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The Denver Broncos are beginning a new era and there’s a different feeling at the team’s facility than there has been in recent summers.
The arrival of new Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is largely responsible for that new feeling, but he’s not the only reason. Denver has a new, energetic coach in Nathaniel Hackett, a (pending) new ownership group and free agent additions including defensive lineman D.J. Jones and cornerback K’Waun Williams.
All the newness has created a different feeling in the locker room, according to safety Justin Simmons.
“[It feels] way different,” Simmons said on July 27. “Obviously from a team perspective and from a quarterback position adding ‘Russ’ — that’s huge, but we have added so many players around the board that I feel are going to help us in every aspect in the game. Defensively, D.J. and K’Waun. There are just so many guys that we have added that I feel have done nothing but improve us in every area, in every position, and in every category.
“I am really excited. It feels like it’s all new. Obviously, with Coach Hackett and new ownership, it’s just new. There is just so much buzz and excitement — it’s really exciting.”
Fans feel the same way, but the excitement will quickly fade if the Broncos don’t get results on the field. That’s what training camp and preseason are for, to build a winning formula for the regular season. The excitement can be felt in Denver — now it’s time for results.
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2022-07-30T12:38:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Justin Simmons: Broncos feel ‘way different’ entering 2022
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https://sports.yahoo.com/justin-simmons-broncos-feel-way-120023339.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/justin-simmons-broncos-feel-way-120023339.html?src=rss
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DETROIT – Taylor Pendrith fractured his fifth rib on the left side while hitting golf balls in March.
“I noticed it at the Players during the third round, just some pain in kind of my back,” he said.
He spent 12 weeks mostly sitting on the couch, watching the NHL Playoffs, and helping his wife decorate their new home. Not much one can do other than sit and let one’s ribs heal.
“I guess it fueled me a little bit to get back and play well,” Pendrith said.
The 31-year-old rookie Canadian is doing just that. In just his third start since the injury, Pendrith is the 36-hole leader at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He followed up his opening-round 64 with a birdie-binge out of the gate. Birdies at his first four holes lifted him ahead of overnight-co-leader Tony Finau, and Pendrith signed for 65 and a tournament record 36-hole total of 15-under 129, a stroke ahead of Finau.
“If you can get it in the fairways here, you can kind of attack,” said Pendrith, who finished T-13 and T-11 in his first two starts back from injury and is seeking his first Tour title.
Rocket Mortgage Classic: PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ | Saturday tee times
Finau feasting again
Tony Finau hits his tee shot on the par 3 ninth hole during the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Finau keeps feasting
Tony Finau is in the zone.
One week after winning the 3M Open, he’s just one shot off the lead after posting a bogey-free 6-under 66 at Detroit Golf Club on Friday. The last player to win in back-to-back weeks during the FedEx Cup regular season? Brendon Todd in 2019.
Finau hasn’t made a bogey through 36 holes and has carded just two bogeys in his last 107 holes on Tour. He’s an eye-popping 32-under during that stretch. How’s he doing it?
“I’m just kind of bearing the fruit of the labor I’ve had throughout this season and it’s coming together for me late in the season,” he said. “But this thing, this game has taught me it doesn’t matter when it comes. If you continue to work hard, at some point I think you can go on some nice stretches and I think that’s what I’m seeing this week and last week.”
Oh to be Young again
Cameron Young (middle) shakes hands with Will Zalatoris (left) on the ninth green during the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
There are few hotter players on the planet than Cameron Young, who finished second in the British Open and tied for third at the PGA Championship and has recorded four runner-ups and two thirds in an impressive rookie campaign.
He cooled off ever-so-slightly on Thursday, shooting 1-under 71 in windy conditions, but he vaulted up the leaderboard by shooting a tournament-best 9-under 63 on Friday. It also matched the 18-hole scoring record at Detroit Golf Club.
That included a hole-out eagle from 136 yards at the par-4 13th hole.
“I said I was going to hit it about four steps long, 140, and a few steps left,” Young explained of his pitching wedge from the fairway. “So I missed it just short right and happened to fly directly in the hole.”
Young showed off to U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Davis Love III, who said he didn’t know Young before this week but certainly does now after playing 36 holes with the promising pro.
“Cameron is trending up. He has been all the way,” Love said. “Obviously got to finish this weekend, but his game just looks so solid right now.”
Theegala’s beard vibes
Sahith Theegala hits his tee shot on the par 3 ninth hole during the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Sahith Theegala’s beard is back this week in Detroit.
The previous beard lasted three months, as he put it, “The beard vibes were good on the last one.”
But he didn’t play so well on the weekend at the British Open so he decided it was time for a change and shaved it off.
That didn’t work out. He missed the cut at the 3M Open, snapping a streak of eight consecutive pay checks on Tour.
“I’m growing the beard back as fast as possible,” he said.
The rookie Theegala opened with 4-under 68 in windy conditions on Thursday and then went out early Friday morning and reeled off five birdies in a six-hole span starting at No. 13 – he started on No. 10 – en route to shooting 67 and improving to 9 under and a tie for seventh at the midway point.
Perhaps Theegala, who has had some close calls in trying to win his first Tour title, can win the RMC this weekend by a whisker.
Hoffman’s streak hangs in balance
Charley Hoffman hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Charley Hoffman is trying to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs for a 16th consecutive year and remain among the few, the proud who have done so every year.
“That’s a goal,” Hoffman said after shooting 69 at Detroit Golf Club on Friday. “But I also understand this game’s getting younger and I’m getting older and there’s going to be a year that I don’t make it. Hopefully it’s not this year. I feel like I’ve got a handful of good more years inside me, but it’s going to come to an end eventually.”
The streak is over for Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson, who are ineligible since joining LIV Golf. Brandt Snedeker is going to need a big week at the Wyndham Championship, the final regular season event, to remain in good stead. Adam Scott, who shot 66 in the second round (T-7) and Matt Kuchar (MC) both are safe. Hoffman, who dealt with back issues this season, entered the week at No. 177, but is T-13 heading into the weekend and could make up some ground. Is he worried about missing the playoffs?
“The answer is yes, but I’m not stressing out about it,” he said. “Some guys lose their card. I’ve got some medical starts, I’ve got a career exemption, I’m not worried about losing my job. As I said in the past, I want to start playing good golf again and I want to be healthy. And I’m starting to feel healthy, starting to hit some shots I want to hit and the scores are starting to reflect that. Still, the long story short, I’m thinking about it, but I’m not stressing out about it.”
Tony Finau sent an approach from 250 yards soaring over trees and onto the seventh green at Detroit Golf Club, going for the reward and ignoring the risk with a difficult shot. Finau, coming off his third career victory on the PGA Tour, and Taylor Pendrith shared the first-round lead at 8-under 64 on Thursday in the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
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2022-07-30T12:42:37Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Taylor Pendrith’s rib, Finau feasting and Young’s course record among five things we learned Friday at the Rocket Mortgage Classic
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https://sports.yahoo.com/taylor-pendrith-rib-finau-feasting-005108068.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/taylor-pendrith-rib-finau-feasting-005108068.html?src=rss
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Yankees, Judge power past Royals after 8th-inning onslaught
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge bet on himself this spring when he turned down a deal that would have been worth $230 million. The slugger is making that pay off and if the Yankees want to keep him, they are going to pay a steep price now. Judge hit two home runs Friday night, including his second grand slam of the season, driving in six runs and powering the Yankees to an 11-5 come-from-behind win over the Royals at Yankee Stadium.
The 30-year old Judge hit his major league-leading 40th home run in the third inning off Royals lefty Kris Bubic The 449-foot shot soared into left-center field and scored two runs. No. 41, his second, capped the Yankees’ eight-run eighth inning. No other hitter has more than 32 so far.
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2022-07-30T12:42:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Yankees, Judge power past Royals after 8th-inning onslaught
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https://sports.yahoo.com/yankees-judge-power-past-royals-032300371.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/yankees-judge-power-past-royals-032300371.html?src=rss
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“I got an A,” Shibley said this week at Big Ten Media Days. “People liked it. Obviously, I’m a bit biased, but I’ve always been an advocate for it. Notre Dame is a perfect option.”
The subject matter seems particularly prescient given the events of the past month. With USC and UCLA set to push the Big Ten to 16 members by the fall of 2024, the era of mega-conferences is upon us.
Just as Shibley prepares to begin a two-year fellowship in the Big Ten office, where he will conduct research projects and meet regularly with Commissioner Kevin Warren, an age-old question has again reached a fever pitch.
Is Notre Dame better off remaining independent as a football power or should it make the jump into full conference affiliation?
And if it does the latter, shouldn’t that be into a league like the Big Ten that shares its academic, athletic and geographic profile more snugly than, say, the partial arrangement Notre Dame has enjoyed with the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2014?
“It would be really cool to see it get done,” Shibley said, “and I think Commissioner Warren is the perfect guy to get that done.”
DOG-EAT-DOG ENVIRONMENT: Pac-12 commissioner knows pollyanna approach won't save his conference
OPINION: College football more fun when we could hate Notre Dame; now we must appreciate Irish
Elephant in the dome
Put aside for a moment the “grant of rights” agreement with ESPN that handcuffs all ACC football schools through 2036. That deal could still get reworked, and even if it’s not, Notre Dame’s de facto exit fee would likely be far more modest than it would be for full ACC members.
Everywhere you turned for those two days at Lucas Oil Stadium, it seemed Notre Dame was the elephant in the dome.
Even as ActionNetwork.com reported six schools beyond Notre Dame were under consideration by the Big Ten – Oregon, Washington, Stanford and California out of the Pac-12, Miami and Florida State out of the ACC – the Irish remained at the forefront of the public discussion.
Former Wisconsin football coach and athletic director Barry Alvarez, finishing up his first year as Big Ten special advisor for football, shared his perspective as a former Irish defensive assistant from 1987-89. He noted several times that trips to both coasts as well as Texas would remind Lou Holtz’s coaching staff back then of the widespread appeal of the program.
“I could see the magnitude of their fan base and how important being independent is,” Alvarez said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with leagues as they continue to expand. Is it going to be harder to schedule? I don’t know that, but that’s something that has to be considered.”
Ticking off all the necessary attributes for any potential Big Ten additions, Alvarez didn’t name his former employer in South Bend. He didn’t have to.
“The profile of the school has to fit the profile of the Big Ten,” he said. “Academics are important, brand. You have to bring something to the party … whether it’s eyeballs or whether it’s location.”
Coming off five straight 10-win seasons, Notre Dame football has never been in a better negotiating position in the sport’s modern era. If USC and UCLA were granted full revenue shares of the impending TV rights deal Warren has been negotiating, imagine what sort of sweeteners the Irish could demand.
“These two schools that we just added, they bring L.A.,” Alvarez said. “They are brand-name schools that have had success, have a great tradition. Academically, they’re strong. So, they bring a lot. They bring a lot to the league.”
CBS Sports reported it could take an annual figure of $75 million for Notre Dame to re-up with NBC when its current deal ends in 2025. That would mark a five-fold increase on average over what’s in place, although such deals are typically backloaded.
Should the Big Ten push out to 20 members, Irish or no Irish, $1.5 billion per year in broadcast rights would work out to $75 million per institution.
Warren, a 1990 graduate of Notre Dame Law School, wisely declined to give a range for where the Big Ten’s new broadcast rights deal might fall. However, $75 million per school on an annual basis feels about right.
“I don’t think it’s any secret,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said. “Everybody feels like Notre Dame would be a great addition to the Big Ten Conference for a long list of reasons. But ultimately, of course, they’re got their own decisions they need to make.”
Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick isn’t one to act rashly, regardless of the circumstances. Considering the lack of clarity on future expansion of the College Football Playoff – and Notre Dame’s oft-stated ability to “maintain viable access” into it, whether the playoff settles at eight, 12 or even 16 teams – it seems wisest to wait until the dust settles.
“They exist in a very unique place in college athletics,” Whitman said. “We certainly respect the tradition of independence that they’ve enjoyed for a really long time, and they’ll make those decisions that are in their own best interests at the time that they think is most appropriate. We’ll be there to have conversations as they may want to have conversations.”
Asked to share his elevator pitch to Swarbrick, Whitman laughed.
“I don’t know that I’m the one that needs to be making the elevator pitch,” he said as he enters his seventh fall on the job. “I think the Big Ten is just really well positioned right now to take full advantage of the changing landscape in college athletics. It does feel like there’s a consolidation underfoot. It feels like these affiliations are going to be really critical to future programmatic success.
“Geographically, of course, we’re an obvious fit for what they do. I think philosophically we align well with a lot of the things that I understand from Notre Dame. But again, everybody makes their own decisions in their own timeline.”
In the meantime, Warren and Swarbrick might want to request a copy of Shibley’s class presentation from last fall. At this stage in what has become an incredibly high-stakes poker game, those two savvy power brokers need all the data points they can gather.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on Twitter @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Notre Dame football join Big Ten under commissioner Kevin Warren
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2022-07-30T14:08:24Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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As Big Ten grows stronger, the Notre Dame question looms | Opinion
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https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-grows-stronger-notre-124316026.html?src=rss
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If you haven’t seen it by now, the Oklahoma Sooners are red hot on the recruiting trail. It’s a far cry from the grave that the national media and rival fans wanted to bury OU in back in May.
Before June 1, the Sooners had just four players committed to their 2023 recruiting class. Joshua Bates, Jackson Arnold, Erik McCarty, and Kaleb Spencer. On the surface, and according to some, the Sooners were struggling to recruit. Appearances can often be deceiving.
The reality was that Brent Venables and his coaching staff were playing the long game. Preaching patience to players who were interested in committing to Oklahoma and encouraging those prospects to finish their recruiting process before making a commitment.
The main message is, “know that you know that you know that you know.” Venables doesn’t want players making a commitment and then continuing to shop around. That’s what changed with Ashton Cozart and that’s something Lincoln Riley is dealing with now as Malachi Nelson, Makai Lemon, and Zachariah Branch (there top three 2023 commits) are visiting Texas A&M this weekend after being committed to the Trojans for quite some time. Nelson and Lemon have been committed since Riley left for USC back in November.
If a player that’s committed to a school is going on visits to another, they’re not committed. Committed individuals don’t look elsewhere. In their career, in their marriage, in their relationships, or in college football.
For years, the idea of a commitment has been softened in college football. By coaches and by players. Coaches will be committed to a player and a program one day and find a better opportunity the next. A player might be considered a “hard commit” by a recruiting service can flip at a moment’s notice. Throw in the new world order of name, image, and likeness, and nothing seems certain until a player is signed.
That’s why Brent Venables is so passionate about his philosophy. He wants players to take their visits. He wants them to explore all of their options before they commit. He wants the players that commit to the University of Oklahoma to understand the true meaning of the word. Because when a player commits, Oklahoma is committing in turn.
Venables, his coaching staff, and the program are throwing the full weight of the University of Oklahoma’s resources behind the prospect’s development both as a person and as a player. And all they’re asking for is the same commitment in return.
A player that commits to the University of Oklahoma has had a chance to go through their process, explore all of their options, and have time to consider them. They aren’t making an emotional decision based on their visit. They’re making an informed one. One that will impact their college and professional careers.
And it’s a process that’s paying off for the Oklahoma Sooners. The 18 players (and counting) that have committed to the Sooners are all-in. They’ve seen what’s out there, taken their visits, and decided that Oklahoma was the best place for them. It makes it more likely that a player will stick and sign with the Sooners.
The process hasn’t hindered OU one bit. Their 18 commits (and counting) have Oklahoma up to No. 6 in the team recruiting rankings with a chance to climb even higher with several blue-chip prospects still to make their decisions.
Oklahoma’s added 14 players since June 1 and nine players since July 1, including eight four-star players since June 15.
Just in the last six days, the Sooners have received commitments from four-star prospects Jasiah Wagoner and Derrick LeBlanc.
The Sooners’ patience on the recruiting trail is putting them in a position to have one of the best classes the school has seen in the modern era of recruiting.
And to echo the sentiment from several 2023 commits, they aren’t done yet.
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2022-07-30T14:08:31Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Brent Venables recruiting philosophy paying off for the Oklahoma Sooners
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https://sports.yahoo.com/brent-venables-recruiting-philosophy-paying-120026775.html?src=rss
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As we begin to move closer to the start of a new college football season in Happy Valley, the staff at Nittnay Lions Wire is spending some time sounding off on some big questions facing the Nittany Lions this fall. Today’s focus is on the new defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz.
Diaz, most recently the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, replaces Brent Pry, now the head coach at Virginia Tech. He brings with him a respected defensive coordinator profile. What are your expectations for the Penn State defense under Diaz in 2022, and how long do you think Diaz sticks around as a member of the Penn State coaching staff?
The Manny Diaz hire might be one of the biggest wins for Penn State this offseason. This hire came just 11 days after Brent Pry left to be the next head coach at Virginia Tech. Diaz was with Miami for six seasons, where he went 7-5 in 2021 with an abysmal 77th ranking in the country in total defense. However, let’s not forget the success Diaz has had as a defensive coordinator.
First, Diaz was a defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State for four years, where he led the conference in sacks and tackles for a loss twice.
Diaz also spent 13 seasons, including MTSU, as a defensive coordinator and 12 as a linebackers coach. Let me repeat that last part. Manny Diaz is coming to “Linebacker U” with 12 seasons of productiveness at other schools. His experience at Florida State, NC State, Middle Tennessee State, Temple Louisiana Tech, Texas, and Miami.
Diaz doesn’t have great experience as a head coach. However, I don’t think it will take long for Diaz to land another head coaching job, especially if he does well at Penn State, given the productive talent that they have.
Despite the struggles Diaz had as a head coach, I still think that his expectations as Penn State’s defensive coordinator will be somewhat high if he does want another head coaching job in the future. However, I do think Diaz is one of those coaches that isn’t a good head coach but an elite defensive coordinator. Diaz is in a perfect position to succeed at Penn State, given the amount of defensive talent that they have.
However, it is possible Diaz only lasts around 2-3 years before someone hires him as a head coach if he does well at Penn State.
Penn State has lost a good amount of talent the past two seasons on their defense. However, they do still have a talented class of 2022 recruits coming in for next season, and they do still have a few veterans returning, including Nick Tarburton, Jonathan Sutherland, and Curtis Jacobs.
Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz coaches during an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 23, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Andrew Harbaugh, Contributor
@MandrewNFL
My expectations are honestly through the roof. This Penn State defense is full of playmakers and it has the depth to provide a rotation to keep players fresh. Diaz thrives with his coaching of defensive backs so guys like Ja’Ayir Brown and Joey Porter Jr. should see big-time roles and success this year. On the note of success, I would be shocked if Diaz is around for longer than two years. He got a raw deal down in Miami with how the school handled everything, his track record speaks for itself, and success at Penn State will fast-track that for him.
While I believe the standard has been raised for what is expected from a Penn State defense, I do not think Diaz will have much trouble clearing the bar. It helps that Diaz is taking over a defense that is still in a solid position with depth at many of the key positions with players opting to return for another year or returning from injury, not to mention the injection of good talent through recruiting the past couple of recruiting cycles.
Penn State’s defense doesn’t have much it needs to improve under Diaz, but I am encouraged by hearing some of the younger players say it has been a pretty easy transition to Diaz’s system. Earlier in the spring, sophomore linebacker Kobe King suggested it was easier to pick up Diaz’s style than it was his predecessor’s, Brent Pry. Perhaps that is partly because another year of college experience helps a younger player, or maybe Diaz’s system just gels well with the roster.
I still fully expect Penn State to have one of the top defensive units in the Big Ten this season despite some notable losses to the NFL like Jaquan Brisker and Arnold Ebiketie. A defense allowing fewer than 20 points a game under Diaz with consistent pressure in the backfield is exactly what I expect to see out of this team under his leadership at defensive coordinator. Anything else would be ominous for the chances of success this season.
Simply put, I’m not counting on Diaz and the defense to be a major concern this season.
That said, I do not anticipate seeing Diaz sticking around Happy Valley for too long. I think this is a two-year working relationship at the most, and I suspect that is the expectation for James Franklin. Diaz may not have been the answer at Miami the program hoped he would be, but that’s a program that has been trying to figure out the answer at head coach ever since Butch Davis left for the NFL. Diaz still has a head coaching career in front of him, and he could be in a position where he can wait for the right opportunity to come along instead of rushing out of here to accept the first offer he receives. A one-year stay in Happy Valley would not be shocking to me if things go well this season, but I think Penn State can get two years out of Diaz to make some things happen.
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2022-07-30T14:08:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Nittany Lions Wire Roundtable: What are the expectations for Manny Diaz?
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nittany-lions-wire-roundtable-expectations-123343039.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nittany-lions-wire-roundtable-expectations-123343039.html?src=rss
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It's the club with which, six years ago, he experienced the peak of his career.
Dodgers' Trayce Thompson arrives for a spring training baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on March 19, 2016, in Phoenix. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
His next couple years weren't much better: A self-admitted “disaster” in 2018, when he batted just .117 in 51 games with the A’s and White Sox; a mediocre 2019 season with Cleveland’s triple A affiliate; and a pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign spent entirely at the Diamondbacks’ alternate training site.
Dodgers' Trayce Thompson gestures toward the stands after hitting a three-run home run against the Colorado Rockies on July 4 at Dodger Stadium. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)
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2022-07-30T14:18:16Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Back in the majors, and back in Dodger Blue, Trayce Thompson is where he belongs
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https://sports.yahoo.com/back-majors-back-dodger-blue-120032671.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/back-majors-back-dodger-blue-120032671.html?src=rss
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The Juan Soto situation is a lot of things, but it is not entirely unprecedented. Players with Soto's age and resume become available for a trade maybe once in a generation, and the price it takes to pry the outfielder from the Washington Nationals is likely to reflect that. The Nationals reportedly want four or five "youngsters" (read: prospects or MLB players with low service time), and that's going to give a lot of teams pause.
Should it? Well, that's not easy. Accurately judging a winner from any Soto trade the moment it's made is borderline impossible, because we really don't know what the players headed to D.C. will become, and that's why it's scary trading away a top 100 prospect. He could become another Juan Soto.
However, it may be possible to get some perspective from maybe the closest thing we have to a precedent for Soto: a player who was an NL East star and one of MLB's best hitters at a young age, with a World Series ring won at 20 years old, and was traded for a bunch of prospects whose careers we have since seen.
We are talking about Miguel Cabrera, whom the then-Florida Marlins judged to be too expensive to keep long-term and traded to the Detroit Tigers in 2007 at the age of 24, one year older than Soto is now. Cabrera would go on to have a Hall-of-Fame career in Detroit, hitting .309/.385/.522 with 368 homers, seven All-Star nods, five Silver Sluggers, four batting titles and two MVP awards across 15 seasons entering Thursday.
By Baseball Reference's version of wins above replacement (bWAR), he has been worth 68.7 wins for Detroit.
Miguel Cabrera continued his Hall of Fame career after being traded to the Tigers. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
There are obviously differences between 2022 Soto and 2007 Cabrera, but their trade values shouldn't be too far off. Like the Nationals, the Marlins wanted a boatload of prospects for their young star and eventually got it from the Tigers, who turned around and gave Cabrera the extension the Marlins were trying to avoid.
The Marlins asked plenty of other teams as well, so let's look at what each team reportedly could have paid for Cabrera, and whether they would regret making that trade now with the benefit of hindsight we're missing when talking about Soto.
We'll start with the trade that actually happened. All prospect rankings come from Baseball America's pre-2008 Top 100 unless otherwise noted.
The package: Cameron Maybin (No. 6 overall prospect), Andrew Miller (No. 10 in 2007), Burke Badenhop, Eulogio De La Cruz, Mike Rabelo, Dallas Trahern (and received Dontrelle Willis)
Total career bWAR: 24.8
The thing you have to realize about this package is many people thought it was monstrous at the time. The Tigers wanted their star hitter and paid dearly for him, giving up two top-20 prospects in Maybin and Miller, plus four other live bodies.
Maybin would have a respectable-enough career as a starting center fielder with a career 92 OPS+ (basically, his OPS was 8 percent worse than league average when adjusted for park and year), but never made an All-Star team. Miller never found the success envisioned for him as a starting pitcher, but his second act as a reliever was the best thing anyone in this group did.
Should the Tigers have done this? God, yes.
The package: Howie Kendrick (No. 12 pre-2006), Ervin Santana, Jeff Mathis (No. 60 pre-2006), Nick Adenhart (No. 24)
No team popped up more in trade speculation for Cabrera than the Angels, who eventually balked at the above package.
It's hard to deny Kendrick eventually became the player many believed he could, a high-contact second baseman who could fit into the top of any lineup. He made only one All-Star team, but he ranks 11th all-time on the Angels in bWAR.
Santana found plenty of success, as well, throwing 2,486.2 innings with a 101 ERA+, while Mathis lasted 17 years in the big leagues as mostly a back-up catcher. Tragically, Adenhart died in 2009 in a collision with a drunk driver.
Should the Angels have done this? Probably. Yes, their two biggest names turned out fine, but imagine Cabrera and Mike Trout in the same lineup, then get back to me.
The package: Gio Gonzalez (No. 26), Ryan Sweeney (No. 55 pre-2007), Josh Fields
The important name here is Gonzalez, who had a very good career ... for teams that weren't the White Sox. Chicago ended up trading him and Sweeney to the Oakland Athletics in 2008 for one year of Nick Swisher.
Gonzalez found success with Oakland and the Washington Nationals, making two All-Star teams and finishing third in Cy Young voting in 2012. Cabrera won AL MVP that year.
Should the White Sox have done this? Clearly yes, but it sounds like they were outbid.
The package: Clayton Kershaw (No. 7), Matt Kemp (No. 96 in 2006), James Loney (No. 44)
Total career bWAR: 104.1 (and counting)
The general lesson of this list is to not hug your prospects too closely, but there's an exception to every rule, and his name is Clayton Kershaw.
