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HAMPTON, Ga. — When it was announced, it seemed one-sided.
The pit-crew unit for the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was being separated, sending front tire changer Houston Stamper and tire carrier Joe Crossen from Christopher Bell’s crew to provide support to the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota of Bubba Wallace.
Wallace’s prevalent pit-crew struggles throughout the season have contributed to placing him in an insurmountable position from a points perspective. Not to say that his season has been perfect behind the wheel, but the late-race mishaps have been well documented.
WATCH: Wallace to ‘manage’ emotions after Nashville rant
“We’re trying to improve on all aspects of our race team,” Wallace told NASCAR.com. “[The changes are] out of my control, so I look at the vision we have as a team. We’re all trying to push the needle to be better and if this is a step in that direction, then I’m all for it.”
Wallace’s former front changer Jackson Gibbs and tire carrier Nick McBeath headed to Bell‘s crew. And initially, the changes appeared to be favoring Wallace’s needs at the expense of Bell and the No. 20 team’s performance.
But Bell has a different take on the situation.
“I don’t wanna throw anybody under the bus, but it hasn’t been working what we’ve had,” Bell said in an interview Saturday. “Anybody that has paid attention to the 20 car this year would understand that the 20 car has not been amazing on pit road either.
“We have had pit-crew issues on the No. 20 as well. It hasn’t been all fun and games for us on the 20 group either. So, I think that both of us, the 23 and the 20 are looking for improvements and we have been saying what we’ve been looking for improvements … and this is a step to hopefully improve both teams.”
Bell sits eighth in the points standings, but without a win and with 13 different winners, he is the driver on the bubble and only 20 points above the cutline. The pressure to be more consistent and get the elusive win is rapidly increasing.
“Both of us have had our struggles for sure,” Bell said. “And [pit-road mishaps] cost both of us a lot of potential good finishes. I think mixing up the teams was their goal to try and obviously produce better pit stops, fewer mistakes and we’ll see if that turns out.”
ATLANTA: Weekend schedule | Starting lineup | Betting odds
Although Bell is comfortable on points, for now, Wallace is almost certainly in a must-win situation with eight races remaining in the regular season. But two of those feature superspeedway-style racing, a positive for the 2021 Talladega Superspeedway winner.
And as for his opinion on the chances at the revamped Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, Wallace said: “It’s different. I struggled here at the old surface but it was a lot of fun to slip and slide around. It had a lot of character. But there’s two sides to it. We’re good here now, so I look at that as a good thing.”
Both restructured crews will have their first challenge Sunday (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
West Virginia wanted to get better at wide receiver and find a productive returner in the process. In Jeremiah Aaron, the Mountaineers have found both. The Louisiana native took official visits to Morgantown and Louisville in December prior to signing with the Mountaineers after a highly productive second season at Navarro J.C where he was named a second-team 2021 NJCAA Division I Football All-American.
Each concert will feature a full performance of the classic 1976 album. The Eagles Extend 2022 “Hotel California Tour” with Canada Dates Eddie Fu
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2022-07-09T21:59:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Two sides to the swap: Wallace, Bell shed light on crew changes
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https://sports.yahoo.com/two-sides-swap-wallace-bell-141643337.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/two-sides-swap-wallace-bell-141643337.html?src=rss
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49ers' Craig, McVay among Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Former 49ers running back Roger Craig and former team executive John McVay are among a group of 54 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
The Hall of Fame announced the list of individuals who received enough votes from the members of the seniors and coach/contributor committees to advance past the first stage in the process.
Up to three seniors can be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for 2023, 2024 and 2025. To be eligible for the seniors category, a player must have played his last game in professional football no later than the 1996 season.
Craig became the first player in NFL history to register 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season (1985). He was a four-time Pro Bowl player and a three-time Super Bowl champion.
Craig is up against stiff competition for one of three spots for next year’s Hall of Fame class. The semifinalists in the seniors category are:
Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Mark Clayton, Roger Craig, LaVern Dilweg, Randy Gradishar, Lester Hayes, Chris Hinton, Chuck Howley, Cecil Isbell, Joe Jacoby, Billie “White Shoes” Johnson, Mike Kenn, Joe Klecko, Bob Kuechenberg, George Kunz, Jim Marshall, Clay Matthews Jr., Eddie Meador, Stanley Morgan, Tommy Nobis, Ken Riley, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor and Everson Walls.
McVay joins former 49ers assistant coaches Mike Holmgren and Mike Shanahan among the 29 semifinalists in the coach/contributor category.
McVay served as the 49ers’ top personnel executive during the team’s run of five Super Bowls in the 1980s and ‘90s. Bill Walsh hired McVay in 1979 as director of player personnel. He spent 21 seasons with the 49ers.
Holmgren and Shanahan left their jobs on the 49ers’ offensive coaching staff to become Super Bowl-winning coaches with the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos, respectively.
The semifinalists in the coach/contributor category are:
The selection committees will vote to send 12 seniors and 12 coach/contributors through to the finalists stage. The results of those reduction votes will be announced July 27.
Then, the committees will meet in August to select three seniors and one coach/contributor for final consideration into the Class of 2023.
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2022-07-09T22:03:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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49ers' Roger Craig, John McVay among Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists
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https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-roger-craig-john-mcvay-075005366.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-roger-craig-john-mcvay-075005366.html?src=rss
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One of Tom Telesco’s specialties has been his ability to maintain cap space.
This season was no different, as the thoughtful moves leading up to the offseason gave the Chargers enough room to sign impact players like Sebastian Joseph-Day and JC Jackson and trade for Khalil Mack.
Going into the 2022 season, there are still several bargain-value players on the roster. In my opinion, these are the five most significant values by cap hit for this season.
QB Justin Herbert: $7,248,751
This is the only player on a rookie contract I’m allowing myself for this exercise, but I couldn’t resist putting Herbert on here after the season he had in 2021. His 2022 cap hit for his third season is just 26th in the league among QBs, just ahead of the $6.5 million the Dolphins gave Teddy Bridgewater as their backup. With another elite season, Herbert could make the consensus elite tier of QBs alongside Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers. Their cap hit ranks for 2022? 2nd, 15th, 17th, and 5th, respectively. Of course, Herbert is extension-eligible next offseason, so this bargain will undoubtedly be off the table relatively soon.
TE Gerald Everett: $4,000,000
While Everett isn’t a world-beater at tight end, he is an upgrade over Jared Cook, whose 2021 cap hit was half a million dollars higher than Everett’s in 2022. A cap hit of $4 million is good for 21st among TEs, sandwiched between Chris Manhertz and Dallas Goedert. Of course, part of the reason for Everett’s low cap hit this season is that he signed a multi-year deal – his cap hit doubles in 2023 to $8 million. Even so, that’s currently slated to be the 16th highest among TEs, just below David Njoku. For a team needing a veteran presence at the position with Donald Parham and Tre’ McKitty still developing, that’s excellent value for a player good for a consistent 40+ receptions and 450+ yards every season.
DL Sebastian Joseph-Day: $5,000,000
The Chargers also benefit from SJD being in the first year of his three-year, $24 million contract, as his cap hits in 2023 and 2024 rise to $9 million and $10 million, respectively. Still, a 2022 hit of $5 million is 32nd in the league among defensive linemen, and his future numbers are below market value for the position. Part of this could be because Joseph-Day is tailor-made for the Brandon Staley defense, which isn’t ubiquitous across the NFL. That scheme limitation does hurt his value league-wide, but it also means that the Chargers get him at a lower price since they’re not bidding against the majority of the league.
EDGE Kyle Van Noy: $2,250,000
Van Noy was available as a free agent until early May, mostly because he was a Patriots cap casualty on the wrong side of 30. But the BYU product is still a productive, versatile player – one who figures to play a valuable role all over the formation for the Chargers in 2022. His cap hit is tied with Solomon Thomas for 80th highest among EDGE players, according to OverTheCap, a paltry number when you consider how much value he’s already added as a leader with a championship mentality, according to Brandon Staley. LA benefits from signing him late in free agency to a one-year “prove-it” deal, but that doesn’t negate the fact that it’s a steal.
CB Bryce Callahan: $1,047,500
This one is more complex than saying the Chargers got a starter in May for the veteran minimum. Because yes, Callahan should be the starter at slot corner as things currently stand. And yes, he’s been a quality player throughout his career. But whether or not this is truly a steal will come down to health – Callahan has never played every game in an NFL season, turns 31 in October, and now plays for a team so historically snakebitten by injury luck that it’s become a meme. On the bright side, Staley’s team-building philosophy has always put health first, and last season was one of the healthiest years in recent Chargers history. If that program keeps Callahan on the field, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to call him a bargain, especially if he plays up to the level he has throughout his career.
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2022-07-09T22:03:50Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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5 biggest bargains on the Chargers’ roster
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https://sports.yahoo.com/5-biggest-bargains-chargers-roster-213159982.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/5-biggest-bargains-chargers-roster-213159982.html?src=rss
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The Portland Trail Blazers will have to wait a little bit longer to see what they have in seventh overall pick Shaedon Sharpe.
The team announced Saturday that an MRI revealed Sharpe suffered a small labral tear in his left shoulder during Portland's Summer League game against the Detroit Pistons on July 7. He'll miss the rest of the Trail Blazers' Summer League games and will be reevaluated in 10-14 days, according to the team.
Sharpe was considered one of the biggest mysteries of the 2022 NBA draft after not playing in an organized basketball team in over eight months despite leaving high school early and joining the University of Kentucky in 2021. He didn't suit up for the Wildcats, but the Trail Blazers still took him with the No. 7 pick in this year's draft.
Sharpe saw some action in the first quarter against the Pistons before being substituted out of the game. But he never returned to the court after the team announced Sharpe suffered a left shoulder injury. Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported soon after Sharpe would undergo an MRI to determine the damage done to his shoulder.
Blazers' assistant coach Steve Hetzel, who is coaching the team's Summer League squad, admitted he didn't know when the injury occurred.
"I didn't see the injury exactly, I think he hit it on the floor," Hetzel said after the game. "Walking off the court at halftime, he said he felt good, but we want to be cautious with all our players so we're going to do our due diligence and figure it out."
Sharpe finished the game with just two points on three shots in five minutes.
Trail Blazers' guard Shaedon Sharpe will miss at least another 10 days with a left shoulder injury. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
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2022-07-09T22:08:02Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NBA Summer League: Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe suffers shoulder tear
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https://sports.yahoo.com/trail-blazers-1st-rounder-shaedon-sharpe-will-miss-rest-of-summer-league-with-labral-tear-in-left-shoulder-193531339.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/trail-blazers-1st-rounder-shaedon-sharpe-will-miss-rest-of-summer-league-with-labral-tear-in-left-shoulder-193531339.html?src=rss
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Florida added the twelfth commitment of its recruiting class of 2023 on Friday and that means the Gators are once again on the rise in the team recruiting rankings.
After finishing Wednesday at No. 26 on the 247Sports team rankings, Florida jumped to No. 20 after adding Eugene Wilson III, who took over the top spot in the class. True to Napier’s word, Florida has prioritized those recruits that are nearest by. 10 of the team’s 12 commits are from the Sunshine State and none are farther than 350 miles away from UF.
On3 is even more bullish on the Gators ranking them at No. 14 and tied with Lousiville. With even more blue-chip recruits expected to consider Florida in the coming months, it may not be long until we see UF crack the top 10 in these ratings and the top 15 on 247Sports.
Even though Dan Mullen had a bad reputation for recruiting poorly, his classes always finished in the top 15 and typically broke into the top 10. Billy Napier is expected to top that and he now on his way to accomplishing that goal after a rocky start.
Gator Nation was in a panic after missing out on blue-chip quarterback Jaden Rashada among other high-priority targets, but the fanbase (and coaching staff) seems to have breathed a big sigh of relief after three sunglasses emojis in around 24 hours.
Florida could be on the rise once again as early as Monday, July 11, when offensive lineman Lucas Simmons makes his decision.
Christian Koloko with an alley oop vs the Philadelphia 76ers
Christian Koloko (Toronto Raptors) with an alley oop vs the Philadelphia 76ers, 07/09/2022
Koby Keenum, the No. 3 center in the Class of 2023 per Rivals.com, committed to Kentucky football over scholarship offers from U of L and others.
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2022-07-09T23:28:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Florida jumps once again in recruiting rankings following latest committment
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https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-jumps-once-again-recruiting-220046535.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-jumps-once-again-recruiting-220046535.html?src=rss
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While the 2021 season was a disaster for the Jacksonville Jaguars, one of the positives to come from it was that members of their rookie class ended it on a positive note. The hope is that those same players can take another step in 2022 under new coach Doug Pederson, as the team looks to at least double their win total.
Several players from the Jags’ rookie class got a ton of experience last season, and that should set them up for success in 2022. The class also will be getting a member back in running back Travis Etienne, who didn’t participate in the regular season due to having a season-ending foot injury in the preseason.
As we await what should be an exciting series of training camp practices, here are four players from the Jags’ 2021 rookie class who should make a second-year jump and propel the team to a better season:
(Note: We didn’t include Etienne for the reason mentioned above, or Walker Little because it’s unclear if he will start)
There was no way we would make this list without the No. 1 overall pick from the 2021 class being listed — and the reason is deeper than his draft status. While Trevor Lawrence did struggle last season, the Jags organization made a huge mistake by pairing him with Urban Meyer, who wasn’t ready for the NFL.
Luckily, they were able to correct the mistake last December and fired Meyer. Then in February, they replaced him with Doug Pederson, who has played quarterback in the NFL, been a long-time NFL coaching assistant, and has won a Super Bowl as a head coach. He’s a better fit for Lawrence, who not only was regarded as the best prospect to enter the draft in a while, but flashed his potential at times despite the dysfunction around him.
It’s been well documented that many young signal-callers take a leap during their second season. That should especially be the case for a quarterback as gifted as Lawrence is, even if he’s learning a new system in the process.
Safety Andre Cisco
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (38) follows a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Andre Cisco was in a similar situation to Tufele last season as the Jags didn’t give him a lot of reps initially. This puzzled many as the Jags weren’t garnering a lot of turnovers, which was a specialty of Cisco.
However, late in the season, an unfortunate ankle injury to veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins allowed Cisco to start in the last three games. The rookie took advantage of the opportunity by registering a PFF grade of 82.7 (Week 16) and 79.5 (Week 18) in two of those three games.
Heading forward, the arrow seems to be pointing up for Cisco, who will now be coached up by former Tampa Bay Bucs assistant Mike Caldwell. That’s important because Caldwell watched Tampa have success with young safeties Jordan Whitehead and Antoine Winfield last season, and the hope is that he can put Cisco in place to duplicate that.
DT Jay Tufele
Jul 29, 2021; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Jay Tufele (97) participates in training camp at Dream Finders Homes practice field Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Jay Tufele, who the Jags selected in the fourth round last season, didn’t get to see a lot of time on the field as the team frequently ruled him inactive, and a hand injury caused him to miss time on injured reserve. However, in the first game he played in (Week 5 vs. Tennessee) he actually made the most of the small number of snaps he received, registering a 72.4 Pro Football Focus grade that week. More importantly, he registered a 91.9 pass-rush grade, which went under the radar.
That performance could be an indication of the growth Tufele could’ve shown if his reps were a little more consistent. He’s approached this offseason with a strong mindset it appears and has been sticking close to the older players on the defense during their post-camp workouts.
Tufele has done everything to position himself to have a good camp, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s a standout. He will have the luxury of seeing a lot of time on the field in the preseason, too, because the Jags are participating in the Hall-of-Fame game, giving them and Las Vegas one more preseason game than the rest of the league.
Tyson Campbell, who was the Jags’ top selection in the second round last season, had a clear path to the starting lineup as a perimeter corner once the team traded C.J. Henderson on Sept. 22. With it being so early in the season, Campbell was able to start in 14 games last season. However, one start came before Henderson was sent to Carolina.
Campbell initially struggled, but after the bye week, it started to click for the rookie. He registered five performances with grades higher than 70.9, according to Pro Football Focus, and snagged his first two career picks, too. When adding that with the incompletions he caused (10) he was second among rookie cornerbacks in causing incompletions and interceptions.
This season, Campbell should have the luxury of just focusing on a role on the outside instead of taking reps as both a nickel and boundary cornerback. That would help him a lot heading into the regular season and it could result in him having a much faster start than last season.
The Bruins are intent on adding centers to their prospect pool in the 2022 NHL Draft, with the latest being Cole Spicer from the United States National Development Team.
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2022-07-09T23:55:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Breakout candidates: 4 second-year Jaguars set to make a jump in 2022
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https://sports.yahoo.com/breakout-candidates-4-second-jaguars-215109275.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/breakout-candidates-4-second-jaguars-215109275.html?src=rss
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Winning is in Sabrina Ionescu’s genes, no matter what type of competition she may be in.
In typical Sabrina fashion, with her teammate and high school star Zoe Brooks, she won the WNBA Skills Challenge at All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
“I had a great partner, which helped,” Ionescu told the press afterward. “I told myself I wasn’t gonna get too competitive, but I got really competitive. I’m happy we won.”
Each WNBA participant was paired with a high school player from the Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) participating in the 2022 Nike Nationals. All the teams had to go through an obstacle course that tested various skills including ball-handling, passing, and shooting. Being a master of the triple-double, this type of thing was right up Ionescu’s alley.
But it wasn’t as easy as one would think for the former Duck great. Ionescu faced a slight bit of adversity in the first round when Chicago Sky’s Azura Stevens inadvertently knocked the ball away from Ionescu after the layup portion of the course.
She bounced back, however, and made the 3-pointer first to advance to the semi-finals. Ionescu then managed to cruise through that round, easily knocking out Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum.
In the final round, she was matched up against the Indiana Fever’s NaLyssa Smith where the No. 2 overall pick of this year’s WNBA draft made a surprise run through the event, upsetting hometown favorite Courtney Vandersloot of the Sky in the first round and reigning MVP Jonquel Jones of the Connecticut Sun in the semis.
Ionescu put an end to Smith’s run, though.
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2022-07-10T04:01:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Sabrina Ionescu and Zoe Brooks win WNBA Skills Challenge
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https://sports.yahoo.com/sabrina-ionescu-zoe-brooks-win-025257345.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/sabrina-ionescu-zoe-brooks-win-025257345.html?src=rss
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The Baltimore Ravens have built one of the best rosters in the NFL over the course of their franchise history. They bring in a new batch of talented players every year through multiple different avenues, and stack depth on depth to make sure they always have what they need for both the present and the future.
When ranking each NFL roster, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports ranked Baltimore in the top 10 at No. 10, but that came as a shock to some. Some believed that the Ravens should have been higher on the list, especially considering the balance of star power and depth that they currently boast. Benjamin first started by talking about the offense.
Benjamin then added his thoughts on the defense.
There are arguments that Baltimore should be at least ranked above the Philadelphia Eagles or even the Green Bay Packers. The Ravens addressed multiple key areas of need during the offseason while retaining most of their talent from last season, and that combined with stars returning from injury has them with one of the better NFL rosters.
Evaluating talent can be tough, but the top-four teams on Benjamin’s list seem to be spot on. The offseason is long, so it’s always fun to see what kind of lists come out. Either way, the Baltimore still has one of the top rosters in the NFL.
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2022-07-10T05:08:22Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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CBS Sports lists Ravens’ roster highly in latest rankings
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https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-lists-ravens-roster-034518611.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-lists-ravens-roster-034518611.html?src=rss
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The Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw pitched 7⅔ stellar innings in a 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs. He gave up two runs, one earned, and five hits while striking out 10 and walking none. The left-hander improved to 6-2. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
But on the eve of Major League Baseball's full roster announcements for the Midsummer Classic, he made an emphatic claim for his ninth career All-Star selection — and perhaps a first start in the event.
The Dodgers' Freddie Freeman runs out of the batter's box after hitting a tiebreaking, two-run single during the seventh inning. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
“What he's done with the time he has pitched, it's been elite,” Roberts said. "It's just hard to imagine an All-Star Game without Clayton Kershaw, given the fact that he's also performed very well."
“I've been reluctant to push as far as starting, but the game's for the fans, and it's just only fitting that Clayton would get that opportunity,” Roberts said, adding: “I'd be crazy not to think that Clayton should be named the starter."
Roberts, who will be on Snitker’s coaching staff, said the two haven’t had conversations about the choice yet. Still, “I know that Brian is a fan of the game and understands the fan bases,” Roberts said. “So it wouldn't surprise me if Clayton is named a starter and started the game.”
"Tonight there was a different type of edge to him — and a good edge," Roberts said. "He just came out attacking from the get-go."
"It felt like playoff baseball a little bit, I guess." The Phillies won a game they'd have lost in years past, hanging on during an intense ninth inning and picking each other up. By Jim Salisbury
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2022-07-10T07:46:15Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Clayton Kershaw makes emphatic case for All-Star spot, pitches Dodgers past Cubs
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https://sports.yahoo.com/clayton-kershaw-makes-emphatic-case-051825610.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/clayton-kershaw-makes-emphatic-case-051825610.html?src=rss
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On Thursday night, the Chicago Bulls announced the signing of undrafted free agent guard Javon Freeman-Liberty.
The Crew found a way to come back from 2-0 down and win 3-2 on the road to extend their unbeaten streak to six games.
Vasiliy Lomachenko plans to get back into the ring this fall
Vasiliy Lomachenko told multiple outlets that he plans to get back into the ring this fall.
Moses Wright with a buzzer beater vs the Chicago Bulls
Moses Wright (Dallas Mavericks) with a buzzer beater vs the Chicago Bulls, 07/08/2022
Javon Freeman-Liberty with an and one vs the Dallas Mavericks
Javon Freeman-Liberty (Chicago Bulls) with an and one vs the Dallas Mavericks, 07/08/2022
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2022-07-10T07:46:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Who is Javon Freeman-Liberty, Chicago native and Bulls' new guard?
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https://sports.yahoo.com/javon-freeman-liberty-chicago-native-151016306.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/javon-freeman-liberty-chicago-native-151016306.html?src=rss
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Red Sox All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers will miss the next two games against the New York Yankees because of a sore back that forced him to make an early exit. On Friday, the 25-year-old Devers was selected as the American League’s starting third baseman for the second straight year. Hours later, Devers hurt his back crashing into a side rail going for a foul ball at Fenway Park.
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2022-07-10T09:47:26Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Will Red Sox target first baseman at MLB trade deadline? Chaim Bloom weighs in
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https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-target-first-baseman-201500244.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-target-first-baseman-201500244.html?src=rss
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Allie Quigley wins fourth career WNBA 3-Point Contest originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Once Allie Quigley got going, it was all over. Quigley won the WNBA's 3-Point Contest for a record fourth time Saturday, stamping herself as one of the greatest shooters in the history of the league. No one in the NBA or WNBA has as many 3-point titles as Quigley, who also won the competition last year.
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2022-07-10T10:00:08Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Allie Quigley wins fourth career WNBA 3-Point Contest in Chicago
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https://sports.yahoo.com/allie-quigley-wins-fourth-career-201500817.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/allie-quigley-wins-fourth-career-201500817.html?src=rss
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The Indianapolis Colts have been a team that knows how to get production at a great value since Chris Ballard arrived as general manager in 2017.
While some of the contracts they’ve signed have reset the market at certain positions, the front office has still found a way to find players on cheaper deals while still getting strong production.
Whether it be through free agency or getting production from players still on their rookie deals, the Colts have had a nice balance of production without having to overpay.
Entering the 2022 season, here are the seven best salary-cap bargains for the Colts using figures from Spotrac:
Running backs don’t typically get viewed as values but when you have the best in the league still on his rookie deal, it’s considered a major value. That extension is coming up soon after the 2022 season, though.
There’s a reason Moore is considering a training camp holdout. He’s being paid as the 27th-highest cornerback in the NFL entering the season.
For a player who’s considered the best at his position, Leonard carries the fifth-highest cap hit at his position. This is the final year we can consider his contract a bargain, though, as his cap hits skyrocket near $20 million per year starting in 2023.
Pittman Jr. went over 1,000 yards in 2021 and is set to do so again with Matt Ryan under center. He could become the first Colts wide receiver this century to record two 1,000-yard seasons within his first three campaigns.
This year, Smith is a bargain. However, the next three years of his contract include cap hits of $19 million, $16.7 million and $19 million, respectively.
That cap hit for a five-time Pro Bowler isn’t bad at all. In fact, some would consider Gilmore’s contract a pretty big bargain for the potential production he may give.
Entering the third year of his rookie deal, Rodgers allowed a 72.2 passer rating in coverage during the 2021 season. We’re expecting a big breakout from him in 2022.
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2022-07-10T13:14:48Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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7 best salary cap bargains for the Colts this season
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https://sports.yahoo.com/7-best-salary-cap-bargains-113831117.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/7-best-salary-cap-bargains-113831117.html?src=rss
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Allen Robinson, Matthew Stafford were in “constant communication” this offseason originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
Mili Poljicak became the first Croatian player to win a junior Wimbledon title after defeating American player Michael Zheng 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3) in the boys’ final. The third-seeded Poljicak came from a break down in both sets to win his first junior Grand Slam title. Zheng beat Poljicak in three sets in the first round of this year’s French Open and was trying to become the second straight American to win the Wimbledon boys’ title.
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2022-07-10T14:49:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Allen Robinson, Matthew Stafford were in “constant communication” this offseason
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https://sports.yahoo.com/allen-robinson-matthew-stafford-were-131619308.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/allen-robinson-matthew-stafford-were-131619308.html?src=rss
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In Roob's Observations: Can Roseman keep Eagles' defense together beyond 2022? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
An unprecedented achievement that three Eagles are approaching, a wild Rodney Peete stat and a unique accomplishment by an Eagles safety from the 1980s.
It’s a mid-July collection of Roob’s 10 Random Eagles Offseason Observations!
1. The Eagles should be significantly better on defense this year. Take a unit that ranked second in the NFL in yards allowed per play, sixth in rush defense, third in fewest big plays allowed and nine in fewest 75-yard TD drives allowed, and add Haason Reddick, Kyzir White, Jordan Davis, James Bradberry and Nakobe Dean and a second year under Jonathan Gannon, and you’ve got a chance for something special. There’s one thing to keep in mind. A good chunk of this Eagles’ defense is not signed beyond this year. Bradberry, White and Anthony Harris are here on one-year deals, and Javon Hargrave, Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, T.J. Edwards and Marcus Epps are all in the last year of their contracts. Graham could very well retire, Cox will likely play elsewhere and the rest, who knows? Hargrave is a priority, and it’s hard to imagine the Eagles not trying re-sign him, but it hasn’t happened yet. White and Bradberry are going to want to monster long-term deals and that could be elsewhere. Who knows what’s going to happen with Epps, Harris and Edwards? No lock that they’re back either. That’s a lot of unknowns, and continuity is huge. So, something to keep an eye on going into the season. The last thing the Eagles need is to rebuild the defense and then have to do it all over again next year.
2. A.J. Brown had 140 catches for 1st downs in his three years with the Titans. The most 1st down catches by an Eagles wide receiver over the last three years is Greg Ward’s 46.
3. Peete threw touchdowns of 43 yards to Rob Carpenter and 45 yards to Ricky Watters four passes apart in the Eagles’ 58-37 wild-card win over the Lions at the Vet in 1995. He remains the only Eagles QB in history with two TD passes of at least 43 yards in a playoff game. Not only were they Peete’s two-longest TD passes of the entire 1995 season, he never threw another TD pass of 43 yards again the rest of his career — and he played nine more years.
4. Nobody has ever played at least 170 games for the Eagles, made at least one Pro Bowl and never played for another team. Jason Kelce, Cox and Graham all have a chance to do it. B.G. has played 161 games, Kelce 159 and Cox 156. Cox could wind up playing for another team next year, but Kelce is a lock to finish his career with the Eagles and B.G. almost certainly will as well. Amazing that 10 years after Andy Reid coached his last game with the Eagles, three of his guys are still making history.
5. Jalen Hurts Stat of the Week: Hurts produced 51 offensive plays of at least 20 yards last year — 44 passing and seven rushing. Only 12 players had more last year (Tom Brady 75, Derek Carr 68, Matt Stafford 65, Patrick Mahomes 62, Kirk Cousins 61, Josh Allen 60, Joe Burrow 60, Aaron Rodgers 55, Dak Prescott 55, Jimmy Garopollo 54, Justin Herbert 54, Mac Jones 52).
6. From 2000 through 2004, Donovan McNabb threw four pick-6s. Three were in the playoffs.
7. Terry Hoage is the only NFL player since 1950 (as far back as the Stathead game finder goes) with two interceptions and a touchdown run in the same game. In the 1988 opener against the Bucs at Tampa Stadium, Hoage picked off Vinny Testaverde twice and also scored on a 38-yard fake punt in the third quarter.
8. The Saints led the Eagles by as many as 13 points in the third quarter of their 1992 wild-card playoff game at the Superdome, and they still led by 10 four minutes into the fourth quarter when the Eagles proceeded to score an absurd 26 unanswered points in the span of 8 minutes, 20 seconds to win 36-20. That remains the most points scored in any NFL postseason fourth quarter since 1935. After the game, I was talking to right tackle Ron Heller and I said something profound like, “That had to be the craziest thing that’s ever happened.” He shook his head no and said, “Crazier things have happened.” I said: “Name one.” Without hesitating, he said, “Moses parted the Red Sea. There’s that.”
