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Ja's great reply to Dray saying Grizz star reminds him of himself originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
There is no one quite like Draymond Green.
Still, when asked which young NBA player reminds him of himself, Green had a somewhat unexpected answer.
“I’m going to have to go with, in a much different way, Ja Morant,” Green said on the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show”.
Of course, prior to giving an answer, Green made it known that he is “one-of-one” -- probably something no one would disagree with.
It didn’t take long for Morant to hear Green’s comments, which prompted a great response from the young Memphis Grizzlies star.
wooo dats real shii 💯 https://t.co/1mEGSTQe98
While you might watch the two and wonder how they are similar on the floor, it might be hard to understand why Green named the 2021-22 Kia NBA Most Improved Player as his answer.
"There's so many layers to it," Green said. "Yeah, you may be able to pass the ball at my size or at my position but do you lead? You may lead but do you defend? If you defend do you have a high IQ?"
"I ain't bowing down to none of yall. I don't care what you’ve accomplished before you got here. That has absolutely nothing to do with me. I believe in myself and my abilities and I'm going to show you that. I'm going to lead. I'ma talk to you. I'ma let you know about it while I'm doing it. I'm going to carry others with me. And most importantly I'm going to do it my way. And all those things that I just named I see Ja Morant do."
RELATED: NBA exec posits whether Draymond could leave Dubs for Pistons
But before people start getting carried away with the comparisons, Green wanted to make one thing clear.
"We’re nowhere near the same player," he emphasized. "But that’s who reminds me a lot of me." | 2022-08-11T23:37:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ja Morant reacts to Draymond saying Grizzlies star reminds him of himself | https://sports.yahoo.com/ja-morant-reacts-draymond-saying-210449112.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ja-morant-reacts-draymond-saying-210449112.html?src=rss |
Chris Antonetti
Jeff Schudel, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
Aug. 11—Here is some free advice from an old guy: Don't mow your lawn at night. Don't leave your car windows down when it's raining and never, ever trust baseball experts employed by major websites for stock-market advice.
After games played Aug. 10, the Guardians were 58-52 and alone in first place in the American League Central Division, one game ahead of the Minnesota Twins and 2.5 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox with eight weeks and 52 games remaining in the regular season. They beat the Tigers, 3-2, on Aug. 10 for their fourth straight victory. They are 7-3 over their last 10 games.
ESPN was kinder in predicting a 77-85 finish for Terry Francona's crew, but the sports giant gave the Guardians just a 15 percent chance of making the playoffs.
"Cleveland could not afford to be this quiet and expect improvement," Bleacher Report wrote. "The betting line (an over-under of 76.5 wins) is kind in its assessment of a regression for the Guardians."
"We did have a subset and a target of players (in free agency) — and more often than not, they didn't end up here," Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said in spring training. "On that level, it can be disappointing, but it doesn't take away from my excitement with the group we have."
Shortstop Amed Rosario's name was floated as a commodity the Guards would offer for a relief pitcher as the Aug. 2 trade deadline approached. It didn't happen, and the Guardians are better for it. Kwan hitting first and Rosario second gets the train rolling. No one plays with more grit than Josh Naylor.
In other words, the Guardians' success truly is total team effort.
"Often times, we came back to really believing in individuals we have in the clubhouse and the contributions they've made," Antonetti said in explaining why he didn't make a major trade at the deadline. "As importantly, the way this group has come together in a team dynamic — the way they play the game, the way they care for each other — we wanted to be really mindful not to disrupt that."
Cleveland's baseball team isn't the Indians anymore. But it's in first place, and that's all that matters.
Royals vs White Sox Betting Forecast for Aug 10
Yahoo Sports looks at the latest betting information as the Kansas City Royals host the Chicago White Sox | 2022-08-11T23:37:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Surprise! First-place Guardians make experts look foolish | Jeff Schudel | https://sports.yahoo.com/surprise-first-place-guardians-experts-210400937.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/surprise-first-place-guardians-experts-210400937.html?src=rss |
Another Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back can be formally added to the list of those to successfully make the jump to the NFL. Reports have surfaced that former Iowa safety Jack Koerner has been signed to a contract by the New Orleans Saints.
Koerner was signed by the Saints immediately following the draft but then waived to clear roster space. He finds himself back in New Orleans as NFL preseason is about to get underway for nearly all franchises this weekend.
Koerner spent five years in the Iowa football program and undoubtedly made the most of it. Throughout his career he totaled 32 games started, 216 tackles, 16 pass breakups, and six interceptions.
His output and pedigree only adds credence to the cheat code that Iowa is for defensive backs to make it to the NFL. In New Orleans, Koerner will have the chance to learn from one of the best safeties in the game, Tyrann Mathieu.
Great play by #28 Jack Koerner. pic.twitter.com/v2I0DU8NLC
— Neighbor-Hood Husky (@HoodHusky) October 11, 2021
While signed as a safety, Koerner will likely get his chance to make his mark during preseason on special teams. Special teams can get guys like him noticed and takes the same mentality that it does at Iowa to get on the field.
His path could be similar to another former Hawkeyes safety, Jake Gervase. Gervase bounced around the league for a while and was cut a few times but persevered until he ultimately raised the Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Los Angeles Rams last season. Gervase resigned with the Rams in May.
Chuck Hartlieb | 2022-08-12T01:13:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Iowa Hawkeyes standout Jack Koerner signed by the New Orleans Saints | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-iowa-hawkeyes-standout-jack-003016029.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-iowa-hawkeyes-standout-jack-003016029.html?src=rss |
The Cleveland Browns kick off their preseason slate of games against the Jacksonville Jaguars tomorrow night while the organization, players and fans await the outcome of QB Deshaun Watson’s discipline. An appeal was filed and Peter Harvey was appointed to hear that appeal last week.
There are some reports that the NFL wants to keep Watson off the field altogether and are hoping that Harvey will make his ruling before Friday night’s game. Only a season-long or more suspension would accomplish that goal.
Watson and the NFLPA said they wouldn’t appeal Judge Sue Robinson’s decision even before she made her ruling. The NFL has been consistent since the start that a full-year suspension was what they expected but the two sides had attempted to negotiate a settlement prior to Robinson’s ruling.
Now comes a report that Watson is willing to settle for a longer suspension and a huge fine:
The earlier reports were that the NFL wanted a minimum of 12 games, to keep Watson from playing in Houston, and a big fine.
It seems likely that Harvey will rule to give the Browns quarterback a larger suspension but that could lead to a federal court case. The two sides agreeing on a settlement could finally put an end to things and keep the court system out of it. | 2022-08-12T01:14:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Watson willing to settle for 8-game suspension and a large fine | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-watson-willing-settle-8-233132357.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-watson-willing-settle-8-233132357.html?src=rss |
Quarterback Malik Willis was projected to be a first-round pick by many analysts.
On Thursday night, we could see why.
The Tennessee Titans got Willis in the third round after he fell. He got the start in the Titans' preseason opener as Ryan Tannehill rested, and he made a few highlights that are likely to make Tennessee fans excited about what the future might bring.
The biggest highlight of the night was a 7-yard touchdown run. It wasn't a normal 7-yard run. Willis dropped back past the 15-yard line, spun away from the defense to his left, got the corner and then cut back inside to get in the end zone. It was a great display of athleticism.
Willis also has a cannon arm, which he showed off on a 48-yard pass to Racey McMath in the second quarter. That set up a field goal.
Also in that drive, Willis had a sidearm throw with the defense coming at him that was Patrick Mahomes-esque.
Willis put on quite a show.
Yes, it was against backups. And just because he had some splash plays doesn't mean he'll be a star at quarterback. He'll need to prove he can be consistent to go along with those highlights, and do it when games count. It's still a big jump from Liberty to the NFL.
But it's OK to be excited about a quarterback who might end up being a really fun player for the Titans. Maybe he shouldn't have slipped so far in the draft.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis looks to pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of Thursday's preseason game. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) | 2022-08-12T01:14:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Titans rookie QB Malik Willis has some sparkling highlights in preseason debut | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-rookie-qb-malik-willis-has-some-sparkling-highlights-in-preseason-debut-004122479.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-rookie-qb-malik-willis-has-some-sparkling-highlights-in-preseason-debut-004122479.html?src=rss |
The man with the golden leg is at it again.
Minnesota Vikings kicker Greg Joseph has seemingly been automatic from ridiculous distances in training camp. It doesn’t matter if it’s from 50-plus yards, 55-plus yards or even 60 yards.
If you put a goalpost in front of Joseph right now, there’s a good chance he’s going to kick it through the uprights.
“There’s a confidence level that you feel from (Joseph) right now,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said recently, via the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson. “Some of our special-teams coaches, when he’s kicking, they don’t want to look at him. they don’t want to talk to him, because he’s kind of in the zone right now. I kind of go the opposite way. So I talk to him and I look at him and I’m trying to get in his head as much as possible.”
O’Connell talking doesn’t appear to be fazing Joseph one bit. Just look at the 60-yard beauty he kicked at practice on Thursday.
Things got rocky for Joseph last season before he started settling in during the latter-half. The Vikings are hopeful he stays hot heading into the season-opener. Perhaps the team can finally end the kicking curse.
Right now, Joseph looks like he could make it from 4th-and-forever. | 2022-08-12T01:14:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Greg Joseph makes 60-yard field goal kick look easy | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-greg-joseph-makes-60-234849542.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-greg-joseph-makes-60-234849542.html?src=rss |
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Tyquan Thornton scored his first NFL touchdown at the end of the first quarter in Thursday night’s preseason opener against the New York Giants.
The touchdown concluded an eight-play, 55-yard drive. The drive itself featured a heavy dose of running back J.J Taylor and a couple key catches from wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson.
Quarterback Brian Hoyer was able to link up with Thornton on a pass after a couple of stalled plays in the red zone. Hoyer was able to extend the play and find Thornton in the back of the end zone. The touchdown gave New England a 7-3 lead at the end of the quarter.
Thornton is looking to make a name for himself in a crowded wide receiver room. Plays like this touchdown should help his case. | 2022-08-12T01:15:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton scores first NFL touchdown | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-patriots-wr-tyquan-thornton-001551626.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-patriots-wr-tyquan-thornton-001551626.html?src=rss |
One of the most decorated but low-key figures in NBA history has reemerged from the shadows to take yet another impactful position.
Joe Dumars is a Hall of Fame player, NBA Finals MVP and championship executive — the first Black executive to lead a team to an NBA title — and now he takes up a post in the league office as Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.
Dumars will oversee the evolution of rules and officiating along with discipline, after three seasons with the Sacramento Kings as Chief Strategy Officer. He’ll report to Byron Spruell, President of League Operations, and this is his first front-facing position since leaving his post as Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations in 2014.
“Timing is everything in your life,” Dumars told Yahoo Sports recently. “ As soon as I retired from playing at 36 (in 1999), this probably wasn't the move for me. I had to live and get more experience.
“Once I started talking to Adam (Silver, NBA commissioner) and Mark Tatum (deputy commissioner), just over a period of time, it became very clear that this was like a seamless transition for me. So I'm super happy with the decision to do so. Everything I've done up until this point, led me to this particular move right here.”
Joe Dumars spent 14 years as president of the Detroit Pistons. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Joe Dumars' mission: 'Make sure that it's a beautiful, clean game'
In one of his first calls with the NBA, he was measured and principled. One senior staffer noted that Dumars cut through the noise to say, “We have to do what’s best for the game.”
It’s that type of approach he brings to the competition committee, which has implemented changes to clean up the clutter.
Before Dumars arrived, the focus was on the non-basketball moves — players often making unnatural veers into the paths of defenders in the effort to draw contact and trick the referees. It took awhile, but players adjusted. To start last season, more physical play was allowed on the perimeter but it seemed like that reverted back to the “look but don’t touch” approach until the later rounds of the playoffs.
The flow-stopping “take foul” was next on the menu, and the NBA approved rule changes with that highlighted into this coming season. It was a huge point of emphasis from the coaches and the league, and passed easily this summer.
“When the game gets diluted and, and it gets junked up a little bit, I think it's imperative for the league to step in and make sure the game stays clean,” Dumars said. “Look, the athletes are incredible. These young guys are gonna make incredible plays no matter what. So I just think it's incumbent upon the league to make sure that it's a beautiful, clean game.”
Transforming the Pistons
When Dumars was a player or executive, it wasn’t on him to worry about the beauty of the game — just to work within the parameters of the rules to help his teams win. And he did so, famously. There isn’t a team banner that hung in the Palace of Auburn Hills that didn’t have Dumars’ fingerprints on it. He played in three NBA Finals, winning two rings while engineering two more Finals trips from the executive suite.
His post-millennium Pistons teams didn’t have a superstar, nor did they go over the salary cap. But they were a constant contender for nearly a decade, winning an improbable title in 2004, coming to within a break of repeating, and maintaining a presence in the conference finals from 2003-08.
Then, like most great runs, the Pistons had to rebuild — and do it in the midst of an ownership change following Bill Davidson’s death in 2009. Tom Gores took over after two years in limbo, but the Pistons couldn’t recreate the magic that made them a standard bearer.
By 2014, it was clear both sides were headed in opposite directions — the experienced executive and the new owner still learning the ropes.
“I looked at it for what it is. I always have the ability to look at a situation and be in the moment,” Dumars said. “So in the moment was, OK, this is different. It’s an adjustment, a new era. And I knew that, OK, I'll make this transition. And then we'll transition to something else. Like Tom and I had a great conversation in, in LA, during my last season there with him, we had a great conversation at his house about and I said to him, 'It's time for me to transition out.'
“It wasn't like some abstract thing for me. I looked at it for what it was — a great run, this run is gonna come to an end and you're gonna hand this off to somebody else. And that's how I looked at it.”
He hasn’t been back near the franchise since, but has appeared in a couple PSA’s the last couple years. A Louisiana native, Dumars put roots in the Detroit area and the fieldhouse bearing his name, Joe Dumars Fieldhouse, was the premier place for pick-up games for decades.
“You look at it with tremendous fondness you know, for the whole group, all of us there — what we accomplished, all those players who were there, (executives) John Hammond (Orlando), Scott Perry (New York), George David (Detroit), all those guys, man.
“So I look at the experience, the last few years that and I look back on it, I thought that was great for me, because it it forced me to change my thinking and work with different people. And it was time to hand the baton off to the next era of Pistons.”
The Pistons retired Joe Dumars' No. 4 during a ceremony in 2000. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images)
Transitioning to the league office
He chuckles when noting his former players going into the coaching ranks, with Chauncey Billups being the head coach in Portland and the colorful Rasheed Wallace being in the collegiate ranks as an assistant to Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway last year in Memphis.
Dumars joked he wouldn’t fine the Pistons harder than any other franchise, actually admiring their rebuild from afar.
“I got nothing but love for those guys,” Dumars said. “I think Troy (Weaver) is doing an incredible job. Dwane (Casey) is as steady as a rock. Tom wants to win in the worst way. And Arn (Tellem) is a super, super classy guy. I've run into all those guys over the last, I don't know, a month or two and had conversations with all of them. So I'm still a Pistons guy. I will be as objective with the Pistons as anybody else.”
It’s not lost on Dumars, the irony of a Bad Boy being in the league office — dealing with the officiating, no less, considering his team was not the favorite of late commissioner David Stern.
Dumars, of course, was known as the nice guy on that team but he also wasn’t to be trifled with. He and Isiah Thomas formed arguably the greatest backcourt in league history, and if you add reserve Vinnie Johnson, the greatest guard trio the league has seen.
He was more than just Michael Jordan’s greatest defender, the first line of defense in the famed “Jordan Rules.” From 1989-97, Dumars averaged 18.3 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range. Dumars was All-NBA three times and All-Defensive five straight years. He certainly had a case to be on the NBA’s top 75 list, especially factoring in his role in real winning.
Dumars brings all of that practical experience with him to the league office, giving it a perspective it may not otherwise have.
“I think most about the flagrant fouls and when they came in. We were really physical,” said Dumars, referencing the rule change that came into play before the 1990-91 season — right after Dumars’ Pistons won back-to-back titles. “And I'm sure they had to step in and address it at some point. I specifically remember going out and plan a game right after the rules were changed and realized immediately, OK, you cannot be as physical as you once were.”
It came to a head in that year’s conference finals against Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Bulls guard B.J. Armstrong, a friend of Dumars then and now, appeared to be fouled cleanly by Dumars on a fast break, preventing a layup.
But Dumars was shockingly called for a flagrant foul.
“It was unbelievable. And my good friend (official) Darell Garretson called it,” Dumars said. “And I remember thinking, you have got to be kidding me. And I have given B.J. the blues about that call for years, you should have protested on my behalf for that call.”
He saw the league go through another seismic shift, gearing more toward offense after some rough-and-tumble games where teams were happy to reach 90 points. Only once in the most recent NBA Finals did a team fail to reach 90 (the Celtics scored 88 in Game 2 against Golden State).
“I would say the first seven years, the first half of sitting in the presidency for the Pistons, it was still pretty much a defensive first league that you're going to have to win by just stopping people,” Dumars said. “But as the second half of tenure with the Pistons in the front office, you could see it was becoming more and more an offensive league, more and more emphasis was being put on threes and open play a little bit more.”
With over 40 years in professional basketball, Dumars’ career takes another winding, almost unexpected turn.
