendable. Gaskin was a seventh-round pick in 2019, and Ahmed was an UDFA originally signed by San Francisco, but he ended up in Miami in 2020.
Gaskin could hold trade value if Miami is to go that route, and that wouldn’t be surprising at all based on general manager Chris Grier’s track record. If there’s a draft pick to potentially recoup, Gaskin would be the asset to send, leaving a three-way battle with Ahmed, Doaks and White to earn that fourth running back role.
Gaskin can be a very solid pass-catching back and has proved that so far in his career. Gaskin caught 49 passes for Miami last season for 234 yards and four receiving touchdowns. 2021 did see his lowest career output in both yards per carry (3.5) and yards per reception (4.8). Inversely, last season Gaskin averaged 4.1 yards per carry on the ground and 9.5 yards per catch.
Ahmed showed flashes in limited action in 2020 and 2021 but regressed in his production. As a rookie, he rushed for 319 yards on 75 carries, good for a respectable 4.3 yards per attempt. He found the endzone three times and added 11 receptions in just six appearances.
In two occasions in 2020, Ahmed recorded 20+ carries. He gained 85 yards and 122 yards in those games, scoring in each contest. The Dolphins beat the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10 and New England Patriots in Week 15 with the help of Ahmed.
2021 was a different story, as Ahmed never went over eight carries. His yards per carry was 2.8, and he only rushed 54 times while seeing offensive action in 11 games.
This doesn’t bode spectacularly well for Ahmed or Gaskin, as the Miami rushing attack in 2022 could be brand-new, with potentially four or five backs yet to record an official rush for the Dolphins. Raheem Mostert was a Dolphin in 2015, but in his one game, he didn’t record a touch.
The Dolphins could run with Mostert, who had sparks of spectacular play while a 49er with McDaniel, as well as Chase Edmonds and Sony Michel as their three-headed committee. Mostert has electric speed and could be the game-breaker Miami sorely needs, while Edmonds could be the most relied upon back in both the rushing and receiving components. Look for Michel to be the short-yardage and goal-line back.
It will be interesting to see the battle between Doaks and White, as there’s no certainty there. Both could either make the team or practice squad. The running back room is certainly one to focus on this summer in training camp. McDaniel, who specializes in the running scheme, just may be the perfect evaluator.
Rookies report to training camp July 19, and fans will be able to watch practice live for a number of sessions.
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2022-07-03T20:05:26Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Why the Dolphins RB room will be the group to watch this summer
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https://sports.yahoo.com/why-dolphins-rb-room-group-180202202.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/why-dolphins-rb-room-group-180202202.html?src=rss
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The UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans announced their departure for the Big Ten conference this week. The news came just one summer after Oklahoma and Texas voiced their plans to head to the SEC as late as the 2025 season.
Since the move, the Big 12 appears to be looking to become a third super conference. Not long after announcing a new conference commissioner, the Big 12 is reportedly looking at adding Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah.
While the league would not compare to what the Big Ten and SEC are building, it would present a viable third option to the two powers and include more teams in the future of college football.
The Big 12 has already added teams that could become recruiting strongholds. Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF are based in talent-rich recruiting grounds and have strong support from alumni. A merger between the Big 12 and Pac-12 presents a best-case scenario for teams outside of newly formed super conferences.
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2022-07-03T20:18:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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How the Big 12 could become a third super conference in expansion
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https://sports.yahoo.com/big-12-could-become-third-185225356.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/big-12-could-become-third-185225356.html?src=rss
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