We don't even really need to list off what Kershaw has done, the fact that he started an All-Star game this year speaks for itself. Kemp also came a Ryan Braun short of an MVP award in 2011 and hung around in the majors for 15 years, while Loney found a little success as a high-contact, low-power first baseman.
Should the Dodgers have done this? They are the only team here in which the answer is emphatically no.
The package: Clay Buchholz (No. 4), Jacoby Ellsbury (No. 13)
Buchholz really looked like he was going to be MLB's next ace at one point. He did have some good years and threw a no-hitter in his second career start but the injury gods were not kind to him. The better player in this package wound up being Ellsbury, who, like Kemp, came up just short of an MVP award in 2011.
Should the Red Sox have done this? Yes, but they have two more World Series rings than the Tigers since this went down.
The package: Adam Miller (No. 29), Asdrúbal Cabrera, and more
Total career bWAR: 29.6, and more
Miller is the rare top prospect to not even see the majors, as multiple arm surgeries in 2009 left him ineffective. Cabrera turned out rather well, though "well" in this case means a solid-hitting shortstop who made two All-Star teams then embarked on a journeyman career.
Should the Guardians have done this? Yes, because pitching prospects will break your heart.
Other players MLB teams refused to include
There were a few teams generally interested in Cabrera, but the central pieces the Marlins demanded turned out to be non-starters. Here they are.
New York Yankees: One of Phil Hughes (No. 4 pre-2007), Joba Chamberlain (No. 3) or Ian Kennedy (No. 45)
St. Louis Cardinals: Colby Rasmus (No. 5)
San Francisco Giants: Tim Lincecum (No. 11 pre-2007)
Again, pitching prospects will break your heart, but they might also win two Cy Young Awards and three World Series rings before doing it.
So those are your MLB Ghosts of Christmas Past. Look at all those top-100 rankings, then look at this list of Soto mock trades, then ask yourself, are those prices really that steep?
Ball officially unveiled his new number in a social media post on Friday, showing he’s truly swapped the No. 2.
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2022-07-30T14:18:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Should your MLB team gut its farm system for Juan Soto? The Miguel Cabrera trade provides some perspective
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There were some interesting developments during Friday’s practice, which at one time featured four rookies starting during team drills.
There will be a time when veteran Riley Reiff takes over as the starting left tackle permanently. But that hasn’t happened yet as Reiff continues to get up to speed. That gives fifth-round rookie Braxton Jones plenty of opportunities at left tackle, and he was once again working with the first-team during Friday’s practice. Jones was described as having “a sturdiness to him that is attention-grabbing at times” by Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. For now, Jones will continue to get starting reps that could help him develop into a starter down the road. But for now, it’s a waiting game for Reiff to eventually step in.
There’s no question that Cody Whitehair will be the starting left guard this season. But it’s becoming clearer that his backup appears to be rookie Zachary Thomas, who stepped in for Whitehair when he was absent during a minicamp practice. Whitehair had a veteran rest day during Friday’s training camp practice, which saw Thomas stepping in for him with the first-team offense. Thomas did get beat by defensive tackle Justin Jones for a sack, but that’s supposed to happen when a rookie goes against a veteran. Whitehair is expected to be back at left guard for Saturday’s practice.
The Bears will be without starting center Lucas Patrick for the foreseeable future. Eberflus confirmed that Patrick suffered a right hand injury that will require him to miss time. According to Jason Lieser of the Sun-Times, Patrick broke his right thumb. But the expectation is Patrick will be back before the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. With Patrick sidelined, it was rookie Doug Kramer taking reps with the first-team at center. But Patrick’s injury also had Sam Mustipher getting some reps at center. Mustipher started all 17 games at center for the Bears last season, and he already has a rapport with Justin Fields. We’ll see how the center reps continue to shake out in Patrick’s absence.
Sam Mustipher has been the starting right guard dating back to the spring, and it’s carried over into training camp. But following Patrick’s injury, he started getting some reps at center. That opened the door for rookie Ja’Tyre Carter, who worked at right guard with the starting offensive line. Carter appears to be locked in at the right guard position, where he’ll be looking to make a push for the starting job. Michael Schofield is still in the ramp-up period, and he’s been working with the second-team at right guard. Once Schofield gets up to speed, he’ll be a contender for that starting right guard job.
Larry Borom is the clear favorite to win the starting right tackle job, as he’s been in that position since the spring. That hasn’t changed, and at one point he was the only veteran on the offensive line as all four rookie draft picks worked with the first-team at times. But the big development from camp is Teven Jenkins, who’s been absent from practice for the last two days. Eberflus said that Jenkins is “working through something with trainers,” an indication that he might have an injury. But Eberflus wouldn’t confirm whether he was injured. Still, Jenkins is listed as day-to-day, and it’s hard not to be concerned given his injury history. Last summer, Jenkins battled a back injury that held him out of training camp. It required surgery, and he missed most of his rookie season.
LT: Braxton Jones*
LG: Zachary Thomas*
C: Doug Kramer*
RG: Sam Mustipher/Ja’Tyre Carter*
*rookie
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2022-07-30T14:39:09Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bears O-Line Watch: Breaking down Day 3 of training camp
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — LeRoy Butler’s story exemplifies the quintessential sports story of overcoming impossible odds to reach professional football’s zenith: the Hall of Fame.
Rarely spotted without a smile, his bust will don a toothy grin, which he has more than earned. His formal induction into the Hall in Canton takes place Aug. 6 and is the culmination of a lifetime of persistence.
Butler played the entirety of his 12-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, having been drafted by them in 1990 during the second round. The prolific safety helped lead Green Bay to seven playoff appearances in nine seasons, led the team in interceptions five times and played a crucial role in the franchise’s Super Bowl XXXI victory against New England.
He also is credited with inventing the Lambeau Leap, one of football’s most cherished scoring celebrations.
Butler was a HOF finalist for the third time this year. Safeties are often hard-pressed to earn a spot in Canton, and prior to this year Butler was the only member of the NFL’s all-1990s team not in the Hall. However, Butler, made patient by life’s circumstances, knows what it is to wait out adversity.
LeRoy Butler's legendary career with the Packers ran from 1990-2001. (Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)
'Why football?'
He was born in Jacksonville in 1968. Butler grew up in the Blodgett Homes housing project, which he described as crime-ridden, “poverty, humble beginnings” during a Zoom news conference with reporters last month. The first shirt he popped the tag off came from the Salvation Army, he said, and he was often bullied for wearing hand-me-downs. Butler and his four siblings were raised by a single mother named Eunice, who worked as a secretary and nurse.
He spent much of his childhood in a wheelchair because he was born pigeon-toed. Doctors had to break bones in his feet when he was 8 months old, and he sported leg braces for years. Despite this, Butler said he used to tell his mother one day he’d play in the NFL.
“Why football?” she asked him.
“It’s the ultimate team sport,” Butler said. “I can actually have 10 other guys on the field help me win a game.”
Back then no one picked Butler to play on their team at recess. By the age of 10, Butler no longer needed his wheelchair or braces, and he became the stellar athlete he and his mother knew he would be. He was recruited to play high school ball at Robert E. Lee High School, now known as Riverside, with legendary high school head coach Corky Rogers. Rogers died in 2020 at 76 as the winningest coach in Florida high school history, having won 465 games, 10 state championships and never leading a team to a losing season.
“My 11th grade year, he came to my algebra class,” Butler said. “He pulled me out of class, and I said, ‘Oh, boy.’ Because I never got in trouble. This is coach Rogers, the winningest coach in the state of Florida. He says, ‘You're playing varsity, and I want you to start, but you’ve got to play both ways because we don't have the numbers.’ And he just left. Coach Rogers was everything to me.”
While in high school, Butler earned three varsity letters in football and two each in basketball and track. He garnered All-American distinction his senior year and received ample attention from college programs. But Proposition 48 stood in the way of many offers.
The NCAA adopted Proposition 48 in 1986. The rule established a mandatory minimum GPA and standardized testing scores for athletes to be able to participate in sports their freshman year. The rule, which was replaced by the stricter Proposition 16 in the 1990s, disproportionately affected Black male athletes.
Rogers encouraged Butler to attend college, calling on him to serve as a role model for his community, particularly with a college degree.
“My senior year I remember him escorting Coach Bobby Bowden into the basketball gym,” Butler said of Rogers. “And he just said, ‘This kid just needs a chance.’”
So Rogers handed Butler off to Bowden, who Butler said would be his presenter at the Hall of Fame induction if he was still alive. Instead, Butler’s wife Genesis will take on that role.
“It made me say to myself, ‘Self, why is God choosing you to navigate these rough waters, but keep giving you great people? But you’ve got to listen,’” Butler said, reflecting on his decision to play at Florida State. He went on to earn consensus All-American status at cornerback and set a still-standing program record of 109 interception return yards in a game before joining the NFL.
LeRoy Butler's tight bond with Florida State teammate
Odell Haggins played nose tackle at FSU alongside Butler and currently serves as the team’s associate head coach and defensive tackles coach. Haggins said he could tell Butler was going to be “a special person doing special things” from the get-go. Despite having to sit out his freshman year, Butler stayed upbeat, joking around with teammates and encouraging them to play their best football.
“He never thought about himself first,” Haggins said. “He always put teammates first.”
Butler often invited teammates home with him on weekends to eat good food and play cards around his family. Jacksonville is about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Tallahassee, so those trips meant a lot to athletes like Haggins (who’s from Bartow, Florida, located about five hours from FSU) who couldn’t go home as often.
As Butler’s induction nears, Haggins said he’s elated for his teammate. As instilled in them during their playing days, the two remain like family, Haggins said. They still make sure to say “I love you” at the end of phone calls with each other.
“It means a lot for the players,” Haggins said of Butler’s Hall of Fame status. “We were on the field with LeRoy Butler. That’s an honor.”
Since retiring from football, Butler has launched a campaign called “Butler vs. Bullying,” co-authored an autobiography and launched his own liquor label, Leap Vodka.
His Hall of Fame exhibit includes a pylon and game ball from Super Bowl XXXI, his Packers uniform and a blue helmet from Lee. Butler held onto it thinking it’d be something worth showcasing, something to be proud of, he said. Now it’s on display among the most sacred of football artifacts.
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2022-07-30T14:39:22Z
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Before his Lambeau Leaps and jump into Hall of Fame, LeRoy Butler had to get out of a wheelchair
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Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at fifth-year wide receiver Courtland Sutton, No. 14.
Before the Broncos: Sutton (6-4, 216 pounds) spent four years at Southern Methodist University. He played wide receiver for three seasons after his first season as a defensive back before taking a medical redshirt. In his last two seasons, Sutton totaled 2,231 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. His on-field production and size allowed Sutton to become a steal in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Broncos tenure: Sutton has been a vital part of the Broncos’ offense and should be a cornerstone moving forward. In 2019, Sutton garnered his first Pro Bowl selection after catching 72 passes for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns. Sutton expected another monster season in 2020, but he tore his ACL in his first season appearance in Week 2 after catching three passes for 66 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he returned healthy for the 2021 NFL season, playing in all 17 games with 776 yards and two touchdowns on 58 catches.
Chances to make the 53-man roster: Sutton should be the leading man for the Broncos and their new, Russell Wilson-powered attack this season. He’s a lock to make the team and star on offense this fall.
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2022-07-30T14:39:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Broncos offseason roster: No. 14, WR Courtland Sutton
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A welcomed discovery during the 2021 NFL season was the emergence of Kansas City Chiefs rookie linebacker Nick Bolton.
Bolton enters his second NFL season as a cornerstone of the Chiefs’ future on the defensive side of the ball. He won’t have familiar names like Anthony Hitchens or Ben Niemann in the locker room to rely on this year, but he’s been working hard all offseason to prepare for their absence.
“I feel a thousand times better going into this training camp,” Bolton said. “Again, I got all OTAs, a second OTAs underneath my belt and kind of got the scheme kind of settled in and so I’m excited for what we got going forward, feel very comfortable again. You know I’m just excited to get out there, I’m ready to get out there and showcase everything I’ve been doing.”
The green dot is rather firmly in the hands of Bolton this year. He’ll be playing middle linebacker and calling all of the defensive plays, just as Hitchens used to do for the defense. Having the offseason to purely focus on football, instead of preparing for the NFL draft has allowed for him to improve his game in an entirely different way.
“It has been huge, getting the opportunity to actually focus on football,” Bolton said. “I’m actually doing things I feel like (will) help me on the football field and help our team better. So having the whole time since we got done with the season knowing what I wasn’t as good at and kind of getting a little bit better at those aspects of it and dissecting my play as well, that’s going to help our defense and help our team out. So, it’s beneficial for me just to be more flexible and kind of work on more specific drill-oriented things and also just work on things that are more specific to our skills rather than doing drills and stuff I feel like was more beneficial for me.”
Bolton appeared in 16 regular-season games for the Chiefs last season, starting 12 of them. He led the Kansas City defense in total tackles with 112 and showcased maturity beyond his years. One specific area that the linebacker hopes to grow this offseason is improving his ability in pass coverage.
“Everything you mentioned goes into it,” Bolton explained. “Film study, kind of getting more of our scheme and understanding what (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Coach Spags wants on third down. Seeing the whole year, watching Ben (Niemann) do it last year and kind of understanding the schemes and what situations kind of arise and how we attack the offenses, so it has been great to have that whole offseason to study and figure out what we want to do on third down. Again, it’s just a lot of things, working on pass coverage, working on understanding route concepts and schemes and what teams are trying to get to with certain down distances. So, all that goes into it, but yeah, I’m excited for it. Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to play all three downs, but nothing is guaranteed so I’m going to go out there and compete for my spot.”
Bolton impressed many around the league with his playmaking ability last season, but he seems poised to take another step forward with the defense in 2022.
Clark Hunt hopeful that Chiefs’ future home is a renovated Arrowhead Stadium
The #Chiefs will evaluate all options, but Clark Hunt says renovating and staying at Arrowhead Stadium is the team's top priority.
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2022-07-30T14:39:40Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Chiefs LB Nick Bolton feeling improved ahead of second NFL season
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Through the first week of training camp, it’s clear that the New York Giants offense has been completely overhauled and modernized.
Gone are the robotic designs and “pen and paper” route running. In their place is dizzying pre-snap motion, personnel shuffling and on-field player freedom.
It’s been a breath of fresh air for everyone on the offensive side of the ball.
“I feel like it’s a lot of energy they brought into the building. A lot of flexibility,” Kadarius Toney told reporters on Friday. “It’s more open. . . with route-running and stuff like that, it’s not as pen and paper. Instead of just running it technical (routes), it gives a chance to win instead of having to do it a certain way every time.”
But no change is seamless. The Giants are still in the early stages of learning this new offense and they’re practicing against a wildly aggressive Wink Martindale defense.
Given that defenses are traditionally ahead of offenses at this point in training camp anyway, it should come as little surprise that there’s some sluggishness. The quarterbacks and receivers aren’t quite on the same page just yet, and it’s resulted in some ugly plays.
After a strong first practice, Daniel Jones has been particularly victimized by Martindale’s swarming defense. He’s dealt with miscommunication with his receivers, faced significant pressure and, of course, had his play-makers drop entirely too many passes.
There have been flashes, of course, but not enough to silence the already buzzing media.
Don’t care that it’s early. This is bad. And it’s no stretch to envision Brian Daboll and the Giants trying Tyrod Taylor (or Jimmy G) if Daniel Jones’ 1st-string offense doesn’t pick it up https://t.co/3PFatRwkNz
Context is key, however. The Giants are just three practices in with their new system in place (the “acclimation period”), pads haven’t gone on yet and practice has been structured situationally. It’s far too early to even be concerned, let alone calling for a change at quarterback — or worse yet, a trade.
Back in reality, there should be growing excitement over the offensive changes. The Giants appear to have finally caught up with the rest of the league in terms of philosophy. Now it’s time to work on execution.
That’s not something that’s going to happen overnight, so don’t panic just yet. At least wait until the pads go on before walking up to the cliff’s edge.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, whose legislative skills have torpedoed many Democratic priorities, suffered a rare defeat himself this week, when Democrats thwarted his plan to block their new $430 billion drugs and energy bill. McConnell, who has spent nearly half his 80 years in the Senate, had vowed to deny bipartisan support for a sweeping bill to subsidize the U.S. semiconductor industry as long as Democrats pursued major legislation to battle climate change and lower the price of prescription drugs. But hours after McConnell and 16 other Republicans voted to pass the semiconductor legislation, known as the "CHIPS" bill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow Democrat Joe Manchin surprised McConnell with a new climate and drugs package.
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2022-07-30T14:39:53Z
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Giants offense looks modernized but sluggish early in camp
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Bill Armstrong joins Link Academy after previously serving on Will Wade's staff at LSU in Baton Rouge.
It had been nearly a year since Justin Allgaier went to Victory Lane when he returned to that hallowed ground in May at Darlington Raceway. For as meaningful as it was to win again in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, this was different from previous triumphs. Between smiles, cheers and hat changes, Allgaier repeatedly pulled and
The battle for the Iron Throne is once again at the center of Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon — and turns out the fight was just as contentious offscreen as on. “Paddy was so possessive,” star Eve Best reveals of Paddy Considine, who plays King Viserys Targaryen in the HBO series, and […]
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2022-07-30T14:39:59Z
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Joe Mixon breaks silence on usage during Super Bowl’s final moments
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New England Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith scored two touchdowns in a three-plan span on Friday, and reignited the discussion about a comeback year for the tight end.
After an eight-touchdown, 448-yard season with the Tennessee Titans in 2020, Smith struggled to get footing in New England in 2021 and finished with just 294 yards and a touchdown — a stat line that looks even worse when compared to his contract (four years, $50 million).
There’s reason for optimism on a number of levels for Smith, however. And the first reason is that he’s been impressive at training camp, with quarterback Mac Jones showing an increased amount of trust in the tight end.
“That’s what we had the offseason for,” Smith said when asked about his improved chemistry with Jones. “That comes with time. Learning each other. Knowing each other. We all have to continue to work to be all on the same page.”
Jonnu Smith smiled when I asked if he and Kyle Dugger’s friendship will withstand the 2 TDs that the TE scored today in practice today.
Smith also noted his improved chemistry with Mac Jones: “That’s what we had the offseason for.” pic.twitter.com/K9l03tQJAb
Smith said that, in his second year with the Patriots, he has come to feel more comfortable in the offense with Jones. The offense has also undergone a small transformation with the Patriots coaching staff streamlining and simplifying it. The idea is that it will help their playmakers play faster. That could give Smith a boost, too.
He pointed out he will ultimately have to execute the routes, the play, the playbook and the game plan. He has to do what he’s told.
But then he faced a question about managing the expectations of playing under such a large contract — and managing the pressures of that contract after a lackluster first year.
“I love football,” Smith said. “I got here by just loving football, loving my teammates, loving the guys around me. All that stuff (with the contract) just comes with it. We didn’t grow up playing in our backyard thinking about contracts. You know what I mean? We just played because we loved the game.”
Fast-moving thunderstorms pounded Las Vegas, causing flooding in areas including casinos along the Vegas Strip.
Squash star Turmel cruises through to next round at Commonwealth Games
Not even search engine oracles could help Ipswich squash star Lucy Turmel figure out her first-round opponent at the Commonwealth Games.
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2022-07-30T14:40:06Z
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Jonnu Smith discusses improved chemistry with Mac Jones
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Any person who has seen a relationship end in their life likely knows the urge to check back in on that person and see how they’re doing since the separation.
For fans of the Oregon Ducks, the “one that got away” could very well be 4-star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the No. 5 ranked WR in the 2022 recruiting class. McMillan was originally committed to the Ducks, but after the departure of Mario Cristobal and the hiring of Dan Lanning, he decided to flip his commitment to the Arizona Wildcats.
Now Oregon fans might feel the urge to take a look at Tucson and see how McMillan is doing ahead of his freshman season.
The answer is likely not one that will make you get over the metaphorical breakup quickly.
"He comes in with a lot of attention, a lot of hype and by all accounts in Spring Football, he backed those up."@BrandonHuffman gives his pick for PAC-12 Freshman of the Year ✍️ pic.twitter.com/fNsMS2TYqb
“Here’s a guy who was committed to Oregon, and it seemed for the longest time that it was going to be an Oregon-USC race for him. He commits to Oregon, but Arizona never stopped,” said Brandon Huffman, with 247Sports. “He’s one of the biggest commitments that Arizona has ever gotten because he is an instant impact player.”
Of course, the Ducks have done incredibly well at the wide receiver position when it comes to recruiting since the new coaching staff came to Eugene. So far, they have landed 5-star Jurrion Dickey (2023), 4-star Kyler Kasper (2022), and 4-star Ashton Cozart (2023) in the past several months. However, it’s always going to be interesting to keep an eye on the Wildcats and see just how big of an impact McMillan can have in Tucson.
There’s always going to be a part of Oregon fans who thinks about what could have been if he turns out to be the star that we think he can.
7 teams that might be next in line to join the Big Ten in conference expansion
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2022-07-30T15:50:37Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former Oregon commit picked to win Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award in 2022
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Nothing in the NFL is guaranteed, and even as a 2020 first-round pick, Jalen Reagor will have to earn his accolades and playing time.
With the addition of A.J. Brown and Zach Pascal to the roster, Reagor’s spot as a starter was no longer guaranteed, and he enters training camp as the likely fifth or sixth wide receiver on the team.
Asked about Reagor during the Eagles’ Saturday morning practice, head coach Nick Sirianni made it clear that the wide receiver was “battling” for a roster spot with eight other wideouts.
“He’s battling for a spot.” Nick Sirianni on where Jalen Reagor fits on the team.
Reagor has been a disappointment through two seasons, logging just 64 catches for 695 yards and three touchdowns in 28 games, including 24 starts, since the Eagles made him the 21st pick in the 2020 draft.
A star at TCU, Reagor has averaged just 24.8 yards per game, and according to Reuben Franks, the only wide receivers in Eagles history to start at least 20 games and averaged fewer yards per game are 1984 1st-round pick Kenny Jackson and undrafted Greg Lewis, now the Chiefs’ running backs coach under Andy Reid.
Twitter reacts to Jordan Davis singing 'Mary Jane' for teammates during training camp
DraftKings (DKNG) possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Organizers of the Jumpman Invitational on Friday unveiled the matchups and schedule for the two-night college basketball event scheduled that will debut in uptown Charlotte in December.
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2022-07-30T15:50:56Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Nick Sirianni on where Jalen Reagor fits with the Eagles
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Florida football’s big recruiting weekend is here and the news has already started to roll in from Gainesville as Billy Napier and Co. roll out the red carpet for the top prep prospects in the nation stretching across three classes. Among the encouraging stories currently developing in the Swamp is one surrounding four-star wide receiver Andy Jean out of Miami (Florida) Northwestern, who received three crystal ball predictions for the Gators from 247Sports.
Swamp247’s Blake Alderman and Jacob Rudner, as well as 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins, submitted their predictions on Saturday morning, with the former two offering high confidence levels of seven and eight (out of 10), respectively, while the latter’s submission was a medium-level five.
While Florida has been out front for the 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound pass-catcher’s commitment, his recruitment has also included the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, Miami Hurricanes and Texas A&M Aggies. He named the Gators as his lead destination after an official visit in June that put the Orange and Blue at the top, and was reportedly among the last players to leave campus after Friday Night Lights, according to 247Sports.
Jean is currently ranked No. 332 overall and No. 42 in his class nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 353 and 49, respectively. His three crystal balls are the only assigned by 247Sports while On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has Florida on top with an 86.2% chance of signing him while the Aggies lag behind at 5% and ‘Canes at 3.2%.
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2022-07-30T16:10:01Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Gators get three crystal ball predictions for this 4-star wide receiver
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The Cleveland Browns are not the only team with question marks at the quarterback position. While the Deshaun Watson story is the biggest lingering issue, a couple of other quarterback issues linger in the AFC North.
The Baltimore Ravens are set at the position with Lamar Jackson but the two sides have not been able to lock up a long-term extension. With Jackson, along with his mother, acting as his own agent the negotiations could get interesting.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are far more of an unknown at the most important position in the league.
The Steelers, looking to replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger, signed Mitchell Trubisky quickly this offseason. While the two-year deal isn’t huge, it could be worth $27 million if incentivizes are met. A little over a month later, Pittsburgh used their first-round pick to draft Kenny Pickett.
Despite both of those moves, Mason Rudolph could be the team’s starting quarterback for 2022:
“Mason’s getting the second reps right now, almost equal to, maybe slightly less than Mitch,” Canada said, via Pro Football Talk. “He’s being given a very fair shot. To this point in camp, it might have been exactly equal. Mason has made a lot of plays at times, he’s played very well at times for us. He’s got a great shot at it. He’s being treated that way. His history with our plays, with our system, is a positive for him,”
Rudolph signed a one-year, $5 million extension during the 2021 season.
The former third-round pick has played in a total of 17 games since being drafted in 2018. He has completed 61.5% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He may be most famous for the altercation where Browns DE Myles Garrett hit Rudolph with his own Steelers helmet.
Also involved in that tussle, new Pittsburgh teammate Larry Ogunjobi said he and the quarterback talked it over already. Another teammate thinks Rudolph doesn’t get enough credit:
Should Rudolph win the job out of training camp, it will call into question the moves for Trubisky and Pickett. It could also lead to multiple changes at the position throughout the year.
The Steelers have been successful with lesser QB play at different times including late in Roethlisberger’s career and Devlin “Duck” Hodges. Yet, it is hard to see the team competitive in a division with Jackson, Watson (for however many games) and recent Super Bowl participant Joe Burrow with their current triumvirate of quarterbacks.