“You definitely bring in the experiences with you,” Dumars said. “I walk in every day authentic with what’s happened. I actually think that's what the guys here wanted. My authentic and unique experiences is what they want.” | 2022-08-12T01:15:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Joe Dumars reemerges as the NBA's head of basketball operations | https://sports.yahoo.com/joe-dumars-reemerges-as-the-nb-as-head-of-basketball-operations-153342103.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/joe-dumars-reemerges-as-the-nb-as-head-of-basketball-operations-153342103.html?src=rss |
ESPN posted an article profiling the ‘25 most important players in 2022’s College Football Playoff race‘ and Jayden Daniels, the quarterback transfer from Arizona State, was listed as the No. 25 player on the list.
It’s no secret that the LSU Tigers have had success with transfer quarterbacks in the past. We all remember how Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow led the Tigers to an undefeated season and a national championship in 2019. Those are the type of expectations some Tiger fans have for Daniels as he comes to LSU from Arizona State.
One of my biggest questions with this whole thing is that I don’t even know who will win the starting job. There are four quarterbacks vying for playing time (Daniels, Nussmeier, Howard, and Brennan). With Brian Kelly coming over from Notre Dame, I assume LSU will run more of a pro-style offense where they rely on the running game with Noah Cain a lot more than the passing game. It’s a whole new playbook that these guys have to try and master before the season starts.
Myles Brennan is the elder statesman of the group as he is entering his fifth season on the Bayou. I think Brennan would be a good option if the Tigers are looking for a game manager while everyone is transitioning to this new offense. We’ll see who gets the start against the Seminoles in week one.
Kayshon Boutte makes ESPN’s list of prospects to know for the 2023 NFL Draft
Kayshon Boutte is the top prospect to know for the 2023 NFL draft. | 2022-08-12T01:30:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jayden Daniels is among most important players for CFP race | https://sports.yahoo.com/jayden-daniels-among-most-important-000043557.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jayden-daniels-among-most-important-000043557.html?src=rss |
Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide football program are just a few weeks away from beginning the upcoming college football season, which means the incoming recruits from the 2022 class are prepared for the first season and transfers are getting acclimated to their new home.
Alabama’s dominance on both sides of the ball leads to many wins. In order to win, points must be scored. Whether it’s a touchdown or a field goal, the Crimson Tide will find its way into the opponent’s end zone.
When points are scored, the Million Dollar Band will play the University’s fight song, ‘Yea Alabama.’
A clip was recently shared showing Saban and the band helping out the new players in learning the song. They better get used to it because it’s a tune they will likely hear often.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to share updates regarding Alabama football ass the 2022 offseason comes to a close.
Ja Rule has kept his promise to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Lawyers are set to grill Donald Trump in Manhattan over what Letitia James has alleged is a pattern of financial misstatements, a source said.
After going 9-3 in 2021, Early is reloaded and hopes to win the District 2-3A II title. Ballinger will also likely contend for a playoff spot. | 2022-08-12T01:30:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Nick Saban teaches new members of the Crimson Tide the fight song | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-nick-saban-teaches-members-000528237.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-nick-saban-teaches-members-000528237.html?src=rss |
Loon's humble 'brag' proves why he's a Warriors fan favorite originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
And despite winning his third championship with Golden State, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from -- not even from 2,000 miles away.
Humble brag, but we'll take it.
“It’s even better that the Bucks are good now, so when I go to the barbershops, I talk to my family, it’s a lot of great basketball conversations," Looney said. "It's just a lot of fun to talk back with my family and friends and share these moments with them and talk about ‘I remember when’ and those things. All my dreams as a kid, to see me live them out and be able to share these moments is just special."
Looney's three-day camp is focused on teaching the game of basketball to the next generation of players, both boys and girls.
From the Midwest to the Bay, to all over Dub Nation, it's clear Looney's humble attitude is just one of the reasons why he's an easy fan favorite.
Other Thunder players that wore No. 6 include Hamidou Diallo, Gabriel Deck, Eric Maynor, Derek Fisher, Randy Foye, Steve Novak, Semaj Christon and Melvin Frazier Jr. | 2022-08-12T02:45:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kevon Looney's humble 'brag' shows why he's Warriors fan favorite | https://sports.yahoo.com/kevon-looneys-humble-brag-shows-235118817.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kevon-looneys-humble-brag-shows-235118817.html?src=rss |
Love's opportunity
Tyrann Mathieu and the Saints defense bounced back in training camp Day 14, via @RossJacksonNOLA
Brendan Rodgers and Ryan McMahon hit back-to-back home runs in a six-run seventh inning, and the Colorado Rockies held off the St. Louis Cardinals 8-6 on Thursday to secure their first series win since the All-Star break. The Rockies overcame three more hits from Paul Goldschmidt, including his 27th home run, to improve to 7-14 since July 22. Former Rockies slugger Nolan Arenado hit his 24th home run to extend his hitting streak to nine games, but struck out looking with two on in the ninth to end it for the Cardinals. | 2022-08-12T02:49:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Packers vs 49ers: 5 things to watch in Green Bay’s preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-vs-49ers-5-things-012639770.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-vs-49ers-5-things-012639770.html?src=rss |
Schrock: Roquan's hold-in could become dangerous sideshow for Bears originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
LAKE FOREST – Matt Eberflus has preached one thing consistently since he was named head coach of the Bears.
Meeting the standard.
Eberflus, a first-time head coach, arrived in Chicago and planned to raise the level of effort, intensity, and F's given in the Bears' organization.
Star players were asked to go above and beyond, setting the pace for a relatively young roster to follow in their footsteps. Everyone from the top down must meet the standard Eberflus and his staff set for the new Bears.
Well, everyone but Roquan Smith.
A day after being removed from the PUP list, a healthy Smith, who requested a trade Tuesday amid tense contract extension negotiations, was present at Bears training camp Thursday. But even though the Bears' staff deemed him healthy, Smith didn't take the field with his teammates. Instead, he stood beside David Montgomery and Angelo Blackson on the sidelines near the training room. He watched a few snaps before disappearing out of sight.
Eberflus told the media Thursday that he expects every healthy player to participate in practice, including Smith. Contract or no contract.
The standard is not the standard, it appears, for Roquan Smith.
"I just think that you go about your business," Eberflus said when asked how he'll handle Smith's unwillingness to practice. "You treat everybody with respect. You coach on the grass what we're expecting of the guys in the meetings and on the grass. And you look at execution.
"For me it's about being respectful to everybody in the building. Do I certainly know what Roquan's going through? I don't know. I'm not in his chair. I don't know that. You never put yourself in another man's shoes. His perspective may be something different. That's where he is. I'm going be respectful of that."
Eberflus is in a tenuous position as he tries to build a winning culture as part of the foundation of his rebuild.
The Bears still want to extend Smith. He's a 25-year-old elite off-ball linebacker who plays a pivotal position in Eberflus' defense. He also has publicly requested a trade and now is open defiance of his head coach.
General manager Ryan Poles and the Bears' front office can discipline Smith for opting not to practice. Since he's a hold-in and not physically absent, it's unclear what those fines can and would be. But the Bears likely would prefer not to fine Smith, lest they risk causing an already dire situation to deteriorate further.
But if the Bears allow Smith to keep refusing to practice without repercussions, they risk letting it become a dangerous sideshow that can undo a lot of the hard, culture-building work they've already done.
Eberflus likely knows he's walking a thin line. He said Thursday he doesn't know what Smith gains by watching practice from the sidelines in shorts and a hat. He also noted that Smith's defiance might not go unchecked. The Bears just don't know their path forward yet. Or if they do, they aren't saying.
"I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that," Eberflus said when asked about letting the rules not apply to Smith. "I'm saying that right now today we're saying that he didn't practice, you're going to have to ask him why he didn't practice and then we're going to take it day-by-day, that's what we're saying."
Eberflus told the media they'd have to ask Smith why he didn't practice. The Bears didn't make Smith available to the media, citing a new policy about players who don't practice not being available.
Smith is the Bears' best player, and sometimes the rules are different for stars. That's understood in most walks of life. If you're valuable to your organization, you get more leeway.
But if the Bears don't extend or trade Smith soon, they risk nuking any culture-building progress they've made.
If the standard doesn't apply to Roquan Smith, and there are no consequences, why should it apply to Jaylon Johnson, Robert Quinn, or Justin Fields? How can you ask the rest of your roster to meet a standard your best player openly refuses to meet without repercussions?
The Bears want to extend Smith. They know that fining him for holding in will only make it harder to bridge the gap between the two sides.
It's a tricky line to walk, but the Bears must find a way to end the predicament as soon as possible. The longer it goes, the more dangerous Smith's situation will be to the culture Eberflus has been trying to build since Day 1.
With defensive back Bryce Thompson likely headed to injured reserve, the New Orleans Saints bring back Iowa safety Jack Koerner.
The recent cancelation of Batgirl at HBO Max has purportedly not affected DC projects from Hollywood titans J.J. Abrams and Greg Berlanti. Speaking with TVLine, a spokesperson for the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming platform confirmed that Berlanti's live-action Green Lantern Corps series is still “very much alive” and “definitely moving forward," though it probably won't premiere until 2024 at the earliest. Finn Wittrock (a veteran of Ryan Murphy joints like American Horror Story: Freak | 2022-08-12T02:49:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Roquan Smith hold-in could become dangerous sideshow for young Bears | https://sports.yahoo.com/roquan-smith-hold-could-become-013000476.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/roquan-smith-hold-could-become-013000476.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens opened their 2022 preseason at M&T Bank Stadium against the Tennessee Titans. The first score of the game came from a veteran running back who was not on the team a season ago in running back Mike Davis, who came over from the Atlanta Falcons.
With 6:55 left in the first quarter, Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley handed the ball to running back Mike Davis for a four-yard touchdown run. Davis made the score look, easy running to the right side and gaining the edge before finding the end zone.
Davis, 29, signed a one-year deal with Baltimore in May. The running back had played for five teams in his seven-year NFL career before joining the Ravens. He’s rushed 550 times for 2,034 yards and14 touchdowns while also catching 169 passes for 1,062 yards and four receiving scores. | 2022-08-12T02:50:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Watch: Ravens score first touchdown of 2022 preseason | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-ravens-score-first-touchdown-015209317.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-ravens-score-first-touchdown-015209317.html?src=rss |
MORE FROM COHEN: What Duke transfer Joey Baker brings to Juwan Howard's roster
Michigan coach Juwan Howard talks with reporters after practicing for the Sweet 16 game against Villanova on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
Michigan Wolverines guard Frankie Collins (10) celebrates a play with Michigan Wolverines forward Terrance Williams II (5) during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 03: Joey Baker #13 of the Duke Blue Devils takes a second half shot next to Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on December 03, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Duke won the game 87-75. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Juwan Howard wants a Michigan basketball collective for NIL race
On the surface, the concept of combining streaming services HBO Max and Discovery+ seems sound enough. And for the record, TiVo's similar survey, performed late last year, indicated that price hikes were the top reason for canceling a streaming service, with "wasn't worth the amount we were paying" coming in at the No. 3 spot, right behind "we weren't using it enough." | 2022-08-12T03:41:14Z | sports.yahoo.com | Juwan Howard wants a Michigan basketball collective to keep pace in recruiting arms race | https://sports.yahoo.com/juwan-howard-wants-michigan-basketball-211701545.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/juwan-howard-wants-michigan-basketball-211701545.html?src=rss |
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo watches from the bench during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
''Michigan State has been a home to me and my family for 40 years and I'm ecstatic to sign this contract,'' said Izzo, who was hired at the school by the late Jud Heathcote as a part-time assistant in 1983.
''We have worked hard to maintain championship standards and I'm as energized to coach now as I was when I started as the head coach in 1995,'' Izzo said.
''We greatly appreciate Coach Izzo's commitment to our outstanding university and his competitive drive to keep Spartan Basketball as a national powerhouse,'' school president Samuel Stanley Jr. said.
''Twelve years ago, Tom Izzo said he would be a Spartan for life, and today's announcement further demonstrates and renews this commitment,'' athletic director Alan Haller said. | 2022-08-12T03:41:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Michigan State gives Tom Izzo new deal worth $6.2M per year | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-gives-tom-izzo-201129092.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-gives-tom-izzo-201129092.html?src=rss |
David Wysong, Cincinnati Enquirer
Reds Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Sr. (right) embraces his son, Ken Jr., during his son's Reds Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Kaley Cuoco staged her own intervention after divorce: 'I was really, really, really struggling’
"It was one of the hardest years of my life. Not only personally, but doing this character that was so tormented," the Flight Attendant star told Variety about shooting the series while dealing with the fall-out of her recent divorce from husband of three years, Karl Cook.
Is "Field of Dreams" the best baseball film ever? That's difficult to answer, but our readers voted on their favorite baseball movie. | 2022-08-12T04:15:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | How do the career stats for Ken Griffey Sr., Ken Griffey Jr. compare? Here's a look. | https://sports.yahoo.com/career-stats-ken-griffey-sr-230554128.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/career-stats-ken-griffey-sr-230554128.html?src=rss |
On Thursday's edition of "The Draymond Green Show," the 32-year-old answered various mailbag questions, including which players -- past and present -- make up his ideal starting five.
The Golden State star didn't hesitate to put his teammate Steph Curry in the point guard position. Meanwhile, former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal and San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan, two of the most dominant big men in their era, made Green's starting lineup.
"My all-time starting five is Shaq at the 5 and Steph at the 1," Green said on his podcast. "I got LeBron James at the 3. Now, again, this is where the eras and stuff gets tricky because what era of basketball am I talking about? But I'm just going to talk basketball in the sense of who I think will make a great five."
Green had to ponder who would fill the shooting guard position in his starting five, considering the two players the Warriors forward was weighing on his mind were Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Nonetheless, Green couldn't go with anyone but Jordan at the 2 position.
There's no doubt Green's all-time starting lineup will cause some debate, considering players such as Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson, among other past stars, were left off. | 2022-08-12T04:15:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Draymond Green includes Steph Curry in all-time starting five lineup | https://sports.yahoo.com/draymond-green-includes-steph-curry-082837584.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/draymond-green-includes-steph-curry-082837584.html?src=rss |
5 things to watch on offense in Jags’ second preseason game vs. Browns
However, that’s going to change heading into Friday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. Jags coach Doug Pederson announced that he will let the starters take the field for limited reps as the first-team offense could use some reps against some new opponents. However, some key players will still be held out due to returning from major injuries or recent ones, like receivers Jamal Agnew and Laviska Shenault Jr. and running back James Robinson.
Even with the stars out, there will be plenty to watch when the first-team offense takes the field for Pederson on Friday. Here are five things that we will be keeping an eye on along the way:
Trevor Lawrence's debut under Doug Pederson
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws the ball as head coach Doug Pederson looks on during day 2 of the Jaguars Training Camp Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at the Knight Sports Complex at Episcopal School of Jacksonville. [Florida Times-Union]
When the offseason started for the Jags, it was no secret that the team needed to find an offensive-minded head coach to lead them and guide Lawrence. In February, they did so by hiring arguably one of the best fits for the former No. 1 pick in Pederson.
Pederson, who won a Super Bowl during his last stop with Philadelphia, has done a good job coaching quarterbacks throughout his career and has worked with first-round signal-callers like Carson Wentz and Alex Smith. Now, the hope is that he can aid Lawrence in taking a step forward after a rough rookie season where he completed under 60% of his passes.
Lawrence has looked like a much better player in training camp. He’ll take the field Friday after having a dominant Wednesday where he was 28-of-34 with five touchdowns.
Trevor Lawrence finished the day 28/34 with 5 TDs and 0 INTs.
Tyson Campbell broke up two passes and Marvin Jones dropped one that was slightly behind but catchable.
Next up for Trevor: The Browns on Friday night
— Jordan de Lugo (@jordandelugo) August 10, 2022
The Jags likely won’t try anything too complicated with Lawrence and the starters who will play for the first few series. Still, it would be nice to see him and the first-team unit move the ball down the field as the backups struggled offensively against the Las Vegas Raiders. Something to also watch will be the consistency of Lawrence’s mechanics, which NBC Sports’ Chris Simms praised him for recently.
The speed Travis Etienne brings to the offense
It was clear as day that the Jags’ offense lacked speed last season. A big reason for that was the absence of running back Travis Etienne, who the team drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft alongside Lawrence.
Etienne, who was projected to be a big part of the Jags’ plans last season, unfortunately, sustained a Lisfranc injury in the preseason that ended his rookie season. However, he worked hard during rehab and looks just as explosive as he was before — if not more explosive.
Etienne has arguably been the most impressive player in camp in the eyes of some reporters. He’s a player that brings versatility to the offense in addition to speed, and that’s been on display as he’s seen a lot of reps with James Robinson currently rehabbing.
Now, after the second-year player has dazzled this whole offseason, fans will get a preview of what he brings to the offense. With Pederson saying he wanted to see a stronger run game after the Jags’ first preseason game, maybe Etienne will get to make various highlight plays Friday as it’s clear the coaches have a plan for him in 2022.
OG Brandon Scherff debuts for the Jags
When fans think of the offseason additions made by the Jags this spring, the first ones that come to mind are the skill players like Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram, all of whom should help Lawrence improve. However, it shouldn’t be overlooked that guard Brandon Scherff is just as important of an addition.
Scherff is a five-time Pro Bowler and a former First-Team All-Pro player who brings eight years of experience to the offensive line. Thanks to those accolades he’s expected to lead the unit, and fans should see an immediate impact from him.
While spending 2015-21 with the Washington Commanders, Scherff established himself as one of the most consistent guards in football when healthy. He’s acquired Pro Football Focus grades of 73.6 or higher in his last seven seasons, which is good news for Trevor Lawrence and company.