10. Randall Cunningham is the only player in NFL history to record four straight seasons with 20 touchdown passes and 500 rushing yards. Cunningham did that from 1987 through 1990, his first four years as the Eagles’ regular starting quarterback. Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray are the only other players who’ve had as many as two consecutive seasons with 20 TD passes and 500 rushing yards.
Wimbledon final 2022 live, Nick Kyrgios vs Novak Djokovic score and latest updates
Kyrgios won the opening set 6-4 Djokovic hits back to win the second set 6-3 Djokovic should not be cast as a demon, he deserves respect
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2022-07-10T14:49:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles Observations: Can Howie Roseman keep defense together beyond 2022?
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-observations-howie-roseman-keep-140059312.html?src=rss
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Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell was quietly one of the big reasons for the team’s turnaround and eventual Super Bowl run last season.
For example, Bell just hosted his third annual Pick Six Foundation camp for kids at his alma mater Ridgeland High School in Georgia. The NFL’s Twitter account was kind enough to grab some quotes from him and highlights from the event.
Here’s a look at the footage:
Vonn Bell went back to his hometown high school to give local kids an opportunity to learn the game from one of the best in the game. 👏@Vonn's Pick Six Foundation is dedicated to helping young athletes and their families in underserved areas. pic.twitter.com/ZiQFld9RYK
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2022-07-10T14:49:48Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Watch: Vonn Bell hosts third annual football camp for kids
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https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-vonn-bell-hosts-third-141058521.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-vonn-bell-hosts-third-141058521.html?src=rss
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Bradley Zimmer
Switch-hitting Ian Happ would bring a lot of versatility to the Blue Jays. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Amid a crowded playoff race in the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays are expected to be fairly active leading up to the Aug. 2 trade deadline. While pitching remains the club’s top priority, they could also benefit from improving their offence.
How does a lineup that led the majors in runs (170), RBIs (164), batting average (.285), OPS (.856) and wRC+ (140) last month get any better?
That’s a fair question to ask. When healthy, the Blue Jays feature a deep offence headlined by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, Bo Bichette and Alejandro Kirk. But this group isn’t complete just yet.
Toronto’s lineup is littered with All-Stars from one through nine, however, almost all of them are right-handed. That’s not ideal. Only three players on the roster hit from the left side: Cavan Biggio, Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer. Though Biggio is currently performing well, slashing .326/.442/.581 since June 20, he isn’t someone who can be relied on to contribute within the middle of the order. And the same goes for Tapia and Zimmer.
If the Blue Jays are to compete with the New York Yankees, who feature a well-balanced lineup, it’ll be vital to complement their already talented offence. The most effective way they can accomplish that feat is by acquiring a reliable left-handed batter.
Granted, this season’s trade market likely won’t consist of any marquee names, so don’t expect anyone of Trea Turner’s calibre to be moved this summer. Having said that, there are expected to be a few impact lefties available that could be of interest.
Josh Bell is a player who will undoubtedly garner plenty of interest before the deadline passes. And rightly so, as the 29-year-old has been one of the lone bright spots for the Nationals in 2022.
In 83 games, Bell has 12 home runs, 47 RBIs and a .311/.393/.502 slash line across 348 plate appearances. He also owns a career-best 147 wRC+ score and a 2.3 fWAR rating — his highest since 2019 (2.9).
The 6-foot-4 first baseman is hitting for both power and contact this season, which he also achieved last year when he slashed .261 /.347/.476 with 27 round-trippers. His plate discipline is also worth mentioning, as he’s earned a 10.9 percent walk rate and a 13.2 percent strikeout rate.
Acquiring Bell wouldn’t come without risk, however, as the left-handed slugger is scheduled to enter free agency this offseason. There’s also the fact he plays the same position as Guerrero. Plus, a significant amount of playing time in the designated hitter spot must be set aside for Kirk.
Finding regular at-bats for all three players would probably be tricky. Still, it’s difficult to ignore that inserting Bell into the mix would significantly improve Toronto’s offence.
LF Andrew Benintendi, Kansas City Royals
Another intriguing option for the Blue Jays is outfielder Andrew Benintendi, who similar to Bell, can also become a free agent after this season. But he’s still worth examining.
Benintendi has served as a quality table-setter for the Kansas City Royals, hitting .316/.387/.404 with a career-high .363 BABIP over 336 plate appearances in 79 games. He also possesses a 129 wRC+ score and a 1.8 fWAR rating.
The 28-year-old doesn’t provide much power as evident by his three home runs and .088 ISO, but that’s not his strength anyway. He’s at his best when balls are being put in play consistently and to all three sections of the field. That is what’s made him successful thus far.
You don’t have to worry about his strikeout or walk totals, either. Benintendi has registered a career-best 13.7 percent strikeout rate and a 10.4 percent walk rate, which is the highest of his career since 2018 (10.7 percent).
Defensively, the 5-foot-9 left fielder is considered an average defender as he’s made zero outs above average in 2022, placing him in the 41st percentile of the majors, according to BaseballSavant. But as an outfielder, it could be easier to receive regular playing time.
Any time Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has required time off, it’s been Tapia who’s largely stepped in off the bench. The problem is he’s only slashing .259/.286/.362 this season, and just .258/.284/.366 versus right-handed pitching.
Toronto has lost a ton of offence when Gurriel isn’t starting in left field. With Benintendi, however, he would greatly fill that void down the stretch. Though, adding another outfielder to the roster would likely mean removing Tapia or Zimmer.
Since both players are without any minor-league options, they’d be subject to waivers and would need to clear before being assigned to the minors. But that’d likely be a risk worth taking.
OF Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
While Ian Happ is a switch-hitter, he could potentially make the most sense for Toronto. He’d likely check several boxes for them, both offensively and defensively.
For starters, the 27-year-old features another season of team control after 2022, where he’ll be entering his final year of arbitration. So, unlike Bell or Benintendi, Happ wouldn’t be a rental.
Adding to his value, Happ is enjoying one of the best statistical performances of his career this season. Across 80 games, the 6-foot outfielder has generated career-highs in average (.279), OBP (.377), wRC+ (131) and fWAR (2.2) through 329 plate appearances with the Chicago Cubs.
The 2015 ninth overall selection also owns eight home runs, 38 RBIs and a .454 slugging percentage. His 20.7 percent strikeout rate is also the lowest of his six big-league seasons.
Amongst Chicago’s rebuild, Happ has stood out in a massive way and has been a difference-maker from both sides of the plate. That’s pretty rare to find in today’s era.
As a righty, Happ has posted six home runs, 29 RBIs a 118 wRC+ and a .252/.359/.427 slash line across 259 plate appearances. On the opposite side, he’s gone deep twice, producing nine RBIs, 178 wRC+ and a .371/.443/.548 slash line in 70 plate appearances.
In addition to his offensive skills, the Blue Jays would surely be drawn to Happ’s versatility. He’s capable of playing six of the eight defensive positions. Shortstop and catcher are the only two spots he’s never played before at the professional level.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native is most comfortable in left field, where he’s logged 1,558.0 career innings. 605.0 of which have occurred this season. In total, he’s performed to a +7 DRS and a -1 OAA in the left corner for his career.
Given Happ’s defensive availability, locating consistent at-bats likely wouldn’t become an issue for manager Charlie Montoyo, especially since he can play all three outfield positions. He could provide relief to not only Gurriel but for Springer and Teoscar Hernandez, too.
Any of these three trade targets would better equip the Blue Jays to make a competitive playoff run over the next several months. Anything less would be considered a major disappointment.
In the end, though, the eventual acquisition cost of an impact left-handed hitter could ultimately determine Toronto’s ability to address this particular need. With a limited number of sellers this season, thanks to the expanded playoff format, market prices may soar to new heights.
With more pressing concerns at the forefront, mainly those of the pitching variety, the Blue Jays must decide whether it’s worth paying top dollar to improve their offence. It might be easier to do so in the winter.
These are the kind of games Marcus Semien envisioned when he and Corey Seager signed with the Texas Rangers. Semien hit a tiebreaking RBI triple in the eighth inning of a 9-7 win over the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins on Saturday, after earlier being part of back-to-back homers with Seager for the first time since the Rangers committed a half-billion dollars to the middle infielders last December. A three-run shot by Semien in the fourth tied the game at 6, and Seager followed with a go-ahead shot that chased Twins starter Devin Smeltzer.
Fantasy Baseball: The 2022 Detroit Tigers finally show up
The Detroit Tigers offense has finally shown signs of life after a horrendous start. Scott Pianowski looks for some Michigan fantasy optimism.
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2022-07-10T16:02:48Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Left-handed hitters the Blue Jays can trade for to improve their offence
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https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-trade-deadline-blue-jays-left-handed-hitters-targets-204939867.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-trade-deadline-blue-jays-left-handed-hitters-targets-204939867.html?src=rss
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The ever-changing landscape of the college football world is changing more quickly than usual of late.
After USC and UCLA announced last week that they would leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, the world of college athletics has been thrown into a tizzy, scrambling to figure out what conferences are going to look like in a matter of years, and which teams are going to be playing where.
At first, it looked as if the Oregon Ducks were going to be among the teams likely to leave the Pac-12 and follow the Los Angeles schools to the Big Ten. Over the past few days, though, it seems there’s a better chance the Ducks either stand pat in the Pac-12 or potentially merge with the ACC or Big 12. We will likely know more in the coming days or weeks.
One of the intriguing options that we’ve come across, though, is a merger between the Big 12 and the Pac-12. In this scenario, some of the top schools from the Pac-12 would join the Big-12 and form what would be a less powerful superconference, but a superconference nonetheless. This is what it would look like, in our minds:
April 13, 2018; Tempe, Arizona; Detailed view of Arizona State Sun Devils helmets on the field during the teams spring game scrimmage at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The LA Times' Brady McCollough and new USC baseball coach Andy Stankiewicz join the Trojan Talk podcast.
Guardians bullpen wastes strong start by Aaron Civale in loss to Royals
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2022-07-10T16:02:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Predicting what an 18-team Pac-12/Big 12 merger might look like
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https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-18-team-pac-12-150031507.html?src=rss
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Gordon is a veteran player who is also a pretty solid defensive player combined with his elite 3-point shooting. His fit next to Harden would be like a glove, but the Sixers will have to come up with a better offer to Houston in order to bring the veteran to the City of Brotherly Love.
The Transportation Department on Friday urged airlines to make it easier for families to sit together on planes at no extra charge. The department said in a notice to airlines that the carriers “should do everything that they can to ensure the ability of a young child” 13 or younger to sit next to an older family member. The trade group Airlines for America said carriers “have always worked to accommodate customers who are traveling together, especially those traveling with children, and will continue to do so.”
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2022-07-10T16:03:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Sixers have made multiple trade offers to Rockets for Eric Gordon
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https://sports.yahoo.com/sixers-made-multiple-trade-offers-162222729.html?src=rss
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So after a century of history and tradition and a lot of domination on the gridiron, why would USC suddenly decide to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten?
This decision seemingly came out of left field and to make it worse, the Trojans and Bruins pretty much were holding hands and walking into the sunset that was the Pac-12. The two biggest schools took their ball and the biggest market on the West Coast for greener pastures. Now the other schools, including Oregon, are left scrambling.
It’s couldn’t have been just about the money, right? We went to USC insider and friend of the site, editor of TrojansWire.com Matt Zemek, for some answers. According to him, this wasn’t all that complicated.
UCLA in particular was drowning in debt. USC wasn’t in debt, but the Trojans stood to make tens of millions more dollars in the Big Ten. If any school president is offered several tens of millions of dollars each year, is that president going to say no? USC and UCLA are going to get a full share of Big Ten revenue. They stand to make at or above $100 million per year under a TV deal currently estimated to be worth $1.143 billion according to recent reporting from Pac-12 journalists and their sources within the media industry. USC was not going to turn that down.
Zemek also said that our old “friend” and former Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott was so bad at his job at negotiating the conference’s media deal that that those chickens are coming home to roost in the seeming demise of the Pac-12.
Larry Scott simply devalued the Pac-12 so much that USC didn’t have much of a choice. Scott also failed to tether the Pac-12 to ESPN when he had a chance in 2018. If he had done that, USC and UCLA would still be in the Pac-12.
Bottom line: it came down to the Benjamins and USC and UCLA just hit the lottery with the Big Ten. The Los Angeles schools had a choice of walking away from the cash or the conference. They made the smart move and took the money.
The Big Ten has no additional expansion plans even though schools interested in becoming members have reached out to the conference in the week since the additions of Southern California and UCLA were announced, Iowa athletic director Gary Barta said Friday. “I know the Big Ten has taken calls, and they inform us when they take calls just so we have a general idea," Barta said at a news conference. The Big Ten voted to bring in USC and UCLA in 2024, making it a 16-team conference and the first to stretch coast-to-coast.
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2022-07-10T16:37:42Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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USC’s reasons for leaving the Conference of Champions aren’t complicated
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https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-reasons-leaving-conference-champions-220014918.html?src=rss
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Former Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown was arrested on Saturday at LAX airport for allegedly carrying a concealed handgun. Here are the details according to TMZ Sports, which was the first outlet to report the story.
Brown’s arrest has since been corroborated by other reporters, including Alex Stone at ABC News and Gregg Bell at the Tacoma News Tribune.
Originally a first-round pick by the Texans in 2008, Brown was traded to Seattle in 2018 and continued to play for the Seahawks through the 2021 season. However, the one-year contract he signed last offseason has expired and he’s now a free agent.
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2022-07-10T17:54:06Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Duane Brown, former Seahawks left tackle arrested at LAX on gun charge
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https://sports.yahoo.com/duane-brown-former-seahawks-left-170700882.html?src=rss
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The Breslin Center is one of the top five college basketball venues in the eyes of ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.
Bilas released his top five college basketball venues list this week, and the Spartans’ home arena cracked his rankings. He has the Breslin Center as the No. 4 venue in all of college basketball.
Other arenas that made his rankings included Assembly Hall (No. 5), Rupp Arena (No. 3), Cameron Indoor Stadium (tied for No. 1) and Allen Fieldhouse (tied for No. 1).
Watch the complete video and what he had to say about the Breslin Center below:
These are my top 5 venues in college basketball… pic.twitter.com/OVCJkQZELn
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2022-07-10T19:08:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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ESPN’s Jay Bilas lists Breslin Center in his ‘top 5 venues in college basketball’ rankings
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https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-jay-bilas-lists-breslin-173032443.html?src=rss
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According to Jackson, it means nothing. Despite the apparent implications of the post, Jackson responded to the uproar he initiated, telling USA Today's Safid Deen that he posted the image because he thought it was funny.
“I don’t know why people are blowing it up," Jackson said on Saturday, per Deen. "I just saw Bleacher Report post it. They just take anything that’s posted on social media and just blow it up, and try to think for you. I don’t take it too seriously.
For what it's worth, the Ravens have expressed their desire to keep Jackson. Owner Steve Bisciotti said in May that the team appreciates him and wants to make a new contract work. Bisciotti also floated the idea that Jackson could do what Kirk Cousins did from 2016-17 in Washington and play on the franchise tag for two years to save the team money.
Josh Allen, the seventh pick of the 2018 draft, is the only quarterback from that class who's signed a multi-year extension so far. The Buffalo Bills handed him a six-year, $258 million contract this past offseason.
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2022-07-10T19:27:07Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL: Ravens' Lamar Jackson changes Instagram profile amid contract negotiations
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https://sports.yahoo.com/lamar-jackson-changes-instagram-photo-to-i-need-amid-ravens-contract-negotiations-182140666.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/lamar-jackson-changes-instagram-photo-to-i-need-amid-ravens-contract-negotiations-182140666.html?src=rss
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Both times the team Shanahan was part of had fourth-quarter leads erased and Shanahan catches a lion’s share of the blame for those losses, but former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III believes those late collapses happened in part because of the quarterback play. That’s where Trey Lance comes in.
“I think 49ers fans have to be ready for there to be ups and downs with Trey,” Griffin told the Sacramento Bee. “But the bottom line is Kyle Shanahan has had extreme success with guys like Matt Ryan and Jimmy Garoppolo, who are going to run the offense, and there’s going to be times when Trey, his talent and his ability takes over, and that’s what’s going to take over the hump to get them to the Super Bowl. Which is what they didn’t have with Matt Ryan when they were up 28-3 against the Patriots, and they didn’t have that with Jimmy Garoppolo, when he missed that last throw down to Emmanuel Sanders when he overthrew him.”
Each of those Super Bowls can be parsed and dissected to reveal mistakes and issues that go well beyond just the quarterback and the offense. However, there’s something to the idea that the potential havoc Lance can create with his legs and strong arm would help mask some of the issues that led to those losses.
Griffin told the Sacramento Bee that one of the big differences that will separate Lance from Jimmy Garoppolo is the former’s ability to beat defenses out of structure.
“With Trey Lance, it’s not going to be that way,” Griffin said about Shanahan’s QB just running the play. “That’s how it was with me at times. There’s going to be opportunities you have where your skills are going to take over. But that X factor is what’s going to help you win a Super Bowl and not just get to a Super Bowl.”
Injuries derailed Griffin’s career after a strong start where he led Washington to a 10-6 record and an NFC East championship during his rookie year. He never got a chance to be an X factor in a Super Bowl, but a super athletic quarterback bringing an added wrinkle to Shanahan’s offense was one of the goals with Lance.
The 49ers’ offense won’t look like it did for Griffin, but the out-of-structure elements will be there in ways they weren’t with Garoppolo. Lance has the ability to evade pressure in ways Garoppolo couldn’t, and a bigger arm to stretch defenses vertically.
While that all sounds good in theory, Lance still has to put it all together. A unique skill set is great, but it doesn’t guarantee success. He’ll still have to operate the offense and be able to play within structure more times than not. There are also questions he’ll have to answer in games with his touch and accuracy, especially on short and intermediate throws.
The ceiling is astronomical though if everything goes according to plan. Lance was brought in to mask some of the issues that ailed the 49ers the last couple years, and it’s hard to envision a 49ers Super Bowl run that doesn’t include a dominant version of their young signal caller.
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2022-07-10T19:27:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Robert Griffin III believes Trey Lance will get 49ers, Kyle Shanahan over Super Bowl hump
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https://sports.yahoo.com/robert-griffin-iii-believes-trey-184324328.html?src=rss
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With all of the moves that the Miami Dolphins have made this offseason, there are starting to be some real expectations for the team that hasn’t made the postseason in five years.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, one of the biggest acquisitions for Miami, brings a an impressive resume with him to South Florida. In his career, he’s made the Pro Bowl in each of his six seasons.
Hill has also provided fans with content all offseason, including his podcast, “It Needed to be Said.”
This week, Hill spoke with his new teammate Jaylen Waddle, and the two touched on a number of topics, including their speed. However, Hill was asked about the dynamics of the offense by co-host Julius Collins, and Hill said it’s reminiscent of a team he played on in the past.
“That 2019 offense with the Chiefs was stupid,” Hill said. “When I go out to practice each and every day, like I said, I see the same exact team. I swear. As far explosive, as far as dynamic, we have the same weapons. Maybe even more. Like our running back runs a 4.2 [second 40-yard dash], and that’s crazy. [It’s a] whole track meet back there. And, when you add Mike McDaniel into calling plays, I know Andy Reid is great, but when you add [McDaniel] it’s crazy. The way he dials up plays and his play-calling timing, I don’t even know what to say, it’s just crazy.”
In 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs went 12-4 and won the Super Bowl over the San Francisco 49ers, a staff that had McDaniel on it. They were fourth in total offensive yardage per game (384.3) and second in points per game (29.9).
It would be unfair to expect the Dolphins to make the jump to a Super Bowl-winning team in one offseason, but Hill thinks they have that level of talent, as he continues to talk about him team and his teammates whenever he gets the opportunity to do so.
Recent comments have shown that much like gender is not a binary understanding of personhood, viewpoints on the topic can be more fluid than they seem.
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2022-07-10T19:27:19Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Tyreek Hill compares 2022 Dolphins’ offense to 2019 Chiefs
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https://sports.yahoo.com/tyreek-hill-compares-2022-dolphins-181041471.html?src=rss
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It’s never too late to get into the race when it comes to recruiting. Florida will host a pair of five-star teammates, edge rusher Qua Russaw and defensive lineman James Smith, among several other elite recruits during the July 30 cookout, according to Gators Online.
It will be both recruits’ first visit to the Swamp after defensive line coach Sean Spencer made contact on a visit during the spring evaluation period. Both players named a top 11 on Mother’s Day, May 8, that featured UF, and Smith says there’s a “70-75% chance” that the duo ends up with the same program.
Florida is still relatively new to them, but Russaw said that the Gators’ reputation of putting edge players in the league kept them in the race for now.
“I’m excited. They have been wanting me to get down and I have to get down there. I’m ready to see it,” Russaw said of Florida. “The coaches have been contacting me hard. I’m trying to just get on the same level and get down there.”
Russaw is the No. 23 overall player on the On3 consensus and the No. 3 edge rusher in the class of 2023. Right now, Georgia and Alabama are the favorites to land him, per the On3 recruiting prediction machine, with Auburn and Texas A&M holding on to some hope.
Smith is the No. 6 overall player in the country in and the top-ranked defensive lineman on the On3 consensus. ‘Bama and Georgia are the two main players once again.
Both players have taken official visits to Auburn and Georgia so far. One would expect them to hit Alabama and two other schools over the fall. Florida has a lot of work to do to earn one of those OVs, but a successful introduction to the staff could go a long way at the end of the month.
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2022-07-10T20:20:08Z
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A pair of 5-star recruits will be at Florida’s July cookout
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Florida football’s recruiting team got a huge boost recently after Billy Napier and his staff roped in three blue-chip prospects over the course of a 24-hour period. The surge sent the Gators back into the top 25 of both 247Sports’ and On3’s recruiting rankings, landing at Nos. 20 and 14, respectively, while giving the fan base a breath of relief after a tough stretch the week prior.
But the efforts do not end with the upcoming class. The new coaching regime’s long-term plans require long-term actions, which means laying the groundwork for the future as well. Among those receiving attention from Florida is four-star tight end Michael Smith out of Savannah (Georgia) Calvary Day School, who received an offer from tight ends coach William Peagler during a visit to his high school on Friday.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 225-pound rising junior has only recently begun his courtship with the Orange and Blue, telling Gators Online, “They’ve been expressing their interest since the spring.” Smith added, “I really got to know coach Peagler during their spring game. He has always been updating and letting me know everything that was going on.”
The good news for the Gators is that he already possesses a predilection for the university.
“My dad has always been a Gators fan, so that’s like a family thing,” Smith admitted. “It’s worth mentioning that Percy Harvin was my favorite player, so it’s always been a cool tie-in with Florida.”
Florida also made news recently when it scheduled the top cornerback in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Desmond Ricks, for an unofficial visit at the end of July for the big cookout event. Though nothing has been set in stone as of yet, the Peach State standout could very well join the mix that weekend as well.
Smith is currently ranked No. 127 overall and No. 4 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 177 and 6, respectively. The Gators hold a huge early lead in his recruiting according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine with a 56.4% chance of landing him, with the rest of his suitors all coming in at under 5%.
The Texas Rangers’ 2022 MVP is not Corey Seager; it’s air conditioning
In what is shaping up to be a miserably hot summer in DFW, the Texas Rangers’ best player is the AC repair guy
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2022-07-10T20:20:14Z
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Top-10 2024 tight end prospect gets offer from Gators
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The Yankees want to find an upgrade on outfielder Joey Gallo, an all-or-nothing power hitter who has trended a lot closer to the second half of that equation during his time in pinstripes. Benintendi doesn't possess Gallo's power, but he's a far better contact hitter, and he's just a year removed from winning his first Gold Glove.
Benintendi, who won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018, is hitting .317 with a .789 OPS in Kansas City and will likely be the Royals' lone All-Star. All but 18 of Benintendi's 97 hits have been singles, and he only has three home runs, but his high-contact approach is a better fit for New York's lineup than Gallo's .166 average and 92 strikeouts.
Red Sox All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers will miss the next two games against the Yankees because of a sore back that forced him to make an early exit.
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2022-07-10T20:32:33Z
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MLB Rumors: Yankees pursuing ex-Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi in trade
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The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of defensive line depth as they enter the 2022 season. They have a great balance of veterans and young players that can contribute at a high level, each of which has a skillset that can be valuable to the team.
Despite their depth, one player that won’t be suiting up in Baltimore next season will be Derek Wolfe. The veteran and the team reached an injury settlement, ending Wolfe’s tenure with the team after just two years. When asked about the settlement, defensive lineman Calais Campbell shared his thoughts.
“It’s one of those things where it’s part of the game. It happens every year. You’re always going to have changes and stuff, and we had a really good run that one year [in 2020] where he stepped in and played really huge for us, and we had all kinds of injuries and stuff. [He] played his butt off, and the way he is, he’s a Raven at heart. It sucks to see him go through tough times and different injuries and stuff, but it happens, it’s part of the game. It’s just the way football is. It’s always going to be different, [and there’s] always going to be some change. But we had a lot of fun together, and I always will enjoy being his teammate. I’m going to talk to him a bunch in the next few months, [while] his recovery comes around and hopefully … I don’t know if he’s going to keep playing football, or if he’s going to retire now – we’ll see how it goes – but it was definitely a joy being his teammate.”
WASHINGTON (AP) Bradley Beal and the Wizards renewed their commitment to each other when he agreed to a five-year deal worth up to $251 million to stay in Washington. ''I want to win a championship and I want to do it here,'' Beal said Friday in a news conference to discuss his max-value contract. There hasn't been much evidence that the Wizards can back up that belief.
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2022-07-10T20:32:58Z
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Ravens DL Calais Campbell shares thoughts on Baltimore’s injury settlement with DL Derek Wolfe
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Nick Kyrgios reacts during The Final of the Gentlemen's Singles against Novak Djokovic on day fourteen of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon - 'She's had 700 drinks, bro!': Nick Kyrgios berates 'drunk' fan and players' box as tempers fray - PA
The Australian, who has already been fined twice during the tournament for his on-court behaviour, looked in control of his emotions while winning the first set 6-4 but things began to turn sour after Djokovic stormed back into the match to win the second set - and the match.
'She's the one who looks like she's had 700 drinks, bro.'
As he sat down between games, Kyrgios turned his ire on umpire Renaud Lichtenstein, with television cameras recording him shouting: "She's drunk out of her mind in the first row, talking to me in the middle of the game... What’s acceptable? I know exactly which one it is. The one with the dress, the one who looks like she's had about 700 drinks, bro! Talking to me in the middle of the point.
Kyrgios also appeared to become angry with his own support team and began venting his frustrations towards the players' box - at the same end as the Royal Box - where his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi and dad Giorgos were among those watching.
“Why didn’t you say something. Does it get any bigger or what? You want a bigger one - it’s not big enough for you? There’s no bigger match. Well done guys, I can’t do anything. Do you f---ing care or what?”
Andrew Castle, who was commentating for the BBC, apologised for the outburst. “It is live sport and it is tense,” he said. Kyrgios repeatedly urged his team to show more support, yelling: "What do you want now? Why would you get to f---ing 40-15 or 40-0 and you all just sit there? Why would you do that?"
Britain's Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and their son Prince George in the royal box ahead of the men's singles final between Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Australia's Nick Kyrgios - REUTERS
He added later in the match: "What are you scared for? Why are you scared to say something? I don't get it. Any of you. All of you went into your shell."
He then sarcastically clapped them with his racket before throwing down his bottle between games. Kyrgios did receive a code violation from Lichtenstein following one of the outbursts.
Even John McEnroe, Centre Court’s most famously volatile player, was baffled by Kyrgios’s on-court behaviour. “In a way he beat himself,” he told the BBC. “I don’t get that part [getting angry with his own entourage]. I get that he’s burning off nerves and steam. Maybe they should all go and file out. Maybe that would actually do something. It’s their fault at set all, four all, 40-0!? He lost the game because of them!?”
Kyrgios has also been fined $4,000 (£3,325) for his behaviour in the final - his third disciplinary sanction of the tournament.
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2022-07-10T20:33:04Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Nick Kyrgios launches x-rated Centre Court outburst - just metres from Prince George
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Calls from Steph Curry and Draymond Green calmed everything down and made it clear where the guard belongs. He didn't need to hear about play style or gunning for another championship. He has seen the writing on the wall there from afar, and like so many others in the past, wants to help bring another NBA championship to the Bay Area after the Warriors just won their fourth title in the past eight seasons.
"Once I had the conversation with Steph and Draymond, everything kind of slowed down for me a little bit because I got away from the numbers, the dollar signs and everything," DiVincenzo said. "I was more so focused on what is best for Donte and what is best for me going forward. With that culture and environment, it's something that I want to be a part of and it's something of who I am.
Every kind of personality and play style has come through the Warriors' doors in the past decade since Curry and Green became teammates. Those two have completely different skill sets and personalities, though they're connected by the same competitive fire and the same common goal: Winning more rings.
