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The Raiders were in pads again on Monday as they prep for their preseason contest against the Jaguars is underway. The team will leave soon for Canton as they play in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday.
One player that will not participate in that game is All-Pro defensive end Chandler Jones. Veterans like him usually sit out this first preseason game, so that’s not concerning.
But what is a tad concerning is that Jones has not practiced for the last four days. It’s unclear whether it is injury-related or not, but Jones hasn’t been on the practice field in nearly a week. That news coming from Tashan Reed of The Athletic.
I also don't see #Raiders DE Chandler Jones, who's missed 4 practices now.
With Jones entering his age 32 season, there is no reason to overwork him in July and August. He’s one of the most proven players on the roster and he doesn’t need the training camp snaps. While we don’t know for sure, the Raiders are likely holding him out due to some kind of injury.
The severity of the injury is unknown at this time, but look for the Raiders to continue to exercise an abundance of caution for their new star pass rusher. We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain set out Monday from the port of Odesa under an internationally brokered deal to unblock the embattled country's agricultural exports and ease the growing global food crisis. The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni sounded its horn as it slowly departed with over 26,000 tons of corn destined for Lebanon. “The first grain ship since Russian aggression has left port,” Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov declared on Twitter. | 2022-08-01T18:39:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raiders DE Chandler Jones has missed four practices in a row | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-chandler-jones-missed-four-180229777.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-chandler-jones-missed-four-180229777.html?src=rss |
The past few days have seen the Raiders lose two key newcomers at linebacker. First it was Kyler Fackrell who was expected to contribute some edge rush from the outside linebacker spot and recently it was Micah Kiser who left practice on a cart.
After the Fackrell injury, the team hosted a couple of linebacker for workouts. One of those linebackers was Curtis Bolton.
If the Fackrell injury wasn’t to enough for them to have them sign one of those linebackers, then the Kiser injury certainly was.
In a matter of hours, Bolton was signed and this morning took the field with the team.
Bolton went undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2019, originally signing with the Green Bay Packers.
Injuries had him miss his rookie season and cut heading into his second season. From there he spent time on the practice squad for the Texans, Colts, 49ers, and Lions before seeing his first action for the Lions over the final five games of last season. He played primarily on special teams.
The Murrieta California native tweeted out yesterday that he had just signed with his childhood team for which his father was a diehard fan. | 2022-08-01T18:39:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Recent key injuries at linebacker leads to Raiders signing LB Curtis Bolton | https://sports.yahoo.com/recent-key-injuries-linebacker-leads-171717059.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/recent-key-injuries-linebacker-leads-171717059.html?src=rss |
One guy who is ready to put the pads on and start hitting at training camp is Pittsburgh Steelers guard Kendrick Green. Green compared the first day of pads to Christmas and said the team is excited for the first practice on Monday.
Green should also be excited as he has made the move to guard and is in a position battle with Kevin Dotson for the starting job. Green struggled as the team’s starting center as a rookie in 2021 but looks much more natural moving back to his college position of guard.
Pittsburgh .kicks off its preseason schedule in less than two weeks against the Seattle Seahawks on August 13.
'The first day is exciting. We’re excited. First day of pads is like Christmas.' – @The_fridge53 on the @steelers putting the pads on for the first time today.
Nichelle Nichols, best known for her role as communications officer Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series, died Saturday night in Silver City, New Mexico. She was 89. The trailblazing actresses' death was confirmed by Gilbert Bell, her talent manager and business partner ... | 2022-08-01T18:39:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers G Kendrick Green on 1st day of padded practice: ‘First day of pads is like Christmas’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-g-kendrick-green-1st-171811342.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-g-kendrick-green-1st-171811342.html?src=rss |
Steelers sign Javon McKinley, waive Tyree Johnson originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
The Security Service of Ukraine has intercepted documents regulating Russia's plans for a pseudo-referendum, with which it intends to legitimize the occupation of the part of Kherson Oblast currently under its control, the agency reported on Twitter on Aug. 1. | 2022-08-01T18:40:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers sign Javon McKinley, waive Tyree Johnson | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-sign-javon-mckinley-waive-172646674.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-sign-javon-mckinley-waive-172646674.html?src=rss |
On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced a pair of roster moves to their 90-man training camp roster. The team has signed free-agent wide receiver Javon McKinley and released defensive end Tyree Johnson to make room on the roster.
McKinley came into the league as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame and was signed by the Detroit Lions. The addition of McKinley gives the Steelers a full wide receiver depth chart heading into preparation for the team’s first preseason game assuming no contract comes for Diontae Johnson and he continues his hold-in with the team. | 2022-08-01T18:40:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers sign WR Javon McKinley, waive DE Tyree Johnson | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-sign-wr-javon-mckinley-174559529.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-sign-wr-javon-mckinley-174559529.html?src=rss |
While it might have shocked many to hear LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan say she’d talk to LIV Golf, Annika Sorenstam thought it was the right call. As did Juli Inkster.
These LPGA legends understand one crucial point: If Greg Norman and LIV Golf aim to create a rival tour that’s anything like what they’ve done in the men’s game, it would wreck the LPGA, the longest continuous-running professional women’s sports organization in the United States.
“I think if Norman does do this,” said Inkster, “it’s going to totally ruin the LPGA, because I think most of the girls would go, just because the money is a game-changer.”
As the best in the women’s game gather at historic Muirfield for the first time this week, they’ll compete for a purse of $6.8 million. This season, the LPGA will play for a total of $97 million, roughly one-fifth the amount of money as the PGA Tour. Last week, LIV Golf announced its players will compete for $405 million in 2023 across 14 events.
With a schedule made entirely of limited-field, no-cut tournaments, even a fraction of that would be enough to lure plenty of big-name LPGA players to a LIV women’s league. Not to mention the prospect of signing bonuses.
“I hope we survive it,” said former No. 1 Stacy Lewis. “I’m scared for this tour. I’m scared to lose all the opportunities that we’ve created.”
Greg Norman, CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, looks on from the first tee during the final round of the LIV Golf tournament at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. (Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports)
Sorenstam believes it’s the job of the commissioner to listen to potential opportunities, and that includes LIV. Because the LPGA is part of a 50-50 joint business venture with the Ladies European Tour, there already exists a partnership with the Saudi-backed Aramco Series, which feature prize money that’s three to four times a typical event on that tour, totaling $6 million.
Sorenstam, a 10-time major winner who won 72 times on the LPGA, looks at the rival league that has formed in the men’s game and sees the need for a more LPGA-fitted version.
“If it’s the money that they have on the LIV, you know they’re going to crush the LPGA,” said Sorenstam. “Hopefully they have the intention of growing the game and working together with the LPGA.
“To crush the LPGA doesn’t do anybody good, history-wise, future-wise, sustainability-wise. There’s so much negativity around this. I think that we need to somehow find a way to get a positive image with all this, if you know what I mean.”
It’s not a stretch to imagine that LPGA being forced to make a decision between going into business with the Saudis in a big way – or complete destruction.
While there have been calls to conduct talks with LIV officials, it’s not clear exactly what the talking points might be – there are many ways this all could shake out. An independent rival tour that poached dozens of top players would cripple the LPGA. Instead, a series of Saudi-backed official LPGA events is one possible way the two could work together, much like the Aramco Team Series on the LET. It’s impossible to know what LIV wants, of course, without having a conversation.
“I think you have a handful that feel the same way as me,” said Lewis. “I think you have a majority that would ask, ‘What’s the number?’
“Should we talk to them? Absolutely. Ultimately, I think we have to find a way to co-exist.”
How can a women’s organization reconcile doing business with a regime that has such a horrendous record of human rights abuses, especially toward women?
“I think that’s maybe one of the reasons we should partner,” said Sorenstam, “to be able to make a difference.”
Marcoux Samaan told Golfweek last week that she has not yet had a conversation with LIV, and that it’s too early to speculate on potential outcomes or options.
“We’ve been breaking down barriers for a long time,” Marcoux Samaan said. “I think we always fall back on our values and our goals before making any decision.”
Phachara Khongwatmai putts on the 18th green during the opening round of the LIV Golf Invitational at The Centurion Club near London in June. (Chris Trotman/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
Nancy Lopez has always worried about the LPGA. As a rookie in 1978, she was convinced the LPGA would close the pay gap. She’s still baffled by the fact that such a large chasm continues to exist between the tours and is even more confused by what could be on the horizon.
“I’m such a loyal person,” said Lopez when asked what she might have done in her prime if faced the with possibility of piles of cash.
“I would be hard to say ‘No, I wouldn’t want the money,’ but God it would be really hard to leave the LPGA. It would just eat me up.”
“The money I made was good,” said Lopez, “but it wasn’t going to keep me until I got to 93 and needed to pay somebody to take care of me someday.”
While the PGA Tour has the best retirement plan in sports, the LPGA’s pension guarantees that most will need a second career.
Jessica Korda, Alexandra O'Laughlin, Karolin Lampert & Lina Boqvist
Jessica Korda, Alexandra O’Laughlin, Karolin Lampert and Lina Boqvist, winners of the Aramco Team Series (Photo submitted by the Aramco Team Series)
Saudi activist Omaima Al Najjar said there’s no denying the fact that conditions have improved for women in recent years, though she maintains that the right to drive and the right to travel are basic fundamental rights and not a sign of substantial progress.
“It’s important to remind the women who are participating in this tour,” said Al Najjar, “that the Saudi women activists who made those changes happen are still on trial, being prosecuted, banned from activism and banned from traveling.”
Al Najjar, now a surgical doctor living in Ireland, was a prominent blogger who took part in the right to drive campaign in Saudi and fled when she felt the risks were too great. It’s still too dangerous for her to return now.
Al Najjar wants players to speak out not only about the activists, but the conditions of many migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. Women come from developing countries to work in the kingdom as maids and often have their passports confiscated as they are made to work seven days a week with no set schedule, “which is a sort of slavery,” Al Najjar said.
“There’s an issue of killing women in Saudi,” said Al Najjar, “and a lot of husbands kill their wives or a lot of fathers kill their daughters and the Saudi authorities do not do much about it.”
“It’s important that they make such a statement,” she said, “and stand with Saudi women.”
2022 Aramco Saudi Ladies International
Georgia Hall poses with the trophy after winning the 2022 Aramco Saudi Ladies International at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Ladies European Tour)
Few have chronicled the LPGA as diligently and passionately as Ron Sirak, the 2015 recipient of the PGA Lifetime Award in Journalism. For those who question how LIV Golf is any different than the LET’s Aramco Series or players sporting the logos of Golf Saudi on their hats and shirts, Sirak said it’s important to recognize the difference between sponsoring a tournament and owning a tour. Much like there’s a difference in sponsoring a player and owning a player.
“I think that’s a difficult situation for the LPGA to figure out what their relationship would be with the people who want to bankroll them,” said Sirak. “Would they be being supported by the tour and the LPGA still be an autonomous entity? Or would they be owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia?”
Given the Saudis’ seemingly endless supply of money and little regard for market value – this seems to be more about power and image – the LPGA is in no position to throw money at a potential threat, and therefore has little leverage.
LPGA veteran Ryann O’Toole believes the PGA Tour made a mistake in not engaging with LIV Golf. If what Norman says is true, and LIV plans to build a women’s league, O’Toole would like to see the LPGA work with them so that players don’t have to choose.
“I think that it would be a great opportunity to utilize, like, the possibility that there could be some major financial opportunities,” said O’Toole, “and that we come together as two organizations, versus having two separate organizations.”
Whatever happens, it’s important that Marcoux Samaan maintains a model that’s sustainable, even if the Saudis decide to suddenly pull out of the golf business. One that, even if the LPGA took a financial hit, it would still survive.
Imagine if the Saudis – a country that’s widely reported to have a gender pay gap of 49 percent – became the first to pay elite male and female professional golfers equally. Or even came close.
“Financially, it is life-changing money,” said Maria Fassi, whose agency, GSE, has a number of LIV clients including Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Paula Casey, Jason Kokrak, Brendan Grace, Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz.
“Whatever they come and offer me, $10 million, $20 million, 15, 7, whatever it is, it is money 99 percent of the girls out here aren’t seeing.” | 2022-08-01T19:40:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | ‘I hope we survive it’: LPGA players past and present explain importance of talks with LIV Golf | https://sports.yahoo.com/hope-survive-lpga-players-past-160018324.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/hope-survive-lpga-players-past-160018324.html?src=rss |
Mike James on his relationship with KD #mikejames #kevindurant #nba #basketball #fyp
Bill Russell, left, celebrates with Celtics coach Red Auerbach after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers to win their eighth-straight NBA Championship, in Boston, April 29, 1966. AP Photo/FileOn May 1, 1968, Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to another NBA championship, triumphing over the rival Los Angeles Lakers. But this time Russell was not just the star center, the defensive stalwart, the linchpin of pro basketball’s most extraordinary dynasty. He was also the coach. During the locker room c
The 2022 offseason came to a screeching halt after the first several days. Yes, there were some fireworks early on with some of the trades, and there should be some more if Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving are moved. But in the free ... | 2022-08-01T19:40:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mike James: Kevin Durant knew Nets would lose before the playoffs | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-james-kevin-durant-knew-184243170.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-james-kevin-durant-knew-184243170.html?src=rss |
No position battles are being won in training camp just yet, not with only a week of practices in the books. But a handful of players certainly have stood out for the Rams in the early goings.
Two rookie cornerbacks and two offensive linemen are among them, as well as a pair of receivers – one young and one in his first season with the Rams. Looking back on the first week of camp, here are six standouts from the action so far.
Durant has been one of the biggest stars of camp so far, highlighted by his two interceptions during Friday’s practice. One came against Matthew Stafford and the first-team offense, undercutting a route by Cooper Kupp to pick off the Rams’ starting quarterback.
I believe this is that play, not too sure but I believe that's him with the pick. pic.twitter.com/HD9J83xidx
— OBI-WAN JABRONI🐕 (@RAMIREZ1004) July 29, 2022
Durant has received high praise from Sean McVay, Jalen Ramsey and Jordan Fuller, among many others. It’s a clear sign of the job he’s done in camp so far, standing out in a crowded group of cornerbacks with the Rams searching for a reliable and consistent No. 3 option to start alongside Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill.
Kendrick has been right there with Durant as a training camp standout, too. He actually flashed just before Durant. On Wednesday, Kendrick matched up with Allen Robinson and more than held his own. He broke up not one end zone pass, but two of them – both intended for Robinson.
Kendrick isn’t the biggest cornerback either, so it’s impressive that he was able to win against a receiver as physical as Robinson. Kendrick has also been complimented several times by the likes of McVay and Ramsey, impressing those in attendance at UC Irvine.
It’s not really a question of whether Robinson will bounce back from a shockingly poor 2021 season with the Bears. It’s more about whether he’ll approach career-best numbers in his first season with the Rams.
So far, he’s off to a great start. Robinson has been everything the Rams expected, and then some. The team loves his route-running ability, as well as his versatility, being able to line up at any of the receiver spots.
Stafford talked about how he helps the Rams in the red zone, too, which he showed in practice over the weekend by making a great diving catch in the back of the end zone.
Allen Robinson TD today from LosAngelesRams
Harris wasn’t able to contribute much as a rookie because not only was he a raw prospect who needed developing, but he also suffered a torn ACL in November on a special teams play, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. But more will be expected of him this year, especially with Van Jefferson’s knee issue and the uncertain future of Odell Beckham Jr.
Now that he’s transitioned fully to playing wide receiver, he should have more comfort in Year 2, as well. He’ll be asked to do what he does best, and that’s using his big, athletic frame to catch the ball, not block as a tight end.
So far, he’s doing a nice job of that in training camp.
Shelton is one of the winners of camp so far because it seems he and Logan Bruss are the primary candidates who could replace Austin Corbett at right guard. Shelton has been moved around a little bit on the offensive line, but right guard is clearly his best shot at starting since the other four spots are all but locked up.
Shelton has impressed McVay early on in camp, and though the coach said the Rams have a long way to go before deciding on a starting right guard, he’s squarely in the mix to replace Corbett.
In the same way that Shelton has done a nice job in camp., so too has the rookie Bruss. Bruss is even getting some one-on-one time with Andrew Whitworth, who has attended a couple of practices, and Whitworth has had some great things to say about the rookie in their brief time together thus far.
Bruss is transitioning from right tackle to guard but that’s a switch he’s made look easy. As camp continues, he should only get better, too.
Tampa Bay Rays showed interest in Tommy Pham before David Peralta trade, per report
Tommy Pham is hitting .240 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs in 383 plate appearances in his first season with the Cincinnati Reds.
FSU took to the field for the fifth time this fall Monday morning. The team spent half the practice outside under very sunny and hot conditions while the other half of practice took place in the Indoor Practice Facility. Head coach Mike Norvell said afterwards that he was pleased with the intensity level of Monday's two-hour workout, the team's third practice this fall in shells. | 2022-08-01T20:03:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | 6 standouts from Rams’ first week of training camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/6-standouts-rams-first-week-183733106.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/6-standouts-rams-first-week-183733106.html?src=rss |
While the Miami Dolphins kept defensive coordinator Josh Boyer in his role after Brian Flores’ firing this offseason, they made some other changes to the coaching staff, including hiring former Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain to be a defensive assistant.
Surtain spent seven seasons in Miami, making three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams before he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 2005 season.
When his playing career ended in 2008, he took some time off, but eventually found his way back into football, coaching American Heritage High School which is less than 20 miles from Hard Rock Stadium.
Now, working in the NFL, Surtain is learning in his first training camp just as his players are. He spoke to the media about his approach to his new job.
“I’m learning myself,” Surtain said. “I had to come in in a different role from being a head coach to now be an assistant, and I just want to help any way I can. I had to learn the defense because it’s a different defense, so I’m in learning mode, but at the same time, I just want to give these guys tidbits and lessons that I’ve learned throughout my years to pass them on to possibly help them with their games. I’m just moving around, trying to help any place I can.”
Luckily for Surtain, he has experienced veterans like Xavien Howard and Jerome Baker to tell him to get adjusted to the Dolphins’ defense. He can lean on them and also recall some of his own experiences because, while the game is not the same as it was when he played roughly 15 years ago, there are still aspects of his game that made him great that can be shared.
Having experienced guys like Surtain and cornerbacks coach/pass-game specialist Sam Madison can only help this defense that was already on a great path to end the season in 2021.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) It is now an annual question at Miami, the official precursor to the start of a new football season for a program that was once a perennial national championship contender and hasn't been at that level for two decades and counting. New Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal has an answer: ''The U is back to work,'' the Miami alumnus said. Expectations from an impatient fan base are always high at Miami, are higher now because of Cristobal's presence and probably rose even more when the Hurricanes were installed last week as the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division preseason favorite. | 2022-08-01T20:03:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dolphins assistant coach Patrick Surtain is in learning mode | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-assistant-coach-patrick-surtain-183010026.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-assistant-coach-patrick-surtain-183010026.html?src=rss |
The New York Giants were counting on fourth-round rookie Dane Belton to contribute in their safety rotation this year, but for now, that plan is on hold.
On Monday, Belton was seen on the sidelines with his arm in a sling. He has a fractured collarbone that will require surgery and keep him on the shelf indefinitely. There is speculation that he could be ready for the start of the regular season, but that seems unlikely.
Belton was the 114th overall selection in this year’s NFL draft out of Iowa and was being counted on to fill a need at safety alongside Xavier McKinney and Julian Love. The Giants will now have to find depth elsewhere until Belton can return.
Belton was chosen by the Giants due to his versatility as a safety/linebacker hybrid who fits in well with the new scheme being implemented by defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
Diego Luna stars in Disney+’s official trailer for Andor – and this time we actually get to see quite a bit of him. Unlike the streamer’s previous teaser trailer, Luna’s underdog rebel fighter Cassian Andor gets plenty of screen time in this new look (below) at the action-filled Star Wars series. Luna leads a cast that […] | 2022-08-01T20:04:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants rookie Dane Belton has broken collarbone | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-rookie-dane-belton-broken-182723000.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-rookie-dane-belton-broken-182723000.html?src=rss |
A smile has replaced the scowl on Bradley Chubb's face, and that cheer has spread through the Denver Broncos' defense and front office. The team's star-crossed pass rusher is coming off his first fully healthy offseason since his rookie year — when he had a career-best 12 sacks — as he attempts to revive a career that features more missed games (25) than sacks (20½). Chubb is entering the final year of his contract but said his focus on his physical and mental well-being. | 2022-08-01T20:04:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | Initial suspension of Browns QB Deshaun Watson makes him eligible to play Ravens in first game back | https://sports.yahoo.com/initial-suspension-browns-qb-deshaun-185514372.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/initial-suspension-browns-qb-deshaun-185514372.html?src=rss |
There’s so much excitement about some of the Rams’ newcomers this season, from Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner to Decobie Durant and Derion Kendrick. While Joe Noteboom isn’t technically a new addition, he is entering his first season as a full-time starter at left tackle.
Since 2017, that’s been Andrew Whitworth’s spot. But it’s Noteboom’s job now, and he has some big shoes to fill. Matthew Stafford isn’t the least bit worried about the switch and actually expects big things from the former third-round pick.
“I know Joe Noteboom is going to come in and play great at a high level,” Stafford said. “He’s ultra-talented. You watch him on tape and it’s pretty impressive. He makes it look really easy.”
This is Noteboom’s first summer focusing solely on left tackle, which is different than past years when he was cross-training at both tackle and guard. That, in Stafford’s mind, should help him improve even more, knowing he doesn’t have to work at a separate position, too.
“He’s looked great in camp,” Stafford added. “I think it’s just one of those deals where he’s gonna settle into his role. We’ve moved him around. I was only here for a year but every time I flip on an old game, he’s at a different spot. He’s kind of got his spot and go out there and work on that craft every single day. Have that love, that dedication for playing in that spot and I think the sky’s the limit for him.”
Noteboom has done a really nice job every time Whitworth has been unavailable, earning a 76.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last season. He only allowed one sack in 174 snaps played, looking much more comfortable at left tackle than he did previously at guard.
He may be likely to make the Pro Bowl this year since it’s more or less a popularity contest, but Noteboom should emerge as an above-average left tackle in 2022. | 2022-08-01T20:04:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Matthew Stafford expects big things from ‘ultra-talented’ Joe Noteboom at LT | https://sports.yahoo.com/matthew-stafford-expects-big-things-193929878.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/matthew-stafford-expects-big-things-193929878.html?src=rss |
Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield will probably be asked questions about the Cleveland Browns, his former team, for at least a year or two. So it was no surprise on Monday when he was asked a question connected to the suspension of Browns QB Deshaun Watson.
Watson was suspended six games on Monday for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after over 20 women accused him of sexual misconduct and assault while they were giving him sports massages. Judge Sue Robinson issued the ruling in a 16-page decision, which has yet to be released in full to the public.
The Browns and Panthers are scheduled to face off in Week 1. With Watson suspended for at least six games (the NFL has three days to decide if it wants to appeal), backup QB Jacoby Brissett will likely start that game for the Browns.
During his media availability on Monday afternoon, Mayfield was asked to share his thoughts on facing his former team with Brissett starting instead of Watson.
"Honestly, it's none of my business," Mayfield said. "I don't play against the other quarterback. I know that's the most cliched thing to say, but that's just the truth. When it comes down to it, I'm game planning against their defense, and if I'm playing or not I'm trying to help this team win. That's my mindset going into it, so I've gotta keep getting better. But I'm not focused about Week 1 right now... we'll handle that when it comes, but for now it's about getting the Panthers better, and our offense continuing to get better as well."
As Mayfield said, it's cliche to say he's doesn't play the other team's offense, but it's the truth. The opposing quarterback doesn't matter much to the starting QB, so his answer to that question would probably be the same regardless of who is scheduled to start Week 1 for the Browns. Mayfield plays the opposing team's defense, so he and the opposing QB don't share the field for even a single snap. Right now, Mayfield is focused on winning the quarterback competition so he can be the starter no matter who the Panthers will be facing.
Panthers QB Baker Mayfield said it doesn't matter to him who starts for the Browns, his former team, in Week 1. It will almost certainly be Jacoby Brissett, since new Browns QB Deshaun Watson has been suspended six games. (Griffin Zetterberg-USA TODAY Sports) | 2022-08-01T20:05:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | QB Baker Mayfield on facing Browns' backup instead of Deshaun Watson in Week 1: 'I don't play against the other quarterback' | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-panthers-baker-mayfield-browns-backup-deshaun-watson-in-week-1-192327480.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-panthers-baker-mayfield-browns-backup-deshaun-watson-in-week-1-192327480.html?src=rss |
Green Bay Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell doesn’t like the reasoning behind the usage of “Guardian Caps,” a new protective measure worn on the helmet to help reduce the severity of impacts between players during NFL practices.
The Packers have been wearing the covers on helmets of all line of scrimmage players – offensive line, defensive line, linebackers and tight ends – throughout training camp, as mandated by the NFL in March of this year.
“Not a big fan of them,” Campbell said. “I really don’t have any control over them, so I kind of have to do what they say.”
Campbell, a 2021 All-Pro, questioned wearing a protective device that won’t be worn during actual games.
“I just think it’s stupid, to be honest,” Campbell said. “You say you’re doing it to protect us, but the minute we take them off, we’re going to be so used to hitting with them, that when you hit without it, it’s going to feel a lot different. That’s just my two cents on it.”
NFL statistics revealed a high number of concussions sustained early on in training camp. The covering is designed to reduce impact and lessen the frequency of concussions during these early weeks of camp.