When he takes the field Friday, fans should keep a close eye on Scherff. He’s the type of player who will help them both in the run game and passing game, something the previous regime struggled to get out of the right guard spot in the past.
What's the chemistry looking like for the passing game?
Jaguars WR (7) Zay Jones turns with the ball during passing drills at the Jacksonville Jaguars Organized Team Activity session at TIAA Bank Field Monday, May 23, 2022. [Florida Times-Union]
As previously stated, the Jags came into this season with an understanding that Lawrence not only needed the right coaches around him but new weapons, too. As a result, they signed three young veteran pass-catchers in Kirk, Jones, and Engram in free agency.
It wasn’t cheap and cost the team just under $60 million in guarantees, though none of the deals individually are back-breaking. However, these three players will be heavily watched by the fans, who wanted splashier signings this spring.
The good thing is that all three have worked hard to build a bond with Lawrence dating back to organized team activities. Of the three, Kirk has the most potential after falling just 18 yards short of 1,000 last season with Arizona. He brings speed to the offense and could be a problem for defenses in the slot, which is something that helped young ascending star quarterback Kyler Murray have success last season.
Engram is a big athletic threat who could give the Jags the production they’ve long wanted at the tight end position. He has a big opportunity ahead of him after signing a one-year “prove it” contract, and he came to the right place to turn his career around as Pederson loves to utilize the tight end position.
As for Jones, it seems they view him as an X-receiver type. He’s impressed in camp despite being one of the more puzzling signings for the team. The staff has praised him (and Kirk) for his ability to communicate with Lawrence and explain what he’s seeing out of the defense. That said, it would be nice to see him make a few plays on Friday as it would further clear up the confusion fans had this spring when he was signed.
*Note: The Jags could play it safe with Kirk this week as he sustained an ankle injury in practice, but he wasn’t mentioned among the players who will sit.
Offensive line coach Phil Rauscher talks with Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little (72) during drills at Wednesday’s training camp session. The Jacksonville Jaguars held their third day of training camp Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville Knight Campus practice fields on Atlantic Blvd. [Florida Times-Union]
The battle for the starting right tackle role between Walker Little and Jawaan Taylor has been one that reporters have watched closely, and now fans will get to see the two compete. Taylor has missed some time recently due to a hamstring injury, but he was able to practice this week and will play against Cleveland.
As for Little, he received plenty of opportunities in the absence of Taylor and fared well in the process. Throughout the last few weeks, he improved in 1-on-1 drills after struggling in the early padded practices. He also had a good game against the Raiders as he was able to register a PFF pass blocking grade of 82.4.
When looking at the unofficial depth chart, Taylor is listed as the starter. Time will tell if he sees the field first on Friday after he missed the Hall of Fame Game. Something worth noting is that the Jags will be without one tackle in Badara Traore, so it could give one of the competing tackles, or both, more time on the field. | 2022-08-12T04:24:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 things to watch on offense in Jags’ second preseason game vs. Browns | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-things-watch-offense-jags-035845011.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-things-watch-offense-jags-035845011.html?src=rss |
The Cincinnati Bengals are the Arizona Cardinals’ first preseason opponent. Typically, opponents have a number of former Cardinals players on their roster. It is often more true with a 90-man training camp roster.
However, the Bengals, of all 90 players they have, only two spent time with the Cardinals.
One is center Lamont Gaillard. Gaillard was drafted by the Cardinals out of Georgia in the sixth round in 2020. After one season with the team, he was released last year during training camp and spent time last season with the Bengals on their practice squad.
The other is cornerback Jalen Davis. Davis spent the last two seasons with the Bengals and has played in 21 games for them.
He spent most of the 2019 season on the practice squad and appeared in two games late in the season. He also saw time on the practice squad in 2020 before joining the Bengals.
But that is it.
The Cardinals have receiver A.J. Green, linebacker Nick Vigil and offensive lineman Justin Murray who are former Bengals. | 2022-08-12T04:24:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bengals have few familiar faces on roster for Cardinals fans | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-few-familiar-faces-roster-041016392.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-few-familiar-faces-roster-041016392.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens extended their record-setting preseason winning streak to 21-straight games on Thursday night, defeating the Tennessee Titans by the final score of 23-10. It was a game in which Baltimore took control of after a highly contested first half, outscoring Tennessee 9-0 in the second half.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley started the game for the Ravens and played the entire first half, completing 16-of-18 passes for 110 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for 17 yards on three carries. Undrafted rookie free agent quarterback Anthony Brown then came in and performed well, completing 10-of-15 passes for 117 yards.
Baltimore saw contributions from multiple offensive playmakers, including running backs Mike Davis and Justice Hill, wide receivers Shemar Bridges and Makai Polk, and tight end Isaiah Likely. While not many of the team’s starters suited up, the performances of some of the young players were extremely encouraging.
The Ravens’ defense forced three turnovers on the night, one on a forced fumble by Malik Harrison and two more on interceptions by Daryl Worley and Geno Stone. The unit played well as a whole, with other standouts including Travis Jones and Steven Means.
Baltimore will have 10 days until their next preseason game, a Week 2 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals on August 21st. | 2022-08-12T04:25:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 23-10 preseason win over Titans | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-ravens-23-10-035400951.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-ravens-23-10-035400951.html?src=rss |
The Tennessee Titans got a glimpse of their future on Thursday night in the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens, as quarterback Malik Willis impressed in his first live-game action.
Willis completed 6-of-11 passes for 107 yards, while also adding five carries for 38 yards and a touchdown. The rookie fully flashed his impressive arm and athleticism, which allowed him to extend plays.
Of course, Willis’ night wasn’t perfect, as he had some miscues along the way, but there’s no question he had a good game overall and was the better quarterback as compared to fellow backup, Logan Woodside.
Following the game, Willis shared his thoughts about his preseason debut. He pointed out that while he did make some plays with his legs, that isn’t something he can continue to rely on all the time.
“[The loss is] not the result you’re looking for but we’re just blessed to have the opportunity to go out there and play some football. I’ve got a lot to learn from, got a lot to look at on film,” Willis said of his debut.
“I missed some things probably and I just made up for it with my legs. Can’t continue to rely on that, though, but that’s what the preseason is for, so you can see those things against a live defense,” he added.
Head coach Mike Vrabel shared his thoughts on Willis’ debut as well, calling it “OK” and pointing out his ability to extend plays. Now, Vrabel wants to see Willis combine that athleticism with better decision-making.
“I think it was OK. There were some sloppy stuff, but he got us into the right plays and it probably comes down to execution,” Vrabel said. “It’s different; it’s a new experience for all of these guys. We’ve got a lot of rookies on this team and there’s going to be a lot of guys that will continue to develop and get better. Just want to make sure that they’re competing each and every day and they understand how difficult this league is, especially as a young quarterback to step back in there with a live rush and seeing coverage. That’s why we have these preseason games, that’s why I wanted to put him out there, that’s why I wanted him to take the ball, to put him in those situations; that’s the only way that you can grow. He kept some plays alive with his legs and we just have to be able to combine some of that with making great decisions when guys are open, and being decisive and accurate with the football.”
As far as the QB2 battle goes, score one for the rookie.
Malik Willis highlights from preseason debut with Titans | 2022-08-12T04:25:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Malik Willis, Mike Vrabel talk Titans QB’s preseason debut | https://sports.yahoo.com/malik-willis-mike-vrabel-talk-035300993.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/malik-willis-mike-vrabel-talk-035300993.html?src=rss |
Wide receiver Tylan Wallace left the game in the first half with what was classified as a knee injury. After the contest, head coach John Harbaugh gave an update on the wideout, saying that the former Oklahoma State star suffered a minor knee sprain and wasn’t sure how long how long he’d be out for.
Harbaugh said that Tylan Wallace has a minor knee sprain. Isn’t sure how long he’ll be out. | 2022-08-12T04:25:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens HC John Harbaugh gives injury update on WR Tylan Wallace | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-gives-035936748.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-gives-035936748.html?src=rss |
With 2:10 left in the third quarter, Bridges got vertical for this 38-yard reception…
…and he had already made a great like-as-like play on this 14-yard touchdown near the end of the first half.
The lob from Tyler Huntley 🤌
🎥 @NFL | @Ravens pic.twitter.com/UgIjizJ01s
Malik Willis' stats don't tell the whole story of his performance in the Tennessee Titans' preseason-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens. | 2022-08-12T04:26:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | Unheralded HBCU WR Shemar Bridges was a secret superstar for Ravens in NFL debut | https://sports.yahoo.com/unheralded-hbcu-wr-shemar-bridges-024054827.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/unheralded-hbcu-wr-shemar-bridges-024054827.html?src=rss |
Thursday night featured a pair of NFL preseason tilts, including a much-anticipated pro debut for one of this year’s top rookie quarterbacks.
Tennessee Titans third-round pick Malik Willis got the start at quarterback against the Baltimore Ravens, and didn’t waste any time showing off the playmaking ability that made him a star at the college level.
Check out some of his top highlights from Thursday night’s game:
Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens game highlights, final score in NFL preseason | 2022-08-12T04:26:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Top plays from Malik Willis’ preseason debut for Titans | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-top-plays-malik-willis-034410045.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-top-plays-malik-willis-034410045.html?src=rss |
The Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off their preseason last Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders, but weren’t able to get a win in the process after falling by the score of 27-11. Despite that, there were still many positives and negatives to take away from it.
In Episode 20 of “Touchdown Jaguars!,” Jags Wire’s Phil Smith and I reviewed last week’s game. Among the top positives discussed was the night the pass-rush had as Travon Walker and Arden Key led the way. As for the negatives, we discussed the struggles to stop the run and why fans shouldn’t be overly concerned about it yet.
At the end of the episode, we looked ahead to Friday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. With the Jags’ starters set to play, we discussed what we will be looking for specifically out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who will be making his 2022 preseason debut.
For bonus content, we also discussed Tony Boselli’s busy weekend in Canton. The Jags’ first-ever draft pick made history by being the first Jag inducted into the Hall of Fame, and we discussed how big of a moment it was for him and Jacksonville.
To listen to the full episode hit play below:
French diver breaks world record with deep dive
STORY: This freediver has broken the world record for the deepest diveLocation: Long Island, The Bahamas26-year-old Arnaud Jerald descended to a depth of 393.7 ft in bi-fins The dive took 3 minutes and 34 seconds to completeIt’s the seventh time the Frenchman has broken the world record in his career [Arnaud Jerald, French freediver] "It was an amazing dive. I cannot believe I made it. I put all my effort this winter for my training here to make it. But for sure at the end when you made it, it's bigger than what I can imagine and I feel safe with the team here. It was my seventh world record and now I think I really enjoy because it was over than the statue (significance) of the world record, it was just enjoying my dive first and after everything can come easily. I was focused the day before and for sure now we can say after this dive what we can do, what I hope to do. I just need to enjoy more and to continue my way, to train more." | 2022-08-12T06:00:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Podcast: Things to watch in Jags’ preseason game vs. Browns, reviewing Hall of Fame Game | https://sports.yahoo.com/podcast-things-watch-jags-preseason-052421652.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/podcast-things-watch-jags-preseason-052421652.html?src=rss |
Jonquel Jones with an And One vs. Los Angeles Sparks
Jonquel Jones (Connecticut Sun) with an And One vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 08/11/2022
365 Days film 3: Potential release date, cast and plot for the third film
The third film in the 365 Days franchise, The Next 365 Days, has been confirmed: Here's what we know so far, from release date to cast and plot.
In April, Forbes produced an article outlining the industries that produced the most billionaires. The list included some of the biggest names in the world: Warren Buffett (finance and investing), Jeff Bezos (technology) and Michael Bloomberg (media and entertainment). While each of these billionaires made major investment moves, it’s safe to say that these mega-rich CEOs know how to diversify their portfolios. Almost assuredly, their portfolios include real estate. This can be evidenced by some | 2022-08-12T06:26:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jonquel Jones with an And One vs. Los Angeles Sparks | https://sports.yahoo.com/jonquel-jones-one-vs-los-045159881.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jonquel-jones-one-vs-los-045159881.html?src=rss |
Nneka Ogwumike with an Assist vs. Connecticut Sun
Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks) with an Assist vs. Connecticut Sun, 08/11/2022
Clarity about the end of her exceptional WNBA career came for Sylvia Fowles last year through a feeling of resistance familiar to everyone from elite athletes to average fans. There are only two games left in the regular season for the Minnesota Lynx, who've leaned hard on Fowles and her commanding 6-foot-6 presence in the post for eight of her 15 years in the league. “It felt so good to be on the court at the same time as her,” Collier said after contributing to a win over Atlanta in her return on Sunday just 10 1/2 weeks after giving birth to daughter Mila.
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs has had enough, so he has made a decision to get off Twitter. “It’s toxic,” Diggs said Monday, via Rob Phillips of the team website. “I used to be on Twitter a lot, but I’m in camp. I’m trying to focus. I’m trying to lock in and just be better every [more]
J.D. Davis' solo homer (7)
J.D. Davis launches a solo home run to right field to open the scoring for the Giants | 2022-08-12T06:26:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Nneka Ogwumike with an Assist vs. Connecticut Sun | https://sports.yahoo.com/nneka-ogwumike-assist-vs-connecticut-045159302.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nneka-ogwumike-assist-vs-connecticut-045159302.html?src=rss |
Connecticut Sun guard Odyssey Sims, center, shoots as Sparks forward Katie Lou Samuelson, left, and guard Lexie Brown defend during the second half on Thursday. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Canada, who signed a one-year deal as a free agent last year, told The Los Angeles Times she hopes to be back for an encore, even though the Sparks have yet to name a coach or general manager. Will other free agents want to join her with the struggling franchise?
Carter retuned after a four-game absence, which interim head coach Fred Williams described only as a “coach’s decision.” She scored eight points off the bench and declined to discuss the specifics about her absence.
Williams said his “heart” made the decision to put Carter back on the floor but wouldn’t disclose details on the conversation he had with the guard who missed most of last season with the Atlanta Dream because of a team-issued suspension.
“It’s more than basketball, it’s the mental,” Williams said. “And sometimes that gets personal. Sometimes people don’t understand that. I protect the players on that. … I was happy to see her play tonight and be happy playing basketball.”
Williams, a 40-year coaching veteran, said he’s emerged as a “godfather” figure in the WNBA. The Sparks turned to him to lead the team through tumultuous times when Derek Fisher was fired, even though Williams was scheduled to leave the team in July because he accepted a job as the associate head coach with the Auburn women’s basketball program.
Instead, he stayed to lead the Sparks and said Thursday it’s not guaranteed we will leave despite his college obligations. Williams said he and the Sparks are “still talking about a few things.” | 2022-08-12T06:27:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Sparks out of playoffs with blowout loss to Sun | https://sports.yahoo.com/sparks-playoffs-blowout-loss-sun-050745434.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/sparks-playoffs-blowout-loss-sun-050745434.html?src=rss |
The Jacksonville Jaguars decided to make one roster move before their second preseason game, which will be against the Cleveland Browns. The team signed defensive lineman Auzoyah Alufoha to the roster and waived/injured defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter.
The decision came after coach Doug Pederson told the media that Ledbetter would be missing time on the field after sustaining an injury in practice. That said, with roster cuts coming up on Tuesday, they decided to replace him with Alufohai.
Alufohai, 25, is entering his third season in the NFL. He entered the league as an undrafted player out of West Georgia with the Houston Texans in 2020. After his time with the Texans, he was briefly on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad. Then in November of last season, he joined Green Bay’s practice squad before returning to the Bears’ practice squad in December. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Bears after last season, but they waived him a week ago.
Before attending West Georgia, Alufohai spent three seasons at Kennesaw State University. However, in his senior season, he was able to garner 31 total tackles with the Wolves before entering the league. | 2022-08-12T07:31:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jaguars sign DL Auzoyah Alufohai, waive/injured DL Jeremiah Ledbetter | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaguars-sign-dl-auzoyah-alufohai-060149348.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaguars-sign-dl-auzoyah-alufohai-060149348.html?src=rss |
The Denver Broncos clearly want to have a backup plan at long snapper.
After bringing in four long snappers for tryouts last week, the team hosted five more specialists for tryouts on Wednesday this week, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.
Denver worked out Ross Reiter, Tucker Addington, Adam Higuera, Antonio Ortiz and Cameron Kaye. At the time of this writing, none of the nine long snappers who worked out for the team over the last two weeks have been signed.
The only long snapper currently on the Broncos’ roster is Jacob Bobenmoyer. He has a reasonable salary of $895,000 this season and he’s played well over the last two years, so Bobenmoyer’s job is probably safe.
The fact that Denver hasn’t signed any of these tryout players might be a sign that the team is merely looking for a fallback option in case anything happens to Bobenmoyer during the season. The Broncos might also be looking ahead to the future as Bobenmoyer will become a (restricted) free agent in 2023. | 2022-08-12T11:22:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Broncos brought in 5 more long snappers for tryouts | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-brought-5-more-long-110032752.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-brought-5-more-long-110032752.html?src=rss |
10 non-starters to watch in Eagles’ 1st preseason game originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Eagles kick off their 2022 preseason when they host the New York Jets at 7 p.m. on Friday night at the Linc.