"I've known Draymond a little bit over the last four years since I got to the NBA. He just shot it straight to me," DiVincenzo said. "And then Steph's like the nicest person in the world. We talked about the culture and the environment and what's best for Donte. In a selfish way, that's what I was thinking about.
"Each place that I was in that was a winning environment and winning culture, it wasn't a me team or a me thing and that's what they emphasized and that's what I'm going to bring to them."
With the departure of Gary Payton II, the Warriors badly needed a defensive-minded guard who can bring versatility to Golden State. That's where DiVincenzo comes in.
Standing 6-foot-4, he's slightly taller than Payton and like GP2, DiVincenzo can jump out of the gym. He isn't seen as being on the exact same level defensively as Payton but can provide some more offense. In his 25 games with the Sacramento Kings last season, DiVincenzo averaged 10.3 points per game and shot 36.8 percent from 3-point range.
His breakout campaign came in his third pro season when he became a full-time starter for the Bucks in 2020-21 and averaged 10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and made 37.9 percent of his attempts from long distance. Now that he's fully recovered from surgery to his left ankle that caused him to start last season extremely slow and play only 42 games after appearing in 66 both of the previous two seasons, there's no reason why he can't fit in seamlessly on both sides of the ball for the champs.
"I just love how much the ball moves, honestly," he said. "You have three future Hall of Famers on the court. They're not trying to seek their own points, their own shots. Everybody's getting touches, everybody's getting looks and I think the greatest thing when you watch them is that they want everybody to succeed as well.
"That's contagious and you want to be a part of that."
Players and people within the Warriors' building certainly wanted Payton to remain in blue and gold instead of the red and black of the Portland Trail Blazers. Calls from Curry and Green were one reason -- a big one -- why with Payton gone, the Warriors were able to add a talent like DiVincenzo late in free agency. He couldn't be happier to call himself a Warrior and believes the best is yet to come.
We've seen how this story plays out in the past, and it usually is a win-win for both the player and the Warriors. DiVincenzo hopes to be next in a long line of success stories.
Rockets guard TyTy Washington enjoyed Saturday’s reunion with fellow Arizona native Jalen Williams of the Thunder, and he really enjoyed shaking Williams on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
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2022-07-10T20:33:16Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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How Steph Curry, Draymond Green sold Warriors to Donte DiVincenzo
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Eric Steinbach
Over the last couple of seasons, GM Andrew Berry has invested his first first-round pick in Jedrick Wills and signed Jack Conkin to a big free-agent deal at the start of the 2020 offseason. Until being released this offseason, J.C. Tretter was the team’s highly-paid center with Nick Harris, who slipped to the fifth round, expected to take over for him.
It is the team’s two guards that really guide the way for the line. Joel Bitonio played with Thomas and now gets a chance to guide the young Wills at left tackle. Wyatt Teller was brought in by then-GM John Dorsey and quickly became a road grading monster.
Last year, Berry extended both of his guards with top-of-the-market deals. The two continue to be great players at their positions and both found themselves on ESPN’s list of top 10 interior players.
ESPN’s lists are made from a survey of “50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players.”
Looking at all of the guards and centers in the league (subscriber, $), of which there would be 96 starters, Cleveland’s pair both made the list with Bitonio at #5 and Teller at #9.
Notes on Bitonio are quite impressive:
He posted a 95.9% pass rush win rate and a 93.6 Pro Football Focus rating last year, but his career numbers are also quite impressive. Bitonio has five straight seasons with at least a 94% pass block win rate.
Said of Teller:
“I love the attitude and physicality he plays with — not a refined player,” an AFC personnel evaluator said. “Will make some mistakes while going for the big play. But you can live with that because he’s a tone-setter.”
With a great running game and a revamped passing attack, the Browns are able to rely heavily on their top-notch offensive line including two of the best guards in the game.
Ohio isn't working for Ohioans. Thomas Suddes says the state is losing ground big time, and economic growth must be spread beyond the Columbus area.
Coryell was 42-27-1 as head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1973-1977, had three consecutive seasons of 10+ wins and 2 playoff berths.
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2022-07-10T22:31:10Z
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Browns have 2 of the top 10 interior OL men in the NFL
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Korey Lee's two-run double
Korey Lee drives in two runs with a ground ball to left field to extend the Astros' lead to 4-0 in the top of the 7th inning
25 stars you might not know were almost in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
While it seems like it was easy to find the perfect actors to play our favorite heroes, it wasn't. There are many actors who were almost cast instead.
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2022-07-10T22:56:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 MLB All-Star Game rosters: Yankees lead baseball with six players, 30 first-timers selected
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When Blackburn learned he was an All-Star reserve on Sunday, he was thrilled about the opportunity to represent his team -- and learn from some of the game's best.
"I'd say I'm probably more excited just to be around those guys and talk to them, you know, talk to [Shohei] Ohtani, talk to like, a [Justin] Verlander, talk to guys like that and just kind of see what they've done to set themselves up for very successful careers, and just kind of pick their brains," Blackburn told reporters after hearing the news. "All the festivities and everything is going to be great, but I think just being able to be around guys that have played this game for a long time and just hear what they have to say about what's kept them around as long as it has."
Cubs outfielder Ian Happ has been named an All-Star for the first time amid a breakout season.
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2022-07-10T22:57:07Z
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MLB All-Star Game 2022: Athletics pitcher Paul Blackburn selected to AL team
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Why Ja really deleted his Poole 'broke the code' tweet originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The high-intensity, controversial six-game series brought something different with each game, and we’re still learning new developments to this day.
“Obviously, I was frustrated how I got hurt. I sent the tweet,” Morant told Rooks. “I actually -- once again, my mom came into play like, ‘No, delete it.’ Then I seen people start trying to talk trash like, ‘Oh, you delete it.’ You saw at that time, I probably would have got fined for stuff I said, but I had to take that into consideration. But it's all good. I ain't tripping on that no more.”
Morant might be one of the most talented young players in the league, but at the end of the day, mama still knows best.
Plus, the young men worked things out on their own -- in person.
“Even when we were back at Golden State when I was walking on the court, [Poole] asked me was I good? Dapped me up,” Morant said. “Even some of their other players asked me on the side as well … That's what it's all about. We all at the end of the day, care for each other, all want everybody to succeed. So I don't think there’s too much dirty players in this league to go and do anything.
“But after that, frustrated, in pain, not knowing what the results was going to be at the time. My mind pretty much was all over the place. So there's a lot of frustration that went into that and then after the first incident where everybody was trying to bash my teammate not even knowing that he apologized and stuff like he didn't mean to do it, that went into play, too.”
The “broke the code” drama actually began after Dillon Brooks' Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 on Gary Payton II in Game 2. Payton fractured his left elbow after being hit in the head from behind on a clothesline from Brooks.
After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Brooks "broke the code," hence why Morant used that against Poole and the Warriors in Game 3.
The NBA has changed a lot over the years and will continue to change over the next several years. But this "code" gets tossed around more and more with every season.
What is "code" to Morant, though?
"Safe plays, pretty much," Morant said. "Honestly, I don't ever think anybody go out to hurt anybody, for sure. I feel like even if you don't like a person, you're just not going to go and try to end a person’s career or anything like that. But no, it's just being safe you know, it's just certain things you pretty much can't do. Obviously, we had two incidents in that series where players went out, but at the end of the day, you got apologies from both of those players who did whatever.
"I feel like we all rooting for each other that end of the day, playing in the league you got to be safe. You got to obviously protect yourself but if you have a chance to stop something or let somebody keep playing in the series, pretty much just don't do it, but it’s over now. It is what it is."
Hopefully, the high-intensity series can stay in the past so fans still recovering can continue to do so in peace. Next season's matchups between the two teams likely won't disappoint either.
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2022-07-10T22:57:45Z
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Why Ja Morant deleted his Jordan Poole 'broke the code' tweet after Game 3
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LaJoie was searching for the first win of his Cup Series career in the hopes of making the playoffs for the first time in his career. He had the lead ahead of the final restart of the race with three laps to go but was no match for Elliott over the final three miles.
The win is the Georgia native's first at Atlanta.
"To win at your home track is a really big deal to any race car driver," Elliott said.
Elliott led 97 of the race's 260 laps and was easily one of the strongest drivers throughout the entirety. ofthe race. He lamented finishing second to Tyler Reddick a week ago at Road America a week ago after Reddick passed him and drove away in the final stage. Had Elliott hung onto the lead at Road America, he'd be looking at the first three-race win streak of his career.
HAMPTON, GEORGIA - JULY 10: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
LaJoie might not have shaken up playoff field
There’s no guarantee that LaJoie would have gotten into the playoffs with a win on Sunday at Atlanta.
A LaJoie win would have been a massive upset. He drives for backmarker Spire Motorsports, a team that spends exponentially more time outside the top 25 than it does in the top five. And LaJoie entered Sunday’s race in 31st in the points standings.
That’s key. Drivers can automatically qualify for the Cup Series playoffs with a win if they’re in the top 30 in points. But LaJoie was 34 points back of 30th entering Atlanta and would have still likely been outside the top 30 even with a win.
Had he not climbed into the top 30 by the regular season finale in Daytona he wouldn’t have been eligible for the playoffs. Now that Elliott has his third win of the season, there are still 13 winners through the first 19 races of the season. Four winless drivers would have to win over the next seven races for a driver with a win to miss out on the 16-driver playoff field.
Ross Chastain continues making contact
Ross Chastain found himself in the middle of two incidents on Sunday afternoon. And he still finished second to Elliott.
Martin Truex Jr. went spinning off Chastain’s bumper in the second stage of the race after the two drivers made contact. It wasn’t easy to blame Chastain for that wreck. While he wasn’t directly lined up behind Truex, he was also not near Truex’s bumper until Truex got loose and had to get out of the gas.
The second incident, however, may come back to cost Chastain in the playoffs. He slid up into Denny Hamlin with less than 10 laps to go and caused Hamlin to spin. That was the second time in six weeks that Chastain had made contact with Hamlin as Hamlin vowed to get revenge on Chastain after the first incident in St. Louis.
It’s no secret that drivers and teams throughout the Cup Series aren’t thrilled with Chastain’s aggressive driving. And they’re not going to cut him any slack in the playoffs. Chastain will likely get bumped and pushed around over the final 10 races of the season and it’s hard to see him as a legitimate title contender as a result. While Chastain and his Trackhouse team have showed enough speed to compete for the Cup Series title, it’s way too easy to see him on the receiving end of other drivers’ aggression in the postseason.
Truex still looking for first win of 2022
Martin Truex Jr. looked like he could get his first win of the season until he dropped back after contact with LaJoie while racing for the lead right after the final restart.
Truex fell all the way from second to 11th after the contact. He remains the second winless driver in the points standings after Ryan Blaney.
Blaney finished fifth after entering the race second in the points standings to Elliott.
Atlanta as the made for TV track
Attendance on Sunday at Atlanta was miserable. It was generous to say the grandstands were half full on an 85-degree day in the metro area. Why?
It’s no secret that it gets hot in the Southeast in the summer. NBC and NASCAR knew that with a 3 p.m. start time on Sunday afternoon. It easily could have been 10 degrees or more hotter on Sunday. And it’s easy to see why fans might have shied away from going to the race because there was a chance of rain.
But did that chance of rain — it never rained — and summertime highs really keep people away from the track? Or is there just not enough local interest at Atlanta?
The track was reconfigured ahead of the 2022 season to produce pack racing like Daytona and Talladega. That reconfiguration helped Atlanta score a second Cup Series race this season despite longtime attendance struggles at its one annual race in recent years.
While the grandstands were fuller than they were on Sunday for the reconfigured track’s debut in March, there were still plenty of seats available. And it’s easy to wonder if Atlanta is the first made for TV reconfiguration in NASCAR’s modern era.
Why else would the track have been given a second race date after consistently being unable to sell out its lone race of the year? It’s no secret that far more people watch NASCAR on TV than do in person on a weekly basis, and TV ratings for races at Talladega and Daytona tend to be higher than they are for other tracks.
Any TV viewer increase cancels out the empty grandstands at Atlanta. And it’s hard to see how NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports executives didn’t have that in mind when brainstorming Atlanta’s redesign. We’ll find out over the next few years if that increase actually happens, or if NASCAR fans aren’t too keen on adding a track designed to create pack racing to the schedule.
Jonathan India's two-run homer
Jonathan India crushes a two-run homer to left field, his third of the season, putting the Reds on top 2-0 in the bottom of the 3rd inning
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2022-07-11T01:10:10Z
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NASCAR: Chase Elliott wins at Atlanta
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Every weekend during the college football season, one team prepares to travel to their opponent’s stadium, hoping to withstand the various elements that make each environment unique, composed of passionate fanbases who will do anything to help their team secure a win. From the whiteouts during night games at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium to having to face the raucous crowd at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, teams feed off of the crowd’s undying passion and energy and can change the momentum of any game at any moment.
Recently, Brad Crawford of 247Sports composed a list ranking the “9 most intimidating stadiums in 2022”, coming at a perfect time just months before the start of the 2022 college football season. For Texas A&M. Kyle Field is sacred ground, and has become a larger presence as one of the more intimidating venues since it’s move to the SEC in 2012. And to no ones surprise, it made the top 9, with Crawford explaining his selection:
At field level, the volume is deafening inside Kyle Field when Texas A&M plays a nationally-ranked opponent. The Aggies could get as many as four of those opportunities this season, beginning with Mario Cristobal and Miami in Week 3, followed by anticipated games with Ole Miss, Florida and LSU over the second half of the schedule. This will be Jimbo Fisher’s most talented squad in College Station, one most analysts believe could be a College Football Playoff contender if they’re able to beat conference favorite Alabama on the road in October.
Now, here is the complete list of the top 9 most intimidating stadiums for the 2022 season:
Memorial Stadium (Clemson)
Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)
Neyland Stadium (Tennesee)
Sanford Stadium (Georgia)
Tiger Stadium (LSU)
Autzen Stadium (Oregon)
Kyle Field (Texas A&M)
Beaver Stadium (Penn State)
D.W.R Stadium (Arkansas)
Texas A&M finishes No. 25 in 2021-2022 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings
Amir Herring sat down on a table located right at the center of the West Bloomfield High basketball gymnasium Thursday afternoon. Four hats were situated in front of Herring: Michigan, Nebraska, Boston College, and Missouri. When it finally came time for Herring to announce his college decision with close friends, family, and longtime teammates at West Bloomfield all watching, the four-star offensive lineman picked up all four hats.
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2022-07-11T02:28:37Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Kyle Field is listed at one of the most intimidating stadiums in college football
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Projecting the Chargers’ tight end depth chart in 2022
Next, I project what the tight end room will look like heading into the 2022 season.
TE1: Gerald Everett
After a one-year stint with Jared Cook as the Chargers’ top tight end, the team the younger route with the signing of Everett this offseason. Everett played on the Rams the same year (2020) that Brandon Staley was their defensive coordinator. Last season with the Seahawks, Everett caught 48 passes for 478 yards and four touchdowns. Everett will provide the offense with someone who can move all over the formation, with vertical and horizontal field-stretching capabilities, yards-after-the-catch ability, and the toughness to make contested catches.
TE2: Donald Parham
Parham made strides in his second season with the Chargers, improving his blocking to follow his pass-catching prowess. He finished with 20 receptions on 27 targets for 190 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games before his year ended when he suffered a devastating concussion in Week 15 against the Chiefs. Parham should resume his role as the secondary pass-catching tight end to Everett.
TE3: Tre’ McKitty
McKitty was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft to supply the room with a reliable blocker, which he proved capable of in his rookie season. As a result, he should resume his duties in the in-line spot. However, McKitty has the athleticism, the frame, great hands, and impressive power and contact balance to gain yards after the catch to be more of an asset in the passing game.
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2022-07-11T03:02:21Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Projecting the Chargers’ tight end depth chart in 2022
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https://sports.yahoo.com/projecting-chargers-tight-end-depth-212757178.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/projecting-chargers-tight-end-depth-212757178.html?src=rss
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All three top-level NASCAR series were active at two separate tracks. The Trucks were busy at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the 2.258-mile 13-turn road course. The Cup and Xfinity Series drivers were competing on the 1.54-mile oval Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. After nine attempts at winning a Cup race at his home track, Dawsonville, Georgia’s native Chase Elliott finally added this trophy to his collection.
Sun, Jul 10, Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) - 267 laps
- NCS qualifying was cancelled due to weather on Saturday and the lineup was set by the NASCAR rule book. This placed Chase Elliott (#9 Chevrolet) P1 and Ross Chastain (#1 Chevrolet) P2 on the front row. #5 Kyle Larson, #8 Tyler Reddick, #2 Austin Cindric, #12 Ryan Blaney, #99 Daniel Suarez, #48 Alex Bowman, #19 Martin Truex Jr. and #4 Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-10 in the starting lineup. Did Not Qualify: No one. Only 38 teams entered for the NCS 40-car lineup.
- Polesitter Chase Elliott led a race-high 96 laps and scored his 16th victory in 240 NCS races. This is his 3rd win and 13th top-10 finish in 2022. It is his first win and 7th top-10 finish in nine races at Atlanta. Ross Chastain (2nd) posted his 2nd top-10 finish in six Atlanta races and his 13th top-10 finish in 2022. Austin Cindric (3rd), the highest finishing Sunoco Rookie of the Year (ROTY) contender, posted his first top-10 finish in three races at Atlanta.
- Next: Sun, Jul 17, Ambetter 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway - 301 laps
5. Kyle Busch +1
7. Joey Logano -2
9. Alex Bowman
16. Kurt Busch -1
Sat, Jul 9, Alsco Uniforms 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) - 163 laps
- NXS qualifying for Saturday’s race at Atlanta was cancelled due to rain. The lineup for the event was set based on the NASCAR rulebook. This placed Ty Gibbs (#54 Toyota) P1 and Josh Berry (#8 Chevrolet) P2 on the front row. #16 AJ Allmendinger, #19 Brand Jones, #21 Austin Hill, #9 Noah Gragson, #7 Justin Allgaier, #98 Riley Herbst, #39 Ryan Sieg and #1 Sam Mayer round out the top-10 in the starting lineup. Did Not Qualify: No one. 38 teams entered for the NXS 38-car lineup.
- Austin Hill (#21 Chevrolet) led a race-high 73 laps and scored his 2nd victory in 32 NXS races. This is his 2nd win and 10th top-10 finish in 2022. It is his first win and 2nd top-10 finish in two races at Atlanta. Josh Berry (2nd) posted his first top-10 finish in four races at Atlanta and his 10th top-10 finish in 2022. Ryan Truex (3rd) earned his 2nd top-10 finish in three Atlanta races. Polesitter Ty Gibbs led 7 laps, was involved in an accident on lap 93 and was credited with a 35th place DNF.
- NXS points leader: AJ Allmendinger by 29 points over Ty Gibbs.
- Next: Sat, Jul 16, Crayon 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway - 200 laps
4. Josh Berry +1
5. Noah Gragson -1
6. Austin Hill +2
7. Brandon Jones -1
Sat, Jul 9, O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - 67 laps
- Corey Heim (#51 Toyota) won the Pole Award for Saturday’s race with a lap of 69.181 mph for his 2nd pole in 11 NTS races. It is his 2nd pole and 7th top-10 start in 2022. Parker Kligerman (2nd) posted his 4th top-10 start of 2022. Carson Hocevar (3rd) earned his first top-10 start at Mid-Ohio and his 10th in 15 races this season. Did Not Qualify: No one. 36 teams entered for the NTS 36-truck lineup.
- Parker Kligerman (#75 Chevrolet) led a race-high 56 laps and scored his 3rd victory in 106 NTS races. This is his first victory and 5th top-10 finish in 2022. Zane Smith (2nd) posted his 13th top-10 finish in 2022. Carson Hocevar (3rd) earned his 8th top-10 finish in 2022. Lawless Alan (24th) was the highest finishing ROTY.
Sat, Jul 9, Jersey Shore 150 at Wall Stadium - 150 laps
Winner: Jimmy Blewett - P1: Ron Silk - Points Leader: Ron Silk
Next: Sat, Jul 16, Whelen 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway - 100 laps
Sun, Jun 26, The Proline 225 at Eastbound International Speedway - 250 laps
Next: Fri, Jul 15, Grand Prix of Toronto at Exhibition Place - Toronto, Ontario
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2022-07-11T03:38:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Wrap-up: NASCAR at Atlanta, GA and Mid-Ohio
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https://sports.yahoo.com/wrap-nascar-atlanta-ga-mid-012555172.html?src=rss
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The 2022 NHL Entry Draft is behind us. It was interesting with plenty of teams deviating from what many mock drafts projected. Of course, part of that was because the draft was deep rather than top heavy, so there was less consensus to begin with. The fact that Shane Wright slipped all the way to the fourth pick is evidence of that.
It’s going to take a long time before we know whose analysis of these prospects was right or wrong. Every year there are young players who have been overestimated and every draft class contains pleasant surprises. Martin St. Louis spoke during the draft, providing a not-so-subtle remainder that even a player who was never drafted can develop into a star.
So when I’m talking about winners and losers, as I attempt to do below, just know that I – and many others for that matter – could end up being right about some things and very wrong about others. This kind of snap analysis is a fun way to pass the summer months and open the door for debate, but it needs to be taken in the proper context.
It’s also worth mentioning that I didn’t just factor in the draft itself. I also considered all trades and signings that happened during and directly before the draft before writing this.
While there was no consensus number one pick going into this draft, many considered Shane Wright to be the best talent of the 2022 class. Time will tell us if that’s true, but the Kraken have to be thrilled that he was still available with the fourth overall pick. Wright couldn’t play at all in 2020-21 because the OHL season was suspended due to COVID and it’s entirely possible that’s part of what caused him to slide a bit. That said his skating, hockey IQ, and two-way game are amazing and he should be a serious contender for a roster spot straight out of training camp.
Getting Jagger Firkus with the 35th overall pick was pretty good too. He is an undersized forward, but he has plenty of offensive upside. They also took Jani Nyman at 49th overall, who is a winger with size and a great shot. The Kraken don’t have a lot of high-skilled forwards, but after drafting Firkus and Wright, that is changing.
Arizona had 10 picks, including three in the first round, so this was a critical draft for them. All things considered, they did well. While taking Logan Cooley over Shane Wright was somewhat surprising, there’s no question that Cooley has the skating, hockey sense, and skill set to be a superb center someday. He will be heading to the University of Minnesota next season, so the Coyotes will have to wait to see what he can do at the NHL level. On the plus side, his time in the NCAA should help with his development.
Arizona’s other first round picks were Conor Geekie at 11 and Maveric Lamoureux at 29. In order to get Geekie, they traded the 27th, 34th, and 45th picks to San Jose to move up to 11, which is fair given Geekie’s upside. He’s a towering center who excels at both ends up the ice. His speed is a concern, but with some work he should develop into a top-six forward. As for Lamoureux, he’s a 6-foot-7 defenseman and his skating is decent for his size. He’s not likely to be much of a factor offensively at the NHL level, but he has a lot of potential as a shutdown defenseman.
Arizona also picked up Zack Kassian, the 29th overall pick (which they used on Lamoureux) along with a third rounder in 2024 and a second-round pick in 2025 from Edmonton in exchange for the 32nd overall pick. Edmonton’s cap restraints necessitated this trade from their perspective and Arizona took advantage. That’s a decent collection of picks in exchange for basically accepting $3.2 million in cap space for this season and the next, which suits Arizona just fine given its current situation.
Picking Juraj Slafkovsky over Shane Wright with the first overall pick will be a decision heavily scrutinized over the next few years, but you can certainly see what Montreal was thinking. Slafkovsky is an NHL-ready forward who excelled in the Winter Olympics, scoring seven goals in seven games. He’s 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, so he has size along with high-end stickhandling and a great shot. Canadiens fans might be skeptical now, but he should be able to win them over.
Montreal then acquired Filip Mesar, who played with Slafkovsky as part of Slovakia’s U18 team. He lacks Slafkovsky’s size, but what Mesar has going for him is his elite skating. Combined with his strong puckhandling and he has the potential to develop into a middle-six forward. It helps that he’s versatile enough to play as both a center and on the wing.
Lane Hutson is another interesting pick. Montreal took him 62nd overall and he likely dropped that low because the blueliner stands at 5-foot-8, 158 pounds. His size and his unimpressive speed make it easy to question his chances of making it to the NHL, but his puckhandling is great and his hockey IQ is top notch. Those aspects of his game might allow him to defy the odds and make it as an offensive defenseman.
Acquiring Kirby Dach from Chicago was also a nice move. I get that the Blackhawks are rebuilding, but Dach is only 21 years old and has the potential to develop into an impact forward with the Canadiens.
The Sabres had three first-round picks to help them push their rebuild forward and they used them on Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich at 9, 16, and 28 overall respectively. Those three have a fair amount in common. None of them are particularly big, but they do have tons of offensive upside and it’s possible that all three of them someday end up serving in top-six roles. Buffalo’s defense was already coming along with Owen Power joining Rasmus Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju, so leaning heavily into skilled forwards at the top of this draft makes a ton of sense for Buffalo.
Buffalo also grabbed Topias Leinonen with the 41st overall pick, who has the potential to become a starting goaltender at the NHL level, but like most netminders, he’ll need plenty of work before he can get to that level and is far from a safe bet.
For me, the Red Wings big win wasn’t a player they drafted, but rather it was giving the Blues the 73rd overall pick so that they could negotiate with Ville Husso early. The Red Wings took advantage of the opportunity to ink Husso to a reasonable three-year, $14.25 million contract. Husso is coming off a strong season where he posted a 25-7-6 record, 2.56 GAA, and .919 save percentage in 40 contests. He was one of the better goaltenders expected to hit the UFA market and now Detroit doesn’t have to potentially compete with the likes of Toronto and Edmonton for him.
As far as their actual draft went, it was fine. Marco Kasper, who they took with the eighth overall pick, already has experience playing with men, scoring seven goals and 11 points in 46 games in the Swedish Hockey League in 2021-22. He’s got a fair amount of upside and plenty of grit to boot. He certainly could end up becoming a top-six forward.
I’ll give them credit for using their cap space to trade up to the 25th overall pick by taking on Petr Mrazek’s contract. Still, I can’t get over them trading Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach. Even if they are rebuilding, DeBrincat and Dach are 24 and 21 respectively. More than that, getting a seventh, 39th, and 2024 third-round pick in exchange for DeBrincat doesn’t feel like nearly enough for a young forward who has already surpassed the 40-goal milestone twice (probably would be three times if the 2020-21 campaign wasn’t shortened due to the pandemic).
Meanwhile, Seth Jones’ eight-year, $76 million contract with a full no-movement clause will begin this year. An awkward reminder of a time not too long ago when the Blackhawks thought their rebuild was over and their next window to compete was opening. Oh well.
Carolina took a risk on Tony DeAngelo when they inked him to a one-year, $1 million contract and it largely paid off. It’s telling though that even after he scored 10 goals and 51 points in 64 contests last season, the Hurricanes still opted to move on from him. Instead, Philadelphia decided to acquire him along with the 220th overall pick in exchange for the 101st pick, a 2023 third-round pick, and a 2024 second rounder. They then signed him to a two-year, $10 million contract.
DeAngelo is a controversial defenseman, in part due to his past off-ice issues, but also because he struggles at his own end of the ice. He can help the Flyers on the power play, but for what the Flyers paid to acquire him on top of his cap hit, it seems like a stretch for Philadelphia.
More than that though, it’s another indication that the Flyers seem to have no sense of direction. They don’t appear good enough to be serious competitors, but they’re also allergic to building towards the future. As a result, the team is just stuck in neutral. Over the last 10 seasons they’ve made the playoffs four times, making trades like this that don’t do enough to make them a strong team in the short-term and only serve to hurt them in the long run by trading away potential assets.
As for the draft itself, taking Cutter Gauthier with the fifth overall pick is good. He’s a product, but one who has the potential to develop into a top-six forward. They didn’t have another pick until 69 though and outside of Gauthier, it’s entirely possible that no one they took will play any significant time in the NHL.
Let’s start with the Alexander Romanov trade. They dealt the 13th overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Alexander Romanov and the 98th overall selection. I have mixed feelings about it. Romanov is a physical defenseman who blocks shots, but he doesn’t do much offensively and his relative Corsi and Fenwick were awful last season. So, I’m not sure he was worth the 13th pick. That being said, Canadiens fans loved Romanov and he’s just 22-years-old, so perhaps I’m being too harsh on the Islanders here.
Either way, beyond that trade, there isn’t much to talk about with the Islanders. Their first pick wasn’t until the 65th overall and none of the players they took are great bets to make it to the NHL. That’s particularly troubling given that none of their draft picks from 2019 onward have made their NHL debut yet.
Trading Petr Mrazek and the 25th overall pick to Chicago in exchange for the 38th overall pick wasn’t terrible in isolation. Sure, they moved out of the first round, but the difference between 25th and 38th isn’t massive and it’s certainly worth the savings of $3.8 million worth of cap space for each of the next two seasons. That said, this trade wasn’t made in isolation. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas was doing damage control after inking Mrazek just a year ago. This was also the second time in three years that Toronto traded away their first-round pick in exchange for cap space.