Coach Matt LaFleur is fully supportive of the intent of the Guardian Caps – to help preserve the long-term brain health of players – but had similar concerns about the ripple effects of wearing the devices during camp. More specifically, he doesn’t want a false sense of security to weaken a player’s tackling technique and create more head injuries during games.
“The thing I somewhat worry about is when you do have that cushion on your helmet, and we’re making a huge emphasis with our coaches about this, I don’t want the guys to feel the confidence that they can now use their head,” LaFleur said. “So, that’s one of the things that’s not so great about it is you can get a false confidence and now your technique suffers, and I definitely don’t want to see us go that way.”
After the second week of the preseason, teams no longer have to wear the coverings on helmets.
Campbell led the Packers in tackles last season. He signed a $50 million deal to return to Green Bay.
Why is the song ‘Carrying Your Love’ trending on TikTok?
This hilarious trend on TikTok is all about showing your loved ones some appreciation. | 2022-08-01T20:05:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Packers LB De’Vondre Campbell on wearing Guardian Caps: ‘I just think it’s stupid’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-lb-vondre-campbell-wearing-194321722.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-lb-vondre-campbell-wearing-194321722.html?src=rss |
Much as we all might like to pretend that the pandemic is over, the numbers say otherwise. While the Seattle Seahawks have been diligent and relatively fortunate in this department, no NFL team has escaped being affected by COVID-19 over the last couple of years.
Today, the team announced that head coach Pete Carroll has tested positive and is currently working from home. He will remain in contact with assistant coaches and participate virtually in team meetings. The team’s statement says that Carroll is vaccinated and only experiencing mild symptoms.
It will be interesting to see who takes the lead at practice in Carroll’s absense. Associate head coach Sean Desai and defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt are next up in the line of succession, so to speak. | 2022-08-01T20:05:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Pete Carroll tests positive for COVID-19, working from home | https://sports.yahoo.com/pete-carroll-tests-positive-covid-195011367.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/pete-carroll-tests-positive-covid-195011367.html?src=rss |
There’s that attitude we’ve been talking about. The top quality associated with Trevor Penning in this year’s NFL draft was his aggression — a nasty streak that saw him sometimes play through the whistle, shoving opponents around to set the tone. And that showed up at New Orleans Saints training camp on Monday when players hit the practice field in pads for the first time.
Penning was matched up with Turner in team drills, and after getting the better of the second-year defensive end on one rep, throwing Turner to the ground and shoving him upfield, the two came to blows. Turner swung first, and Penning responded, though teammates were quick to split them up. It’s a marked contrast with the two brawls that cut short a recent Atlanta Falcons practice (one of which involved former Saints defensive tackle Jalen Dalton).
But this is good to see. It’s Penning’s job to assert himself and enforce his will on the man lining up against him. Just like it’s Turner’s job to stand up for himself and respond in kind. August in New Orleans isn’t a very forgiving climate and emotions run high in full-contact practices like these. So long as things don’t intensify beyond quick scraps like this, both young players can learn from the experience and continue to improve because of it. | 2022-08-01T20:05:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Watch: Payton Turner, Trevor Penning scrap at Saints training camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-payton-turner-trevor-penning-183022553.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-payton-turner-trevor-penning-183022553.html?src=rss |
Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. reported to training camp Monday, the same day pads went on for the Kansas City Chiefs, giving Patrick Mahomes his blindside protector with plenty of time before their preseason opener. Brown and the Chiefs had been working throughout the offseason on a long-term contract, but the sides were unable to come together before the mid-July deadline. Brown ultimately rejected the Chiefs' final offer of six years and nearly $140 million — with $30.25 million due at signing — and decided to play out this season on the franchise tag. | 2022-08-01T20:06:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Where Commanders’ Antonio Gibson ranks among NFL rushing title favorites | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-commanders-antonio-gibson-ranks-190000736.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-commanders-antonio-gibson-ranks-190000736.html?src=rss |
Florida a ‘top-5 school’ for this Louisiana offensive tackle
Three-star De La Salle (New Orleans, Louisiana) offensive tackle Caden Jones was one of the many recruiting targets in Gainesville last week for Friday Night Lights.
It was Jones’ second visit to the Swamp, and he made sure to get there a day early to take part in an unofficial visit before participating in the evening camp. He left town feeling much more comfortable with the staff, according to 247Sports, and he’s starting to feel like a priority target at the position for Florida.
“It was great and I would say it was different than the last time I went. The first time I came to Florida we were all getting to know each other, but this time around I already had a feel for them. I got in late Thursday and spent all day Friday there. I got in earlier and got to tour the new facilities.
Right now, the 6-foot-7inch, 305-pounder has over 25 offers to pick from, but he says the Gators would likely make the cut if he had to eliminate 80% of the schools from the race. Having two offensive line coaches is appealing to Jones, as is the new culture being established in Gainesville.
“They are most definitely a top five school for me,” he said. “They have a lot of energy and I like the atmosphere I see when I am down there. They have great coaches and I like the coaches and how they put some much effort in nutrition and strength and conditioning. I would say Florida, Texas A&M, Houston, Texas, and Florida State.”
The plan is to take official visits over the fall months and to stop by Florida again in December for what should be one of his final trips. An early signing day announcement could be in store.
Jones is the No. 407 overall prospect on the 247Sports composite and the No. 34 offensive tackle in the country. | 2022-08-01T20:20:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Florida a ‘top-5 school’ for this Louisiana offensive tackle | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-top-5-school-louisiana-200556304.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-top-5-school-louisiana-200556304.html?src=rss |
Video: Inside a soccer ball factory in Pakistan
"Given the events that occurred this Sunday during the Third Division football match that was played in the city of Adolfo Gonzales Chaves between Garmense and Independencia, during which a player from Garmense physically attacked the woman who officiated as referee, the Club expresses its energetic repudiation of this action that is at odds with the spirit that is intended to instill with the practice of this sport. The Institution expresses its solidarity with the official who was attacked, expresses its apologies, makes itself available to her and commits to continue working to eradicate violence in all its forms and train athletes with values such as: discipline, camaraderie, commitment and, above all, respect and tolerance. — Board of Directors and Football Sub-Commission." | 2022-08-01T21:11:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | A soccer player was arrested on the field after sucker-punching a woman ref over minor foul call | https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer-player-arrested-field-sucker-145434406.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer-player-arrested-field-sucker-145434406.html?src=rss |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are thrilled to have Tom Brady back for at least one more season, but they’ll be without his right-hand man this time around, as Rob Gronkowski announced his (second) retirement earlier in the offseason.
After Monday’s training camp practice, Brady was asked about his good buddy’s retirement, and he didn’t have much to say in response (via The Athletic’s Greg Auman).
Obviously, everyone at One Buc Place loves Gronk, but they probably don’t love the task of trying to replace the impact of the future first-ballot Hall of Famer. | 2022-08-01T21:12:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tom Brady has short response to question about Rob Gronkowski’s retirement | https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-short-response-rob-162407921.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-short-response-rob-162407921.html?src=rss |
Deebo's lucrative contract details include rushing incentives originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Deebo Samuel and the 49ers agreed to a massive contract extension on Sunday, and now details of the deal have emerged.
San Francisco’s star wide receiver inked his new, three-year contract on Monday before training camp practice and was on the field with his teammates shortly after.
Clearly happy to be back in the building with a new contract, Samuel celebrated by flashing a little bit of cash.
Samuel’s extension includes $41 million fully guaranteed at signing, per Over the Cap, and by April 1, 2023, $58.17 million of the deal will be guaranteed.
In all, it’s a $71.55 million extension with a maximum value of $73.5 million and $23.85 million APY (average per year).
Samuel’s contract includes more fully guaranteed money at signing than Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf’s extension ($30 million) and wideout Davante Adams’ new deal with the Las Vegas Raiders ($22.75 million).
And here's how Samuel’s huge contract extension will impact the 49ers' cap space, with the final void year used as a way to keep his early cap hits low:
There are no stipulations included in the contract regarding how the 49ers can use Samuel on the field, after much speculation this offseason over his usage as a “wide back.”
In fact, the deal also includes annual incentives of $650,000, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday, which Samuel will receive for each year he has 380 or more rushing yards.
RELATED: Shanahan was ready to step in if Deebo talks went on any longer
Samuel can also earn an extra $150,000 if he scores three rushing touchdowns in any one season, per Schefter, and the rushing incentives max out at $1.95 million over the life of his new contract.
For reference, Samuel had 365 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in the 2021 regular season. He added another 137 rushing yards and one more touchdown on the ground in the postseason.
And unless Samuel is cut by the 49ers after the end of the season, the 26-year-old stands to go from making $4.2 million this season under his original rookie contract to the fully-guaranteed $58.17 million.
Fans wanted the 49ers’ front office to pay Samuel, and indeed they did.
Maisie Summers-Newton is back in golden form
Paralympic champion Maisie Summers-Newton added Commonwealth Games gold to her collection with a swim of pure dominance. | 2022-08-01T21:39:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Deebo Samuel contract extension details: What 49ers gave star receiver | https://sports.yahoo.com/deebo-samuel-contract-extension-details-073017638.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/deebo-samuel-contract-extension-details-073017638.html?src=rss |
The Cleveland Browns hope that they have some certainty with QB Deshaun Watson now that Judge Sue Robinson has rendered her decision. The six-game suspension could be appealed by the NFL leading to a stronger punishment.
For now, Watson will miss the first six games of the 2022 season returning to practice with the team in Week 4 of the season. QB Jacoby Brissett will run the show until Watson returns.
While the NFLPA, in conjunction with Watson, released a statement last night that they would not appeal Robinson’s decision, we have not heard from the quarterback in a month and a half. It has been even longer since we heard from ownership. Monday, Dee and Jimmy Haslam released a statement:
The Haslams’ statement is in line with the last time they spoke shortly after Watson’s arrival in Cleveland.
While the Haslams’ statement notes Watson is “remorseful,” the quarterback has denied that he has done anything wrong in the situation:
At what point has he expressed any public remorse? https://t.co/l9HZ8nvKtL
Outside of the completion of the investigation, nothing has changed since the Browns acquired Watson. The organization was behind the move and the player at that time and, seemingly, will continue to be moving forward.
Fans, on the other hand, have not been in lockstep with the organization with many opposing Watson as a member of the team.
According to the public relations department, we will hear from both the Haslams and GM Andrew Berry after the appeals process, if the NFL decides to appeal. | 2022-08-01T21:39:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Haslams make statement on Deshaun Watson’s suspension | https://sports.yahoo.com/haslams-statement-deshaun-watson-suspension-210703874.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/haslams-statement-deshaun-watson-suspension-210703874.html?src=rss |
This is clearly how winners like Brady think. Something about burning desire, intense competition and passionate pleasure. Just don’t think the walking icon is going to hop on a soap box and blare his bottom-line intentions from a megaphone. He may be the G.O.A.T., but it is not his style to channel his (possible) inner Muhammad Ali for public consumption.
Instead, despite the fact that he mentioned something about “unfinished business” when he came back from his hiatus, Brady was so careful not to engage the Super Bowl-or-bust narrative when he held his first media session of training camp.
MORE: Tom Brady remembers interactions with Bill Russell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks on during training camp at Advent Health Training Complex.
During a crisp, 7 ½-minute exchange, TB12 (maybe tapping his inner Bill Belichick) gave the impression that he might be jinxed if he fashioned this as a Super Bowl crusade.
“We’re going to just do the best that we can do,” Brady said. “There’s a lot of work between now – it’s August 1st. There’s a lot of time. Nobody knows what the team is going to look like. You think you have a center (in All-Pro Ryan Jensen) and then he gets injured, so the team’s different in one day. So, it’s a long time between now and the first game.”
Each time, someone tried to go deep into January – such as with the tie-in to aging vets Julio Jones and Kyle Rudolph recently signing on with hopes of finally winning a ring -- Brady threw it back.
“Again, it’s August 1st,” he said. “Obviously, today is today. That’s way down the road. Just try to get as best, be prepared for today and deal with tomorrow tomorrow.”
This take-nothing-for-granted mindset, which we’ve heard before, says much about why Brady is the greatest Super Bowl champion ever. It must annoy him to get so many questions about the NFL-distant future.
OK, so let’s check out the past. Did the manner in which last season ended – Brady led a huge comeback to tie the Los Angeles Rams late in the fourth quarter of an NFC divisional playoff game but lost to the eventual champs on a last-minute field goal drive – fuel his decision to unretire?
“I don’t know,” he maintained. “Seems like forever ago.”
Seems like the Bucs' last defeat, which extinguished hopes for a repeat, was no way for Brady to go out.
Someone asked about the injuries that ravaged the Bucs last season. Brady didn’t want to hear it.
“I don’t think there’s any excuses, you know?” he said. “You either get the job done or you don’t. There’s only one team that’s really happy at the end of the year. It’s the team that wins. So, you’ve got to come out the next year and do everything you can to put yourself in position.”
That’s about as far as Brady would go toward the big-picture goal. He turns 45 on Wednesday, but his demeanor isn’t so much a matter of advanced NFL wisdom. He has operated with a stay-in-the-moment mindset for some time. Monday was the first day in pads. He said it was “important” because “it’s the only day we have.”
He added, again, “We’ll deal with tomorrow tomorrow.”
The Bucs have their share of questions. The interior line in front of Brady is being rebuilt. Jensen, the leader and enforcer, suffered a significant left knee injury that will sideline him for months, if not the entire season. That leaves unproven, second-year pro Robert Hainsey with the first crack to win the job. And he’ll play behind two new guards, too, after Ali Marpet’s retirement and Alex Cappa’s free agency departure. The Bucs also need to beef up at the skill positions, which includes covering for the retirement of Rob Gronkowski and shoring up a receiving corps that is expected to start the season with Chris Godwin, rehabbing from a torn ACL.
Of course, there were encouraging signs on the practice field. A few minutes after Scotty Miller fired up the crowd by hauling in a deep Brady pass with a diving catch, a bigger roar came when Mike Evans muscled over a defender to convert Brady’s tight throw into a would-be 60-yard TD.
On the next snap, though, Devin White undercut a pass to Rudolph for an interception.
The message from Brady after practice, though, seemed rather consistent. It came with a body language and tone that seemed to suggest he is locked in, that the intensity is stoked. Like usual. For whatever that’s worth now and in the coming months.
After all, the entire NFL universe knows why he’s back.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Brady tunes out Super Bowl stakes, retirement questions | 2022-08-01T21:41:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Retirement talk? Super Bowl buzz? Tom Brady tunes it all out, locks in for NFL season | Opinion | https://sports.yahoo.com/retirement-talk-super-bowl-buzz-210233746.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/retirement-talk-super-bowl-buzz-210233746.html?src=rss |
Florida’s Friday Night Lights camp was the first chance for many of Florida’s top targets and commits to get coached up by the Gators’ staff. Four-star defensive lineman Kamran James was in town over the weekend for both FNL and the Saturday Grill in the ‘Ville cookout and came away with some new impressions of the program, according to Gators Online.
“It was great,” he said. “I actually did enjoy my time out here. I was watching my teammate, Jalon Thompson. He was performing, doing one-on-ones, and he was out here for the Friday Night Lights camp, so I had somebody to watch.
“It was good, high energy. They’ve shown brief clips; I’ve been to practices and stuff, so I’ve seen how intense things can get, so it was real cool to just see more action.”
A big plus for him was the amount of coaching personnel Florida has at the event. He pointed out that plenty of other schools end up having kids attend camps that leave feeling left out, and that wasn’t possible with the amount of staff Napier has brought in.
James has been recruited by the Gators for some time now, but Billy Napier and Co. are beginning to turn up the heat. They’ve let James know that he’s a priority target for them and want him at UF. His main contacts have been defensive graduate assistant Kali James Jr. and defensive line coach/co-defensive coordinator Sean Spencer.
However, James has no public plans to announce a decision any time soon. This is just the beginning for him, so Florida’s strong start could mean very little if UF doesn’t follow up strong with him.
“I really just started getting recruited so to not really rush the process, I feel like I really need to see what these colleges can do for me and not just jump,” he said. ”And this is the next step in life, so I really need to take this slow and really consider everything.”
James is ranked No. 213 overall on the On3 consensus and No. 26 among defensive linemen in the class of 2023, but the site’s individual rankings are far more bullish. According to On3, he’s the 23rd-best recruit in the class and No. 3 at his position.
University of Idaho football will have new-look for its offense, defense under 1st-year coach
“I think we’re going to be able to play a lot of guys on defense, which is something I believe in because you keep guys fresh.” | 2022-08-01T22:04:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | 4-star DL enjoyed intensity of Florida’s Friday Night Lights camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/4-star-dl-enjoyed-intensity-204053111.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/4-star-dl-enjoyed-intensity-204053111.html?src=rss |
As Penn State opened training camp to prepare for the 2022 college football season, a handful of players were recognized on watch lists for some individual honors in 2022. The Maxwell Football Club unveiled its watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, and two players from Penn State appeared on the watch list.
Senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown and redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter Jr. were recognized on the Bednarik Award watch list.
Dan Connor is the most recent Penn State player to take home the Bednarik Award. He did so in 2007 to make it three consecutive seasons a Penn State player won the award. Paul Posluszny won the award in 2005 and 2006 and is one of two all-time winners to win the award multiple times. Current Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald is the only other player to win multiple Bednarik Awards. He did so in 1995 and 1996, the first two seasons the award was presented.
In addition to Posluszny and Connor, Penn State also saw LaVar Arrington win the award in 1999 to boost Penn State’s total to four Bednarik Awards. No other school has more than two Bednarik Award winners (Northwestern, Georgia, LSU, and Alabama each have two Bednarik award winners).
Last year’s recipient of the Bednarik Award was Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis. The last Big Ten player to win the award was Chase Young of Ohio State in 2019. | 2022-08-01T22:04:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bednarik Award watch list includes key pair of Nittany Lions | https://sports.yahoo.com/bednarik-award-watch-list-includes-211607755.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bednarik-award-watch-list-includes-211607755.html?src=rss |
Veteran outside linebacker and holder of the coveted No. 1 jersey Brenton Cox Jr. was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. The Chuck Bednarik Award is awarded by the Maxwell Club each year to the nation’s defensive player of the year.
Cox Jr. has grabbed the national attention of multiple preseason watch lists and media outlets, including the All-SEC second team from Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, and the scrum at SEC media days. Cox Jr. is the seventh different Florida player to be named to a preseason award watch list: Anthony Richardson (Maxwell), Ventrell Miller (Butkus), Kingsley Eguakun (Rimington), Gervon Dexter (Outland), O'Cyrus Torrence (Outland), and Nay'Quan Wright (Doak Walker & Wuerffel).
🚨 Watch list season continues @brenton_cox_ has been named to the Bednarik Award Watch List presented annually to the college defensive player of the year.
🔗 https://t.co/X2btYlJRHM#GoGators | #UFuture pic.twitter.com/t68hCHO7AG
Cox Jr. is looking to become the first player in Florida football history to win the Chuck Bednarik award. Nine Gators players have been named semifinalists for the award with Jevon Kearse (1998) and Brandon Spikes (2009) the only finalists in program history.
Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 1, with the three finalists to be announced on November 22. The winner will be announced on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be held on December 8.
The Florida Gators will open the 2022 season on Saturday, September 3, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium against Utah at 7:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
Florida a 'top-5 school' for this Louisiana offensive tackle | 2022-08-01T22:04:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | This Gator named to Chuck Bednarik Award watch list | https://sports.yahoo.com/gator-named-chuck-bednarik-award-201142612.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/gator-named-chuck-bednarik-award-201142612.html?src=rss |
According to Google Maps it’s a 270.8 mile drive from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend to Ohio Stadium in Columbus. A drive that takes four hours and 19 minutes which isn’t just down the street but is nothing when it comes to a road trip for a college football team or its fans.
Especially when you consider those two college football squads are among the most historic in the game and have two of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports, not just college football.
But throughout time Notre Dame and Ohio State have met on the football field just six times ever. Of those six games, two have been played at Notre Dame Stadium, two have been played at Ohio Stadium, and the other two have taken place in the Fiesta Bowl.
Unless you live under a rock then you’re aware Notre Dame opens the 2022 season at Ohio State before the Buckeyes make the return trip to South Bend late next September.
Before this underplayed series resumes on Labor Day weekend, here is a look back at the brief history Notre Dame and Ohio State have shared on the football field.
1935: Notre Dame's first "Game of the Century"
5-0 Notre Dame hit the road to take on 4-0 Ohio State in the November 2 showdown and the game didn’t disappoint. The Irish offense stalled early as Ohio State built a 13-0 halftime lead. After a scoreless third quarter, Andy Pilney returned a punt to the Ohio State 13-yard line to set up the first score of the day for the Irish.
Pilney connected on a 15-yard pass to Mike Layden to narrow the Ohio State lead to 13-12 before a forced fumble set up a short field for the Irish as Will Shakespeare found Wayne Millner for the eventual game-winning score.
Notre Dame would ultimately finish the year 7-1-1 in Elmer Layden’s second season as head coach.
1936: First meeting in South Bend
The first meeting between the two at Notre Dame Stadium didn’t feature the same hype as the 1935 battle as Notre Dame had lost to Pitt the week previous and Ohio State was 2-2 going into the Halloween day showdown. It was a game that only a midwesterner could love as the wind and rain howled in what resulted in a 7-2 Notre Dame victory over the Buckeyes in what was played in front of a then-record Notre Dame Stadium crowd of 50,000 fans.
Notre Dame has no beat Ohio State since.
1995: Eddie George's huge day helps build Heisman resume
Photo by Fred Squillante
60 years after their first trip to Columbus, Notre Dame again headed slightly south and east to take on the scarlet and gray of Ohio State. Despite getting out to a 17-14 halftime lead it wasn’t meant to be for the Irish as Eddie George ran for 207 yards and two touchdowns before ultimately winning the Heisman Trophy that year.
Ohio State erupted for 31 second half points in their 45-26 victory over Notre Dame.
1996: Last Regular Season Meeting
Jonathan Dani
The good news is that Notre Dame and Ohio State will have to had waited only 26 years between regular season meetings when the 2022 season kicks off in Ohio Stadium.
In a battle of unbeatens in late September, Ohio State’s defense held Notre Dame in check all afternoon as the Irish averaged just 3.8 yards per play for the day to Ohio State’s 6.2.
Pepe Pearson ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes 29-16 victory that wasn’t really as close as the final score indicated.
2005 closes with Fiesta Bowl showdown
Kids these days have trouble understanding that bowl games that don’t determine the national championship had big-time meaning not all that long ago. That all seemed to change with what happened in another Notre Dame-Ohio State bowl game but more on that shortly.
2005 was Charlie Weis’s first season as Notre Dame head coach as he helped guide Notre Dame to their second BCS appearance in program history after a 9-2 regular season.
Big plays were the story of the day in Tempe that afternoon as Ted Ginn, Jr., Santonio Holmes, and Antonio Pittman all scored touchdowns on plays of 56-yards or longer in the 34-20 Buckeyes triumph.
As for the photo chosen above – if you know, you know. More photos from the 2006 Fiesta Bowl can be found here.
The last time - 2016 Fiesta Bowl
Ohio State was the reigning national champion while Notre Dame had come within a last-second stop in their regular season finale at Stanford of likely making the College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame star linebacker [autotag]Jaylon Smith[/autotag] suffered a torn ACL and MCL early in the Notre Dame-Ohio State showdown as star defensive end Joey Bosa was ejected from the same game fairly early in the contest.
What resulted was a day of big plays for Ohio State as Notre Dame’s depleted linebackers were exposed, to put it nicely, as Ezekiel Elliot scored a Fiesta Bowl record four touchdowns in the 44-28 Buckeyes win.
Numbers of the Programs:
Few programs can meet and have as much combined history as Notre Dame and Ohio State share. The two programs have combined to win/have:
19 claimed national championships (Notre Dame 11, Ohio State 8)
1871 games (Ohio State 942, Notre Dame 929)
14 Heisman Trophies (Notre Dame 7, Ohio State 7)
1001 players selected all-time in the NFL draft (Notre Dame 522, Ohio State 479)
157 players selected in first round of NFL draft (Ohio State 87, Notre Dame 70)
An extreme dislike for the Michigan Wolverines | 2022-08-01T22:04:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Notre Dame-Ohio State all-time series history | https://sports.yahoo.com/notre-dame-ohio-state-time-214241423.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/notre-dame-ohio-state-time-214241423.html?src=rss |
ARCH MANNING NIL: Explaining Arch Manning's shocking NIL valuation — and what it means for his final LHSAA season
ARCH MANNING TO TEXAS: What 6 SEC quarterbacks at Manning Passing Academy said about Arch Manning's Texas football commitment
“I need to see what Arch does in the playoffs, how he plays against teams that are better than the one he’s on,” Luginbill said. “He’s need to elevate his team. ... A player of his stature, the expectation level he’s never going to escape, but he needs to play his best games against the best teams on his schedule.”