All eyes will obviously be on Jalen Hurts and the starters after Nick Sirianni revealed the plan to play them for one or two series in this game. But let’s look at 10 non-starters we’ll be watching closely on Friday night:
WR Deon Cain: The 26-year-old receiver is probably still buried on the depth chart but he’s caught a ton of passes in the first 10 training camp practices. Cain was once a sixth-round pick out of Clemson back in 2018. The Colts drafted Cain when Sirianni was their OC, so there’s a level of familiarity there. Cain and backup Gardner Minshew have built quite an on-field rapport. Even if Cain can’t crack the roster, he’s a candidate for the practice squad and could help the Eagles this season.
WR Britain Covey: The 5-foot-8, 173-pound undrafted rookie from Utah has made plays just about every single day in practice. He’s obviously undersized but Covey is quick and agile playing from the slot. But it’s more than his skills as a receiver. If Covey makes the 53-man roster, it’ll be because of his ability as a returner. He’s been working as a kickoff and punt returner throughout camp. He’s looked very smooth in those areas but it’s also something we want to see in real game action. If he breaks off a couple of big returns in preseason, I think Covey makes the roster.
DT Jordan Davis: It would be hard to not watch the 6-6, 340-pound nose tackle, but we’ll include him anyway. The first-round pick from Georgia has been having a very impressive summer and is already way more polished as a pass rusher than I expected. The thing that really stands out about Davis is his combination of size and athleticism; it’s special. During training camp, Davis is focusing on his technique to get everything out of his natural gifts. Based on what we’ve seen in training camp, Davis is going to be a problem for offensive lines.
LB Nakobe Dean: It has been a quiet training camp for the third-round pick from Georgia. Not only that, but the Eagles’ other linebackers have been flashing. T.J. Edwards, Kyzir White, Davion Taylor and even Shaun Bradley have all made more plays. It’s not that Dean has been bad — he hasn’t — but he hasn’t flashed either. But Dean was also one of the best players on an incredible college defense. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him come out and have a good preseason showing. He’s a gamer.
RB Jason Huntley: With injuries to Boston Scott (concussion) and Kenny Gainwell (hip), Huntley has been getting more snaps the last week of practices and he’s starting to flash again like he did last summer. Huntley is a burner and has the ability to break off a big run anytime he touches the ball. The one thing that’s impressed me by him this summer is the edge he’s been running with. Known as a speedy back, Huntley has been more physical than I’ve ever seen him the last week or so.
LB Kyron Johnson: The sixth-round pick from Kansas had a quiet start to his first training camp but has clearly become more comfortable recently. He’s starting to make some plays off the edge in team drills and in 1-on-1s. He’s still a work in progress, but he can help himself earn a roster spot as the backup SAM linebacker with a few good preseason performances.
C Cam Jurgens: I’m cheating a little bit on this one because Jurgens will be the starter at center in place of Jason Kelce in this game as Kelce comes back from an elbow cleanout. But there’s a chance that Jurgens plays even after starters are pulled. Basically, you just want to see Jurgens look like he belongs on an offensive line that is arguably the best in the NFL. Because that job will likely be his in 2023.
DB Josiah Scott: The Eagles have nine cornerbacks fighting for just a few jobs, but Scott is one of the more intriguing names. He came into this camp as the backup nickel cornerback behind Avonte Maddox, but recently he’s been taking second-team reps as a safety. Versatility is a key element for any backup and now Scott can play nickel, safety and is a really good gunner on the punt team. All that gives him an inside track to make the roster. But I’m excited to see him at safety in game action.
QB Reid Sinnett: While he was still with Miami last summer, Sinnett had a very good preseason, which is what really put him on the Eagles’ radar. In three preseason games last season, Sinnett completed 30 of 45 passes for 401 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception and a passer rating of 107.7. This summer, Sinnett is clearly ahead of UDFA Carson Strong for that third quarterback position and is pushing for the Eagles to keep him on their 53-man roster.
TE Noah Togiai: Rookie Grant Calcaterra has missed several days with a hamstring injury and Tyree Jackson is still on the PUP list as he comes back from an ACL tear. With those injuries, third-year TE Togiai has started to flash. He’s stacked a few impressive days in a row and is worth watching in this game. The Eagles are going to keep Dallas Goedert and Jack Stoll but that third tight end job is still up for grabs. | 2022-08-12T11:22:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles training camp 2022: 10 non-starters to watch in preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-10-110000086.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-10-110000086.html?src=rss |
10 areas the Eagles need massive improvement in 2022 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Nick Sirianni was asked a few days ago about Jalen Hurts’ lack of completions across the middle of the field.
But he could have been asked about any number of things and the answer would have been the same.
“You don't ever want to be in the bottom part of the NFL on anything, so we're very conscious of what our numbers say,” he replied. “You never want to be at the bottom of the NFL on anything.”
But last year, the Eagles were near the bottom of the NFL in a lot of things. Which isn’t surprising for a team with a new head coach coming off a four-win season.
Sirianni’s comment about being at the bottom of the NFL got us thinking about areas where the Eagles were among the 10 worst in the NFL last year. So let’s take a look at 10 of those areas and their chances of making dramatic improvements this year.
Opposing completion percentage [32nd]
Quarterbacks completed 69.4 percent of their passes against the Eagles last year, 11th-highest in NFL history. And while they were middle of the pack in yards allowed per completion – 14th at 6.9 – that 69.4 percent figure has to come down. And there’s no reason it won’t. James Bradberry replacing mediocre Stephen Nelson is going to make things tougher on quarterbacks and receivers, and the anticipated improvement in pass pressure should also help bring this number down. The NFL average last year was 64.8 percent, and there’s no reason the Eagles shouldn’t be around or even under that figure in 2022.
Takeaways [tied for 28th]
The Eagles forced just 16 turnovers last year – 12 interceptions and four forced fumbles. That was the second-fewest in franchise history, and they became only the 10th team in history to reach the playoffs with 16 or fewer takeaways. They’ve had 20 or fewer takeaways in four straight seasons, one of only six teams in NFL history that’s done that. But the defensive additions of Bradberry, Haason Reddick and Jordan Davis in particular should create more havoc in the pocket, make life more difficult for quarterbacks and lead to more turnovers. The Super Bowl team forced 31 turnovers. Somewhere in the mid-to-high 20s is a realistic goal.
First-half scoring margin [24th]
How many times last year did the Eagles find themselves in an early hole, then recover a bit in the second half but it wasn’t enough? Too many times. The Eagles were outscored by 35 points in the first half last year. And they were among the best second-half teams – plus-78 was sixth-best – but that's not an ideal way to play. The last four years the Eagles have been minus-20, minus-36, minus-42 and minus-35 in the first half. Amazing that they reached the playoffs three of those years, but they’ve really made life tough on themselves. You’d love to see them jump on teams early for a change.
Completion percentage [25th]
This is mainly a Hurts category. Hurts completed 61.3 percent of his passes last year, and Gardner Minshew brought the Eagles’ figure up to 62.1, but that was still 25th-best in the league, and that’s got to improve. A.J. Brown will help. Another year in Sirianni’s offense will help. A healthy offensive line will help. But it really comes down to Hurts just continuing to grow in the offense and throwing the ball more accurately and with more anticipation. The difference between 61 percent and 65 percent is 20 completions over the course of the season. That’s where Hurts has to be, and it's a realistic goal.
Sacks [31st]
This is one of the big ones. Twenty-nine sacks in 17 games is ridiculous. Even with an extra game, that’s tied for fewest in Eagles history since sacks became an official stat in 1982, and second-fewest in the NFL, ahead of only the Falcons. And it was 20 fewer than 2020. Honestly, with this defensive front, there’s no reason the Eagles can’t get close to 50 sacks, which they last did in 2011 in the glory days of Jason Babin. Anything below 40 would be a huge disappointment.
Big plays [tied for 31st]
The Eagles only had five offensive plays of 40 yards or more last year, tied with the Panthers for fewest in the league. Those five were three Hurts passes to Quez Watkins and one each to Dallas Goedert and DeVonta Smith. That’s their fewest 40-yard plays since 1999, when they had four (Doug Pederson passes to Dietrich Jells and Torrance Small and Koy Detmer passes to Jells and Small). Needless to say that number has to increase exponentially. Brown has 16 catches of at least 40 yards the last three years, third-most in the league (and the most 50-yard catches with 10). So help is on the way. Hurts has looked better throwing the deep ball so far this summer, and he's got to make it happen in games.
3rd and long [23rd]
The Eagles were one of the NFL’s better 3rd-down teams last year, converting 46 percent, which was fourth-best in the league. Thanks to the NFL’s best running game, they generally had 3rd-and-short, which made that conversion rate so gaudy. Their average third down was 3rd-and-6.2, third-shortest in the league. BUT … there’s always a but … on third and long they were terrible. On 3rd-and-7 or longer, the Eagles converted just 24 percent of the time (20 of 84), which ranked 23rd in the league. Hurts was 24-for-44 for 347 yards (one TD, no INTs) on those 3rd-and-7 snaps and 11-for-90 rushing, converting just 10 of the 44 passing and 4 of 11 rushing. Hurts has to be significantly better on those third and longs.
Punting [27th]
Arryn Siposs was one of the NFL’s worst punters last year with a 38.8 net and 43.9 gross average, both among the bottom six in the league. From Week 12 on, he was the worst punter in the league. A poor punting game means good field position for the other team and that means a tougher time for the defense. The Eagles’ opponents began their average drive just inside the 30 (17th-worst), and Siposs wasn’t the only reason for that but he sure didn’t help. Siposs is the only punter in camp, and if he really does end up punting for the Eagles this year he has to be a much more consistent player.
Return game [26th in punts, 29th in kicks]
The Eagles were one of only three teams ranked 26th or worse in both punt return average (7.2) and kick return average (18.5). This was the first time they were ranked that low in both return categories since 2011. They just had no firepower in the return game. Maybe Britain Covey can help, although he has to make the team first. But it’s not just the returner. There really wasn’t any room last year for the punt and kick returners to run. Both units have to improve across the board for the Eagles to improve on their No. 26 ranking in offensive drive start.
Penalties [tied for 22nd]
The Eagles finished the season as the NFL’s 10th-most penalized team with 107 infractions. But they did show improvement as the season went on. The first five games, they committed a league-high 50 penalties, or 10 per game. The last 12 games they committed 57, or just under 5 per game, which was sixth-fewest in the league. The biggest culprits: Jordan Mailata [7-for-55 yards], Derek Barnett [7-for-47], Lane Johnson [7-for-45], Andre Dillard [7-for-25], Steven Nelson [5-for-78] and Landon Dickerson [5-for-35]. The Eagles gave up 35 penalty first downs and 50 penalty yards per game. Too much. Not enough discipline. The improvement we saw the second half of the season has to continue. | 2022-08-12T11:22:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles training camp 2022: 10 areas the Eagles need massive improvement | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-10-110000972.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-10-110000972.html?src=rss |
Why Milton Williams shouldn’t be forgotten member of Eagles’ DL originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
On an interior defensive line that includes Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave and now first-round pick Jordan Davis, it would be easy to forget about Milton Williams.
Williams is working hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.
As he enters his second NFL season, the third-round pick from Louisiana Tech feels like things started to click for him in the second half of his rookie season and he’s looking forward to keeping that momentum going in 2022.
“I felt like i was pretty stout in the run game,” Williams said this week. “There’s still room for improvement there but just being more consistent as a pass rusher, being more of a threat. Get more snaps on the field and be productive.”
As a rookie, Williams played in all 17 games and started two in 2021. He finished the season with 30 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 TFLs and 6 QB hits. Most of that production came in the second half of the season.
Through seven games last season, Williams had just 10 tackles, no sacks, TFLs or QB hits. But in the final 10 games of his rookie season, Williams had 20 tackles and all his sacks, QB hits and TFLs.
“When did it click for me?” Williams said, repeating a question. “I’d say probably mid-season when I really go the speed of the game down. Watching a lot of tape and offensive line tendencies and things like that. You start to see it in the game and you hear their calls and kind of get a little feel for the formations and the personnel they’re running to expect certain things.”
In individual meetings with players at the end of the season, the Eagles’ coaching staff gave their players specific things to work on in the offseason. Williams’ assignments were about getting better as a pass rusher.
Williams took it a step further and really wanted to work on one element he thought could help him.
“Just focused on being more balanced, being more under control,” he said. “I was working with [Brandon Graham] a lot. He was coming off his injury last year, but just being with him, picking his brain throughout the whole process and working with some of the strength coaches around here. Working on balance and my pass rush and things like that were the main focus.”
The Eagles really value versatility on defense and Williams offers that. While he’s probably the most natural fit at the 3-technique, he played a bunch of different spots last year inside and outside. In a lot of ways, Williams was thrown into the deep end, but that experience is helping him now.
In 2022, he might be asked to play fewer positions thanks to the additions of Davis and Haason Reddick, but the Eagles are still going to use Williams’ versatility to their advantage. William said he’s “definitely” grateful for all that experience last year.
“You come in and go straight into it,” he said. “You kind of get a little learning curve but you ain’t really got time for a learning curve. You need to come on with it now. It was definitely an adjustment but once it clicked, you saw it toward the end of the year, it started to turn on for me.”
Williams (6-3, 290) might be considered a bit of a tweener but his size means he can play inside and outside in multiple fronts, which makes him an important piece of this defensive puzzle.
There’s obviously a lot of excitement in Philly right now about Davis and that’s warranted. But don’t sleep on Williams either. He’s looked strong in his second NFL training camp.
What’s stood out to DL coach Tracy Rocker about the second-year pro?
“Positive energy. Wants to get better,” Rocker said. “Wants to be better than he was last year.”
If Williams can do that, no one’s going to forget about him. | 2022-08-12T11:22:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles training camp 2022: Don’t forget about Milton Williams | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-don-110000504.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-training-camp-2022-don-110000504.html?src=rss |
New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney left practice on Tuesday and was later seen being worked on by trainers.
Whatever injury Toney sustained, it was serious enough to leave him behind as the team traveled to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots on Thursday night.
Toney was among a large contingent of players who did not travel as the result of injury. He was joined by defensive tackle Leonard Williams and several others.
But just how serious is Toney’s injury? Is it related to his offseason knee surgery? Head coach Brian Daboll isn’t saying.
“With all due respect, I’m just not going to get into the specifics of it really with anybody. He is working back. We’ll see where he is at when we get back,” Daboll told reporters.
Ultimately, Daboll said, the Giants “hope” to have him back sooner than later.
Under normal circumstances, Toney missing the first preseason game due to injury would be an afterthought. However, after a tumultuous rookie season in which he dealt with a variety of injuries and issues, there is growing concern about Toney’s durability. That’s being compounded by the fact that Daboll has routinely worked in load management days for the second-year receiver this summer.
And that doesn’t even touch on his inconsistency. Before going down on Tuesday, Toney caught a bad case of the yips and was dropping passes left and right — both during the individual period and the team period of practice,
With fellow wide receiver Kenny Golladay also struggling and Sterling Shepard still on the PUP list, the Giants could really use Toney in the huddle. And Toney could really use to develop more of a rapport with quarterback Daniel Jones given how little they’ve been on the field together. | 2022-08-12T11:22:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants ‘hope’ to have Kadarius Toney back soon | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-hope-kadarius-toney-back-105542103.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-hope-kadarius-toney-back-105542103.html?src=rss |
Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve made it back to football season! It’s been over seven months since the Detroit Lions last took the field, but that drought ends Friday night when the Atlanta Falcons visit Ford Field for the preseason opener.
Sure, it’s just a preseason game. Both head coaches have indicated the starters will play about a quarter of the game, so it’s more about the depth players and roster evaluation than winning and losing.
Here’s how to take in the Lions vs. Falcons preseason opener no matter where you are. The game kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT.
The game will be shown live on the Detroit Lions television network stations, including FOX 2 in Detroit and FOX 17 in Grand Rapids. The Lions have a new preseason television crew for 2022: | 2022-08-12T11:23:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Lions preseason opener: How to watch, listen and stream the matchup with the Falcons | https://sports.yahoo.com/lions-preseason-opener-watch-listen-110554236.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/lions-preseason-opener-watch-listen-110554236.html?src=rss |
"What’s next? I don’t know.”
Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) looks to throw the ball during practice at the team's NFL football training facility, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Ashburn, Va.
Wentz doesn’t care about what’s next because he's focused on helping head coach Ron Rivera continue to change the culture of a long-suffering franchise following a confidence-building welcome extended to him by his new bosses.
“I’ve told him, 'I don’t really care about what’s happened in your past and earlier in your career,'” Turner said. “I really tried to go into it in a blank slate, and he’s been outstanding.”
Says Wentz, "I'd like to think I'm smarter and more mature as a man and a player."
"That’s why I love this game, because there are guys from all over the place with different upbringings, backgrounds and cultures and different phases of life, and we all come together not only on the field with the goal of building something special, but off the field as well.”
“He’s had a sense of urgency ever since he walked in this door,” Turner said. “That’s how we expected our quarterbacks to be. Football is important to him, being successful is important to him. It shows with his approach. ... He’s a really good communicator, the way he talks and communicates the things he understands and also the way he shares things he observes, and the way he listens. He wants to understand why we do things a certain way. The guys recognize the work he's putting in and how much it matters to him."
"We’re building something special here. I can feel that. … Anything I can offer to help make people better – make this team better – is exactly what I want to do.”
Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson knows his Demon Deacons must prepare to run their high-scoring offense without quarterback Sam Hartman. The school said Wednesday that Hartman will miss “an extended period of time” for treatment of what it described as a medical condition unrelated to football. In a statement, the school said Hartman sought medical attention Tuesday following a workout. | 2022-08-12T11:23:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | From maligned to matured: Carson Wentz's hard lessons serve QB well in Washington relaunch | Opinion | https://sports.yahoo.com/maligned-matured-carson-wentzs-hard-101830964.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/maligned-matured-carson-wentzs-hard-101830964.html?src=rss |
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FSU held its 13th practice of the preseason at the University of North Florida on Thursday morning. The team was welcomed, at least for the first half of the morning, by milder temperatures than it has been experiencing in Tallahassee during the previous 12 sessions. "Got some red zone, short yardage, goal line - trying to mix all the different situations," FSU coach Mike Norvell said. | 2022-08-12T13:23:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Detroit a potential landing spot for Draymond Green? | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-potential-landing-spot-draymond-065413217.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-potential-landing-spot-draymond-065413217.html?src=rss |
It’s officially the first week of the NFL preseason as every team in the league will have an exhibition game this week. The Los Angeles Rams will kick off their preseason schedule versus the Los Angeles Chargers, the team they share SoFi Stadium with.
This will be the first time the Rams will take the field since defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl back in February. That being said, Sean McVay has avoided having starters play in the preseason, so backups and other players will have opportunities to showcase their talent.
Ahead of Saturday’s preseason contest against the Chargers, here are five players to watch on the Rams.
WR Tutu Atwell
All eyes will be on Tutu Atwell entering the 2022 season, especially as he enters his second year in the NFL. Atwell finished his rookie season with zero statistics on the offensive side of the ball despite being the team’s second-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft.
After his disappointing rookie campaign was cut short due to an injury, Atwell has been turning heads in training camp and the team’s offseason activities thus far. And with Van Jefferson recovering from recent knee surgery, Atwell could be asked to handle an expanded role in the offense.
Look for the Rams to find various ways to get Atwell involved in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Chargers on offense and in the return game.
There isn’t a quarterback competition being held on the Rams, with Matthew Stafford entering his second season on the roster. Behind Stafford, though, Los Angeles wants to get a more precise look at the other signal-callers.
John Wolford has experience as a backup for the Rams in recent seasons, however, Bryce Perkins is competing to remain the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart. Perkins impressed as a rookie in preseason last year, especially with his ability to use his legs to create plays, but Luis Perez has returned to the team and is hoping to earn a roster spot.
Considering how McVay has divvied up the snaps for quarterbacks in previous preseasons, Perkins and Perez will likely see most of the snaps. A strong showing from Perkins could increase his chances of earning a roster spot or remaining on the practice squad.
One of the most notable developments from the first unofficial depth chart that the Rams released was Daniel Hardy being ahead of Terrell Lewis. Unofficial depth charts should be taken with a grain of salt, but it’s still impressive to see Hardy higher up on the depth chart off of the edge.
Hardy was one of three seventh-round picks that the Rams made in the 2022 NFL draft. The Montana State product concluded his collegiate career with an eye-opening 16.5 sacks in 2021 and he’s hoping to bring that level of production to Los Angeles.
Following the departure of Von Miller in free agency, the Rams need other edge rushers to aid Leonard Floyd and Justin Hollins. While Hardy will have to continue proving he can contribute immediately, the fact that McVay name-dropped Hardy as a player he’s anxious to see in the preseason certainly helps his case.
CB Decobie Durant
Another position that will look a bit different for the Rams in 2022 is the cornerback position. Darious Williams is no longer the No. 2 cornerback alongside Jalen Ramsey after he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.
Besides trading for — and reuniting with Troy Hill — the Rams took cornerbacks Decobie Durant and Derion Kendrick in this year’s draft. Durant was the 142nd overall pick in the fourth round out of South Carolina and he’s drawing some buzz ahead of the regular season.
With the Rams revealing that Ramsey, Hill, David Long Jr., Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp, and Nick Scott won’t suit up in the preseason, Durant will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his versatility in the secondary.
Aside from Durant, Kendrick is the other rookie cornerback that the Rams are excited about entering the 2022 season. Kendrick, who started on the dominant Georgia defense that led the Bulldogs to a National Championship in 2021, finished his college career strong with four interceptions last year.
In this year’s draft, the Rams selected Kendrick in the sixth round with the 212th overall pick. Even with Kendrick being a late-round selection, the first-year cornerback hasn’t had a shortage of notable plays in training camp.
Once again, the Rams won’t be playing their veteran defensive backs in the preseason, giving the younger guys a chance to get acclimated to the speed of the NFL. Ramsey, Hill, and Long appear to be the top three cornerbacks on the roster right now. Meanwhile, Kendrick could climb the depth chart with a strong performance in the preseason, beginning with Saturday’s showdown with the Chargers.
I've done my share of dumpster diving. The dating landscape had changed from when I was in my 20s. Gone were the days of bar hopping and men falling at my feet. | 2022-08-12T13:27:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 Rams to watch in preseason opener vs. Chargers | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-rams-watch-preseason-opener-114512542.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-rams-watch-preseason-opener-114512542.html?src=rss |
Saturday's preseason game against Washington will be the first time both signal-callers have the chance to make their case to be Carolina's QB1. Mayfield is currently the leader of the competition, per the Charlotte Observer, but head coach Matt Rhule has yet to name a starter for the exhibition contest. | 2022-08-12T13:28:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 storylines to watch for in the Commanders-Panthers preseason game | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-storylines-watch-commanders-panthers-120000911.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-storylines-watch-commanders-panthers-120000911.html?src=rss |
Every player in the NFL remembers their first professional game, whether it occurred in the preseason or regular season.
The Kansas City Chiefs have several rookies hitting the field on Saturday for the first time, getting a chance to showcase their abilities and make their case for the 53-man roster. The 2022 NFL draft saw the Chiefs select a majority of players on the defensive side of the ball. Players like Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis, Leo Chenal, Bryan Cook and Joshua Williams will have their first dress rehearsal against the Chicago Bears. In the process, they’ll make some memories that will last a lifetime.
Veterans Patrick Mahomes and Justin Reid recalled their first time suiting up for an NFL preseason game experience after Thursday’s training camp practice.
“Yeah, it was a lot of nerves,” said Mahomes. “You’re getting in there; your mind is kind of racing. Obviously, the speed of the game has intensified but also the playbook, so you’re trying to think and play at the same time. So, what I do for them is I tell them to study as much as they can, then when they get to the game, just go out there and play. At the end of the day, just go out there and play like you’ve done it your whole life. You’re in this position for a reason, and you can let your talent show.”
Mahomes played his first preseason game in 2017 against the San Francisco 49ers finishing 7-of-9 passing for 49 yards and a touchdown. Newly-signed safety Justin Reid was on the other side of the Chiefs in his first preseason game in 2018 as a member of the Houston Texans.
“First preseason game was here in Kansas City, and my first snap was against Travis Kelce,” said Reid “I won’t ever forget that he had ran a curl route, and that was the way they opened up the game, but it’s exciting.
“It’s the first time you put on the jersey. For the rookies that (are) coming in this year, their first time strapped up and actually put on the game uniform, it’s going to be an unbelievable feeling for them, and I’m excited for them and excited to go out there myself and excited to watch those guys go play.”
The experience will be exciting and memorable for the rookies involved on Saturday. There will be nerves, but there will also be moments like Mahomes’ first touchdown or Reid’s snap against Kelce. The key is to not make the moment too big and to simply get out there and play the game that they love.
Commanders kicker Joey Slye’s confidence is growing
Joey Slye is ready to be Washington's long-term kicker. | 2022-08-12T13:28:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, S Justin Reid recall their first preseason game | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-qb-patrick-mahomes-justin-124544527.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-qb-patrick-mahomes-justin-124544527.html?src=rss |
The Raiders have a lot riding on coach Josh McDaniels. Can he take Las Vegas to the next level after the team made the playoffs last season?
The answer to that question, in large part, will be found in the red zone. The Raiders struggled in that area under the previous coach, Jon Gruden. The issue continued after Gruden left last season, as Las Vegas’ campaign ended when it couldn’t convert a fourth down play near the goal line.
Even Raiders tight end Darren Waller, who stands 6-foot-6, has fallen short of expectations in the red zone for the silver and black. While appearing on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, Waller said there often wasn’t a “clear, defined attack in the red zone” in past years.
Thankfully for Waller and the rest of the Raiders, that apparently isn’t the case with McDaniels, as Waller said he can tell there’s a clear red-zone plan in place for the coming season.
Waller talked about a plan in the red zone for the team in general, and also for himself, saying, “(The red zone) a big thing for me. There’s no reason why (my big self) shouldn’t be dominating in the red zone at all times, you know?”
I agree with Waller. He’s too good, and too tall, to be a non-factor when it’s time to score a touchdown. The only reason for concern could be his playing status. Waller missed practice again on Thursday with an undisclosed injury. Though all indications are that he’ll be ready to go for Week 1 of the regular season.
As for McDaniels, he has a surplus of weapons to work with inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. In addition to Waller, wide receivers Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow have each proven to be elite playmakers in the red zone. Running back Josh Jacobs has been effective, too.
We won’t know exactly how McDaniels will fare when it comes to scoring touchdowns with the Raiders, but he has the weapons, and Waller’s enthusiasm is encouraging.
Las Vegas has a while to go before the games count for real, so there’s still time to further refine the attack, starting on Sunday against the Vikings in the Raiders’ second preseason game. | 2022-08-12T13:28:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Darren Waller says Raiders have a ‘clear, defined attack’ in red zone, unlike past years | https://sports.yahoo.com/darren-waller-says-raiders-clear-120900343.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/darren-waller-says-raiders-clear-120900343.html?src=rss |
The Green Bay Packers open up their 2022 preseason schedule on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. Here are some final thoughts on positional battles, what to watch for, and more.
– All eyes will be on the Packers’ offensive line, which has had some rough showings in practice. As currently constructed, I think this group can be fine, just as last year’s unit was with all the injuries, but for this team to be a true Super Bowl contender, they’ll need more than fine play from the offensive line. Obviously, getting David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins back helps that; let’s just hope it’s sooner than later.
– A few things that can give us some insight into where players stand at the moment are the total number of snap counts, when in the game they’re playing, as well as who is lined up on special teams.
– Improved confidence has been a key talking point when teammates and coaches have discussed Joran Love this summer. That improved confidence has led to a better command of the huddle and line of scrimmage, as Matt LaFleur mentioned. The game also slows down, which helps with Love’s footwork, then leading to improved accuracy and decision making. He has had a nice start to the summer; now it’s time to build upon it in a live game.
– I am most looking forward to seeing the edge rusher position. For one, it’s one of the most important positions in the game, and the depth is a big question mark right now. La’Darius Hamilton has seen consistent reps with the second team defense, but as of late, Jonathan Garvin has been capitalizing on his opportunities. Tipa Galeai, Randy Ramsey, and Kingsley Enagbare have also had their share of second-team snaps.
– Safety is one of those positions where LaFleur and Co. will have to decide on whether to roster four or five players. For some context, they’ve rostered both during LaFleur’s tenure. As of now, it would seem that five is the magic number, with Vernon Scott, Shawn Davis, and Dallin Leavitt leading the way. Scott and Davis have filled in for the injured Darnell Savage, while Leavitt will be a core special teams player.
– Jack Coco may be the only long-snapper on the roster, but that doesn’t mean the job is his just yet. Green Bay recently had a pair of long-snappers in for a workout, and just last week, GM Brian Gutekunst mentioned that Coco (and at the time Steven Wirtel) is also competing with any long-snappers around the league who may end up cut.
– Who will emerge at running back? We do not know when Kylin Hill will be available, and until then, the Packers need a third running back. Between Patrick Taylor, Tyler Goodson, and BJ Baylor, at least to my knowledge, no one has really stood out above the rest. I would still lean towards Taylor winning that job, given his experience, well-rounded skill-set, and ability on special teams.
– When healthy, I do tend to believe the Packers roster five tight ends. Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, and Tyler Davis are all going to be on this roster, and I see Dominique Dafney as being a core special teams member under Rich Bisaccia.
– It sounds like we may get to see Quay Walker against the 49ers. He has looked every bit the part lining up next to De’Vondre Campbell. He covers so much ground with ease and has been quick to plug any gaps at the line of scrimmage. In part, I think one of the reasons that a third running back hasn’t emerged is because running on this Packers front-seven, especially outside the hash marks, has been so difficult.
– The Packers can save about $1.4 million in cap space if they were to cut Sammy Watkins, according to Over the Cap. However, the fact that he isn’t playing should tell us that he will be on this team. If the Packers were on the fence about him, I imagine they would want to see him in action.
– It’s been a revolving door at punt returner, although as of late, it has been Romeo Doubs and Amari Rodgers who have taken the bulk of those snaps. Let’s see who gets the first opportunity tonight.
– Wes Hodkiewicz and Andy Herman have both echoed similar sentiments in that the intensity on special teams is definitely ramped up under Rich Bisaccia. He very much appears to be the right man for the job, but keep in mind, there are still likely things to work through, and that very well could show up on the football field. The players are still learning a new system and techniques, while Bisaccia has to overcome a decade-plus of sub-par special teams play.
– I’ve been quite adamant that the Packers were only going to roster six receivers, but with the play of Juwann Winfree and Aaron Rodgers’ comments on him, now I’m very much open to the idea of Green Bay rostering seven. Special teams contributions will be important for him to make this team, but he has continued to build his rapport and trust with Rodgers-and we all know how important that is.
– Amari Rodgers will be on this 53-man roster. | 2022-08-12T13:28:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Final thoughts on Packers preseason matchup with 49ers | https://sports.yahoo.com/final-thoughts-packers-preseason-matchup-114420094.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/final-thoughts-packers-preseason-matchup-114420094.html?src=rss |
It is time. Jordan Love is about to take center stage. Albeit a smaller stage. The 26th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is going to be front and center for the Green Bay Packers during the preseason that starts Friday evening when the Packers take on the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
Love has been on a non-stop roller coaster ride since Brian Gutekunst traded up for the Utah State product. Viewed as the “Heir Apparent” to Aaron Rodgers, Love has endured a turbulent start to his career, where every throw has been heavily scrutinized.
Viewed as a toolsy quarterback coming out of Utah State, Love didn’t enjoy a normal offseason during his rookie year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no rookie minicamp. There were virtual team meetings. More importantly, there were no preseason games. Those live reps would have been huge for the growth and confidence of a rookie quarterback.
Things got back to normal for Love during his second year in the league. However, the ups and downs continued.
It started with the controversy surrounding Rodgers. Would he retire? Would the Packers trade him and thrust Love into a starting role? We all know how the story ends, but in the moment it was likely a trying time for Love as he prepared for his second year in the league and his first “normal” offseason.
Love started his first preseason game against the Houston Texans before he got knocked out of the game after hurting his shoulder. That injury to his shoulder forced him to miss valuable practice reps and more importantly the second preseason game.
As Love sets to embark on his third year in the league, all reports are that the former first-round pick has looked more confident and in command of the offense.
Matt LaFleur on Jordan Love's Tuesday practice: "One of his best practices we've seen in three years. He made some big-time throws, with pressure in his face."
“I think he’s much more in rhythm,” Matt LaFleur said. “I think there’s more decisiveness. I think you see it in his footwork, and he’s not getting what I call ‘stuck’ at the top of the drop, where both feet are hitting at the same time, and he’s just kind of sitting there. It just looks more rhythmical, just looks more fluid, and I think it’s translated in his play. I think he’s definitely thrown the ball pretty accurately and has made pretty good decisions.”
During his first preseason, Rodgers completed 54 percent of his passes and threw one touchdown and two interceptions. In his second season, Rodgers threw three touchdowns, and one interception, while completing 57 percent of his passes. It was in his third year that Rodgers looked like a different quarterback. Rodgers tossed three touchdown passes and zero interceptions. That season, Rodgers delivered a sterling performance against the Dallas Cowboys in prime time when Brett Favre was knocked out of the game. Rodgers threw for 201 yards and one touchdown and looked the part of a future starting quarterback.
Rodgers took a giant step during his third year in the league and the reigning MVP has noticed marked improvements in his understudy thus far in training camp.
“You’ve seen the fundamentals come together,” Rodgers said. “Year two to three is always an interesting year from development for a quarterback. I took a big jump…It comes down to consistency with the fundamentals. When he throws the ball on time and in rhythm he’s been very accurate this camp.”
A couple of things will be working in Love’s favor when he takes the field against the 49ers.
Love will be under center with the No. 1 starting offensive line. A starting offensive line that will be without its two best players (David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins), but the starting group nonetheless.
Secondly, unlike last year, the Packers will have young, talented wide receivers that will be on the field with Love.
When Love was selected in the first round, the selection was met with speculation. With each errant practice throw, the critics grow louder. With each check-down throw, the detractors shake their heads in disapproval.
This is a critical year for Love. Gutekunst knows that. LaFleur knows that. The pundits will be quick to write him off if he comes out flat tonight. Love will take the field knowing that he is out to prove the naysayers wrong.
“I always think I have something to prove,” Love said. “I definitely feel like I have something to prove and my goal is to show that in the preseason.”
The matchup with the 49ers will mark Love’s third preseason appearance of his career (two starts). Will he look in control of the offense? Will he be able to make the easy throws?
Nobody knows what to expect when Love takes the field tonight. There is no denying that Love has a live arm. When he got into a rhythm and things were clicking at Utah State, it was easy to see why many viewed him as a first-round talent. Those tools were why Gutekunst was comfortable trading up to get the potential franchise quarterback. Will this be the year he showcases those tools?