Some teams trade first rounders for young, NHL ready talent. Some trade them for help to push them towards a championship. Toronto trades them to work around its past signings.
Toronto also failed to address its goaltending situation and that’s becoming a problem quickly. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ville Husso are both off the board now. At one point it was looking like re-signing Jack Campbell was too rich for the team given their cap situation. At this point though they’re running out of alternatives. Toronto is in win-now mode. They need at least one solid bet in goal and right now they have none.
On to the draft itself, the Leafs used the 38th selection on Fraser Minten. At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, he’s already pretty much NHL ready in terms of size and he’s solid defensively. That said his skating isn’t great and he doesn’t really excel anywhere. He might be able to eventually make the Leafs as a bottom-six forward, but unsurprisingly for a second rounder, he’s not a serious candidate to make the team in 2022-23.
After that Toronto didn’t pick again until Nicholas Moldenhauer at 95. His skating is great, but beyond that he’s a long-term project who may or may not ever make it to the NHL. At the least he’s an interesting choice. Beyond that, there’s not much to talk about here.
All-in-all, it’s a little harsh to put Toronto in the loser column.
Winning forgives all. Strictly speaking the Colorado Avalanche had the worst draft. Their only two picks were 193rd and 225th overall. But the Avalanche won the Cup, so clearly going all-in worked out. That wasn’t the case for the Florida Panthers.
Florida didn’t pick until 93rd overall and it wouldn’t be shocking if none of the players they selected end up having significant NHL careers. Looking ahead the Panthers are also without first round picks in 2023 and 2024 due to the Ben Chiarot and Claude Giroux trades respectively – two players who might re-sign but are currently pending UFAs.
Like the Avalanche, Florida bet heavily on the 2021-22 campaign. Unlike the Avalanche, it didn’t work out for Florida.
Actor Tony Sirico, Best Known As Paulie Walnuts In 'The Sopranos,' Dies
He was 79-year-old.
These stocks come with lavish dividend policies and strong cash flows -- at a deep discount from recent highs.
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2022-07-11T04:08:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 NHL Draft Winners and Losers
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Jeter Downs’ bases-loaded blooper against Aroldis Chapman dropped in off DJ LeMahieu’s glove to break a sixth-inning tie, and the Boston Red Sox scored nine unanswered runs to rally past the New York Yankees 11-6 on Sunday night. After losing the first two games of the series and falling 16 behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East, the Red Sox won the last two to manage a split. A day after scoring three runs in the 10th inning to snap New York's three-game win streak, Boston scored one in the third, three in the fifth to tie it, one in the sixth to take the lead and four insurance runs in the seventh.
Ochai Agbaji with an and one vs the Denver Nuggets
Ochai Agbaji (Cleveland Cavaliers) with an and one vs the Denver Nuggets, 07/10/2022
Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez is an All-Star.
Morel of the Story
Janice Scurio breaks down Christopher Morel's Rookie of the Year campaign, and other stories from the week in the Week that Was. (Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports)
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2022-07-11T04:08:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 MLB All-Star Game: Rosters rounded out with pitchers, reserves
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Manny Machado gave the San Diego Padres a three-run lead before they made their first out and Blake Snell took it from there. Machado hit a three-run homer hours after he was named the NL starter at third base for the All-Star Game and Snell struck out 11 for his first win of the season, leading the Padres to a 6-3 victory over the sliding San Francisco Giants on Friday night. Machado was voted to start the All-Star Game in a tight race against St. Louis' Nolan Arenado.
Ryan Jeffers hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep. Jeffers, batting ninth in the order, hit a run-scoring single in the second and put the Twins ahead 5-4 with a drive off Brock Burke (4-2). Jeffers was 5 for 8 in the series with four RBIs and two of his seven homers this season.
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2022-07-11T04:08:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Freeman gets 4 hits, Dodgers roar back to sweep Cubs 11-9
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“Those guys can tell you. Even after we lost in the series, I told them ‘I feel like it's time for y'all to get another ring’ you know, through Steph, Klay and Draymond as well,” Morant told Rooks. “And then they said the same like, ‘Y'all be back. We'll see y'all again, it'll be a lot of fun for years to come.’ But we’re all competitors at the end of the day, we’re all battling in this league to be the best we can be and to win championships, and that's what comes with it.”
“I just felt like if I won a championship, I wouldn't think about no other team or what somebody said months ago. I'm going to be celebrating a championship,” Morant said. “I'm going to be happy with my teammates. But as you see after they won the championship, everything was Grizzlies. Playing ‘Whoop That Trick’ in their parade, showing it in the club, talking about Jaren, this and that. I mean, I feel like when you win, you can say anything, but I lost and I'm going to still be jiving at the end of the day.”
RELATED: Why Ja really deleted his Poole 'broke the code' tweet
“Honestly, I felt like coming out of that series, whoever it was was a favorite to win the championship,” Morant said. “And Golden State, they've been a dominant team for years. Now having their three core guys back and battling with us, you definitely can see that experience definitely comes into play. I actually was a fan of the Celtics as well. So, that series, I didn't pick nobody to win. I was just like, ‘Man, I want Game 7, whoever wins wins.’”
In July 2008 Jeff Bridges’ vast craggy head filled the screen in a lecture theatre in downtown San Diego. It was day two of the annual Comic-Con extravaganza and Disney fans had trooped into the 6,000-capacity Hall H at the city’s sprawling Convention Centre under the impression they were about to see a trailer for a remake of 1980s kids feature Race to Witch Mountain starring Dwayne Johnson. Instead, they were treated to a scene in which two futuristic motorbikes swooshed through the dark, leav
Edwin Diaz on being a 2022 All-Star, who he's most looking forward to facing from the AL | Mets Sound
Mets All-Star Edwin Diaz explains how honored he is to be selected to the 2022 All-Star team, especially after how rough his career in New York began, how excited he is to pitch in the game, and which AL players he's most excited to potentially pitch against, including Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.
With help from their first-round pick, the Wizards bounced back from a narrow loss to the Pistons with a blowout victory over the Suns on Sunday.
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2022-07-11T04:08:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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What Ja Morant said to Steph Curry, Warriors after Grizzlies were eliminated
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ja-morant-said-steph-curry-030506654.html?src=rss
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LAS VEGAS — Oklahoma City Thunder center and No. 2 draft pick Chet Holmgren played his third NBA Summer League game Saturday night and was relatively quiet compared to his debut in Salt Lake City where he put up a stacked stat line of 23 points, seven rebounds, six blocks and four assists.
Going against the Houston Rockets, who also have a ton of youth, and the No. 3 pick, Jabari Smith Jr., the game went back and forth throughout the second half. The two top-five picks both started off slow, but had glimpses of why they were both top picks in the draft. Smith Jr. finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals while Holmgren had 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as the Rockets edged the Thunder, 90-88.
"Jabari's a great player and we weren't able to come out on top tonight, so we have to get back in the lab tomorrow at practice and watch film and figure it out and get better for the next game," Holmgren said after the game. "I'm just trying to go out and compete every single game, no matter who we're facing."
Unlike his first game in Utah, Holmgren struggled a little bit on offense, particularly when he tried to take players off the dribble, committing four turnovers. Houston was switching everything and the pick-and-pop between Holmgren and Josh Giddey wasn't there, forcing the duo to find other ways to score and be productive.
"Every game is different and tonight they were switching pretty much everything so I was trying to slip out and roll a lot, but we're working on our chemistry all around," Holmgren told Yahoo Sports. "It helps a lot playing alongside a guy like Josh who sees the floor really well and gets his teammates involved. It makes life easier for everybody."
Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is guarded by Houston Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on July 9, 2022. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
During Holmgren's one season at Gonzaga, adjustments were made each night, trying to figure out how to best utilize the 7-foot-1 playmaker in Mark Few's set offense. Holmgren would have nights where he neared a triple-double and the following game, score just six points. His role each night is going to be different, and the Thunder have enough talent on the floor to give him the freedom to impact the game in other ways, particularly on defense.
"With a guy like him, it's easy to get siloed into one specific facet of the game, good or bad for him, but he's so unique and he impacts the game in a lot of ways," Summer League head coach Kameron Woods said after the game. "His rim protection was great tonight and he opened a lot of things up for guys on the perimeter."
Early in the second half, Holmgren had back-to-back defensive possessions that were incredible and brought loud cheers from the packed arena. He blocked both Josh Christopher and Tari Eason who were trying to get to the rim and turned it into easy offense in transition that ended with two dunks from rookie Jalen Williams. Holmgren's presence in the lane is key for this young Thunder team, and he's the best rim protector in this rookie class.
"He protects the rim like no one I've ever seen before," Giddey said. "I know he's got my back on that end and we all know if we get beat, Chet's sliding over to help. We've only played three or four games together as a team and the more we play together, the more fluid his game, my game, everyone's is going to be."
There is always a learning curve for rookies when they first enter the league. The spacing is different, the pace is faster and there's more freedom on offense for iso situations. This young Thunder squad has a lot of length and talent and are going to be a fun group to watch this season. Holmgren's role is going to be different each night. Anyone who still doubts he can be impactful at the NBA level, he's going to let his game speak for itself.
"I'm just trying to learn from every single experience and every time we go out there, whether it's good or bad, I'm trying to take something from it and grow as a player," Holmgren told Yahoo Sports. "Anyone who doubts I can play this game, I don't really want to say anything. I'd rather just lace them up and prove them wrong."
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2022-07-11T04:09:17Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NBA Summer League: Chet Holmgren slowly finding his role on young Thunder team
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-summer-league-chet-holmgren-slowly-finding-his-role-on-young-thunder-team-182230387.html?src=rss
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Kurt Kitayama, Jamie Donaldson and Brandon Wu have plans next week at the home of golf.
The trio secured their spots in the field at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews after qualifying via their finishing positions at the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open, the final of 15 events in the Open Qualifying Series.
“It’s really exciting to be going to St Andrews. The 150th Open there, it’s going to be a really cool experience,” said Kitayama. “After my two previous experiences, the goal is now to try and make the cut. It’s just a different type of golf and you have to adapt. The atmosphere is really cool at The Open with all the grandstands and the fans who just love their golf.”
Kitayama finished runner up at the Scottish Open, one shot behind champion Xander Schauffele. Donaldson and Wu each shot rounds of 3-under 67 on Sunday to finish T-6 to lock up the final two positions. One last exemption is available from the PGA Tour’s 2022 Barbasol Championship.
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2022-07-11T04:09:36Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Three players secure last-minute spots in 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews
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Three-time champion Mark Mulder made a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole Saturday and scored 25 points to take a three-point lead in the American Century Championship. Mulder, the former major league pitcher who won the event three straight times from 2015-17, received six points for the eagle under the modified Stableford scoring system. “I feed off the fans and the energy,” Mulder said.
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2022-07-11T04:09:42Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Watch: Aaron Rodgers drains eagle putt to finish American Century Championship
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The Toronto Blue Jays are in the middle of a nightmare stretch and their misfortune reached new heights in Sunday's loss to the Seattle Mariners.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s glove had other ideas.
When the ball arrived at first base it went straight through Guerrero Jr.'s leather, resulting in a run for Seattle. The Mariners would tack on another run in the inning, and ended up winning 6-5 to complete a four-game sweep.
Instead of an inning-ending double play... The ball went directly through Vladdy's glove. 😐 pic.twitter.com/1bwfEyruD4
Strangely enough, this is not the first time this season Guerrero Jr.'s glove has been busted receiving a ball at first base. The All-Star also blew out his mitt catching a toss from Santiago Espinal in a victory over the Baltimore Orioles on June 13.
"That changed the game," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said, per Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. "And that's just tough frigging luck. I've seen it twice now, all this year, and it usually doesn't happen to the same guy twice. But it happened."
Sunday's equipment malfunction capped off an abysmal road trip for the reeling Blue Jays, who went 1-6 through Oakland and Seattle to fall out of a playoff spot (the Mariners own the tiebreaker as the teams are tied for the final wild-card position at 45-42). Toronto has now lost nine of its past 10 games.
"This whole road trip, it's a little bit of Murphy's Law, right? If something can go wrong, it has," Phelps said.
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2022-07-11T04:09:48Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Blue Jays done in by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s broken glove
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The Baltimore Ravens have been deemed to have one of the best secondaries in the NFL by many analysts heading into the 2022 season, including a nod by Pro Football Focus. With players like cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey as well as safeties Marcus Williams, Chuck Clark and first-round pick Kyle Hamilton, this group appears to be one that will give many NFL quarterbacks trouble if they decide to test their coverage.
In an article posted by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, he listed off the NFL’s top 10 cornerbacks for 2022 as voted on by executives, coaches and players. Coming in on the list at No. 8 was Humphrey. When explaining why Humphrey took a tumble in the rankings, Fowler said the cornerback’s injury and others performing better last season was the main reason for Humphrey being ranked where he was.
“Humphrey took a sizable fall in the rankings, in part because others had a bigger 2021 season. Humphrey missed the last month of the season with a torn pectoral muscle, and in 12 games, he failed to produce at the same level as his 2020 campaign, when he had eight forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks. He finished 2021 with one forced fumble and zero sacks.”
Humphrey suffered a torn right pectoral muscle in Week 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers that forced the cornerback to miss the remainder of the season. When healthy, Humphrey is a top-five player at his position and his play on the field shows, even if he had a down year in 2021.
A talented and healthy Humphrey is a player opposing quarterbacks hope to not see in the secondary. He is a turnover machine, and will be looking to bounce back in a big way during the 2022 season.
ESPN's survey of league personnel has both Bitonio and Teller in the top 10 of all interior offensive linemen, not just guards:
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2022-07-11T04:37:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey named as top-10 player at position by NFL peers
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“I had a brief conversation with Julio [after he departed] and he said, 'We’re gonna come back and win this game,’ ” manager Dave Roberts said. “There are times in a year when you feel [a 5-0 deficit] is insurmountable, but I think today, the way we answered quickly, was a real sign we weren't going to be denied.”
“Five runs is a lot, but it was the first inning, so we still had nine innings, 27 outs, to roll,” said Lux, who had two singles and two walks. “I think that's enough for us to chip away.”
LMPD: Suspect shoots LMPD officer in Shawnee Park, then police fired back
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2022-07-11T04:42:47Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Dodgers rally from two five-run deficits to complete four-game sweep of Cubs
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Mack Brown and the UNC football program had a big past few weeks in terms of football recruiting, landing several recruits in the 2023 class. With the commitments, the Tar Heels climbed the recruiting rankings and find themselves inside the Top 25 nationally.
But on Sunday, the Tar Heels missed out on an in-state recruit.
Wilkes Central offensive tackle Kamen Smith ended his recruitment on Sunday, picking NC State over North Carolina, Virginia Tech and others in the process. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Smith is a three-star recruit that had a total of 13 offers but only made visits to the Tar Heels, Wolfpack and Hokies.
Blessed to be in this position!🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/CWkW4TQhRe
Smith is ranked No. 738 nationally, the No. 64 offensive tackle and No. 23 player in the state of North Carolina per the 247Sports recruiting rankings.
UNC now focuses their attention to other recruits in the 2023 class as they look to keep building on the momentum they have.
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2022-07-11T05:06:06Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Tar Heels lose out on in-state OT to NC State
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https://sports.yahoo.com/tar-heels-lose-state-ot-035304114.html?src=rss
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It’s Monday, July 11, 2022, and here’s what Jared is cookin’ up:
The WNBA All-Star Game featured many cool moments like a tribute to Brittney Griner (who is wrongfully detained in Russia), a Sylvia Fowles dunk, 4-point shots, and much more
Novak Djokovic won his 7th Wimbledon Championship and 21st grand slam singles title overall, but he won’t get a crack at his 22nd at the US Open due to his refusal to become vaccinated against covid19
PLUS: The WNBA All-Star MVP trophy stands out in a weird way
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2022-07-11T05:52:42Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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The Rush: WNBA All-Star game features dunk, 4-point hoops and world’s smallest trophy
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Max Christie with a 2-pointer vs the Charlotte Hornets
Max Christie (Los Angeles Lakers) with a 2-pointer vs the Charlotte Hornets, 07/10/2022
William (Braves) and Willson Contreras (Cubs) each have been named starters for the upcoming MLB All-Star Game.
Backboard alley-oop highlights Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin's Summer League debut
"He asked me to throw it up," Chris Duarte said of rookie teammate Bennedict Mathurin. "And that's exactly what I did."
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2022-07-11T09:05:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Max Christie with a 2-pointer vs the Charlotte Hornets
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Mycolove makes around $8,000 a month in revenue, according to USA Today, by selling mushrooms mostly found in North America that can take up to six months to grow. The extraction process reportedly takes six weeks.
Plummer, 47, first learned about the medicinal properties of mushroom extracts while working for a CBD company for years after his NFL career ended in 2007. He said the supplements helped him feel better and sleep better and eventually co-founded Umbo to make and sell mushroom bars and supplements with two others, including former UFC champion Rashad Evans.
But that company faltered during the COVID-19 pandemic because of supply chain issues, which prompted Plummer to explore farming the mushrooms. That led Plummer to Mycolove Farm where his co-founders Shane Schoolman, Leo Pollio and Michael Heim opened on Oct. 8, 2021.
"It was 16 years ago when I was that guy that would lead a team down the field, and I’ve changed tremendously since then and evolved and grown, but it’s still part of me," Plummer said. "It doesn’t define me, but it’s part of me. It allows for me to reach more people than just a small audience where I live. ... I’m not doing this to make a bunch of money. I’m doing this because it’s helped me, and I figure I have a chance to spread that word.
“This is past the experimental stage. We experimented for a few months and now we know we can do it,” Plummer added. “Now it’s just phasing into that whole big step up as a business and a start-up. We’ve got to have a good product, get people to take it, get it into all the local places we can get it to. Then comes the obvious start-up conundrums, scaling, finding investors, finding bigger space, more employees, possibly, as we go.
“How far this goes, we don’t know yet.”
Plummer's belief in alternative medicine
Plummer has been an advocate for non-Western medicine since retiring from the NFL in 2007 after 10 years. Following his retirement, Plummer said he found solace in alternative medicine and pushed for the NFL to consider CBD and hemp products over painkillers in 2016. That endeavor didn't work out, but Plummer eventually discovered mushrooms as an even better option for treatment.
“For me, my grandpa had Alzheimer’s and, also doing what I did for a living, I’m trying to do anything that can help me re-grow nerves and help get me back to square, which is what I’m feeling,” Plummer said. “Everybody wants to live a long life, I would think. I do. Longevity, vitality, not just a long life but living a good life, not just in a wheelchair until you’re 120. I plan to be 110 and still active. That’s my goal.”
Plummer spent his final four seasons in the NFL with the Broncos, where he took Denver to the AFC championship game in 2005. He was replaced by rookie Jay Cutler during the 2006 season. Before that, Plummer was a second-round pick in 1997 by the Cardinals. He finished his NFL career with 29,253 passing yards, a 57.1 completion percentage, 161 touchdowns and 161 interceptions in 10 seasons.
Jake Plummer has advocated for alternative medicine since retiring from the NFL in 2007. (John Leyba-USA TODAY Sports)
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2022-07-11T09:42:54Z
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NFL: Jake Plummer is now a mushroom farmer in Colorado
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Penn State could have a lot to look forward to this week with three recruits expected to commit to Penn State this week. As the week gets started, Penn State is the favorite to land commitments from three four-star targets in the Class of 2023, including two from within Pennsylvania.
The first could come today as running back London Montgomery is set to announce his college decision Monday afternoon or early evening. The Scranton Prep running back has Penn State in his top three along with Boston College and Virginia Tech. Each of the crystal ball predictions cast on 247Sports is favoring Penn State for the commitment, which would land the state’s top running back for a second year in a row after getting Nick Singleton in the Class of 2022.
After the announcement from Montgomery, the focus will shift back to the defense with four-star linebacker Tony Rojas scheduled to announce his college decision on Thursday afternoon. The Fairfax, Virginia recruit has been considered a Penn State favorite for a few weeks now, but Clemson, Georgia, and Miami all received official visits in June from Rojas, as did Penn State.
My commitment will be on the 14th at 4pm at Fairfax High School in the main gym!! I would love for everyone to show out, everyone is invited. I will start speaking at 4 so don’t be late! can’t wait to see everyone. pic.twitter.com/YQk0TmtwXj
— Tony “🏎” Rojas ✪ (@Tony_Rojas5) July 9, 2022
Rounding out the week will be four-star edge Ta'Mere Robinson, from Pittsburgh. Robinson’s announcement is scheduled for Friday, which could help send Penn State into the weekend on a recruiting high. Robinson is widely considered likely to commit to Penn State, but Miami and Virginia Tech are also in the final mix.
Penn State is favored by the crystal balls and the On3 prediction machine for all three of these recruits, but those are all merely educated guesses. The only person who knows for sure where he is going is the player, and that will not be made official until they have the opportunity to share their decision with the public.
Penn State’s Class of 2023 has already established itself among the best of the best in the nation. The addition of three more four-star players this week would help to continue to solidify its status as one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Penn State has never had back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes in the era of recruiting rankings, but the Nittany Lions are well on their way to accomplishing that feat this year. These three players would help make that goal that much more attainable.
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2022-07-11T09:45:02Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Will Penn State dominate the state this week?
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Entering Year 2, Smith one of Eagles’ most important players originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
All eyes were on DeVonta Smith last year during his rookie season. The addition of A.J. Brown ought to make things easier on him in Year 2.
Even with all that attention last year and despite the fact that the Eagles began a very heavy running offense, the Heisman Trophy winner still managed to catch 64 passes for 916 yards and 5 touchdowns. He broke DeSean Jackson’s franchise rookie record of 912 yards set back in 2008.
And many think Smith is still just scratching the surface.
“In my opinion, Smitty is a wide receiver 1 and he’s going against a cornerback No. 2,” Brown said this spring. “I expect Smitty to dominate.”
The Eagles didn’t try to hide their passing game plan last year. They wanted to get the ball to Smith and to Dallas Goedert as their top two targets. That was obvious and logical but it also allowed opposing defenses to really hone in on those two options. We really saw that in the playoff game in Tampa.
The addition of Brown should help Smith just as much as it helps Jalen Hurts.
You could argue that Smith should be higher on this list but the presence of Brown drops him down. He might be slightly less important now that he’s not the No. 1 option but that doesn’t mean his numbers will suffer. In fact, there’s a good chance he’ll have a better statistical season in Year 2. It’ll be up to the Eagles’ offensive coaches and Hurts to divvy up those targets.
And having a full year with Hurts under his belt should help Smith as well.
If Smith hits 1,084 yards this season (a very attainable number), he’d become the second Eagles player in franchise history with 2,000 yards in his first two NFL seasons. Jackson holds that record right now with 2,068. So if Smith has the type of season many expect, he has a very good chance to be off to a quicker pace than any receiver in Eagles history.
Brown is definitely impressed by his new teammate and explained it when asked why he thinks Smith is a No. 1 receiver.
“Because he’s a really good route runner,” Brown said. “Guys early on in their career, first year, year two, they’re still developing and he can run every route in the route tree. It’s just the little nuances, the things we can all get better at and that will just keep tuning up our game, keep developing. I think the sky’s the limit for Smitty. I’m excited for Year 2, the step he takes.”
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2022-07-11T12:10:47Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles 2022 season: DeVonta Smith on list of most important players
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Seumalo vs. the field in Eagles’ right guard competition originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Up first: Right guard.
The Eagles went into last season hoping three-time Pro Bowler Brandon Brooks would finally be over his injuries and return to his prime. But it didn’t happen. Brooks got hurt in Week 2 and the Eagles ended up using five different right guards last season.
This offseason, Brooks retired and now the Eagles have to figure out how to replace him.
One of those five players to start a game at right guard last season was second-round pick Landon Dickerson. But the Eagles are planning on leaving Dickerson at the left guard position, where he began to thrive as a rookie.
That leaves the right guard spot as the only question mark on an offensive line that might just be the best in the NFL.
The veteran Seumalo is the heavy favorite to win this job. The Eagles put their former starting left guard on the right side during OTAs and this starting position appears to be his to lose.
When he’s healthy, Seumalo has proven himself to be a quality starting guard in the NFL. If you still think he stinks, it’s time to get over his early-career struggles. Because from 2018 on, Seumalo’s been fine. The biggest problem for him has been injuries. Since he started all 16 games in the 2019 season, Seumalo has played just 12 games over the last two years. And now he’s coming off a Lisfranc injury that ended his 2021 season during the third game of the season. But if — and it’s a big if — Seumalo is healthy, he should be the starter at right guard.
The Eagles used a fourth-round pick on Driscoll out of Auburn in 2020 and he’s proven himself to be a versatile backup who can play both guard and tackle spots. Driscoll has started 13 games in his career, including eight at right guard in 2021. ProFootballFocus ranked Driscoll as the 20th-best guard in the NFL last season. In fact, Driscoll finished with a higher grade than Dickerson.
But, like Seumalo, Driscoll has struggled to stay healthy too. Driscoll’s 2021 campaign ended in late November, when the team put him on IR for the second time in the season. Ideally, Driscoll would remain the offensive line’s sixth man, ready to fill in if just about anyone else gets hurt.
Opeta has been with the Eagles since they signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Weber State in 2019. Opeta was kind of a project back then, but offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has turned him into a viable option on the offensive line. He has been behind Driscoll on the depth chart, but Opeta was actually called upon to start the playoff game in Tampa last January. In that game, he was solid, giving up just two pressures. But he probably figures in as a backup player in 2022.
The Eagles drafted Jurgens as their eventual replacement for legend Jason Kelce. But Kelce is still on the roster in 2022 and the Eagles have been cross-training Jurgens at center and guard. The second-round pick definitely projects as a center in the NFL but all backups need to be able to play multiple spots. He’ll have a chance this summer to prove he can play guard.
Aside from those names, the Eagles have a few other guards on the roster who will be fighting for roster spots but won’t have a legitimate shot to win a starting gig. Kayode Awosika, Josh Sills, William Dunkle, Jack Anderson and even Brett Toth represent the other backup offensive lineman who can play guard.
The good news for the state and its citizens is that there will likely be another roughly $1.3 billion in surplus funds for the Legislature in 2023.
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2022-07-11T12:10:53Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles training camp 2022: Isaac Seumalo vs. the field at right guard
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Gallinari officially signs with C's; here are the contract details originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Danilo Gallinari is officially a Boston Celtic.
It was reported earlier this month Gallinari would be joining the C's on a two-year contract once he cleared waivers. Gallinari's agent confirmed to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Italian forward has signed a two-year, $13.3 million fully-guaranteed deal with Boston that includes a player option.
Forsberg: Pros and cons of the Gallinari signing
With Gallinari now in the fold, the Celtics have three open roster spots to fill. They'll look to shore up the end of their bench after sending five players to the Indiana Pacers for point guard Malcolm Brogdon. Specifically, they reportedly have their sights set on a backup big man.
Gallinari averaged 11.7 points and 4.7 rebounds last season while shooting 43.4 percent from the floor, including 38.1 percent from 3-point range. The soon-to-be 34-year-old is a career 38.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
Rage Against the Machine returned to the stage for the first time in 11 years and called for the Supreme Court to be eliminated over its Roe v. Wade ruling.
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2022-07-11T13:20:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Danilo Gallinari officially signs with Celtics; here are the contract details
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Dean Iampietro
Former Pitt star and NFL Legend Larry Fitzgerald is enjoying his retirement from the NFL, while keeping a close eye on things happening in Pittsburgh. Among them, the Pitt Panthers’, Kenny Pickett’s and Hines Ward’s Hall of Fame mission.
Fitzgerald was one of the celebrities taking part in the American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe, about which he said, “It’s nice. It’s almost as nice as being on the Point with the Monongahela, the Ohio and the Allegheny coming together. It’s not that beautiful but a close second.”
Fitzgerald enjoys the weekend of golfing with the likes of WPXI Steelers Analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Jerome Bettis. Fitzgerald told Channel 11, “I feel kinda bad when I take his money all the time, and when I take it I just donate it to a local charity to give back to the community because it’s so easy to get from him, you know him and Joey Porter, they’re so easy to beat up on.”
Fitzgerald is one of a long list of names to find big success in the NFL after hailing from the University of Pittsburgh. It’s a legacy he sees continuing with the likes of Kenny Pickett. “We’re gonna continue to produce the Aaron Donalds and the Darrelle Revis and the Kenny Picketts of the world who will uphold the legacies and traditions of the great University of Pittsburgh,” said Fitzgerald. “I’m real excited for Kenny and what he’s gonna be able to do with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hope he’s gonna win that job and go out there and perform the way he’s been performing. He’s familiar with the practice facilities, has produced in a large way at Heinz Field, so there’s a lot of familiarity with him and I know the city’s gonna get behind him.”
Fitzgerald also believes Pitt will continue to be in good shape, despite the changing landscape of college football. Fitzgerald said, “The Pitt tradition and the university are in position to be successful for a very long time because of guys like Coach Narduzzi doing it the right way.”