The last time Michael Keaton put on the Batman suit was in 1992 for the “Batman” sequel, “Batman Returns.” Now, 30 years later, he’s returning as the Caped Crusader for “The Flash,” something he said he’d never do unless there was a real reason to do so. It turns out, the reason is not a […]
The actor, who last appeared as the Caped Crusader in 1992's Batman Returns, will suit up again next year for The Flash. Michael Keaton Says He’s Never Seen a Full DC or Marvel Movie Abby Jones | 2022-08-01T22:42:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | ESPN's Tom Luginbill explains Arch Manning's fall from top spot in recruiting rankings | https://sports.yahoo.com/espns-tom-luginbill-explains-arch-190523446.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/espns-tom-luginbill-explains-arch-190523446.html?src=rss |
How Green changed his plans after Kerr's Warriors pitch originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Green was in the plunge pool at a resort in Jamaica enjoying the offseason when his phone rang. Though he was in full on chill mode, the veteran forward knew there still was business to be had and kept his phone with him at all times and with the ringer all the way turned up. Green didn't know the number, answered anyways and sure is happy he did.
After getting to his room and drying off, the two immediately hit it off. Green was traded by the Denver Nuggets to the Oklahoma City Thunder on the night of this year's NBA draft. That made him an instant buyout candidate for contenders.
"After talking with him, I just couldn't tell him no," Green said Monday during his introductory press conference as a Warrior. "With the organization and what they built over, I just felt that I'd love to be part of it."
Kerr made it clear to Green how much the entire organization wanted him to be a Warrior. Really, they've had their eyes on him much before this offseason. They've long coveted his skill set and are more than familiar with him.
All of Green's eight-year career has been in the Western Conference. He has played the Warriors 23 times in the regular season and 15 times in the playoffs, including last season in the first round. If there's one Warriors player who already is more than familiar with him, he doesn't have to look further than his last name.
"Really wasn't no sales pitch," Green said. "I feel like just off the relationship that we built when we were younger, it's a respect thing for each other. We kind of know where we stand. He was just excited. We both know what we bring to the table and we just had a good conversation about it.
"He made it easy for me to come here."
RELATED: Warriors have reason to believe Green's past self shows up
"I smiled a lot, did a lot of thinking about it and just glad to be here," he said.
Quarterback Trey Lance had difficulty finding open receivers but he also provided a challenge to the 49ers' defense. | 2022-08-01T22:42:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | JaMychal Green swayed by Warriors' Steve Kerr to change his plans | https://sports.yahoo.com/jamychal-green-swayed-warriors-steve-211500935.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jamychal-green-swayed-warriors-steve-211500935.html?src=rss |
A's trade Montas, Trivino to Yankees for four prospects originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
After weeks -- and even months -- of trade speculation surrounding Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas, the ace is on the move.
The A's traded Montas and reliever Lou Trevino to the New York Yankees on Monday afternoon, the team announced. In return, the A’s will receive prospects JP Spears (RHP), Ken Waldichuk (LHP), Cooper Bowman (2B) and Luis Medina (RHP).
ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported the deal was in place.
In 19 starts for the A’s this season, Montas struck out 109 batters through 104 2/3 innings en route to a 3.18 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He was traded to Oakland from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 and his contract remains under team control through next season.
Trivino was 1-6 in relief for the A’s this season with a 6.47 ERA and 10 saves in 39 appearances.
In return for the two pitchers, the A’s received New York’s No. 5 prospect in Waldichuk, per MLB.com. Medina was ranked No. 10 in the Yankees' system, followed by Sears at No. 20 and Bowman at No. 21.
The trade marks another chapter in the A’s recent fire sale, which has seen them part with top players like Montas, Matt Olson, Sean Manaea, Chris Bassett and Matt Chapman since last season.
The Kansas City Royals acquired 27-year-old left-hander Anthony Misiewicz from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations.
Shohei Ohtani's three-run homer
Shohei Ohtani crushes a three-run home run to center field, scoring David Fletcher and Andrew Velazquez to give the Angels a 3-2 lead | 2022-08-01T22:42:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Yankees trade for Frankie Montas, Lou Trivino from A's for four prospects | https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-rumors-yankees-trade-frankie-204543364.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-rumors-yankees-trade-frankie-204543364.html?src=rss |
The Chicago Bears have wrapped their first week of non-padded practices at training camp. But they’ve been without their biggest defensive star in linebacker Roquan Smith.
Smith, was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of camp. But he also remains in contract flux heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
“I’m not in the middle of that, so I really can’t say there’s progress/not progress,” said head coach Matt Eberflus. “That’s Ryan (Poles) and him working together. So I don’t really have an update my part.”
While Smith hasn’t been participating in practice, he’s been on the sideline every day working with his teammates.
“I just feel that he’s being a professional,” Eberflus said. “He’s in the meetings and he’s doing a good job with helping the younger players.”
Last week, Eberflus confirmed that Smith will be filling the important role of weak-side linebacker on defense. It’s a role where Shaquille Leonard thrived during his time with Eberflus in Indianapolis. While Smith has already been one of the best linebackers in the league, the hope is he takes it to a greater level under Eberflus. | 2022-08-01T23:10:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears LB Roquan Smith is staying involved as he remains sidelined at training camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-lb-roquan-smith-staying-212934493.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-lb-roquan-smith-staying-212934493.html?src=rss |
Following a three-day hearing, as well as a review of post-hearing submissions from both the NFL as well as the NFLPA and Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, retired federal judge Sue L. Robinson issued a 16-page decision on Monday, in which she held that the quarterback should be suspended for a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
In the report, which you can read here, Judge Robinson dives into whether Watson violated the league’s personal conduct policy, as well as what the appropriate discipline should be for any violations. It is worth noting that Judge Robinson at the outset only considered five of the cases pending against Watson, and then reduced that number to four cases, as the fifth was based on “media reports.”
Here is a summary and analysis of Judge Robinson’s findings, as well as thoughts on where this could go next.
The applicable standard of analysis
At the outset, it is worth noting that Judge Robinson applied a “preponderance of the evidence” standard in her decision. Many are familiar with the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard applied in criminal cases, and as a means of thinking what the NFL had to prove, the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard can often be described as a “99% certainty.”
However, the “preponderance of the evidence” standard could also be described as “more likely than not.” To keep with the percentage analogy, where “beyond a reasonable doubt” requires proof at a 99% level, the “preponderance of the evidence” standard looks more like 51% to 49%.
This is exactly how I would describe these standards to juries back when I was practicing law, a lifetime ago.
Having set the framework, we can work through her analysis.
Watson violated three provisions of the league's personal conduct policy
We next turn to Judge Robinson’s analysis of whether Watson violated the league’s personal conduct policy. Specifically, in her opinion Judge Robinson analyzed whether Watson violated the policy by engaging in: Sexual assault; conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person; and conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL.
While building an evidentiary record Judge Robinson characterized the NFL’s investigation in her decision. She noted that Watson would use Instagram to connect with potential therapists, and to “make sure that the therapists were comfortable massaging certain areas of his body, particularly his lower back, glutes, abs, and groin area.” She also noted, and relies upon this fact throughout her analysis, that Watson:
…requested that the therapists use a towel to cover his private parts rather than the more typically used sheet. Mr. Watson often provided his own towels, which have been variously described as “medium/small” towels or “Gatorade” towels. In re: Matter of Deshaun Watson at 5.
Furthermore, the NFL investigation outlined the following alleged behavior which was characterized as “sexualized:”
…each of the therapists allege that Mr. Watson engaged in what the NFL has characterized as “sexualized behavior.” This behavior includes Mr. Watson’s insistence that the therapists work on his focal points with just a towel as a cover. When he turned over on his back, it is alleged that Mr. Watson exposed his erect penis and purposefully contacted the therapists’ hands and arms multiple times with his erect penis. One of the therapists alleges that Mr. Watson not only contacted her arm multiple times, but that he ejaculated on her arm. There is no allegation that Mr. Watson exerted any force against any of the therapists. Id.
In her analysis of whether Watson engaged in conduct that qualified as sexual assault, Judge Robinson noted that the CBA does not define “sexual assault.” She further noted that one of the league’s investigators defined the term at the hearing as the “unwanted sexual contact with another person.” Accepting this definition, Judge Robinson found the NFL needed to prove under the “preponderance of the evidence” standard previously outlined that three things occurred: “(1) Mr. Watson intended to cause contact with his penis; (2) he did so for a sexual purpose; and (3) he knew that such contact was unwanted.”
Judge Robinson outlined how there was no testimony from Watson regarding any inadvertent touching, and further outlined that Watson offered a categorical denial of the allegations, including that he ever developed an erection during a massage. However, Judge Robinson did not give these denials from Watson much weight:
It is difficult to give weight to a complete denial when weighed against the credible testimony of the investigators who interviewed the therapists and other third parties. Moreover, the totality of the evidence (including the undisputed facts relation to Mr. Watson’s use of towels, his focus points, and the not uncommon experience of massage therapists to have contact with the erect penis of their male clients) lends support to my conclusion that it is more probable than not that Mr. Watson did have erections and that his erect penis contacted the therapists as claimed by them. In re: Matter of Deshaun Watson at 7
In finding that there was a sexual purpose, the second prong of the analysis, Judge Robinson noted Watson’s pattern of conduct:
With respect to whether the contact was intentional, the matter of intent generally must be inferred from circumstantial evidence in the absence of an admission. in this case, Mr. Watson reached out to women whose professional qualifications were unknown and unimportant to him. He insisted on using a towel, increasing the probability of exposure. He insisted on having the therapist focus on areas of his body that not uncommonly triggered erections. And he engaged in this pattern of conduct multiple times. I find this sufficient circumstantial evidence to support the NFL’s contention not only that contact occurred, but that Mr. Watson was aware that contact probably would occur, and that Mr. Watson had a sexual purpose — not just a therapeutic purpose — in making these arrangements with these particular therapists. In re: Matter of Deshaun Watson at 8
Judge Robinson also found that the NFL produced sufficient evidence to prove that Watson knew the conduct was unwanted:
Moreover, there is credible evidence that one of the therapists expressed her discomfort of the unwanted contact to Mr. Watson during the sessions, and another of the therapists ended the session early. Given that none of these therapists accepted Mr. Watson’s invitations to engage in further therapy sessions, I find the evidence sufficient to demonstrate that Mr. Watson knew, or should have known, that any contact between his penis and these therapists was unwanted. Id.
With respect to the second violation of the NFL personal conduct policy, regarding conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person, Judge Robinson again noted that there was no definition in the CBA for such conduct, and that the NFL did not provide such a definition.
Furthermore, Judge Robinson found that the league was taking the “occasion to broadly define the concepts of ‘genuine danger,’ safety,’ and well-being’ in its charge against Mr. Watson.” However, as she noted, “it is the NFL’s policy and it can set the rules.”
As such, Watson’s conduct was a violation of this portion of the personal conduct policy as well:
I accept the fact that a work environment with sexualized conduct is not a safe environment, and I accept as credible the testimony of these therapists that they felt unsafe and suffered emotional distress as a result of their massage sessions with Mr. Watson. Based on the NFL’s broad interpretation of this prohibited conduct as reflected in the evidence it chose to present, I find that the NFL has carried its burden to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Mr. Watson’s conduct posed a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person. In re: Matter of Deshaun Watson at 10
With respect to the issue of Watson’s conduct undermining or putting at risk the integrity of the NFL, Judge Robinson found that by identifying himself as a player for the NFL to initiate contact with the therapists, and using his ties to the Houston Texans to bolster his requests for massages, he “undermined the integrity of the NFL in the eyes of the therapists.”
Judge Robinson also found that “it is apparent that Mr. Watson acted with a reckless disregard for the consequences of his actions by exposing himself (and the NFL) to such public scrutiny and speculation.” She also held that his “predatory conduct” shined a “negative light on the league and its players,” which was also evidence that he violated this provision of the personal conduct policy.
As such, Judge Robinson found that in her mind, the NFL had demonstrated it was more likely than not that Watson had violated these three provisions of the league’s personal conduct policy.
The discipline analysis
In the wake of her decision, the main focus has been on the six-game suspension levied by Judge Robinson. That is where we turn next.
At the outset, Judge Robinson noted that it was her responsibility to review any recommended discipline for “consistency of treatment, uniformity of standards for parties similarly situated, and patent unfairness or selectivity.” That required, in her mind, examining prior discipline imposed by the NFL, as well as an analysis of mitigating and/or aggravating factors, all with the “goal of reaching a fair and consistent disciplinary determination.”
Judge Robinson outlined next what both the NFL as well as Watson and the NFLPA argued with respect to discipline. As Judge Robinson framed the arguments, the NFL argued that Watson “be suspended for at least the entire 2022 NFL regular and post-season and not be permitted to return unless he satisfies any conditions imposed for reinstatement.” According to her decision, the NFL conceded that the punishment was “unprecedented,” because the conduct alleged was also “unprecedented:”
The NFL’s reasoning is reflected in the following testimony of one of its investigators: “[E]ven with just the four [women], I think we haven’t had someone who over the course of a year-plus time … [committed] sexual assault against four different people, and he uses, again, invokes the league in some ways of doing so.” In re: Matter of Deshaun Watson at 12
In contrast, the NFLPA on behalf of Watson pointed to the “history of the Policy and discipline imposed under the Policy.” According to Judge Robinson, the NFLPA pointed to the aftermath of the Ray Rice suspension, and how the NFL altered its Policy to “include a presumptive [six]-game suspension for certain first-time violent offenders.”
Such incidents were described by Judge Robinson as violations involving: Criminal assault or battery (felony), domestic, dating or other forms of family violence, or sexual assault involving physical assault or committed against those incapable of giving consent, such as minors.
Judge Robinson then refers to an exhibit used during the hearing that “indicates that since the revisions to the Policy (from 2015 to date), by far the most commonly-imposed discipline for domestic or gendered violence and sexual acts is a [six]-game suspension.” Furthermore, suspensions longer than six games involved either “multiple incidents of domestic violence” or the “assault of multiple victims” — both of which earned eight-game suspensions — or the lone case of a ten-game suspension for “multiple incidents of domestic violence for which the player pled guilty to battery.”
In her decision, Judge Robinson states that “[i]t is undisputed that Mr. Watson’s conduct does not fall into the category of violent conduct that would require the minimum six-game suspension,” those being the categories outlined above. She also notes that it is also “undisputed that prior cases involving non-violent sexual assault have resulted in discipline far less severe than what the NFL proposes here, with the most severe penalty being a three-game suspension for a player who had been previously warned about his conduct.”
Then, Judge Robinson states that she is bound “by standards of fairness and consistency of treatment among players similarly situated.” While the NFL argues that Watson’s conduct is “unprecedented,” Judge Robinson holds that “ignoring past decision because none involve ‘similar’ conduct” puts the NFL in the position of “equating violent conduct with non-violent conduct” and furthermore the league:
…has elevated the importance of the latter without any substantial evidence to support its position. While it may be entirely appropriate to more severely discipline players for non-violent sexual conduct, I do not believe it is appropriate to do so without the notice of the extraordinary change this position portends for the NFL and its players. In re: Matter of Deshaun Watson at 13-14
This “notice” argument is the crux of Judge Robinson’s reasoning for her discipline decision. If the NFL were to succeed in their argument for a much longer suspension, she argues, then it would amount to an unjust, post-hoc determination of what constitutes prohibited conduct that would prevent players from predicting the consequences of their behavior:
Although I have found Mr. Watson to have violated the Policy, I have done so using the NFL’s post-hoc definitions of the prohibited conduct at issue. Defining prohibited conduct plays a critical role in the rule of law, enabling people to predict the consequences of their behavior. It is inherently unfair to identify conduct as prohibited only after the conduct has been committed, just as it is inherently unjust to change the penalties for such conduct after the fact. As I’ve noted above, the NFL is a private organization and can operate as it deems fit, but the post-hoc determination of what constitutes the prohibited conduct here cannot genuinely satisfy the “fairness” prong of the standard of review or justify the imposition of the unprecedented sanction requested by the NFL. In re: Matter of Deshaun Watson at 14
In essence, Judge Robinson is arguing that because the NFL had not established definitions for such prohibited conduct as that which Watson engaged in, and had not outlined what the discipline could be for a violation of such conduct, then imposing the sanctions sought by the league would be unjust and fail to satisfy the “fairness” test for the imposition of discipline under the CBA.
Judge Robinson also noted that both aggravating and mitigating factors were in play with Watson. On the mitigating side, Watson is considered a “first-time offender,” and she noted his “excellent reputation in the community.” She also noted that he “cooperated in the investigation and has paid restitution.”
However, she also noted that Watson displayed a “lack of expressed remorse,” along with his “tardy notice to the NFL of the first-filed lawsuit,” listing those as aggravating factors.
In finding for a six-game suspension, Judge Robinson noted that “it seems the NFL is responding to yet another public outcry about Mr. Watson’s conduct.” This would seem to play into the imposition of additional discipline given, as Judge Robinson argued that the public scrutiny over Watson’s conduct was evidence that his actions impacted the “integrity” of the game. However, on the discipline side, she uses it to bolster her imposition of a suspension less than the one the NFL was seeking. “Here, the NFL is attempting to impose a more dramatic shift in its culture without the benefit of fair notice to — and consistency of consequence for — those in the NFL subject to the Policy.”
In finding for a six-game suspension, she stated: “Mr. Watson is hereby suspended for six (6) regular-season games without pay. Although this is the most significant punishment ever imposed on an NFL player for allegations of non-violent sexual conduct, Mr. Watson’s pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL.” She also found that it would be “appropriate” for Watson to limit future therapy to team-directed, and approved, therapists.
As noted by Judge Robinson in the final sentence of her decision, “[t]he parties have three (3) business days to appeal this disciplinary determination.”
So yes, this is not over yet.
The NFLPA released a statement on Sunday night indicating that they would honor the findings of Judge Robinson. While there is reporting to the effect that Watson and the NFLPA are disappointed in the decision, there has been no indication from the NFLPA that they would appeal the findings.
Whether the NFL decides to appeal, however, is unclear. The league released a statement indicating that they would “review” the findings and make a determination on later action.
If the league does decide to appeal, they have until Thursday to note the appeal, unless “all parties” agree to extend the deadline, which is a possibility thanks to a provision in the CBA. If the league does appeal, the matter would be decided by Commissioner Roger Goodell, or someone appointed by the Commissioner to decide the appeal.
Are there grounds for an appeal? There are potential avenues the league could pursue if it wanted to note the appeal. As a threshold matter, any appeal would be based on the record and evidence relied upon by Judge Robinson to make her findings. As illustrated above, Judge Robinson found that Watson’s conduct violated the league’s personal policy in three ways: It constituted sexual assault, it posed a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person, and it undermined or risked the integrity of the league.
The evidentiary record before Judge Robinson was enough for her to make those findings. Her issue was with the idea of prior notice to players and league employees that conduct such as Watson’s would result in the “unprecedented” discipline sought by the league. As she argued, the “post-hoc” imposition of discipline in this case would be “unjust.”
The NFL could decide that given her evidentiary findings, there is enough to warrant an appeal, and then stress that the distinctions drawn by Judge Robinson in her findings on discipline, as well as the fact that the allegations are more violent in nature than described in Judge Robinson’s findings, require the imposition of more discipline in this case. That was the case made by our own Doug Farrar in the wake of the six-game suspension announcement.
Or, the league might decide to abide by the ruling, and move on. This could be a case where the NFL takes the next few days to gauge public reaction to inform their decision.
Now, if the league does appeal — and Commissioner Goodell imposes more discipline than the six games — that could shift this matter into federal court. If the Commissioner does lengthen the suspension on an appeal, that would effectively exhaust Watson’s internal options within the league under the CBA.
At that point, he can challenge the disciplinary ruling in federal court, and argue that the league failed to adhere to the CBA by in effect bypassing Judge Robinson. While other players, such as Tom Brady, have failed in attempts at suing the league in discipline matters, this would be the first time a court would be asked to interpret the terms of the new CBA, and bypassing Judge Robinson in this manner might be found to be a violation.
There is also a scenario where if this this the path this matter travels, Watson finds his way to the field sooner rather than later. If Watson’s suspension is increased by Commissioner Goodell — or a duly-appointed designee named to hear the appeal — then Watson’s attorney would likely file for an injunction looking to “stay” the imposition of the discipline, clearing a way for him to play while the legal process plays out in federal court.
So, we might be at the beginning of the end.
Or just the end of the beginning. | 2022-08-01T23:10:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Inside Judge Sue L. Robinson’s decision on Deshaun Watson, and what could come next | https://sports.yahoo.com/inside-judge-sue-l-robinson-214511165.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/inside-judge-sue-l-robinson-214511165.html?src=rss |
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh has a lot of thoughts about the Deshaun Watson situation, but he's not going to make them public. Instead, Harbaugh chose to focus on how the Ravens handle similar situations, saying he's glad the team has a "zero tolerance" policy.
Watson received a six-game suspension from an independent arbitrator Monday after multiple women accused Watson of sexual misconduct. The NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell can appeal that suspension. If it remains six games, Watson will make his 2022 debut against the Ravens in Week 7.
Harbaugh cited a "zero tolerance" team policy when asked about Watson on Monday.
More Harbaugh regarding Watson suspension: "I respect what Steve Bisciotti and Dick Cass created here almost 10 years ago. Basically, what we decided [was] that we're kind of zero tolerance. We've stayed away from that particular situation. I'm glad we have that policy."
Harbaugh did not go into specifics on that "zero tolerance" policy. It's unclear if the Ravens have a specific policy when it comes to players accused of sexual misconduct or assault, or if the team's policy is a more general character clause.
The Ravens appear to have made some strides in that area in recent seasons. The team had sexual assault activist Brenda Tracy speak to players in 2019. The team also reportedly asked cornerback Gareon Conley, who was accused of sexual assault in college, to take a polygraph test before the 2017 NFL draft. The Ravens selected Marlon Humphrey over Conley in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. The Baltimore Sun article from 2017 detailing the Conley situation states the Ravens "have not signed or drafted a player with a record of domestic violence since Ray Rice was cut in 2014."
The Ravens received criticism for their handling of the Rice situation before he was eventually cut. Rice was originally suspended for two games by the NFL after he was accused of domestic violence against his then-fiancée. Members of the Ravens, including Harbaugh, offered up words of support for Rice initially. Harbaugh called Rice a "person of character" who made a mistake.
The Ravens reversed course once video of Rice punching his then-fiancée in the face was released. The team cut Rice and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell extended Rice's suspension. Harbaugh said the team's policy has been in place for "almost 10 years," signaling it may have been put in place after Rice was cut.
In 2018, the NFL suspended Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith for four games for threatening and emotionally abusing his ex-girlfriend. The Ravens called Smith's behavior "inappropriate and wrong" at the time. Smith publicly apologized to his ex-girlfriend, the team and Ravens fans and took "full responsibility" for his actions.
Smith served his four-game suspension and played 12 games for the Ravens in 2018. He remained with the team through the 2021 NFL season and is currently a free agent.
John Harbaugh's Ravens will face the Browns in Week 7. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) | 2022-08-01T23:10:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | John Harbaugh says he's glad Ravens have 'zero tolerance' policy when talking about Deshaun Watson | https://sports.yahoo.com/john-harbaugh-says-hes-glad-ravens-have-zero-tolerance-policy-when-talking-about-deshaun-watson-225155303.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/john-harbaugh-says-hes-glad-ravens-have-zero-tolerance-policy-when-talking-about-deshaun-watson-225155303.html?src=rss |
According to ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers are signing kicker Chris Boswell to a four-year contract extension worth $20 million. This new contract ties Boswell as the highest-paid kicker in the NFL with Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker.
Boswell has been with the Steelers since 2015 and has worked his way into one of the best all-around kickers in the league. Boswell has only hit fewer than 90 percent of his kicks twice in his career. He’s been the Steelers most consistently scoring threat and a guy who has hit plenty of game winners.
Boswell’s worst season came in 2018 when he played though an injury and terrible inconsistency, hitting only 65 percent of his kicks. 2021 marked Boswell’s best season in terms of field goals attempted and made with 40 and 36 respectfully and 2020 was his most consistent season as he hit 95 percent of his field goal tries. | 2022-08-01T23:11:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers make K Chris Boswell highest-paid kicker in NFL with contract extension | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-k-chris-boswell-highest-225707228.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-k-chris-boswell-highest-225707228.html?src=rss |
Coach Brandon Staley greets tight end Gerald Everett on the first day in pads for the Chargers at training camp. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
Asked to explain that thought, he said: “Just the style of play. The pace. The tempo. The contact. Making sure that you're keeping each other safe. You’re going fierce, but you’re keeping each other safe.”
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass on the first day of training camp with pads. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
“Those two young guards showed they have what it takes,” he said. “They got the head on their shoulders. They're really strong inside, like really strong. And then they work at it like crazy.”
“He’s just got a lot of the stuff made of quality football players,” Staley said. “He's got physicality, toughness, discipline. He's calm. He's got that versatility to play a lot of different positions.” | 2022-08-01T23:11:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Why Brandon Staley sees 'a good football' team in Chargers' first practice in pads | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-brandon-staley-sees-good-223637684.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-brandon-staley-sees-good-223637684.html?src=rss |
Why Greenlaw thinks left tackle Williams is NFL's best player originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA -- Any list of the best players in the NFL would likely include quarterbacks, wide receivers and edge rushers near the top.
But 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw believes he shares a locker room with the best player in professional football. And he’s thinking of an offensive lineman.
Greenlaw on Monday made the case for left tackle Trent Williams as the best at what he does in the NFL.
“Trent’s the best player in the NFL,” Greenlaw said. “For sure. No doubt.”
“It doesn’t matter who’s lined up against him, I got Trent Williams.”
Williams, 34, has been selected to nine Pro Bowls in his 11 NFL seasons. After what is widely considered his best season in 2021, Williams was selected to his first All-Pro recognition.