Lamar Jackson became eligible for a contract extension after the 2020 season. Yet, he remains without one. Not long after Ravens coach John Harbaugh said both sides are motivated to get a long-term deal completed, the quarterback said he hopes to get it done before the start of the season. “I think so. I think [more]
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2022-07-30T16:31:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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AFC North: Mason Rudolph could win Steelers starting QB job
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Bears’ David Montgomery on being disrespected in RB rankings: ‘I take everything personal’
Bears running back David Montgomery has been one of the team’s most reliable weapons, and one of the lone bright spots in what’s been an uninspired offense.
Montgomery has been the primary back since being drafted by the Bears back in 2019, which included logging his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2020. He was on pace for his second straight before being sidelined for four games with a knee injury. Montgomery finished that 2021 campaign with 225 carries for 849 yards (3.8 YPC) and seven scores. And that was behind a suspect offensive line.
When you look at running back rankings around the NFL, it’s hard to ignore how criminally underrated Montgomery has been among them. For example, Pro Football Focus has Montgomery ranked as the 19th best running back in the league, which seems far too low.
But just so we’re clear, Montgomery sees those rankings, too.
Montgomery will once again be the featured back in Luke Getsy’s offense, which will be a run-heavy scheme. But Montgomery will be sharing the workload with Khalil Herbert, similar to what we’ve seen in Green Bay with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
Montgomery is entering a contract year with the Bears, but it’s something he’s not worried about. He’s going to let it all play out.
“If you know much about me, I’m not really paying too much (attention) about a contract, because I’m a firm believer that God’s gonna take care of whatever he’s supposed to take care of when he’s going to,” he said. “It’s gonna happen when it does.”
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2022-07-30T16:31:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bears’ David Montgomery on being disrespected in RB rankings: ‘I take everything personal’
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Rashod Hill is no longer on the list of former Minnesota Vikings players that remain unsigned.
Per his agent, Brett Tessler, the veteran offensive tackle has signed a deal with the Washington Commanders.
Hill initially went undrafted to the Jacksonville Jaguars before being signed off their practice squad by the Vikings in 2016. He managed to stick around for the last six seasons and started in 22 games.
With the ability to serve as a swing tackle, it was only a matter of time before opportunity came knocking for the experienced offensive lineman.
At the very least, Hill could provide depth for a Commanders offensive line that ranked 15th in Pro Football Focus’ projected 2022 rankings.
Meanwhile, the Vikings are set at the tackle position for the foreseeable future with Brian O’Neill recently signing a massive extension and the team likely striking gold with 2021 first-round draft pick Christian Darrisaw.
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2022-07-30T16:32:36Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former Vikings OT Rashod Hill signs with Commanders
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been in the headlines a lot over the course of the 2022 offseason. From his contract situation, to an anonymous defensive coordinator critiquing the quarterback’s style of play, Jackson’s name always seems to be in the news for one reason or another. His success on the field can be attributed to why his name is often in the headlines, and Jackson does not appear to be slowing down.
Following training camp practice on Thursday, Jackson spoke to members of the media. The quarterback told reporters that at the end of the day, it’s about winning and supporting his teammates, which speaks to his selfless nature as well as his highly competitive spirit.
"I want to win at the end of the day." @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/drG4SE5qWs
“I want to win at the end of the day, you know? I just want to be great. You know I just want to work with my brothers at the end of the day. I don’t want to leave them out there hanging. That’s not me, that’s never been me.”
Jackson has a track record of winning, with a 37-12 record through his first four NFL seasons. The quarterback has a 64.1 completion percentage, 9,967 passing yards and 87 touchdowns through the air while also rushing for 3,673 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. Jackson was named the 2019 league-MVP, and has shattered numerous records in his first four years. He will look to continue his ascension in 2022, where there is plenty of optimism surrounding the team.
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2022-07-30T16:33:33Z
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Ravens QB Lamar Jackson focused on winning, supporting teammates
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That’s what we like to see. Jameis Winston bounced back well from a pair of interceptions to open Saturday’s practice session at New Orleans Saints training camp, ending the day on a high note by connecting with rookie wideout Chris Olave on a 60-yard touchdown pass.
We were fortunate to get a couple of different angles on the play of the day, but the best look may come from the official Saints Twitter account themselves. It’s tough to assign blame on the big play to anyone in particular on defense, but from what we can see it looks like Marshon Lattimore was initially lined up against Olave before passing him off to the safety help behind him.
But there wasn’t a safety waiting back deep — P.J. Williams came down instead to meet Lattimore at the sideline, leaving Olave uncovered as he ran further downfield. Winston saw it unfold and stepped up in the pocket to launch a high-arcing pass into the rookie’s hands for six points to a round of applause from the fans in attendance.
It was a great rebound to an ugly start, with defensive backs C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Bradley Roby both notching takeaways to open the team period. Saints coach Dennis Allen credited Winston for the upswing in his post-practice media availability session.
“I thought he responded the next two plays,” Allen told WWL’s Jeff Nowak. “And I told him that out on the field: that’s what you have to be able to do. This game’s not a perfect game played by perfect people, and there’s gonna be mistakes that are made, and how do you respond to them? I thought he did a nice job of responding to them.”
This big play is encouraging to see from Olave, too. It’s a good reminder that he adds a new element to the offense and shouldn’t be lost in the shuffle with Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry added to the mix. There are high expectations for the first round pick and he’s responding accordingly. Impressive moments like these will go a long way towards building confidence in his quarterback, and that bodes well for their future together. The Saints are off on Sunday, but they’ll return to work in their first padded practice on Monday. Let’s see if Olave can keep up this momentum.
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2022-07-30T16:34:12Z
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Watch: Jameis Winston finds Chris Olave for 60-yard TD at Saints camp
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The mysterious sound that maddened a Bay Area city has been solved
Scores of people in Richmond were kept up Saturday night and Sunday morning by a strange sound, leading to a $500 reward from the mayor for information. The answer lay at an out-of-the way industrial park.
Mayor London Breed said Thursday, “this is a public health crisis (and) we are in desperate need of vaccines.” The declaration will allow the city to dedicate more resources and expand emergency operations.
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2022-07-30T17:21:10Z
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49ers DT Maurice Hurst tore his biceps during Friday’s practice
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Massive news on the college football recruiting front as five-star linebacker Anthony Hill has committed to Texas A&M over in-state rival Texas.
The Denton Ryan product is listed as the No. 1 linebacker in the nation and the No. 2 overall prospect in the Lone Star State for the 2023 cycle according to the updated 247Sports composite rankings.
Jimbo Fisher and his staff got Hill to campus over the weekend and were able to close the door on the all-state linebacker. This is a huge head to head recruiting victory over the Longhorns who will have to look elsewhere at the linebacker spot.
Do not expect the Texas staff to give on on Hill quite yet. He is the type of talent you keep recruiting all the way until signing day. The Longhorns were able to flip a few high profile targets in last year’s class.
Who will play quarterback? Will the defense improve enough? What are realistic expectations? Three questions for Missouri going into fall camp.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em (or in this case, buy 'em)! Two air service companies are in talks of settling on an official merge, forming what would make up the fifth-largest airline in the U.S. On Thursday, the announcement that JetBlue Airways is set to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 ...
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2022-07-30T18:07:24Z
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Five-star LB Anthony Hill commits to Texas A&M
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Penn State has a big question to answer this season with its offensive line. Olumuyia Fashanu is just one player who will look to show the line can be relied upon for an offense to truly take flight. With just one career start, Fashanu will take on a big role on the rebuilt offensive line in 2022.
After spending the entire regular season as a reserve option for the offensive line, Olumuyia Fashanu made his first career start in the Outback Bowl against Arkansas on Jan. 1. Fashanu stepped in at left tackle as the Penn State offensive line was without an injured Rasheed Walker.
Fashanu did make appearances in nine games for Penn State in 2021 during the regular season on offense and special teams. He saw playing time in an early-season matchup against Ball State that saw the Penn State offense explode for 493 yards. He also appeared in a game against Villanova in which Sean Clifford passed for a career-high 401 yards, becoming just the second 400-yard passer in Penn State history.
Fashanu also earned academic All-Big Ten honors in 2021 and he was a standout developmental squad player during the 2020 season as a true freshman.
Penn State’s entire offensive line is a bit of a question mark, and it is an area that head coach James Franklin says wants to prove itself before he hypes them up. That’s fair given the recent trends on the line. Fashanu and the rest of the offensive line will be left to answer whether or not this line ultimately improves in 2022 after a shaky 2021 season.
Fashanu is stepping into a key position blocking for Sean Clifford and making the jump to a full-time starter is a big challenge for any player with just one career start. So, naturally, the biggest question for Fashanu is whether or not he is ready to handle the responsibility of the position.
At left tackle, Fashanu has a big responsibility to protect Clifford, who has been banged up more than enough the past couple of seasons. And there will not be a lot of time to prove he is capable of the job as Penn State faces some early challenges on the road against Purdue and Auburn.
It’s pretty simple, really. If Fashanu helps to keep Clifford from missing any playing time, then the 2022 season will be a tremendous success for Fashanu. And if that is the case, then the entire offense may step forward as a result.
Fashanu is a former four-star recruit, so there are big exp[ectactions for him coming into the season in a big spot. His successor, Rasheed Walker, was a solid blocker, but Fashanu needs to be even better. If Fashanu can manage to hold on to the job for the entire season and keep some of the Big Ten’s top defensive ends from laying a hand on Clifford, good things will happen.
We could know fairly early on if Fashanu is not equipped for the job as Penn State hits the road against a pair of dangerous teams in September. If Purdue and Auburn bring enough pressure off the edge to cause alarm about Fashanu, Penn State may have to consider making a change quickly in order to preserve the 2022 season. Things will only get tougher as the season goes on if Fashanu doesn’t work out at the position.
Fashanu not being in the starting mix by the midway point of the season would easily classify as a disappointment.
Penn State’s entire offensive line is under a bit of a microscope this season, as it should be. Fashanu is taking on a major role in the offensive game plan as a projected starting left tackle, playing a position where mistakes can blow up in a big way rather quickly.
But Fashanu is not scrub. The former four-star recruit will have something to prove, as will the entire line, but things are looking up for the entire line this season. Fashanu will be a patr of an improved offensive line, but we probably aren’t looking at a first-team All-Big Ten option just yet. But if the rest of the line performs, Penn State won’t need quite that caliber of play at the position.
Fashanu is in a good spot, albeit challenging. The good news is Penn State should feel good about what he brings to the line in 2022.
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2022-07-30T18:07:30Z
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Penn State Top 25 players for 2022: Olumuyia Fashanu
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Hurst likely out for the season after tearing biceps in practice originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst sustained a torn biceps in practice Friday and is scheduled to undergo extensive surgery, 49es coach Kyle Shanahan said.
The surgery is likely to keep Hurst out for the entire season. He sustained the injury as he was reaching out to defend a read-option play in practice.
The 49ers on Friday signed defensive lineman Tomasi Laulile to a one-year deal.
Laulile (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) originally entered the NFL in 2018 after signing with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent. He has yet to play in an NFL regular-season game.
Hurst’s injury is the second setback for the 49ers’ defensive line within the first three days of training cap.
On Wednesday, defensive tackle Arik Armstead sustained a knee sprain that is expected to sideline him for “a few weeks,” Shanahan said.
Armstead’s injury is to the medical collateral ligament and will not require surgery. He is expected to be back in time for the season opener on Sept. 11 against the Chicago Bears.
Also, veteran defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway sustained a quadriceps injury on Friday and will not practice on Saturday.
RELATED: Hufanga embraces friendly competition with 'incredible' Lance
The 49ers signed Hurst to a one-year contract this offseason after he appeared in just two games in 2021 due to a calf injury.
Hurst appeared in 40 games over three seasons with the Raiders before signing with the 49ers. He entered the NFL in 2018 as a fifth-round draft pick.
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2022-07-30T18:20:27Z
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49ers' Maurice Hurst likely out for the season after tearing biceps in practice
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Christian McCaffrey: 'This is the best I've ever felt;' I'm past the 'annoying injuries'
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey discusses his return from injuries ahead of the 2022 NFL season. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network
Congress has passed a new assault weapons ban that likely won’t make it through the Senate. But that is not stopping Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from standing up to gun manufacturers. "I expected them to accept some responsibility for their actions, which they refused to do. After Uvalde, Buffalo, and all these mass shootings across the country, the support for assault weapon bans has grown to over 70%. People are demanding action."
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2022-07-30T18:20:52Z
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Christian McCaffrey: 'This is the best I've ever felt;' I'm past the 'annoying injuries'
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Seahawks strong safety Jamal Adams broke his finger again on Wednesday during the team’s first training camp practice of the year. Adam Jude at the Seattle Times broke the story yesterday, describing it as a freak accident.
Apparently what happened is Adams got his finger caught in another player’s helmet, which led to the injury. According to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, Adams will be wearing a club during practice and a special cast during games this year. If he elects to have surgery it will not happen until this coming season is over.
Adams missed four games each of the last two seasons in Seattle due to a variety of upper body injuries, including both of his hands and his shoulder. He signed a four-year, $70 million extension last summer that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL at his position.
Adams is just 26 years old.
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2022-07-30T18:20:58Z
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Jamal Adams: Details on how Seahawks safety broke his finger
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“Sidney is a playmaker, he is a field guy, he has great awareness, he’s really smart, positions, sees well, reads well, has terrific hands, and plays the ball really well,” Carroll told reporters. “Now that he has showed us that he knows what is going on, knows how we want to play him, and how it fits in the scheme, now we are really trying to draw to his strengths and allow him to fit in.”
“The way we coach him up and the way we play him, not everybody has to be exactly the same is what I’m saying,” Carroll continued. “Sid has his way and he’s going to be a hard guy to move because he is so sharp, is on it, and you can really count on him.
“He’s done well.”
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2022-07-30T18:21:42Z
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What Seahawks expect from ‘playmaker’ Sidney Jones IV this year
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Shanahan appreciates Young's influence, work with Lance originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — Kyle Shanahan and Steve Young are on the same page when it comes to 49ers quarterback Trey Lance.
The Hall of Fame quarterback and the head coach both see the young signal-caller's ability to process what is happening on the field as a huge attribute as he heads into his second season in the league - his first as the starting quarterback for the team.
Shanahan recognized Lance’s processing abilities when going through the pre-draft process of studying film of the young quarterback while he was at North Dakota State.
“That was one of the things we liked about him the most in college,” Shanahan said at the opening of training camp. “They didn’t do a ton of it just cause of how good of a team they were and how much they ran it. But when he did do it, you could see that he had the skillset to do it and was good at it.”
Shanahan knows that Lance’s ability to understand and react to what a defense is doing is immensely imortant in the NFL compared to college. It still gives the 21-year-old a leg up on what’s to come in his first season as the team's starter.
“Completely different speed of the game compared to where he was playing then and now and to get it into those pockets, it’s totally different,” Shanahan said. “But you don’t always get to see it in college quarterbacks, and it’s not always their fault, sometimes their offenses don’t ask them to, but that’s one thing I did like about studying Trey.”
Lance’s ability to react quickly to what is happening on the field has already been noticed by most of his defensive teammates. While he has faced some adversity on the practice field, he is going up against one of the more stout defenses in the league.
RELATED: Bosa enjoying training camp, not having to rehab in offseason
While there undoubtedly will be both ups and downs in Lance’s first full season as a starter, it appears that he has all the tools to help him be successful — including the ability to see a play unfold and react to elements as needed.
As far as Young spending time with Lance, as the sophomore quarterback adjusts and prepares for the season ahead, Shanahan is all for it.
“Man, I hope they talk all the time,” Shanahan said. “Steve Young's one of my favorite players of all-time, one of my favorite people of all-time. And if you ever go back and watch his film, and you watch it now it's like, ‘holy cow, he's better than I even realized.’
“And he's also one of the smartest people I've ever met in my life, so anytime that guy wants to talk to any of our players, please do it.”
Training camp is giving two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard a sense of normalcy as the Tennessee Titans safety works through the grief over his mother's unexpected death earlier this summer. “At times, I feel like I’m still in shock a little bit, it hasn’t set all the way in,” Byard said of losing his mother, Artina Stanley, in June. Byard left the Titans' mandatory minicamp June 14 when his mother fell ill and died a week later.
Padres launched five home runs behind Blake Snell's terrific one-run, seven-strikeout outing in a 10-1 win over the Twins
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2022-07-30T18:21:55Z
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Steve Young's influence on Trey Lance appreciated by 49ers' Kyle Shanahan
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The 2022 season is a year of investment and hoping for good returns.
The Houston Texans promoted Lovie Smith from defensive coordinator and associate head coach to the big role following the firing of David Culley after the 2021 campaign. The Texans also committed to Davis Mills as the former 2021 third-rounder will get first-team reps en route to being the starting quarterback in his second season.
As is the nature of training camp, if one side of the ball is doing well, it generally comes at the expense of the other.
According to Smith, that wasn’t how he saw it after the second day of training camp practice. Mills threw checkdowns when going against the defense in team portion, and Smith was able to put a positive spin on the development when meeting with reporters at Houston Methodist Training Center.
“On to the other side of the ball, it’s all coverage,” Smith said. “How about that? No, but that was the case. I mean, whenever — most of our — we don’t have a whole lot of designed checkdowns, but when down the field routes are covered, you want the quarterback, you don’t him to force it. You want him to take the checkdown, the safe throw.”
Smith also explained that Mills’ decision to go with the checkdown and not force the throws was an example of how the former Stanford product has improved throughout the offseason.
“That’s part of Davis’ growth also,” said Smith. “So, yes, that was definitely the case and that’s good on both sides.”
The Texans defense collected 25 takeaways, tied for 10th-most in the NFL last year, and the only team in the top-10 to have a losing record. Mills went 2-9 overall, but had an optimistic 2-3 finish with a 9-2 touchdown to interception ratio and a 102.4 passer rating. Houston is hopeful these elements carry over into 2022.
WATCH: Texans practice in Battle Red helmets on Day 2 of training camp
The Houston Texans broke out their Battle Red helmets for the second day of training camp practice.
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2022-07-30T18:22:01Z
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Texans coach Lovie Smith explains why Davis Mills’ checkdowns are a positive
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McKinstry, 27, can play all over the diamond, with experience in both corner outfield spots, second and third base and shortstop.
He cooled off last season after a hot April in which he slashed .291/.322/.546 in 18 games — finishing the season with .215/.263/.405 in 60 games.
McKinstry has raked in Triple-A this year (.335/.417/.487, 48 games) and is a potential depth piece for the coming seasons. McKinstry is not arbitration eligible until 2025 and is under club control through 2027.
On Friday, Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles downplayed the notion of looking for outside help, with center Ryan Jensen gone until November at the earliest. On Saturday, Bowles downplayed the notion that he downplayed the notion of looking for outside help. Asked if he was sure that the team would stick with in-house candidates like Robert Hainsey [more]
Amazon Air changing ground handler at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, triggering layoff notice
Amazon.com Inc.'s cargo airline is changing service providers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, prompting a layoff filing with the state affecting more than 150 local workers.
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2022-07-30T18:53:11Z
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Cubs trade Chris Martin to Dodgers for versatile Zach McKinstry
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HoopsHype recently made a list of the top-twenty-five Point Guards in the league and Kyrie Irving shows up on the list at number eight. While there are some headscratchers on this list, they definitely got Irving right as far as his ranking goes.
Even without playing many games last season, Irving is still one of the best scoring guards in the league. He can score at all three levels and he is a menace to stop in the pick and roll. Not to mention his Iverson-like ball skills and killer crossovers.
HoopsHype’s point guard ranking reasoning for Irving:
Irving has many out there who consider him to be the best dribbler basketball has ever seen.
Add to that his stop-on-a-dime shooting ability, his range from beyond the arc and his layup package – one that allows him to finish with either hand and among the trees with ease – and it’s easy to see why he’s considered one of the most gifted scorers the lead-guard spot has ever produced.
If the constant off-court noise with Irving wasn’t so boisterous, he certainly would have finished higher in these rankings. After all, despite the drama, Irving still put up 27.4 points, 5.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 2021-22 while shooting 41.8 percent from three.
The big problem keeping Irving from being higher on the list is himself. At times he gets in the way of his own success and at times he isn’t as dedicated as he could be. At his best though he isn’t far from number one. The biggest issue of course is keeping him on the basketball court. The seven names in front of him all can stay on the court so it is an accurate ranking.
Former Rockets James Harden, PJ Tucker, and Danuel House Jr. are suddenly back together with the 76ers, and the NBA is reportedly investigating how it all came to be.
Nets haven’t given up on Kevin Durant rescinding trade request
The Nets are probably waiting for Kevin Durant's camp to realize that, and maybe for Durant to retract his trade request. The Nets have not given up on this scenario, sources say. Source: Zach Lowe @ ESPN What's the buzz on Twitter? Kurt Helin @ ...
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2022-07-30T18:53:24Z
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Nets star Kyrie Irving ranked as the 8th best point guard in the NBA
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SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Kyle Busch said Saturday that he is willing to re-sign for under his value on the NASCAR Cup Series free-agent market, adding that “there are a lot of sleepless nights” as the contract negotiations have crept along.
Busch‘s candid remarks came ahead of pole qualifying for Sunday‘s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports App, IMS Radio, SiriusXM) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. It‘s the latest in a series of updates on the prolonged talks that will determine where the two-time Cup champion lands for the 2023 season.
“I don‘t think money has ever been the objective or ever been the issue,” Busch said. “Obviously, I know what the sports landscape is, I know what‘s happening. The talk from my side was that I know there need to be concessions made and to race for under my market value, and I‘ve accepted that and told everybody that and just trying to see where all that lies.”
Busch reiterated Saturday that he has been in discussions with other teams as he weighs his options for next season. But Busch also restated that his primary focus is brokering a deal that keeps him in Joe Gibbs Racing‘s No. 18 Toyota, the seat he‘s occupied since 2008.
“I feel as though I‘ve said and I‘ll continue to say my first goal is to stay at Joe Gibbs Racing,” Busch said. “But if the musical chairs music stops, and I‘m still standing and I don‘t have a seat, I‘m screwed. So I have to make sure that I continue to talk and evaluate each place and each situation to find something.”
With each week that’s gone by without a deal or an announced sponsor to replace Mars/M&M’s, the Silly Season conjecture has continued to churn. Busch said some of the wilder rumors had entertained him. Hearing the suggestion he might leave NASCAR to run a barnstorming schedule in other racing disciplines, Busch said that option is “probably the farthest down on my list,” though he would not rule it out.
“You definitely get a kick out of it. It’s kind of funny, because there’s actually some ideas thrown that I haven’t thought of,” Busch said. “You’re like, ‘oh, I might want to explore that one.’ But obviously, it’s a mess right now. And so, just trying to sort through it all the best I can. And really, there’s a lot of factors that go into this, and really, I don’t want to be going through this.
“Still my first option, my first goal, my first set is to be at Joe Gibbs Racing and stay with Toyota and have nothing change. But that unicorn hasn’t fallen out of the sky for 20 million bucks or whatever it is, and I don’t think it needs to be that number because obviously, there’s a number in that that then pays a driver and I’ve already said that I’m willing to take concessions and race for under my market value and go forward and being able to stay in the seat that I’ve made home for the last 15 years.”
The contract uncertainty has loomed as a dominant story line for Busch’s 2022 season. Busch’s on-track performance has been no slouch, as he sits eighth in the Cup Series points with a victory on Bristol Motor Speedway’s dirt.
The last six races have brought a series of struggles, with nary a top-10 outcome in the bunch and five finishes of 20th or worse. Those woes have synced with the lingering contract limbo, but crew chief Ben Beshore said the two trajectories were coincidental.
“We’ve had a rough last six weeks here of not getting the finishes that we’re used to getting, so that on top of the contracts … the reason we’re not finishing well doesn’t have anything to do with contract talks or anything like that,” Beshore told NASCAR.com. “We had a really fast car last week. It doesn’t affect me and the guys at the shop as far as building the cars and everything, and Kyle’s put in a lot of effort at the shop and on the weekends and he’s dialed in. We’re all trying to finish the best we can every week. So I don’t feel like it’s a distraction at all.”
As for his future, Busch said the discussions have ranged from the short term to longer-range plans and everything in between.
“I mean, anything’s on the table,” Busch said. “We’re talking ’23 options. We’re talking ’24 options. We’re talking long term. Everybody and everything. So the whiteboard is quite full.”
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2022-07-30T18:59:28Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Kyle Busch: 'A lot of sleepless nights' as contract negotiations stall
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Coach Nate Oats and the rest of the Alabama coaching staff have done an excellent job of recruiting over the past few years. The main focus of the coaching staff has been to recruit players that fit the Tide’s system. One of the recruits that seems like a fit in Coach Oats’ system is 2023 small forward Devin Royal.
On Friday, Royal narrowed down his list of finalists to three schools — Michigan State, Ohio State and Alabama. The native of Pickerington, Ohio announced the news via his Twitter page. Royal has yet to make an official visit to Alabama. However, that could be something that comes to fruition in the near future.
On the other hand, he has taken an official visit to both Michigan State and Ohio State. As of right now, the Buckeyes are heavily favored by On3’s RPM to land Royal at 85.9% likelihood.
When Royal was asked about why he included Alabama as a finalist by On3’s Joe Tipton, here is what he had to say:
“I really like their playstyle. I have a really good relationship with the head coach and the whole coaching staff.”
Royal stands at 6-foot-6, 210 pounds according to 247Sports. With that size, he is somewhat similar to former Alabama star Josh Primo. Alabama is making a push to land the highest-rated recruit from Ohio, but it won’t be easy. We will have to wait and see how Royal’s recruitment unfolds in the coming months. As for now, Alabama fans will have to sit and wait.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to track Royal’s recruitment as well as other Alabama basketball recruiting news.
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2022-07-30T19:55:59Z
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Alabama lands in top three for 2023 SF Devin Royal
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The Florida Gators started the month of July ranked 28th in the nation by 247Sports when it came to recruiting the class of 2023. Fast forward to July 30 and UF is now ranked No. 12 by the service and appears capable of making a push into the top 10.