Fitzgerald is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame as soon as he’s eligible. Channel 11 asked him whether Hines Ward should be in The Hall as well: “You can’t tell the story of the Pittsburgh Steelers without Hines Ward and the contributions he’s made to the organization. He embodied the toughness of the Mel Blounts and the Joe Greenes and Terry Bradshaws and Franco Harris. You can’t tell the story of the 2000s and not speak of Hines Ward and what he’s done, and I think he deserves to be immortalized forever.”
Steelers LB T.J. Watt, former Wisconsin soccer star Dani Rhodes marry in Mexico Crews battling house fire in Jefferson Hills ‘TOWIE’ star Lauren Goodger announces death of newborn girl VIDEO: Community attends funeral for off-duty Oakdale police officer shot, killed in Blawnox DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
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2022-07-11T13:20:47Z
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Former Pitt star and NFL wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald shares thoughts on Panthers and Pickett
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SAN FRANCISCO — The Pacers weren't supposed to be in the game, and fittingly, a lot of them weren't. Indiana was without all five of its projected starters for the 2021-22 season when it faced Golden State on the second night of a back-to-back Thursday. The absence of two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis (left ankle sprain), league-leading shot blocker Myles Turner (stress reaction in left foot), point guard Malcolm Brogdon (sore right Achilles), shooting guard Caris LeVert (sore right calf) and swingman T.J. Warren, who has not played this season due to a left foot fracture, made the Pacers 16.5-point underdogs at Chase Center.
Indiana wasn't interested in holding the spread.
Despite being significantly undermanned, the Pacers rallied together to stun Steph Curry and the Warriors with a 121-117 overtime win on TNT. The youngest of Indiana's reserves, 20-year-old rookie Isaiah Jackson, had the best game of his NBA career and was involved in the biggest play of the night.
With Indiana trailing 110-107, Jackson delivered a pinpoint pass to Justin Holiday who drained the game-tying 3-pointer with 6.0 seconds left in regulation.
"Once I got it in my hands, I was gonna do something with it. Go the other way and do something with it. ... I seen Justin cut with his hand (up) and I just threw it to him. I knew it was going in just off the way that it looked. I had confidence that he was gonna knock it down."
More: Pacers big man Myles Turner out indefinitely due to stress reaction in left foot
More: 3 takeaways from the shorthanded Pacers' dramatic OT win over Steph Curry, Warriors
More: Pacers Domantas Sabonis sustains what could be 'significant' ankle sprain against Lakers
Jan 20, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson (23) reacts to his team's 121-117 victory over the Golden State Warriors in overtime at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
the shot that sent us to overtime 😤@JustHolla7 | #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/wYqhAbwrK9
Holiday's clutch shot helped the Pacers trade in what would've been a great moral victory for a real one. One night after LeVert scored a regular-season franchise record 22 points in the fourth quarter of a win against the Lakers, the Pacers carried on without him and earned back-to-back victories for the first time in more than a month.
"I feel like we just got a lot of heart," Jackson said of the bench unit. "Time and time again, coach has kept repeating it like, 'Wait your time. Your time's gonna come,' and we knew our time was gonna come after we found out that everybody was out, and we stepped up. That shows that we have a lot of just fight, grit and toughness. Just to come out here and play our game, not be scared, not be scared of the crowd.
"Just coming out here and just hoopin’."
Jackson finished the night with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals, all career highs, and threw down a series of highlight-reel alley-oop dunks. Fellow rookie Chris Duarte also had a noteworthy outing, tying his career high with 27 points, seven rebounds and three assists. He shot 10-for-16 from the field, 2-for-3 on 3-pointers and 5-for-5 at the free-throw line.
the oop 🤩@jlamb ↗️ @IJackson22 pic.twitter.com/nweshIkGGX
Goga Bitadze added 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists before being ejected with 6:44 left in the game. The third-year center lost his cool after being dunked on by Gary Payton II, which was perhaps the Pacers' only blemish of the night.
"It's a big, big win for us," Duarte said. "Golden State is a great team. They got two of the best players (Curry and Klay Thompson), two of the best shooters that you ever seen in this game. So I think us coming out with a win, it's a huge win for us."
Duarte described his undermanned team as "hungry," and no one may be hungrier than 28-year-old rookie guard Keifer Sykes.
Unlike Duarte, Bitadze and Jackson, who were all first-round draft picks, Sykes went undrafted out of Wisconsin Green-Bay in 2015. The 5-11 guard, who spent several years overseas before finally making his NBA debut last month, scored five of his 10 points in overtime. Tied at 115, Sykes drilled a deep 3 over the outstretched arm of Juan Toscano-Anderson to give Indiana the lead with 1:41 left in the extra period, and he followed that up with a driving layup on the next play.
More: 'I really made the NBA': Pacers guarantee Keifer Sykes' contract through end of season
Carlisle said he's inspired by Sykes' unwavering belief in himself, which came in handy on a night when not many believed in Sykes or the rest of the Pacers.
"The last couple games, we're showing signs of being a team that people don't want to play, with a real resilience and a real collective will," Carlisle said. "I'm just real happy for them. Guys that made some great individual plays, Keifer was tremendous down the stretch, Justin's shot at the end of regulation was obviously huge, and a lot of other guys stepped up. So what can you say? It's a great night for us."
Curry poured in a game-high 39 points but went scoreless in overtime. He missed an open 3 that would've tied the game with 16.5 seconds remaining in the extra frame, which allowed Indiana to escape with a dramatic victory in front of Golden State's 400th consecutive sold out crowd.
"I was praying the whole game," Duarte said, laughing. "Just hoping that we could get the win, and we got lucky that Steph Curry missed a shot."
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers reserves upset Steph Curry, Warriors in OT
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2022-07-11T13:21:19Z
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No starters, no problem: Pacers reserves stun Steph Curry, Warriors in OT
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Mark Williams sighed as he searched for the right words.
Two games into his professional debut for the Charlotte Hornets, the rookie center is already experiencing the typical challenges associated with stepping into a new environment. Perhaps that’s why when critiquing his pair of performances, Williams let out a deep breath before offering insight into his mental state leading into the second week of play in the Las Vegas Summer League.
“Just continue to build on this is probably the most important thing,” Williams said after the Hornets’ 89-86 double-overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. “Just continue to get into a rhythm, do what I can while I’m out there. It’s a different game. Just doing what I can while I’m out there.”
Williams came off the bench behind Nick Richards for the second straight game, logging 17 minutes, 41 seconds. He connected on just 1 of 5 attempts from the field and finished with four points and seven rebounds in his brief action.
In two games, he’s made 3 of 13 shots and totaled nine points, 15 rebounds and two blocks. Glimpses of potential have been sandwiched around occasional inactivity while on the floor. Gaudy numbers would be nice, but it’s going to take time to smooth out the kinks.
That’s part of the educational process for the 7-foot-1, 242-pounder.
“I think Mark has been fantastic,” Hornets summer league coach Jordan Surenkamp said. “He played about 18 minutes for us tonight, but when he’s out there he’s learning in every possession. This is his second game as a pro and we’ve played against some really good players and really good teams to this point. So he’s getting thrown in the fire a little bit, but that’s what summer league is for.”
If all goes well, Williams’ on-the-court schooling can be accelerated thanks to one of the attributes that led the Hornets to have him atop their draft board last month: He’s extremely coachable.
His willingness to listen to the staff and take instructions without hesitation is nearly as impressive as his 7-7 wingspan, standing reach of 9-9 and 5.4% body fat. The Duke product is inquisitive and not shy to seek answers to clarify his duties on particular plays and sequences.
“What I’m proud of the most of him is not anything you are going to see on the stat sheet,” Surenkamp said, “but his ability to buy into what we are asking him to do. Ask questions. Learn. Have the right mentality of growth and development. I think that is really going to help him through the rest of summer league and then into the season.”
JT Thor was in a similar situation during his rookie year and his advice for Williams is simple. Remembering what’s at stake in the bigger picture is paramount.
At times, that’s the only way to keep sane.
“Just stay in your role, what you’re good at,” said Thor, who sank the game-winning shot against the Lakers in the double-overtime victory. “Know your strengths and just stay with those, especially as a rookie. You don’t want to play too outside of your game because you are going to go crazy. So, play within your game.”
Williams had an immediate impact in the first quarter against the Lakers when Surenkamp summoned him off the bench with 5:23 remaining. Four seconds after checking in, Williams drew a foul on a strong move to the basket.
Deflections aided by those lengthy arms were a frequent occurrence. He displayed his ability to protect the rim, nicely defending a two-handed dunk attempt by Paris Bass. Williams also kept the ball alive on the offensive glass a couple of times, leading to extra possessions.
It didn’t go unnoticed by the staff.
“Something you are not necessarily going to see on the stat sheet — just contested shots, everything at the rim,” Surenkamp said. “Whether it comes down as a block or not. … His presence inside the paint changes a lot of shots and it’s something you don’t necessarily see. But he’s going to naturally do that regardless.
“Once he starts to have a better grasp and understanding of our pick-and-roll concepts and how to play within the flow of our offense offensively, he’s got a chance to be really, really special.”
Meanwhile, he intends to do whatever he can to impact things when called on.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be on the floor, so I’m just trying to do what I can while I’m out there,” Williams said. “Even if I’m not going to get the ball that much, I’m just trying to affect the game in whatever way I can on the defensive end affecting shots.
“It’s still a dream. It’s continuing to adjust to the game. It’s going to be different from college, which is different from high school.”
SentinelOne, Inc. ( NYSE:S ) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 19% in the last month. But that...
IU's 2022 recruiting class has two five-stars who seem to be sure things, but 6-8 wing Kaleb Banks may be the Hoosiers' most intriguing freshman.
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2022-07-11T13:28:37Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Hornets’ Mark Williams is experiencing early rookie growing pains. Is there concern?
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It has been more than eight months since Carol Kelly had her cancerous right kidney removed. But a glance at his hand reminded 10-time PGA Tour Champions winner Kelly how close he came to losing his beloved partner of 28 years.
Two doctors dismissed the blood in her urine as a normal urinary tract infection. When she doubled over in pain and went to the emergency room, Kelly said they were fortunate it was a hospital, not an urgent care center. Kidney stones were suspected; a CAT scan was ordered. Kelly said they knew it was bad news because of the interminable wait.
He used her motivation to capture his second Senior Players title in three years, his final round 68 and 269 total two strokes better than defending champion and close friend Steve Stricker. The victory earned Kelly $450,000 and a trip to the 2023 Players Championship, one of the PGA Tour’s signature events.
“She said, ‘It doesn’t matter what happens, I want to see the attitude up the entire time,’” Kelly said Sunday after the trophy ceremony. “The lid was on the hole for a long time and I was rolling my eyes. But I was doing it with a smile on my face like I used to a little bit more. That was keeping me in a positive frame of mind knowing that it would come to me because of that. That was all her with that attitude.”
“Just the fact that she’s here this week … It may not be our normal restaurant-laden place or the hotel that is our favorite on tour, but the golf course is that special,” Kelly said. “She’s like, ‘You know what, I want to be there for you, I love that golf course, it’s really cool just to be out there.’ I mean, this is a different world once you step inside these gates. I love it that she can appreciate that and that she wanted to come here.”
2022 Bridgestone Senior Players
Jerry Kelly gets a closer look at the green on the 16th hole during fourth round of the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship at Firestone Country Club on Sunday. (Photo by Jeff Lange/Akron Beacon Journal)
“She’s been troopering it out,” he said.
The every-three-week routine began in January, and Kelly has only missed one treatment, that when he had early-week commitments at his hometown tournament, the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison on June 10-12.
“She would want me to go do my job. She knows how important the Senior Open Championship is to me, I love going over there,” Kelly said. “I’d love to have her with me, but she had to do it on those dates and we didn’t want to mess with that.”
Jerry Kelly celebrates after winning the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship at Firestone Country Club on Sunday. (Photo by Jeff Lange/Akron Beacon Journal)
“There’s been one time he wasn’t able to be there, and I took a picture of his empty chair. I know he’s there with me in thought,” she said. “That’s who Jerry really is. I don’t think he lets people see that side of him very often. He gives me a lot of strength.”
The Kelly and Stricker families are close as both live in Madison. Recovering from his own serious health crisis, Steve Stricker was glad to hear about Carol’s recent scans.
“She’s gotten some good news of late, so things are looking better. But still, with that you just cross your fingers with cancer, right?” Stricker said Sunday. “You just don’t know when it’s going to come back, you hope and pray that it won’t.
“To see her out here and them having a good time with each other, it kind of puts things in perspective really quickly. We’re out there battling for a golf tournament, but it’s not really what they were going through in life.”
Carol has been back walking with her husband since the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix on November 11-14. Not that far removed from late October surgery, she could only last nine holes.
Jerry Kelly poses after winning the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship at Firestone Country Club on Sunday. (Photo by Jeff Lange/Akron Beacon Journal)
“It’s the whole reason I won at Des Moines,” he said Saturday. “That just brings life into perspective so golf can be a little easier, and it really has been easier. Eased up on myself just because we’re having so much fun when we come out that we’ve got to realize that’s what life’s about.
“The work can obviously pile on you, especially in this sport, in any job I would say. We’re hard on ourselves out here, but to have a partner like Carol, we’re just loving it.”
The 6-foot-2, 335-pound Cooper has differentiated himself as a bowling ball-like player who swallows the run.
WATCH: Senior Players Championship winner Jerry Kelly meets 5 month old fan from Coventry
Bridgestone Senior Players Championship winner Jerry Kelly holds baby Marlowe Hershberger, 5 months. Marlowe's dad, Ryan, and mom Jayni, of Coventry. were holding cardboard sign 'My First Golf Tournament'.
Major disparities exist in mental health care between minorities and white people. Here's why and how we move forward.
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2022-07-11T13:59:09Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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‘Troopering it out’: Bridgestone winner Jerry Kelly by wife’s side during cancer treatment
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"I thought I got the ball clean so I was upset, but obviously they reviewed it and overturned it, so I was happy to get the ball back with the game on the line," Banchero said. "I'm glad it didn't end on free throws, especially a game like that, and we were able to play it out."
Undrafted Emanuel Terry was the hero in Orlando's OT win over Sacramento in NBA Summer League action Saturday.
Some people draw others in, no matter what they're doing. These attractive folks could be attempting to entice a potential significant other on a romantic date or simply checking out at the grocery store, but they pique interest from onlookers without even trying. If you've ever wondered why some humans seem to have a string of interested friends and lovers at all times, the answer could be written in the stars. Read on to discover the six most alluring zodiac signs, from a little bit tempting t
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2022-07-11T13:59:22Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Top-five picks Paolo Banchero and Keegan Murray shine in double-OT Summer League thriller as Magic squeak by
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The Las Vegas Raiders went 10-7 last season. Everyone is excited about the Cincinnati Bengals after their playoff run, but the Raiders came nine yards from tying a wild-card game at Cincinnati (or going for two and the win) in the final minute.
Then this offseason the Raiders added arguably the best receiver in the NFL, Davante Adams, and Chandler Jones' 107.5 career sacks. They also hired Josh McDaniels, one of the game's most accomplished offensive coordinators, as their new coach. The Raiders also hired former New England Patriots director of player personnel Dave Ziegler as their new GM.
You'd think there would be a lot of excitement about the Raiders. Instead, most people are picking the Raiders to finish in last place of the AFC West.
There are legitimate reasons for the disrespect to the Raiders. The Raiders' advanced stats from last season indicate they were fortunate to win 10 games. McDaniels' first attempt at being an NFL head coach was a catastrophe. The rest of the AFC West is loaded after an active offseason.
However, maybe we're sleeping on a Raiders team that is coming off a good season. They overcame a tremendous amount of adversity to make the playoffs, and they got better in the offseason.
The trade for Adams was a big moment. The Raiders sent a first-round pick (No. 22 overall) and a second-round pick (No. 53 overall) to the Green Bay Packers for Adams. That's not too much for a receiver who has made five straight Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro each of the last two seasons. Over the past two seasons Adams has a 238-2,927-29 line. Those are hall of fame numbers. The Raiders signed Adams to a five-year, $140 million contract after the trade. They're expecting him to have a huge impact.
Derek Carr already had weapons to work with. Hunter Renfrow emerged as one of the best slot receivers in the NFL with 103 catches, 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Darren Waller had a down season, but he's a rare tight end with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons on his resume. Carr had 4,804 yards last season and should get a healthier Waller and an elite alpha receiver in Adams.
McDaniels is still a wild card. He was undeniably awful with the Denver Broncos in 2009-10. McDaniels admits it. He alienated the locker room and just about everyone else in the organization almost immediately; was given too much personnel power and used it poorly, often by overvaluing anyone who had previously played for New England (every former Bill Belichick disciple seems to fall into this trap for some reason). The entire debacle was topped off by a scandal in which the Broncos and McDaniels were fined for taping a San Francisco 49ers' practice in London.
McDaniels lost 17 of his last 22 games as Denver's coach. He was a knockoff Belichick, like most failed Patriots assistants, taking the worst parts of Belichick into a head-coaching job and not backing it up with enough wins. Despite that, McDaniels was so good as the Patriots' offensive coordinator that teams kept flirting with him, even after he took the Indianapolis Colts' job in 2018 and then backed out before flying to Indiana. Maybe his second turn as a head coach will be better. It can't go any worse.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams joins the team after a trade from Green Bay. (AP Photo/John Locher)
You'd think that taking a job with a 10-win team that just added key pieces on offense and defense would be a great situation, but McDaniels is entering one of the toughest divisions in recent memory. The AFC West is so good that Carr, an underrated three-time Pro Bowler, is easily the fourth-best quarterback in the division. The Raiders could end up being the best last-place team we've seen in a long time.
Or maybe they won't be in last place. Jones and Maxx Crosby are a good pass-rushing foundation on defense, and new coordinator Patrick Graham is a respected defensive mind. The offense should be fine, though the offensive line is a pretty big question after left tackle Kolton Miller. The Raiders showed a lot of resilience and heart in overcoming the Jon Gruden controversy and dealing with teammate Henry Ruggs III being charged with DUI resulting in death and reckless driving. That toughness should carry over, even if interim coach Rich Bisaccia wasn't hired as the team's full-time head coach.
“I think those guys in (the locker room) did a great job, and to some degree, changed the culture,” Bisaccia said after the playoff loss to the Bengals, according to the Las Vegas Sun. “They put the culture on a winning track — a winning mentality.”
This season will be a test. If the Raiders can navigate a brutal AFC West to make the playoffs again, we'll know the McDaniels era is off to a great start.
For too long, before the Los Angeles Rams showed a different way, NFL teams held on too tightly to draft picks. It's hard to land a great player like Davante Adams, and it's a good bet the 22nd or 53rd overall picks of this year's draft won't be anywhere near as good as Adams. The Raiders made an aggressive move and it filled a huge need. Chandler Jones is a remarkable pass rusher and while there's risk as he enters his age-32 season — he's unlikely to be an impact player for all three years of his $51 million deal — he should have at least one good season left. The Raiders did lose some good players, like receiver Zay Jones, quarterback Marcus Mariota, cornerback Casey Hayward, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson, but overall they upgraded. The draft was light due to the Adams trade but they ended up with some mid-round picks that can help the offensive and defensive lines, as well as Georgia running back Zamir White. White could be a good starter soon, since the team has already passed on Josh Jacobs' fifth-year option for 2023.
Derek Carr admitted he watched the Patriots offense from afar for many years.
“I was always very intrigued by the things they would do, schematically,” Carr said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Josh McDaniels-Carr marriage could be perfect. Carr has never been a great deep thrower (he was effective on deep balls last season until Henry Ruggs III was cut) but the Patriots offense thrived off quick, short-to-intermediate passing. The Raiders have the targets to make that work very well. Davante Adams was helped by playing with Aaron Rodgers, but he's also undeniably great. McDaniels adapted after Tom Brady left New England, first adjusting for Cam Newton and then having a good season last year with rookie quarterback Mac Jones.
Carr had a very good season last year, after annual speculation that the Raiders would get rid of him. He is set up well to have a career year in 2022.
The Raiders' win total of 8.5 at BetMGM seems like it should be an easy under. There is some regression coming (more on this in a bit). They'll have the second-hardest schedule in the NFL according to analyst Warren Sharp, who uses win totals to project how hard each team's schedule is. Still, it's hard to punch an under ticket on a team that won 10 games a year ago and added two blue-chip players in the offseason. I have a lean on the Raiders' under of 8.5 but that has more to do with the AFC West than the Raiders themselves.
From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "Darren Waller has a Yahoo ADP of 46.1, about eight picks higher than his NFFC tag. In this case, I think the NFFC market has it right.
"Waller enters his age-30 season, not necessarily a kill shot for a tight end, but the arrows are pointing downward. His yards per target have dropped for two straight seasons, and he scored just two touchdowns a year ago. I don’t think the Hunter Renfrow toothpaste is going back into the tube; he’s a star now, and Josh McDaniels loves throwing to slot receivers. And obviously new receiver Davante Adams is a target monster and a dynamic touchdown scorer, especially in tight space around the goal line.
"If I draft a vanity tight end — an early-pick choice — I want him to be the unquestioned No. 1 option in his team’s passing game. It’s possible Waller could be No. 3 in Las Vegas. Unless the market corrects, I’ll likely sit this one out."
Nothing about the Raiders' statistical profile from 2021 indicates they should have won 10 games. They were outscored by 65 points, the worst mark of any team that posted a winning record last season. Their pythagorean win total, which uses point differential to determine what a team's record should have been, was 6.8. Their estimated win total from Football Outsiders was 8.4. They finished 21st in Football Outsiders' DVOA, including 19th in offense, 17th in defense and 21st in special teams. Not finishing in the top half of the NFL in any of the three phases and still posting a winning record is fluky. The Raiders' Pro Football Focus team grade ranked 18th overall. A 7-2 regular-season record in games decided by seven points or less and a 5-1 record in games decided by three or less was the reason the Raiders made the playoffs. That's unsustainable. In their last four regular-season games they beat the Cleveland Browns (who were decimated by COVID-19), Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers by a combined 13 points. It was a great season and the mental toughness the Raiders showed to make the postseason was commendable. However, they aren't going to catch so many green lights in 2022.
How good is Maxx Crosby?
The Raiders might have blown their three first-round picks in the 2019 draft, but they hit a grand slam on Crosby in the fourth round. Crosby has 25 sacks through three seasons and had a breakout in 2021. He made his first Pro Bowl. His Pro Football Focus grade ranked second among edge defenders, behind only Myles Garrett. NFL defensive player of the year T.J. Watt was sixth. Crosby plays a ton of snaps (977 last season, fourth in the NFL among edge defenders) and is equally good defending the run and rushing the passer. The Raiders signed him to a four-year, $94 million contract, which might have come as a shock to anyone who hasn't watched Crosby emerge as an elite defender. He signed the deal on the second anniversary of his sobriety. The Raiders defense has some issues, like uncertainty at safety, questionable options on the interior of the defensive line and no elite off-ball linebacker. But Crosby is a good cornerstone.
Coaches can learn from disastrous first chances. Josh McDaniels seems aware of his mistakes and is regretful of how he handled things in Denver. He has had a long time to prepare for his second chance.
“I’m not Bill (Belichick), and I can’t be, so I’m not going to try,” McDaniels said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I just want to try to be myself and hopefully I can be a good leader for our team.”
He's a smart football coach, and perhaps he'll finally prove to be a good head coach. There's a reason teams kept chasing him. McDaniels could bring Derek Carr to a new level. There is more than enough talent to have a dynamic passing offense. It's not out of the question Maxx Crosby could win NFL defensive player of the year. He and Chandler Jones could lead the defense to an improvement. It would be a huge upset if the Raiders won a stacked AFC West, but it's not impossible.
Remove the rest of the AFC West from the picture for a moment. The Raiders were due for a big regression from last season, no matter what happened around them. Now combine that regression with the Chargers and Broncos loading up to catch the Chiefs, who are still great, and the Raiders have a very difficult road to make the playoffs again. Winning nine or 10 games and coming up just short of a wild-card spot would be understandable, and that could happen. We might also watch the Raiders implode as the pendulum of their 2021 good luck swings the other way, Josh McDaniels is exposed as a coach who is far better off as a coordinator, and they're out of the AFC West race by Thanksgiving. Maybe sooner.
The Raiders are an interesting case. I respect how they overcame challenges no other team had ever gone through to make the playoffs last season. I've felt for a while that Derek Carr has been unfairly maligned. Davante Adams is one of the best players in the NFL and the Raiders got him without spending too much in terms of draft capital. But I also believe in analytics. Just about every single statistic you can find indicates the Raiders were out over their skis at 10-7 last season. I also need to be convinced that Josh McDaniels actually has changed since that Denver wreck. I'll split the difference and say the Raiders will be a better team this season but with a worse record, and finish last in a brutal division with no return to the playoffs.
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2022-07-11T14:11:40Z
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2022 NFL Preview: Raiders improved but are in a brutal AFC West
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Does Devon Allen experiment really have a chance to work? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
He hasn’t played football in six years. He hasn’t played regularly in eight years. He’s a 27-year-old rookie in a sport where youth reigns supreme.
Devon Allen is a world-class athlete, but can he play football? Is he the ultimate longshot or does he have a realistic shot at making the Eagles’ roster?
These are great questions without clear answers. Allen wasn’t at either OTA practice that was open to the media, so we haven’t even seen him in uniform yet.
READ: Entering Year 2, Smith one of Eagles’ most important players
But there are reasons to believe he at least has a chance to pull this off.
The biggest concern is how long it’s been since he’s played. How can you play NFL football after not suiting up for six years?
But it’s not unprecedented.
Remember Clinton Hart? He played high school football in Florida but stuck to baseball in college. He graduated from high school in the spring of 1996, so his last season of football was the fall of 1995. He didn’t play another snap until 2001 when he got a shot in Arena League 2. The Eagles signed him as an undrafted free agent the next summer, he made the team and started nine games in place of injured Brian Dawkins. Hart wound up playing eight seasons in the NFL after a five-year layoff.
Remember Michael Lewis? He played high school football in Louisiana but never even went to college. He was 27 and driving a beer truck in New Orleans when he decided to try playing some semipro football despite an eight-year layoff. That led to a workout with the Eagles in 2000 and although he never played a regular-season game here, he did spend nine years in the NFL, had four punt and kick returns for touchdowns and made 1st-team all-pro and the Pro Bowl as a returner in 2002.
Vince Papale went 10 years between high school and the Philadelphia Bell, and we all know how that went. Heck, Jordan Mailata never played football before he got here.
Is it rare? Yeah. Is it possible? Sure.
MORE: Seumalo vs. the field in Eagles’ right guard competition
With any athlete who’s had a long layoff from football the first thing you wonder about is his fitness level, and there probably aren’t very many people on the planet fitter right now than Allen, whose 12.84 performance in the 110-meter high hurdles in New York last month is 3rd-fastest in world history. He ran a 4.35 at Oregon’s pro day this past spring. Only five draft-eligible receivers ran faster at the Combine.
And, as Allen explained recently, track fitness and football fitness are not mutually exclusive.
“I train to be explosive and as strong as possible on the track,” Allen said on John Clark’s Takeoff podcast in June. “And that’s pretty much what I’ll be doing in football.”
Allen played football at Oregon from 2014 through 2016 and caught 54 passes for 919 yards and eight touchdowns in 23 games. He averaged 26.1 yards on eight kick returns.
His only season as a regular was 2014, when he ranked 3rd in the Pac-12 with 16.7 yards per catch and 10th with seven touchdown catches. He would have ranked 3rd in kick return average if he had enough attempts to qualify.
So he was once a legit prospect, although that was a long time ago.
But he also doesn’t have the wear and tear on his body that most players his age have. He’s a world-class athlete in a non-contact sport.
Also, there’s no pressure on Allen to be a star. The Eagles have A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and Zach Pascal set at wide receiver, so if Allen is here and he’s active, he’d presumably be asked to run the occasional go route and maybe return some kicks.
When you look at the Eagles’ roster, the competition he’ll be facing for a roster spot comes from guys like Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward, John Hightower, Deon Cain and Britain Covey for a fifth and possibly sixth spot on the 53. Not an insurmountable task.
If Allen shows anything at all in camp, there’s also the option of keeping him on the practice squad, which would pay him over $200,000 for the full season. Allen makes more than that from track, but it’s probably enough to keep him interested even if he’s not playing. It's not like there's any track meets in November that he'd be missing. And that would give the Eagles a chance to develop him over the full season and give Allen a chance to knock off the rust running scout team.
The biggest thing Allen has going for him - aside from his speed - is his determination. To become a two-time Olympian you need to be maniacally driven and supremely motivated, and those qualities will serve him well as he tries to carve out a niche in the NFL.
Allen races in the first round of the 110-meter hurdles at the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday afternoon, with the semis and finals following on Sunday evening.
After that, it’s time to begin life as one of the highest-profile undrafted free agents the NFL has ever seen.
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2022-07-11T14:12:06Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Does Devon Allen really have a chance to make the Eagles' roster?
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is the fifth-ranked passer in the NFL according to a poll put on by ESPN that took the opinions of league executives, coaches, scouts and players.