“On any kind of outside run, Trent runs like a DB. You got to make some decisions when Trent is coming at you. You got to make some business decisions,” Greenlaw said with a laugh.
RELATED: Lance finds it difficult in red zone vs. team's No. 1 defense
Williams is listed at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds. In addition to his obvious size and strength, he has a next-level knowledge of the game. And Williams also possesses unique athleticism for a man of any size.
“It’s unbelievable,” Greenlaw said. “For someone on the offensive line, you don’t really look at that and say, ‘Oh, he’s the best,’ but the way that he's just an athlete. If he’s not the best player, he’s one of the best athletes. Especially for that size. It’s just ridiculous.” | 2022-08-01T23:11:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | Why Trent Williams is NFL's best player in eyes of 49ers' Dre Greenlaw | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-trent-williams-nfls-best-221920329.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-trent-williams-nfls-best-221920329.html?src=rss |
Watch list season was in full bloom on Penn State’s first day of spring football practices on Monday. PJ Mustipher was named to the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award and Ji’Ayir Brown and Joey Porter Jr. appeared on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award. But don’t forget about long snapper Chris Stoll. His name also appeared on a watch list for an individual award on Monday.
Stoll was named on the watch list for the Patrick Mannelly Award, an award presented annually to the top long snapper in college football. A relatively new individual award to college football, the Patrick Mannelly Award was first presented in 2019.
Previous winners of the Mannelly Award are John Shannon of Notre Dame (2019), Thomas Fletcher of Alabama (2020), and Cal Adomitis of Pittsburgh (2021). Penn State and the Big Ten are looking for the first winner of this particular award in 2022.
Stoll was also recently named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team watch list. This is his second season appearing on the watch list for the Patrick Mannelly Award. | 2022-08-01T23:49:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chris Stoll named to watch list for nation’s top long-snapper award | https://sports.yahoo.com/chris-stoll-named-watch-list-230012555.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chris-stoll-named-watch-list-230012555.html?src=rss |
After months of recruiting and offseason workouts, Penn State finally began to officially prepare for the 2022 season with the opening of fall camp on Monday.
Penn State is looking to rebound from an 7-6 season a year ago, which dropped Penn State to an even .500 record over the past two seasons. After recording 11-win seasons in three of the previous four years prior to that, the Nittany Lions should be hungry to get back to being discussed on the national stage a bit more.
The Penn State media got an opportunity to take a look at practice for a brief period of time, which provided our Twitter timeline with some warm and fuzzy feelings as we got to see quarterbacks throwing the football, Nick Singleton taking a handoff and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich taking on the role of pass rusher.
Welcome back pic.twitter.com/5A3pTSzSlP
A couple of players having some conflicts with their class schedule afforded freshman Nick Singleton a few extra reps on the practice field.
Keyvone Lee and Kaytron Allen have a class conflict at the moment. Here’s Nick Singleton pic.twitter.com/ZMeCAe6kfj
Singleton was the Gatorade High School Football Player of the Year for 2022 and the in-state recruit was one of the biggest prizes for James Franklin and his staff in the recent recruiting cycle. Keyvone Lee was not on hand for the practice session with media attending, but he is on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award this season. Singleton will have to earn the national respect down the line.
Penn State’s coordinators both seem as though they are getting involved up close with the coaching and tutoring this season. Offensive coordinator Mike Yuricch, entering his second season on the job, was busy chasing down his quarterbacks, while new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was also seen doing some hands-on coaching with the defense.
PSU’s newest pass rusher, Mike Yurcich.
And that concludes our 15-minute viewing window. We’ll see a little bit again on Saturday pic.twitter.com/PXnXqtVkH5
First real observation at Penn State’s opening practice is that Manny Diaz appears to be an extremely hands-on type of coach.
Penn State will open the 2022 season on Thursday, September 1 at Purdue. The game will air nationally on FOX with a scheduled kickoff time of 8 p.m. ET. | 2022-08-01T23:49:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | First looks from Penn State’s first fall camp practice | https://sports.yahoo.com/first-looks-penn-state-first-230931644.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/first-looks-penn-state-first-230931644.html?src=rss |
Preseason watch list season rolls along with a duo of Iowa Hawkeyes garnering more recognition. Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell and Hawkeyes tight end Sam LaPorta were both named to the preseason Rotary Lombardi Award watch list.
To be considered for the Rotary Lombardi Award, a player must be a down lineman, end to end, either on offense or defense, setting up no further than 10 yards to the left or the right of the ball at the time of the snap; be a linebacker on defense, setting up no further than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage; must not come out of the offensive backfield and set up on the line of scrimmage as a blocker or a receiver or listed in the program as an offensive back or or receiver.
After registering 143 tackles, eight passes defensed, 3.5 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions last season, Campbell made the 78-player watch list. Again, he is joined by teammate LaPorta who led the Hawkeyes in receptions and receiving yards with 53 grabs and 670 yards in 2021.
Campbell is a preseason first-team All-America selection by Phil Steele, and he’s been named to plenty of other watch lists as well. Both Campbell and Riley Moss were named to the Bednarik Award watch list, the Nagurski Trophy watch list and the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.
Campbell was also named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List, he was picked as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the Big Ten media, and has found himself as one of the top projected 2023 NFL draft picks at the linebacker position.
LaPorta brings back with him the most returning yards by a tight end to a Power 5 program. Similar to Campbell, LaPorta is projected as one of the top NFL draft picks at his position. He was listed by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. as the No. 2 tight end on his most recent 2023 NFL draft board. LaPorta was also recently named to the John Mackey Award watch list.
Fellow Big Ten stars that join both Campbell and LaPorta on the Rotary Lombardi Award’s preseason watch list include the following players: Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski; Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz; Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.; Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand Jones; Ohio State defensive end Zach Harrison; Michigan center Olu Oluwatimi; Michigan State defensive tackle Jacob Slade; Penn State defensive tackle PJ Mustipher; and Wisconsin outside linebacker Nick Herbig.
247Sports lists 5 potential 'X-Factor' Hawkeyes for 2022 | 2022-08-01T23:49:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Iowa’s Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta named to Rotary Lombardi Award watch list | https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-jack-campbell-sam-laporta-221532887.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-jack-campbell-sam-laporta-221532887.html?src=rss |
The Wolf Pack won’t want to take the defending Southland Conference champions lightly in non-conference play.
One of the conference’s tougher FCS tests.
After traveling to Las Cruces in Week 0 and opening its home schedule against Texas State, the Nevada Wolf Pack will close their two-game September homestand against the Incarnate Word Cardinals.
It could be a perilous contest. UIW made its second FCS playoff appearance ever on the strength of a powerful offense that, despite replacing some major pieces, could still be a difference maker on the field in 2022.
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Series History: This will be the first meeting between Nevada and Incarnate Word.
2021 Record: 10-3 (7-1 Southland)
Head Coach: G.J. Kinne (first year). Over the last several years, Kinne has had a pretty rapid rise in the coaching world. After serving on Doug Pederson’s Philadelphia Eagles staff in 2019, the former Tulsa quarterback then became Hawaii’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2020 before leaving for the same jobs at UCF last season. Then, UIW brought him on last December to replace Eric Morris, who jumped to Washington State.
He inherits a pretty good situation, but it isn’t a foolproof one. Kinne and his staff will need to find a replacement for Walter Payton Award finalist Cameron Ward and others while defending the program’s first conference title since 2018.
Taylor Grimes, WR
Grimes was one of the FCS level’s best pass catchers in 2021, setting program records with 1,145 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on 87 catches. It’s little wonder, then, that he was named a second-team FCS All-American at the end of last season and is one of two Cardinals to be named to multiple more preseason All-American squads. Chances are he’ll be one of the most dangerous playmakers Nevada will see all year.
Taylor Grimes gets out to the edge and races in for his second touchdown reception of the day❗️ #SouthlandStrong #TheWord #FCS
🖥️ – https://t.co/RoGm8rgQcA pic.twitter.com/lvpik9tfO6
Kelechi Anyalebechi, LB
Anyalebechi is the other Cardinal who’s received a good deal of recent national attention and with good reason. Like Grimes, he also set a program record with 130 total tackles but was as disruptive as any defender in the FCS, racking up six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles.
Kelechi Anyalebechi remember his name #8 the most powerful LB in college football this kid is something else the amount of power he holds is wild. working with this man has been one of a kind can’t wait to see him perform this upcoming season!! @kelechi_an pic.twitter.com/6cpXF0lp3e
— Tay & Ken Jones (@levelonefitness) May 12, 2022
Lindsey Scott Jr., QB
Replacing Cameron Ward at quarterback would be a tough ask of anyone, but doing so with an athlete like Scott, who threw for 2,083 yards, ran for 990 more, and accounted for 25 total touchdowns last year at Nichols State, makes the request seem a lot more manageable. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the most dangerous quarterback in the country, FCS or FBS, on the ground with a run grade of 90.4, so he could cause the Wolf Pack plenty of headaches if they aren’t prepared.
Kaleb Culp, DB
Culp made himself plenty busy in 2021 by being seemingly everywhere for the Cardinals on defense. He finished second on the team with 102 total tackles and pitched in with 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception, as well, earning a spot on the all-Southland first team defense for his efforts.
Cameron Preston, DL
An all-conference selection two years in a row, Preston graduated from the second team in 2020 to the first team in 2021 on the strength of 26 total tackles and one tackle for loss.
Kinne and offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich certainly have a high bar to clear after last year’s bonanza. They finished in a tie for seventh among all FCS teams in averaging 6.63 yards per play and fourth overall with 39.5 points per game, so while replicating all of that is a tall order, they have enough returning that it wouldn’t be a shock if they came close.
Replacing Ward with Scott Jr. at quarterback, and swiping him from a conference rival no less, could be monumental. He’ll have a wealth of talent at his disposal in the passing game with Grimes, Darion Chafin (59 catches, 771 yards, 11 touchdowns), and CJ Hardy (28-387-5) leading a very experienced unit, but replacing leading rusher Kevin Brown and his 1,268 all-purpose yards may be tougher. Marcus Cooper might take on a bigger role after posting 800 all-purpose yards on just 125 touches, but the Cardinals currently have only two other running backs on the roster. Depth could be an issue.
Along the offensive line, three players were recently named to the preseason all-conference two-deep: Nash Jones, Reid Francis, and Caleb Johnson. Even if pass protection becomes a problem, however, Scott Jr. might just have the athleticism to bail himself out often, anyway. This unit will be fun to watch in 2022.
For as lethal as UIW’s offense could be last year, new defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke will need to find more consistency in a unit that allowed 5.56 yards per play. He’ll also need to find a way to hold onto the disruption which allowed the Cardinals to create 26 takeaways, which tied for the sixth-most among FCS defenses.
Anyalebechi’s presence will be felt one way or another, but he and senior defensive linemen Sam Latham were the only UIW defenders with more than two sacks in 2021. That’s not to say the potential for a stronger pass rush isn’t there — Isaiah Paul paced the unit with 6.5 TFLs and had two sacks, as well — but that could be a sore spot if no one steps up.
That problem could compound itself, too, if the secondary also can’t find some improvements. They allowed opponents to complete 64.8% of their throws and average 6.8 yards per attempt, giving up perhaps too much ground from drive to drive. However, UIW also had five players with multiple interceptions, including Anyalebechi and Elliott Davison (55 tackles, four INTs). If they can be anywhere as opportunistic as they were in their run to the playoffs a year ago, that could help ease the personnel shuffling.
The Cardinals may be replacing a few big pieces from last year’s roster, but they should remain plenty potent and will pose a stiff test for the retooled Wolf Pack one way or another. The home team’s saving grace in this contest, though, should be a veteran secondary that will enable the team to outlast a tough out.
Nevada 38, Incarnate Word 35
Nevada Football: First Look At The Texas State Bobcats
Washington D.C., Aug. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last week, the Senate released the details of the budget reconciliation package, the Inflation Reduction Act, which does not include any funding for child care or early learning. The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is dedicated to promoting high quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care for nearly one million paid home-based early learning programs. Executive Director of the NAFCC, Erica Phillips, | 2022-08-01T23:49:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Nevada Football: First Look At The Incarnate Word Cardinals | https://sports.yahoo.com/nevada-football-first-look-incarnate-220026505.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nevada-football-first-look-incarnate-220026505.html?src=rss |
Penn State may be preparing for the 2022 season and putting the finishing touches on its Class of 2023, but the recruiting staff is sure to be happy with an announcement from a coveted in-state prospect in the Class of 2024. Omillio Agard, from Philadelphia, revealed his top 10 schools on Monday. Among those in the running was Penn State, and the competition appears to be as stiff as it can be.
Agard shared his top 10 schools with a graphic and announcement on his Twitter account on Monday afternoon. In addition to Penn State, Agard’s top 10 included Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.
Agard is a four-star cornerback for St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. According to the 247Sports recruiting rankings, Agard ranks No. 75 overall nationally (No. 138 nationally on the 247Sports composite rankings), No. 7 cornerback in the nation (No. 14), and is the No. 2 recruit in the state of Pennsylvania (No. 3 on the composite ranking). Naturally, he is considered a big target for Penn State to try and keep close to home.
Agard attended a pair of football camps at Alabama and Clemson in early June back-to-back. Each camp visit netted a scholarship offer from the schools now in his top 10. He has also reportedly visited Tennessee, Notre Dame, and Michigan this summer.
Penn State extended an offer to Agard back in February 2021 as one of the first offers on the table. He has since then made a pair of unofficial visits to Penn State’s campus with one in June 2021 and another last September for Penn State’s home game against Auburn. According to Ryan Snyder of On3, Agard spent a day with Penn State head coach James Franklin in May.
While it is still anybody’s guess just where Agard will end up, the On3 recruiting prediction machine calculates Penn State as the early favorite with a 35.9% chance of securing a verbal commitment from Agard. | 2022-08-01T23:49:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Penn State makes top 10 for four-star cornerback in 2024 | https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-makes-top-10-233012909.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-makes-top-10-233012909.html?src=rss |
The return of PJ Mustipher to the Penn State defensive line is sure to be a big plus for the Nittany Lions this season. His return is also putting him on the radar for the Rotary Lombardi Award.
On Monday, the Rotary Club of Houston released its watch list for this season’s Rotary Lombardi Award, which is designed to honor college football’s lineman of the year. Mustipher, who opted to return for another season after suffering a season-ending injury last fall, is among the players on the watch list for the award.
Semi-finalists for the award will be announced on November 10 and four finalists will be announced on November 23. The winner of the 2022 Rotary Lombardi Award will be announced on December 7.
Penn State Top 25 players for 2022: PJ Mustipher
Mustipher is one of 11 players from the Big Ten to appear on the watch list. The Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12 tied for the most watch list players with 11 each.
Penn State has two all-time winners of the Lombardi Award. Bruce Clark was the first Nittany Lion to receive the award, doing so in 1978 at the defensive tackle position. Penn State’s second and most recent Lombardi Award winner was defensive end Carl Nassib, who took home the award in 2015.
Last year’s recipient of the Lombardi Award was defensive end Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan. | 2022-08-01T23:50:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | PJ Mustipher named on Rotary Lombardi Award watch list | https://sports.yahoo.com/pj-mustipher-named-rotary-lombardi-220021886.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/pj-mustipher-named-rotary-lombardi-220021886.html?src=rss |
Much of her 16-page ruling — which was limited, Robinson wrote, to the four massage therapists whose testimony was included in the NFL's investigative report, and not all 24 women who filed civil lawsuits — was nonsensical. But apparently to Robinson, since there were no rape kits, no bruises, no ripped underwear in an evidence envelope somewhere, then the mental and emotional trauma suffered by the accusers was apparently not worth considering as she meted out Watson’s punishment.
Deshaun Watson's conduct was determined to be "non-violent" by independent arbitrator Sue Robinson. Let's spend some time with that. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)
Ashley Solis, the first woman to file suit against Watson, has gone on the record multiple times with her allegation of Watson’s sexually inappropriate and unwanted behavior during their appointment. Two years after her interaction with Watson, she's still brought to tears by the memory of it, as evidenced by her interview with Soledad O’Brien on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” that aired May.
Since Robinson’s decision gives the impression that she was wedded to the letter of the personal conduct policy and not the spirit of it, she perhaps should look up the definition of "violent" because it is not so narrow as she thinks it is. Violence can be in force or effect. The effect Watson’s behavior had on Solis and these other women was violent. | 2022-08-02T00:14:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | By Sue Robinson's own findings, it's hard to feel Deshaun Watson's conduct was 'non-violent' | https://sports.yahoo.com/by-sue-robinsons-own-findings-there-was-nothing-non-violent-about-deshaun-watsons-conduct-220215808.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/by-sue-robinsons-own-findings-there-was-nothing-non-violent-about-deshaun-watsons-conduct-220215808.html?src=rss |
Palmer: How Raiders are preparing for Hall of Fame Game vs. Jaguars
NFL Network's James Palmer shares how Las Vegas Raiders are preparing for the 2022 Hall of Fame Game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars to kick off this year's slate of NFL preseason games. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network | 2022-08-02T00:41:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Palmer: How Raiders are preparing for Hall of Fame Game vs. Jaguars | https://sports.yahoo.com/palmer-raiders-preparing-hall-fame-230550634.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/palmer-raiders-preparing-hall-fame-230550634.html?src=rss |
Matthew Stafford might be signaling "thumbs up," but the Rams' quarterback is still experiencing pain in this throwing arm. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
“It's coming along,” he said. “I’m kind of right where I want to be and just continue to get it feeling better. Get it stronger.
“As far as things different, piecing this thing together every year is a little bit different,” he said, running his hands in front of his body. “So, yeah, there's different challenges. We go from there.”
“He’s still feeling a little bit of pain,” McVay said. “He could push through it. ... We felt like the smart thing was let’s really just take it a week at time. ... The most important thing is for him feeling good and healthy on Sept. 8.
Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson stretches to catch a pass in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on Feb. 13. Jefferson's availability for the season opener against Buffalo is "up in the air." (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Van Jefferson tweaked his knee and will undergo surgery Tuesday, sidelining him a few weeks | 2022-08-02T00:41:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rams hurting: Matthew Stafford has more arm pain; Van Jefferson needs knee surgery | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-no-3-receiver-van-225345283.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-no-3-receiver-van-225345283.html?src=rss |
How Williams assisted with Deebo's negotiations with 49ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — Trent Williams should be credited with an assist for helping the 49ers agree to a contract extension with Deebo Samuel.
The All-Pro left tackle is very close to the star receiver. The two have spent time together during multiple offseasons working out in Texas which led to their now-famous pregame walks out onto the field.
Williams revealed that while he wasn’t a mediator during the process, he did speak to both parties in the hopes of ensuring a happy result for everyone.
“I talked to both sides during the process,” Williams said on Monday. “I was literally chopping it up with them the past two days, talking to Kyle. I was just doing my part as a mentor to Deebo and looking at him as a little brother and as a captain of this team.”
Williams explained that he offered his “two cents” but with absolute respect. Drafted as the No. 4 overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, the experienced left tackle has seen it all and wanted to help procure an agreement.
“My biggest thing was that I never wanted to overstep any boundaries,” Williams said. “Because Deebo worked his whole life to get to this position, and you don’t work your whole life on this dream and get in this position and let somebody else tell you what to do.”
Williams gave kudos to Samuel for being a professional and returning to the team facility for mandatory minicamp and the start of training camp without an extension in the books. The 12-year veteran believes Samuel's presence is in large part why a deal eventually got done.
While the situation between the two sides was strenuous for some time, Williams always believed an extension would get done. It got a little “uglier” than the veteran wanted to see, but in the long run, he had confidence that the club was going to do right by their star player.
Both general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan have shared how important Samuel is to the organization and Williams certainly concurs. The All-Pro lineman knows just how important Samuel is as a catalyst for the team both on and off the field.
“The spark plug that he is for the team, you see us coming out of the locker room,” Williams said. “It’s not just for show. That’s how we are in the locker room, period. You go in there now, that boom box is probably right next to his locker.
“He’s that type of person and that’s why he is important to this organization and why we had to have him.”
Samuel immediately participated in team drills on Monday but in a limited fashion. He will gradually be given more work as he gets up to football speed and ready for Week 1 of the regular season. | 2022-08-02T00:41:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | How Trent Williams assisted with Deebo Samuel-49ers contract negotiations | https://sports.yahoo.com/trent-williams-assisted-deebo-samuel-211913844.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/trent-williams-assisted-deebo-samuel-211913844.html?src=rss |
The Rotary Lombardi Award®, in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Houston, is pleased to announce the 77 players who will compete for this year’s coveted award. The Rotary Lombardi Award® goes annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman, who in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi.
Where does Clemson rank among the biggest college football brands? | 2022-08-02T01:29:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Four Tigers placed on Lombardi Award Watch List | https://sports.yahoo.com/four-tigers-placed-lombardi-award-000037244.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/four-tigers-placed-lombardi-award-000037244.html?src=rss |
Last week at Big Ten Media Days, there was naturally plenty of conversation about the upcoming 2024 additions of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten. 247Sports shared what a series of Big Ten players thought about who the league should add next.
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell has the perceived No. 1 target at the top of his list.
“That’s a great question. I want Notre Dame, I think that would be cool. And well, so does the Big Ten. I think it would be pretty cool to play those guys. They’re talented and another historic program. They’re not in a conference of their own so it would be nice to see them join the Big Ten and have future Hawkeyes have an opportunity to play them,” Campbell said.
Hawkeyes safety Kaevon Merriweather had a lengthy list of prospective additions.
“Oh man. If you wanted to do it from a financial standpoint, I’m bringing Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Miami, you feel me? You listening? We still have UCLA and USC, right? Then we’re going to bring Oregon, and then I think from there we’re good. But those are like the big money markets. If I was the Big Ten commissioner, I’d make a lot of money with those teams in there, you know what I’m saying?
“What I’d do first, though, probably Oregon, not going to lie. Just the influence of Nike and the number of people who love Oregon across the country, I’d definitely bring Oregon first. I ain’t gonna lie to you though, I’m kinda mad, I wish they would have done the realignment thing a bit earlier, a trip to USC would not be bad. Them coming to the Midwest as well in November? They ain’t gonna play out too well, I ain’t gonna lie,” Merriweather said.
Like Merriweather touched on, the idea of both USC and UCLA coming to the Midwest during cold-weather months has been something current Big Ten players have commonly cited as a potential future advantage. Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras also needled the two L.A. schools recently.
Naturally, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren was asked about future expansion at Big Ten Media Days.
“I get asked every single day, what’s next? It may include future expansion, but it will be done for the right reasons, at the right time, with our student-athletes’ academic and athletic empowerment at the center of any and all decisions that we will make. We will not expand just to expand. It will be strategic; it will add additional value to our conference,” Warren said.
Can the Big 12 emerge as the nation’s No. 3 conference with these potential expansion teams? | 2022-08-02T01:29:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Iowa’s Jack Campbell, Kaevon Merriweather share their future Big Ten expansion picks | https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-jack-campbell-kaevon-merriweather-000015534.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-jack-campbell-kaevon-merriweather-000015534.html?src=rss |
The Bednarik Award is an annual postseason trophy presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year. The Maxwell Football Club has given the award away every year since its inception in 1995. It’s named for Chuck Bednarik, a linebacker who played for Penn from 1945-1948 and was the first overall pick of the 1949 NFL Draft of the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a 2x NFL Champion (1949, 1960), a 10x First-team All-Pro, and a member of the NFL’s 50th, 75th, and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
Husker Linebacker Luke Reimer has been named to the Bednarik watchlist. Last season the Lincoln, Nebraska native had 90 total tackles, one sack, and one interception for the Cornhuskers. Should Reimer win the award, he would be the second Husker after 2009 winner Ndamukong Suh.
.@Ldreimer2 has been named to the Bednarik Award watchlist, recognizing the nation's top defensive players ☠️#GBR pic.twitter.com/R3OVdOXBGg
When it comes to cases of missing and murdered indigenous people, sexual assault and violence are often big factors. And the rates are alarming, especially in New Mexico. | 2022-08-02T02:12:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Husker Linebacker named to Bednarik Watchlist | https://sports.yahoo.com/husker-linebacker-named-bednarik-watchlist-002017283.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/husker-linebacker-named-bednarik-watchlist-002017283.html?src=rss |
Should the Bucs ride with Blaine Gabbert again, or should Kyle Trask take his spot behind Tom Brady?
EXCLUSIVE: Germany has long been a powerhouse in football (aka soccer), winning four World Cups between 1954 and 2014. Now the country is developing a taste for American football. Germany’s got its own American football league, the GFL. Among the teams are the Munich Cowboys (not to be confused with the Dallas Cowboys), the Berlin […] | 2022-08-02T02:13:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Tom Brady hits diving Scotty Miller with perfect deep ball in practice | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-tom-brady-hits-diving-010044797.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-tom-brady-hits-diving-010044797.html?src=rss |
DALLAS – UFC president Dana White says Julianna Pena needs to prioritize her health in the aftermath of a “completely dominant” title-fight loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 277.
Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) fell short in her highly anticipated main event rematch with Nunes (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC) on Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas when she surrendered the women’s bantamweight title by lopsided unanimous decision. She was knocked down three times and badly cut open on the forehead by “The Lioness” over the course of five rounds, but fought hard until the bitter end.
The damage was apparent, though, and White said post-fight that Peña was immediately transported to a plastic surgeon, and he’s not certain about her future going forward.