Billy Napier earned pledges from a quartet of four-star recruits in the final week of the month. Cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson was the first to commit, but his announcement might have been overshadowed by Florida missing out on his teammates, four-star defensive linemen John Walker and Derrick LeBlanc. Both were considered priority targets for the Gators and were higher ranked than Jackson.
But Jackson’s commitment was just the start of things. Receiver Aidan Mizell, who is ranked No. 72 overall on the 247Sports composite, picked the Gators the very next day. Defensive back Jordan Castell, the No. 13 safety in the class, came next on Saturday morning, and former Miami wide receiver commit Andy Jean moved up his announcement to join in on the fun.
That’s four four-star recruits committed in roughly 72 hours and Florida might not be done. Perhaps this barrage of commitments is settled, but the Gators just hosted several blue-chip recruits at their Friday Night Lights event and cookout.
At No. 12 overall, Florida sits behind just Tennessee and LSU. Leap-frogging the two SEC programs would not only put Florida in the top 10, but it would also put them directly behind Miami. The Hurricanes had an even bigger July than the Gators, recruiting-wise, and the two are bound to be compared as the season plays out.
Florida is moving in the right direction, but a five-star commitment is needed to get into the same conversations as the elites. Cormani McClain is the obvious name to go after to secure that top-10 placement, and this recent surge has fans believing that Napier can pull it off.
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2022-07-30T19:56:11Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Florida’s 2023 recruiting class nearing top 10 after recent additions
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Though LSU had a bit of a slow start when it came to recruiting the fertile state of Louisiana in the 2023 cycle, coach Brian Kelly is picking up some momentum on the Tigers’ home turf.
He’s landed three in-state prospects during the month of July, and several more could be coming down the pipeline. One of those players is Zachary, Louisiana, safety Kylin Jackson, who is set to announce his commitment on Aug. 8 and is down to four schools, per On3: Oregon, Texas A&M, Michigan and the Tigers.
Jackson is a top-200 prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite, and he’s a top-10 safety in the class of 2023. Needless to say, he’d be a nice addition to a class that already features 17 commits and ranks 10th in the nation.
Offered on Nov. 25, 2021
Visited Oct. 10, 2021; Jan. 24, 2022; March 5, 2022
Recruiting Projection
No Crystal Ball predictions
LSU is a 97.1% favorite per On3 RPM
Reese Witherspoon reveals how ‘Legally Blonde 3’ was inspired by ‘Top Gun’ sequel
Reese Witherspoon wants Legally Blonde 3, the in-the-works sequel to her 2001 hit Legally Blonde, which she'll star in and produce, to be just as much of a crowd pleaser as Top Gun: Maverick.
With a real estate portfolio spread across a broad spectrum of property types, there's little reason to worry about W.P. Carey's dividend.
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2022-07-30T19:56:30Z
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Top-200 safety from Louisiana sets final four, commitment date
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Shanahan says Mitchell 'easing' his way back into team drills originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — Elijah Mitchell led the 49ers in rushing yards in his rookie season after only appearing in 11 contests.
The second-year ball carrier was present for OTAs but did not participate in drills in order to let his body heal from the injuries he suffered in 2021. The marathon of a season took a toll on the 5-foot-10 back and he needed time to “get right.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan offered an update on the dynamic running back who recently returned to participate in team drills this week. The training staff is going to work Mitchell in, gradually making sure he will be ready for Week 1 of the regular season.
“He has looked good,” Shanahan said. “He had a tough offseason just going back from injuries. He didn’t get to do much in OTAs. It was great to get him out there these first three days. He is easing his way back into it. Just glad he’s getting back to health.”
Through the course of his first NFL season, Mitchell dealt with injuries to his ribs, shoulder, head, and knee not to mention a fractured finger. It is amazing the elusive back was able to register near 1,000 yards considering the litany of injuries he was dealing with.
Mitchell has been seen on the field with the first team offense for a few reps a day. While the workload has been light and with players in shorts and t-shirts, the head coach believes it won’t be that much different on Monday when the pads go on.
“You can see when backs can go full speed and not get stuck and hit the right hole,” Shanahan said. “No matter how good they look you don’t know for sure until they know they are going to get hit. That’s when you find out in the preseason.
“You find out who is talented and who hits the right holes but you need to see their mindset when the running back knows people are coming for them, and you want to see if he is going for them.”
RELATED: Shanahan appreciates Young's influence, work with Lance
Mitchell did not shy away from contact in his first season in the league. The Louisiana product broke 16 tackles and of his 963 regular season yards, 515 yards came after contact.
The club drafted Ty Davis-Price who will join Jeff Wilson Jr., Trey Sermon, JaMycal Hasty and Mitchell in the running backs room. Still, keeping their leading ball carrier healthy is important to the 49ers.
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2022-07-30T20:04:40Z
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell 'easing' his way back into drills, Kyle Shanahan says
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sat down with Stacey Dales and Steve Mariucci of NFL Network after Saturday’s practice, and the obvious question came up: What does the four-time NFL MVP think of the current group of wide receivers in Green Bay?
“I like the guys we’ve got,” Rodgers said. “There’s gonna be the same amount of balls and yards and touchdowns to go around, so now it’s just a matter of who is going to be in those situations to make those plays.
Departed wide receivers Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown combined for 241 targets, 158 catches, 2,081 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
Rodgers is confident in the current receiver group making the most of the opportunities available in the passing game.
He specifically talked about six of the wide receivers in his answer to Dales and Mariucci:
On Christian Watson: “Not having Christian out here has probably been tough for him, but I expect him back in a couple of weeks.”
On Romeo Doubs: “Romeo Doubs has had a really nice start to camp. Getting a lot of attention based on some of the plays he’s made. Like the approach, very understated kid, very humble kid…It’s surprising how many teams passed on him. Whatever the reason was, we all feel really good about Romeo and the start he’s gotten off to.”
On Allen Lazard: “Obviously, Allen Lazard is going to step into the No. 1 role and I think it’s going to be a very seamless transition for him. As a primary blocker and kind of a niche guy for us, to get an opportunity to get more throws, be the No. 1 in the progression more often.”
On Randall Cobb: “When Randall Cobb stays healthy, I think he’s still an excellent slot receiver.”
On Sammy Watkins: “Sammy Watkins just came back to us yesterday, but he has a lot of experience, he’s on a short deal, he’s got a lot to prove. I think those guys are a little more dangerous because there’s so much more to play for for those guys. Allen Lazard, on a one-year deal as well.”
On Juwann Winfree: “There’s a lot of opportunity behind them. Juwann Winfree has stepped up as he does almost every single training camp, and he’s off to a really nice start.”
While Trump and Putin did meet while Trump was in office, there is no evidence the two men met recently in the United States.
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2022-07-30T20:04:44Z
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Aaron Rodgers discusses Packers wide receivers with NFL Network
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The Buffalo Bills signed cornerback Jordan Miller on Saturday. The team announced the transaction on Saturday, the sixth day of 2022 training camp.
Miller, 25, was a fifth-round selection of the Atlanta Falcons at the 2019 NFL draft. The defender has a 6-foot-2 frame, a lengthy defensive back by NFL standards.
As a rookie, Miller appeared in 10 games for the Falcons. That was mostly in a special teams role.
After his first season, he was suspended for four games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. After sitting out, he then landed on injured reserve due to an oblique injury in 2020 and was released by the Seattle Seahawks.
The end of the year and the 2021 season saw Miller spend time on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.
Miller would have an uphill battle to make Buffalo’s final roster. A practice squad position is the more realistic possibility for him at this time.
In a corresponding movie, the Bills released CB Travon Fuller with the waived/left squad designation.
Update: Bills' Micah Hyde 'day-to-day' following injury scare
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2022-07-30T20:04:47Z
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Bills sign CB Jordan Miller to one-year deal
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The legend of Gardner Minshew grew more this offseason.
Since February, Minshew has been living out of a refurbished prison bus he parked outside various locations he visited and trained at all offseason. He even pulled up to the Philadelphia Eagles training camp in the bus. Minshew detailed his journey in a long Instagram video, where he showed off his decked-out bus which featured plenty of 1970s-style flair including a lava lamp, white shag throw pillows and album covers lining the walls.
"I just love the freedom that it affords me," Minshew said. "It affords me a place to come and focus," he said. "I’m living at the gym, eat, sleep, shower here. Everything. It’s kind of my own little island here. I love it."
Hey, at least he wasn't living in a van down by the river.
Minshew said he mostly parked the bus out trainer Anthony Tumbarello's gym in Bonita Springs, Florida, so he could spend as much time working out as possible. He plugged the bus into the gym's electricity to power his refrigerator, air conditioner and cooktop, showered outside and used the gym's bathroom.
As for his workout routine, Minshew would wake up and made breakfast inside the gym before beginning his workout at 7:30 am, according to ESPN's Tim McManus.
"Hey, I don't know any trainer in the country that can say their professional athlete pulled up in a bus and was eating, sleeping and living in the gym 24/7 getting ready for the season," Tumbarello said. "... Just overall he's stronger, he's faster, he's ready to go. This is the best version of Gardner Minshew, for sure."
Not only did Minshew maximize his workout time, but he also learned to play the guitar and read books such as Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and George Mumford's "The Mindful Athlete."
Minshew is a great story, but his role on the Eagles remains as Jalen Hurts' backup. Though there was a point during the 2021 season where some wondered if Minshew would be a better option after he started over and injured Hurts and crushed the New York Jets, the Eagles appear committed to Hurts for the foreseeable future. Minshew completed 41-60 passes in 2021 with 439 passing yards, four touchdowns and one interception in four games last season after being traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But that hasn't stopped Minshew from trying to get better.
"When most guys are out traveling to different islands and stuff like that, he's literally living in the back of a bus outside of his gym and throwing three times a week the entire year," Minshew's personal quarterbacks coach, Denny Thompson, said. "So I think it's just a commitment to: This is the grind that I want, this is the lifestyle that I want and I want to make it all about ball. And that was the vibe the bus had: This isn't a luxury accommodation. This is fun and it's gonna get me through the offseason but I'm focused 100% on football."
Minshew is ready to leave the bus life behind as he heads into training camp and the 2022 season, though. He put the bus up for sale for $25,000 and "just want to see her in a nice and loving home."
Gardner Minshew is living his best life. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
It's a shame that Johnnie Cochran, the noted defense attorney who died of brain cancer in 2005, wasn't around to read Kyler Murray's contract.
Gwyneth Paltrow Goes Viral For Making Racy Joke To Hailey Bieber About Her Dad Stephen Baldwin
Gwyneth Paltrow didn't hold back when sharing her cheeky sense of humor with new pal Hailey Bieber! The Oscar winner joined Hailey's "Who's in my Bathroom" YouTube series this week and noted that she once worked on a movie with the model's dad, Stephen Baldwin, and dropped an NSFW joke about just how close they'd gotten on set!
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2022-07-30T20:05:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles QB Gardner Minshew lived in a bus outside his local gym this offseason
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When the Miami Dolphins placed the franchise tag on Mike Gesicki, giving him a one-year, fully-guaranteed contract, the team was essentially saying they want to see him play in this system before they make a long-term investment.
New head coach Mike McDaniel, coming from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, uses an in-line tight end a lot more than Miami has in the past, so Gesicki is going to be asked to take on that new challenge in 2022.
If he succeeds, Miami will have to compete to pay him near the top of the market. If he fails, they can simply move on next offseason.
On Saturday, McDaniel shared some insight into his conversations with the former Nittany Lion this offseason and how he’s going about blocking.
“We try day after day to get your game to the best of its ability so at the end of the year, Mike, you make that franchise tag look like a discount. That means you’ve been playing at a level that makes the Dolphins better that also improves your socio-economic status for the longterm…
“Everybody knows his ball skills and range are outstanding. That [helps create] separation. He wants to attack blocking with a different severity than he ever has before. We’re fortunate and he’s fortunate that his position coach, Jon Embree, will settle for nothing less. Those are things he’s embracing. I’m excited to see how it looks.”
After the training camp session, Gesicki spoke to the media and was also asked about playing on the franchise tag and his expectations for the season. The tight end stated that he didn’t think he was going to get a long-term deal this offseason from Miami, so he’s not upset that one didn’t come. He also said he expects to play more in-line, as he didn’t take a single snap as a receiver during the fourth session.
While a lot of eyes will be on Tua Tagovailoa’s performance this season, just as many should be looking at Gesicki’s because it will decide his future with the organization.
6 takeaways from Dolphins' training camp Day 4
Anytime a star moves teams, they're going to shoot up the list.
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2022-07-30T20:05:57Z
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Mike McDaniel, Mike Gesicki talk plans for the tight end in 2022
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“Bullet Train” producer and 87North co-founder Kelly McCormick’s guiding principle in filmmaking has been “finding the truth in fiction,” a response to earlier documentary work, where “it was not uncommon to twist stories to make them more entertaining.” So she pivoted to producing content that packs a different sort of emotional — and physical — […]
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2022-07-30T21:09:59Z
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Ariel Atkins with a First Basket of The Game vs. Seattle Storm
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Right-handed reliever Chris Martin, 36, has a 4.31 ERA this season in 34 games. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)
It didn’t rock the boat, but the Dodgers are hoping their first pre-trade deadline acquisition Saturday can help steady the ship down the stretch.
While the Dodgers have the sixth-best ERA among relievers, their bullpen is still in uncertain shape heading into the season’s final months — still unsure of exactly whom they might be able to rely on come the playoffs.
Martin didn’t make his MLB debut until 2014 when he was 27 years old. After struggling with both the Rockies and New York Yankees the next two years, he went overseas to try to revive his career, spending two seasons in Japan with the Nippon-Ham Fighters — where Angels star Shohei Ohtani was one of his teammates.
The Chicago Cubs have made their first trade deadline move Saturday. Coming off a World Series title in Atlanta, right-hander Chris Martin brought the experience and success the Cubs wanted in the bullpen. Martin has been an important part of a relief group featuring a mix of younger arms and veterans. A reliable reliever the last five seasons, Martin solidified himself as a late-inning option ...
Ben Joyce’s contract with Los Angeles detailed
Former Vols Ben Joyce's contract with Los Angeles detailed.
Brandon Lowe and Yandy Díaz homered as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-4 on Saturday. The Rays had dropped two consecutive games, getting one run and 10 singles in 18 innings over the stretch. Corey Kluber (7-6) allowed four runs and eight hits with a season-high 10 strikeouts in six innings and improved to 2-0 in two career starts against Cleveland, where he won the AL Cy Young Award in 2014 and 2017.
Detroit Tigers game score vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Live scoring updates
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2022-07-30T21:14:14Z
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Dodgers acquire reliever Chris Martin in trade with Cubs
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Several of Florida’s top targets in the class of 2023 were in town this weekend the Friday Night Lights, but there were also members of the class of 2024 in town as well. Linebacker Myles Graham might be UF’s top target at linebacker in the upcoming cycle and he was one of the many rising juniors in Gainesville this weekend.
Swamp247‘s Blake Alderman caught up with the four-star recruit after the even ended, and Graham continues to place Florida at or near the top of his list. That’s important at this stage because Graham is already considering committing ahead of his junior season.
“I want to commit either before the season or after the season,” Graham said. “So either in these next couple of weeks or after the season.”
Graham’s father, Earnest, made his own name in the orange and blue back in the early 2000s and left Gainesville as one of the best running backs in program history. Billy Napier and his recruiting staff are using that family tie to their advantage, and Graham seems to understand exactly how his name affects his recruitment.
“They are pushing the legacy button, coming here, following in my dad’s footsteps,” he said. “It’s a big deal because he was a great player here … Being a legacy, it doesn’t sway me one way or another. Florida’s going to have to earn my respect, just as anybody else did in the recruiting process.
“But being a legacy, if I were to commit to Florida, it would tremendously help me in many ways, in terms of NIL, just networking, meeting people, because they already know my dad. Having that last name of Graham, it’s a special name. It’s definitely nice having that.”
Graham is still considering Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio State and Texas as well, but Florida’s viewed as the front runner for now. The Gators need to secure a blue-chip linebacker in 2024 after whiffing on most of their top targets at the position during the current cycle.
The 247Sports composite ranks Graham at No. 51 overall and No. 4 among linebackers in the class of 2024. He’s considered the 10th-best recruit out of Georgia.
#Chiefs LB Nick Bolton has been hard at work to improve a number of different areas of his game this offseason. | from @EdEastonJr
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2022-07-30T21:40:19Z
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This 2024 4-star legacy LB has Florida on top, considers committing early
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It has been quite the July for Alabama in terms of recruiting as the Crimson Tide have recently landed commitments from three separate five-star players, including the top-ranked safety, the second and third ranked running backs, and the second ranked cornerback in the 2023 cycle (247Sports).
Alabama also was able to get longtime Notre Dame commitment Keon Keeley on campus for an official visit this weekend. Keeley is ranked not just among the top edge rushers in the ’23 class but as the eighth overall player nationally according to 247Sports.
With that in mind it’s no real shock that new Alabama commit Richard Young is trying to get Keeley to flip from Notre Dame to join the budding star class in Alabama. Young, the second ranked running back in the nation, posted the following to Twitter on Saturday.
@keon_keeley aye come on home brudda 🐘
You can bet that there will only be more of this going forward in regards to several Notre Dame commitments and understandably so. As I’ve stated before, it’s not what you want to see, especially with it being Alabama, but it’s plain and simple the college football world we now live in.
Notre Dame's top 2023 recruit set to visit Alabama
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow underwent an appendectomy earlier this week and has been away from the facility ever since. There still doesn’t appear to be any concern that Burrow will be out for too long. But at this point, the Bengals don’t have a firm date for when he’ll be back. “I don’t have any [more]
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2022-07-30T21:40:38Z
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A top-ranked running back is trying to help flip Notre Dame commit to Alabama
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Aaron Rodgers on his receivers: I like the guys that we got originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
The Bills announced the signing of free agent cornerback Jordan Miller to a one-year deal. Miller, 25, has three years of NFL experience, most recently with the Saints. He entered the NFL as an fifth-round choice of the Falcons in 2019 and spent two years in Atlanta. Miller joined the Seahawks’ roster during the 2021 [more]
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2022-07-30T21:49:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Aaron Rodgers on his receivers: I like the guys that we got
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Clark has gone through an offseason transformation, both mentally and physically in hopes of finding more success on the football field. Since his arrival via trade with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, Clark has been on a bit of a downward trend in terms of his health and performance.
What helped prompt a new and improved Clark for the upcoming season was a heart-to-heart with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid after the conclusion of the 2021 NFL season.
“Yeah, it was flat-out like, ‘I know what type of player you are and you know what type of player you are. You didn’t show that this season.’ Flat-out,” Clark said of the conversation. “I understand that. Me and Coach Reid, we’re very real. Coach Reid’s from East Los Angeles, I’m from South-Central. It’s the same thing. At the end of the day, we’re going to keep it real with each other. We’re West Coast boys, we’re LA boys. At the end of the day, I understand. We relate perfectly fine with each other. We both had to work hard to get here. There wasn’t nothing easy in life.
“So I come in last year and I’m going through what I’m going through, but at the end of the day, I still have a job to do. And I didn’t do my job like I should have — in my opinion — to the best of my capability. You watch the average player get five sacks a year, but to my standard that’s not good enough and obviously to my coaches. And I appreciate (them) for holding me to that standard.”
Knowing that he had to make changes in his life, both for himself and for his family, Clark began cutting out the things that he found to be most destructive to his health. He dumped red meat and liquor in an attempt to get the stomach issues that he’s been battling since 2019 under control.
“One of the main things, I cut a lot of red meat out,” Clark said. “I stopped drinking liquor. Alcohol is a big factor in a lot of things as far as the weight with the gut. At the end of the day, I stopped drinking liquor about right after the season honestly. It was like February. I got sick, you know, I’ve been having stomach problems and stuff — gastrointestinal problems. So, I haven’t had any (stomach problems) since I stopped drinking liquor and it kind of made sense. As I’m going on and training, I feel my body is responding to me. I’m able to get up and work out at all times of the day and night. That’s really it, it was a commitment I made.”
Clark’s physical transformation has been quite apparent as he reported to camp at a lighter weight than he had in each of the three years prior. He was pictured in the offseason looking quite slim, but he expects that the trimmed weight will lead to more explosive plays during the upcoming season.
“Last year, I came into came camp, I believe I was 262,” Clark said. “That was heavy— the heaviest I had been since really my third year in the league with Seattle. I was playing at 255-250 in the latter half of my career. You know, I just wanted to get back to that. I wanted to get back to feeling my feet. I feel like I wasn’t feeling my feet last year. I wasn’t quick off the ball, I wasn’t explosive. It was obvious. You can watch the film and see it. I was way heavier, I had a gut. I was looking sloppy out there.”
In order to ensure that he no longer looked “sloppy” on the football field and looked his best, Clark said that he “needed to get back in the lab” and needed to “refocus on his craft” in order to get both his physical and mental health where it needed to be.
“The type of guy I am, I’m a professional,” Clark explained to reporters. “I understand how this goes. So at the end of the day, you’ve got to come in in a presentable fashion in everything you do. Me, as a professional, I felt like I needed to change my body, I needed to change my mental and that’s exactly what I did.”
Reformed and changed, Clark hopes that he can help the Chiefs achieve their goals during the upcoming season. He didn’t like how things ended in the AFC title game last year and he knows that he wasn’t at his best. Whether 2022 is his last season in Kansas City or not, Clark restructured his contract and worked to make the necessary changes this offseason to ensure that he came back to finish things the right way.
“You know how we are here, we want to set the bar high and keep it there,” Clark said. “Like I said, we left on a sour note, I wanted to come back and finish on a good note.”
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2022-07-30T21:49:32Z
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Chiefs are getting a changed version of Frank Clark in 2022
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Chris Gabehart
SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Denny Hamlin said he had barely driven out of Pocono Raceway infield tunnel late Sunday when he found out that his first-finishing No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota had been disqualified. The text came from crew chief Chris Gabehart, who kept watch over the team’s car as it passed through the post-race technical inspection stations.
The vinyl car design on Hamlin’s No. 11 had already been unwrapped for a closer look by NASCAR officials. After the full teardown, Hamlin’s car — and teammate Kyle Busch’s No. 18 with it — was found with unapproved modifications to the front fascia. What would have been his 49th Cup Series win and team owner Gibbs’ 199th — both near-milestones — evaporated.
“I think it was a shock to all of us, for sure; something that hadn’t been done in 60-some years,” Hamlin said Saturday after Busch Light Pole Qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. “I thought we had one of those Richard Petty big engines in the car or something, but not this time. It’s a piece of tape, and they were pretty consistent that that’s the way that they want it starting with this new car. I just hope that it’s consistent for everybody, no matter who wins the race.”
The ruling was a first in 62 years to be more precise, dating back to race officials stripping Emanuel Zervakis of an apparent Cup Series win because of an oversized fuel tank. Sunday’s decision elevated Chase Elliott to victory, demoting Hamlin and Busch to the back of the Pocono pack.
MORE: Nos. 11, 18 crew chiefs react
Hamlin had at least some light-hearted social media fodder the day after the DQ, sitting down to the dinner table with the trophy and the winner’s champagne bottle. He said that the trophy had made its way to Indianapolis, but as of Saturday morning’s qualifying session, it was not yet in Elliott’s hands.
“It will be transported, yes,” Hamlin said. “I told Chase, and we had some good texts back and forth, I said, ‘The trophy is yours. You’re gonna have to fight Taylor (Hamlin’s daughter) for the flag.”
Elliott confirmed that he had not received the trophy in the wake of qualifying. “We haven’t talked about it yet, but that’s cool,” he said. “Whatever works.”
When told that delivery service FedEx — Hamlin’s sponsor — was apparently not involved in the transfer, Elliott quipped: “Yeah, it would’ve been probably cheap. They’d probably give him a good deal.”
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2022-07-30T21:54:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Denny Hamlin on Pocono DQ: 'It was a shock to all of us, for sure'
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SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Kyle Busch’s openness about the unresolved nature of his contract status for 2023 has had a ripple effect for other teams in the NASCAR Cup Series garage. The two-time Cup champ admitted he’s shopped his services to other organizations as the talks for a return to Joe Gibbs Racing have lagged.
When asked about a potential link between Busch and Stewart-Haas Racing for next season, SHR senior statesman Kevin Harvick didn’t hold back.
“I’d hire Kyle Busch today,” Harvick said, “because he’d have a great impact on the performance of our team, and just the urgency to do some things better.”
RELATED: Indy weekend schedule | Silly Season’s key players
Busch shed new light on the stalled negotiations in candid comments Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, saying that “obviously, it’s a mess right now.” Busch said that he was willing to re-up with JGR for a salary under his current value on the free-agent market.
SHR currently fields Fords for Harvick, Aric Almirola, Chase Briscoe and Cole Custer in the Cup Series, and Almirola has announced his intent — for now — to retire at season’s end. Among those four, only Briscoe has won this year. Harvick sits on the postseason bubble, but is the top-ranked SHR driver in the series standings in 10th, outpointing Almirola (13th), Briscoe (16th) and Custer (26th).
Harvick would not say whether SHR was a player in the Kyle Busch derby, saying only that he had not been contacted by Stewart-Haas management about Busch. But he spoke glowingly about Busch’s prospects and skill.
“There’s no way that Kyle Busch doesn’t have a lot of options,” Harvick said. “So, you know, I know there’s a lot of things that go on around Kyle. But in the end, Kyle is still one of the best that’s ever come through this garage. So there’s a lot of teams out there that can say that they’ve probably never had one of those types of drivers. You can literally rebuild a whole organization, if somebody took the chance that hasn’t had one of those types of drivers. With the right circumstances, you can rebuild a whole organization just off of his pure talent.”
MORE: Cup Series standings
Harvick has had on-track differences with Busch in the past, most notably in the 2011 season when their rivalry peaked at Darlington Raceway. But with those differences long gone, Harvick said the possibility of Busch as a teammate would raise the performance bar.