But perhaps more importantly, one anonymous coach dropped a quote that compares Burrow to a guy named Tom Brady.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler collected the rankings and notable quotes.
“I hate to compare anybody to Brady, but he might be the closest thing,” the coach said. “What, did he take nine sacks in that playoff game [against Tennessee]? Didn’t flinch. Hung in there. He’s just got a toughness about him and the ability to think through a game.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Burrow compared to Tom Brady, not by a long shot. It’s not a coincidence that this is one of the most common comparisons for Burrow, nor is it unlikely a coincidence that Burrow was the only quarterback Rob Gronkowski wanted to play with after Brady’s brief retirement.
Given Burrow’s play, the leadership that helped rewrite a struggling franchise’s culture and the way he carries himself publicly, the Brady comparisons sure seem fitting. It would appear other names in the league would agree.
The latest season concluded with a jaw-dropping finale filled with shocking moments and teases for what's to come in season four of the hit series.
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2022-07-11T14:12:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Joe Burrow compared to Tom Brady, nets top-five ranking
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With just a few weeks left until the Indianapolis Colts return to Westfield for training camp ahead of the 2022 season, they’ll be boasting several new faces on the roster.
While the Colts may not be a team loaded with superstar notability, they have their opportunity to make a run for a playoff spot.
As NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus ushered in a new group for his “NFL Superstars Club,” quarterback Matt Ryan found his way out while running back Jonathan Taylor made his way in.
Here’s what he had to say about bouncing Ryan out of the club:
It’s been a hell of a run for Matty Ice, who established himself as the greatest passer in Falcons history during a 14-season run in Atlanta. From a career-health standpoint, we love the move to Indianapolis, but that team’s run-heavy scheme and lack of impact playmakers in the receiving game make me think the 37-year-old version of Ryan will be put in game manager mode. The MVP gunslinger days of his younger years are gone. In real football terms, that’s fine: Ryan can still thrive with the Colts in a more controlled offensive system. It just seems unlikely he’ll be the focal point of his own offense. (We’ll discuss that individual in just a bit.) Ryan remains a solid starter you can trust; he’s just no longer the difference maker he once was. No shame in that.
Ryan may not have to play as much hero ball with the Colts as he did with the Falcons in 2021. With a better offensive line and run game, that should take some of the pressure off of him as Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell and Alec Pierce look to make his life easier in the passing game.
When it comes to the inclusion of Taylor into the Superstar Club, the choice was easy.
Taylor has it all. Breakaway speed, elite vision, quick burst, lateral movement — and at a chiseled 226 pounds, he can run you over, too. Taylor won the league’s rushing title in his second season, an especially impressive feat considering the underwhelming state of Indy’s passing game and an offensive line that was consistently unsettled due to injuries. He’ll enter his age-23 campaign with a better quarterback (Matt Ryan) and a healthier blocking front that can be one the league’s best. Given Frank Reich’s tendencies, a run at 2,000 yards is well within reach. This was an easy call.
Even though Taylor played above expectation in 2021, he will be out to prove he’s officially the best running back in the NFL while looking to become just the second player since 2010 to lead the league in rushing in back-to-back seasons.
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2022-07-11T14:12:56Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL Superstar Club: Matt Ryan out, Jonathan Taylor in
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Arguably the best QB in the NFL and has been for several years now. Mahomes won an MVP in his first season as a starter, hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in his second season as a starter, led the Chiefs on a second consecutive Super Bowl trip in his third season as a starter, and led them to the AFC Championship game in this fourth season as the starter.
Mahomes is the complete package as a quarterback, making breathtaking, seemingly impossible throws on one play, and then taking off and showing his speed and athleticism on the next. He has averaged nearly 40 touchdowns per season over his four years as a starter, which is just insane.
Herbert is not far behind Mahomes in terms of overall talent. Herbert has a cannon for an arm and can scoot on the ground too. Herbert also averages close to 40 touchdowns per season. over his two seasons in the NFL.
Last season was year two for Herbert and he threw for over 5000 yards (5014). Only Tom Brady had more (5316). In just two seasons on the job, Herbert has played himself into easily one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.
Wilson has been in the NFL for ten years. Nine of those years, he was named to the Pro Bowl, including each of the past five seasons. Wilson is a likely Hall of Famer when his playing days are done, but at 33 he figures to still have some years left before that. He has led the Seahawks to two Super Bowls, winning the first (2013) and putting them in position to win back-to-back if not for a terrible play call.
Last year was the first time in Wilson’s career he didn’t have a winning record (6-8). In the past five seasons, he’s averaged 35 touchdowns per season while throwing an average of just over eight interceptions.
Carr finding himself at the bottom of this list is more a product of just how stacked with talent the rest of the AFC West is. The eight-year pro had the best pass yardage numbers of his career in 2021, throwing for over 4800 yards (4804). But his 23 touchdowns in 17 games were fewer than Wilson had (25) in 14 starts and that was the worst season of Wilson’s career in terms of touchdown passes.
While the other three QB’s in the division average between 35 and 40 touchdowns per season, Carr has only even had over 30 once. That was six years ago when he had a career-high 32 touchdowns. Carr is a decent NFL starter, but he is still looking up at the other three quarterbacks in this division.
Denver's Gabby Windey is one of the new Bachelorettes
Chargers’ all-time record against each 2022 opponent
Taking a look at how the Los Angeles Chargers have fared against their 2022 opponents.
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2022-07-11T14:13:03Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ranking AFC West quarterbacks
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-afc-west-quarterbacks-125258924.html?src=rss
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The era of Heinz Field is reportedly coming to an end. According to Pittsburgh radio personality Andrew Fillipponi, Kraft and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been unable to come to an agreement on a new deal for the naming rights and the stadium will get a new name in 2022.
According to Fillipponi, the stadium will be renamed Acrisure Stadium. Acrisure is a Michigan Brokerage firm based in Grand Rapids.
Heinz Field first opened in 2001 replacing the iconic Three Rivers Stadium. This new naming rights deal could be made official as early as Tuesday and should allow the Steelers a more financially beneficial agreement for the team.
The #Steelers will no longer play at "Heinz Field" – the Stadium will be renamed Acrisure Stadium, according to @ThePoniExpress pic.twitter.com/I0N4ixEEsA
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2022-07-11T14:13:21Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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REPORT: Steelers’ Heinz Field to get new name in 2022
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The Tennessee Titans have experienced one of the biggest increases in average attendance in the NFL since 2019 among teams that have played in the same stadium during that span.
According to Greg Auman of The Athletic, the Titans have seen an increase of 4,059, the third-highest mark in the league. Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13,474) and Cincinnati Bengals (13,146) have more.
When you factor in teams that have changed stadiums in that span, Tennessee falls to fifth in the NFL, with the Las Vegas Raiders (8,636) and Los Angeles Chargers (38,490) both passing them with bigger increases since moving into their new stadiums in 2020.
This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, as the Titans have improved considerably in each of the past three seasons and have had realistic Super Bowl aspirations, thus fan excitement and attendance overall has been higher.
According to ESPN, Tennessee averaged 68,566 fans per game last season, the 12th-best mark in the NFL.
Jeffery Simmons honored by high school for funding practice facility renovations
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2022-07-11T14:13:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Titans have among biggest increases in average attendance since 2019
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“One of the things I would say that’s a little bit more special about this one is my boys, too, that are older. Jones is 4, so he’ll have glimpses and memories of this a little bit, but the 10- and 8-year-old, Hawk and Riv, they were just so into it,” Romo said. “They were so nervous. They were following me around, and they were like, ‘Let’s go, Dad. Come on. If you do this, we have a chance. He’s like, You could finish third if you keep playing good, Dad.'”
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2022-07-11T14:51:09Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo wins playoff for third American Century Celebrity Championship title
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All of this comes on the heels of Saline, Michigan, quarterback C.J. Carr, the best instate prospect in the Class of 2024, choosing Notre Dame over U of M. Carr wasn’t just another local star, either. His grandfather, Lloyd, spent 13 years as Michigan's head coach and led the program to a national title in 1997.
“Everybody wants to take the biggest schools offering them the most money, but for me as a young kid that enjoys football [it’s] really just [about trying] to better myself," Moore said on Friday. "If NIL comes with how I play, it comes with how I play. But that's not a big piece of my recruitment."
Despite making last season's College Football Playoff, Jim Harbaugh has lost two big-time recruits with strong Michigan ties. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It's on Harbaugh to make it not matter.
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2022-07-11T14:51:21Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Dante Moore spurning Michigan is another loss for Jim Harbaugh
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Texas A&M has officially made the top 5 for one of the better wide receiver prospects in the 2023 recruiting class, Miami, Florida’s Andy Jean. Currently listed as a 4-Star prospect, and the 38th ranked wide receiver prospect in the country according to 247Sports, Jean is going into his senior season at Northwestern High School in Miami, Florida, where he has already accumulated 903 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns in two seasons at the varsity level, with the hopes of having his best statistical season yet in 2022.
As of now, Andy Jean has narrowed his options to 5 schools, which include Alabama, Florida, Miami, Georgia, and Texas A&M. Jean was recently committed to Miami in late January, but decided to reopen his commitment on March 18th, and has since then taken unofficial visits to Florida, Miami, Georgia, and Texas A&M, while officially visiting the Aggies on June 10th, and Florida on June 24th.
Here is a condensed summary from 247Sports of Andy Jean’s time as a wide receiver for Northwestern High School:
2021: A go-to target for one of South Florida’s most storied high school programs. Caught 40 passes for 733 yards (18.3 yards per reception) and 8 touchdowns in 14 games while playing in Sunshine State’s 6A classification. Had arguably his best game against the national powerhouse that is IMG Academy catching 6 balls for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns in a loss on the road; Played on the offseason 7-on-7 circuit for the Miami Immortals.
Texas A&M will continue to keep its head in the game despite the recent recruiting misses in the last couple of weeks, and receiving a commitment from a prospect like Andy Jean could turn the tides and get this show back on the road.
Which underclassman football players in the Athens area have offers to play at the next level?
There is a ton of talent in the Athens area and college football recruiters are taking notice. Here's a compilation of all the offers in the area.
Very hot day Monday with isolated late day storms
Brace yourself for another very hot day with another chance for late-day and evening storms. A heat advisory is in effect for the Houston area along with an excessive heat warning for communities west of Katy and Hempstead. Today's heat index could hit 110, but watch your FOX 26 weather app for some evening storms. Tomorrow looks very hot as well, but high pressure may start to move westward by later this week, so our temperatures could cool by several degrees. There is a slight chance for a small tropical low to form south of New Orleans this week. Its future motion is unclear, but could bring us some rain by Thursday or Friday.
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2022-07-11T14:58:11Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Aggies make top 5 for 2023 wide receiver Andy Jean
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Training camp is around the corner for the Chicago Bears, and the depth chart is still very fluid.
There are plenty of new and returning faces heading into camp. Some have pedigree, and others are still trying to find their place in the NFL. Then there are former stars who have fallen from grace and are hoping for a rebound season.
Given the front office and coaching staff turnover, very few players are guaranteed their starting roles from last year. Which brings added importance to camp this year.
With that in mind, here are six players on the roster who need to have a great training camp.
The chatter around Tevin Jenkins is concerning. Once regarded as a franchise left tackle, it now seems he might not have a defined role within the offense. Last year he struggled in limited playing time as he overcame a back injury.
But during the offseason program, he was moved to right tackle and later moved from the starting lineup to the second unit. Now, after the injury to Dakota Dozier, some are asking if the Bears should move Jenkins inside to guard.
Initially a right tackle in college, the move from left to right isn’t too concerning. But the move from starter to reserve created smoke, and maybe there’s an actual fire. If Jenkins is the starting right tackle, he’ll need to prove it in training camp. And if he’s getting moved inside, the Bears need to do it sooner than later.
At 26, the once second-round pick has yet to find a home. After a decent rookie year with the 49ers, Dante Pettis was injured in 2019 and was released in 2020. He signed with the Giants but never found his footing after getting injured. So Chicago might be the last stop before the bus stop for Pettis.
Pettis thrived as a punt returner and the second option to speedster John Ross in college. But none of the production from college has translated to the NFL. So while he might continue to find a home on NFL rosters as a WR4 or WR5, the time is now to prove he’s the starting wide receiver many thought he could become as a rookie.
Velus Jones Jr. is the first offensive player drafted under the new regime. Justin Fields handpicked him as one of the receivers he’d like to play with in the new offense, and of course, he’s 25 years old.
While Jones has time to develop, there will undoubtedly be pressure from the media and fans for him to produce immediately. If he doesn’t perform well, it’ll be because he’s an old rookie and a bad pick. The criticism will be unfair, but it is not an unrealistic prediction of the future.
Khyiris Tonga finds himself in a great position. As a former seventh-round pick, he has a chance to become a long-time starter for the Bears as an interior defensive lineman.
Tonga isn’t the most athletic or the strongest, but he produced last year, turning in 24 tackles in 15 games. Fortunately, the starting role appears to be his to lose. Hopefully, he holds onto the job, where he’ll have some competition from Mike Pennel.
While Duke Shelley is one of the more experienced cornerbacks on the roster, he’ll be competing for a role in the secondary. Shelley spent most of his time as the nickel cornerback, but free-agent Tavon Young and second-year player Thomas Graham Jr will likely take over the first and second-team roles.
Shelley will get pushed to CB2 but faces pressure from rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon. After drafting Gordon in the second round, the former Washington Husky has impressed the coaching staff with his athleticism and ability to make plays, and he’s expected to start opposite Jaylon Johnson. Unfortunately, none of this seems to indicate good things for Duke Shelley.
S Eddie Jackson
Eddie Jackson is the sixth highest-paid safety in the NFL. However, after his spectacular 2018 season with 15 pass breakups and six interceptions, he’s only produced two and 12 pass breakups over the past three seasons.
The lack of production isn’t because teams are shying away from him. On the contrary, quarterbacks are completing 62% of their passes against Jackson with an average passer rating of 104.3, effectively making him one of the worst safeties in the league in coverage.
The sixth-year veteran is aware of the criticism and took responsibility for his poor play. But now it’s time to return to form and be the player deserving of the current contract. Otherwise, he’s going to be a very rich former Bear.
Wintrust Arena — home of the Chicago Sky — hosted the WNBA All-Star Game for the first time. And we tracked it all. Column: Fans return to WNBA All-Star weekend in full force, but organizational missteps cause frustration WNBA players balance activist roles as political turmoil hangs over All-Star weekend Candace Parker’s Revenge Tour: The Chicago Sky All-Star keeps proving doubters wrong — ...
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2022-07-11T16:10:14Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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6 Bears players who need to have a great training camp
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A young player looking to improve, a veteran attempting to bounce back from a disappointing season or an ascending player growing into a new role all provide ideal scenarios for a “prove it” type of season.
The Green Bay Packers have several players that fit into each category this year.
Here are the Packers with the most to prove entering the 2022 season:
Deguara, a third-round pick in 2020, is now entering his third NFL season, and two important factors appear to be converging in 2022: He’s almost two years removed from his ACL injury, and the Packers need someone to step up and contribute at tight end while Robert Tonyan recovers from his own ACL injury. Deguara isn’t a traditional inline tight end, but the Packers still more from him as a receiver in Year 3. While he caught a career-high 25 passes in 2021, Deguara averaged only 1.13 yards per route run, and over 25 percent of his total yards came on a 62-yard catch-and-run in the second half of the season finale in Detroit. With Tonyan’s start to the 2022 season in question, now would be an ideal time for Deguara to take a big step in his development.
Another third-round pick with a lot to prove. Rodgers, the team’s third-rounder last year, admitted his rookie season was a physically and mentally taxing experience, but he’s ready to attack Year 2 after getting a full offseason to work on his body and mind. As a recharged player in 2022, he must prove he’s capable of providing answers in the Packers receiver room. Rodgers didn’t play fast or look particularly explosive as a rookie, but he needs both if he’s going to survive in the slot and as a returner. Opportunities in the form of snaps and targets are available on offense and special teams. Can Rodgers return and provide a spark as a second-year player?
Savage is an established starter entering his fourth season, and the Packers picked up his fifth-year option this summer. Even though the team is confident he can be an elite player, Savage must find the down-to-down consistency and game-changing playmaking that all great players possess. He certainly regressed in his third season, especially in terms of coverage and plays on the ball compared to his fantastic finish to the 2020 season. Pro Football Focus credited Savage with giving up six touchdown passes and committing four penalties in 2021. Can be bounce back and prove he’s still on the verge of becoming one of the NFL’s best safeties? Savage has all the skills necessary, and he should be more comfortable in his second season in Joe Barry’s scheme.
Watkins wasn’t sure he’d get another opportunity from an NFL team when the Packers came calling this summer. Now, the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft gets a chance to revive his fading career with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Over his last four seasons, Watkins caught 62 percent of his targets and averaged 8.1 yards per target. But he’s struggled to stay on the field (18 missed games since 2018), and a lack of availiability remains the best way to submarine a career in football. Watkins knows he must stay healthy. If he can avoid injury, he’ll have a terrific opportunity to create a big season with a top quarterback in a receiver-friendly offense. But it’s a huge “if” for Watkins.
(AP Photo/Lachlan Cunningham)
Lazard has been a terrific complementary player for the Packers over the last few seasons, but he’s now expected – at least by Aaron Rodgers – to be the No. 1 receiver in Matt LaFleur’s evolving offense. This can often be the hardest jump to make. For a long time, Lazard has benefitted from the matchups dictated by being on the field with Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Now, he’ll be a focal point of defenses and coverages. Can he still be efficient, effective and productive? He’ll play the 2022 season on the restricted tender, and then be an unrestricted free agent next year, so there’s huge financial incentive in play here too.
Newman started 16 games and played almost 1,100 snaps at right guard as a rookie, but there were obvious peaks and valleys in his performance, and then the Packers used three draft picks on offensive linemen in this year’s draft, including two that could immediately challenge him for a starting job at right guard. With Elgton Jenkins and David Bakhtiari both entering training camp with injury question marks, it’s possible Newman is a legit option to start at right tackle, a position he played in college. Regardless of position, the Packers need him to take a big step in Year 2 if he’s going to be a full-time starter on the right side. This could be a terrific offensive line if Newman drastically improves and becomes more consistent in 2022.
Outside of preseason games, it’s obviously unclear if Love will even get the opportunity to do much proving on the field during his third season. Barring an injury to Aaron Rodgers, Love will be the No. 2 quarterback wearing a ballcap on the sideline for the entire season. But this is still a huge season for Love, especially given where he’s at in his rookie contract and the uncertain future of Rodgers past 2022. There’s a non-zero chance Love will be the starter in 2023. The team will need to make a decision on his fifth-year option next summer. But have the Packers seen enough from Love on a day-to-day basis and enough improvement year-over-year to think he’s the long-term answer? How the 2020 first-round pick handles this season could dictate so much of his own future, whether it’s in Green Bay or elsewhere.
Bastille Days street festival is scheduled to make its grand 2022 return Thursday through Sunday in downtown Milwaukee.
Jeter Downs' bases-loaded blooper against Aroldis Chapman dropped in off DJ LeMahieu's glove to break a sixth-inning tie, and the Boston Red Sox scored nine unanswered runs to rally past the New York Yankees.
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2022-07-11T16:10:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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8 players with the most to prove for Packers in 2022
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The Indianapolis Colts are just a few weeks away from the start of training camp, and one of the biggest question marks on the roster comes at the wide receiver position.
While the Colts have remained bullish on the talent they currently have in the room, outside analysts believe this room will be a major liability for new quarterback Matt Ryan.
As T.Y. Hilton remains a free agent, the Colts didn’t add anyone to the room during free agency. They did use a second-round pick on an intriguing prospect out of Cincinnati, though.
Here’s our preview of the wide receiver position entering training camp:
Coming off of a strong breakout season, Pittman Jr. is coming back for more. He recorded 88 receptions for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns with Carson Wentz. Now, many believe Pittman Jr. is set to continue improving on those numbers in Year 3.
With more opportunities to create yards after the catch, Pittman Jr. entering his third season with high expectations. The new additions to the room should only help take some of the attention as Pittman Jr. looks to go over 1,000 yards for the second time in three seasons.
This very well could be the final go-round for Campbell, who has battled injuries throughout his career since being drafted in the second round in 2019. The upside has always been there. It’s still there. But Campbell’s running out of time to prove his worth.
Given his skill set with the ball in his hands, Campbell could have a big impact on the offense. He could be exactly what the Colts need out of the slot, but he has to put those injuries concerns behind him. If he’s healthy, Campbell will be competing for the second-most targets in the offense.
As Campbell will be competing for the second-most targets, his competition is stiff. The second-round pick out of Cincinnati has clear upside in this offense and fits exactly what type of receiver Matt Ryan likes to target.
Rookie wide receivers generally don’t produce right away so expectations may need to be tempered to begin the season. But by the time the midway point arrives, Pierce should be a second-half breakout candidate.
Pierce has the size and speed to be a vertical threat both from the outside and as a big slot. He impressed during the spring workouts and will need to keep that momentum going if he’s going to claim a starting role by Week 1.
The former undrafted rookie has been a mainstay on special teams over the last two seasons. It’s led him to more opportunities as a receiver and now Dulin is competing for the No. 4 spot in the room, which he’s likely to have locked down.
It will be interesting to see how much work they give Dulin as a receiver, considering their praise for him this spring. If all goes well, though, he’s likely seeing limited targets as the WR4 behind Pittman, Pierce and Campbell.
It’s a big year for Patmon, who enters his third NFL season with just two career receptions under his belt. The former sixth-round pick has intriguing size and speed, and he’s likely the favorite for one of the final spots in the room. A strong preseason will go a long way for the Washington State product as he enters training camp looking to secure his roster spot.
Despite enjoying a strong preseason in 2021, Strachan wasn’t much of a factor during his rookie season. Seventh-round picks typically aren’t, and Strachan will be entering training camp battling for a roster spot after missing much of the spring workouts. The athleticism and intrigue are there, but it’s no guarantee that Strachan will make the roster.
The shifty slot receiver joined the Colts during the 2021 season and signed a futures deal this offseason. He’s on the roster bubble, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if his reliable hands give him a chance to grab the final spot in the room.
This will be Harris’ third season with the Colts after spending most of his time on the practice squad. Like Coutee, Harris works mostly out of the slot while the Colts have used him in other gadgety ways as well. He has an uphill battle to make the roster, but the Colts do like his game.
Crawford joined the Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent out of California where he had limited production. At 6’0″ and 192 pounds, Crawford ran a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash. He’s likely heading to the practice squad if he has a strong showing during the preseason.
Michael Young II
A teammate of Pierce’s at Cincinnati, Young joined the Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent this offseason. He spent one season at Boise State, another at Notre Dame and the final two seasons at Cincinnati. He’s likely battling for a practice squad spot.
Samson Nacua
Nacua joined the Colts this offseason as an undrafted rookie free agent out of BYU. It’s going to be hard for these UDFAs to crack the roster so they are likely looking at a practice squad spot if they impress enough. Nacua has a size advantage at 6’2″ and 206 pounds while running a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash.
Ethan Fernea
Another UDFA, Fernea joined the Colts following the draft out of UCLA. He brings modest athleticism to the position but had hardly any production during his time at UCLA. He’s likely a camp body looking to make the practice squad roster if he impresses enough in training camp.
Tyrese Haliburton on Sacramento: ‘My feeling towards the organization and the fans are completely different’
Sean Cunningham: Briefly catching up with Tyrese Haliburton at Las Vegas Summer League, where we chat about his new Indiana Pacers team, moving on from the Kings after February's trade & his love for Sacramento. "My feeling towards the organization ...
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2022-07-11T16:10:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Colts’ 2022 training camp preview: Wide receivers
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We are only a few weeks into summer, but it's already football season for those planning to beat the books in the NFL. Our projections start to take shape as we blend every team's offseason moves with the challenges that await them in September. Of course, a significant factor when evaluating a team's potential success is the schedule. Life isn't fair in the NFL, and the nuances of the schedule each year are a stark reminder. There are many factors to consider, including travel, rest advantages, number of prime-time games, potential weather, and bye-week positioning. With the 17-game format, even the number of home and road games is no longer equal.
Navigating through those challenges can be daunting for a first-time coach, especially in the early part of the season. I am not claiming that instant success is critical, but getting off to a good start can go a long way in establishing credibility with a new organization. Or conversely, it could be tough getting a team to buy in after losses start piling up in September. BetMGM offers a unique market where you can bet on each NFL team's odds of starting 4-0 or 0-4. In reviewing each team's schedule, I noticed the NFL did not do any favors for a few new head coaches. There was one that jumped off the board that might surprise you.
The Vikings are in a period of transition for the upcoming NFL season. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings to start the season 0-4 (+1100)
Whoa! The Vikings won eight games last year despite Mike Zimmer's conservative offensive philosophy and have upgraded to Sean McVay protege Kevin O'Connell, who enjoyed success coaching Kirk Cousins as Washington's quarterback coach in 2017. The pairing in Minnesota is widely considered a match made in heaven, resulting in the Vikings' top wideout, Justin Jefferson, becoming a popular bet to lead the NFL in receiving yards. Furthermore, the coaching change is supposed to make all the difference for a team that lost so many close games last season. So how do we justify an 0-4 start?
Before we get started, I want to be clear that I like the hire of O'Connell and the direction the Vikings are heading. But bettors bet on numbers, not names, and +1100 is a big enough number that it might be worth a sprinkle as a long shot. So let's look at Minnesota's first four games of the season.
Week 1: Green Bay
Week 2: at Philadelphia (MNF)
Week 3: Detroit
Week 4: vs. New Orleans (London)
Imagine starting the season as a rookie head coach against Aaron Rodgers and Matt LeFleur in your first game. Talk about pressure. LeFleur is 41-13 as head coach of the Packers and has owned NFC North opponents with a staggering 15-3 record. The Vikings did win last year's matchup in Minnesota, but it's not a stretch to expect Minnesota to start the season with a loss against one the conference favorites.
The next three games are where it gets interesting. Minnesota travels to Philadelphia projected as an underdog for the second straight week. The Eagles were a playoff team in 2021, and with the offseason addition of A.J. Brown, they are positioned higher than the Vikings in the Super Bowl, conference title , and win total markets. Minnesota was 0-5 on the road last season against teams that qualified for the postseason. Philadelphia's home opener on Monday Night Football is a tough spot for a team that doesn't travel well. Rookie head coaches are 6-18 SU since 2017 in their first road games. So it's realistic to see the Vikings fall to 0-2.
After being underdogs the first two weeks, Minnesota finally gets a game it should win, but the schedule makes it more demanding than it should be. The Vikings come back home to face Detroit in O'Connell's first experience preparing on a short week. Barring injury, the Vikings will be clear favorites, but it's important to note that Dan Campbell's Lions' gave them fits last year. The two teams split the season series 1-1, with each game decided by only two points. Detroit at Minnesota in Week 3 is the linchpin to cash this bet. If we get a little luck and the Vikings drop to 0-3, the odds increase dramatically in our favor as they will have put themselves in an awful spot having to travel to London and beat the Saints to avoid an 0-4 start.
The bet isn't an indictment on the Vikings' roster as much as the schedule it faces. Betting any potential playoff team to lose its first four games is a risk, especially one with Minnesota's offensive talent. However, they are still a team with challenges on defense, particularly in the secondary, where they will rely heavily on rookie defensive backs Andrew Booth and Lewis Cline. It's not uncommon to see first-year starters struggle with coverage as they transition to the NFL, so it's fair to expect the worst version of Minnesota's defense at the beginning of the year. Debuting against Rodgers, having your first road game on Monday Night Football and traveling to London make for a brutal first month for O'Connell as he leads Minnesota into a new era. The early season gauntlet should make the Vikings a valuable future bet in October, and you may have a +1100 winner in your pocket by then.
The Denver Broncos and the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group announced that Condoleezza Rice would be joining the ownership group.
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2022-07-11T16:11:11Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL betting, odds: Here's why the Vikings are an interesting early-season fade
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-odds-heres-why-the-vikings-are-an-interesting-early-season-fade-142911447.html?src=rss
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Gabe Jackson
In a recent article by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, he spoke with more than 50 NFL coaches and executives and asked them to rank their top 10 quarterbacks heading into the 2022 season. Carr finished outside of the top 10, coming in at No. 12.
While that’s not all that surprising considering most view Carr in a similar range, the comments and quotes from decision-makers around the league were strange. A few questioned his arm strength and ability to make plays down the field, while another questioned his toughness.
Here is what one NFL coach had to say about Carr and his toughness from last season:
“The guy was one of the best third-down passers in the NFL last year. He lacks a little toughness at times; that’s my only real knock on him. Won’t stand in there.”
Carr played behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season, but he was able to lead his team to the playoffs. They suffered multiple injuries to that unit and lost several veteran players including Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson in the offseason.
While Carr does like to get rid of the ball quickly to avoid sacks, it’s not due to his lack of toughness. He’s played through injuries throughout his NFL career and has overcome some pretty bad offensive lines.
Going into the 2022 season, Carr will once again be asked to put up big numbers behind a subpar offensive line. And if he can lead them to the playoffs yet again, that should quiet any doubts about his toughness moving forward.