“Julianna’s got a big chunk missing from her forehead,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 277 post-fight news conference. “She’s going to see a plastic surgeon right now. (She’ll) take some time to heal, and then I don’t know. She got pretty banged up tonight. It was like five or six knockdowns in the first two rounds. She was hurt. She needs to take some time off, relax, spend some time with her daughter and then we’ll go from there.”
Although Peña’s resilience and determination in the fight was admirable, White said there wasn’t much else redeeming about it, and it was Nunes’ night.
“I thought it was completely dominant,” White said. “There was five knockdowns in the first two rounds. There’s a big difference between submission attempts and knockdowns. They’re not even comparable. Julianna’s tough as nails and her will to win is second-to-none. She wanted to win. I think as dominant as Amanda was – and she was dominant tonight – I didn’t think it was close in any way, shape or form. It was a complete shutout.” | 2022-08-02T03:14:12Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dana White: Julianna Peña lost ‘big chunk’ of forehead at UFC 277, needs surgery | https://sports.yahoo.com/dana-white-julianna-pe-lost-060047302.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dana-white-julianna-pe-lost-060047302.html?src=rss |
It has always been said that parents know their child best and Steph Curry's father, Dell, can attest to that.
In an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole on the latest episode of Dubs Talk, Dell explained when he knew Steph was going to be an NBA All-Star.
"Once he got through the first cycle of injuries, I definitely knew he could be an All-Star," Dell told Poole.
Furthermore, Dell said that Steph's 54-point outburst against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden during the 2012-13 NBA season gave his son the confidence to know that he was capable of having those huge scoring nights.
"To do it in Madison Square Garden, it was just surreal," Dell recalled. "A handful of guys have scored 50-plus in that type of atmosphere ... that's a tough atmosphere to play in.
"I think that was an 'I've arrived in the NBA' moment," Dell concluded.
Since Steph's "I've arrived in the NBA" moment in 2013, the 34-year-old has been an eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA selection, four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, an All-Star MVP, and so much more.
He also broke the record for most 3-pointers made in NBA history in MSG in December, so it's fair to say that Steph likes to show out when he's playing the Knicks.
While Dell might have known that Steph was going to be an All-Star at some point, no one could have foreseen his son's meteoric rise. If he keeps going, Steph could very well entrench himself as one of the greatest players of all time. | 2022-08-02T03:14:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | When Dell Curry knew Warriors' Steph Curry was going to be NBA All-Star | https://sports.yahoo.com/dell-curry-knew-warriors-steph-210000368.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dell-curry-knew-warriors-steph-210000368.html?src=rss |
While the Houston Texans are supporting receiver John Metchie off the field with his battle with leukemia, the business of pro football continues.
According to Adam Schefter from ESPN, the Texans visited with former Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts receivers Chester Rogers.
Rogers was with the Titans in 2020 after spending training camp with the Miami Dolphins. The Titans kept Rogers on their practice squad, and he did not make his first appearance with the team until Week 1 the following year.
With the Titans, Rogers caught 30 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown.
When Rogers was with the Colts, he produced 111 catches for 1,221 yards and five touchdowns through 53 games, 22 of which he started.
The Texans could use a slot receiver, and Rogers fits the bill at 6-0, 184 pounds.
AFC South news round-up: Metchie diagnosed with Leukemia, Leonard’s name change
Find out what's going on in the AFC South with our weekly round-up. | 2022-08-02T03:43:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Texans visit with former Colts, Titans WR Chester Rogers | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-texans-visit-former-colts-022204299.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-texans-visit-former-colts-022204299.html?src=rss |
Ebukam: It would be 'different story' if career began with 49ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — Samson Ebukam wishes his career would have started with the 49ers but is grateful he is now where he belongs.
The veteran pass rusher is in his second season in Santa Clara after four seasons as an outside linebacker with the Los Angeles Rams. Ebukam loves simply being asked to rush the quarterback as opposed to taking on blocks or thinking about what he needs to do on the field like he did in Los Angeles.
It took a little time for Ebukam to fully adjust to the 49ers scheme. Now, with his responsibilities streamlined, the Eastern Washington product has a goal of breaking his three-year streak of 4.5 regular season sacks.
“I played my whole college career as a defensive end,” Ebukam said on Monday. “So if I came here and was playing defensive end as a rookie, with the bend that I had, I wouldn’t be sitting at four and a half sacks, I’d be gone.”
The pass rusher won’t share what his goal for 2022 is until he has reached it and believes that he would be much further along in his career if he had started out Day 1 with the 49ers under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
Ebukam’s thoughts on what life could have been like came after he was asked for his assessment of Drake Jackson. The rookie’s abilities combined with the club’s defensive scheme are reason enough for the veteran to be excited for Jackson.
“He’s a perfect fit for this team,” Ebukam said. “Every time he makes a move we are like, ‘Man, that dude.’ He can bend, he can do it all. I’m excited for what’s to come for him. He had a couple moves today and I was like, ‘Dang bro, you got some good hips.’
The six-year veteran loves what he sees from the rookie off the field as well. Ebukam shared that Jackson is soaking everything up like a sponge without complaining which leads the veteran to believe the USC product will be another valuable weapon for the defense. | 2022-08-02T03:44:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Samson Ebukam wishes NFL career began with 49ers like rookie Drake Jackson | https://sports.yahoo.com/samson-ebukam-wishes-nfl-career-231028922.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/samson-ebukam-wishes-nfl-career-231028922.html?src=rss |
It’s Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and here’s what Jared is cookin’ up:
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been suspended six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following accusations of sexual misconduct by dozens of female massage therapists in Houston
Serving as an independent arbiter, former federal judge Sue Robinson handed down the ruling, which can be appealed by the NFL
The league originally sought a season-long suspension due to the unprecedented allegations against Watson | 2022-08-02T03:44:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | The Rush: Deshaun Watson suspension evokes more questions than answers | https://sports.yahoo.com/the-rush-deshaun-watson-suspension-evokes-more-questions-than-answers-023900688.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/the-rush-deshaun-watson-suspension-evokes-more-questions-than-answers-023900688.html?src=rss |
After Monday's loss to the Twins, the Tigers sent outfielder Robbie Grossman to the Atlanta Braves, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. The Tigers are getting left-handed pitcherKris Anglin in return.
Anglin, drafted by the Braves in the 16th round of the 2021 draft out of Howard College in Texas, has spent this season in rookie ball and Single-A. The 20-year-old is 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.433 WHIP in 17 appearances (11 starts). He is not listed among the Braves' top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.
Gio Urshela hit a game-ending, two-run homer in the 10th inning and Jose Miranda had three RBIs as the Minnesota Twins came back to beat the Detroit Tigers 5-3 on Monday night and maintain their one-game lead in the AL Central. Miranda hit a tying, two-run single in the eighth, long after Tigers starter Tarik Skubal was pulled following five scoreless innings with left arm fatigue. Akil Baddoo delivered a go-ahead single in the top of the 10th off Griffin Jax (5-2) against the team that drafted him six years ago.
Panama’s teachers will return to the classroom Tuesday after a month-long strike supported by a number of other sectors that blocked commerce and snarled the capital with traffic over the high cost of living and government corruption. The teacher walkout started what became the largest social protest that Panama had seen in years. The teachers were eventually joined by construction workers and Indigenous groups, as well as frustrated average Panamanians. | 2022-08-02T04:47:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Detroit Tigers trade Robbie Grossman to Atlanta Braves for left-handed pitcher Kris Anglin | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-tigers-trade-robbie-grossman-032803687.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-tigers-trade-robbie-grossman-032803687.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens have added a few new faces at offensive tackle over the last few months. They signed free agent Morgan Moses to a three-year, $15 million deal while also drafting Daniel Faalele out of the University of Minnesota in the fourth round of the 2022 draft.
One of the other players at the position can classify as a new face, but was brought in during the 2021 offseason in Ja’Wuan James. The veteran suffered a torn achilles away from the Denver Broncos’ facility last year, prompting the team to cut him while voiding all guarantees. Baltimore scooped him up on a two-year contract, and he missed all of the 2021 season while recovering.
On Monday, James missed training camp practice after leaving the open stadium practice at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh provided an update on James, saying that he has a “nagging” thing that they want to give him rest for.
“Yes, he has a little nagging thing going on, so I just kind of decided – we decided together to give it a little rest.”
Harbaugh also shared his thoughts on the tackle, saying that he’s moving really well and playing on the left side.
“He’s moving really well. He’s moving well. He’s playing on the left side. He hasn’t been a left tackle; he’s been a right tackle his whole career. So, he probably would rather be on the right side, but sometimes necessity is the mother of invention. He’s getting an opportunity on the left side right now. So, pads come out, see how that thing feels, see how it holds up … That will be the key.”
Adley Rutschman had three hits and Spenser Watkins threw six innings of one-run ball to lead the Orioles to a 7-2 win over the Rangers
Ravens DL Michael Pierce praises DL Travis Jones
Ravens defensive lineman Michael Pierce had high praise for rookie defensive lineman Travis Jones | 2022-08-02T05:15:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens HC John Harbaugh gives update, shares thoughts on OT Ja’Wuan James | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-gives-035935886.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-gives-035935886.html?src=rss |
What we learned from Webb's rough outing in loss to Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SAN FRANCISCO -- If the players hoped to send a message to management on the night before the trade deadline ... well, they did.
Unlike in the last series between the teams, the Giants did finally hold a lead through the end of an inning. But that didn't last long. They struck first but Max Muncy hit a two-run shot in the second inning and the Dodgers never looked back.
Flores hit a loud solo shot in the fifth, his 16th of the year. He has been the Giants' best and most consistent position player, and he's just two homers and three RBI from his previous career highs.
Webb allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out just a pair, and his stuff wasn't nearly as sharp as it has been in recent weeks. The six runs on his line were a season-high.
Musgrove was slated to his free agency this winter. | 2022-08-02T05:36:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants observations: Dodgers rock Logan Webb early in series-opening loss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-observations-dodgers-rock-logan-035218309.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-observations-dodgers-rock-logan-035218309.html?src=rss |
WASHINGTON — “I don’t want to think about what it would be like if he wasn’t here,” Sean Doolittle said, 56 hours before the MLB trade deadline. Doolittle is back in Washington this season, but out for the rest of the year with an elbow injury. As such, it’s looking increasingly unlikely he’ll ever play alongside Juan Soto again.
On what could be Soto’s last weekend as a Washington National, you wouldn’t really know it from the vibe inside the ballpark. Fans cheered for him loudest during the introductions and ahead of his at-bats — but whether that was as a precautionary farewell or simply because he’s the best player on the team is hard to tell. In game, the sea of red seemed to celebrate the success of the Nationals and the visiting St. Louis Cardinals almost equally, or maybe it just seemed that way since the latter gave them more reason to cheer. On Sunday, a late-inning chant broke out behind the Cardinals dugout: “We want Albert!”
Nationals fans undoubtedly want Soto, now and in perpetuity, but they didn’t say so in unison. Not yet anyway.
Juan Soto, you may have heard, is the second coming of Ted Williams and still just 23 with over two years of team control left. He’s at once a veteran, as cool-headed under pressure as he is competitive, and a trove of potential still coming into his prime. Ever since the eve of the All-Star Game, baseball has been obsessed with his future, abuzz with speculation about how and where — OK, mostly where — that potential might play out.
D.C. is largely cast as a foil or a fallback in those conversations. He might still stay, for a few more months anyway, if Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo isn’t offered a sufficiently compelling return or if the impending sale of the team by the Lerner family complicates the equation too much. But that would mean all the fun with photoshop and tireless Twitter refreshing and eager speculation were for naught. That would mean no Soto in the postseason this year.
And yet, all that Soto has accomplished thus far has been for the Nationals, his rise to superstar buoyed by their success and vice versa. From his first start in the majors, when he homered in his first at-bat and returned to the dugout to tell manager Dave Martinez, “I love playing baseball,” through winning the home run derby despite the intense scrutiny that descended on him after reports of a rejected extension leaked, the Soto era — still extant — has been something special.
So they still buy Soto jerseys at the park.
“And T-shirts, and baseballs, and baseball cards,” a cashier at the team store says. A teen, who road-tripped from Rhode Island with her mother, says she got one because they’re sitting in right field and she’s pretty sure he looked right at her. Who else’s would they buy, even? The team stores inside the stadium still sell “Scherzer” shirts and city connect “Zimmerman” jerseys, even though career-Nat Ryan Zimmerman retired last year, before those were even a thing. At least Soto has actually donned the cherry blossoms.
Besides, championship flags fly forever, and maybe fans don’t want to think about what it would be like if he wasn’t here, either.
Washington National star outfielder Juan Soto appears likely to be traded in the coming days. That hasn't stopped fans from showing their love. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Soto's teammates: His value is priceless
“My perspective on it really changed when I was with Cincinnati and Seattle last year,” Doolittle says. “Everybody wants to know what Juan Soto is like. Everybody was like, ‘What's he like? How is he so good? How does he not swing at pitches that aren't strikes?’ Guys around the league were fanboying. Not about the World Series, not about playing with Max [Scherzer] or a lot of other guys. They were like, ‘What’s Juan Soto like?’”
Soto is quiet.
“Which is crazy because then you see him out on the field and he's very, very loud,” says pitcher Erick Fedde, who has seen Soto’s whole career in D.C. “I think the baseball field brings out the best in him.”
Elsewhere, though, he’s more reserved. Quiet and clean-cut, in a way that made executives comfortable from the start. He spends a lot of time with his mom and his dad. Sleeps till noon, at least. He loves to play dominoes. On the plane, he and Maikel Franco face off against Yadiel Hernández and Alcides Escobar. If Hernández is to be believed, Soto’s baseball skills do not translate to tiles. He is not an adventurous eater.
“Straight, specific Latin food,” Martinez says. One exception is that he briefly got into honey buns, hardly the kind of athletically optimized diet a manager wants for his top player, but Soto was hitting so well at the time that Martinez let it slide. It must be nice to be 23.
On the field, Soto’s preternatural maturity is a big part of why he may be baseball’s first half-billion dollar player. His game has barely changed in almost five seasons, and that’s to his credit. He appeared in the big leagues as a teenager with the kind of patience that’s usually wasted on the old. Aníbal Sánchez was 35 when he joined the team in 2019. Playing alongside Soto, 15 years his junior, breaking down at-bats and analyzing sequencing together has “definitely” made him a better pitcher. But it’s his 4-year-old son, Aníbal Jr., who has found a kindred spirit in Soto.
“They like to play,” the elder Sánchez says. And then he pulls up a video from a few weeks back: Aníbal Jr. pitching to Soto, with Escobar’s son catching. It’s a role reversal from earlier in the season, when the team tweeted out video of Soto tossing BP to Aníbal Jr.
“I don’t know if he’ll understand when one day comes in and he’s not here,” Sánchez says.
“He’s a funny guy,” says 22-year-old Luis Garcia, in his third season with the Nationals.
“He’s got his own way to be funny,” says veteran Nelson Cruz, who joined the Nationals in the offseason.
Here’s what that looks like in practice, according to Garcia: “You come into the clubhouse and he’s talking s*** to you and you think it’s like real talking s*** and then as the last thing [he says], ‘Oh, I’m kidding.’ Like, what the f***?”
Topics of said s***-talking include shoes and other elements of style.
Have we mentioned he’s very good at baseball?
Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts during batting practice before a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Nationals transition into rebuild
A year ago, the Nationals took a sluggish shortened season-and-a-half after their World Series win and turned it into a full-blown rebuild. In a stunning, if not totally unexpected, trade-deadline teardown, the Nats dealt a huge chunk of their recognizable roster — Scherzer, Kyle Schwarber, Daniel Hudson, Yan Gomes, Josh Harrison, Brad Hand, Jon Lester and Trea Turner, with whom Soto is particularly close.
“He was hurt by it,” Martinez says. “Plus, he still thought we had a slight chance of making the playoffs.”
Instead they lost 97 games, finishing in last place in the NL East.
Martinez says it took Soto some time, a week and half maybe, to break out of a funk after finding out he was suddenly on a team that wasn’t even planning to play in October. But if that’s the case, it didn’t show in his performance. From then until the end of the season, he hit .333, with an OPS over 1.000. He finished second in NL MVP voting.
Over the offseason, Soto called Cruz, nearly 20 years his senior, to sell him on signing with the Nationals. They’re both from the Dominican Republic, and know each other a little from charity events over the years. He did, and Soto was the first to call after he signed to welcome him to the club.
In spring training, they carpooled to away games, sitting together in the backseat while a member of the Nationals staff drove.
“We talked about everything,” Cruz says. “Nothing in particular, from the [World Baseball Classic] to food to our country to where he went to the offseason on vacation, and stuff like that.”
And as they drove, Soto, who was plenty used to the routes around the Grapefruit League, would offer edits to the GPS directions: “Oh, go this way it’s quicker, this way is faster.” “Take this road, it’s easier to go this way.”
Maybe greatness goes hand-in-hand with being a control freak.
No, Cruz explains. “He’s trying to help.”
Washington Nationals' Juan Soto gestures to the visiting dugout as he approaches the batter's box for his first at-bat in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, July 29, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Next stop: Unknown
The morning after the World Series is won in 2019, the Nationals fly home, trophy in hand. It’s Halloween and a bunch of the players’ kids are dressed up in costumes. At first, Soto sits in the back, but about an hour into the flight, he starts making his way forward, handing out candy to the other players as he goes, a scheme in motion.
When he's done, the kids trick-or-treat down the aisle.
“We didn't have that much candy, So some of us are only giving like a piece of Snickers,” Doolittle says. “I just thought it was really cool. He was thinking of the kids, and he still was a kid.”
That was back when the Nationals were on top of the baseball world. It must’ve seemed, if not easy than at least simple. Soto made at-bats look like an art form, no moment was ever too big. From the day he stepped foot on a big league field, he’d been good at baseball and the winning had followed. The season was a success, the future practically infinite. He was a kid and a champion and beloved because of his ability to blend the two. Have your candy and eat it, too, Juan Soto.
Can it really be less than three years later and things are so complicated? Change came fast around Soto, even as his teammates praise his consistency. You never do have as much control as it seems when the ball is bouncing right. And now the man who turned down $440 million has to wait and see, along with the rest of us, where he’ll play come Wednesday.
“In all honesty, I think he is obviously the face of the franchise,” Hernandez says, and it’s hard to dispute, not that anyone tries. Ask what he means to the team and teammates will tell you: Everything.
“And it's a lot to put on a young kid,” Fedde says, “but he’s taken it so well.”
They’re diplomatic in what they want for him. Happiness, mostly.
“My hope for him is that he is able to recognize what he's really worth,” Doolittle says.
The hope beyond that hope, though, is that he can find it — happiness, a fair deal — in D.C. They already have the jerseys, after all.
“He got spoiled really fast because we won. He got a taste of that. And he loved it. He loved the limelight. He loved everything about it,” Martinez says. “He sees what we're really trying to do. He understands that’s going to take some time. But this is his home, right?” | 2022-08-02T05:36:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | The end of the Juan Soto era in D.C.? Hope and tension as teammates reflect on their star | https://sports.yahoo.com/juan-sotos-possible-final-hours-with-the-nationals-hope-and-tension-as-teammates-reflect-on-their-quiet-star-142813218.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/juan-sotos-possible-final-hours-with-the-nationals-hope-and-tension-as-teammates-reflect-on-their-quiet-star-142813218.html?src=rss |
What's Next: Ottawa Senators
We've already covered the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and Detroit Red Wings so we'll continue our look at the Atlantic Division today by examining the Ottawa Senators.
Going into the campaign, you could separate the Atlantic Division into three categories: Serious contenders, clearly rebuilding teams, and the Montreal Canadiens. Ottawa fell into the second camp and their season largely went as expected, which is to say that they saw encouraging performances from some of their young players, but they didn't come close to a postseason berth.
On the positive side of things, forwards Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Joshua Norris, and Drake Batherson all set career-highs in points. Tkachuk and Norris were particularly impressive, scoring 30 and 35 goals respectively. Ottawa still finished 26th offensively with 2.73 goals per game because no one other than those four even breached the 40-point milestone, but at least it's clear at this point that the Senators have a good core of forwards they can build around.
Their offense clearly was still a work in progress, but what really held the Senators back was their defense. Ottawa had an Expected Goals Against of 270.68, per MockeyPuck. That was the seventh worst in the league. In five-on-five situations specifically, they had the sixth worst Expected Goals Against at 185.4. What's important to note about this stat is its measuring how many goals the opposing team is expected to score based on the quality of the shots that they've been allowed. In other words, this is a stat that purely measures the quality of the team's defense, not the goaltending.
So when you see that Anton Forsberg had a 22-17-4 record, 2.82 GAA, and .917 save percentage in 46 games while Matt Murray had a 5-12-2 record, 3.05 GAA, and .906 save percentage in 20 starts, it's important to remember that the team in front of them was essentially a burden that those goaltenders had to attempt to overcome.
In fact, if you look at what Murray's expected GAA would have been had he played simply average hockey with that defense in front of him, he'd be at 3.21. The fact that he had a 3.05 GAA suggests that overall, he was an above average goaltender dragged down by his team. Forsberg's situation was much the same.
That's important to remember for when we get into the Senators' outlook, but for now let's just note that it hurt Ottawa significantly. Even with a late season surge that saw Ottawa winning seven of its final 10 games, the Senators finished with a 33-42-7 record.
It's been interesting to say the least. Before the UFA period even began, Ottawa was swinging for the fences with some major trades. The Senators acquired Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the 2022 seventh overall pick (Kevin Korchinski), the 39th overall pick (Paul Ludwinski), and a 2024 third-round pick. That's a pretty good price to pay for DeBrincat, who had 41 goals and 78 points in 82 games last season and is still just 24-years-old. He fits in perfectly with the Senators' forward core, giving them another major weapon for years to come.
Ottawa also dumped Murray on the Leafs. They gave up a 2023 third-round pick and 2024 seventh-round pick while retaining 25% of Murray's salary in exchange for “future considerations.” Ultimately this move was designed to free up roughly $4.7 million in cap space. Ottawa then used most of those savings to flip Filip Gustavsson to Minnesota in exchange for goaltender Cam Talbot.
On the surface this might seem like Ottawa solidifying their goaltending situation but remember what I mentioned earlier about the Senators' defense, not its goaltending being the root of the issue.
We'll get back to that in the Outlook situation, but we can't discuss the campaign to come without first noting that Ottawa signed Claude Giroux to a three-year, $19.5 million deal. Giroux, 34, has perhaps started to show his age a bit, but he's still a high-end forward. He scored 21 goals and 65 points in 75 games last season and will provide some veteran leadership to a team looking to shift to being a contender.
Let's start with the murky, which is swapping out Murray for Talbot. Murray had a shaky stint with the Senators and it wasn't just about his performance between the pipes. He also had injury problems, which is part of the reason why he started in just 20 games last season. Ultimately, it's not hard to get why the Senators would want to move on from him.
But is Talbot the solution? Probably not. Talbot benefited from playing behind the Minnesota Wild last season. Remember how Murray overperformed relative to his team's defense? Well, Talbot underperformed relative to the help he got from the Wild. An average goaltender facing the quality and quantity of shots Talbot received would have a projected GAA of 2.64 while Talbot finished the season at 2.76.
It's important not to be too hard on Talbot, he's a veteran goaltender who could be solid in net for the Senators. But what he likely isn't is a savour and it would take such a goaltender to mask the Senators problems if their defense performs as it did last season. And that's where the concern about Ottawa really lies because one thing the Senators didn't address over the summer was their blueline.
That's why, even as I look at a top six made up of Tkachuk, Stützle, Norris, Batherson, Giroux, and DeBrincat, I'm on the fence about them being a playoff quality team. I do feel good enough about them though to say that they're at least going to be in the mix for a Wild Card spot.
This will be a fun team to watch and it certainly will be a better team than it was a year ago. Plus it's also still a very young team, so even if they do fall a bit short of the postseason this season, they should continue to improve in 2023-24.
(Bloomberg) -- Senator Lindsey Graham said he has retained former White House counsel Don McGahn to fight off a subpoena in a Georgia probe of former President Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election.Most Read from BloombergYou Won’t Like What Comes After InflationPelosi Is Expected to Visit Taiwan, Ramping Up US-China TensionsManchin Spending Deal Includes Billions in Oil Import TaxesChina’s Rebound Remains Fragile as Factories, Property Slump“He’s a really good guy in this area,” t | 2022-08-02T05:58:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | What's Next: Ottawa Senators | https://sports.yahoo.com/whats-next-ottawa-senators-010706551.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/whats-next-ottawa-senators-010706551.html?src=rss |
Buyers? Sellers? Somewhere in between? What the Giants will do before Tuesday's MLB trade deadline remains to be seen.
San Francisco's 2022 season certainly has been disappointing, and the team has multiple assets that could net exciting, young prospects. On the flip side, the Giants are just four games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the third and final NL wild-card spot before Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Former Giants outfielder Hunter Pence joined 95.7 The Game's Mark Willard and Joe Shasky on the "Garlic Fries and Baseball Guys" podcast, where he discussed why San Francisco shouldn't trade co-ace Carlos Rodón and how the team should attack the upcoming deadline.
"When you trade Rodón, it's a ripple effect, a message," Pence said. "No matter what you get back, it helps for now, you're not going to win a World Series. We are the San Francisco Giants, we are an incredible organization, we have a powerful fan base, and we have a Carlos Rodón and a Logan Webb, who you can step into the playoffs and be like this is our No. 1, this is our No. 2, come and get some. You trade Rodon, you lose that.