“I get along great with Kyle,” Harvick said. “We’re gonna race each other and be mad at each other, but I have a good relationship with Kyle, but I can tell you that having a teammate like Kyle makes my car run faster. Because when you have all the cars running fast, they all run faster, quicker. So, I’m 100% open to having Kyle as a teammate. I think that particular instance in itself is something that I feel … I don’t even know, I have not heard one thing about it from my organization. So I don’t even know what car it’s for, what car it’s not for. I don’t even know what the conversations would be for.”
Kaley Cuoco Swoons Over Boyfriend Tom Pelphrey In Romantic 40th Birthday Post: He 'Saved Me'
Kaley Cuoco is celebrating her main man on a milestone occasion. The "Flight Attendant" star shared a romantic tribute to boyfriend Tom Pelphrey for his 40th birthday this week, honoring the actor for having "saved" her "in all the ways." Kaley and the "Ozark" favorite went public with their relationship earlier this year and have seemed smitten ever since. And, the couple loves supporting each other's big accomplishments – including their tandem Emmy nominations!
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2022-07-30T21:54:57Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Kevin Harvick on Rowdy's uncertainty: 'I'd hire Kyle Busch today'
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Clark on Giants jersey retirement: 'This is my Hall of Fame' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SAN FRANCISCO -- On Thursday night, Will Clark watched the Giants take on the Chicago Cubs from a suite on the third level of Oracle Park. If he had turned at any point and looked a couple hundred feet to his left, he would have seen a pretty cool hint at what's to come.
The Giants have already cleared space on their wall of retired numbers, with a black cloth covering a placard that sits between 20 and 24. On Saturday, the Giants will -- finally -- retire Clark's No. 22, and one of the most popular players in franchise history can't wait. During an interview for an upcoming Giants Talk Podcast, Clark said the ceremony will be one of the best moments of his career.
"I didn't think it was going to happen because the Giants had a policy that you had to be a Hall of Famer," Clark said. "Then when they retired Barry (Bonds') number a few years back, needless to say, that kind of opened the door. The Giants approached me in 2019 and I thought it was the biggest honor I could ever have as a Giant.
“You'll hear it on Saturday, but this is my Hall of Fame. That's the way I've been treating it."
Clark, now a special assistant for the organization, will be the 11th player to have his number retired by the Giants. Fans have clamored for the honor for years, but the Giants didn't inform Clark of their decision until 2019.
The ceremony was originally supposed to take place in July of 2020, but the pandemic canceled those plans. Giants executive vice president of business operations Mario Alioto kept in regular contact with Clark, and early last year -- when there was still uncertainty about ballpark safety -- he informed him that it was being pushed back another year to guarantee that the Giants could have a full house on Clark's big day.
That ended up being kind of perfect. Clark's 22 will be retired in 2022, sliding in right between Monte Irvin's 20 and Willie Mays' 24. The Giants expect plenty of other Giants legends in the house Saturday, including Bruce Bochy, Orlando Cepeda and Buster Posey, who will have his own jersey retirement ceremony at some point.
Clark said at least a half-dozen former Giants teammates are coming in for the event and many members of his family will be at Oracle Park. He said the anticipation has been "building up" the last two years as he has waited for this day.
"Now that it's here I'm pretty much prepared," he said. "I'm ready for it. All my family and friends that are coming out, they're so looking forward to it and coming out here and having a good time. I really want to share it with them and share it with all the fans, too."
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2022-07-30T23:30:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Will Clark on Giants jersey retirement: 'This is my Hall of Fame'
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Klay posts epic reminder while on vacation in Bahamas originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Klay Thompson is enjoying his summer after winning the 2022 NBA Finals in a six-game series over the Boston Celtics.
On Sunday, the Warriors guard was at Dodgers Stadium watching his brother, Trayce, and the Los Angeles Dodgers sweep the San Francisco Giants. However, the 32-year-old went viral after chugging a beer to cool down in the SoCal heat.
A week later, Thompson is back, letting the world know that life as a champion is pretty sweet, this time from an international location. The Golden State star is on vacation in the Bahamas and reminded everyone who won the NBA title this season.
Thompson isn't the only one enjoying the offseason after winning the Larry O'Brien Trophy, as Draymond Green is with LeBron James in Toronto and Steph Curry threw out the first pitch at the Athletics game on Wednesday after hosting the ESPYs last week.
For Torontonians attending Drake’s History venue on Friday night, OVO — for October’s Very Own, the superstar’s enduring Canada-based brand — may as well have stood for Our Very Own. You could even say Drake made history with what he dubbed the “All Canadian North Stars,” a mind-blowing assembly of homegrown hip-hop and R&B artists […]
In an online petition signed by thousands, Mirror's fans said the production looked unsafe and predicted that someone could get injured.
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2022-07-30T23:31:13Z
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Warriors' Klay Thompson's posts epic PSA while on vacation in Bahamas
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Amanda Nunes had barely left the Octagon in December when it began: The women who had widely been considered the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time before the bell rang had in a matter of minutes turned into an overrated, one-dimensional product of Dana White’s well-oiled hype machine.
Julianna Peña submitted Nunes in the second round of their women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 269 in Las Vegas on Dec. 11, ending Nunes’ more than five-year reign as champion.
It was a brilliant performance by Peña, who called her shot and then went out and did what she said she’d do. It doesn’t get much better than that.
The quick dismissal of Nunes’ many accomplishments in the light of that result by so many in the media and the fan base is illustrative of the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately society we live in. On Saturday, Nunes will rematch Peña in the main event of UFC 277 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas looking to remind people of why she was referred to as the GOAT in the first place.
“It’s not that I haven’t been in this situation before,” Nunes said to Yahoo Sports. “Starting with a loss is not good, but it can kind of make you stronger. [And it lets you know], whatever happens, maybe in the future, you'll be able to really overcome it.
“It happened with me. Every time that I lost, I made some adjustments in my life and adjustments in my training. And if I have to make some of those changes, I do. It’s always, always been like that with me. I always look to change and improve and right after, things go good. So this is not going to be different.”
No woman has accomplished what Amanda Nunes has in mixed martial arts. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
After losing to Cat Zingano via third-round TKO at UFC 178 on Sept. 27, 2014, Nunes reeled off 12 wins in a row, with nine of those coming in title fights. She eliminated just about anyone who was ever even momentarily considered the women’s GOAT in that streak. She submitted Miesha Tate to win the title. She obliterated Ronda Rousey in her first defense. She knocked out Cris “Cyborg” Justino in less than a minute to win a belt in a second weight class. She KO’d Rousey-killer and boxing Hall of Famer Holly Holm. She scored two wins over Valentina Shevchenko, who is now ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound among women by UFC and Yahoo Sports.
There was more, but you get the idea.
UFC broadcast analyst Joe Rogan was critical of Nunes on his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” for losing her conditioning after a fast-paced first round. That’s a fair and accurate criticism, and it wasn’t the first time it had happened to Nunes. It occurred in her loss to Zingano, as well. Nunes started fast, but Zingano withstood the storm, wore Nunes out and beat her with ground-and-pound.
But Rogan compared Nunes’ performance in the fight to that of a fighter on the regional, or minor league circuit.
“For you to be a world champion in two divisions and universally recognized as the greatest women’s fighter of all-time, which Amanda is, it is inexcusable] to be that tired in the second round, inexcusable. [Nunes was] just standing in front of her, just swinging in front of her, with no movement side to side, standing right in front of her like you’re watching a regional fight.”
Conditioning is the great equalizer in MMA and no one is a better example of that than Nunes. But it should also be noted that in the seven-plus years between those conditioning lapses, Nunes won 12 in a row, which is the longest winning streak by any woman in UFC history. Her conditioning didn’t fail her in those fights.
Nunes deserves to still be regarded as the greatest women's MMA fighter of all time despite the loss to Peña. Rousey held that honor before Nunes, but she didn’t rematch Holm, and she walked away from the sport for good after just one more fight. She didn’t try to reinvent herself and come back better, but pointed fingers at others and left with apparent bitter feelings.
Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes meet inside the Octagon a second time Saturday at UFC 277 in Dallas. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Nunes was about a 10-1 favorite in that first fight, but despite the finish, she remains the favorite in the rematch. At BetMGM, Nunes is -260 and Peña is +210.
That’s significant because it’s a reminder that one loss does not destroy a legacy when one has a slew of accomplishments in the hopper. Michael Jordan was widely regarded as the greatest player in NBA history even while he was still active, even though in his final years, he wasn’t even close to the best player in the game.
Peña performed brilliantly, won the title and at this point is no doubt the best women’s bantamweight in the world. It’s up to Nunes to change that perception.
Whether she can or not remains to be seen, but Nunes’ long track record of success against the greatest women in the world still counts for something. Win or lose Saturday, she remains the women’s GOAT until someone comes along and surpasses what she’s done.
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2022-07-30T23:31:19Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Win or lose Saturday at UFC 277, Amanda Nunes is still the GOAT
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Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) and fellow defensive backs are challenging one another during the team's training camp workouts in Costa Mesa. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
“I told him, ‘Ball is ball,’ ” Slater said. “At this level, everything moves a little bit faster. Guys have different talents, a little bit quicker and stuff like that. At the end of the day, it's just like college. You just stay calm and trust your technique and trust what got you here. He'll be just fine.”
Mack's impact
“We’re barely even rushing right now in no pads and he’s already put a couple of variations on some moves that I've never even seen before,” Slater said. “He's very smart. He's very savvy. He's very powerful, too.”
“I guess it just goes to show that I thought I had seen it all last year,” Slater said. “But no, there's a lot more for me to learn, and I'm going to get a lot better going against him.”
Zacks.com users have recently been watching DraftKings (DKNG) quite a bit. Thus, it is worth knowing the facts that could determine the stock's prospects.
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2022-07-30T23:31:57Z
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Chargers are pushing to turn one of their biggest weaknesses into a strength
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The Baltimore Ravens added plenty of experience back to their defense when they re-signed outside linebacker Justin Houston to a one-year contract. The veteran spent the 2021 season in Baltimore, and provided solid production the field while being a great mentor off of it.
Following Thursday’s training camp practice, Houston spoke to the media and answered many different questions. When he was asked about how happy he was to be back with the Ravens, the outside linebacker said he was “very happy”, and also talked about how he excited he is for the upcoming season with a team he deems has a lot of special things going on.
“I’m very happy that I’m back. I definitely didn’t like the way last season went – [with] all the injuries and stuff. But I’m excited for this year. I think we’ve got a lot of things going – a lot of special things going. I just pray that we stay healthy.”
Houston also dove into if he planned to return to Baltimore all along.
“I just prayed and let God handle it, that’s all. I was just waiting to see what my best choice was – and obviously, this was.”
Entering his 12th NFL season, Houston has been one of the most successful pass rusher in the NFL for a long time. He still has plenty left in the tank to contribute at a high level, and should be able to put together another good year in the Ravens’ defense.
Houston had 34 total tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2021, and over the course of his career has accumulated 485 total tackles, 102 sacks and 18 forced fumbles.
Ravens inside linebacker Patrick Queen shared the motivation that he got from not making the playoffs in 2021
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2022-07-30T23:32:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ravens OLB Justin Houston explains how happy he is to be back in Baltimore
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The Houston Texans worked out a familiar face in tight end Ryan Izzo on Saturday, according to a league source.
Izzo, 26, previously spent the 2021 offseason and training camp with the Texans after they traded a seventh-round pick to obtain his rights from the New England Patriots. After releasing Izzo at the end of preseason, the former Patriots 2018 seventh-round pick spent time on the New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, and Tennessee Titans’ practice squads. The Titans released Izzo on June 1.
The Texans are evaluating options at tight end as coach Lovie Smith told reporters Saturday after the second training camp practice that Antony Auclair would “be out a little bit.” Auclair left the first day of practice on a cart with a bag of ice on his right knee.
Izzo has 19 catches for 313 yards and a touchdown through 19 career games, 16 of which he has started.
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2022-07-30T23:33:19Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Texans work out TE Ryan Izzo
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The first commitment of Big Cat Weekend has always had a strong attachment to Auburn football, all thanks to his grandmother.
A'mon Lane, a class of 2024 four-star CB from Moody High School shared his history of being an Auburn fan with Auburn Undercover, which included a special moment with his grandmother during the infamous “Kick Six” game against Alabama in 2013.
“When I was little I didn’t get the chance to go to an Auburn game, but I remember when they had the Kick Six on Alabama and that was crazy,” Lane said in an interview with Auburn Undercover. “Me and my grandma were going crazy and we were the only two Auburn fans in my family at that time, so it was pretty special.”
The bond between Lane and his grandmother goes back to his days as a young child, when his grandmother taught him the game of football. So, when he received an offer from Auburn, his grandmother’s favorite college football team, it held a more special meaning.
“It’s like a dream come true,” Lane said. “My grandma, she taught me football, so I grew up an Auburn fan so this is really a dream come true.”
Lane is currently the No. 11 ranked prospect from the state of Alabama for the 2024 cycle, and the No. 26 CB in the nation. Lane recently transferred to Moody High School from perennial power, Thompson. He followed former UAB and Georgia linebacker, Jake Ganus, who took over the Blue Devil program after spending six seasons as an assistant coach at Thompson.
HOME 💙🧡@AuburnFootball pic.twitter.com/DbRrFdrPVo
At the July 26 Stockton City Council meeting, the council awarded multi-year service contracts to three community partners for the Debris Removal and Pickup Program.
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2022-07-31T01:04:58Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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A’Mon Lane credits grandmother for his interest in Auburn Football
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Typically speaking, the role of the backup quarterback may not always be one of the major keys to success for any college football team, but Penn State knows the value of having a capable backup option ready to roll. And in 2022, Penn State should have more confidence in its backup plan for Sean Clifford with Christian Veilleux.
Last season saw Christian Veilleux appear in just two games, including one regular season appearance in relief of an injured Clifford. Veilleux took over the offense in a late-season home game against Rutgers when Clifford was knocked out of the game with an injury, and Veilleux took advantage of that opportunity.
Veilleux completed 15 of 24 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Rutgers, and he added 39 rushing yards on 12 rushing attempts in that effort. As a result, Veilleux earned the staff’s offensive player of the week honors.
Veilleux’s performance against Rutgers left many Penn State fans wondering why he didn’t replace an injured Clifford earlier in the season at Iowa, but James Franklin suggested Veilleux was more ready for the moment in the later home game against Rutgers than he would have been on the road against a stingy Iowa defense in early October.
Veilleux made a brief appearance again in Penn State’s matchup in the Outback Bowl against Arkansas, although his time on the field was incredibly brief as Clifford returned to the game after a short absence.
Penn State is about to enter the 2022 season knowing that Sean Clifford is the team’s starting quarterback, and that is not going to change unless Clifford is injured or is so inconsistent and productive that Franklin and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich feel a need to make a drastic change at the position. But if Clifford does have to come off the field for one reason or another, the big question is whether or not Veilleux can save the game or season.
Veilleux dazzled many watching the November contest against Rutgers last season, but that was a home game… against Rutgers. What would Veilleux do against a team like Ohio State, Michigan, or Michigan State? That is a totally different scenario to ponder. But in this scenario, even a little bit of experience is better than absolutely no experience as was the case for Penn State’s backup quarterback situation in 2021.
There could also be a question on whether Veilleux would be the first backup option on the roster after Penn State added one of the top passers in the Class of 2022 in Drew Allar. Allar may be viewed as the quarterback of the future for the Nittany Lions but Veilleux is still likely to be the first go-to option as a backup to Clifford if needed.
The easy answer is the 2022 season will be a success if Veilleux doesn’t need to take the field. That would suggest Sean Clifford stayed healthy and productive to lead to a solid season for Penn State in 2022. But if Veilleux has to come in, this season will be a success if the sophomore leads Penn State to a nine-win season and a New Year’s Day bowl game.
This all hinges on when Veilleux potentially has to take over. But, another simple answer would be to suggest this season is a success if Veilleux remains Penn State’s top backup option behind Clifford. Veilleux rose the depth chart as the season progresses last season, replacing Taquan Roberson as the first option off the sideline when his name was called against Rutgers. Not falling on the depth chart would certainly be a nice development for Veilleux this season.
If Drew Allar supplants Veilleux as the top backup option for Penn State, then this season will be a disappointment individually for Veilleux. And if that happens, then we could quickly be looking to see where Veilleux goes in the transfer portal in the offseason.
We’ll hold off on that kind of speculation for now, of course, but the nature of college football suggests more than ever these days that the transfer portal is there for players to seize better opportunities for playing time. This is not to suggest Veilleux will follow the footsteps of Will Levis, but the pressure is on for Veilleux to hold off Allar as the quarterback of the future once Clifford moves on after this season.
Penn State’s quarterback depth looks much better going into this season compared to a year ago, and Veilleux is the main reason why. Yes, Allar joining the program is a big deal, but Veilleux having a full season in the system under his belt already, even with brief playing time, puts the Nittany Lions in a more comfortable position for the upcoming season.
Veilleux will be the first option Franklin turns to if needed if Clifford is unavailable, and there should be no hesitation to make that decision despite the calls already coming for Allar. Veilleux will be Penn State’s backup quarterback from start to finish this season, especially if the game is on the line.
This is Clifford’s team, but Veilleux is the next man up.
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2022-07-31T01:05:10Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Penn State Top 25 players for 2022: Christian Veilleux
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https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-top-25-players-230522350.html?src=rss
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Michigan offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for being the best offensive line unit in all of college football in 2021. The Wolverines return three of the five starters, but they lost Andrew Vastardis and Andrew Steuber from that prolific offensive line.
At the right tackle position, replacing Steuber won’t be easy, but Michigan has two viable candidates that can get the job done. Trente Jones appears to have the inside track of getting the starting nod, but Karsen Barnhart will be battling to get the job during Fall camp.
Jim Harbaugh went transfer portal hunting to find a replacement for Andrew Vastardis at center and found an excellent one. The Wolverines landed Olu Oluwatimi from Virginia. The former Cavalier was a Rimington Award finalist in 2021, which is an award given to the nation’s best center. Oluwatimi was also an All-American and he took the most snaps of any center in the ACC last year with 910 snaps.
Oluwatimi has the experience and grit to step right in as the starter on day one for Michigan. Of course, he has three years of starting experience at Virginia and he has made 32-straight starts.
On Tuesday, during Big Ten media days in Indianapolis, we heard a few players talk about the new starting center in Ann Arbor. Mazi Smith was one of the players that Michigan took, and he shared his excitement to line up against Oluwatimi in practice. Smith said it’s nice to go up against someone that won’t lay down.
“He a monster man, like me, so it’s fun you know iron sharpens iron and we kind of adopted the definition of that when he got here,” said Smith during Big Ten media days. “We talked about it and I haven’t had a center to go up against like him since Cesar Ruiz. I’m just like I love going against guys that that ain’t gonna lay down like Olu. He’s athletic, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s competitive, he’s everything that you want in a center. He’s going make that o-line so much better you know and he gonna make me so much better.”
It’s also important that the incumbent starting quarterback has a good comradery with the starting center. On Tuesday, Cade McNamara was asked about his relationship with Oluwatimi. He shared that Olu has been McNamara’s roommate on the tour of Michigan trip that the team has taken, and Olu has taught him a few things.
“I think our relationship has done nothing, but just continued to grow,” McNamara explained on Tuesday. “On the trip, he’s been my roommate, and I’m happy that we were able to do that, that we were able to room together. He’s teaching me some new things already. And some stuff he’s talked to me about, you know, some of his experiences. I just really look forward to getting to know him better. I don’t worry about Olu as far as whether he’s working hard or if he’s gonna be ready for the season. I don’t worry about that at all. I just want to make sure that he’s comfortable and that he’s enjoying his time here in Michigan.”
A popular question on Tuesday was asking each player to name a surprise player or a breakout player for the fall. McNamara didn’t want to name any surprise player, but he did mention his new center. McNamara stated that Oluwatimi would have a big impact on the team in 2022.
“I think we have, I mean, we just have a lot of talent on our team,” said McNamara. “We have a lot of guys who are gonna play big roles. There’s also a lot of dudes with a lot of experience. I think those guys are going to be counted on when we face adversity. But I mean, as far as who’s the one guy you might see playing time a little extra this year, a freshman or newcomer, we’re all pretty well aware that Olu is going to have an extremely big impact on our team. That’s one I’m extremely confident he’s going to play well this season. But as far as who’s going to be a surprise, we’ll see.”
As good as Michigan’s offensive line was in 2021, adding a Rimington Award finalist to an already stout line can only add fear into the opponent’s defense. The Wolverines can most certainly have an even better offensive line in 2022 with the addition of Oluwatimi.
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2022-07-31T02:44:58Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Mazi Smith says Olu ‘is going to make that o-line so much better’
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https://sports.yahoo.com/mazi-smith-says-olu-going-020345856.html?src=rss
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Two boats sank, two operators were cited for boating under the influence, and two revelers were treated for injuries, authorities said.
British foreign minister Liz Truss received a boost for her campaign to become the country's next prime minister when Defence Secretary Ben Wallace gave her his support on Friday. Wallace, who rose in popularity thanks to his handling of the Ukraine crisis, had been seen as the early favourite to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister before he ruled himself out in favour of focussing on his defence role. He said Truss, who is on course to defeat former finance minister Rishi Sunak according to opinion polls of members of the ruling Conservative Party, was "authentic" and "straight".
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2022-07-31T02:57:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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LeBron James’ foundation to be featured on NASCAR vehicle
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https://sports.yahoo.com/msu-target-3-star-ol-010447425.html?src=rss
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Shakur Brown was a standout defensive back during Mel Tucker’s first season at the helm of Michigan State. After a breakout 2020 season with the Spartans, Brown caught on with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent, but eventually got waived and became a free agent.
Brown has now caught on with a new NFL franchise this offseason, agreeing to terms on a deal with the Tennessee Titans.
#Titans agree to terms with DB Shakur Brown
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2022-07-31T04:20:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former Michigan State football DB Shakur Brown signs with Tennessee
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https://sports.yahoo.com/former-michigan-state-football-db-024537868.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/former-michigan-state-football-db-024537868.html?src=rss
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The Baltimore Ravens had their fourth practice of 2022 training camp on Saturday, but it was a bit of a different feel than normal. The team hosted the session at M&T Bank Stadium, with tens-of-thousands of fans in attendance to see Baltimore take the field for the first time inside the venue since January.
The practice was an eventful one, with many plays being made by a multitude of different players. There was also some good news for the team, as the Ravens got back multiple players who missed Friday’s session, including tight end Nick Boyle and safety Marcus Williams. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell was also spotted back on the field, which was a good sign.
Ravens filing onto the M&T Bank Stadium field for tonight’s practice. TE Nick Boyle and S Marcus Williams are back after missing Friday’s session. pic.twitter.com/m2LRaNxEou
Williams got his first taste of playing in front of fans at M&T Bank Stadium, while Boyle and Campbell got to take in the experience once again as members of the team. Every rep is important when it comes to training camp, and each of the three players will look to make the most of their opportunities on the field in 2022.
Shakur Brown has a new NFL home
Hear from various members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following Saturday's training camp practice
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2022-07-31T04:20:42Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Multiple Ravens players return to practice on Saturday
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Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson participates in drills in training camp on Friday. Jefferson, who had knee surgery in the offseason, didn't practice Saturday. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
“He went up and got it, great diving catch, strong hands,” Stafford said. “That's what he's about. That's what's going to help us put points on the board is making plays like that” inside the 20-yard line.
“It’s definitely suited for that,” he said. “I think just going through training camp and the season, we'll perfect it.”
The Cardinals held their first training camp open to fans, will put on pads next week and will travel to Tennessee for some practice next month.
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2022-07-31T04:20:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Van Jefferson absent from Rams practice, and coach Sean McVay unwilling to reveal why
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https://sports.yahoo.com/van-jefferson-absent-rams-practice-022601327.html?src=rss
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The Oregon Ducks have done a great job recruiting the defensive secondary under this new coaching staff, and the 2023 recruiting class could get even better over the coming weeks. One of the top safeties in the nation announced his commitment date.
Four-star Kylin Jackson, the 10th-ranked safety in the 2023 class, plans to announce his decision on Aug. 8. He is down to four schools. The Ducks are in the running alongside the Michigan Wolverines, Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers.
According to 247Sports, Jackson is the No. 167 player overall in the class. He does not have any crystal ball predictions.
Received an Offer from Oregon on Jan. 18, 2022
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2022-07-31T04:21:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Top-10 safety Kylin Jackson sets commitment date with Oregon in the mix
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The Arizona Cardinals are set to meet with a former first-round pick this coming week. According to Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, Takk McKinley, who visited the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, is scheduled to visit the Cardinals in a few days.
McKinley is a 6-2, 260-lb edge defender who has played in 4-3 defenses as a defensive end. He was drafted 26th overall in the 2017 draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
He had six sacks as a rookie and seven in his second year but has only had seven combined sacks the last three seasons. He played in 2021 for the Cleveland Browns after four with the Falcons.
He would play outside linebacker in the Arizona defense.
The Cardinals have not really addressed the outside linebacker position in free agency this offseason following the departure of Chandler Jones to the Las Vegas Raiders. They re-signed Dennis Gardeck, signed Jessie Lemonier and selected Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders in the third round of this year’s draft.
McKinley could add veteran depth with some pass-rushing upside.
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2022-07-31T05:55:55Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Cardinals have scheduled visit with former 1st-round pick Takk McKinley
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A company run by a former Tokyo Olympic organiser received more than $1 million from Games sponsor AOKI Holdings Inc, on top of payments from the suit retailer being investigated by Tokyo prosecutors, Japanese media said. AOKI paid about 230 million yen ($1.7 million) to a subsidiary of advertising agency Dentsu in the fall of 2017, which was later transferred to a company run by Haruyuki Takahashi, a former member of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee board, the Nikkei business daily said on Saturday. Takahashi, a former executive at advertising giant Dentsu Inc, did not immediately respond to an email from Reuters seeking comment.