Jordan Love. Poetry in motion. pic.twitter.com/IEryLGUynA
— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) May 5, 2020
“Something clicks in at some point and the game slows down,” Rodgers said. “You make the plays you know you’re capable of making. I look forward to watching him on Friday.”
With a strong showing, Love could silence the critics (for now). With a subpar performance, the pundits will be deafening. | 2022-08-12T13:28:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | More than a feeling: Time is now for Packers QB Jordan Love | https://sports.yahoo.com/more-feeling-time-now-packers-113014244.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/more-feeling-time-now-packers-113014244.html?src=rss |
Raiders vs. Vikings Time, TV schedule, odds, streaming, how to watch
The Raiders already have one preseason game under their belt, but they will play game No. 2 on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Most of the key starters will still be out (Derek Carr, Davante Adams, Darren Waller, etc), but expect to see most of the starting offensive line in this contest.
This will be a good test for the young defense for the Raiders as they will face a new-look Vikings offense that should be more pass-happy. It will give their young defensive backs plenty of live reps to get ready for the season.
What: Minnesota Vikings (0-0) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)
When: Sunday, August 14 at 4:25 p.m. E.T. | 2022-08-12T13:29:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raiders vs. Vikings Time, TV schedule, odds, streaming, how to watch | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-vs-vikings-time-tv-131528851.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-vs-vikings-time-tv-131528851.html?src=rss |
New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe got ample playing time as the Patriots rested their starters for Thursday night’s preseason opener against the New York Giants.
The rookie from Western Kentucky made the most of his opportunity. Perhaps his biggest highlight was a touchdown pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey.
The drive leading up to the touchdown stalled a bit, as New England couldn’t get much going in the running game. However, Zappe was able to find Humphrey for a 20-yard strike that put New England on top, 21-20.
Zappe would finish the game going 19-of-32 on the evening. He threw for 205 yards, a touchdown and an interception. It was part of an effort that saw New England total 256 yards through the air. New York came away from Thursday night’s game with a 23-21 victory.
Up next for New England is the Carolina Panthers on Friday, August 19. Kickoff time is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
The shutdown of the Green Line will overlap with the closure of the Orange Line. | 2022-08-12T13:29:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Patriots QB Bailey Zappe goes clutch with fourth-quarter touchdown throw | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-patriots-qb-bailey-zappe-124227566.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-patriots-qb-bailey-zappe-124227566.html?src=rss |
The Arizona Cardinals finally have a football game. The preseason is here. They are in Cincinnati and will take on the Cincinnati Bengals for each team’s preseason opener.
The Cardinals are coming off an 11-6 season and their first trip to the postseason since 2015. However, they were embarrassed in the first round and finished the season with one game in their final 5, including the playoff loss.
The Bengals, on the other hand, got hot and made a run to the Super Bowl, although they did lose to the Los Angeles Rams in the big game.
Arizona brought back most of their key players and signed quarterback Kyler Murray to a huge extension. The Bengals invested a ton of money into their offensive line to try and protect quarterback Joe Burrow.
Neither team will play most of their starters, so it will be a quarterback matchup of Trace McSorley for the Cardinals against Brandon Allen for the Bengals.
If you are planning on watching, streaming or listening to the game, below is the information you need.
Cardinals at Bengals game info
Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals, Friday, Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. Arizona time) at Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati OH.
Cardinals at Bengals TV, streaming, broadcasting team
The game will not be aired nationally. It will air only locally in each team’s home market.
In the Cardinals’ home market, the game will air on KPNX 12 News. Dave Pasch and Ron Wolfley, who are the team’s radio announcers during the regular season, will call the game for the TV broadcast.
For the Bengals’ TV broadcast, Mike Watts and Anthony Munoz will call the game on WKRC-TV (Channel 12) in Cincinnati, with WKEF-TV (ABC Ch. 22) in Dayton, WSYX-TV (ABC Ch. 6) in Columbus, WLIO-TV (FOX Ch. 8.2) in Lima, WDKY-TV (FOX Ch. 56) in Lexington, Ky. and WDRB-TV (FOX Ch. 41) in Louisville, Ky.
Cardinals at Bengals radio info
The Bengals’ radio broadcast can be found in Cincinnati on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Dan Hoard and Dave
Lapham will call the game. | 2022-08-12T13:29:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | How to watch, stream, listen to Cardinals vs. Bengals in preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-stream-listen-cardinals-vs-125407246.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-stream-listen-cardinals-vs-125407246.html?src=rss |
There's a beautiful simplicity to Sylvia Fowles. An old-school approach, both in basketball and out. A beaming smile and immediate warm embrace. But only after she drops another double-double with a natural ease.
There's no better way to put it. It will be weird to watch the WNBA without Mama Syl.
Syl's Final (regular season) Ride will cross the finish line on Sunday when the Minnesota Lynx finish the regular season against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut (ABC, 1 p.m. ET). Fowles will first be honored in her second home of Minneapolis when the Lynx host the Seattle Storm on Friday night (ESPN2, 9 p.m. ET).
And it looks like it will be an emotional affair. The postgame ceremony will be aired and feature remarks from, among others, current teammate Napheesa Collier, former Lynx teammate Lindsay Whalen, Lynx assistant and former Fowles' teammate Rebekkah Brunson and head coach/general manager Cheryl Reeve. And the 6-foot-6 Fowles, too, of course.
“There is no one like Sylvia Fowles, no one,” Reeve said in a team release on Thursday, a hint of what's to come. “All the records, all the accolades, the bar she has set is unprecedented."
That's only right for one of the greatest and most decorated players in the league's 26-year history. Fowles, a 15-year veteran, won two championships with the Lynx and earned Finals MVP honors in both of them. She will forever be remembered as a core piece of a dynasty, joining the likes of Sheryl Swoopes and Cynthia Cooper with the Houston Comets.
Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles will play in her final regular season games this weekend. (David Berding/Getty Images)
"She does her thing. Syl is Syl," Sun forward and 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones said during All-Star weekend. "I don't think anything rattles Syl or gets Syl out of who Syl is. For me, she was that center that I looked forward to playing against, and she's just been so dominant. She's been Syl her entire career."
She's the 2017 league MVP and a four-time Defensive Player of the Year with the honors covering 10 years (2011, '13, '16, '21). Her name is all over the career record lists: rebounds and rebounds per game (first), field goal percentage (1), double-doubles (1), 2-point field goals (3), blocks (3), blocks per game (5), player efficiency rating (8) and points (10). On the international stage, she's won four Olympic gold medals with Team USA.
Fowles' exit might even more notable on the league than that of Sue Bird's if only because she is one of the last true centers who played with her back to the basket and dominated paint points. This season, she's averaged 12.1 in the paint, leading Nneka Ogwumike (11) and A'ja Wilson (9.8) at a distant third. She has led the league in paint points five times and only in her first two seasons did she fall below fifth.
THERE'S NO STOPPING SYL 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/8TdZkpsFcB
The former LSU star might also be one of the last to largely shy away from marketing herself, even though her life and passions are fascinating and deserving. Fowles, 36, posted her first Instagram photo in 2019, writing "missing her" on a photo of her niece. (Though her own plight in never being placed as the face of the league is an obvious reason for younger players to utilize the Instagram algorithm to their advantages.)
Her Twitter feed is mostly retweets of posts involving her or her teammates made by the Lynx, LSU and Miami Suns, where she supports a "Team Fowles" girls basketball club. There are no subtweets or callouts. She is one of the most nurturing and kind people, as described by her peers over the years.
"We don't call her Mama Syl for no reason," Aces forward and '20 MVP A'ja Wilson said.
It will always be one of the league's largest misses in not promoting the dominant down-low face of its most popular modern dynasty. Not only for talent and accolades, but interest that permeates the culture. She began classwork toward a mortuary sciences degree in 2015. That's in some ways old news, because even Collier was surprised with the rest of us that Fowles has a "professional" knitting career. (I would 100% buy something from her potential Etsy store, especially with those personalized Syl tags!)
Whether it all ends Sunday or sometime within the next month, it was one of the most special rides the league has ever seen. And if it's lucky, there will be a few more special ones to come.
"I'm looking forward to doing things with the WNBA when I'm done," Fowles said at All-Star weekend. "Y'all aren't going to get rid of me that fast."
WNBA talkin' bout chaos
The Minnesota Lynx are really about to sneak into the playoffs.
Everything went right on Wednesday night — that is, if you like chaos and/or you're a Liberty or Lynx fan. Both clubs won (vs. Wings and Mercury, respectively) to draw four teams into a tie for seventh place. All four teams have two games apiece remaining.
WNBA standings through Thursday's games. (Screenshot/WNBA)
The tiebreaker for four teams is the combined head-to-head record against the other teams in the tie. That places the Lynx ahead at 8-2 with two wins against Atlanta, two against New York and four against Phoenix. The Dream (4-4), Liberty (3-5) and Mercury (3-7) fall behind.
Here are each team's games remaining (all involved play Friday and Sunday) and how they've fared against those teams. Clinching scenarios and probabilities via Her Hoop Stats and Five Thirty Eight.
Minnesota Lynx: vs. Storm, at Sun
The Lynx won four of their last five and have Collier back in the lineup. Though she said she's not where she wants to be 11 weeks after giving birth to her first child, having her available is better than not. But they have the toughest closing schedule with two contests against top-4 teams.
The Storm have won all three games so far and are still playing for home-court advantage in that 4-5 seed battle with the Washington Mystics. The stars aren't taking time off on Friday.
Minnesota has also lost all three to Connecticut, which could also still be playing for seeding come the first game of the day on Sunday.
Tiebreakers (if necessary): Dream (2-1), Liberty (2-1), Mercury (4-0)
Atlanta Dream: vs. Liberty, at Liberty
The teams split their mini series in late June with each winning on the road. The Dream outscored the Liberty, 13-2, in overtime for their win at Barclays.
Atlanta has been streaky since July when they lost three, won two and lost four more. They opened August with wins against the Fever (+10) and Sparks (+2), but dropped needed games against the Lynx (-10) and Aces (-7).
Tiebreakers: Lynx (1-2), Liberty (1-1), Mercury (2-1)
New York Liberty: at Dream, vs. Dream
The Liberty have barely had everyone healthy for games this season and are still in a pickle down the stretch. Betnijah Laney returned from a meniscus injury only last week and has 22 points in three games. Natasha Howard missed the first game against Dallas after injuring her right ankle, though she returned for Wednesday night's win.
It has been largely the Sabrina Ionescu show as she seemingly wills her team to the postseason again while Marine Johannes shines off the bench. They've won four of six since July 31, but every team is at the bottom of the table.
Tiebreakers: Lynx (1-2), Dream (1-1), Mercury (1-2)
Phoenix Mercury: vs. Wings, at Sky
The Mercury have lost four of five as a season made for a 30-for-30 feature begins its final stanza. Diana Taurasi is out for the rest of the season with a quad strain. Skylar Diggins-Smith will miss the last two games for "personal reasons."
They are 1-2 against the Wings and lost both against the league-leading Sky this season.
Tiebreakers: Lynx (0-4), Dream (1-2), Liberty (2-1)
It's time for the Chelsea Gray corner of this notebook.
BEHIND THE BACK DIMEEEE 🫢@cgray209 🤝 Kelsey Plum
📺 @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/yma2A5s86b
Choose your own postseason adventure: Her Hoop Stats data analyst Jacob Mox brought back the playoff seeding tool for a second season.
Travel woes: WNBA Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike called out the most recent travel issues experienced by the Sparks. She later issued a lengthy statement on how the WNBA and union should fix it moving forward.
Injury List: Taurasi is out for the rest of the season. Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale will miss at least the first-round series. Aces forward Dearica Hamby could miss between two and four weeks with a right knee bone contusion.
Phee is back!
Sue Bird's Seattle goodbye included a literal flower from a young fan.
Yahoo Sports' Shalise Manza Young on the retirements of Bird, Fowles, Alyson Felix and Serena Williams.
WNBA on TV schedule
All times ET. Games on Facebook and NBA TV also available on WNBA League Pass. Here are the current standings and updated scoreboard can be found here.
Friday: Mystics at Fever (7 p.m., Facebook), Liberty at Dream (7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network), Storm at Lynx (9 p.m., ESPN2), Wings at Mercury (10 p.m., NBA TV)
Sunday: Lynx at Sun (1 p.m., ABC), Dream at Liberty (2 p.m., ESPN3), Fever at Mystics (3 p.m., ESPN3), Storm at Aces (3 p.m., ABC), Sky at Mercury (5 p.m., Amazon Prime Video), Wings at Sparks (7 p.m., WNBA League Pass).
After her emotional exit from "Love Island USA," Mady McLanahan reconnects with former partner Andy Voyen for the first time! Are there still sparks post-show?
" Virgin River is a Hallmark movie on steroids."View Entire Post › | 2022-08-12T14:54:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | A farewell to Sylvia Fowles, a retirement with wide-reaching WNBA implications | https://sports.yahoo.com/a-farewell-to-sylvia-fowles-a-retirement-with-wide-reaching-wnba-implications-130002952.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/a-farewell-to-sylvia-fowles-a-retirement-with-wide-reaching-wnba-implications-130002952.html?src=rss |
Heading into the second year of the Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell regime, there is a lot of hype surrounding the Detroit Lions, who will be looking to start off on the right foot against the Atlanta Falcons in their preseason opener.
Coach Campbell mentioned we should expect the starters to play the first quarter, then afterward we should expect a nice healthy dose of players who are trying to make a name on the Lions roster. There are plenty of questions surrounding the depth chart, and hopefully, throughout the game, we will gain some insight.
Here are the five things to watch for as the Lions take on the Falcons to open their football season.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff and receiver DJ Clark talk after the team’s first padded practice Aug. 1, 2022 in Allen Park.Lions
Even though we will only get a small dose of the first-team offense, all eyes will be on their performance. The Lions are rolling with a new offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, and it looks like they have created a strong relationship for each other to succeed between him and Jared Goff. Also, with the return of Frank Ragnow, T.J. Hockenson, and D’Andre Swift, along with the addition of DJ Chark, the offense will have a new look. Of course, there will be bumps in the road, but watching how the chemistry is working with the first-team offense will be interesting.
Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson stretches during minicamp in Allen Park on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
The rookies have already put on a show with their dance moves and vocals on the recent Hard Knocks episode, so it’ll be fun to see what they can do on the field. Hutchinson should already be entrenched as the starter, but keep an eye on how they utilize the first-round selection.
In addition, we should get a healthy dose of Malcolm Rodriguez as he has been the camp darling throughout training camp. He has made play after play, and getting him involved should give us an idea of where he may sit versus others in the linebacker room. Chase Lucas has also been making noise as a potential special teams ace, and curious to see where he sits on the secondary depth chart.
Lions running backs D’Andre Swift left, and Jamaal Williams walk off the field with running backs coach Duce Staley after practice during minicamp on Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Allen Park.
There should be no question that D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams are the 1-2 punch for the Lions running game, but outside of those two, the door is wide open. Craig Reynolds has been the first after Swift and Williams, as he looks to continue the out-of-nowhere appearance he made last season.
Jermar Jefferson has been making noise in training camp, and Coach Campbell has gone to say he has made strong strides forward from last season and looks vastly improved. Godwin Igwebuike and Justin Jackson round out the running back room. We don’t know how many running backs will decide to keep on the roster, but keep your eye on who is repping after the starters and on special teams.
Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) practices during the first day of training camp July 27, 2022 in Allen Park.
All eyes will be on Jeff Okudah with his return from an ACL injury and how well he adapts to the swing of things. It is not an easy road from that type of injury, but the former first-round pick looks healthy and rearing to go. Will Harris is transitioning from safety to corner, and from all intents and purposes, he has had a smooth transition, has adapted quite well, and looks to start at one of the outside corner positions. Jerry Jacobs looks to also return from injury and continue where he left off last season. With many players returning from injury, it’ll be interesting to watch the Lions secondary and how well they perform.
Fringe roster players
Detroit Lions defensive lineman John Cominsky runs a drill during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
It seems like some players come out of nowhere every year, perform above expectations, and land a role on the team, and this year should be no exception. The couple of players I am keeping my eye on are John Cominsky and Demetrius Taylor, as they are getting extra reps they might not have received if not for the injuries to Levi Onwuzurike and Julian Okwara. Cominsky was a hot commodity on the wavier wire, and he has been proving that as he has been performing well in training camp with his superior athleticism. Taylor has also been performing above expectation as a UDFA rookie defensive lineman. If he continues the impressive showing, there shouldn’t be any reason he can’t crack the opening day roster.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is expected to play briefly in the preseason opener before Tim Boyle and David Blough get a chance to compete to be the team’s backup and perhaps seal a spot on the roster. This offseason, the Lions made it a point to bring back Boyle and Blough on one-year deals after both shared reserve backup duties last season. It was Boyle who served as Goff’s primary backup in 2021, but this year the two have been splitting time with the second-team offense in training camp. | 2022-08-12T14:55:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 things to watch in the Detroit Lions preseason opener vs. the Falcons | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-things-watch-detroit-lions-125751301.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-things-watch-detroit-lions-125751301.html?src=rss |
John Smoltz has a number of passions — golf, for one, which he got serious about when he was 21 with Atlanta Braves teammates Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine as a way to spend time on their days off between starts — but his work ethic comes from his father.
The Hall of Fame pitcher and former National League Cy Young Award winner hasn’t rested on his laurels since retiring from Major League Baseball, digging hard into the celebrity golf circuit, playing in multiple PGA Tour Champions events and working as the lead MLB analyst for Fox Sports.