"I don't care who you get, do not do this buy/sell thing. I am so passionate about this. And by the way, we're three games out, whatever the case may be, you don't get opportunities to make postseason runs, have No. 1s and No. 2s like that very often. And the Giants can win every year -- we have the backing to do that. So to me, you add to this team. We're losing one-run games, we're playing a little bit of poor defense. These are things that are fixable."
Pence believes that by being buyers at the deadline, the Giants could instill confidence in a roster that hasn't had many reasons to be confident in recent weeks. There's one name in particular that Pence believes could be a good fit in San Francisco.
"These players aren't robots, they're not just going to be their stats," Pence explained. "You ripple and inspire all of them when you buy and have faith and you're like, 'Guess what? We're coming to win this year,' because an opportunity to get to the playoffs with a [Carlos] Rodón and a Logan Webb and the bullpen. ... Add one or two little arms, add one good defender, go get a Joey Gallo, who's really going to fit in over here that you don't have to give away the farm for.
"He's going to do a lot of things, he's going to play crazy defense, he has one of the strongest arms and help the pitching staff and send a message to these players and the city, 'Hey, we're coming to burn it down, because that's what we do and we have the team to do it.' "
The biggest name available before the deadline is Washington Nationals superstar Juan Soto, whom the Giants reportedly have expressed some level of interest in, but they likely aren't one of the serious contenders to make a move for him at this point. San Francisco would pay a premium, one that Pence doesn't believe is necessary. Instead, the two-time world champion believes his former team needs to make moves that address the bullpen and clean up the shaky outfield defense.
"You don't sell the farm for a Juan Soto," Pence added. "What you do is find a way to find some bullpen arms to bolster this bullpen, especially a left-hander that comes in that's a veteran that could also breed more confidence into the other young bullpen arms that's like, 'I got lefties out.' Go get another lefty, and you might have to give away one prospect that's an average major league or maybe a plus-major leaguer. You don't give away your blue, blue-chip [prospects] because that's going to be if you're doing the Juan Soto thing. You get a reliever, you might have to give a little bit of farm up, but we can pick that up in free agency. You go out and get one more bat, outfield defense, sew up the left-field defense."
As a former deadline acquisition himself, Pence knows exactly what kind of boost a trade can provide to a team that's competing for a playoff spot. Pence himself provided a spark that played a huge role in San Francisco's 2012 and 2014 championships, and he believes a similar move can fire up this year's team.
Will the Giants make another Pence-like move, or will they sell off valuable assets and re-tool for next season? We'll find out in less than 24 hours.
The Dodgers are contenders again with a 69-33 record while the San Francisco Giants have holes on their roster and don't boast much talent. | 2022-08-02T06:16:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2022 MLB trade deadline: Who Hunter Pence believes Giants should target | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-mlb-trade-deadline-hunter-000310969.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-mlb-trade-deadline-hunter-000310969.html?src=rss |
Pham was scratched from the Reds' lineup minutes before the first pitch Monday in Miami, and he was informed he was traded. He's eligible to become a free agent at the end of the season, and the Red Sox will pick up his remaining salary, about $2.1 million, and a $500,000 trade assignment bonus.
By rule, the player to be named later, which is typically a lower-level prospect, cannot be someone who is on a club's 40-man roster or someone who was picked in last month's draft.
Luis Castillo to Mariners: 'Better for the long haul': Reds trade Luis Castillo to Mariners for four prospects
After trading Naquin and Pham, the Reds' outfield consists of Nick Senzel, Jake Fraley and Albert Almora. Krall said Aristides Aquino will be activated from his rehab assignment on Tuesday, and Aquino was the only player Krall mentioned when asked about the team's starting left fielder for the rest of the season.
"We want to make sure that we’re giving our guys enough plate appearances at the big league level to get experience up here, to get better and continue to improve," Krall said.
Krall said about trades on the horizon, "Still working, trying to figure out how to make us better."
"Nothing but positives to say," Reds manager David Bell said. "I would imagine (if) you go through the entire clubhouse, it would be the same feedback. I knew that. I’ve known Tommy for a long time. It was great bringing him here and having him part of our culture for what we’re trying to build, even if it was for a short period of time."
Pham had one of baseball's most memorable moments in the season after he slapped San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson before a game in May and was suspended for three games. He said he was willing to fight San Diego's Luke Voit after a slide at the plate, which he thought was a dirty play, left catcher Tyler Stephenson with a concussion.
"He had an edge to him," Reds center fielder Nick Senzel said. "Honestly, he was one of the hardest-working guys in the room. He wanted to win. I learned a lot for him. He's really baseball smart. I know he gets a bad rep, but I don't think it's very well deserved. He was good as a clubhouse guy, and we're going to miss him."
"He's a competitor, man," Reds utility player Matt Reynolds said. "Man, I've never seen a guy come in and take as many swings as he did. He was very precise on his swing and the movements he was wanting to feel. He's a good clubhouse guy. I'm sure people have their opinions about all the stuff that has happened, but as a teammate, he cared. He wanted to win."
He signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Reds during spring training, which includes a $6 million mutual option for the 2023 season and a $1.5 million buyout. He's received an additional $200,000 through incentives and can earn an additional $800,000 if he surpasses 600 plate appearances.
Pham became an obvious trade candidate after the Reds opened with a 3-22 record as a pending free agent. Still, he offered a lot of praise for the coaching staff and the team's talent throughout the year.
“We were down six position players and we didn’t have Castillo and Minor,” Pham said of the Reds' three-win April. “This team is close. I said it already. This is a good team. Bad things happened to us early in the year and we put ourselves in a big hole.”
Cincinnati Reds GM Nick Krall talks about trading Tommy Pham to the Boston Red Sox
Reds left fielder Tommy Pham was traded to the Boston Red Sox on Monday for a player to be named later.
Brian Tyree Henry spoke with The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet of the 'Bullet Train' movie premiere. The 'Atlanta' star talked about his chemistry with co-star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the most badass moment in 'Bullet Train', and his upcoming movie with Jennifer Lawrence. | 2022-08-02T06:16:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Here's what Reds GM Nick Krall said about the trade that sent Tommy Pham to the Red Sox | https://sports.yahoo.com/cincinnati-reds-trade-tommy-pham-234549068.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cincinnati-reds-trade-tommy-pham-234549068.html?src=rss |
The Arizona Cardinals were back at practice Monday after a day off Sunday and brought in several players for tryouts. According the NFL transaction report, they hosted six players, including two offensive linemen, three linebackers and a tight end.
Check out who they brought in below.
Alexander went undrafted this year after four seasons at Purdue. He is 6-1 and 230 lbs. He would play inside linebacker in the Cardinals’ scheme.
He signed originally as an undrafted rookie with the Chicago Bears in May.
He had 113 tackles, a sack, 8.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a forced fumble last season for the Boilermakers.
Coward reportedly signed with the team after the workout.
Hilliard is a 6-1, 231-lb linebacker who played two games for the New York Giants last season.
He was an undrafted rookie out of Ohio State last year who signed originally with the San Francisco 49ers and later signed with the Giants. He will be suspended the first two games of the 2022 season under the league’s PED policy.
TE C.J. O'Grady
O’Grady is a 6-4, 253-lb tight end who went undrafted in 2021 out of Arkansas. He signed originally with the Cincinnati Bengals but didn’t make the team. He has not played in an NFL game.
Tatum played collegiately for Central Florida and spent time with the Jaguars in the offseason. He is 6-6 and 300 lbs.
White is a former defensive back converted to a linebacker. In two seasons, he has appeared in six games and has four total tackles. | 2022-08-02T06:46:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cardinals work out 6 players Monday, including 2 OL, 3 LB | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-6-players-monday-including-053748430.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-6-players-monday-including-053748430.html?src=rss |
Arizona Wildcats to play Cincinnati at Maui Invitational
It will be the first time the two teams have met since 1996.
Kyle Chalmers won his signature race at the Commonwealth Games two days after saying recent "false headlines" about him threatened his future in swimming.
Lionesses are still celebrating their victory over Germany in the European Championship; ‘this is what dreams are made of.’ | 2022-08-02T09:18:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Venus Williams loses return to singles play in Washington | https://sports.yahoo.com/venus-williams-loses-return-singles-202334115.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/venus-williams-loses-return-singles-202334115.html?src=rss |
MINNEAPOLIS — The Detroit Tigers have made their first trade, just minutes after their latest loss.
HOW IT ALL WENT WRONG: Tigers weren't supposed to be sellers at MLB trade deadline
Tigers left fielder Robbie Grossman (8) scores on a double by center fielder Riley Greene (not shown) in the fifth inning July 30, 2022 against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Grossman, 32, is suffering the worst season of his 10-year MLB career. The switch-hitter is batting .205 with two home runs, 23 RBIs, 38 walks and 90 strikeouts in 83 games (272 at-bats). He is in the final year of a two-year, $10 million contract.
Entering 2022, Grossman appeared to be a candidate for a short-term contract extension.
TRADE DEADLINE 2022: Live updates with deadline less than 24 hours away
Last season, Grossman was one of the best players for the Tigers.
He hit .239 with 23 home runs, 98 walks and 155 strikeouts, posting a .357 on-base percentage, in 156 games. He also stole 20 bases, becoming the seventh Tiger to reach 20 homers and 20 steals in a single season.
"I'm really happy for him," catcher Tucker Barnhart said. "He's going to a team that's in the playoff race. That's where we all want to be. We want to be in situations where you're playing meaningful baseball down the stretch. ... I love the way he goes about his day. He's the same guy every day, no matter if he's going good or going bad. That's the highest level of compliment you can get as a baseball player, as an athlete."
Detroit Tigers left fielder Robbie Grossman fields a ground ball against the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning at Comerica Park, Saturday, July 23, 2022.
In this case, the Tigers accepted the only offer for Grossman. The organization wanted to get Grossman off the roster to give more playing time to younger players, such as Akil Baddoo, Daz Cameron and Kerry Carpenter.
"It's always a weird feeling to be traded," Grossman said. "I'll miss this group of guys. I'll miss the coaching staff. I'll miss the people in Detroit, the stadium. It's part of this business, and I'm looking forward to my next chapter."
Republicans are reacting to the Inflation Reduction Act with votes of spite and progressives are celebrating it as a win for Biden when he was out of the loop. | 2022-08-02T10:52:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Detroit Tigers trade Robbie Grossman to Atlanta Braves for left-handed pitcher Kris Anglin | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-tigers-trade-robbie-grossman-035853652.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-tigers-trade-robbie-grossman-035853652.html?src=rss |
Mariners Yankees Baseball
The 42nd National Sports Collectors Convention took place this past weekend at the Atlantic City Convention Center, and drew tens of thousands of trading card, autograph and memorabilia enthusiasts. While the bulk of those in attendance were there to buy, sell or trade, the opportunity to see some of the most coveted items in the […] | 2022-08-02T10:52:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Judge hits 43rd HR, Yanks beat Ms 7-2 for winning home mark | https://sports.yahoo.com/judge-hits-43rd-hr-yanks-022938651.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/judge-hits-43rd-hr-yanks-022938651.html?src=rss |
Williams lost 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the Citi Open in Washington in her first singles match since last August. “I didn’t think I played well a lot of the times,” Williams said. Before the hard-court tune-up for the U.S. Open, Williams last played singles in Chicago on Aug. 23, 2021, when she lost to Su-Wei Hseih.
The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating the actions of former President Donald Trump after the 2020 election.
Bachelor Nation can't believe the audacity of contestant who uses dying dog to get ahead
This week's most-despised contestant on The Bachelorette was Hayden Markowitz, or as Bachelor Nation has deemed him: "Dollar Store Joe," since he looks like Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise veteran Joe Amabile aka Grocery Store Joe… but just not as cool. Hayden got on Bachelor Nation's bad side last week, when he told Bachelorette Gabby Windey that she was too "rough around the edges" for him and told her he would be pursuing Rachel Recchia instead. While it was surprising that Rachel still decided to give him a rose that night to move onto the next week, it wasn't as surprising as the things that came out of Dollar Store Joe's mouth while hanging out at the house with the guys, cameras still rolling. "My dumb ass uses the same verbiage that Gabby uses to describe herself and she didn't like that. Well, bitch, maybe you shouldn't use that word to describe yourself then," Hayden said out loud. He also commented, "I've been comparing my ex to, like, this right? They don't hold a candle to her. And I don't want to just settle. I can tell you right now, I don't see how any guy in here could be, like, 'I'm f***ing marrying these girls.'" After talking trash about Bachelorettes Rachel and Gabby, Hayden later attempted to push his relationship with Rachel forward, in order to get a rose, by sharing the sad story about his dog, Rambo, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and only has a couple more months to live. "I'm obviously telling you this because I want you to understand that, you know, I wouldn't be here if my intentions weren't to try to obviously further our relationship," Hayden told Rachel, before pulling out Rambo's favorite stuffed animal, his "cancer duck," which helped him through all of the radiation appointments. Hayden using his dying dog to get ahead totally backfired on him as Bachelor Nation called him out for going on a reality show for potentially three months when his beloved pet has less than a year to live and, on top of that, taking his dying dog's favorite toy with him. Things got worse for Hayden when Rachel found out and confronted him about the vulgar things he had said about her and Gabby, and he totally denied it. Thankfully, Rachel saw through his lies and pretty quickly kicked him out. In the end, Rachel shared, "I feel really stupid for giving Hayden the benefit of the doubt. He just lies and I feel very taken advantage of because this last rose ceremony was really difficult. Only the next day, call me a bitch and say you couldn't trust me after I was trusting him to bring him into a second week. At this point, I'm just extremely ready for Hayden to get the f*** out, to be frank." | 2022-08-02T10:53:04Z | sports.yahoo.com | Wimbledon champion Rybakina falls at WTA San Jose event | https://sports.yahoo.com/wimbledon-champion-rybakina-falls-wta-040756723.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/wimbledon-champion-rybakina-falls-wta-040756723.html?src=rss |
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson stands on the field during an offseason workout June 1.
Washington running back Derrius Guice before the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game between the LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Antonio Brown leaves the field during the Buccaneers-Jets game.
Kareem Hunt walks on the field during a Browns game against the Dolphins on Nov. 24, 2019.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston looks towards the scoreboard during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens.
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott on the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium.
Josh Brown speaks with reporters on Aug. 18, 2016.
Greg Hardy watches from the sideline during the Cowboys' game against the Seahawks on Nov. 1, 2015.
Ex-NFL running back Ray Rice
Ben Roethlisberger won two Super Bowls during his career with the Steelers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deshaun Watson's suspension: How it compares in Roger Goodell's tenure | 2022-08-02T11:20:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Deshaun Watson suspension: How does it compare to other penalties under Roger Goodell? | https://sports.yahoo.com/deshaun-watson-suspension-does-compare-102851270.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/deshaun-watson-suspension-does-compare-102851270.html?src=rss |
Eagles rookie felt like he belonged from Day 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
When the Eagles opened training camp last week, Jason Kelce was still recovering from a bout of COVID and did not practice.
So Cam Jurgens was up.
The rookie second-round pick from the first snap of his first training camp practice was inserted into the first-team offense in place of an all-time great in the middle of one of the best offensive lines in football.
Jurgens, 22, more than held his own.
“I feel like early on in practice, I felt like I belonged right away,” Jurgens said on Monday. “I don’t think that was an adjustment part.”
Of course, if everything goes to plan, Jurgens won’t end up playing at all during his rookie season. Kelce decided to return for the 2022 season after another All-Pro year, but the Eagles drafted Jurgens anyway. As long as Kelce stays healthy — yes, yes, knock on wood — Jurgens will get this season to prepare to be the future center of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Whenever the time comes, Jurgens will have immeasurably big shoes to fill. But he’s off to a good start.
And he has Kelce firmly in his corner. We found out during the draft, when the Eagles took Jurgens with the 51st overall pick, that Kelce was involved. The Eagles for the last few years have asked Kelce to watch center prospects and he really liked Jurgens, whom he felt had a very similar play style to his.
Kelce helped the Eagles identify Jurgens and this year he’ll put in work to mentor his eventual replacement.
“It’s great,” Kelce said of his relationship with the rookie. “Obviously, a big part of my job or a big part of what I want to do is help these young guys out. And Cam being a center, a guy that I see a lot of similarities in my game to, I’m going to try to help in any way I can to give him tricks of the trade, things I’ve learned or whatever. I think that we’re going to continue to make each other better throughout camp. We’re going to continue to work, compete and try and get better as much as we can.”
Jurgens said during offensive line meetings, he tries to sit next to Kelce and right guard Isaac Seumalo, calling them the two smartest players in the room. Kelce is one of the more cerebral players in the NFL and Seumalo has long been touted as an extremely smart guard who has used his background as a center for years.
Not bad company to keep.
As the pads came on for the first time this week, the Eagles finally got to have some offensive line-defensive line 1-on-1 drills. Despite his smaller size (6-3, 303) Jurgens was solid, even against 340-pound Jordan Davis. He was able to use his leverage and technique to pull off a few wins during the session.
“I’m happy but I’m still working to make everything perfect,” Jurgens said of his success in those 1-on-1 drills. “I feel like it was a good day getting these pads on and hitting dudes finally. Instead of just smacking helmets, we get to smack shoulder pads today so that was fun.”
But he’s also been plenty solid during team drills as well. The Eagles have some great interior linemen like Davis, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave and even Milton Williams. So whether Jurgens is working with the first or second team, he’s going to face tough competition.
The Eagles have had their second-team offense go up against their first-team defense at times too.
“Yeah, it was exciting,” Jurgens said about getting first-team reps. “I wasn’t thinking about it. Just going out there and playing football. In the afternoon when I watch film, I go, ‘Oh, I just blocked Fletcher Cox. That’s pretty cool.’ So I’d see that after.
“When you’re in that moment, you’re not worried about who you’re going with. You’re just seeing the defense and getting the call and going. Try not to get caught up in it.”
Why would he? Jurgens feels like he already belongs. | 2022-08-02T11:20:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles training camp 2022: Cam Jurgens felt like he belonged from Day 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-cam-110000692.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-cam-110000692.html?src=rss |
Eagles’ Davis starts to shine as the pads come on originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Just about everyone who has seen Jordan Davis this summer pretty much thinks or says the same thing: “Bleep, he’s big.”
His teammates are no exception.
“He’s huge,” veteran linebacker Kyzir White said. “I’ve never seen somebody like that. I ain’t even going to lie. Glad he’s on our side.”
Davis is 6-foot-6, 340 pounds and moves like a man who is much smaller. Just a few days into his first training camp, he’s already showing off the unique blend of size and athleticism that made him one of the top players in college football and a first-round pick.
And on Monday, as the pads went on for the first time, Davis really began to shine.
While the Eagles will be in full pads for Tuesday’s session, they wore shorts and shells to kick off the work week on Monday. Davis began the day getting more first-team reps and then really kicked things into high gear during 1-on-1 drills between offensive and defensive linemen.
Davis, 22, is off to a strong start in his first training camp. That doesn’t happen if he’s not in shape.
Back in the spring, one of the biggest topics of conversation around Davis was the emphasis on his conditioning. The big defensive tackle is putting in work to redefine his body. The goal is to keep his mass but also find the right playing weight and composition that will allow him to be a significant contributor in his first season.
Apparently, Davis wasn’t sitting on the couch eating Cheetos in July.
“I think that he came to camp ready to go,” head coach Nick Sirianni said. “Our guys in the training staff and the strength staff and sports science staff have just done a great job of knowing what our guys are supposed to play at. That's something I'm always obsessed about is are you playing to the correct weight.
“I’ve had experiences throughout my career of guys being heavy and their play suffering. I've had experience of my guys through my career of them losing weight of what they were the year before and having phenomenal seasons.
So that’s always going to stick in my mind. I know that's in [Vice President of Player Performance] Ted's [Rath] mind, that’s in our staff's mind as well of playing at the right weight. So, we are going to be on him about that.
“I know he came back where he needed to be, but that's going to be something that we're focused on. That's not just Jordan, that's everybody. I think he's been running around well. Like I said, his weight was where we wanted it to be and his body fat was where we wanted it to be.”
Davis on Monday said the Eagles want him at around 340 pounds and that’s where he is right now.
While Davis is known for his affable personality, he’s taking his preparation seriously in the NFL.
“As fun as he is, he’s definitely a hard worker,” said his longtime teammate Nakobe Dean. “He’s going to work hard.”
Aside from perfecting his body in the NFL, Davis is also adjusting to learning a new playbook. The good news for him is that he came from Georgia, which has an expansive defensive playbook.
The biggest adjustment for Davis is really a change in mindset. His main role for the Bulldogs was to two-gap, eat up space and blockers and stuff the run. Even in the Eagles’ 3-4 alignments, Davis is being asked to get upfield and attack more in the pros.
When you’ve been doing something for 4 or 5 years, learning how to play blocks, even high school we learned how to play blocks, it’s just an adjustment,” Davis said. “But I just try to be adaptable. Nothing is too hard.”
Davis is mainly playing the nose tackle spot in the Eagles’ defense but is learning a few other positions along the line as well. He wants to be versatile and the Eagles want that from him too.
But as much as Davis is working on his body and as hard as he’s studying, the thing that stands out most about him are his natural gifts. His size, his speed, his athleticism.
On Monday, rookie center Cam Jurgens was asked if he’s ever faced a defensive tackle as big as Davis. Surprisingly, he has.
“Yeah. There was a guy at Nebraska,” Jurgens said. “He came in close to 400 (pounds). Not quite the skills of Jordan Davis.”
Those skills are unique. And they’re fun to watch. | 2022-08-02T11:20:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles training camp 2022: Jordan Davis starts to shine as pads come on | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-jordan-110000259.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-jordan-110000259.html?src=rss |
Nick Rallis
Nick Rallis excited for Year 2 from Eagles' linebackers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
It’s Year 2 in this defense for T.J. Edwards and Davion Taylor. And to Eagles linebackers coach Nick Rallis, it feels like Year 2 for Nakobe Dean and Kyzir White, as well.
The Eagles have four starting-caliber off-ball linebackers, and Rallis, the Eagles’ 29-year-old linebacker coach, said this group is light years ahead of last year. And that shouldn’t be surprising.
Who could have imagined.
“Year 2 is phenomenal just to see the comfort of guys in the defense,” Rallis said after practice Monday.
“Not just knowing their assignment within a call, but understanding what the rest of the defense looks like, where are the stress points in this call and how can we combat those stress points, and I’ve seen it from every guy in the group.”
Edwards, now in his fourth year undrafted out of Wisconsin, is the dean of the group. He’s gotten better each year he’s been here and played more each year he’s been here, and he’s looked terrific the first handful of practices. Taylor is a third-year, third-round pick out of Colorado who’s one of the most improved players in camp so far.
The Eagles signed White to a one-year deal in March and then drafted Dean out of Georgia in the third round in April.
White is 26, Edwards 25, Taylor 24 and Dean 21.
“Everyone returning and then the two guys that I have new are extremely smart players and it’s almost like they’re in Year 2 also,” Rallis said. “There’s a huge difference in Year 2, which has got me excited. You see the difference, no doubt.”
There’s been a huge emphasis on versatility and multiplicity in this linebacker corps. Howie Roseman was tasked with getting rid of one-dimensional players and bringing in linebackers who could play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 and line up in various positions along the way.
A huge part of the preseason is getting these guys comfortable working in different combinations so by the time the season starts they have a comfort level in every imaginable front or formation.
“A lot of these guys are very interchangeable, which you want them to be during the year,” Rallis said. “You work different groups, different pairings, get them used to playing this guy with this guy, this guy with this guy. It’s good for their growth as a position together. Give them either or. ... Every linebacker in the room, everybody’s fast, everybody’s smart and they can process.”
There are other linebackers here.
Third-year pro Shaun Bradley from Rancocas Valley is considered mainly a special teamer, but he’s looked much improved on defense this summer. JaCoby Stevens was a 6th-round pick last year, Ali Fayad is an undrafted rookie from Western Michigan and undrafted Christian Ellis is back after two stints last year on the practice squad.
The SAM linebacker spot, with Haason Reddick, Kyron Johnson and Patrick Johnson, is really an entirely different position with no crossover with the off-ball linebackers.
“It’s a great room,” Rallis said. “I’ve got an eager room top to bottom and it makes my job easier just having a great group of professionals.”
Here’s what Rallis had to say about Dean, Edwards, Taylor and White:
On Davion Taylor: “Davion works extremely hard, and he is constantly meeting with me, he’s constantly watching film, and you’ve seen him take huge strides when he’s been out here at practice. He’s executing at a high level. You talk about instincts. All that is is what are they seeing with their eyes and what are they processing and right now he’s doing a tremendous job and the game has slowed down for him, extremely. He’s ahead of it. He understands offense, and you can see he’s taking huge strides as a football player.”
On T.J. Edwards: “I’ve challenged T.J. I told him, ‘I want you to understand opponents better than I do,’ because at the end of the day I’m not going to be able to prepare him for everything that’s going to happen on that field but if he understands they’re doing this and this and we haven’t seen this yet but this is why teams do this? He’s going to play that much faster. He’s already an extremely fast processor, extremely smart, he’s moving really well, he’s playing physical. You guys know T.J. We’re just taking it to the next level. We want to take every aspect of his game up another notch.”