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2022-07-31T09:02:49Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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CFN Preseason All-SEC Football Team, Top 30 Players: Preview 2022
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Max Verstappen understood why Charles Leclerc was so hard on himself after crashing last weekend, and the reigning Formula One champion feels it's healthy for Leclerc to let his emotions out. Leclerc looks to bounce back at Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix after putting his Ferrari into the barriers while leading the French GP. Leclerc screamed “Noooo!” and said he didn't deserve to win a world championship driving like that, leading observers to question if he was beating himself up too much.
The Dolphins will hold a series of events over the next several months to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the franchise’s undefeated 1972 team. The slate of events begins with the team’s alumni barbecue on Saturday.
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2022-07-31T10:08:01Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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UFC 277 results: Sergei Pavlovich trucks through Derrick Lewis, who contests stoppage
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Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at third-year defensive back Michael Ojemudia, No. 13.
Before the Broncos: Ojemudia (6-1, 200 pounds) earned his stripes at the University of Iowa, where he became a three-year starter and garnered Second-team all-Big Ten his final season there (2019).
Ojemudia had the right size for the Broncos to take a chance on him in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. He also showed top-tier speed at the NFL combine by running a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash.
Broncos tenure: Ojemudia enjoyed a productive rookie season, playing in all 16 games while totaling 62 tackles and six pass deflections.
By his second season in 2021, Ojemudia was surpassed on the depth chart and injured for a majority of the season. He was activated from injured reserve in December and played in two games to close the season as he worked his way back from injury, totaling 11 tackles and two pass deflections.
Chances to make 53-man roster: We currently have Ojemudia projected to make the team as a backup to Pat Surtain, who had a standout rookie season in 2021. Because he’s an outside cornerback behind Surtain and Ronald Darby on the depth chart, Ojemudia may not see the field much unless there is an injury, but he’ll be aiming for a bounce-back year in 2022.
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2022-07-31T10:29:45Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Broncos offseason roster: No. 13, CB Michael Ojemudia
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Rams fans should be thankful that they’ll get to see Aaron Donald play at least two more years in the NFL, and Sean McVay is one of the primary reasons Donald decided to return after weighing retirement.
There were other factors at play, like his new contract, but Donald wouldn’t be getting ready for the 2022 season had McVay decided to leave coaching for the broadcast booth.
On NFL Network, Donald made it clear that he would’ve retired if McVay left the Rams.
“Not at all. Not at all,” Donald said when asked if he’d be at training camp if McVay retired. “I told Sean when he first got here and we accomplished some things early when he first got here, and I told him, as long as he’s the head coach here, I want to continue to build my legacy with him. As long as he’s here and I got the ability to still play at a high level, I’m gonna be here. When he’s gone and it’s all said and done, that’s probably when I’ll be hanging it up, too.”
As far as @aarondonald99 is concerned, he and Sean McVay are a packaged deal. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/WNVXzxVLtw
This is just another example of how much guys love playing for McVay. Not only do Rams players want to stick around and remain with the organization, but outside free agents such as Bobby Wagner and Allen Robinson sought the Rams in part because of McVay.
Donald and McVay have formed a strong relationship, and it’s not like things were always easy because in McVay’s first year, Donald held out of training camp in search of his first lucrative extension. That holdout trickled into 2018, too, though those negotiations went a bit better than the ones in 2017.
As long as Donald and McVay are in Los Angeles, the Rams should remain Super Bowl contenders. And that should make fans feel very good.
Whit Merrifield logged his 1,000th career hit in the major leagues.
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2022-07-31T12:01:03Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Aaron Donald says he would’ve retired if Sean McVay left coaching this year
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Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox tweaked his knee after a collision with cornerback Stephon Gilmore during Saturday night’s training camp practice.
The newly-minted starter has been a popular target for new quarterback Matt Ryan to begin training camp. The two collided near the sideline and both left the field to get looked at by the training staff.
While Gilmore eventually returned and finished practice, Alie-Cox was held out for the remainder of the night. Head coach Frank Reich doesn’t believe the injury to be serious.
“He and Stephon had that collision. Stephon was fine. He finished practice,” Reich told reporters Sunday. “Mo tweaked his knee a little bit but I don’t think it’s anything serious. We just kind of held him out just to be safe.”
Alie-Cox is stepping into a bigger role than he’s seen throughout his career. After spending the majority of the last two seasons as a complement to Jack Doyle, it is now Alie-Cox’s turn to take the lead in the room.
Hopefully, the knee issue isn’t too serious, and he’ll have two days to rest it before the Colts return to the practice field again Tuesday.
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2022-07-31T12:01:15Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Colts’ Mo Alie-Cox dealing with tweaked knee
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How Davis impressed Kelce before they shared a practice field originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Jason Kelce and Jordan Davis finally shared a practice field on Saturday.
Davis impressed the Eagles legend before that.
Even before Kelce returned as a full participant in practice on Saturday, the same day that Davis got his first first-team reps of the summer, the giant rookie had already impressed the Eagles’ veteran center during walkthroughs.
“I think that even just in the walkthroughs, the stuff I like, you can tell when a guy is in a walkthrough just by looking at his eyes whether he’s locked in or not, whether he’s focused, if he’s getting something out of it,” Kelce said. “Some guys go out there for a walkthrough and they’re going through the motions and that’s wasting time. What’s going on here? Even when he’s a head-up shade in a walkthrough, he’s sinking his hips right, he’s using his hands right.
“His eyes are wide. Whenever you see a guy who’s got bug’s eyes, his senses are on alert right? He’s taking everything in. That tells me that he’s willing to grow and he’s trying to improve his craft. Those are the guys, when you combine that with the physical skillset he has, it’s very good to see. But obviously we’ve only been here for two days so we’ll see how that evolves.”
The next evolution for Davis was to get some first-team reps on Saturday. For what it’s worth, he seemed to handle them well. Davis was disruptive on Day 3 of training camp and showed off some of his athleticism.
On the first two days of practice, second-year defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu had been getting snaps at the nose tackle position in front of Davis. It didn’t take long for the coaching staff to put the first-round pick out there in that spot.
Davis has a personality as big as his frame and we saw that when he performed during the rookie talent show the first week of camp.
But outside of that, Davis has actually been quieter than normal since camp started.
“He’s been a little quiet now since we’ve been in camp,” Javon Hargrave said. “I think he’s just really putting his head down and really just learning from everybody.”
The good news is that Davis appeared to come to his first training camp in shape and he looked very good getting some first-team reps on Saturday. He’s entering a situation with the Eagles where he doesn’t have to be a star. The Eagles still have Hargrave, Fletcher Cox and Milton Williams in that defensive tackle rotation.
So what are the Eagles’ expectations for Davis this summer?
“No expectation from me right now,” defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said. “I would like to see him play and practice and see what he can do. It's just like everybody else, you know, how he fits in with the other guys he's in there with and what he does well. We got to put him in those situations so he can be successful.”
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2022-07-31T12:01:28Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles training camp 2022: How Jordan Davis impressed Jason Kelce
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-jordan-110000988.html?src=rss
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The Houston Texans selected Derek Stingley No. 3 overall in the 2022 NFL draft because they needed the LSU standout to lockdown at cornerback in their Tampa 2 scheme.
On the second day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center, the former Bayou Bengal was fielding punts.
The prospect of Stingley being a part of the return game isn’t that far off. While Stingley did not field punts in his abbreviated three-game season a year ago, he did have experience as a returner in the prior two seasons.
In 2020, the best case for Stingley’s promise as a returner was on display as he had a 16.2 yards per punt return through seven games.
In 2019, a more realistic body of work was available as the freshman fielded 17 punts for 163 yards — 9.6 average — through 15 games.
Coach Lovie Smith told reporters on July 30 that Stingley fielding punts was part of evaluating what further contributions the first-rounder could make to the roster on game days.
“Yeah, Stingley can do a lot of things,” said Smith. “Punt returner is one of them. Now I’m not saying that he for sure is going to for sure be our punt returner, but the more things you can do. You probably noticed Derek getting more reps today. We’ll continue to bring him along at the pace that we had set up before camp started. He gets a little better each day, too.”
The Texans’ punt return game was led by cornerback Desmond King, who had a 9.1 yards per punt return. If Stingley is able to give the Texans another option at punt returner to setup favorable field position for the offense, it should be part of the “1% better” approach to help Houston break out of its four-win rut that has ensnared the organization for the past two seasons.
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2022-07-31T12:01:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Texans rookie CB Derek Stingley worked as punt returner
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Tennessee redshirt senior wide receiver Cedric Tillman has been named to the 2022 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award preseason watch list.
Tillman was one of nine wide receivers to make the list.
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is the fourth oldest individual accolade in college football and is one of the sport’s most prestigious honors.
Tillman has also been named to the Maxwell Award and Biletnikoff Award preseason watch lists.
As a redshirt junior, he recorded 64 receptions, 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He was fifth in the SEC in receiving yards and was third with an average of 16.9 yards per reception.
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2022-07-31T12:53:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Cedric Tillman named to Walter Camp Player of the Year Award preseason watch list
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The St. Louis Cardinals made their first move adjacent to the trade deadline on Saturday, sending infielder Edmundo Sosa to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for left-handed reliever JoJo Romero, the teams announced.
Romero, 25, has 19 earned runs in 21 ⅔ innings pitched out of the Phillies bullpen over the last three seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2021, and has been rehabbing largely in the minor leagues ever since, making just two appearances in the big leagues this season.
“We explored a lot of different things for Sosa, obviously, trying to find something that could help us now,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. “That was something that was our desire, but we really weren’t ever to a point where we felt like we were doing that. And so ultimately, we decided to pivot and think a little bit about our future.”
Sosa, who took over as the Cardinals’ starting shortstop toward the end of the 2021 season and was their starter in the Wild Card game against the Dodgers, hit just .189 in part-time action this season. In recent days, as St. Louis promoted former starting shortstop Paul DeJong to the team’s taxi squad, it became clear that finding a roster spot for DeJong was a pressing concern.
“Had a good conversation with him,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “I enjoyed having him. I’ve known him for a while; a long, long time. So seeing him not be with us is not ideal, but we needed space on the roster, so it makes sense.”
Without the ability to freely send Sosa to the minor leagues, a trade was necessary. Romero, by contrast, has one minor league option remaining after this season, and represents an opportunity for roster flexibility while filling depth.
Brandon Waddell, who pitched for the Cardinals in 2021, signed in Korea during this season, and even with Packy Naughton and Zack Thompson establishing themselves in the Major League bullpen, depth options at Memphis were thin.
Romero fills that role while opening another.
This file photo shows JoJo Romero pitching for Philadelphia during a game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday, July 16, 2022, in Miami. The Phillies traded Romero to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday for infielder Edmundo Sosa.
DeJong’s promotion, opened by this trade, will include an opportunity for him to reclaim the starting shortstop job which the Cardinals envisioned remaining his as they opened the season. That, in turn, slides Tommy Edman back across the diamond to second base. Nolan Gorman, in the lineup Saturday as the designated hitter, could offer balance to Albert Pujols in that role.
Or, by shuffling these pieces, the Cardinals could prepare to reel in a much bigger fish, and Gorman could well be the bait.
Friday’s trade between the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners which saw Luis Castillo shipped to the pacific northwest came as a surprise both in terms of its timing (three days before the deadline) and the cost paid by Seattle (two prospect’s in Baseball America’s Top 100, two others in their organizational top 30).
For the Cardinals, operating on parallel tracks as Tuesday evening approaches, the cost of the upgrade on the mound may turn out to be prospect capital better spent on a unicorn-esque superstar like Washington’s Juan Soto.
“Obviously there’s some names being discussed out there that might be arguably slightly unusual, given the years of control,” Mozeliak conceded. Soto has two full years of team control following this season.
“I would agree that it’s rare,” he added. “But finding a meeting of the minds on something like that is going to be complicated, because it’s not like we can look at past market or past precedent to say what is fair.”
That give and take, which defines all trade negotiations as a matter of course, is acute in this instance given the many variables in play.
Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said on the radio in D.C. this week that he wasn’t eager to attach a “bad” contract to Soto in a trade in an attempt to limit the prospect cost.
And yet, the definition of bad is fungible. And if the cost isn’t limited, but simply altered, or negotiated, there’s room in the middle ground. And Rizzo, on the same show less than two months ago, denied that the Nationals would seek to trade Soto at all.
The times, they are a-changing. Rapidly.
It’s unlikely that the Sosa trade is the only deal the Redbirds will execute by the time the bell rings at 5 p.m. Tuesday. With the president, general manager, and two of the three assistant general managers gathered at Nationals Park over the weekend, there is no shortage of options and scenarios being floated through the team’s ballpark suite.
“I don’t think this time of year matters for our model, like how we’re thinking about value propositions,” Mozeliak said. “What does matter to the model is the acquisition cost, because that’s what everybody’s trying to navigate.
“If you’re a buyer, you’re trying to understand what those costs look like. If you’re a seller, you’re trying to maximize what you’re selling. That’s the exercise everybody’s going through right now.”
Yahoo Sports looks at the latest betting information as the Washington Nationals host the St. Louis Cardinals
President Biden tests positive again for the coronavirus in what the White House called a rare 'rebound' case. He has no new symptoms and will isolate.
Major League Baseball suspended Anderson for three games and fined the All-Star an undisclosed amount Saturday.
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2022-07-31T13:11:58Z
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St. Louis Cardinals trade Sosa to get lefty receiver from Phillies
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Green Bay Packers rookie receiver Romeo Doubs has impressed just about everyone through the first week of training camp, including the four-time NFL MVP throwing him the football.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, in an appearance on NFL Network on Saturday, was quick to praise the Packers’ fourth-round pick while discussing the team’s wide receivers.
“Romeo Doubs has had a really nice start to the camp,” Rodgers said. “He’s been getting a lot of attention based on some of the plays he’s made. I like the approach. Very understated kid, very humble kid.”
Doubs, who produced back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons at Nevada, had to wait 131 picks in the 2022 draft before the Packers picked him at No. 132 overall.
“It’s surprising how many teams passed on him,” Rodgers said. “Whatever reason it was, we all feel really good about Romeo and the start he’s gotten off to.”
Doubs has made notable plays in the passing game each day of training camp, including a handful of catches on passes from Rodgers.
Veteran receiver Randall Cobb believes Doubs has the potential to be special, especially considering his ability to consistently win 50-50 balls.
Can Doubs stay consistent during training camp and earn a big role for Rodgers and the Packers offense? The opportunity is certainly available. Rodgers knows there are a lot of targets, yards and touchdowns to distribute after losing Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Maybe the Packers’ second of three draft picks at receiver is going to take a bigger chunk of the pie than most predicted before the start of training camp.
Players and coaches from seven of the conference's 14 schools spoke Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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2022-07-31T13:32:27Z
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Aaron Rodgers on rookie Romeo Doubs: ‘We all feel really good about Romeo’
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The Indianapolis Colts entered training camp knowing they had the top three wide receiver spots essentially locked in, and there was a good chance Ashton Dulin was going to increase that number to four.
Through the first three training camp practices, Dulin has been an active member of the passing game and is seemingly carving out a bigger role as the No. 4 wide receiver on the depth chart. There may be some tough competition ahead of him, but there’s almost no competition taking his role behind the big three.
Head coach Frank Reich sent plenty of praise toward Dulin’s way following Saturday night’s practice, which included another strong outing from the Malone product.
“Yeah, I cannot emphasize how strongly we feel about Ashton Dulin and that he’s going to play a role in this offense,” Reich said Saturday night. “He’s proven it, he’s earned it, he’s going to have to continue to prove it and continue to earn it.”
With Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and Parris Campbell locking down the top three spots in the room, Dulin is right there with them to complete the quartet.
Starting out as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Dulin slowly carved out a role on special teams. He essentially took the “Zach Pascal route” by making a name for himself on special teams and then taking advantage of his opportunities on offense whenever he saw them.
Now, Dulin is entering his fourth season coming off of career-high totals in every receiving category.
Reich, most of all, has been impressed with the toughness, versatility and intelligence that Dulin has brought to the position.
“This guy, he’s another one of these guys – the toughness that he has, he’s smart, he can play all the positions, he knows what to do, he’s a competitor. It’s not too big for him. He’s a playmaker,” Reich said. “We love him. We’re all planning on him making a significant contribution to not only special teams but to the offense this year.”
Dulin does present some upside given his size and speed. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Dulin entered the league with a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash and a 38-inch vertical.
He’s been a mainstay on special teams for the last three seasons and got some extra run as a receiver in 2021 where he averaged 13.3 yards per reception.
There have been many questions about the depth in the receiver room, but the Colts have made it clear they have confidence in a player like Dulin taking a big step forward.
Through three training camp practices, that confidence seems to be paying off.
Colts' Mo Alie-Cox dealing with tweaked knee
Colts TE Mo Alie-Cox tweaked his knee during Saturday night's practice.
Here's a quick roundup from Day 3 of Colts training camp.
High school football is back in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties. Here are the pressing questions for area teams ahead of kickoff in 2022.
Insiders: 4 locks at the wide receiver position
Insiders Joel A. Erickson and Nate Atkins recap Saturday evenings Indianapolis Colts training camp practice.
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2022-07-31T13:32:33Z
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Ashton Dulin earning bigger role in Colts offense
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Bradley Chubb’s troubles may finally be behind him.
After a breakout rookie season in 2018, Chubb missed 12 games in 2019, two games in 2020 and 10 games last season. Chubb recorded no sacks last year and he never looked like he was fully recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him at the end of the 2020 season.
Those injuries are now behind him.
“I’m fully healthy, fully ready to go,” Chubb said last week.
Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett has noted how difficult it’s been to block Chubb at practice, and general manager George Paton said during his pre-camp press conference last week that Chubb appears to have returned to his 2018 form.
“I’ve only been here a year and a half, but he’s had an incredible offseason,” Paton said on July 26. “We’ve talked about it before — it’s the first offseason he hasn’t had to rehab and hasn’t had a surgery. We’re seeing the Bradley that I thought we were going to get when I got here.
“He’s playing with reckless abandon. He’s looked as good as the year when he had 12 sacks as far as I’m concerned. We’ll see what happens when we get the pads on, [but] we’re excited about Bradley Chubb.”
If Chubb stays healthy and returns to his 12-sack form, he’ll be looking to cash in as a free agent in 2023, either with the Broncos or another team. All signs seem to be pointing in the right direction for a bounce-back season in 2022.
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2022-07-31T13:32:39Z
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Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb ‘fully healthy’ and ‘fully ready to go’
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Through four training camp practices, New York Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes has generated four turnovers — three interceptions and one fumble recovery. Two of those went back for touchdowns.
If you had to pinpoint a single camp standout thus far, Holmes would have to be the guy. He’s made his presence felt each and every day, and has clearly raised his game after injury cut short his 2021 season.
“I’m at a place now where I feel that I’m back, and my mind is at ease. I’m grounded as a player, and we’re grounded as a team, and we’re ready to take these steps forward as needed, ready for what’s next,” Holmes told NorthJersey.com this week.
Holmes credits some of his early camp success to his previous failures. He’s been able to recognize the faults in his game and has worked hard to correct them.
It’s an admirable trait and something many professional athletes struggle with.
“A lot of what I struggled with [in coverage], I did to myself. I should’ve been crafting at the top of the route more and working on the things I wasn’t efficient at,” Holmes said. “When I got to the top of the route, I was guessing a lot, I wasn’t comfortable.
“Once this season came, I knew I had to be able to work the second phase in coverage. I could press, but what happens after that. I’m obsessed with improving, obsessed with figuring it out and that’s how it has to be at this level. There’s always an answer to the problem. It’s always about solving that problem, and being ready to solve the next problem.”
Holmes did get beat for a late touchdown during Saturday’s practice, and that’s likely to stick in his craw.
That’s good news for the Giants, who are relatively thin at cornerback — at least on paper. If Holmes can take the next step in his game, it will shore up some of those issues and take the pressure off of his teammates.
The team’s selection of LSU cornerback Cor’Dale Flott in the 2022 NFL draft has also helped to motivate Holmes. His father taught him long ago that there’s always someone gunning for his job and told him to assume that they’re working every bit as hard as he is.
“If you want to play a role in this defense, that’s something that must be earned,” Holmes said. “Each and every day, I’m in it to earn that spot.”
So far, so good. Few players on the field have performed at as high a level as Holmes thus far.
Giants regime change has been music to Kadarius Toney's ears
“Everyone Needs to Eat Everyday”: 10 Defensive Restaurant Stocks to Buy Amid Recession Fears
In this article, we discuss the 10 defensive restaurant stocks to buy amid fears of recession. You can skip our detailed analysis of these stocks and the current market situation, and go directly to 5 Defensive Restaurant Stocks to Buy Amid Recession Fears. The restaurant industry was among the worst-off in the wake of the coronavirus […]
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2022-07-31T13:33:04Z
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With ‘mind at ease,’ Giants CB Darnay Holmes is dominating
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HC Todd Bowles says center Ryan Jensen will miss at least a couple of months. Doesn’t know yet if Jensen will be able to return in November or December.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bracing for an extended absence for Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen, who had to be carted off the field during Thursday’s training camp practice after suffering a knee injury.
Initial reports suggest things aren’t looking good for Jensen, and Bucs head coach Todd Bowles updated Jensen’s status at the moment, though a firm diagnosis still isn’t clear yet.
In the meantime, Bowles said Robert Hainsey and Nick Leverett will compete to replace Jensen in the starting lineup moving forward.
With center Ryan Jensen expected to miss “significant time” with a knee injury, second-year pro Robert Hainsey is hoping to make the most of an opportunity to earn a starting job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The second-year pro spent his rookie season making the transition to a new position after playing tackle in college at Notre Dame and is competing with another inexperienced lineman, Nick Leverett, for the open spot. Jensen, a first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2021, was the first player the Bucs re-signed in free agency after Tom Brady unretired in March.
The company reported excellent earnings, and the stock rallied 14% on the day following the announcement.
With much of the discussion at Carolina’s camp in Spartanburg, SC, centered on Mayfield and Darnold, Matt Corral and PJ Walker showed up to play on Saturday. Here’s an update from Day 4 of training camp.
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2022-07-31T14:42:41Z
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Bucs HC Todd Bowles updates Ryan Jensen’s injury status
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Professional wrestling tag team
If Roman Reigns wins this Sunday, his title reign will reach the unprecedented 700-day mark. Nearing two years on top, The Tribal Chief is the longest reigning World Champion in WWE’s modern era by far and he’s looked nearly unstoppable with his cousins, The Usos, and legendary manager Paul Heyman by his side.
If Reigns loses, however, the new man holding the title would be Brock Lesnar. Coined, “the alpha male of our species,” Lesnar has been nearly impossible to beat since his 2002 debut. Either way, whoever walks out of SummerSlam as champion poses a monumental task for the new challenger.
Reigns and Lesnar combined have beaten almost everyone. Regardless of who wins on Sunday, WWE is left with a major task — finding a fresh and credible challenger for either man.
So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the roster and see who could be next in line for a shot at the World Titles.
Seth Rollins is arguably doing the best work of his career right now. He has achieved a rare feat in the world of wrestling and that is to be so good, you don’t even need a championship. Rollins is above gold right now and his revolutionary character and connection with the crowd tell the whole story. Fans serenade Rollins as he walks to the ring by singing his theme song, go crazy on social media about his eccentric outfit choices and buy his merchandise at a higher rate than most of the roster.
The Superstar is connected to the crowd in a way that no other heel on the roster is. He is a beloved villain, a performer that is so good it doesn’t matter that he plays the role of a bad guy.
Rollins has earned the right to challenge Reigns or even Lesnar for the title. Adding a title to Rollins in the next few months would be the only way WWE can raise his star power. He is already at the top of the mountain and one of the only superstars on the roster that seem dangerous and credible enough to realistically take the title from Roman or Brock at any given time.
Drew McIntyre is a freak of nature athlete who has earned the right to challenge for the world title at any moment. After his initial departure from WWE, McIntyre became all business and hasn’t looked back. Since returning in 2017, the six-foot-five Scottish Psychopath has left a trail of destruction behind him. Over the last few months, McIntyre actually confronted Reigns a few times on Smackdown, which led many fans to believe the two would start a program.
Instead, McIntyre teamed up with RK-Bro in a losing effort in the six-man main event of WrestleMania Backlash. Mcintyre can easily move from the program he’s currently in with Sheamus to take on the champion in a singles match.
This is probably the most likely scenario to occur since Mcintyre is already in a program with The Bloodline and Sheamus. Mcintyre is believable as a real threat to any champion’s title and a viable option for WWE to choose as the next challenger.
Speaking of Sheamus, The Irish Warrior has looked rejuvenated over the last few months. With the new formation of The Brawling Brutes by his side, Sheamus has wrestled with a little pep in his step as of late, turning up the physicality and intensity in the ring. At Clash at the Castle, Sheamus will take on Drew McIntyre in a number one contender's match for the World Title.
If Sheamus wins, he could be one of the champion's steepest challenges to overcome. The current champ will have the numbers game going against them, as well as this new, hard-hitting version of Sheamus to deal with inside the ring. Sheamus has been doing great work with WWE for over a decade and he always seems credible and intense enough to make a run for the title. As a former World Champion, Sheamus is always a safe option for a new challenger and he can hopefully keep up this great streak of work.
Since Riddle’s best friend and tag team partner, Randy Orton, has been sidelined with a serious back injury, Riddle has been on a vengeance tour in WWE. He's been chasing both The Bloodline and Seth Rollins for a few months now so directionally, this move to challenge for the title makes sense. Riddle swore that he would get vengeance on The Bloodline for injuring Orton and has since made it his mission. Many fans were concerned that Orton’s injury would stunt Riddle’s momentum, but Riddle has turned up the intensity in the ring and looks as though he’s learned a thing or two from Orton.