Kate Middleton, Prince William and their son Prince George attended Wimbledon over the weekend and eagle-eyed royal fans noticed a cute mother-son moment. When
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2022-07-11T16:11:17Z
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NFL coach questions Raiders QB Derek Carr’s toughness
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-coach-questions-raiders-qb-141043965.html?src=rss
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Meek Mill has left Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Management, the company that has overseen his career since 2012. While reps for the rapper and the company did not respond to Variety’s requests for comment, he is no longer featured on the Roc Nation website or its social media profiles. The news was first reported in Billboard. […]
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2022-07-11T17:09:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Terry Rozier gets three-foot ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ tattoo on his back
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The Big Ten is expanding once again and now sits well north of the ten teams that its conference branding would suggest (BIG indeed). With the additions of the L.A. teams USC and UCLA, the conference will be at sixteen members when play reportedly begins in 2024.
It’s the latest seismic shift in a college football landscape that will look far different than anything your father and grandfather are used to. Money is wagging the dog and who knows where the end of all of this will be.
But for now, the addition of two of the Pac-12’s best brands will result in a shift of power in the Big Ten, and we’re here to try and make sense of it all. To do so, we’re using ESPN resident analytics guru Bill Connelly. He’s the brain-child behind the SP+ Rankings (like them or not), and it’s telling to look back on what the average SP+ rating is over the last five years for each team in the Big ten over the last five years to get a sense of where teams have lined up from a competitive standpoint over a recent trend.
This, of course, takes nothing into account when it comes to where things are going. You’d have to expect Lincoln Riley to up the level of play at USC, but that’s still to be seen. When you simply look at the last five years and use the SP+ here’s how things have fallen among all sixteen teams.
As always, we go from worst to first. But before we do, according to ESPN, here’s what the SP+ represents:
“SP+ is presented in terms of adjusted points per play. A rating of 29.6 means that on average, Ohio State has been 29.6 points above the perfectly average FBS team over the previous five seasons.”
All of that aside, here’s how each program has fared over the last five years, ranked.
Dec 31, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Evan Simon (3) drops back to pass in the second quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at TIAA Bank Field. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Five-year SP+ average
Nov 27, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini tight end Daniel Barker (87) scores a touchdown during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Maryland Terrapins punt returner Tarheeb Still (right) celebrates his punt return touchdown with wide receiver Rakim Jarrett (left) in the first half during the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Yankee Stadium. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Evan Hull (26) carries the ball during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) celebrates with offensive lineman Paul Grattan (65) offensive lineman Jon Gaines II (57) and tight end Greg Dulcich (85) his touchdown scored against the Louisiana State Tigers during the second half the at the Rose Bowl. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Purdue's Jeff Brohm on Ohio State: 'We were lucky to hold 'em to 59'
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Jeff Brohm talks to players on the sideline during the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen watches from the sideline during the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
Nebraska Cornhuskers linebacker Luke Reimer (28) celebrates after causing Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Jeremy Ruckert (88) to fumble during Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on November 6, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
Sep 8, 2018; Tempe, AZ, USA; Michigan State Spartans offensive tackle AJ Arcuri (76) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo (9) celebrates with linebacker Cody Lindenberg (45) and defensive back Justus Harris (21) after making a tackle in the first half at TCF Bank Stadium. Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
USC quarterback J.T. Daniels (18) scrambles against Notre Dame last season at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
Oct 23, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Rasheed Walker (53) and linebacker Jesse Luketa (40) and safety Jaquan Brisker (1), and safety Jonathan Sutherland (0) walk on the field for the coin flip prior to the game Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2020; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Jon Dietzen (67) and Wisconsin Badgers fullback Mason Stokke (34) celebrate Wisconsin’s first touchdown in the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at Camp Randall Stadium. Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Haskell Garrett (92) and Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste (8) celebrate after teaming up to tackle Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) during Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on September 11, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
In a statement buy, Cinedigm has snapped up all North American rights to what it describes as “avant-gutter psychedelic freakout,” “All Jacked Up and Full of Worms” which is shaping up as one of the most memorable titles set for this year’s Fantasia Intl. Film Festival, which runs July 14 to Aug. 3 in Montreal. […]
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2022-07-11T17:42:22Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Big Ten expansion: How all sixteen teams stack up in five-year SP+ averages
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https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-expansion-sixteen-teams-163845401.html?src=rss
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Harry Kane vomits and Son Heung-min collapses in brutal Tottenham training session - AP
Footage from the Seoul World Cup Stadium shows a drained Son had to be hauled back to his feet at the end of one run, while Kane was also among the players no longer able to stand and local reports said the England skipper was seen vomiting after the intense session.
The punishing running drills came at the end of a two-hour session in the humidity and heat of South Korea, where temperatures are around 30 degrees. The training involved running length after length of the pitch, at a fast pace, with players completing more than 40 shuttles.
Tottenham's squad have been put through their paces in Seoul - REUTERS
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2022-07-11T17:42:29Z
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Harry Kane vomits and Son Heung-min collapses in brutal Tottenham training session
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SAN FRANCISCO -- On the last homestand at Oracle Park, a Giants executive sat near the field and shook his head as he thought about the month ahead for Major League Baseball.
The three-day draft will start on Sunday, and two days later there's the All-Star Game. As fans have been preoccupied with All-Star selections and snubs, teams have been focusing on buttoning things up before the draft. But they won't get a breather when it's done.
Because the draft has been moved from June to July, front offices now go straight from that process to two weeks of preparing for the trade deadline. The addition of the third Wild Card spot makes that process even more complicated, as it's harder than ever to figure out who the true buyers and sellers are.
As the crazy stretch gets started, here's our latest look at where all 30 teams stand:
30. Nationals (30-58): They're not going to trade Juan Soto this summer, but they still have a slugger to offer. Josh Bell is having the best season of his career and currently has a .304/.386/.491 slash line with 12 homers.
29. A's (29-58): They're on pace for 108 losses, which would be their first 100-loss season since 1979 when they went 54-108. The next round of the fire sale should start any minute.
27. Reds (32-54): They picked up catcher Michael Papierski after the Giants DFA'd him and he's actually getting semi-regular playing time. In 11 appearances, Papierski is 5-for-22 with three walks.
21. Angels (38-49): Shohei Ohtani gets a ton of attention, but it's still not enough. He was voted into the All-Star Game as a DH and then was also chosen as a pitcher.
20. Rangers (39-44): They spent half a billion to upgrade their offense over the winter, but it's the pitching that now needs help. They have just one starter -- Martin Perez -- with an ERA under 4.00.
19. White Sox (41-43): Johnny Cueto isn't slowing down. With eight shutout innings on Saturday, he lowered his ERA to 2.91.
18. Guardians (41-42): Bay Area native Steven Kwan was one of the best stories in baseball the first couple of weeks and has kept his head above water after the league adjusted. He's batting .274 with a .358 on-base percentage, although he has just one homer.
16. Marlins (41-43): Clayton Kershaw is an all-time great, but the push from some reporters and Dodgers people over the last week to have Kershaw start the All-Star game is ridiculous. Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara has thrown more than twice as many innings as Kershaw, has a much lower ERA (1.73 to 2.40) and 42 more strikeouts. Let's not overcomplicate this.
14. Mariners (45-42): They're always active on the trade market -- especially when Farhan Zaidi calls -- but they might actually be back in a position to be buyers. With eight straight wins, they've tied the Blue Jays for the third Wild Card spot.
13. Giants (43-41): The No. 1 team here most of last year, they're down near the middle of the pack after a long stretch of mediocre baseball. After going 13-14 in May and 13-13 in June, they're 2-7 in July. The Diamondbacks and Brewers come to town to close out a disappointing first half.
11. Cardinals (46-42): Part of the reason Carlos Rodón got snubbed was because the NL went with five relievers, but man, it's hard to argue with their cases, too. Ryan Helsley was one of them and he has 54 strikeouts and a 0.75 ERA in 36 innings.
10. Twins (48-40): The batting champ as the All-Star break approaches? It's Twins first baseman Luis Arreaz, who is at .348.
9. Phillies (46-40): Kyle Schwarber's huge June kept them afloat after Bryce Harper went down, and he has continued to mash. He leads the NL with 28 homers, 10 shy of his career-high.
6. Padres (49-38): They hung around for a while, but their latest attempt at winning the NL West might be just about over. With back-to-back losses to the Giants over the weekend, they've fallen eight games behind the Dodgers.
5. Braves (52-35): A huge June got them back in an NL East race that looked over, and they've kept the push going in July. With wins in eight of their last 10, they're just 1 1/2 games behind a Mets team that once led the division by 10 1/2 games.
4. Mets (53-33): It won't be much longer before they get even stronger with Jacob deGrom's return. He's made two rehab starts and put up predictably absurd numbers: 4 2/3 innings, 3 hits, 11 strikeouts.
3. Astros (56-29): For as much attention as the New York teams have gotten, the Astros provided a reminder that they're going to be right there at the end by going 6-2 during a three-series stretch against the Yankees and Mets, including 4-2 on the road. Their split at Yankee Stadium included a combined no-hitter.
1. Yankees (61-25): They lead the Majors in runs scored, OPS and homers. They're also third in ERA and put two starters (Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes) and a closer (Clay Holmes) on the All-Star team. There's no doubt about who the best team in baseball is at the break.
Astros vs. A's
Korey Lee's three-hit game drives Astros to 6-1 win
The White Sox beat the Tigers 8-0 behind a gem of a game from Johnny Cueto.
Carlos Santana went yard twice and the Seattle Mariners won their eighth game in a row, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5.
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2022-07-11T17:43:00Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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MLB Power Rankings: Giants drop to middle of pack after losing streak
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One of Auburn’s top targets regardless of position is ready to announce his commitment.
Four-star tight end Jelani Thurman will announce his decision Sunday, July 17 at 11 a.m. CDT, he tweeted out Sunday night.
While Thurman did not release an updated list of his top schools, he announced a top eight of Auburn, Clemson, Miami, Michigan State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Ohio State, and Tennessee, back in April.
Of those schools, he took official visits to Auburn, Alabama, Michigan State, and Ohio State, which seem like the most likely destinations for him. He has been heavily recruited by all four schools and you can make the case for why each one is the favorite.
Auburn has prioritized him from the beginning and he will also have the chance to play football and basketball. Also, Auburn commit and four-star safety Terrance Love is his teammate at Langston Hughes.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Thurman is ranked as the No. 135 overall player and No. 9 tight end in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 11 player in the state of Georgia.
From Craig to Nix: Here are Auburn's last 25 opening day quarterbacks
Here’s how much the winners of the World Series of Poker Main Event make
Eight players will earn at least $1 million.
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2022-07-11T17:46:30Z
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Auburn’s top tight end target sets commitment date
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Even Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff couldn’t have foreseen the conference losing its biggest media market after his first year on the job.
When UCLA and USC announced they would move to the Big 10 for the 2024 season and take the Los Angeles market with them, it marked the beginning of the nd for the Conference of Champions. This has sent school such as Oregon and Washington scrambling for a new home either in the Big 10, Big XII or the ACC.
As Kliavkoff is set to negotiate the Pac-12’s next media contract, he’s been put at a huge disadvantage as he won’t know what markets he’ll have to sell to prospective media partners. Suffice it to say, this wasn’t what Kliavkoff planned for when he took the job last year.
We went to our buddy TrojansWire.com editor Matt Zemek for some clarity on the subject. This was his take.
Kliavkoff was definitely caught off guard by this. Reporting has said this had been going on for a few months, but there’s little question that the origination point — the spark of inspiration — was the Texas-Oklahoma move to the SEC last summer. That opened the door to a new exploration for USC and UCLA. Texas and Oklahoma both moved to the SEC for a big, new infusion of cash. USC and UCLA are doing basically the same thing.
It’s obviously more of a surprise here with the Trojans and Bruins because of the geography-shattering nature of the move. Texas and OU playing in the SEC doesn’t create unique logistical headaches. USC and UCLA in the Big Ten does. We have reached a point where geography really doesn’t matter that much. Texas-OU didn’t bring us to that realization. USC and UCLA to the Big Ten is a far more transformative and consequential moment for college football (and not in a good way, if you ask me).
No matter where Oregon, Washington or the other Pac-12 schools land, there’s no question the college football landscape has been forever changed.
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2022-07-11T17:47:21Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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UCLA and USC bolting is George Kliavkoff’s nightmare come to life
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Coach Brian Kelly may still be looking for that elusive national title, but that’s about the only feat he hasn’t accomplished in his three decades spent as a head coach.
After making four stops since 1991 — most recently a 12-year stint at Notre Dame (where he’s the all-time leader in wins) — Kelly is the third-winningest active head coach in the FBS ranks behind Nick Saban and Mack Brown.
Our colleagues at Cornhuskers Wire recently undertook the herculean task of power ranking all 65 current Power Five coaches, and it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Kelly stands near the top of that list at No. 7. That puts him at fourth in the SEC behind Saban, Kirby Smart and Jimbo Fisher.
All three of those coaches have national championships, so it’s understandable that Kelly will sit behind them until he can earn one of his own. The only coaches who rank higher than Kelly without titles are Ryan Day (No. 6) and Lincoln Riley (No. 4).
Kelly could have retired as arguably the greatest coach in Fighting Irish history, but he instead chose to take a risk and make the jump to the SEC, where he clearly feels he will have the resources to finally take a team all the way. LSU fans will hope that pays off, and given the fact that its last three coaches have all won national titles, Kelly has big shoes to fill.
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2022-07-11T17:47:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Where does LSU’s Brian Kelly stand in these Power 5 coach rankings?
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Less than two calendar years ago, it wasn’t Treylon Burks who expected to be the most talented player on the Arkansas football roster. But the Warren High School product developed into perhaps the best wide receiver in Razorbacks history and into a first-round NFL draft pick this spring.
Jalen Catalon, on the other hand, has had the goods from the moment he arrived on campus.
Next year, with a healthy junior season under his belt, the NFL will almost certainly come knocking and according to USA TODAY NFL Draft Wire, Catalon will be the second straight Arkansas player taken in the first round.
The safety had 46 tackles, two interceptions and four pass break-ups last year for Arkansas. If it doesn’t sound all that impressive, keep in mind he played just six games last year with a shoulder injury. The year before he finished with 99 tackles and three interceptions, earning AP Freshman All-American honors.
Catalon could have entered the draft with Burks because he redshirted his freshman year on campus. But his return to Arkansas provides the Hogs with a defensive backfield that is among the SEC’s best.
Burks was taken with the No. 18 pick by the Tennessee Titans in April.
Arkansas opens the season September 3 against Cincinnati.
Oklahoma City is dedicated to developing Jaylin Williams into a solid NBA player based on his rookie contract.
Inflation hitting a 40-year high has not gone unnoticed by everyday Americans. Nearly 90 percent of those polled in a recent survey said they were very or somewhat anxious about the rise. This total marks an increase of eight percentage points compared with the same poll conducted in May. The current American Psychiatric Association’s (APA)…
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2022-07-11T18:02:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Who is it? Arkansas football expected to have another first-round NFL pick after this year
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The Buffalo Bills are back-to-back AFC East champs. Could they go for the three peat?
After years of domination in the division by the New England Patriots, Buffalo would love nothing more than stacking more division titles.
Bleacher Report thinks that’s likely to happen in 2022. However, B/R did acknowledge some steps forward taken by the Bills’ rivals.
B/R ranked every division winner from last year in terms of how likely they are to repeat. Buffalo landed at the No. 3 overall spot.
In the end, B/R felt the defending division champs in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South) and Green Bay Packers (NFC North) were more likely to repeat because of their competition.
The AFC East has started to reload, but clearly there’s still some solid belief that the Bills will do it again. They are the highest-ranked AFC division winner on the list.
Here’s how B/R sees Buffalo’s chances at repeating in the division:
After years of New England Patriots dominance in the AFC East, the division seems to have shifted right into another dynasty.
The Bills snapped an 11-year streak of Patriots AFC East championships in 2020. They took a step back in terms of record in 2021 (going from 13-3 to 11-6) but still wound up clinching the division championship.
Josh Allen’s Bills still have a ways to go to establish that kind of dominance over the division, but they are the prohibitive favorite to win the division again.
The BIlls came in No. 2 in Bleacher Report’s post-draft power rankings. After taking the Chiefs to the wire in the playoffs, they added an elite edge-rusher in Von Miller.
The only reason the Bills aren’t higher is the competition within the division is better than the top two teams on the list.
The Patriots were only one game behind the Bills last season with a rookie Mac Jones. If he shows improvement in his second season, it stands to reason the Patriots could be a threat.
The Dolphins were one of the most improved teams in the league. The defense was solid last season, and they remodeled the offense with the additions of Tyreek Hill, Terron Armstead, Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Connor Williams.
Even the Jets took big steps toward becoming competitive. They had a great draft that included three first-rounders, including Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson II.
Still, the Bills are in a much better position than the rest to win the division and contend for a Super Bowl.
Von Miller has an 11-year-old Bills hat as team planned to draft him
When single father Max (John Cho) discovers he has a terminal disease, he decides to try and cram all the years of love and support he will miss with his teenage daughter Wally (Mia Isaac) into the time he has left with her. With the promise of long-awaited driving lessons, he convinces Wally to accompany him on a road trip from California to New Orleans for his 20th college reunion, where he secretly hopes to reunite her with her mother who left them long ago. A wholly original and emotional jo
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2022-07-11T18:03:00Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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B/R: Bills have third-best chances of repeating as division champs
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The New York Giants are in the midst of overhauling their roster after years of excessive losing. New general manager Joe Schoen is just beginning to put his stamp on the team, so it will take some time for them to get into contention.
They are still near the bottom of the NFL when it comes to talent as illustrated in a recent article from Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, who ranks the Giants’ roster 29th out of 32 teams.
The Giants’ defense needed less tuning than their offense but salary cap constraints forced them to sever ties with several key veterans in their secondary (James Bradberry, Logan Ryan and Jabrill Peppers) which has weakened them considerably heading into this season.
The pass rush, however, should be a lot better with some new faces and a new coordinator in Wink Martindale.
Giants fans should not take this ranking as a slight. You need to take a step back sometimes to get your footing to go forward.
That is what Schoen is doing. He has set the Giants’ cap situation straight after years of excesses and it’s going to be a rough ride for a year or two before they begin to reap the benefits of his plan.
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2022-07-11T18:03:19Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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CBS Sports: Giants have fourth-worst roster in NFL
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https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-giants-fourth-worst-143059617.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-giants-fourth-worst-143059617.html?src=rss
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The Houston Texans are trying to turn the page on their rebuilding phase and get back to contending for playoff spots.
One of the NFL’s attempts to have parity in the league is the imposition of a hard salary cap. As a result, teams can’t go out and get the best talent money can buy. Teams have to be prudent with their cap dollars, which involves putting more money at certain positions.
All figures are via Spotrac. The offense is getting $87,787,436, 41.02% of the salary cap while the defense is getting $83,871,788, or 39.19% of the cap. Special teams has been allocated $8,180,833, or 3.82% of the cap.
Here is a breakdown by position of where the Texans’ dollars are going in 2022.
Quarterback — $5,669,721
texans-davis-mills-experienced-qb-room
Consider the Texans spent $23,579,815 at quarterback last season. The little over $5 million Houston is spending in 2022 is the second-cheapest in the NFL, and it only accounts for 2.65% of their cap.
Running back — $8,293,713
texans-rex-burkhead-nominated-for-fedex-nfl-ground-player-week
The Texans are using 3.88% of their cap space at running back, the 18th-most in the league.
Receiver — $22,905,289
texans-brandin-cooks-2-year-extension
(AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
The Texans are spending 10.70% of their cap space at receiver, the 16th-most in the NFL.
Tight end — $9,391,766
Houston is spending 4.39% of their cap at tight end, the 20th-most in the NFL.
Offensive line — $43,769,622
texans-laremy-tunsil-covid-protocol-miss-buccaneers
The Texans are spending 20.45% of their cap on the offensive line, the ninth-most in the NFL. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is getting the biggest slice of pie at 8.27% with a $17,707,988 cap hit.
Defensive line — $26,018,846
texans-maliek-collins-no-longer-old-guy-dl-room
The defensive line is taking 12.16% of their salary cap, the 24th-most in the league.
Linebacker — $25,345,939
houston-texans-final-year-contract-2022-kamu-grugier-hill-jordan-jenkins
The Texans are spending 11.84% of their salary cap at linebacker, the 19th-most in the NFL.
Secondary — $35,251,912
texans-sign-derek-stingley
Houston is spending 16.47% of their cap on the secondary, the 13th-most in the league.
Special teams — $8,180,833
The Texans are spending 3.82% of their cap on special teams, the sixth-most in the league. Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn is getting 2.01% of the cap with a $4,300,000 hit.
Chasten Buttigieg tweeted his reaction to Justice Brett Kavanaugh escaping protesters at a restaurant in D.C. by leaving through the back door and conservatives are upset.
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2022-07-11T18:03:32Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Houston Texans positional spending: Where the salary cap dollars are spent in 2022
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https://sports.yahoo.com/houston-texans-positional-spending-where-163730240.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/houston-texans-positional-spending-where-163730240.html?src=rss
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In the 65 years since the AP started giving out the MVP award, 45 of the winners have been quarterbacks. A player at that position has won the award nine years in a row with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers winning in 2020 and 2021.
Last week, NFL.com’s Kevin Patra looked at each team’s roster and came up with the best options to be named MVP that weren’t quarterbacks, and wide receiver Tyreek Hill was the pick for Miami.
If the Dolphins dominate in 2022, the rise will largely stem from the added dimensions Hill brings to the offense. Yes, we’re all well aware of the consternation surrounding Tua Tagovailoa‘s deep passing. For our purposes in this exercise, we can suppose that’s an overblown narrative that becomes unfounded as Hill continues to be the most explosive deep player in the NFL. Added to that, the wideout joins an offense under Mike McDaniel that should excel at getting the speedster the ball in space. Hill leads the league with 3.4 yards of separation per route since 2016, per Next Gen Stats. I’m imagining Tyreek catching a bevy of short slants and using his breakneck speed to bust DB angles and scamper to the house. After leaving K.C., Hill lamented there were games he felt he wasn’t used enough. He will see the ball a ton in 2022.
Hill was acquired this offseason for five draft picks before signing a contract to make him the highest-paid wideout in NFL history. Making the Pro Bowl in each of his first six seasons, Hill has been one of the best players at his position for a while now, and he has the chance to prove he was more than just a product of the Kansas City Chiefs system.
However, for him to win MVP would be extremely rare. No wide receiver has ever won the award. It would be an amazing accomplishment to see Hill named MVP in his first season in aqua and orange.
There are a staggering number of complicated metrics that economists, sociologist, psychologists, and other “How are people doing?”-ologists have used over the years to determine the health of a society: Life expectancy, GDP, how many people get killed in a global pandemic every year, how close the country is to sliding into autocratic fascism, etc. But—if we’re being completely honest—many of these metrics have the major drawback of being total and absolute bummers. Which is why we here at The
AEW Champ Thunder Rosa returning to Combate Global MMA not to fight but to talk on commentary
Combate Global MMA announced that AEW women’s world champion Thunder Rosa (Melissa Cervantes) will return to Combate Global — this time as an analyst/commentator — for the company’s Paramount+ streamed live events in English on Friday and Friday, July 22 from Miami.
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2022-07-11T18:03:51Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL analyst picks Dolphins wide receiver as potential non-QB MVP candidate
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-analyst-picks-dolphins-wide-145553676.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-analyst-picks-dolphins-wide-145553676.html?src=rss
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Robert Griffin III's broadcasting career is continuing to gain steam.
According to the New York Post's Andrew Marchand, the former NFL quarterback has been tapped to replace Randy Moss on ESPN's "Monday Night Football" pregame show, "Monday Night Countdown". Marchand reported that ESPN has been impressed with Griffin and they wanted to find another outlet for his burgeoning talent. Moss' newly vacated seat on "Monday Night Countdown" gave them the opportunity to plug Griffin into a new project.
ESPN apparently didn't create this opportunity for RG3 by giving Moss the boot. Marchand reported on Friday that Moss decided to leave his MNF job voluntarily while he was negotiating a new contract with ESPN.
No official announcement has been made by ESPN, but Griffin tweeted about it on Monday morning.
Griffin, 32, has been a broadcaster for barely a year, breaking into the business after he decided to end his NFL career following the 2020 season. Marchand reported in June of 2021 that Griffin had auditioned for ESPN and Fox, and both networks were "blown away" by his talent. He was apparently so good that, according to Marchand, Fox and ESPN started a bidding war to sign him. ESPN won the war, and Griffin spent the 2021 football season calling college games and appearing as an analyst on several ESPN studio shows. He will reportedly continue doing that in addition to his new position on MNF.
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III will reportedly replace Randy Moss on ESPN's MNF pregame show. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Could Griffin return to the NFL?
Griffin has expressed a desire to return to the NFL if a team gives him an opportunity. He told KWTX a few weeks ago that he was still ready to go if a team called him, training, throwing, and working out every day to stay prepared.
Griffin was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, chosen by the Washington Commanders after spending four years at Baylor. His rookie season was great (he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but his time with the Commanders was mostly defined by injuries (a dislocated ankle and a knee issue that required surgery) and his inability to replicate his successful rookie year.
He was released in 2016 after spending the entire 2015 season inactive and third on the QB depth chart. He'd start just two games from 2016 to 2020, spending a year with the Cleveland Browns and three with the Baltimore Ravens as a backup.
Returning to the NFL is alluring, especially for guys like RG3 who didn't reach their full potential. His contract with ESPN reportedly has an out clause in case he wants to try it, but it seems like a very bad idea. He'd likely be competing for a backup role at best, trying to beat quarterbacks who are at least 10 years younger than him. Since ESPN apparently likes Griffin enough to give him a big MNF role after just a single year of broadcast experience, returning to the NFL trenches would be a step back.
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum ‘one of the best duos in the league,’ per OKC Thunder’s Josh Giddey
Giddey sees a bit of Brown and Tatum in his and fellow wing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's future development.
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2022-07-11T18:04:04Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL news: RG3 replacing Randy Moss on MNF pregame show, per report
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-robert-griffin-iii-to-replace-randy-moss-on-esp-ns-monday-night-football-pregame-show-172728269.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-robert-griffin-iii-to-replace-randy-moss-on-esp-ns-monday-night-football-pregame-show-172728269.html?src=rss
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The New England Patriots have had eventful offseasons for the last two years. 2021 was about adding and improving the team, while 2022 had a different feel to it, as New England lost its star cornerback in J.C. Jackson, in addition to trading away guard Shaq Mason.
New England did manage to keep some key pieces in the fold. One of those pieces was guard Trent Brown. The organization re-signed Brown for two years at a maximum of $22 million. In doing so, the Patriots kept one of the best guards in football at a low price.
With the loss of Mason, Brown’s return may prove crucial to the line. That’s not to say that the proverbial cupboard is barren at the position. The Patriots do have new pieces on the line, such as first-round pick Cole Strange. However, Brown’s return is extremely important.
PFF’s Brad Spielberger named the best offseason move for each team in the AFC, and he chose re-signing Brown as the Patriots’ choice.
With so many moving parts throughout the Patriots’ organization, re-signing Brown seems like a very sensible move. When you look at the pass-rushing talents of New England’s divisional opponents, this was a move that was almost necessary,
With the rest of the offense trying to find an identity, a protected pocket will be important for quarterback Mac Jones as he works on getting the offense in sync. Brown is a big part of that goal.
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2022-07-11T18:04:10Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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PFF names this re-signing as Patriots’ top offseason move for 2022
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https://sports.yahoo.com/pff-names-signing-patriots-top-173742395.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/pff-names-signing-patriots-top-173742395.html?src=rss
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If the rankings went squarely by the best rushing attack statistically, without context, then the Philadelphia Eagles would have the best running backs in football as they ended the season with the league’s top rush attack. Their running back wasn’t even their top rusher on the team though; the running quarterback was.
Being able to control the game with an ability to run the ball can demoralize the opponent, it can wear them down and put them away. Running the ball efficiently is a key to winning in the NFL. This series is a position-by-position breakdown of what each organization is bringing to the competition and the key for this article will be running back.
4) Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are the best example in the NFL of a team having an elite running game without a great running back. Philadelphia has one of the best offensive line units in the NFL. Jordan Mailata was tied for third amongst tackles in run block win rate, Landon Dickerson was second at offensive guard, and Jason Kelce was tied for second at center.
The Eagles also have the very rare scenario where their quarterback was better statistically than their running back. Jalen Hurts ran the ball 139 times for 784 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Sanders had 137 attempts, for 754 yards, but added zero touchdowns. Sanders was excellent in the passing game as a rookie but hasn’t even come close to the production the next two seasons.
Philadelphia has serviceable backups like Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell. The latter had 33 receptions and averaged 4.3 yards per carry in 2021.
The Giants likely have the most talented running back in the NFC East. Saquon Barkley started his career with over 2,300 yards and 17 rushing scores across his first two seasons, but a Barkley-led unit is still next to last in the division because he doesn’t come without his flaws. He still struggles to see the right hole and hit it quickly to take the three yards given to him. He has too many negative runs, trying to hit the home run when the single or even double is available.