On Kyzir White: “Kyzer is just like everybody in the room – he’s fast, he’s smart, he’s started NFL football (games) for a while now, and he just adds competition to that room. It’s a great room top to bottom and he showed up and he’s competing extremely hard and doing a great job. Picks up things very well, first year in this defense, played in a similar defense and it’s a smooth transition. You can tell, hey, this guy’s a vet, he’s extremely smart, it’s like he’s been here (before).”
On Nakobe Dean: ““You’re getting what you thought. He's extremely smart and gifted. ... He’s doing a great job. As he starts to execute at a high level, he’s executing what you want to, you start to slowly pile (more positions) on. And you give a player what he can manage, and he’s doing a great job of managing a lot. ... We knew he was a great player in college and he’s been getting better every single day. We just one-day-at-a-time strive to keep improving. If you make a mistake, don’t make it again. Keep being productive. Make plays on the football. Strive to get better every day.” | 2022-08-02T11:21:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Nick Rallis excited for Year 2 from Eagles' linebacker group | https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-rallis-excited-2-eagles-110000657.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-rallis-excited-2-eagles-110000657.html?src=rss |
Before the Denver Broncos were sold, Forbes estimated that the team was worth $3.75 billion last August.
One year later, another website has the Broncos valued significantly higher. Sportico has released its valuations of NFL teams and Denver’s franchise is worth an estimated $4.65 billion.
It’s no coincidence that $4.65 billion is exactly what the team’s (pending) new ownership group agreed to pay for the team earlier this summer. Sportico has the Broncos listed as the 10th-most valuable team in the NFL, with a 22% increase in value since last year.
Here’s part of what Kurt Badenhausen wrote about the sale on Sportico’s website:
The Broncos are the most valuable team in the AFC West, above the Las Vegas Raiders ($4.08 billion), Los Angeles Chargers ($3.62 billion) and Kansas City Chiefs (3.54 billion).
The Dallas Cowboys ($7.64 billion) are considered the most valuable team in the league while the Cincinnati Bengals ($2.84 billion) are considered the least valuable. To view the complete list, visit Sportico.com. | 2022-08-02T11:21:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | Sportico lists Broncos as 10th-most valuable team in the NFL | https://sports.yahoo.com/sportico-lists-broncos-10th-most-100047497.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/sportico-lists-broncos-10th-most-100047497.html?src=rss |
As August begins, our itch for college football is growing uncontrollably. Penn State opened fall camp on Monday and programs around the country are hitting the practice field with the hope of having a successful season in the fall. For Penn State, the goal is to rebound and be more of a player in the Big Ten title race than the past two seasons have netted. But with the start of fall camp comes updated bowl projections from some of college football’s finest experts.
Bill Bender of The Sporting News took some time on Monday to provide his fresh batch of bowl projections for the upcoming college football season, including a possible bowl destination for the Nittany Lions. Unfortunately, Bender doesn’t see Penn State playing in the College Football Playoff or a New Years Six bowl game. Bender doesn’t even see Penn State laying in a traditional January 1 bowl game.
Instead, Bender’s bowl projection for Penn State has the Nittany Lions heading to Nashville, Tennessee to play in this season’s Music City Bowl on Dec. 31. Bender’s bowl projection for The Sporting News pairs Penn State up against LSU from the SEC in the Music City Bowl, which would make for a fun New Years Eve matchup.
Penn State has never played in the Music City Bowl, although the game had bowl tie-ins with the Big East, ACC, and SEC for the majority of its history. The Big Ten, replacing the Big East, had a four-year stint with the Music City Bowl from 2002 through 2006 before being replaced by the ACC. The Big Ten and SEC are paired up against each other in the Music City Bowl in a contract that spans from 2020 through the 2025 season.
Head coach James Franklin is no stranger to the Music City Bowl, of course. In 2012, Franklin coached Vanderbilt to a 38-24 victory over NC State in the Music City Bowl to finish with a top 25 ranking for the Commodores. Franklin’s successful 2012 season with Vanderbilt helped fuel his candidacy to become Penn State’s next head coach following Bill O’Brien’s departure to the NFL.
Purdue won last season’s Music City Bowl with a 48-45 victory in overtime over Tennessee. Penn State opens the 2022 season on Thursday, September 1 at Purdue.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunrun (Nasdaq: RUN), the nation’s leading provider of residential solar, battery storage and energy services, today sets the record straight in a detailed response to a deceptive report issued by short-seller Muddy Waters on July 28, 2022. Sunrun is a respected leader in making solar energy accessible to consumers across the country. With a 15-year track record, including seven years as a publicly traded company, Sunrun stands by its independentl | 2022-08-02T11:24:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Sporting News makes Penn State bowl prediction for 2022 season | https://sports.yahoo.com/sporting-news-makes-penn-state-095738636.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/sporting-news-makes-penn-state-095738636.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens kicked off their 2022 training camp practices last week, and suited up in full pads for the first time on Monday afternoon. Adding in the physical element to practice changes things, and it gives the coaching staff more ways to evaluate the talent on their roster.
Baltimore has hosted thousands of fans so far over their first five practice sessions, but on Monday there was a former head coach in attendance in former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens. He is currently on the football staff at the University of South Carolina, but stopped by the Ravens’ facility to be at practice.
Former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens was a guest at Ravens practice today. Kitchens is now on the football staff at the University of South Carolina.
Rizzo, Judge, Trevino power Yankees to 7-2 victory | 2022-08-02T12:23:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Browns HC a guest at Ravens’ training camp practice on Monday | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-browns-hc-guest-ravens-035616831.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-browns-hc-guest-ravens-035616831.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts have gotten through their first week of training camp and with the pads set to come on Tuesday, it’s time to look back at the standouts from the initial three practices.
While the standouts at this time of camp should be taken with a grain of salt, it’s never a bad thing to get off to a strong start. The padded practices and preseason games will give us a better idea of how the position battles and competitions are going, but the first week sets the foundation.
Here are eight standouts from the first week of Colts training camp:
It has been smooth sailing for the 37-year-old, who is playing for the second team ever in his career. Ryan has kept the tempo high and the intensity higher. He’s already building a strong rapport with his receiving corps and has commanded the respect of his teammates from the jump. Getting off to a fast start will be crucial for Ryan, and it seems he’s already doing so.
It has been said plenty over the first week of training camp how Campbell has looked without pads on. He simply works at a different speed than everyone else. As it stands, Campbell could be leading the battle for the No. 2 wide receiver spot, but it’s pretty close with rookie Alec Pierce right behind him. The fourth-year wideout needs to stay healthy and as long as he does that, he will be a mainstay in the passing game.
Dulin has solidified his role as the No. 4 wide receiver through the first week of training camp. That isn’t really a surprise. While his main contributions will come on special teams, the Colts want to get him more involved in the offense. Head coach Frank Reich raved about Dulin’s progress and said there will be a role for the Malone product in the offense.
Pryor has been leading the battle for the starting left tackle spot since the spring. He has some stiff competition in the form of third-round pick Bernhard Raimann, but it has been all Pryor through the first week of camp. The versatile veteran has been taking every rep at left tackle with the first team and has a leg up when the pads come on.
RB Nyheim Hines
The Colts have been experimenting a lot with getting Hines on the field more often even when Jonathan Taylor is lined up in the backfield. Given Ryan’s history of targeting the running back position and the Colts’ intent on keeping Hines involved the fourth-year back is heading toward a big year.
One of the prized additions from the offseason hasn’t wasted any time impressing his teammates. The motor he brings to practice has been noticed by his teammates and coaching staff. Ngakoue is primed for a big role in the starting defensive line and could be one of the reasons the defense takes a jump forward.
CB Brandon Facyson
Facyson has been leading the battle for the No. 3 cornerback role next to Kenny Moore II and Stephon Gilmore. He has some stiff competition in Isaiah Rodgers, who also is having a solid start to training camp. But at this point, it’s clear Facyson is the starting cornerback at that spot through the first week of camp.
The rookie safety has been taking advantage of his opportunities through the first week of camp. It all started when he tipped and intercepted the second pass of camp from Matt Ryan. The third-round pick still has to earn the starting role, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was out there Week 1 next to Julian Blackmon. | 2022-08-02T12:51:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | 8 standouts from first week of Colts training camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/8-standouts-first-week-colts-123011453.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/8-standouts-first-week-colts-123011453.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts held a tryout for eight players Monday, according to the league’s transaction wire.
With two days off before getting back on the field Tuesday, the Colts used that time to see what was on the market at the wide receiver and offensive line positions.
Here are the eight players who worked out for the Colts on Monday:
T Darius Harper
G Alex Mollette
The Colts will continue to keep an eye on the free-agent market throughout camp in case something happens at these positions so keep an eye out for a potential transaction involving one or more of these players. | 2022-08-02T12:51:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts held tryout for 8 players | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-held-tryout-8-players-120929375.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-held-tryout-8-players-120929375.html?src=rss |
The Minnesota Vikings drafted offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw with the 23rd selection in the 2021 NFL draft. When making that selection, there was a wide range of options for the Vikings, including other offensive linemen.
One of those players was offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, who was drafted in the second round by the division rival Chicago Bears. The Vikings were interested in Jenkins before they selected Darrisaw, and they might have an opportunity to acquire him now.
Jenkins had a promising career at Oklahoma State and was the very definition of a bully on the football field.
He was dominant physically in the trenches, throwing and mauling defenders that ended up in front of him. Although he played mostly right tackle for the Cowboys, he did slide over to the left side for a few games and played well.
His time with the Bears has been tumultuous at best. After missing the first 11 games with a back injury, he started two of the final six with limited success. He had poor Pro Football Focus grades on the season with a 47.5 overall.
With new general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus having no investment in Jenkins, a trade is more likely than if Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy were in charge. Even so, it would still be surprising to give up on a talented second-round pick.
Would the Vikings make a call? They probably should, as Jenkins is talented and has the ability to play on both sides of the line. For the price of (likely) a late-day three selection, it would be worth the Vikings’ time. | 2022-08-02T12:52:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Division rival Teven Jenkins should be on Vikings’ trade radar | https://sports.yahoo.com/division-rival-teven-jenkins-vikings-114041373.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/division-rival-teven-jenkins-vikings-114041373.html?src=rss |
The New York Giants, like most sports franchises, have been seeing their overall market value skyrocket in recent years.
According to Sportico, the Giants are currently worth $5.73 billion, a 24 percent increase over last year.
The Giants possess the fourth-highest valuation among NFL teams behind the Dallas Cowboys ($7.64 billion), Los Angeles Rams ($5.91 billion) and the New England Patriots ($5.88 billion).
The AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals are the least valuable team at $2.84 billion.
The Giants’ 24 percent increase in value was the fourth-highest jump over the past year behind the Rams and Las Vegas Raiders, who rose by 26 percent, and the Chicago Bears, who realized a 25 percent bump.
Sportico defines their valuation as, “the sum of the fair-market value of an NFL franchise combined with the value of team-related businesses and real estate holdings.”
Each valuation is, “derived from metrics by which football-team transactions occur, including aggregating local and national revenues and factoring in a team-specific multiplier. This represents the fair market value of the team itself, excluding related businesses held by its owners. It includes the value of each franchise’s 3.13% interest in the league’s properties, including NFL Network, NFL RedZone and its digital platforms, which are acquired/dispossessed in tandem with the sale of a team.”
The Giants own half of their venue, MetLife Stadium, through a joint venture with the New York Jets.
Giants have depth issues behind center Jon Feliciano
Jaguars offensive tackle Walker Little was the star of Monday's one-on-one pass rushing/pass protection drills. | 2022-08-02T12:52:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants remain one of NFL’s most valuable teams | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-remain-one-nfl-most-115521292.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-remain-one-nfl-most-115521292.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts are getting into the full swing of training camp having just concluded the first week without pads, but one player is still being circulated in trade suggestions.
While there haven’t been any reports that the Colts want to trade him away, defensive end Ben Bnaogu has been the subject of several trade suggestions throughout the offseason.
The latest to make a proposal was ESPN’s Mike Clay, who suggested the Colts trade Banogu to the Chicago Bears for offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, who has recently been put on the trading block.
Jenkins was a second-round pick with the Bears during the 2021 NFL draft, and the Colts were thought to have some interest during the pre-draft process. Given the question marks at left tackle, this deal might look like it makes sense from the outside.
However, there would be a few issues with this deal.
Firstly, the Colts seem committed to the position battle between Matt Pryor and rookie third-round pick Bernhard Raimann. It’s highly likely one of those two will be the starter on the blindside when Week 1 rolls around.
Secondly, there has been plenty of speculation that Banogu’s career got off to a rocky start because of his standing with the previous defensive coordinator in Matt Eberflus, who is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
For whatever reason, Banogu didn’t get on the field on a consistent basis under Eberflus direction. How much of that was on Banogu and how much of that was the decision of Eberflus is still unknown. But there’s no reason to think that notion would change if Banogu was sent to the Bears.
Trade rumors may continue to swirl but for now, Banogu is likely staying put. | 2022-08-02T12:52:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mike Clay suggests a Colts’ trade involving Ben Banogu | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-clay-suggests-colts-trade-120048608.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-clay-suggests-colts-trade-120048608.html?src=rss |
It’s been a rough two years for Bears offensive tackle Teven Jenkins. After missing most of his rookie season following back surgery, Jenkins faces an uncertain future in Chicago.
Jenkins has missed the last four practices of training camp as he works through something with trainers, which is the extent that we know from head coach Matt Eberflus.
But there’s also been a report of character issues with Jenkins, where there’s a disconnect between him and new coaching staff.
Adding fuel to the fire is a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the Bears have received calls and had trade talks involving Jenkins. There has been interest in the former second-round pick, and it’s fair to wonder if Jenkins could be on his way out of Chicago.
Jenkins has been in the headlines since the spring, when he was demoted to the second-team at right tackle, and he’s remained there heading into training camp.
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if general manager Ryan Poles decided to deal Jenkins to a team showing interest. Perhaps the Falcons are one of those teams, where the guy who drafted Jenkins, former Bears GM Ryan Pace, is in Atlanta’s front office.
This new regime doesn’t have any ties to Jenkins. And he clearly doesn’t look like he’s in Chicago’s starting plans on the offensive line. Larry Borom has taken over the starting right tackle spot, and veteran Riley Reiff was brought in to be the starter at left tackle.
At the same time, Jenkins is still young and has the talent. But if he can’t get on the same page as this new coaching staff, it seems like a waste.
Just because teams are showing interest in Jenkins doesn’t necessarily mean he’s headed anywhere. Just look at Robert Quinn. But if Jenkins doesn’t factor into the team’s plans — and the price is right from an inquiring team — things could most certainly change.
But what do you think? Should the Bears consider trading Jenkins?
Will Bears trade Teven Jenkins in 2022? - Powered By PickUp | 2022-08-02T12:52:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | POLL: Should the Bears trade OT Teven Jenkins? | https://sports.yahoo.com/poll-bears-trade-ot-teven-120041433.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/poll-bears-trade-ot-teven-120041433.html?src=rss |
When former Raiders guard Denzelle Good unexpectedly retired during training camp in late July, Las Vegas had to adapt — though the change was more mental than physical.
When Good was slow to recover from a torn ACL, G Lester Cotton Sr. took starting snaps at right guard, a position earmarked for Good. Cotton has remained a starter after Good’s departure, as the Raiders prepare to face the Jaguars in the Hall of Fame game on Thursday.
So not much has changed as far as day-to-day operations, and Cotton has earned his teammates’ respect for climbing the depth chart. Though according to Cotton, his coaches remind the entire O-line that no spot is guaranteed.
With the offensive line the largest concern on a talented roster, competition is more important up front than anywhere else on the team. Other than left tackle Kolton Miller, the Raiders need improvement across the board. So it’s no surprise guarantees are scarce in early August.
Here’s part of what Cotton told reporters on Monday at Raiders training camp. Cotton was asked if his faith and offseason training have paid dividends.
“Most definitely. You’ve got a room full of guys that are very talented, and very smart, and they compete each and every day,” Cotton said. “And no starter is guaranteed on the line. Coach Carm (O-line coach Carmen Bricillo) and coach Josh (McDaniels), they make that clear every day.
“And so we go out there every day and we just put our best foot forward, and we compete with each other. It’s a brotherhood. It’s no ill-will toward no one. We’re all together because you never know who will be on the side of you. So we just go forward.”
One reporter followed up by asking Cotton what it would mean if he was named a Week 1 starter.
“We haven’t got there yet,” Cotton said. “But if I continue to do what I’m doing on the field and continue to compete, it would be an honor.”
Cotton was undrafted out of Alabama in 2019 and has been cut by the Raiders four times, playing just a handful of NFL snaps in his career thus far. Lately, he’s drawn rave reviews from teammates, mostly for his work ethic. Cotton trimmed down to 335 pounds in preparation for this season and earned a reputation in the weight room.
If Cotton started the season at right guard, it would be a tremendous story. But as the Raiders coaching staff reminds the offensive line every day, nothing is guaranteed, whether it’s a reshuffle of starters or perhaps even new players.
I’ve said before that the Raiders would be wise to look at newly-available linemen after rosters are cut leaguewide in late August. Cotton is a fantastic story and seemingly much improved, but the Raiders roster is flush with playmakers on offense, and Las Vegas has to look to upgrade the line if possible.
Or maybe not — if Cotton and the offensive line play well against the Jaguars, the Raiders might not make a move at all. Watch for the starting line and key reserves to get extended playing time on Thursday, as coach Josh McDaniels looks to find some guaranteed starters in the trenches. | 2022-08-02T12:53:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raiders OG Lester Cotton: O-line is told every day that starting spots aren’t guaranteed | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-og-lester-cotton-o-122059971.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-og-lester-cotton-o-122059971.html?src=rss |
Matthew Stafford didn’t miss a single game last season despite battling a handful of injuries, including an ankle tweak, elbow pain and a finger injury. He’s as tough as they come at quarterback, and he never uses injuries are a reason for any struggles he might experience.
In practice on Monday, Stafford had his workload limited to only individual work, not participating in team drills. Stafford is feeling a little pain in his elbow, Sean McVay said, so the team decided to play it safe with the star quarterback.
“He ended up getting about 40 to 50 throws in individual,” he said. “We didn’t take part in the team activities and that’s really more a result of he’s got so much experience. The most important thing is for him feeling good and healthy on September 8th. We could certainly push and he could really grind through this, but that’s not the goal with somebody like him. It’s not something that we’re concerned about. We just want to be really smart with somebody that is as important as our quarterback is and as experienced as he is to be able to put together a plan that we feel like is in his best interest and in our team’s best interest.” | 2022-08-02T12:53:12Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rams limit Matthew Stafford’s throwing with QB still feeling some elbow pain | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-limit-matthew-stafford-throwing-121200693.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-limit-matthew-stafford-throwing-121200693.html?src=rss |
STORY: Griner, a star player in the U.S.-based Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on February 17, just days before Russia invaded Ukraine, unleashing a broader confrontation with the West.
Her trial formally began on July 1 at a court on the outskirts of Moscow.
DeKalb County Fire and Rescue says investigators are looking into an apartment fire in DeKalb that happened early Tuesday morning.
Their first collection is set to debut for spring '23 and will feature nine styles. | 2022-08-02T13:39:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Griner in seventh hearing in Russian court | https://sports.yahoo.com/griner-seventh-hearing-russian-court-084953771.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/griner-seventh-hearing-russian-court-084953771.html?src=rss |
Astros upgrade roster with trades for 1B Mancini, C Vázquez originally appeared on NBCSports.com
Corey Seager's solo home run
Corey Seager launches a home run to the right-field bullpen and the Rangers cut the deficit to 6-1 in the bottom of the 6th inning
Bally's Corp (NYSE: BALY) revealed a marketing partnership designating Bally Bet as an official sports betting partner of the New York Yankees. The move marks Bally's first sports team partnership in New York after becoming the ninth online sports betting operator in the state in July. Bally's receives marketing rights for the remainder of the 2022 Major League Baseball season. Under the agreement, Bally's will use New York Yankees trademarks and marketing designations as an official sports bett | 2022-08-02T13:54:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | Astros upgrade roster with trades for 1B Mancini, C Vázquez | https://sports.yahoo.com/astros-upgrade-roster-trades-1b-015742314.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/astros-upgrade-roster-trades-1b-015742314.html?src=rss |
Rays drop Brett Phillips after trading for outfielder Jose Siri
ST. PETERSBURG — Brett Phillips went out with love in his heart and a smile on his face.
The Rays on Monday parted ways with the affable outfielder, a Seminole native and fan favorite, after acquiring Jose Siri from Houston in what they consider a potentially significant upgrade in centerfield.
Barely an hour after the Rays announced that Phillips had been designated for assignment, he posted a video on his Twitter account along with the message, “Nothing but love @RaysBaseball.”
He said it was “an absolute pleasure and honor” to play for his hometown team, the move “sucks, but we all know business is business,” and he appreciated the support during his parts of three seasons with the Rays. He ended the video by urging fans to continue to support the franchise and grow the fan base.
“We’ve had,” he said, “a heck of a time.”
The Rays see Siri, 27, as a potential two-way superstar, already ranking as an elite defender and growing into an offensive profile as a right-handed hitter with speed and immense power.
“The physical abilities are pretty spectacular on both sides of the ball — it’s premium-premium tools,” baseball operations president Erik Neander said. “Starting where he is right now defensively, we have him as good a centerfielder as there is in the game, if not the very best. ... And then, offensively, a bit of a late bloomer. ... I think he’s continuing to find himself at the plate.”
The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder hit .304 with four homers, nine RBIs and a .956 OPS in an impressive 21-game debut last September but just .178-3-10-.542 in 48 games this season over two stints with the Astros. He was playing with Triple-A Sugar Land when the trade happened. “Probably realistically, the answer is somewhere in the middle of that,” Neander said.
The Rays paid a somewhat heavy price, trading promising pitching prospects Seth Johnson (who is undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery this week) and Jayden Murray in what was a three-way deal that also featured Trey Mancini going from Baltimore to Houston. Johnson was sent to the Orioles, Murray to the Astros. (Baltimore also received pitching prospect Chayce McDermott from Houston.)
Phillips, 28, also is an elite defender who has struggled offensively. He is hitting .147 (lowest in the majors, minimum 150 at-bats) with five homers, 14 RBIs and a .514 OPS in 75 games, striking out nearly half the time. He did, though, deliver one of the franchise’s highlight moments, the hit that led to the wild walkoff win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the 2020 World Series.
Phillips provided more in other ways, generating energy, enthusiasm and a positive atmosphere for his teammates, sharing the immense joy with which he plays the game and forging a deep connection to the fans and community.
“From just purely an evaluation of the talent and the contributions and that part, it’s a tough call,” Neander said. “But certainly we all know ‘Philly’s’ impact extended beyond just that.”
Phillips’ biggest on-field moment came during the 2020 World Series game, followed by his airplane run through the outfield and breathless network TV interview, when he uttered the phrase he turned into a popular T-shirt line: “Baseball is fun.”
He also made highlight reels with his acrobatic defense, entertaining work on the mound as an occasional pitcher and humorous interviews. Saturday, Phillips was in the spotlight as the team gave out Devil Rays basketball jerseys with his name and number, modeled after one he wore on his 4th birthday.
He also was involved in one of this season’s most poignant moments, hitting a home run in honor of Chloe Grimes, an 8-year-old girl battling cancer who had thrown out the first pitch for the April 12 game and considered him her favorite player.
“This is a game. It’s a source of entertainment. It should be enjoyed,” Neander said. “He makes it fun and always has. His approach to this, and just how he appreciates it, it’s special. It’s rare. And it’s a wonderful perspective to have around.
“So, certainly all that he is, and the way that he connects with fans, with the community, with our organization, that’s special. And nothing we’ll ever take for granted and appreciate every bit of it.”
In dropping Phillips, the Rays, who made two other small trades Monday in advance of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline, opted to keep Roman Quinn. The switch-hitter, signed during the All-Star break, is hitting .263 in nine games with an .807 OPS.
The Rays hope to be appreciating Siri, who spent seven years in the Reds’ minor-league system, refining his skills and maturing from what politely was called an excitable stage for a while, planning to give him the opportunity (likely starting Tuesday night) to be the everyday centerfielder.
An added benefit of the deal is that Siri is under the team’s control for five more seasons and not eligible for salary arbitration until 2025.
”The potential reward of that is pretty big for us not only from the contributions that we can we can get from him,” Neander said, “but just kind of the flexibility that will allow for the rest of the roster and certainly financially in that respect.
“But this is really just about the talent, the chance to hit on some meaningful upside, and someone we have a chance to keep around for a while if that all comes through. And we think he’s got a shot for that to be the case.”
Harborcreek (Pa.) Harbor Creek Junior Senior 2023 OL Nick Krahe knew that West Virginia was where he wanted to be.
Bobby Petrino talked about Missouri State football's different position groups for this upcoming year including defensive line and wide receivers.
Urshela belts a walk-off homer in 5-3 win vs. Tigers
On the eve of primary day and after withholding his backing for most of the primary and teasing an endorsement earlier in the day, Trump issued the statement with just a first name.
Source: Sharks' Nikolai Knyzhov on track to be ready for 2022-23 NHL season
There have been no reports of setbacks so far this summer for Sharks defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov. | 2022-08-02T13:54:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rays drop Brett Phillips after trading for outfielder Jose Siri | https://sports.yahoo.com/rays-trade-outfielder-jose-siri-213500844.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rays-trade-outfielder-jose-siri-213500844.html?src=rss |
The old adage says if an official is doing a great job, he goes unnoticed.