The best way for Riddle to get revenge for his best friend would be to defeat the unstoppable Roman Reigns or the Beast in Brock Lesnar. He seems like a credible challenger and fans are buying into the laid-back character and skills that Riddle has. He is a popular superstar who is improving both on the mic and in the ring as well. He has earned an opportunity to challenge for the title.
Make sure to watch SummerSlam Saturday, July 30 on Peacock to catch all the action!
First Footage For Nicki Minaj's HBO Max Docuseries Surfaces
The trailer for HBO Max’s six-part Nicki Minaj documentary series Nicki has dropped and it seems keen on giving viewers exclusive insight into the life of one of music’s biggest superstars.
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2022-07-31T14:43:01Z
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Who Will Take The Crown?: The Best WWE Challengers For Roman Reigns' Title
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Hosts England and eight-times champions Germany will play at a sold-out Wembley stadium on Sunday, meeting for the second time in the Euro final after the Germans won 6-2 in 2009. The men's teams also met at Wembley in the 1966 World Cup final, which England won after scoring a goal that was deemed to have crossed the line but is still disputed by many Germans.
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2022-07-31T14:43:07Z
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Euro final 2022: England vs Germany live - score and latest updates from Wembley
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The Lobos cornerback is the second New Mexico player to land on our annual countdown of the Mountain West’s best.
Is a big breakout on the way?
The New Mexico Lobos defense put in a lot of good work last year that may have gone unnoticed, which means that the next player on our preseason list of the conference’s top performers, cornerback Donte Martin, may have flown under the radar.
2021 marked his third year as a starter and he’s improved with each passing season, improving his completion rate allowed from 46.4% to 35% from 2019 to 2020 and then collecting 30 tackles with six passes defended and an interception as a junior.
Now a redshirt senior, Martin is not only one of the team’s most experienced veterans, he may be the best player on the Lobos’ best overall unit. If the Lobos surprise in 2022, count on him being a big reason why.
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2022-07-31T15:03:39Z
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2022 Mountain West Football Top 50: #39, New Mexico CB Donte Martin
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Ernie Sims
In Roob's Observations: Davion Taylor trying to elbow his way into LB rotation originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
A young linebacker who’s trying to earn playing time, a promising young cornerback and a comparison from Eagles history to A.J. Brown.
With the first few days of training camp in the books and the preseason opener just 12 days away, here’s this weekend’s initial preseason edition of Roob’s 10 Random Eagles Observations.
1. Too many linebackers? OK, that’s a new one. The team that brought you Jamar Chaney, Ernie Sims, Zach Brown, Joe Mays, Quinton Caver, Omar Gaither, Matt McCoy, Eric Wilson, Barry Gardner and a thousand others now has — gasp — an embarrassment of riches at off-ball linebacker, with fourth-year undrafted T.J. Edwards, rookie Nakobe Dean and veteran free agent Kyzir White in the main rotation. And guess who’s off to a terrific start the first few days of training camp? None other than Davion Taylor, the third-year outside linebacker from Colorado. Conventional wisdom coming into camp was that Edwards, Dean and White would get the lion’s share of the LB snaps. But Taylor is making things really interesting. You take everything for what it’s worth this early in camp, but Taylor has been as sharp as anybody on defense so far. He didn’t play badly last year in six starts before he got hurt, but so far he’s been quite a playmaker, active, quick, instinctive, athletic. And while it’s too early to say where he might fit in among Edwards, Dean and White, if he keeps this up, Jonathan Gannon will have no choice but to find reps for him. Somewhere.
2. Another guy that’s jumped out these first few days of practice is James Bradberry, and it’s hard to say that's a surprise, since the guy is an established upper-level pro who made a Pro Bowl two years ago. But seeing him snap after snap, you really do appreciate how solid a cornerback he is. His size and speed aren’t world class, but he’s very smart and athletic, and his measurables are plenty good enough. Really curious to see Bradberry and Darius Slay in action once the pads go on.
3. I still don’t think Jalen Reagor is going to be here when all is said and done, but I give him credit for coming into camp in outstanding shape and catching the ball when it’s been thrown to him. Nothing crazy, no circus catches, no highlight-reel stuff, but he’s done what he’s been asked to do, and considering where he was last year that's good to see. I’m not going to make too much of it because it doesn’t mean a lot in the big picture, but one thing it does mean is that he’s come in with more confidence than he showed at any point last year, and that’s encouraging. I don’t know if Reagor will ever make an impact in the NFL, but very simply I’d rather see him catching the ball right now than not catching it.
4. Zech McPhearson still has to show he can give the Eagles consistent reps to emerge from the pack and solidify that third outside cornerback spot, but one thing I really like about him is that he does not back down from anybody. Whether he’s getting a rep against A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith or an undrafted free agent, he’s up there in his face battling. He’s aggressive in coverage, and it’s really shown in the early days of camp. He’s got a little bit of swagger to him. It’s early, but he’s come a long way from last year.
5. This is the first Eagles training camp since 2012 at Lehigh where music doesn’t blast non-stop from massive speakers strategically situated in all corners of the practice field. Chip Kelly introduced blaring music to Eagles practice in 2013, saying he believed that it taught players how to focus in difficult circumstances. Doug Pederson kept the music, and Nick Sirianni used it last year. But the music is gone. I haven’t had a chance to ask Sirianni why he pulled the plug, but my hunch is that his practices are held at such a brisk clip with a huge emphasis on efficiency, and with music blaring, it has to be difficult for players to hear the coaches during or between plays. So if there's a coaching point or if a player had a question, the players and coaches could have trouble hearing each other. Then the next play gets delayed while things get sorted things out, and all of a sudden guys are standing around and practice is falling behind. We all know communication is one of Sirianni’s core values, and anything that gets in the way of communication at practice is a problem. The Eagles are even using bullhorns now to call out plays and formations. It’s all about maximum efficiency. Get on the field, get your work done and get off the field. Deafening music didn’t help.
6. Chatting with Devon Allen Saturday really brought home just how challenging what he’s trying to do is. Not only is he attempting to play football for the first time in six years, he’s trying to do it at the most competitive level in the world against guys who have been doing this for years. “It’s just learning how to play again,” the two-time Olympic hurdler said. And trying to do it against elite cornerbacks after not touching a football since 2016. That's a lot. Allen seems confident and up for the challenge, but he understands what he’s facing. “It’s really fun,” he said. “But it’s not easy.”
7. From 1982 through 2000 — a span of 19 seasons — the Eagles did not have a single Pro Bowl offensive lineman. Since 2001, they’ve had 30. In fact, from 1970 through 2000 — a 31-year span — their only Pro Bowl offensive linemen were Stan Walters in 1978 and 1979 and Jerry Sisemore in 1979 and 1981. Since 2001, nine different Eagles linemen have made a total of 30 Pro Bowls: Jason Peters (7), Jason Kelce (5), Brandon Brooks (3), Lane Johnson (3), Tra Thomas (3), Evan Mathis (2), Shawn Andrews (2), Jermane Mayberry (1) and Jon Runyan (1). Jeff Stoutland has had five of his linemen get picked to a total of 17 Pro Bowls. Amazing.
8. I really don’t have any doubts about Marcus Epps. He’ll be fine.
9. Trying to figure out a comp for A.J. Brown from Eagles history and I came up with Irving Fryar. The Eagles’ best wide receivers — and there haven’t been a ton of them – have been the long, skinny, wiry speedster variety. DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, DeVonta Smith, etc. T.O. was both fast and physical, but he was a few inches taller. Brown is different. He can run just fine, but he’s thick, solid, powerful and more likely to run through you than run around you. Fryar was from the same mold — a tough, physical receiver who embraced contact. Brown is going to be fun to watch.
10. The last Eagle other than Jason Kelce to start a game at center? How about that David Molk! The one-time Chargers seventh-round pick out of Michigan made four starts in his career, and they were all when Kelce missed four games in 2014 with a sports hernia. Molk only played six more snaps the rest of his career. Kelce has played 8,786 snaps since returning.
Takeaways and observations from third practice at Philadelphia Eagles training camp
EXCLUSIVE: CNN will broadcast the Shark Week documentary Great White Open Ocean on Saturday, July 30, marking the first time the channel has participated in Shark Week. It comes almost four months after the merger was completed between Discovery, whose flagship cable channel carries Shark Week, and CNN parent WarnerMedia. CNN also has been promoting Discovery Channel’s Shark Week on-air […]
Anderson highlights relay pedigree with second Commonwealth silver
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2022-07-31T15:04:10Z
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Eagles Observations: Davion Taylor trying to elbow his way into linebacker rotation
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Could Kendrick Bourne have a 'Deebo Samuel year' for Patriots? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
If you want a bold prediction about the New England Patriots' offense in 2022, you've come to the right place.
Reporting from Patriots training camp at Gillette Stadium after watching Friday's practice, Patriots Insider Tom E. Curran shared a very bold prediction about the role wide receiver Kendrick Bourne will play in New England's offense during his second year with the team.
"Full-on stud," Curran said of Bourne, as seen in the video player above. "... He is the player around which the Patriots are going to really start to craft their offense."
Perry: Jonnu showing signs of being able to live up to his contract
Curran cited Bourne's contributions in both the passing game and the running game in addition to his clear chemistry with quarterback Mac Jones as evidence that the Patriots should make Bourne a focal point of their offensive attack in 2022.
"When you look at him last year, 55 of the 70 balls that went his way, he caught," Curran said. "The passer rating for Mac Jones throwing to him was (129.7). Very few drops. He had 125 yards on 10 carries, so 12.5 (yards per rush).
"He does it all for the Patriots, and they really are going to be in a position where they should make him the hub of their offense."
Perhaps like a certain dual-threat Pro Bowler for the San Francisco 49ers?
"He's going to have a Deebo Samuel year. He's going to be Deebo Samuel this year," Curran said, raising the eyebrows of fellow Patriots Insider Phil Perry.
Samuel ranked third in the NFL in all-purpose yards last season, racking up 1,405 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns in addition to 365 yards and eight TDs on the ground en route to First-Team All-Pro honors.
That seems like an impossibly high bar for Bourne to reach, especially since the Patriots have a deep stable of running backs led by Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson that could limit Bourne's involvement in the run game.
To Curran's larger point, however, Bourne might be New England's most explosive offensive weapon. He led the team in yards per catch last season (14.5) and turned nearly half of his catches (27 of 55) into first downs.
So, even if Bourne doesn't put up Deebo Samuel numbers in 2022, we could see the Patriots find creative ways to get him the ball in key situations to unlock an offense that ranked 15th in the NFL in yards per game last season.
And if Bourne somehow does put up Samuel-esque numbers this season? Curran can say he told you so.
Cliff Branch didn't live to see his enshrinement day in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but his sister remembers everything.
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2022-07-31T15:04:23Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Kendrick Bourne will have 'Deebo Samuel year' for Patriots, Tom Curran predicts
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Culture is a buzzword used by teams, classrooms, and businesses to establish expectations. However cliche it may be, it’s an essential concept to install, especially if you are a new leader.
Nathaniel Hackett knows this all too well, serving as an offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, whom he helped lead to the AFC championship game in 2017, and as of recent, helped the Packers to three consecutive 13-win seasons and two appearances in the NFC championship game from 2019 to 2021.
Excellent coaching and leadership start with the coaching staff. Still, from Hackett’s experience and wisdom, the players who hold other players accountable separate the good from the great. The Denver Broncos coach recently spoke on wanting to see his team implement this method of leadership.
“A guy told me once, ‘When coaches hold players accountable, it’s a good team. When players hold players accountable, it’s a great team,'” Hackett said during his pre-camp press conference on July. 26. “When we always talk about the team [being] so important to us, it’s about those guys holding each other accountable and being there for each other.”
Hackett also spoke on what happens when the players take on the leadership initiative. To Hackett, once the players begin leading on the field, then that is when the unique aspects of football, such as winning, start happening.
“As a coach, you can’t go out there [on the field]. Those guys have to be able to work things out themselves. You’re trying to train them as best you can, but they’re the ones who have to work it out. When you see that happen, that’s when special things start coming to fruition …. [T]hat’s what we’re trying to create here.”
The Broncos kicked off training camp last week. By the end of the summer, we might start to see some of the signs of that accountability.
Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux anxious for padded practices
New York Giants rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is counting the minutes until the pads go on during practice.
Also, confirmed: the Oscar-winning actress gets to flirt with Jon Hamm in Confess, Fletch. Marcia Gay Harden on Depicting the “Universal Heartbreak” of Netflix’s Uncoupled Liz Shannon Miller
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2022-07-31T15:04:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Nathaniel Hackett wants Broncos players to hold each other accountable
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No Raiders player last season impressed more than Nate Hobbs. The fifth round rookie leapt to the top of the depth chart as the team’s starting nickel cornerback in training camp and was outstanding throughout the season handling the slot.
Even after just one season, it’s not a stretch to say Hobbs was easily one of the top finds by the Raiders during the Mike Mayock era as GM.
Part of Hobbs’s greatness stems from the fire to prove himself. Something he’s had to do every step of the way in his football life. As a fifth round pick, sure, but it goes way back for Hobbs. Something I detailed last year, shortly after he was drafted.
He’s been underestimated his whole football life. He was thankful for being drafted into the NF, but he still had 166 players taken ahead of him, including over 30 defensive backs. So, here he goes again.
Guaranteed, there is a hell of a lot fewer than 30 of those DBs who are better. Hobbs has proven himself. You think that changes his outlook? Think he’s shed that chip on his shoulder? Not a chance.
“Until I die. Real talk, until I die,” Hobbs said of still carrying that chip on his shoulder. “Where I’m from, I’m from Louisville, Kentucky, so I never got the chance to see anybody make it that far to the NFL with my own two eyes or personally know somebody. It feels like that in all areas of Louisville, we are a real underrated city. So, growing up there it made me like that. I guess I was a creature of my habitat.”
Hobbs has taken his talents from inside out with the Raiders as they have been seeing what kind of versatility he possesses. The 6-0, 195-pounder is clearly talented enough to hang with shifty slot receivers and make stops in short yardage, so the team is seeing whether he can move around some if called upon.
“Really most of my high school career and college career, I played outside. That’s second nature to me,” Hobbs said. “That’s something I feel like I can do at a high level. But playing in the slot, like you said, there is a lot more room. Playing corner, slot, whatever I got to play, safety if I got to do that, it makes it a lot easier I feel like just having a feel for multiple positions.”
Currently Trayvon Mullen is on the PUP list, giving the team a bit of an opportunity of sorts to find out their options without him. Thus Hobbs getting some work outside along with newcomer Anthony Averett with Rock Ya-Sin on the opposite side.
The question from there would be if Hobbs turns out to the best option outside, would any of the other corners be able to man the slot as well as he can? Based on Hobbs’s play there last season, that could be a tall order.
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2022-07-31T15:04:48Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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‘Until I die’: Raiders standout second-year CB Nate Hobbs on if he still has chip on his shoulder
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Alyssa Barbieri, Brendan Sugrue and Ryan Fedrau
The Chicago Bears offense has been a popular topic of discussion this offseason — and not in a good way. That’s nothing new for Bears fans.
With the importance of quarterback Justin Fields’ development in Year 2, there’s been criticism about his supporting cast. Whether that’s an unproven wide receivers group or a suspect offensive line.
With training camp in full swing, the offense remains a work in progress. But we’ve still got a long way to go before the start of the season.
Our Bears Wire staff is sharing their bold prediction for the offense heading into the 2022 season. Go big or go home.
Alyssa Barbieri: David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert each total 1,000 scrimmage yards
All eyes will be on second-year quarterback Justin Fields as the Bears transition to a new offense under Luke Getsy. But from everything we’ve heard so far, this offense is going to be run-heavy and a quarterback’s best friend. The Bears have two starting caliber running backs in David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, who will share the workload this season. Montgomery will be the primary back, but Herbert will get more opportunities in his second season.
Look no further than Green Bay for what we can expect from the Montgomery-Herbert duo. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon proved to be a two-headed monster for the Packers with each eclipsing 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2021. Montgomery and Herbert certainly have the potential to do the same. The Bears are going to be a run-first team, as a means to help Fields, and there will be opportunities for Montgomery and Herbert to thrive in both the run game and pass game. If you play fantasy football, make sure to draft either Montgomery or Herbert.
Brendan Sugrue: Velus Jones Jr. leads the team in touchdown receptions
It’s rare for a rookie wide receiver to lead their team in touchdown receptions, especially when that team is the Chicago Bears, but Velus Jones Jr. could be a prime candidate to achieve such a feat. The Bears have a plan for him after selecting him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and though he’s just entering his first year, he should see a lot of snaps. He’s capable of being a swiss army knife in the NFL and should see a lot of screens, shovel passes, deep patterns, and more in offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s playbook.
Much has been made about Jones’ age since being drafted by the Bears, but at 25, he’s not only entering the prime of his athleticism, but he’s also had more time to learn route trees and play in a variety of spots on the offense. He’s going to be capable of running many different routes, play in various packages, and be utilized more than people realize.
It’s early in camp, but Jones is quickly building a rapport with Justin Fields. He’s going to become a frequent target soon enough and with so much attention on players like Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet, Jones is going to get plenty of chances to score.
Ryan Fedrau: The offensive line makes a big jump in 2022
As the Bears rebuild around Justin Fields, the offensive line has been a priority. Bringing in Michael Schofield and Riley Reiff will be two key factors to Chicago’s big improvement with their offensive line this season.
Despite questions about who Fields will throw the ball to, it won’t matter if he is consistently under pressure. As Ryan Poles rebuilds this team, he has made one thing clear – the offensive line was a problem last season and fixing it is one of the things he has to do quickly.
I’m not saying Chicago will have the best offensive line in football. But I believe the current group has the potential to be good enough to keep the Bears in games. I’d guess they finish around the middle of the league when it comes to pressure and sacks. A lot better than 21st, which is what PFF had them ranked after the 2021 season.
Nick Lucero/Rivals.com Oregon State has been rolling on the recruiting trail since the beginning of June and they're looking to keep that train rolling. On Saturday, 2023 offensive lineman Ed Haynes out of Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada released his top four.
Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles quickly noticed the running back's intense work ethic and drive to be great.
All NFL rookies make mistakes, some more than others. Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had his fair share last season. “As long as you make them at 100 miles an hour, right?" Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said before Friday's practice.
Up to 500 civilians remain in monastery in Russian-occupied Sviatohirsk
ROMAN PETRENKO - SATURDAY, 30 JULY 2022, 23:47 The city of Sviatohirsk in Donetsk Oblast has been captured and occupied by Russian forces, but fighting is continuing in the villages of the hromada (amalgamated territorial community) of Sviatohirsk.
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2022-07-31T16:39:17Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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3 bold predictions for the Bears offense in 2022
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Dylan Sanders and Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints have heavily invested into their defensive line and have high hopes that this will be the year that it all comes together. Between their top three edge rushers, they have spent four first round draft picks. The future Hall of Famer Cameron Jordan, the oft-scrutinized Marcus Davenport in a contract year, and highly anticipated 2021 first round selection Payton Turner make up the top of the rotation.
After practice on Thursday, Turner spoke to the media, telling our own Ross Jackson on what those three can do together, “We can do a lot. We’ve got really good players all across the defense, not just us three, but I think this defensive line could be very special this year if we can all stay out there and make some plays.”
The “if we all stay out there and make some plays” part of that statement is really the kicker here. No one doubts the talents of the three players, but both Davenport and Turner have had issues staying healthy early in their careers. In Davenport’s four seasons, he has never played in more than 13 games of a regular season, though he is coming off of career highs in sacks, tackles, tackles for a loss, and quarterback hits.
Turner is entering his sophomore season but had a rocky start. He played in just five games as a rookie, but he showed some great potential in his limited appearances. Those two staying healthy could be a key part in success during Dennis Allen’s first season as a head coach, and give the team some security in long-term planning with Jordan getting up there in years.
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2022-07-31T16:39:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Payton Turner excited about Saints defensive line, ‘if we can all stay out there’
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Tyrell Crosby
Tyrell Crosby went from starting right tackle of the Detroit Lions to a man who might never play football again in the span of 18 months. Now recovering from spinal fusion surgery that could end his NFL career, Crosby offered up some harsh accusations and claims against the Lions for how his time in Detroit came to a bitter end.
In an interview with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Crosby lashes out at the Lions.
“I wouldn’t want to play for that organization just knowing what I know now and just how poorly they treat their players,” Crosby told Birkett after praising the Lions fans and their loyalty to both him and the team.
Crosby alleges the team’s medical staff didn’t heed his concerns about back pain in the 2021 training camp, a time when Crosby was sidelined with a hamstring injury. He also states the Lions forced him to play in a preseason game despite knowing his back was not healthy enough to handle the rigors of the game.
Complications from the initial surgery did not help Crosby in his quest to return. He says he now has serious limitations to movement, though Crosby still hopes to play in the NFL.
The harsh words Crosby levels against the organization and head coach Dan Campbell in particular go very much against the grain of what numerous other players have said about the new Lions regime. Crosby had lost his starting job when the Lions drafted Penei Sewell in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. After starting 18 games in three years in Detroit, the reality of being turned into a reserve was not something Crosby appreciated.
It’s an interesting side of the story Crosby gives to Birkett, one worth checking out. Hopefully he comes out healthy and is able to enjoy a post-football life.
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2022-07-31T16:39:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Tyrell Crosby lays out some harsh claims against the Lions
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The Nats also have slugger Josh Bell, who has never been in a playoff race, let alone a postseason game. The Mets, who will have Jacob deGrom make his season debut Tuesday, are among those would love to have Bell playing alongside him.
We’ll soon find out if someone’s team plane, or private charter will have enough room for another guest.
The Seattle Mariners have made the biggest splash before the Tuesday 6 p.m. ET trade deadline by out-bidding the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers for Cincinnati Reds ace Luis Castillo, doing everything in their power to end their 21-year postseason drought.
Juan Soto turned down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Nationals.
They entered the weekend with the best ERA (2.96) in baseball in their last 55 games (2.96), but wanted a co-ace with Robbie Ray to assure they’re going to stick around for awhile in October.
“We've got a chance to do something really big here this year,” Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters. “You have got to step out and take a chance once in a while. If you ultimately want to get the reward, take a little risk, and that's what we’ve got here.”
Let’s see who makes those bold moves before the Aug. 2 trade deadline.
4 finalists for Juan Soto
San Diego Padres: The Padres have the capital, and the aggressiveness in GM A.J. Preller, never knowing a star he didn’t want. They are willing to part with everyone from outfielder Robert Hassell III, shortstop C.J. Abrams to starter MacKenzie Gore. They are the favorites.
St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals typically don’t jump into the type of fray, but they did acquire first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and third baseman Nolan Arrenado while everyone stood by. They have the minor-league prospects and young major-league ready players to get this done.
Los Angeles Dodgers: They have the money. The prospects. The young players. They have the history of trading for stars: Max Scherzer, Manny Machado, Trea Turner, Yu Darvish. And the burning desire to sit aotp the baseball world for another decade.
Seattle Mariners: It’s hard to believe the Mariners have enough depth in their farm system to land Soto now, but what if they package one of their prized young pitchers in a prospect package and really go all in?
4 biggest sellers
Washington Nationals: They’ve got Juan Soto, king of the hill. They’ve got first baseman Josh Bell (Hello, Houston or New York). DH Nelson Cruz. Relievers Steve Cishek Carl Edwards, too. The Nats can fill all of your needs
Cincinnati Reds: They just dumped off ace Luis Castillo to Seattle, but now they’ve got solid starter Tyler Mahle for the teams who missed out on Castillo. Third baseman Brandon Drury can help any team. Left fielder Tommy Pham, who’s being coveted by the Tampa Bay Rays, can help out more than your fantasy football needs. The Reds will eat money to dump third baseman Mike Moustakas. Make a call, and the Reds will listen.
Oakland Athletics: Now that Castillo is dealt, the A’s have the greatest pitching commodity in Frankie Montas. They also have center fielder Ramon Laureano, catcher Sean Murphy and young starter Paul Blackburn available.
Boston Red Sox: These guys were supposed to be buyers, but after their horrid July, they’ll listen on everybody but All-Star infielders Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers. Starters Nate Eovaldi, Michael Wacha, DH J.D. Martinez, and catcher Christian Vazquez all are veterans with postseason experience.
4 biggest buyers
San Diego Padres: These guys have one of the most aggressive GMs in the business, and haven’t reached the postseason in a full season since 2006. They are only 11-17 since June 25 – the worst record among teams with winning records – but barring a collapse, they should be in the postseason this year. Juan Soto would make sure of it, joining Manny Machado as the only Padres with an OPS over .750.
New York Yankees: They landed outfielder Andrew Benintendi, but they’re just starting. They still want another starting pitcher with their eyes squarely on Montas. They could use bullpen help, too.
Los Angeles Dodgers: They wanted Castillo, and now want Montas. They wanted Craig Kimbrel, and now want another closer. They won a World Series in the shortened COVID year. They want their first World Series in a full season since 1988.
Seattle Mariners: Hey, why stop with Castillo when you’ve already committed?
4 best players who will be traded
Outfielder Juan Soto, Washington Nationals: He won’t sign for any amount of money with the Nats. He has never had higher trade value. So if you’re a new owner, you want him gone before arrival, not wanting a PR nightmare in your first order of business.
Starter Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics: Now that Luis Castillo is gone, Montas is the next ace on the board. If you’re convinced he’s healthy, he’s a natural fit for any contender.
Catcher Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs: You may not love him as a defensive catcher, but you sure do as an offensive threat. The Cubs will get more for Contreras than they did for any of their summer trades of a year ago.
J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox: He has been scuffling of late, but he’s also one of the most dangerous DHs in the game, and would fit in any team’s middle of the order.