As a rookie, Barkley broke a tackle every 8.7 carries which allowed him to get away with that style, but that broken tackle rate has dropped to 13.6 in 2019, then 19 before his injury in 2020, and last year was 40.5. If Barkley is only breaking a tackle once out of every 40 tries, he has to adjust his running style to take what is given to him.
Barkley has issues with durability as well. His rookie year he played more games than he has the last two seasons combined. In 2020 and 2021 Barkley combined for only 181 carries, for 627 and two touchdowns. That is only an average of 3.5 yards per carry.
The talent is there, but Barkley must be available, and show he can read plays better to get higher up in the rankings of the NFC East. Matt Breida is the backup, and while he was a solid performer under Kyle Shannahan before, he isn’t at all a needle mover at this point in his career. He’s only had 85 carries combined the last two seasons.
2) Washington Commanders
The Commanders come in second in the NFC East mainly due to the fact that they have two legit options with Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic.
Gibson is definitely the Commanders’ lead back. He has started 24 of the 30 games he has played in and accumulated 1,832 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing on 428 carries. Gibson also added 78 receptions for 541 yards and three scores in the passing game.
In his first two seasons Gibson has put up really good RB1 numbers. 506 touches, 2,373 yards, and 21 touchdowns, but he has had issues from his rookie year to his sophomore season. After only one fumble in 206 touches, he had 6 fumbles in 300 touches last season. His broken-tackle rate went from one every 8.5 attempts to every 13.6, and his drop percentage fell from only 4.5 as a rookie down to 11.5 in 2021.
McKissic is a true receiving back for the Commanders. In the last two seasons McKissic has rushed the ball 133 times and has been targeted 163 times in the passing game. Both Gibson and McKissic average 4.3 yards per rush, but Gibson gets more attempts at a three-to-one clip.
As a receiver McKissic has caught 123 passes for 986 yards and four touchdowns. Last season he averaged 9.2 yards per reception, and Carson Wentz has been a QB that targets his running backs often. McKissic and Gibson should be a dynamic duo that could account for 2,000 yards from scrimmage next season.
1) Dallas Cowboys
The crazy thing about the Cowboys’ backfield is that the fourth overall pick, with an 18-million-dollar cap hit, and two rushing titles is not the reason they are the best in the NFC East.
Ezekiel Elliott absolutely helps. Battling through an injury Elliott was still able to manage 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns rushing. Before being injured though, Elliott was getting a first down or touchdown on 30 percent of his carries and averaging 17 carries for 90 yards with a TD per game. That would’ve put him at just over 1,500 yards and 17 scores on under 300 total attempts. That type of production is what you expect from an $18 million cap hit.
The issue for Elliott was his efficiency. He finished No. 43 in yards per carry, and at No. 39 in true yards per carry, which discounts runs 10 yards or longer.
In breakaway runs, Elliott was No. 32 and his breakaway run rate was just No. 52. On the other hand, Tony Pollard was top 10 in all those categories and top five three of the four.
Pollard has been given more touches each season of his career and has produced at a high enough level that it should continue. In limited carries he was one of the best backs per attempt in the league, but his real leap was in the passing game. He raised his catch rate to 84.8%, up almost 10 points over his previous career high.
His yards per reception went up to 8.6, and he had more total yards than his previous two seasons combined. He was such an asset to the passing game that he has often been moved out to the slot in packages with Elliott in the backfield. Allowing the offense to ideally hide what type of running game they are going to before the snap.
The combo of a healthy work horse like Elliott and a high-caliber efficiency back like Pollard, where both are impactful as runners, receivers and blockers makes the Cowboys running back unit the top in the NFC East.
There is a large contingency of fans and even analysts that subscribe to the theory that running backs don’t matter. This is basically them saying not to put money, or high draft value, into the position. The NFC East is a perfect test case for them. The Commanders have a split back field that is almost perfectly interchangeable. The Giants drafted possibly the best prospect at the position ever and he is made to look below average in their scheme with their surrounding talent. The Eagles have a mobile QB that outperforms their starting tailback, and the Cowboys have a top five pick in the draft making top five money and nearly everyone wants his more-efficient backup getting more carries.
The position has been devalued over the past decade, but they are still a key cog in teams winning games. Whether it’s the true 25 carries per game back, the receiving threat, a guy picking up the blitz, or someone that does all three, the position is vital to winning football.
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2022-07-11T18:04:17Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ranking NFC East teams by their stable of running backs in 2022
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-nfc-east-teams-stable-163702270.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-nfc-east-teams-stable-163702270.html?src=rss
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The 2022 WNBA season is at the artificial halfway point following last weekend’s All-Star Game festivities, which included a victory for Sabrina Ionescu in the skills challenge.
Ionescu has been far and away the most exciting Oregon Ducks alumni playing in the WNBA this season – and in fact she has been perhaps the most exciting player in the entire league.
Her first half included two triple-doubles and many other highlight reel performances, many which went viral on social media, and at 24 it is clear she is on her way to being the face of the league for years to come.
The season has not gone quite as well for Oregon’s three other alumni, mostly due to injuries for both the Sabally sisters and a decreased role for Chicago forward Ruthy Hebard.
Here is an overview of every Oregon alumni and how they did in the first half of the WNBA season:
Ruthy Hebard, Chicago Sky
(AP Photo/Eileen T. Meslar)
Hebard is now in her third WNBA season, but unfortunately she is seeing less playing time and less production than she did in her first two years with the Sky.
After averaging roughly 5.7 points and four boards in a little over 15 minutes per game in years one and two, Hebard is playing just 10.4 minutes per night through 16 games in 2022, averaging just 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game.
Ionescu capped off an incredible stretch of basketball by not only being named an All-Star, but by winning the WNBA Skills Challenge.
Ionescu spent the first half of the season racking up triple-doubles at a torrid pace and consistently setting social media ablaze with her jaw-dropping performances. After 22 games, she is averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 36.1% from three and 92.9% from the free throw line.
Nyara Sabally, New York Liberty
Sabally will soon be on the court with Ionescu after getting selected by the New York Liberty in the 2022 WNBA draft, but an injury will keep her out for the entirety of her first professional season.
Satou Sabally, Dallas Wings
It’s been a tough go for Sabally in her third WNBA season. She missed the start of the year while playing overseas in Europe, and has dealt with a handful of injuries since she returned.
All told she’s appeared in 10 games for Dallas, starting five, and has averages of 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and two assists while shooting 40.4% from the field.
Top blocks from Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Top blocks from Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 07/09/2022
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2022-07-11T18:54:12Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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How Oregon alumni performed during first half of WNBA season
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https://sports.yahoo.com/oregon-alumni-performed-during-first-170112605.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/oregon-alumni-performed-during-first-170112605.html?src=rss
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2022) — NASCAR announced today Michael Verlatti, who has led the creation, production and execution of elite event experiences at major venues across the country for more than two decades, has been hired as Managing Director of Event Experience.
Verlatti, a San Francisco native, has worked with some of the most recognizable sports and entertainment organizations, as well as several Fortune 500 companies throughout his career, including extensive involvement in enhancing elements of the event experience at NASCAR races in his previous role of Chief Operating Officer at ISM Connect. Prior to his time at ISM Connect, Verlatti played an integral role in the acquisition and development of Sprint‘s multi-million dollar experiential activation programs in 2007 and 2013 before starting his own company, Traction Event Labs, in 2014. After two years of rapid growth, his company was acquired by ISM Connect where he was named COO.
“There is nothing like the thrill and excitement of attending a race in person, and NASCAR continues to reinvest in our event weekends to ensure the fan experience is immersive, dynamic and best-in-class at every race track we visit,” said NASCAR Chief Properties Officer Chip Wile. “Michael‘s pedigree and experience in this space will bolster even further our ability to deliver on that promise and ensure every fan has the best experience possible from the moment they arrive to the moment they get in their car after the checkered flag flies.”
In this new role, Verlatti will set the strategic direction for all event experience activities and implement an innovative, best-in-class event experience across all NASCAR series events. He will also lead the execution for all year-round sports and entertainment events at NASCAR-owned properties beyond motorsports activities.
Verlatti and his wife, Kelly, reside in Daytona Beach, FL.
Even as the city grows, the fishery at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers remains strong.
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2022-07-11T18:54:24Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NASCAR hires longtime live event production executive Michael Verlatti to lead NASCAR's growing event experience team
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-hires-longtime-live-event-114600352.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-hires-longtime-live-event-114600352.html?src=rss
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Offensive Plays: 1,052 (21st)
Despite leading the Dolphins to consecutive winning seasons, Brian Flores was ousted at the end of the 2021 season. Mike McDaniel, Kyle Shanahan’s right-hand man, was hired as Miami’s next head coach. McDaniel has been at Shanahan’s side for 14 NFL seasons across five teams. He was most recently the offensive coordinator for San Francisco. Frank Smith, the Chargers’ run game coordinator for the 2021 season, was tabbed as his offensive coordinator. Josh Boyer, Miami’s defensive coordinator of two years, was kept on board.
With McDaniel spending nearly all of his adult life working under Shanahan, we can use the latter’s tendencies as a proxy for McDaniel’s style. Shanahan relies on his wide zone running scheme often. The 49ers finished the 2021 season with a -7 percent pass rate over expected and titled toward the run in all scenarios.
SF PROE
Source: rbsdm.com
The good news is that the scheme bolstered Elijah Mitchell, Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida, and Jeff Wilson to one or multiple seasons with more than 4.5 yards per carry on at least 100 attempts. That’s just in San Francisco. Also featured in the Bay Area were committee backfields. Given Miami's messy running back situation, that will likely be brought with McDaniel as well.
The 49ers’ West Coast passing attack relies on quick throws designed to get play-makers in space. Because of this, Jimmy Garoppolo finished bottom-two in average target depth in two of the past three years. Conversely, Pro Football Focus has charted him as one of the fastest quarterbacks in average time to throw. Shanahan got his receivers and tight ends open close to the line of scrimmage and let them do work after the catch, spurring massive seasons from Deebo Samuel and George Kittle in recent years.
QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Teddy Bridgewater
WR: Tyreek Hill, Preston Williams
WR: Jaylen Waddle, Trent Sherfield
WR: Cedrick Wilson, Lynn Bowden
TE: Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe, Adam Shaheen
At a high level, Tua Tagovailoa’s 2021 season was a mixed bag. He averaged 226 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game in contests he didn’t exit early. On the downside, he also averaged nearly one interception per game and threw for just 6.9 yards per attempt in those weeks. Just using these results, he would have been the QB15 by points per game.
Tagovailoa’s game has been built on beating defenses through RPOs and play-action attempts. Last year, Miami led the NFL in pass attempts on RPO plays and passing yards generated on those plays. Tua also led all quarterbacks in RPO yards per attempt, though that was greatly influenced by him also having the highest target depth on RPOs. A similar pattern develops when looking at play-action. Tagovailoa gained an additional 2.3 yards per attempt and 6.8 completion rate percentage points on play-action throws. Only two of his 10 interceptions came on play-action dropbacks. Tua threw with the benefit of play-action 42.8 percent of the time, eight percent more than any other passer. In 2021, McDaniel’s team only used play-action on 26.2 percent of their throws. They also utilized RPOs at half of the league-average rate. The potential mismatch between Tua’s strengths and what his new head coach has done in the past is more than a bit concerning.
The receivers, on the other hand, should be good fits for McDaniel. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle ranked 11th and ninth in yards after the catch last year. As a bonus, they both have some rushing chops as well, with Hill scoring two rushing touchdowns in 2020 and Waddle finding the end zone once on the ground as a rookie. The target share split between the two is projected to be significant by fantasy drafters, who are taking Hill 16 picks ahead of Waddle. Hill’s extensive history of production should earn him a higher ADP, but don’t be surprised if Waddle makes things closer than anticipated. His 140 targets were the fourth-most for a rookie wide receiver since targets began being tracked. His 24.6 percent target share is the second-highest for a rookie since 2015, trailing only Justin Jefferson. Though he benefited from weak target competition, the ability to enter the NFL and immediately be the focal point of a passing attack points to Waddle being a star in the making.
With Miami projected to lean into their running game under McDaniel, the third receiver in this offense won’t hold much value. Cedrick Wilson primarily plays in the slot and is now on an offense loaded with slot options.
Last year, the 49ers also ran three-receiver sets on just 48 percent of their plays, often opting to take out their third receiver for a fullback. Wilson will be the player subbed out in favor of Alec Ingold. It would take at least one injury ahead of Wilson for him to be a reliable fantasy option.
Mike Gesicki will take the field for most downs again in 2022, but his target share may be less resilient to a new face in the offense. His yards per route run of 1.45 was far lower than Waddle’s mark and he trailed the rookie in yards per target. Projecting a dip in his target share plus a decrease in the team’s pass rate makes it hard to see Gesicki finishing the year as anything other than a low-end TE1.
RB: Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel
OL (L-R): Terron Armstead, Liam Eichenberg, Connor Williams, Robert Hunt, Austin Jackson
After failing to establish any semblance of a ground game in 2021, the Dolphins revamped their backfield and offensive line in the offseason. Chase Edmonds enters training camp as the favorite to lead the team in carries. Miami inked Edmonds to a two-year, $12 million contract in free agency. Edmonds has never been a lead-back, staying below 100 carries in all but one of his four NFL seasons. He also had just one carry inside the five-yard line until 2021, when he was given five looks close to the end zone. Edmonds projects to lead the backfield, but he is at risk of splitting work while ceding goal line touches to a backup.
That backup will either be Raheem Mostert or Sony Michel. Mostert has only played nine games in the past two years, but he has experience in McDdaniel’s scheme and got $3 million in free agency. During his time in San Francisco, Mostert was the league’s purest home run hitter.
Given his extensive injury history, Moster will likely be held to a limited role, though he could still be sporadically productive. Michel could be used as a red zone back. He was third in the NFL in red zone carries while splitting time with Darrell Henderson in 2021. If he enters the fray to steal red zone work, Miami’s three-headed committee will be a nightmare to detangle on a weekly basis.
The line has been in shambles for years, but Miami management spared no expense in correcting that issue in free agency. They signed former Saints left tackle Terron Armstead to a five-year, $75 million contract. Miami also added Connor Williams on a two-year, $14 million deal. Before his injury-shortened 2021 season, Armstead was ranked seventh, eighth, and first in offensive grade among tackles by PFF. Williams has also received positive grades as a run and pass-blocker over the past two years.The problem with Miami's line lies with it's youngest players. Liam Eichenberg gave up 62 pressures as a rookie while Austin Jackson was at 49 last year. Both players were penalized at least 10 times last year as well.
Miami’s success will ultimately live or die in the hands of Tua. The Dolphins are doing everything they can to support him in his third season, but he showed serious flaws in his game last year. He is also getting a head coach who won't bring a system tailored to his specific skills. Over the past 14 years, head coaches in their first year with a team have posted a .434 win percentage. In a 17-game season, that’s 7.4 wins. Forced to take a side, I’d lean toward the under of 8.5 wins.
Pick: Under
2023 NFL draft watch list: Offensive Tackle
Take an early look at some of the top offensive tackle prospects eligible for the 2023 NFL draft
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2022-07-11T19:48:37Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 Miami Dolphins Fantasy Preview
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-miami-dolphins-fantasy-preview-181425899.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-miami-dolphins-fantasy-preview-181425899.html?src=rss
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Even the most established players in the NFL have plenty to prove on a yearly basis, whether it’s attempting to show they’re the best at their respective position or deserving of a new contract in the offseason.
For the Rams, there are several players on the roster who are under some pressure to prove themselves in 2022. Tutu Atwell is among them, needing to bounce back from a rough rookie season that ended prematurely due to injury.
Here are six other players with the most to prove this season.
Akers proved his toughness in a very big way last season when he returned from a torn Achilles in less than six months. But now it’s up to him to prove he’s capable of being one of the best backs in football. He showed flashes of that late in his rookie year but he wasn’t the most efficient runner last season after his return, and I don’t think it was due to a lack of speed or explosiveness.
The Rams have Darrell Henderson Jr. behind Akers, and they won’t be afraid to use him in the event that Akers struggles in 2022. This is Akers’ best opportunity to show he’s a premier running back in Year 3.
Atwell contributed minimally last season as a second-round rookie. He didn’t touch the ball on offense and was mostly ineffective as a returner. Now that he’s recovered from his shoulder injury and has a year of learning under his belt, it’s time for Atwell to take a step toward being someone who can play offense and special teams.
Many fans and analysts are still down on Atwell after his rookie year, and it’ll take a strong showing in 2022 to change their minds after the Rams used a second-round pick on him in 2021.
Noteboom has big shoes to fill – literally and figuratively. He’s taking over Andrew Whitworth’s perch at left tackle, replacing the former All-Pro as Matthew Stafford’s blindside protector. Noteboom has quietly done an excellent job in the past when Whitworth has missed time, but now he’ll be a full-time player and at the forefront in the many prime-time games the Rams will play.
Not to mention, he just signed a $40 million contract that he has to live up to. If he plays the way he has in spot duty, there will be no reservations about the deal he earned this offseason.
Long is entering the final year of his rookie contract and has a golden opportunity to earn an extension if he can step up in 2022. Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill are expected to be two of the starters at cornerback, and Long currently has the inside track to the third spot. But he’ll need to beat out Robert Rochell, Derion Kendrick and Decobie Durant first.
Long was inconsistent last season and will need to play much better this year if he’s going to land a long-term extension, making this the biggest season of his young career so far.
DB Terrell Burgess
Burgess has been a major disappointment since being drafted by the Rams in the third round two years ago. His versatility and instincts were supposed to make him a valuable piece of the secondary, but he has yet to play significant snaps. Even when the Rams lost their two starting safeties last season, Burgess’ role remained small.
Even though this is only his third NFL season, Burgess is running out of time to prove he’s deserving of much playing time at safety or nickel back. He must stand out in the preseason and training camp to get off to a good start this summer.
OLB Terrell Lewis
Lewis is another player from the 2020 class who hasn’t met expectations. He’s played just 19 games, has five sacks and 27 total tackles, being limited by injuries up to this point. The Rams knew durability was a concern when they took him in the third round, and those worries have become a reality.
With Von Miller gone, the Rams need Lewis to step up and fill the void opposite Leonard Floyd. Justin Hollins will also get more opportunities, but the coaches in L.A. would love if Lewis became the potent pass rusher they thought he could be.
S Taylor Rapp
Rapp was thrust into a full-time starting role last season after John Johnson left in free agency, but the results were mixed. He was decent in run defense but his coverage ability was lacking, and it showed when Nick Scott replaced him late in the year.
Rapp won’t be handed his starting job again this year, not with the way Scott played in the postseason. So Rapp will have to prove he’s capable of covering tight ends and dropping back into zone in order to maintain the snaps he’s played in recent years.
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2022-07-11T19:48:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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7 Rams players with the most to prove in 2022
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https://sports.yahoo.com/7-rams-players-most-prove-183114351.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/7-rams-players-most-prove-183114351.html?src=rss
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The Eagles added versatility during the 2022 NFL free agency period, inking Haason Reddick, Kyzir White, Zach Pascal, Jaquiski Tartt, and James Bradberry to fair market value deals.
Philadelphia currently has about $13 million in cap space, and they’re spending about $181.9 million-plus on both sides of the football, with the offensive and defensive lines carrying the biggest chunk of cap space.
The Eagles are set to spend $93,214,512 on the offensive side of the football, with the bulk of that money invested into the offensive line (Lane Johnson $15,762,998).
On the defensive side of the ball, Philadelphia has invested $88,708,144, with Javon Hargrave on the hook for $17,802,000 in 2022.
The Eagles are a darkhorse favorite in the NFC and have one of the most talented rosters in the league despite being 24th in average positional spending.
Here are the top-10 contract bargains for Philadelphia thanks to Over The Cap.
One of the top young offensive guards in the NFL.
2022 Cap number $1,967,425 51st among guards in NFL
(Bergen Record photo / USA TODAY Network)
A solid and athletic wide receiver, Watkins is the 168th highest-paid wideout in the NFL.
A potential starter at safety for the Eagles, Epps is the 34th highest paid free safety in the NFL.
A potential starter at middle linebacker, the third-round pick will enter the season as the 37th highest paid linebacker in the NFL from a salary cap standpoint.
Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Hurts is the ultimate bargain and the 56th highest-paid quarterback in football.
Salary Cap Hit: $3,628,000
Pro Bowl pass rushers aren’t cheap, and the Eagles’ leading sack recorder from 2021 is the 37th highest-paid pass rusher from a salary cap standpoint in 2022.
A top-10 wideout in the NFL, Brown is the 31st highest paid at the position in 2022.
2022 salary cap hit: 4,372,000
One of the best left tackles in the NFL, Mailata will come in at No. 22 on the left tackle’s salary list after he signed a 4 year, $64,000,000 contract with the Eagles, including a $10,000,000 signing bonus, $40,850,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $16,000,000. In 2022, Mailata will earn a base salary of $965,000 and a signing bonus of $7,035,000, while carrying a cap hit of $4,372,000.
A late offseason signee, Bradberry is the 74th highest-paid cornerback in 2022.
Salary cap hit: $908,881
A dual-threat running back, Gainwell lands outside the top-100 in highest-paid running backs and he’ll carry a heavy load even with Miles Sanders in the lineup.
Jalen Hurts‘ ability to take a step forward as a quarterback this year is one of the biggest storylines for the Eagles as they head toward training camp and a report indicating he’s on the wrong track caught the notice of wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown went on Twitter with an apparent response to a [more]
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2022-07-11T19:48:50Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles’ top-10 salary cap bargains for 2022
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-top-10-salary-cap-184826659.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-top-10-salary-cap-184826659.html?src=rss
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The Patriots had a busy offseason, with many moves drastically changing the outlook of the team. One of those moves involved the coaching staff, as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left New England for the head coaching position with the Las Vegas Raiders. This may not be a good thing, according to the opinion of one former Patriot.
New England has yet to name an offensive coordinator to replace McDaniels. Joe Judge and Matt Patricia look to be in prime position to help lead the offense. Judge most recently served as the team’s special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2019.
Patricia has taken on defensive coaching roles during his time with the Patriots. His last stint on the offensive side of the football came in 2005. He was New England’s assistant offense of line coach that season before becoming the linebackers coach in 2006.
With that in mind, former Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty sees these changes negatively affecting Mac Jones, as transcribed by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
“You’ll never hear anybody [on the team] say anything in the media … but it’s definitely going to be a big thing. It has to be,” McCourty said during his recent guest-hosting appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” show. “If you’re Mac Jones … who’s the guy you go to and say, ‘I want to run these plays this week’?”
It will be intriguing to see how the offense is structured, particularly as Jones and the organization as a whole looks to make strides after a promising 2022 season. With a revamped wide receiver group, and a full offseason under his belt, this could be the year in which Jones takes the next step and helps elevate New England back to the top. What that may look like and how that may get done is anybody’s guess.
School Board and County Commission District 2 foes square off at forum
Harmony Tan, Katie Boulter and Rafael Nadal were among those involved in Centre Court classics in 2022
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2022-07-11T19:48:56Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ex-Patriot Jason McCourty sees coaching changes as a negative for Mac Jones
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-patriot-jason-mccourty-sees-175552019.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-patriot-jason-mccourty-sees-175552019.html?src=rss
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There's now less than two months remaining until the NFL kicks off their regular season. While it might be the dog days of summer, the excitement is building and we are just a few weeks away from training camps and preseason football starting up. However, betting on the NFL season doesn't have to wait until September. Throughout the offseason, bettors have been betting on which teams they think will win their division in the AFC. Who are the favorites and which teams are receiving the most action?
The favorite: The Indianapolis Colts are coming off a 9-8 season in which they missed the playoffs. It might be surprising to some that they are odds-on favorites to win the AFC South in 2022, ahead of the Tennessee Titans who were the No. 1 seed in the conference last season. However, public consensus has soured on the Titans after their poor playoff showing last year. They then parted ways with key players like A.J. Brown and Rodger Saffold over the offseason. On the other side, the Colts brought in Matt Ryan to shore up the quarterback position after a Carson Wentz late season collapse cost them a playoff spot last year. Currently, Indianapolis is -110 to win the division in 2022.
The popular bets: Unsurprisingly, Indianapolis and Tennessee are the two most popular bets in the division and they make up over 88% of all bets and 96% of the total money wagered. Most of that money is coming in on the Colts, as they've received over 66% of bets and nearly 80% of the money so far in the betting market for the AFC South. Tennessee is getting 22% of bets at +145 while the Jaguars (+700) are receiving just over 8%. Even 25-to-1 odds can't entice more than 3% of bettors to back the Houston Texans to win the AFC South.
NFL bettors like the Colts with Matt Ryan under center. (Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The favorite: The New England Patriots won the AFC East eleven years in a row from 2009-2019 before the Buffalo Bills snapped their streak in 2020. The Bills now have a two-year streak of their own and are significant -190 favorites to make it three straight. The Bills are the current favorites to win the Super Bowl at BetMGM, so them being the favorites to win their division makes sense. Von Miller joins one of the top defenses in the league, and Josh Allen is the current favorite to win MVP on the offensive side.
The popular bets: The Buffalo Bills are the most popular bet in the AFC East, as over 35% of bets and over 61% of the money is backing them to finish atop the circuit at the end of the year. However, there's been plenty of action on the Miami Dolphins as well as the New York Jets. Both teams made big moves in the offseason to improve around their young quarterbacks. Nearly 33% of bets are backing the Dolphins to win the division at +400, while the long shot Jets at 18-to-1 are getting over 22% of the bets. Surprisingly, Bill Belichick and the Patriots are the least popular bet in the division, getting less than 10% of the total bets at their current odds of +400.
The favorite: The AFC North is one of the more compelling divisions out there, featuring three teams with odds of +300 or better to win the division. The favorite is not the team who represented the AFC in the Super Bowl last year, and it's not the team that gave up three first round picks and $230 million for a new quarterback. Instead, it's the Baltimore Ravens who are +150 favorites to win the AFC North despite missing the playoffs last season. Baltimore began the season with an 8-3 record, but they finished the year losing six straight games after injuries became too much for them to deal with.
The popular bets: Most of the big money bets in the AFC North are backing the Ravens to win the division, as they've received nearly 52% of the betting handle. However, the most popular team in the division in terms of sheer number of bets is the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals won the division and made it to the Super Bowl last season and are +185 to win the division again this season. At +850, the Steelers are getting over 26% of the action. Meanwhile, the quarterback uncertainty with the Browns is making them a very unpopular bet as less than 6% of the action and just over 2% of the money is backing Cleveland to win the AFC North at +300.
The favorite: The Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC West for six straight years. Despite losing arguably their most dynamic offensive weapon and the rest of the division improving around them, the Chiefs enter as favorites to win the division again in 2022. Kansas City is currently +155 to win the AFC West. Three teams in the division are +260 or better to win the division, and even the longest shot in the division, the Raiders, are just +650 to win it.
The popular bets: Human beings get bored very easily. That's part of the reason why the Chiefs are the least popular bet in the AFC West, getting under nine percent of bets and eight percent of the money. There's also the fact that the Chargers have added Khalil Mack and JC Jackson, the Broncos added Russell Wilson and the Raiders added Davante Adams amongst others. This will probably the most competitive division in football, and bettors are split. Just under 37% of bets are backing Denver at +260, while almost 31% of bets are on the Chargers at +230. At +650, the Raiders have gotten 24% of the action. Rare is it that the favorite is the least popular bet, but that tells you a lot about how competitive this division is expected to be.
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2022-07-11T19:49:08Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL betting: Indianapolis Colts are most popular AFC division bet
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-indianapolis-colts-are-the-most-popular-afc-bet-to-win-their-division-192920559.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-indianapolis-colts-are-the-most-popular-afc-bet-to-win-their-division-192920559.html?src=rss
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Aigle to Chatel les Portes du Soleil - Switzerland - July 10, 2022 General view of Uae Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey and Ineos Grenadiers' Geraint Thomas in action with riders during stage 9 - How Ineos Grenadiers plan to attack Tadej Pogacar in week two of the Tour de France - REUTERS
CHATEL - LES PORTES DU SOLEIL, FRANCE - JULY 10: Geraint Thomas of Great Britain and Ineos Grenadiers crosses the finish line of Stage 9 of the 109th Tour de France 2022, a 192,9 km stage from Aigle, Switzerland to Chatel - Les Portes du Soleil, France - GETTY IMAGES
British rider Tom Pidcock of the Ineos Grenadiers team at the start of the first stage of the Tour de France 2022 cycling race, an individual time trial over 13.2km in Copenhagen, Denmark, 01 July 2022. Tour de France 2022 - SHUTTERSTOCK
The Tour Eases—Relatively—into the Mountains on Stage 10
The peloton heads into the mountains on Stage 10 with a 148km ride from Morzine Les Portes du Soleil to Megève.
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2022-07-11T20:06:01Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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How Ineos Grenadiers plan to attack Tadej Pogacar in week two of the Tour de France
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ineos-grenadiers-plan-attack-tadej-163354559.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ineos-grenadiers-plan-attack-tadej-163354559.html?src=rss
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