During Thursday’s Field of Dreams Game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs, Smoltz revealed on air that he lost his father earlier in the day, yet remained in Iowa to carry through with the national broadcast.
“It’s been an emotional day,” Smoltz said of losing his father, who was 79. “He lived by his faith, he loved family and he would be so mad if I didn’t do this game. I can’t think of another day to honor him, when you think about this park, this movie and how he loved every one of us and anyone he came in contact with. I’m the man I am because of him.”
Aside from his incredible baseball career, Smoltz has made a name for himself on the golf circuit, playing eight PGA Tour-sanctioned events, all on the Champions Tour. His best finish was a T-53 at the Cologuard Classic in 2019. He played in the U.S. Senior Open in 2018.
Smoltz has said that his most memorable round was with Annika Sorenstam, Tiger Woods and his Atlanta Braves teammate Chipper Jones.
He added Thursday that his family received tremendous support after losing John Adam Smoltz.
“I can’t explain the peace I have,” Smoltz said. “That comes from God and the way he lived. I call it the 4 L’s. He lived. He laughed. He learned. He listened. He gave us everything that we needed to fulfill and show up to work.
“And I feel like I’m showing up to work and what a better way for my Mom, my brother and my sister, and the support we’ve gotten today,” Smoltz added. “It’s started this early this morning. I’m sure it will hit me when I get home. But this is the perfect day for him if he was going to leave.
“He was so proud. When I was in high school, he made my first baseball card. And everywhere he went, he just handed them out to people. I didn’t get it then. I was actually begging him to stop doing that. I get it now, because I’ve run into so many people who met my dad and they say, ‘I met your dad.’ And I say, ‘Stop. Did he give you a card?’
“We’ll miss him. I’m going to live every day for him.”
Interestingly enough, Smoltz’s last major golf duel involved a similar scenario. Smoltz lost in a playoff at the 2021 American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe to Vinny Del Negro, who then revealed after the victory that his father, Vincent, had passed just before the tournament began,
Golf handicaps: Just how good are your favorite celebrities and athletes?
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday denied New York City Mayor Eric Adam's allegations that migrants in Texas are being forced onto buses. | 2022-08-12T14:56:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Golf fanatic John Smoltz shares that he lost his father just hours before Field of Dreams Game broadcast | https://sports.yahoo.com/golf-fanatic-john-smoltz-shares-141245660.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/golf-fanatic-john-smoltz-shares-141245660.html?src=rss |
Victor Oladipo: ‘I’m one of the best players in the world. Period.’ originally appeared on NBCSports.com
Chris Paul on being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team: I’ll never forget it
Chris Paul: For all these years I have just kept my head down and done the work, and I can honestly say that being named to the NBA 75 team, the day we did that huge photoshoot, I'll never forget it. I met a number of players that I had never met ... | 2022-08-12T14:56:44Z | sports.yahoo.com | Victor Oladipo: ‘I’m one of the best players in the world. Period.’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/victor-oladipo-m-one-best-140042945.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/victor-oladipo-m-one-best-140042945.html?src=rss |
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick doesn’t throw around compliments for his own players loosely. So it was definitely noteworthy when he made the claim that “nobody works harder” than second-year receiver Tre Nixon.
The comments came after Nixon hauled in four receptions for 81 yards, including a 36-yarder from rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe, in Thursday’s preseason opener against the New York Giants.
It was an impressive bounce-back performance by the former seventh-round pick out of Central Florida, after an ugly drop in the first half had him shaking his head. But instead of allowing himself to be rattled by that one mistake, Nixon stepped up as one of the biggest impact players on the field.
“Nobody works harder than he does,” Belichick said after the game, via NESN’s Zack Cox. “He’s one of the hardest-working players on the team.”
Belichick on Tre Nixon: "Nobody works harder than he does. He's one of the hardest-working players on the team."
Nixon is hoping not to get lost in the shuffle of receivers trying to make the final roster.
Opportunity is clearly knocking right now with a Patriots roster facing a lot of question marks, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. One of the biggest gripes with the unit over the years has been the inability to stretch the field.
Nixon stood out as a quality deep threat for Zappe, who looked as cool as the other side of a pillow when connecting on deep throws.
As always, it’ll be a tough process for Belichick when whittling down the roster. But it’s also a fact that the Patriots weren’t the only team watching what happened on Thursday night.
Whether it’s in New England or someplace else, Nixon will be in a uniform in 2022. | 2022-08-12T15:29:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bill Belichick says ‘nobody works harder’ than one player on Patriots | https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-says-nobody-works-134949711.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-says-nobody-works-134949711.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts are preparing for their first preseason game Saturday against the Buffalo Bills where they will continue working on chemistry leading into the 2022 season.
With the preseason already here, the Colts were ranked 17th in the NFL in Touchdown Wire’s preseason power rankings, which was one spot behind the Tennessee Titans.
The Colts have had a lot of optimism pushed their way throughout the offseason because of the moves they made in free agency and the draft. The additions of quarterback Matt Ryan, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and cornerback Stephon Gilmore have made the transition well and appear to be upgrades that their positions.
There are still a lot of question marks the Colts will have to answer throughout the season, but they’ll be fighting for the top spot in the division for the first time since 2014.
We’ll see how far the Colts can go in 2022 but entering the preseason, Touchdown Wire has them ranked at No. 17. | 2022-08-12T15:30:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts ranked 17th in Touchdown Wire’s preseason power rankings | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-ranked-17th-touchdown-wire-132908993.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-ranked-17th-touchdown-wire-132908993.html?src=rss |
The Bills have Ryan Bates. It wasn’t always that simple.
After entering the NFL as a 2019 undrafted rookie and being traded to Buffalo, Bates eventually became a restricted free agent this offseason. Per league rules, Bates was able to, and did, sign an offer sheet with the Chicago Bears.
Those same laws allowed the Bills to match that and Bates is back.
While thankful for the Bears, Bates said he’s glad to be back in Buffalo and admitted being a restricted free agent is a one-of-a-kind thing.
“The process was different,” Bates said. “At the end of the day, very happy to still be in Buffalo. Those guys–These are my guys, I didn’t want to leave them.”
Buffalo showed their faith in re-signing Bates. It’s worth noting that comes after not seeing much of him.
Sure, the Bills got plenty of insight on his skills via practice. However, he only has made four starts in his NFL career. All of those came just last season.
Not to mention, the Bills are hoping to have a better offensive line in 2022. Bates will play a big part in that as the projected starter at right guard.
Sean McDermott thinks Bates can handle that, though. The coach referenced the 25-year-old’s steady approach as a reason why the team believed in him.
“He’s always been a pretty consistent person off the field, consistent on the field and I think that really goes to his dependability. I think his teammates see that and his coaches see it as well,” McDermott said via video conference. “It’s really who he is so I haven’t seen much of a change at all.”
For more from Bates on re-signing in Buffalo, see the clip from his training camp interview via WIVB-TV below: | 2022-08-12T15:30:44Z | sports.yahoo.com | At the end of the day, Ryan Bates is very happy to be back with Bills | https://sports.yahoo.com/end-day-ryan-bates-very-151522080.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/end-day-ryan-bates-very-151522080.html?src=rss |
DeAngelo Williams played alongside Cam Newton on the Carolina Panthers for four years, from 2011 to 2014. And he believes that once fresh-faced rookie he helped welcome to the league 11 years ago should still be in it.
Williams joined podcast hosts Meghan Triplett and C.J. Hurt for Wednesday’s edition of Rise & Grind. When talking about the New York Jets’ current situation under center, the former running back compared his old teammate to Joe Flacco—who is currently backing up 2021 second overall pick Zach Wilson.
He’d assert that if Flacco is considered a starting quarterback—a recent thought expressed by Jets head coach Robert Saleh—then Newton certainly should be as well.
“I’m just tryna figure out how it’s okay for you to tell me, or tell anybody, that Joe Flacco is a starting quarterback in this league, but Cam Newton isn’t,” Williams said. “So I’m tryna figure out—what are we doing here? Is Joe Flacco a starting quarterback in this league. In my opinion, I don’t think so. Ever. I mean, he was Trent Dilfer. That’s who Joe Flacco was. But what do y’all think though? And I’m not going racial with this. I’m just goin’ by talent. Talent and talent alone.”
There’s obviously no question that Newton, then and now, has more talent than Flacco. But what Newton doesn’t have is an opportunity to his liking.
As he has stated, the former Most Valuable Player will wait on a scenario in which he won’t have to compromise too much of himself. Until then, Flacco is closer to a start than Newton is.
What rookie quarterback Malik Willis did well in his debut, and where he can still improve. | 2022-08-12T15:30:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams backs Cam Newton | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-panthers-rb-deangelo-williams-132500736.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-panthers-rb-deangelo-williams-132500736.html?src=rss |
Thursday night’s 23-21 preseason victory over the New England Patriots was the NFL debut of both of the New York Giants’ first round picks in this year’s draft.
Giant fans were eager to see their two new stars in action for the first time. It was a mixed bag, or as some have said, an empty bag for the two in Foxborough.
Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, the fifth overall selection in the draft this year out of Oregon, started on defense and played 14 snaps (23 percent). He recorded one tackle and drew a false start penalty out of Patriots’ right tackle Justin Herron.
“I was using my moves and really putting everything I have been working on and making it happen in the game,” Thibodeaux said afterwards.
“I didn’t really know how much I was going to play. They told us a little bit, but didn’t tell us what exactly we were going to play. For me it was a little bit. I mean I was sad when it was my time to stop, actually I was really pissed. But you know. I mean I tried, but they told me I was done, and I said, ‘for this snap, for this drive?’ and he [Coach] said, ‘no for the game.'”
Right tackle Evan Neal, the Alabama standout who was taken seventh overall this year, started and played 19, or 22 percent, of the offensive snaps. He looked a bit lost on some plays but overall it wasn’t a bad start.
The key here is that both started and got their feet wet. Where they go from here is up to them. | 2022-08-12T15:31:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux, Evan Neal so-so in NFL debuts | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-kayvon-thibodeaux-evan-neal-135544787.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-kayvon-thibodeaux-evan-neal-135544787.html?src=rss |
Cam Newton first started experiencing serious injury issues in 2018. Since then, the Carolina Panthers have been in a place no NFL team wants to be. That would be quarterback purgatory. They let Newton attempt multiple comebacks, but he couldn't stay healthy for extended periods. When he did play, he was obviously impacted by his injuries. He was no longer the physical freak that made him one of the most electric players in the sport. Over the past few years, we've seen the Panthers trot out the likes of Kyle Allen, Teddy Bridgewater, P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold. It hasn't been pretty.
The Panthers' latest attempt at finding a solution at quarterback might be their most intriguing one so far, but that's not saying much. The Panthers acquired Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns, who selected Mayfield first overall in the 2018 draft. Mayfield has shown flashes of being an above average quarterback in this league, highlighted by him setting rookie records (that Justin Herbert has since broken) and then leading the Browns to a playoff win in 2020. However, he's been consistently inconsistent. Last year was particularly awful for Mayfield and cost him his job in Cleveland, though it's worth noting he spent the majority of the season playing with a torn labrum and multiple other injuries.
Technically, there's a quarterback competition in Panthers camp between Mayfield and Darnold. However, by all accounts, Mayfield is running away with it. Anyone who has watched NFL football over the past four years could have predicted that. Mayfield will be the starter in Carolina, but what does that do for the Panthers? Yahoo's Frank Schwab has the Panthers ranked 24th in his preseason power rankings. The betting market views the Panthers as one of the lesser teams in the league as well.
Panthers are playoff long shots
Last season, the Carolina Panthers started the season with a 3-0 record. The defense was dominant and Darnold showed flashes of being capable. Christian McCaffrey got hurt shortly thereafter, and the Panthers and Darnold promptly fell apart. They ended the season with just five wins.
With McCaffrey currently healthy in camp and a new quarterback in the picture, the Panthers' win total for the upcoming season is set at 6.5. Carolina's original win total was set at 5.5, but moved in a positive direction after the Mayfield trade. Bettors seem to believe in the Panthers, with a nice 69% of bets and 86% of the money backing Carolina to go over 6.5 wins.
The Panthers are +275 underdogs to make the playoffs in the NFC. Though those odds are greatly improved from the +400 odds Carolina had prior to acquiring a quarterback, the new odds still suggest Carolina makes the playoffs just 27% of the time. Carolina is +850 to claim one of the wild-card spots in the NFC, and at those odds, I don't think they're a terrible bet.
Carolina is 10-to-1 to win the NFC South. Those odds are third best in the division behind the Buccaneers and Saints. Carolina is even-money to finish third place in the division, ahead of the Falcons. The Panthers are +210 to finish top two in the division and +240 to finish in last place, so oddsmakers seem to be pencilling them into third place with conviction.
The Panthers are 10-to-1 to have the fewest wins in football. Those odds are tied for fourth best with Seattle. Only Houston, Atlanta and the Jets have better odds. Carolina is +900 to finish with the fewest points scored during the regular season. The Panthers finished with the fourth-fewest points last season.
Carolina is 125-to-1 to win the Super Bowl. Those odds are tied for 25th best with the Detroit Lions. Only the Texans, Falcons, Seahawks, Jaguars, Jets and Giants have worse odds. The Panthers are 66-to-1 to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Those odds are tied for 13th best with the Giants. Only Seattle and Atlanta have worse odds.
Panthers player props and awards
For a team that not many expect to do a lot of winning, there are some intriguing and popular names on the Panthers. How does the betting market view them?
Entering his first season with the Panthers, Mayfield is an extreme long shot to win NFL MVP at 100-to-1. Those odds put him in the same tier as quarterbacks like Ryan Tannehill, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Daniel Jones. That's certainly not the company you want to keep. However, Mayfield does have a legitimate chance of winning another award.
Currently, Baker Mayfield is 11-to-1 to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Those are the fourth-best odds behind Derrick Henry, Jameis Winston and Christian McCaffrey. Mayfield has received the second-most money, behind only his running back. Mayfield is easy to make fun of, but if he puts together a good season, he certainly meets the qualifications for the award when you combine his old team giving up on him and his injuries.
Mayfield is currently 50-to-1 to lead the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He's much more likely to lead the league in interceptions at 11-to-1 odds. Mayfield has the fifth-best odds to lead the league in interceptions behind a quartet of second-year starters in Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Davis Mills and Justin Fields. Since Mayfield joined the league in 2018, no quarterback has thrown more interceptions.
Mayfield's passing numbers from last season are hard to analyze as he clearly played through injury, and physically and mentally fell apart in the later stages of the season. For this coming season, his passing yards over/under is set at 3799.5 yards. He's only gone over that number once in four seasons. His touchdown prop is set at 22.5 scores. He had just 17 last season, but went over that number in two of his first three seasons. His interceptions are lined at 13.5 interceptions. He had 13 interceptions in 14 games last season.
Baker Mayfield and the Panthers are long shots to make the NFL playoffs. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
For McCaffrey, health is paramount. He's one of the most exciting players in the league, but he's barely been on the field over the last two seasons. McCaffrey has 200-to-1 odds to win NFL MVP. Those are the fifth-best odds for a non-quarterback behind only Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and Cooper Kupp. McCaffrey is 20-to-1 to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Those odds are tied for fifth best with Deebo Samuel, Davante Adams and Nick Chubb. Only Taylor, Kupp, Henry and Jefferson have better odds.
Much like his quarterback, McCaffrey's best chance at an award comes in the form of Comeback Player of the Year. He's +750 to win the award, the third-best odds behind Henry and Winston. Nobody has received more bets or money backing them than McCaffrey.
McCaffrey is 20-to-1 to lead the NFL in rushing yards, which is tied for the ninth-best odds with Javonte Williams. He's 16-to-1 to lead the league in rushing touchdowns, which gives him the seventh-best odds. He's just behind Najee Harris and just ahead of Leonard Fournette. McCaffrey finished third in both categories in 2019, his last healthy season. McCaffrey's over/under for yards from scrimmage for the upcoming season is set at 1599.5. He had 2,392 yards in 2019 and 1,965 yards in 2018. If he stays healthy, he should go over that number, but that's a big "if." McCaffrey's over/under for rushing touchdowns is set at 8.5. He had 15 in 2019, but went under 8.5 in every other year of his career.
Despite poor quarterback play, Moore has had three straight seasons with over 1,150 receiving yards. Quietly, he's one of the best receivers in football. Moore is 25-to-1 to lead the NFL in receiving yards this season, which is tied for the 10th-best odds with Mark Andrews and Deebo Samuel. Moore finished 11th last season. Moore is 30-to-1 to lead the league in receptions and 50-to-1 to lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns.
Last season, Moore posted 93 receptions, 1,157 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His season-long props for the upcoming season are set at over/under 86.5 receptions, 1099.5 yards and 4.5 touchdowns. With Mayfield being an improvement at quarterback, Moore overs might be an appealing bet.
Other Panthers players
Brian Burns is 66-to-1 to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year and 40-to-1 to lead the NFL in sacks. Burns finished 20th in sacks last season with nine. His over/under for sacks this upcoming season is set at 9.5. He's never gone over that number, finishing with nine in back-to-back seasons.
Jaycee Horn missed all but three games in his rookie year, but the young cornerback has received plenty of hype. His over/under for interceptions is set at 2.5. He had one in three games last season.
Matt Rhule is 40-to-1 to win NFL Coach of the Year. Those odds are tied for 26th best with Bill Belichick, Andy Reid and Mike McCarthy.