4 players who aren't going anywhere
Starting pitcher/DH Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels: The Angels are listening. That’s it. Nothing more. This way, if decide to trade him during the winter, they know what you’re offering. They have no idea what he should get on a contract extension, or what he’d bring on the trade market, or if he even wants to stay. They’re covering all of their options, but they’re not about to trade him now, not with him generating about $20 million a year in merchandise and advertising revenue. Now, if Mike Trout ever wanted out, the Angels would immediately be open for business.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox: They only offered him a one-year, $30 million extension not to opt out of his contract. They’ll significantly raise that this winter and see just how badly he wants to stay.
Third baseman Rafael Devers, Red Sox: He is their version of Juan Soto. They’ve got another year to sign him. If he’s not locked up by next year’s trade deadline, it may be a different story.
Shortstop prospect Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees/catching prospect Diego Cartaya, Los Angeles Dodgers: The Yankees didn’t blow off the shortstop free agent market because they wanted to act like the A’s. They love Volpe, and believe he could be the next Derek Jeter. Cartaya is billed as the next Mike Piazza, but much better defensively. He’s a perennial All-Star in the making. The Dodgers aren’t about to part with him.
4 under the radar-players who could be dealt
Outfielder Trey Mancini, Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles shouldn’t trade him. He means too much to the organization. This is a team that has stunned everyone by hovering around .500. Yet, baseball is a cold-hearted business.
Starter Noah Syndergaard, Los Angeles Angels: He no longer blows away hitters with his fastball. He’s not considered an ace or even a No. 2 pitcher. But, oh, has he learned to pitch with his off-speed stuff. He’d be a nice No. 3 starter for any contender.
Starter Jose Urquidy, Houston Astros: The Astros are so deep that they don’t really need him. He has a career 3.69 ERA, is eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, and has postseason experience, too. He is being offered in package deals for a slugger.
4 Cubs who will be traded
Catcher Willson Contreras: A year ago, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez were out the door. This time around, Contreras leads the charge. The Cubs couldn’t sign him to a long-term deal, so they’re definitely moving, and teams like the Houston Astros are listening.
Closer David Robertson: The Cubs took a flier on Robertson, and he delivered, returning to form as a prized closer. He already proved he can handle New York. The Mets and Yankees are both talking.
Outfielder Ian Happ: He has turned himself into an All-Star outfielder. The Cubs don’t have to trade him, not with another year on his contract, but with the thin trade market, he could bring in a bundle.
Starter Wade Miley: He has been injured most of the season, pitching just 19 innings, but is finally back, pitching in a rehab game on Friday. He may be a nice cheap, back-of-the-rotation starter for a team scrambling for a playoff berth.
– San Diego Padres ace Joe Musgrove, a San Diego native, is set to sign a five-year, $100 million contact this week. The Padres originally offered an eight-year extension for about $88 million, which Musgrove rejected, seeking a higher AAV.
– The Tampa Bay Rays are among the favorites acquire either Reds outfielder Tommy Pham or Yankees outfielder Joey Gallo by Tuesday.
The San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers also are interested in Gallo.
The Yankees insist Gallo will be gone, one way or another.
He’s hitting just .159 with a .621 OPS, and getting worse, batting .084 in his last 28 games.
– Bruce Bochy, who’s eligible to be voted to the Hall of Fame in December, 2023, plans to manage Team France in the World Baseball Classic.
His bench coach?
Ozzie Guillen, the former Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins manager.
– The Pirates are talking to the White Sox, Blue Jays and Yankees about Jose Quintana. He’s earning just $2 million this season.
– The Padres could shut down rookie starter MacKenzie Gore the rest of the season. He’s on the 15-day injured list with a strained elbow.
Gore had a 1.50 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 48 innings in his first nine games (eight starts), but an 11.05 ERA in his last seven games (five starts).
– The Mariners better hope they don’t see the Astros in the playoffs. They are just 6-29 against them at Minute Maid Park in Houston since 2018.
Robbie Ray has a 10.98 ERA in three starts against the Astros, compared to a 3.46 ERA in his other 18 starts.
– The Mariners and Reds have gotten awfully chummy this year, with the Castillo trade the fourth deal between the teams since the lockout ended.
– The Dodgers are desperate for back-end bullpen help with closer Craig Kimbrel's struggles. He has 18 saves in 21 opportunities, but also is yielding a 4.37 ERA and 1.51 walks and hits per inning.
– Atlanta thought they had enough outfielders, but now are on the market for another one with Adam Duvall’s season-ending injury and All-Star Ronald Acuna’s struggles.
Acuna returned from his ACL surgery to hit .316 with six homers and a .950 OPS in his first 31 games, but is batting .209 with two home runs and a .583 OPS in his past 33 games – and just .186 in the last 17 games with two doubles, one homer, four RBI, 21 strikeouts and a woeful .526 OPS.
– Aaron Judge, with 42 homers, is on pace to hit 66 homers, breaking Roger Maris’ American League home-run record. He and Babe Ruth are the only players in franchise history with 41 homers through the first 101 games of a season.
“Historical,” teammates Gerrit Cole called it. “I wish I could have my phone on the bench like the rest of the fans who take a video every one of his at-bats. It’s kind of just a steady dose of amazingness every day. Pretty inspiring.”
– The Dodgers believe they can sign Juan Soto to a contract extension if they land him. They have only four contracts guaranteed past next season on the books: Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes.
Soto is expected to command about $65 million in arbitration over the next two seasons.
– The Yankees have 12 walk-off victories this season, the second-most by any team in history through 100 games, trailing only the 1959 Pittsburgh Pirates (13).
– The San Francisco Giants, who won a franchise-record 107 games last season, aren’t even a .500 team these days, and have to decide whether they will trade starter Carlos Rodon and outfielder Joc Pederson.
They were outscored outscored 44-19 on an 0-7 trip, their worst since 1985 . They are just 35-44 since April, and have lost 16 of 25 games in July entering Saturday.
– Atlanta’s streak of not losing three in a row is the longest since the 2001 Seattle Mariners, who didn’t lose three straight until dropping their 147-150th games.
– Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley, who’s hitting .427 with a 1.372 OPS in July, is on pace for 93 extra-base hits, breaking legendary Hank Aaron’s franchise record of 92 extra-base hits in 1959.
“We’re watching a superstar right now,” Atlanta starter Kyle Wright told reporters. “Any time he steps in the box, you’re just wondering how far is he going to hit it? How hard is he going to hit it?” …I feel like anything you throw in there, he’s doing damage on. He’s not just getting hits, he’s doing damage, which is even more impressive.’’
Riley, my preseason MVP pick, is hitting .299 with 29 home runs and 29 doubles this season, becoming the fifth player to achieve the feat this quickly in baseball history.
– Nationals GM Mike Rizzo believes that the Nats, who won the 2019 World Series championship, can return to greatness in a few years.
“We see this organization going in the right direction,” Rizzo told The Fan’s Sports Junkies. “We’ve done it before. Not many teams can say, ‘Here’s our plan,’ and prove that it works. We have done that.
“We’ve come from the depths of bad seasons, with 100-loss seasons, to 98 wins in 2012, relatively quickly. We think that we’re on the same pace or even quicker to get it done this time.”
– Remember last winter when the Red Sox traded Hunter Renfroe and couldn’t sign Kyle Schwarber?
Well, the two have combined for 48 homers and 101 RBI this season.
The Red Sox team, excluding Rafael Devers and Trevor Story, has combined for 62 homers.
– The Blue Jays are seeing the real Matt Chapman. He hit just .201 through May, but since is hitting.290 with 12 homers and a .937 OPS.
– The Diamondbacks would love to have someone take veteran Madison Bumgarner, who could be a back-end starter for a contender. He earns $23 million this year and is still owed another $37 million through 2024.
– The Blue Jays are spending $230 million on improvements to the Rogers Centre, which likely takes them out of the running to host an All-Star Game until at least 2027. The Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and perhaps Atlanta are among the contenders to host the 2024-2025 All-Star Games. The 2023 All-Star Game is in Seattle, and the only other one scheduled is the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
– The Cleveland Guardians plan to bring back manager Terry Francona after this season, president Chris Antonetti told reporters, as long as it “doesn’t negatively affect his well-being and he remains energized about the work.”
– The Marlins say it’s possible that All-Star infielder Jazz Chisholm doesn’t play another game this season with a CT scan revealing a stress fracture in his lower back. He has played in just 60 games this season, but still leads the Marlins in homers (14), RBI (45), and runs (39).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB trade deadline: Where's Juan Soto going? Buyers, sellers, rumors
The Detroit Tigers take on the Toronto Blue Jays today at 12:00 PM ET on Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch today’s Royals vs Blue Jays matchup and the full Sunday schedule of games. RELATED: MLB schedule 2022: Every Sunday morning baseball game on Peacock, matchups, what to know What MLB
Mark McLaughlin’s contract with Chicago detailed
Former Vol Mark McLaughlin's contract with Chicago detailed.
Tudor Dixon, a conservative media personality who is leading the polls in Michigan’s Republican race for governor, has secured Donald Trump’s endorsement.
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2022-07-31T16:57:14Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Nightengale: MLB trade deadline's top buyers, sellers and finalists for a Juan Soto deal
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As we begin to move closer to the start of a new college football season in Happy Valley, the staff at Nittnay Lions Wire is spending some time sounding off on some big questions facing the Nittany Lions this fall. Today’s focus is on potential breakout players for the Nittany Lions in 2022.
Penn State appears to have some good talent across the roster in 2022, and we have profiled a number of players expected to be key contributors to the program this fall. But who is a player you feel is flying under the radar and could emerge as a key breakout player for the Nittany Lions in 2022?
Penn State has quite the intriguing offense. They brought in guys like Drew Allar and Nick Singelton. They even brought in two transfers with Cornell offensive tackle Hunter Nourzad and Western Kentucky wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley. It’s hard to call Tinsley a sleeper when many analysts already have him mocked in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Speaking of sleepers, I’m heading over on the defensive side of the ball for defensive tackle Coziah Izzard. When it comes to the defensive line, many will think of PJ Mustipher, and rightfully so. Mustipher going down with an injury last season resulted in several new faces getting some more playing time on the field. In his first season, Izzard didn’t see much production. But in 2021, he finished with 21 total tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. I think Izzard has a strong chance to break out for the Nittany Lions this season.
Izzard saw the majority of his 2021 production against Rutgers, where he finished with four total tackles and a sack. He is currently slated to start up front. Those stats mentioned are a solid stepping stone to potentially have a breakout season for the Nittany Lions in 2022.
Mustipher developed into a leader for Penn State, and Izzard, now being one of the upperclassmen, has a good chance to do that as well.
Two other names I wanted to throw out there are wide receiver Malick Meiga and offensive tackle Juice Scruggs, both now going into their second years under offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.
There are a few new faces on the roster that I anticipate will have some big seasons for the Nittany Lions, but it would be unfair to suggest wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley or freshman running back Nick Singleton are flying under the radar. So I’m also going to go on the defensive side of the football and point to linebacker Kobe King.
While Kalen King is already primed and ready for a solid sophomore season in the backfield, his twin brother Kobe could emerge as a fixture in the middle of the Penn State defense. Kobe King may not start the year as a starter but I do anticipate he will be a consistent contributor when on the field. And with that will come a growth that will lead to him being cemented in the middle of the defense moving forward.
What struck me was this spring when King noted that picking up and adjusting to the new defensive style of new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was easy to pick up and run with, compared to the style of former defensive cooridnator Brent Pry. It may be a mix of a system being easier to grasp and a player having a year of college football experience already under his belt, but that stood out to me in the spring and I hope that it translates to success on the field this fall.
Who are the best players in the Big 12 going into the 2022 college football season? They're highlighted in the CFN 2022 Preseason All-Big 12 team, and top 30 players.
The board of Cintas Corporation ( NASDAQ:CTAS ) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend by 21% on the...
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2022-07-31T17:05:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Nittany Lions Wire Roundtable: Who will be Penn State’s breakout player in 2022?
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nittany-lions-wire-roundtable-penn-163542069.html?src=rss
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While every Cincinnati Bengals fan and player has sad and frustrating memories of the end of Super Bowl 56, running back Joe Mixon's memories are tinged with something more: regret.
Mixon, one of the NFL's best last season, was not on the field for those last few plays in the final 48 seconds of the game. Even though the Bengals had several chances to move within field goal range against the Los Angeles Rams and turn the 23-20 score into a tie, he wasn't out there. If the Bengals had converted on third-and-1 or fourth-and-1, it could have sent the Super Bowl to overtime and changed the entire outcome of the game.
Mixon hadn't talked about how he felt being on the sidelines at the end of Super Bowl 56. But on Friday, almost six months after that disappointing finish, he opened up about it for the first time.
“I mean at the end of the day, like I said… who was out there at the end of the day, whoever is out there, I have no doubt in my mind that they should make the play,” Mixon said via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “You know what I’m saying, coach got caught up in running two minute and through the playoffs, he had me in two-minute. It was just a caught up in the moment thing. I really should have taken initiative on myself and just been like, ‘Hey, I’m coming in.’ But you know it was the heat of the moment.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon has opened up about how it felt to be left on the sidelines at the end of Cincinnati's 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super bowl 56. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Mixon, Taylor relationship is just fine
While Mixon now feels regret at how he handled that situation, the person in charge of him actually being in the game (or not) was head coach Zac Taylor. Taylor chose backup Samaje Perine to be on the field in that final minute, a decision he said he simply has to live with.
"Whether Joe is in there or not, he's certainly deserving of the opportunity in a key moment in a key game to try to get it for us as our featured back," Taylor said three days after the Bengals' Super Bowl loss. "But again, that's just one of the decisions you make in the moment and you've gotta move forward with it."
On Saturday, Taylor told the media that he and Mixon have discussed how those final minutes played out. They came to a full understanding, and now it's all water under the bridge.
"You absolutely should feel passionate about that situation," Taylor said via ESPN. "He's handled it outstanding. That's much appreciated. He knows that. It's one of the reasons you want to get back to those moments, you know?"
Regret is one of the most unforgiving and unsatisfying emotions to feel, and it's not something that can be washed away by a single conversation. But learning from what happened is essential to moving on from it, and both Mixon and Taylor appear to have done that. The next time a situation like this arises, they'll be ready.
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2022-07-31T18:06:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Zac Taylor, RB Joe Mixon clear the air about end of Bengals' Super Bowl loss
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Through the first week of New Orleans Saints training camp, several important aspect of their 2022 outlook quickly became clear. This is a team that is expecting to compete, they have “Super Bowl aspirations,” as Mark Ingram outlined, and their style of play on offense and defense remains similar to what we’ve seen in recent year. The Saints’ way has not faltered despite massive changes over the last two seasons.
Losing a future hall of fame quarterback and coach in back-to-back years is more than enough to derail an NFL franchise. Many teams go years looking for the next coach of signal caller, entering rebuilds to help generate the resources to undergo the search.
Not New Orleans. General manager Mickey Loomis and the Saints front office out together what was a successful offseason in the face of a major challenge to find their next head coach. After elevating Dennis Allen to the role they’d go on to replace key pieces around their team like OL Terron Armstead and safeties Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins.
With all of the changes in personnel, it’s understandable to ponder how things would change. How the culture and identity of the team would shift with new faces and leaders. The simple answer is: it didn’t.
The New Orleans Saints are a team that is defined by its culture. By its connection from player to player, coach to coach, and organization to community. Several players have commented on the unique relationship between the team and city, Allen has commented on what it means to be the head coach in this town, and Saints fans made their presence felt at the fist open day of practice to cap off the week.
There may be a lot of changes in 2022, new players, new coaches, new roles. But what will not be sacrificed is the culture. The Saints have built their identity off of it and through the first week of camp, it’s clear that won’t be changing any time soon.
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2022-07-31T18:07:00Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Saints prove culture and identity remain fully intact through Week 1 of camp
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https://sports.yahoo.com/saints-prove-culture-identity-remain-173813458.html?src=rss
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The Cleveland Browns have made some wholesale changes to their team over the last few years under GM Andrew Berry. In his first offseason, the offense got a lot of attention with the other side being the focus in 2021. This offseason has been a little more balanced.
Two former Browns defenders showed up on the NFL’s personnel log after taking visits.
Last year’s rotational defensive end Takk McKinley visited the Dallas Cowboys. Coming off of a late-season Achilles injury, it is unknown when McKinley may be able to work out for teams. Earlier this offseason, it was reported a return to Cleveland was possible.
Given his rehab process, it is no surprise that the Cowboys didn’t sign the former first-round pick after his visit and now he’ll head to Arizona:
Former Browns linebacker Joe Schobert took a visit to the Denver Broncos and tried out for the team. After four years with the team that drafted him, Berry allowed Schobert to move on in free agency in 2020. He signed a five-year, $53.75 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He lasted on year in Jacksonville before being traded to Pittsburgh for a sixth-round pick. The Jaguars picked up a big chunk of Schobert’s contract to get the deal done.
In 2021, he played in 84% of the Steelers defensive snaps compiling 112 tackles but only two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one quarterback hit.
Given Cleveland’s drafting of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, bringing back Anthony Walker Jr. and high hopes for Jacob Phillips, a return doesn’t seem likely for the former fourth-round pick.
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2022-07-31T18:07:12Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Two former Browns defenders take visits with Denver, Dallas
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It has been a successful weekend for Florida football’s recruiting efforts with both the Friday Night Lights plus the team cookout events drawing some of the top recruits from around the country. The Gators roped in some big names over the past couple of days and have also made waves in other parts of the prospect pool as evidenced by the decision of one blue-chip recruit who decommitted from his previous school after a visit to Gainesville.
Four-star cornerback Dijon Johnson, who hails from Tampa (Florida) Wharton, made the trek up I-75 to visit the Swamp on Friday, and by the end of Saturday, announced that he was stepping away from his verbal commitment with the Ohio State Buckeyes, which he granted back in April. The 6-foot-1-inch, 190-pound defensive back offered the following to Buckeyes fans.
First and foremost I would like to thank the man above for putting me in the position that I’m in today, without him there isn’t a Dijon Johnson.
Secondly, I want to thank everyone at The Ohio State University for their time and effort of recruiting me. I am thankful for the relationships that I’ve built over the past year especially with Coach Alford, Coach Walton and the players.
Lastly after long talks with my family I’ve decided that it’s best for me to decommit from The Ohio State University and I will be re-opening my recruitment. I look forward to the journey of finding my new home!
Of course, it is only conjectured at this point that Billy Napier and his staff flipped the table on OSU in light of the momentum the program gained over the past few days. However, it does appear that he is leaning strongly toward the Orange and Blue in the eyes of the evaluators.
Johnson, also known as “Mustard”, is ranked No. 93 overall and No. 10 in his class nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 98 and 9, respectively. 247Sports currently gives the Gators six crystal ball predictions for the in-state recruit — including a recent flip — while the Buckeyes remain with two. Meanwhile, On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has Florida far in front for the rising senior with a 92.8% chance of landing him.
Auburn could soon have an edge rusher join the 2023 class.
Families starting lining up outside the Springfield Expo Center one hour before the event started Saturday.
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2022-07-31T18:58:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Fresh off Florida visit CB recruit backs down from Ohio State commitment
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The 39-year-old Dutchwoman entered the eighth and final stage of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes with a 3 minute, 14 second lead, but her victory appeared in jeopardy early on Sunday due to mechanical issues that resulted in three bike changes.
On Sunday, van Vleuten attacked with six kilometers remaining and went on to win both the stage — a 123-kilometer mountainous climb from Lure to La Planche des Belles Filles — and the 2022 Tour de France Femmes title.
Total Time / Time Behind
+ 13′ 54″
82 km (51 mi) — Flat stage
135 km (84 mi) — Hilly stage
133 km (83 mi) –Medium-mountain stage
175 km (109 mi) –Hilly stage
128 km (80 mi) –Flat stage
Julia Borgstrom
127 km (79 mi) –Mountain stage
123 km (76 mi) — Mountain stage
2022 Women’s Tour de France: Results, highlights, event history, stage... Tour de France: Annemiek van Vleuten takes yellow jersey with dominant solo... Video: After massive crash, Wiebes claims second stage win of 2022 Women’s...
2022 Women’s Tour de France: Annemiek van Vleuten wins race revival after brutal week originally appeared on NBCSports.com
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2022-07-31T19:07:07Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 Women’s Tour de France: Annemiek van Vleuten wins race revival after brutal week
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-women-tour-france-annemiek-175152230.html?src=rss
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Bill Russell, a Boston Celtics legend who won 11 championships over his career and served as the first Black head coach of any U.S. professional sports team, died Sunday. He was 88 years old. Russell’s death was confirmed through his official social media accounts, sharing that the NBA legend died peacefully with his wife, Jeannine, […]
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2022-07-31T19:18:02Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Basketball world reacts to the death of Celtics great, NBA pioneer Bill Russell
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The 49ers recognized they needed to improve the secondary this offseason and did so with a big-ticket move that flew somewhat under the radar.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward arrived on the second-largest cornerback deal of free agency. His three-year, $40.5 million deal was topped only by J.C. Jackson – who penned a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Chargers – but generated comparatively little buzz.
That is not much of a surprise given the disparity in the numbers, but there is statistical evidence to suggest that in inking Ward to a contract worth $13.5 million per year – tied for the 13th-highest average at his position per Over The Cap – the Niners may have pulled off one of the most astute signings of the offseason.
Ward allowed a completion percentage of 51.3 in his final season with the Chiefs, the eighth best among corners with at least 50 targets according to Pro Football Reference. While it is very early days in his 49ers career, Ward’s performances in the first practices of training camp have lent credence to the hope he could be the final piece of the puzzle for an often maligned but talented secondary.
He has already received widespread praise for his coverage across the first two practice days and, speaking on Thursday, defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans hailed the impact Ward has had while still in the infancy of his 49er career.
“He’s come in and done exactly everything we’ve asked him to do,” Ryans said about the new CB. “He’s competitive, he competes every day. He’s always challenging the guys across from him, challenging the guys in the room. So, it has raised our competition level in the DB room and I’m happy to have that. The more competition, I think the better all those guys get, so that’s what Charvarius has done. He’s raised the level of competition in there and guys know they have to step up, rise to his level.”
A factor behind Ward’s signing was his strength in one-on-one coverage, which should allow the Niners to be more aggressive on defense and utilize more man coverage.
Aggression has long since been a part of Ward’s game, which has seen him play a lot of physical press coverage. Asked what makes Ward such an impressive press corner, Ryans had an extensive list.
“I think first off, it’s just his mindset,” Ryans said. “You want to talk about press corners. It’s just the mindset to be able to get up there and press some of the top guys in the NFL, he’s done it at a high level and he’s not afraid. He’s confident, he has the skill set, he has the athletic ability, he has the speed, the foot quickness to keep up with guys, so that’s what makes him a good corner. First and foremost, is the mindset and the confidence you have to have when you’re on the island. He has all the confidence he needs to go out and be a dominant corner.”
Ward has already flashed dominance in training camp after developing into an extremely stingy corner with the Chiefs. Playing behind the Niners’ loaded defensive front, Ward has the chance to reach new heights as part of a secondary Richard Sherman believes could be mentioned among the league’s best come the end of the year.
Elite defensive play is difficult to maintain year over year. However, if he allows a San Francisco secondary that thrived down the stretch and in the playoffs last season through their precision and discipline in zone coverage to excel to similar levels in man coverage, Ward’s signing could be one that helps Ryans’ defense become the most complete in the NFL.
Trey Lance meets Kyle Shanahan's approval during 49ers training camp
The 49ers had their fourth day of practice at training camp. After a day off, they will return to work in pads Monday.
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2022-07-31T19:41:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Charvarius Ward can be final piece of 49ers’ secondary puzzle
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https://sports.yahoo.com/charvarius-ward-final-piece-49ers-190447676.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/charvarius-ward-final-piece-49ers-190447676.html?src=rss
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The return of the NFL is almost here, and the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders will be kicking the season off for the league on Thursday. While that’s only four days away, Jags coach Doug Pederson says he hasn’t set any parameters yet in terms of playing time, though he wants to be fair to the young players and give them a spotlight.
“It’s going to be exciting just to get the team on the field against another opponent obviously,” Pederson said Sunday. “And then for the first time for all of us with the coaches and new players and really the whole team. So we’re looking forward to that.
“I haven’t set any parameters yet on how much playing time people are going to get. [I want to try] to be as fair [as possible], especially for the young guys. [I want to] try to get as many of the young guys in the game as I can, but I’ll make those determinations [later]. We still got a couple days here left to practice.”
Pederson has done a good job of taking it slow with the injured players and withholding them from practice as camp is in the early stages. That means there is plenty of time for the players who missed time during the first week to heal, as Thursday’s game will be one of four preseason games for Jacksonville.
Pederson’s understanding of not risking injury in the early part of the offseason could mean he will play it safe with his healthy starters, too. That could lead to a Thursday night game where very few starters take the field, but ultimately time will tell.
Participating in the Hall of Fame Game will give the Jags an extra game before the first wave of roster cuts are due by Aug. 16. On that date, they will have to trim the roster by five players. That said, this could be a huge opportunity for some bubble players looking to make a name for themselves.
It’s also unclear if the Raiders will play any of their starters, as well. When asked about his philosophy on playing starters in the preseason, their coach, Josh McDaniels, said his staff would be looking to make the decisions that “are best for the team.” That said, it sounds like we’ll have to wait for a clearer answer on their end, too, which may come in the next two days or so.
The two third-round pass rusher for the Cardinals are expected to have a role on defense this coming season.
With a new coach in Denver, Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy needs to learn the new offense. He’s putting in extra time in order to make the transition. “It’s a lot of new formations, new plays, new schemes and little details you have to make sure you stay in-tune with,” Jeudy told reporters on Friday. “That’s [more]
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2022-07-31T19:42:01Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Doug Pederson says snap parameters haven’t been set for Hall of Fame Game
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https://sports.yahoo.com/doug-pederson-says-snap-parameters-180938722.html?src=rss
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