That's probably why Art McNally couldn't believe that he was getting nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. No NFL on-field official had ever been inducted into the Hall of Fame before.
“I’m kind of knocked over. It’s a shocker,” McNally said when he was selected as a finalist in the contributor category, via the Hall of Fame's site.
McNally was elected into the Hall of Fame and will be the first on-field official enshrined, though his family is unsure if he'll be able to attend the ceremony at age 97 according to the Bucks County Herald. McNally was more than just an on-field official in the NFL. He shaped how the game is officiated.
"The Father of Modern Officiating"
McNally is often called "The Father of Modern Officiating." His impact on officiating is why he ended up in Canton.
McNally's legacy is such a big deal in the NFL officiating world that the command center for officials at the NFL's headquarters in New York City is named Art McNally GameDay Central. In 2002, then-NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue started the Art McNally Award for a game official who exhibits "exemplary professionalism, leadership and commitment to sportsmanship on and off the field."
With McNally's induction into the Hall of Fame, his impact on the game will be recognized by a broader audience.
“Art laid the groundwork for everything that we do today,” former NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino, who now works as a rules analyst for Fox, told NFL.com. “He’s the biggest contributor to officiating over the last 50 years.”
Art McNally, left, supervisor of National Football League officials, and NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle discuss a play in the NFL's New York offices in 1980." (AP Photo//David Pickoff)
McNally was a veteran before he was a football referee. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II, according to the Hall of Fame.
From 1959-67, he was an NFL game official. He spent the last eight of those seasons as a referee. In 1968 he was named the NFL's supervisor of officials. That's when his real impact on the game began.
One of his first achievements was the first formal training and evaluation program for officials. It was the first of its kind in professional sports, the Hall of Fame said.
Perhaps the most publicly recognizable impact McNally had on the game is instant replay.
McNally oversaw the NFL introducing replay as a way to double-check controversial calls. It was first used in the NFL in 1986. Instant replay is a big part of the NFL more than three decades later, and it's also used in all major professional and college sports.
McNally is credited for working 48 seasons in various capacities with the NFL. He's not a household name, because few officials are. Most of McNally's work happened behind the scenes as the supervisor of officials, a job he had from 1968-91 when the NFL was exploding in popularity.
But McNally made some history on his way to the Hall of Fame. | 2022-08-02T14:22:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2022 Hall of Fame: Art McNally makes history as first on-field official in HOF | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-hall-of-fame-art-mc-nally-makes-history-as-first-on-field-official-in-hof-140658866.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-hall-of-fame-art-mc-nally-makes-history-as-first-on-field-official-in-hof-140658866.html?src=rss |
The New York Giants were forced to let veteran Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry go this offseason due to salary cap constraints. That pushed the onus of the No. 1 cornerback duties to another young veteran, Adoree’ Jackson.
Jackson is the dean of the Giants’ cornerback room, which is all new to him as he is still just 26 years old this summer.
“That’s the strangest thing,” Jackson told reporters this week. “I mean I came in and they thought I was super young and now that the roles reversed, I’m not old but in the middle, and they are super young like 20, 21. It’s crazy just to see the difference in the age gap.”
Jackson will be flanked by second-year player Aaron Robinson and Darnay Holmes, who is entering his third NFL season with the Giants.
The Giants traded up in last year’s draft to select Robinson in the third round. He missed the first two month of his rookie season with a core muscle injury. When he finally hit the field in November, Robinson quickly distinguished himself. That hasn’t didn’t get past Jackson, who was in his first year with Big Blue.
“I have been liking A-Rob since I met him. I know when I came and signed here, then we drafted him, I just looked up his highlight tapes,” Jackson said. “I liked what I had seen from him and been liking him ever since. He works hard, he’s a guy that just goes out there and does what he has to do. I just appreciate A-Rob and his competitiveness.”
Holmes has served mainly as a slot and package corner in his first two seasons. This summer he is forcing the Giants’ hand to get him more involved.
Jackson has known Holmes for about a decade, going back to their days in Southern California. He likes what he’s seeing from Holmes this summer.
“I mean you all see it. He is out there doing his thing. Like I said, every day it’s not like he is worried about the past or the present. He is just trying to focus on the day by day and getting better,” Jackson said. “That’s what we preach. If you ever hear him talk or ever hear him speak, you know how he carries himself you can tell that’s a smart intelligent man. He goes out there and carries it the right way on the field and off.”
The Giants’ secondary is on trial this season. They need to come up big, almost surprise, if Big Blue’s defense is to flourish. | 2022-08-02T14:22:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Adoree’ Jackson has confidence in Giants’ young cornerbacks | https://sports.yahoo.com/adoree-jackson-confidence-giants-young-135514408.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/adoree-jackson-confidence-giants-young-135514408.html?src=rss |
Perhaps lost in the midst of the conversation around QB Deshaun Watson’s six game suspension is that the Cleveland Browns continued training camp on Monday. Kicker Cade York continues to impress, OL Jack Conklin came off the physically unable to perform list and the roster had a wide receiver swap.
Unfortunately, practice also included another wide receiver injury. This time to the team’s top receiver, Amari Cooper. Cooper went down with what looked like an ankle injury. He was tended to by trainers then stood on the sidelines toward the end of practice.
That Cooper wasn’t taken into the locker room and was able to stand for the remainder of practice is a good sign. HC Kevin Stefanski did not have an update on Monday. “I have not gotten the full report yet,” he said. “I will update you guys tomorrow (Tuesday), but I do not know.”
Cooper’s arrival was an important one for Cleveland’s offense. The former Dallas Cowboy gave the team a true #1 receiver and a player who can make plays all over the field. If Cooper’s injury is serious, Donovan Peoples-Jones would be forced into that top spot again with very limited options on the free agent market.
We look forward to an update on Cooper’s injury today. | 2022-08-02T14:22:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Amari Cooper injury (ankle) update expected Tuesday | https://sports.yahoo.com/amari-cooper-injury-ankle-expected-135848641.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/amari-cooper-injury-ankle-expected-135848641.html?src=rss |
There are only five weeks to go until the Los Angeles Rams take the field against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium – a potential Super Bowl preview between the defending champions and arguably the top team in the AFC. Exciting, isn’t it?
It’s hard not to count down the days until the season opener, but the Rams probably wouldn’t mind a little extra time if they could get it. Not because they aren’t ready to face the Bills, but because they have a few lingering injuries that are taking some time to heal.
Jalen Ramsey underwent shoulder surgery in June to repair an injury he played through for the second half of last season. He tried to let the issue heal on its own this spring, but after that didn’t work, he and the team opted for surgery on June 21.
Ramsey isn’t on the PUP list, which is encouraging, but he also said just this week that he’s “nowhere near 100%” yet. He previously said he has no doubt he’ll be ready for Week 1, and he feels “10 times better” now than he did last season, but it remains to be seen when he’ll even be able to practice.
Matthew Stafford is another player with at least some minor injury concern. He played through some pain in his throwing arm last season and had an injection in his elbow this offseason to help alleviate it.
The pain hasn’t yet subsided and as a result, the Rams limited Stafford’s workload in practice on Monday. He only participated in individual drills and Sean McVay said afterwards that the team is just being smart with him.
“It’s not something that we’re concerned about. We just want to be really smart with somebody that is as important as our quarterback is,” McVay said.
And then there’s Van Jefferson, whose availability for Week 1 is far less certain than Ramsey and Stafford’s. Jefferson is undergoing minor knee surgery on Tuesday, which would be his second of the offseason.
McVay said he had a “little knee tweak” and after seeing a specialist, surgery was the best option. He’ll be out a few weeks, McVay said, and “we’ll see what his availability looks like to start the season.”
The coach called it “positive news,” but his unknown status for Week 1 isn’t all that encouraging. If Jefferson were to miss any time, it would result in Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell or Jacob Harris likely stepping up as the No. 3 option in an offense that uses three receivers on most plays.
It’s possible all three of Ramsey, Stafford and Jefferson will be on the field against the Bills. But this isn’t the way the Rams would prefer to go through camp, with three key players either being limited or sidelined altogether.
Even though Stafford is the most important player of the bunch, his injury is the least concerning because he’s still practicing and getting in plenty of work. Ramsey shouldn’t need much time to get back up to speed, being a veteran and star cornerback, but Jefferson may not practice again before the season starts – depending how long his recovery is.
The goal is for them to be back for Week 1, and with five weeks to go, there’s still hope all three will be available. | 2022-08-02T14:23:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | How concerning are Rams’ injuries as Week 1 approaches? | https://sports.yahoo.com/concerning-rams-injuries-week-1-125916834.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/concerning-rams-injuries-week-1-125916834.html?src=rss |
The New York Giants offense has been a bit sluggish to start training camp but there have been some positive signs.
One such positive comes by way of running back Saquon Barkley, who aims to rebound after three injury-plagued seasons. And so far, he looks a lot like the player the Giants drafted second overall in 2018.
Early in camp, Barkley shined as a receiver out of the backfield. But on Monday as the pads came on, he took things to an entirely different level.
Saquon Barkley looks really good and was hitting the hole hard in the first day of full pads and running the ball.
Offense runs well with Shane Lemieux at C & Josh Ezeudu at LG
“I just want to be a versatile player and do whatever I can to help the team win. Whatever coach asks me to do, I’m going to go out there and try my best at it. Whatever I need to work on, continue to work on, and just evolve my game,” Barkley told reporters as camp opened. “That’s something I want to do, become an overall better player, and I think this offense is giving me the opportunity to do that, so, I’m thankful and blessed to have that. So, for me, I’ve just got to take advantage of it by getting in the facility taking extra meeting time and learning the playbook.
“I just want to show the Giants that they guy that they drafted is still here. I can still go out there and make the plays and help my team be successful. That’s the only thing I am focused on. Take care of myself, take care of my body, take care of my mental, and try to be the best teammate I can be.”
So far, Barkley is doing exactly that. He’s been impressive on the ground, through the air and as a blocker. He seems completely healthy and confident in himself, and that can mean only good things for the Giants. | 2022-08-02T14:23:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants’ Saquon Barkley looks healthy, explosive | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-saquon-barkley-looks-healthy-125503460.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-saquon-barkley-looks-healthy-125503460.html?src=rss |
“Get Kenny Clark some help!”
A phrase that I imagine many Green Bay Packers have said – or yelled – over the years.
Well, it appears that Clark finally has that help with what should be – on paper – the deepest and best interior defensive line room that the Packers have had in years.
Returning is Dean Lowry, who is coming off a career year in terms of quarterback pressures with 42, which ranked 20th among all interior defenders, along with four pass deflections. Lowry is often tasked with doing the dirty work defensively, taking on double-teams and occupying space, which often doesn’t lead to production, but his teammates can feel his presence.
Also returning is second-year player TJ Slaton, who was on the field for 266 snaps last season and could very well have a larger role in store for him this year. At 6’5″ and 330 pounds, Slaton will operate as an early down run-stuffer, lining up at either the 0 or 1-tech.
Defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery would say that he believes that Slaton can be a “dominant” run defender, while Matt LaFleur said that he is “lightyears” ahead of where he was a year ago.
Jarran Reed has been effective against both the run and the pass during his career – finishing with 30 or more pressures in three of his last four seasons while also ranking 26th out 143 interior linemen in PFF’s run-stop rate this past year.
First-round pick Devonte Wyatt is uber-athletic and would rank sixth out of all interior defensive linemen during his final season at Georgia in that same run-stop rate metric. Not to mention that with that athleticism, he is someone who can get after the quarterback as well.
Having a deeper and stronger rotation will greatly benefit Clark. For one, it will provide Clark with some additional snaps off, which isn’t a bad thing. During the 2021 and 2019 seasons – when he was fully healthy – Clark was on the field for 73% and 83% of the total defensive snaps, respectively. Even three to five fewer snaps per game will add up quickly over the course of a 17-game season.
Improved play inside will also afford the Packers more flexibility to move Clark around. For much of Clark’s career, he has been the one lined up in either the A or B-gap – in part because Green Bay had no other choice. This led to Clark often having to fight through double teams.
But now, with other capable defenders who can assume that role and that the offensive line has to be mindful of, Clark can slide out to the 5-tech, which will provide him with more one-on-one opportunities.
We saw more of this last season from Joe Barry, with Clark lining up over the tackle on 236 of his defensive snaps, according to PFF, the most of his career by a wide margin. It’s also not a coincidence that Clark had one of his most productive seasons as well.
However, it’s not only Clark who is going to benefit from strong interior defensive line play but the entire defense. The game of football has changed over the years, but games are still won and lost in the trenches.
Much like Clark having less attention on him, the same can be said for the Packers’ edge rushers, who will have fewer double-teams to contend with when there is more attention and a greater push from inside.
The linebackers will be kept clean while the interior defenders occupy blockers, allowing De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker to flow freely and with the ball – which should put them in position to make plays.
The Green Bay secondary will benefit from a strong interior push, which is the best way to wreck any play quickly. This will mean less time they have to cover and should also present them with more turnover opportunities with the quarterback under duress.
During the 2019 and 2021 seasons, the Packers ranked in the top six in interceptions. It just so happens that those years also coincide with two seasons in which Green Bay was among the best at pressuring the quarterback. But in 2020, as their total pressures would dip, so did their interception total. There is a bit of randomness that comes with turnovers from year to year, but more pressures will often lead to more opportunities.
Lastly, with a defensive front that can hold its own against the run, the Packers won’t have to devote additional defenders to the run game as often, in turn, better equipping them to play the pass with more players away from the line of scrimmage.
This will also make it more challenging for opposing offenses to decipher what is going on, as the Green Bay defense gives them similar looks from play to play while also creating more third and long opportunities where offenses will have to try to pick up chunk yardage against this Packers secondary.
So far, through the first few training camp practices, we’ve seen a lot of what was just discussed on display. The defensive front has been controlling the line of scrimmage by filling gaps, flying to the football, and generating consistent push into the backfield.
There is a lot of excitement around this Packers defense this season, and rightfully so. On paper, this could be one of the best units in the NFL, and that potential dominance begins up front with what should be a very deep and productive interior defensive line group. | 2022-08-02T14:24:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Improved interior defensive line play will benefit entire Packers defense | https://sports.yahoo.com/improved-interior-defensive-line-play-132956031.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/improved-interior-defensive-line-play-132956031.html?src=rss |
Ike Reese
Jalen Hurts entered the 2022 NFL offense with some sense of security since it was the first time the scheme and offensive staff would remain the same on his current team.
Philadelphia will enter the regular season with a quarterback who didn’t have to adjust to a new system or coordinator for the first time since high school.
After the Eagles, Monday morning practice, Hurts sat down with Jon Marks and Ike Reese on 94WIP, and the third-year quarterback talked about what the Philadelphia offense would need to do to be considered an elite unit.
“Process and stuff, seeing it, and being consistent in it,” he said. “I think there were games where I played at a really high-level last year, and then there were games where it wasn’t the same guy from the week before. Simply put, it’s consistency. I think being consistent will make things elite around here, it will make me elite, it will make this offense elite. And that’s on all levels, that’s on every position.”
Philadelphia has added A.J. Brown on offense, along with Haason Reddick, Jordan Davis, James Bradberry, Nakobe Dean, and Kyzir White on the defensive side of the ball.
The moves have put the Eagles in a position to make a deep playoff run, ad all eyes will be on Hurts as he looks to cement himself as the quarterback for years to come.
Nakobe Dean on being a student of the game; Eagles' high standards | 2022-08-02T14:24:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jalen Hurts on what the Eagles offense needs to make them elite | https://sports.yahoo.com/jalen-hurts-eagles-offense-needs-135432560.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jalen-hurts-eagles-offense-needs-135432560.html?src=rss |
The biggest training camp battle for the Raiders entering camp was at right tackle. And while we are only a few days into padded practice, there appears to be a clear-cut favorite to win the job; Brandon Parker.
Parker has worked primarily with the first team at right tackle. And while he has lost some reps to Alex Leatherwood, Parker is the one who is most likely to enter the season as their starting right tackle.
In a recent article by Tashan Reed of The Athletic, he mentioned that Leatherwood worked some with the first team on Monday. However, he also spent time with the third team on Saturday. Here is what Reed had to say about the former first-round pick from Alabama:
“Alex Leatherwood, who was working with the third team Saturday, got some first-team reps at right tackle. But that may have been because Parker was working at left tackle — just in case Kolton Miller gets injured at some point.”
While this competition is far from over, it does appear that Leatherwood is on the outside looking in when it comes to a starting job. Now, he is likely competing for the swing tackle spot in case Kolton Miller or Parker would go down for any length of time.
This is a very disappointing outcome for the top-20 pick in Year 2. However, there is still a full month until the season for Leatherwood to try to earn a spot on the starting offensive line. | 2022-08-02T14:24:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raiders RT Alex Leatherwood works with the third team on Saturday | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-rt-alex-leatherwood-works-124516723.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-rt-alex-leatherwood-works-124516723.html?src=rss |
Deebo Samuel’s role as a ‘wide back’ may change in 2022, but it might also get him paid.
Reports from Ian Rapoport during the offseason after Samuel requested a trade indicated the wide receiver was unhappy with the role that had him averaging more than six carries per game over the second half of last season.
It was never realistic to expect the 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan to agree to remove that tool from their bag, so Samuel was instead rewarded with some incentives in his new three-year contract extension.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Samuel can make up to $1.95 million over the length of the three-year pact by hitting thresholds for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
Schefter reported Samuel will receive an additional $650,000 if he has more than 380 rushing yards (he posted 365 last season). He can also earn $150,000 if he has more than three rushing touchdowns. However, the maximum amount of incentives he can reach is $650,000 per year.
This is a good middle ground for the two sides that allows the 49ers to continue using the depth of Samuel’s entire skill set, while Samuel is compensated for his additional productivity on the ground.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday said in a press conference that there’s no preset determination on what Samuel’s role will be.
“I think based off of whatever happens, from my standpoint, schematically from our team’s personnel, from Deebo’s, from what we think gives us the best chance to win, if we wanted to move Deebo to running back that would’ve been something that we were honest with him about towards the end of last year and the last few games he became our one, two punch,” Shanahan said. “And also [RB] Elijah [Mitchell], who was our most physical back, he wasn’t the healthiest either. And we thought we had to play our two best guys to get done what we wanted to with our team, which was awesome. To have that option to do that, you can’t do that with anybody you have to do that with a special player and Deebo is a special player. And I think that’s why he’s earned this contract that he’s got. And I think that’s why he is going to continue to earn it going forward.”
It stands to reason the 49ers won’t want to run Samuel between six and 10 times per game again this year like they did at the end of last year. Those runs can take a toll on a player’s body and Samuel is too talented to not have available. He reached 59 carries last year, but that number was largely backloaded to the second half. If he gets up near 60 again it will more likely be spread out more evenly across 17 games.
Figuring out the best way to use Samuel is a good problem to have though. A productive year from him should put the 49ers in position to win a lot of games, and to earn Samuel some additional cash. | 2022-08-02T14:24:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rushing incentives sweeten Deebo Samuel contract | https://sports.yahoo.com/rushing-incentives-sweeten-deebo-samuel-135508811.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rushing-incentives-sweeten-deebo-samuel-135508811.html?src=rss |
Adams didn't appear limited as he took part in everything today. As @A_Jude reported, any surgery he has on his re-injured left hand likely won't be until after the season. He played with a cast on that hand for part of last season. https://t.co/WDAxwSEvxf
Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams only missed two practices as a result of his most recent finger injury. Following his medical consults, he returned to the field on Monday wearing a cast similar to the one he had worn on his hand last year.
While official practice reports aren’t required during the preseason, according to those who saw the safety participate in person, Adams did not appear to be limited in any way.
Nothing official has been announced by the team regarding the specifics of any potential surgery, but there should be some sort of update provided during the next coaches’ press conference.
As for now, it appears his Seahawks teammates are relieved to have Adams back on the practice field.
EA Sports and LaLiga have signed a multiyear title sponsorship agreement that will expand their prior licensing deal. The deal, which starts in 2023-24, will include rebranded logos and graphics, in-game integration, broadcast highlights and grassroots community programming. This enhanced partnership is part of EA Sport’s strategy to strengthen its licensing deals with leagues and […] | 2022-08-02T14:25:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Seahawks safety Jamal Adams returns to full practice with cast on hand | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-safety-jamal-adams-returns-130025253.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-safety-jamal-adams-returns-130025253.html?src=rss |
Football fans are excited to have an actual game to look forward to this week, when the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Las Vegas Raiders in the Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio on Thursday night.
However, they will have to wait a little longer to see quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson announced that the second-year quarterback will not play in the Hall of Fame Game, and that Jake Luton will start in his place. C.J. Beathard, who is recovering from a groin injury, will also sit out of the game:
In addition, running back Travis Etienne, who missed the entire 2021 regular season with a Lisfranc injury, will also be held out of the game Thursday night:
Luke Donald was named on Monday as captain of Europe's 2023 Ryder Cup team, replacing Henrik Stenson who was stripped of the honour last month after joining the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series.
Jacksonville Jaguars legend Tony Boselli carries memories of late father into Hall of Fame | 2022-08-02T14:25:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Trevor Lawrence will not play in the Hall of Fame Game | https://sports.yahoo.com/trevor-lawrence-not-play-hall-125114915.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/trevor-lawrence-not-play-hall-125114915.html?src=rss |
The Cowboys linebacker is the first Wyoming player on this year’s preseason countdown of the best in the Mountain West.
The next great at the position?
Colorado State develops wide receivers. San Diego State develops defensive backs. Wyoming develops linebackers. Some things about Mountain West football just feel like indisputable truths at this point and, to the last idea, the next player on our countdown of the conference’s best already looks like the next athlete who could put an exclamation point on the theory.
Easton Gibbs saw his first extended action in the 2020 season, after predecessors Logan Wilson and Cassh Maluia were selected in that spring’s NFL Draft, and made his first career start before being elevated to the top of the depth chart for good last season. Playing alongside Chad Muma, Gibbs more than held his own with 90 tackles, including double-digit takedowns in four of the team’s last seven contests; seven tackles for loss, four passes defended, and two sacks.
With Muma’s own departure to the pros and transfer portal turnover elsewhere on defense, Gibbs is now one of the unit’s unquestioned leader at linebacker. Given the recent track record of Wyoming’s standouts at the position, it stands to reason you’ll hear his name early and often on Saturdays this fall. | 2022-08-02T15:15:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2022 Mountain West Football Top 50: #36, Wyoming LB Easton Gibbs | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-mountain-west-football-top-130020975.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-mountain-west-football-top-130020975.html?src=rss |
BEIRUT (Reuters) -The U.S. official mediating a maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel said on Monday he remained optimistic about making progress towards a deal and looked forward to returning to the region to make a "final arrangement". Amos Hochstein made the comments after meeting Lebanon's top leaders as he presses efforts to clinch a rare agreement between enemy states that should allow both to develop offshore resources. "I remain optimistic that we can make continuous progress as we have over the last several weeks and I look forward to being able to come back to the region to make the final arrangement," Hochstein said. | 2022-08-02T15:15:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Big Ten coaches anonymously talk Michigan football | https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-coaches-anonymously-talk-141423264.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-coaches-anonymously-talk-141423264.html?src=rss |
The only LIV players currently in the Singapore field who are ranked inside the top 100 in world are Reed (No. 46), Yuki Inamori (No. 81), Scott Vincent (No. 88) and Sadom Kaewkanjana (No. 94). Because the tournament hasn’t attracted many of the top players in the world, it is unlikely to offer a significant amount of world-ranking points.
In a 17-page letter sent to the chair and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee last Friday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred vigorously defended baseball’s antitrust exemption. He warned a repeal of the exemption, which enables MLB to centralize minor-league operations without risk of antitrust litigation, would likely result in minor-league baseball shrinking, with […] | 2022-08-02T15:27:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | With no LIV events, Patrick Reed signs up for two Asian Tour starts | https://sports.yahoo.com/no-liv-events-patrick-reed-082401234.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/no-liv-events-patrick-reed-082401234.html?src=rss |
Miami Dolphins center Michael Deiter has been seen in a walking boot during the last week, and that injury has kept him out of the training camp sessions.
Head coach Mike McDaniel said on Saturday that the injury was to the foot, and it was something that had happened during one of the first days of practice.
Before Tuesday’s camp session, McDaniel spoke to the media again and was asked if there was any concern for this injury when it comes to Week 1, and McDaniel didn’t seem to be too worried.
“[I] don’t have concern, right now, with the information that we have, about the regular season,” McDaniel said. “We’ll just let the week play out and see where he’s at, at the beginning of next week.”
With Connor Williams expecting to move to center for the 2022 season, Deiter is likely the main backup for the position, and he also provides versatility on the line with his experience playing guard as well.
It seems like the Dolphins are hoping that he can return healthy before the start of the regular season, fulfill his role as the backup and step up into the starting role if needed.
If he’s not able to go, the only other true center on the roster, at this point, is Cole Banwart, who was signed by Miami this offseason after undrafted free agent Ty Clary failed his physical.
Heather Gray, Emmy Award-winning executive producer of the CBS series The Talk, has died. The cause of death is unknown but a letter alerting the staff and crew behind the show on Sunday revealed she had succumbed to “an unforgiving disease” following a brave battle. The letter was signed by George Cheeks (President & CEO […] | 2022-08-02T15:55:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mike McDaniel provides small update on Michael Deiter’s status | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-mcdaniel-provides-small-michael-141226397.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-mcdaniel-provides-small-michael-141226397.html?src=rss |
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