Week 1 might be a show
If you love the "reality TV" aspect of the NFL, Carolina's season opener is shaping up as a can't-miss. The Panthers host the Cleveland Browns to open their season. The game is currently off the board at BetMGM as we await word on Deshaun Watson, but recently the Panthers were listed as 1.5-point underdogs.
Obviously, the game has serious intrigue because it's Mayfield going up against his former team. No player in the league has as big of a chip on his shoulder as Mayfield, and you know he'd absolutely love to stick it to his former team.
Assuming Watson is suspended for the game and the Panthers remain betting underdogs, I'm not sure how I'm going to pass up on taking plus-money with the Panthers here. As a big Mayfield fan, I'm convinced he's going to put on a show. Mayfield has this game circled, and so do I. | 2022-08-12T15:31:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL futures, odds: Even with Baker Mayfield, the market doesn't care for the Carolina Panthers | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-futures-odds-even-with-baker-mayfield-the-market-doesnt-care-for-the-carolina-panthers-151852056.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-futures-odds-even-with-baker-mayfield-the-market-doesnt-care-for-the-carolina-panthers-151852056.html?src=rss |
The Seattle Seahawks head to Pittsburgh this weekend to face off against the Steelers to open their preseason. With a new-look offense and defense, coach Pete Carroll and the rest of the staff have a lot to sort out before the first game of the regular season.
“It’s the first chance for us to go live now,” Carroll said after the walkthrough Thursday. “We understand that we go through camp and practice, that we get great tempo and speed, but it’s not the same thing when you finally crank it up and go. We have to make that next step, introduce our guys to full-speed football, the young guys getting on an NFL field and realizing that it’s just football. There is a lot of stuff that we have to accomplish that has nothing to do with how we play. It’s getting through the process and all.”
The team left Thursday afternoon after practice to get a head start on the weekend and to acclimate to the time change. Carroll and the veterans are well-versed in the drill but the rookies and new players have a lot to learn.
“Traveling is really important, teaching them how to travel,” Carroll said. “This West Coast to East Coast trip has been something that we have really taken a lot of consideration in how we do it and we have been successful at it. I think that there is a lot to understanding the rhythms and all of that, so we are going to practice it. That’s why we are leaving early, and we want to be right when the time comes.”
The Seahawks vs. Steelers contest is set to kick off Saturday at 4:00 p.m. PT. Find everything you need to know here.
Kyle Schwarber coped with a nagging calf injury through the last few weeks — “the old grind of baseball,” he said — and still helped the Phillies reel off a near-perfect homestand and a run at an NL wild-card spot. | 2022-08-12T15:32:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Seahawks looking to capitalize on first preseason game on the road | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-looking-capitalize-first-preseason-140057639.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-looking-capitalize-first-preseason-140057639.html?src=rss |
The right guard has seen a lot of time with the first team in training camp which is a sign the coaching staff has liked what they have seen. Facing the 49ers' defensive front in practice could bode well for Burford who will be very prepared going forward because of it.
Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Malik Willis went 6-of-11 for 107 yards and rushed five times for 38 yards and a touchdown in his preseason debut.
EXCLUSIVE: The Flight Attendant star Zosia Mamet and Saturday Night Live’s Aristotle Athari are leading sci-fi romcom Molli & Max in the Future. Principal photography on the New York-filmed feature debut from short film director Michael Lukk Litwak has just wrapped and pic has now entered post-production. Set one billion years into the future and […] | 2022-08-12T15:32:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | Seven key 49ers players to watch in preseason opener vs. Packers | https://sports.yahoo.com/seven-key-49ers-players-watch-140000186.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/seven-key-49ers-players-watch-140000186.html?src=rss |
New England Patriots wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey is finding his groove with his new team.
Humphrey was one of the best players on the field in the Patriots’ preseason opener against the New York Giants on Thursday.
He snagged six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown to give the Pats a late fourth-quarter lead. A great showing for Humphrey, who is looking to secure a spot on the New England roster.
#Patriots rookie QB Bailey Zappe finds WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey for the TD to take the lead 🔥pic.twitter.com/bWcrodo53a
Fellow former Longhorn wide receiver Collin Johnson also stood out in the game. Johnson finished with seven catches for 82 yards as the Giants took down the Patriots 23-21 on a last-second field goal.
Humphrey and Johnson were a dynamic duo for the Longhorns in 2018. The two combined for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns helping lead Texas to its best season since 2010. | 2022-08-12T15:32:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Lil’Jordan Humphrey hauls in a touchdown for the Patriots | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-lil-jordan-humphrey-hauls-151459750.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-lil-jordan-humphrey-hauls-151459750.html?src=rss |
During the mid-2000s, Auburn linebacker travis williams was considered to be one of the best at his position.
Now, he is considered to be one of the best assistant coaches in the nation.
Williams was recently included in a list titled “25 assistants deserving strong head coach consideration” from On3 for his success in leading UCF’s defense as well as recruiting efforts.
Following a successful playing career at Auburn, Williams began his coaching career on the Plains, serving as an analyst from 2009-11. He spent time away from Auburn during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, gaining experience in on-the-field roles. He returned to Auburn, re-uniting with coach Gus Malzahn in 2014, where he would serve a variety of roles until 2020, when Malzahn was relieved of his coaching duties.
Williams was not retained on the staff once current head coach Bryan Harsin was hired, which allowed Williams to follow Malzahn to UCF, which is where he resides today.
One of Williams’ strong suits is recruiting. While at Auburn, he was responsible for bringing players such as kj britt, Smoke Monday, and Zakoby McClain, as well as players that are still on Auburn’s roster including Owen Pappoe and Wesley Steiner to the Plains.
During his career on the Plains from 2002-05, Williams recorded 214 tackles, 22.5 of those were for a loss. His best season came during Auburn’s undefeated season in 2004, Williams made 80 stops with 9.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions.
247Sports name Auburn's 10 most wanted recruits | 2022-08-12T15:55:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Tiger included in “rising star coaching” list | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-tiger-included-rising-star-143057762.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-tiger-included-rising-star-143057762.html?src=rss |
After Richardson and Davis spoke, Jimbo Fisher started off his portion of the press conference with an opening statement, discussing how a majority of the talented 2022 freshman class is slowly but surely adapting to the speed of the practices, and learning that no matter how good of an athlete you might be, learning how to be a complete football player is of the utmost importance. he poignantly explained,
“If a guy is worrying about playing time, they’re never going to develop… Develop as a player, and you’ll definitely play.”
As Jimbo began fielding questions about the offense, specifically 5-Star wide receiver Evan Stewarts’ development, and the highly publicized quarterback battle, he stated:
“As quickly as he has done things and had success, he is a freshman. We have to remember he’s a freshman with how we coach him… His comprehension of football along with his overall intelligence allows him to do these things.”
On the state of the quarterback battle, and if a leader has emerged:
“They’re taking the exact same number (of reps with the 1s).”
Finally, Jimbo ended the press conference by answering questions about freshman quarterback Conner Weigman’s progress in the camp, and potential play-calling changes if southpaw Max Johnson were to win the starting QB job:
“Conner (Weigman) has picked it up well… He’s a very intelligent, very instinctive guy.”
“If he makes a mistake, he very rarely repeats it.”
On Max Johnson:
“It’s just based on what he can do. What he likes well, what he can do well within the confines of our offense.”
Johnson is a left-handed QB. Haynes King and Conner Weigman are both right-handed.
When asked about the injury report after the recent news that offensive linemen Bryce Foster and Trey Zuhn had sat out multiple days, Fisher exclaimed that there are currently no long-term or season-ending injuries to report through the first week of Fall Camp. | 2022-08-12T15:56:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texas A&M Fall Press Conference, Week 2: Jimbo speaks | https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-m-fall-press-conference-151557602.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-m-fall-press-conference-151557602.html?src=rss |
The weekend is nearly here but before we make it there we still have to get through Friday. A great way to speed that along is by reading the latest edition of the Auburn Morning Rush.
In this edition, we catch you up on the Auburn Family Football Preseason Kickoff. This event, which will take place on Aug. 27, will give Auburn fans a chance to watch a practice in Jordan-Hare Stadium with appearances from several Auburn celebrities.
In addition to that, a former women’s basketball player is rising up the coaching ranks and the schedule for the College Football Playing rankings release has been announced.
Catchup up on these stories in this edition of the Auburn Morning Rush below.
Auburn Family Football Preseason Kickoff date announced
Auburn fans will have the chance to attend a preseason kickoff fan fest event and open practice on Saturday, Aug. 27 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the school announced today.
The event, which is sponsored by Golden Flake, will feature a family fun zone at noon CT and open practice at 2 p.m. CT and is free to attend.
The family fun zone will be located at the east stadium green space, exterior to Jordan-Hare Stadium, and will feature appearances by Aubie, members of the Auburn University Marching Band, Cheerleaders, Tiger Paws, and Southeastern Raptor Center. Also, there will be inflatable bounce houses, tailgate games, face painting, poster/schedule magnet giveaway, and more.
The stadium will open at 1 p.m. CT and the open practice will begin at approximately 2 p.m. CT. Sections 24-34 on the east side of the stadium will be open to fans.
The stadium’s clear bag policy will be in effect for the practice. Parking will be available in the Arena, Campus Safety, and Coliseum lots
Former Tiger Blanche Alverson ears promotion at Georgia Tech
Former Auburn Women’s Basketball player Blanche Alverson has been promoted to associate head coach of Georgia Tech’s women’s basketball team the school announced Thursday.
“I’m happy to announce the title change for Blanche Alverson,” said head coach Nell Fortner. “Blanche has been with me from the start at Georgia Tech and will now be an associate head coach for women’s basketball, along with offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator. I’ve known Blanche for a long time and I couldn’t be more pleased with what she brings to Georgia Tech women’s basketball. She has been instrumental in the success over this program of the past three years.”
Alverson was a four-year letter winner at Auburn from 2009-13, where she played for Fortner for three years. She finished her career second all-time in three-point shots made and became just the fourth Tiger in program history to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 assists, 100 steals, and 50 blocks.
College Football Ranking release dates revealed
The 2022 college football season is rapidly approaching and polls are starting to be released. While the USA Today Coaches Poll came out earlier this week, the official College Football Playoff rankings do not come out until November.
This season the first College Football Playoff rankings will come out on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6-7 p.m. CT. Here is a look at the full slate of ranking shows, each show will be on ESPN and all times are central.
CFP ranking No. 1: Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6-7 p.m.
CFP ranking No. 3: Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6-7 p.m.
Selection Day: Sunday, Dec. 4 at 11-3 p.m
Turn that volume 🆙
🗣 𝗠𝗜𝗖'𝗗 𝗨𝗣 from Training Camp ft. @CoachHarsin#WarEagle🦅 pic.twitter.com/WwU9QK4xYz
“They are so wired to be successful….They don’t ever go through the motions on anything…Every practice like it’s game day.”
🗣@CoachRoc on @AuburnFootball edge standouts @derick_hall9 & @ekuleota #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/kBDRyk1Die
At Auburn football preseason practice, we watched the safeties, a position group with position battles up for grabs. | 2022-08-12T15:56:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tigers announces Auburn Family Football Preseason Kickoff | https://sports.yahoo.com/tigers-announces-auburn-family-football-113018743.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tigers-announces-auburn-family-football-113018743.html?src=rss |
Despite head coach Brian Flores’ firing this offseason, defensive coordinator Josh Boyer was kept on in his role under new Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
Beyond that, Miami made a concerted effort to keep most of their defense together from 2021, allowing them to continue building upon what they did during the second half of the season.
On Thursday, second-year safety Jevon Holland gave an inside look at how the Dolphins’ play-calling may go in 2022, as he was asked which players were calling the defense.
“We’re switching it up between me and ‘Bake’ (Jerome Baker),” Holland said. “It’s not really set in stone right now. There’s more than one green dot, so we’re just going throughout trying different people.”
Baker has worn the dot in the past, with Sam Eguavoen taking it when the former Ohio State Buckeye is unable to go. However, many NFL teams prefer to have their safeties making the communications, as they typically have more of the field to view.
Holland’s rise in Miami’s defensive system has been extremely impressive. To see him take on the starting role just a few weeks after debuting in the league, and now, potentially taking on play-calling duties, the sky is the limit for the Dolphins’ 2021 second-round selection. | 2022-08-12T17:23:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jevon Holland gives insight into Dolphins’ defensive play-calling plans | https://sports.yahoo.com/jevon-holland-gives-insight-dolphins-170032740.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jevon-holland-gives-insight-dolphins-170032740.html?src=rss |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to improve their communication and consistency on the back end of their defense this offseason, which meant adding veteran experience in free agency.
They did just that by signing Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal, both of whom bring the versatility necessary to be valuable weapons in the Bucs’ complex, aggressive defensive scheme.
So far, the early returns have been encouraging from both players in their first training camp with the team.
“I think they’ve exceeded them,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said following Thursday’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins, when asked about his expectations for the two new additions. “Logan has been unbelievable from a workout standpoint, an intelligence standpoint and learning everything so quickly. I haven’t seen a guy learn our defense that fast, and not just the safety spot but the corner and the nickel spot. And not just learning it – that’s not taking away from his play, because he knows how to play as well. He brings a lot to the table there.”
“Keanu is nothing but a pro since he’s come in,” Bowles continued. “He’s dropped his weight, going from linebacker in Dallas to coming in now [as a safety]. We know how he is in the run game. The great thing was he understands the passing game, he understands the angles and his drops have been very good. So I’ve been very pleased with both of them.”
Ryan has the ability to play safety or nickel/slot corner, while Neal has bounced between safety and linebacker during his career. Their combination of athleticism, intelligence and versatility should help make the Tampa Bay defense a more consistent and fundamentally sound unit this season. | 2022-08-12T17:23:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Logan Ryan, Keanu Neal exceeding expectations in 1st Bucs training camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/logan-ryan-keanu-neal-exceeding-155827561.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/logan-ryan-keanu-neal-exceeding-155827561.html?src=rss |
The Carolina Panthers are still figuring out their offense, which has been a constant under head coach Matt Rhule. Recently, Rhule had his team running gassers after he was displeased with an end zone celebration in practice.
But there is one Panthers offensive player who has shown impressive situational awareness. That’s receiver DJ Moore, seen breaking up a potential fight at the team’s recent Fan Fest.
One of the more underrated receivers in the NFL, Moore has three straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Panthers, despite all the quarterback agita. It’s nice to see that he’s on top of everything out there! | 2022-08-12T17:23:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers receiver DJ Moore breaks up fan fight at fan fest | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-receiver-dj-moore-breaks-153934300.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-receiver-dj-moore-breaks-153934300.html?src=rss |
Rookie referee Tra Blake has been assigned to officiate the Kansas City Chiefs preseason opener against the Chicago Bears according to Football Zebras.
Blake enters his third season as an official in 2022. He was promoted from umpire to referee in order to replace the recently-retired Tony Corrente. He’s the first official to be promoted to a referee role since Land Clark was promoted to the referee role back in 2020.
As an umpire in 2021, Blake was part of Carl Cheffers’ crew. He officiated the Chiefs’ preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, the Week 5 loss to the Buffalo Bills and the Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos.
Congratulations to Tra Blake on being named referee!
Tra joined us from the ACC in 2020, starting his @NFL career as a field judge before moving to the umpire position in 2021. pic.twitter.com/ewQgqC3DwZ
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) March 24, 2022
Obviously, it’s the preseason. These exhibition games don’t count toward anything and are played in an effort to get players and coaches prepared for the regular season. The same can be said of referees and their crews, who need to get in the swing of things in terms of which penalties must and mustn’t be called. We already know that the NFL intends to crack down on illegal contact penalties in 2022, so we can expect a few flags to fly during preseason Week 1.
Trinity College freshman football player dies on 3rd day on campus | 2022-08-12T17:23:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Referee Tra Blake assigned to work Chiefs-Bears preseason game | https://sports.yahoo.com/referee-tra-blake-assigned-chiefs-164518014.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/referee-tra-blake-assigned-chiefs-164518014.html?src=rss |
Ryan Tannehill: Treylon Burks is consistently making plays for me originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
Rare dust devil spotted in northeast England
STORY: Footage filmed by the County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue shows the whirlwind blowing over a field following a wildfire in Durham County. The weather phenomenon, which usually happens when it's very warm, is not common in England. Parts of England are in the middle of their second heatwave this summer with temperatures forecast to top 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) for the next few days, having reached their highest ever of more than 40C last month. | 2022-08-12T17:24:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ryan Tannehill: Treylon Burks is consistently making plays for me | https://sports.yahoo.com/ryan-tannehill-treylon-burks-consistently-164637829.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ryan-tannehill-treylon-burks-consistently-164637829.html?src=rss |
Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley isn’t learning about the NFL merely through the trial and error process of training camp. The first-round pick is also leaning on advice from veterans.
According to receiver Chris Conley, the No. 3 overall pick from LSU asks him plenty of questions after practice.
“I think that he’s not afraid to ask questions,” Conley told reporters on Aug. 11 at NRG Stadium. “He’s asked me a number of questions after practice. He’s pulled me to the side and asked me what was going through my head.”
It is understandable that Stingley would pick Brandin Cooks’ brain given that the receiver has produced six 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his previous eight in the NFL. However, Stingley is also talking to quarterback Davis Mills, too.
Said Conley: “Because he wants as much information as he can get, and when you take someone who’s willing to learn like that and then you add the athletic ability that I’m sure everyone in this room knows he has, that could be a dangerous combination, and we’re excited to see it.”
Stingley’s previous two seasons at LSU were marred by injury or the overall disjointed reality most people lived with in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. However, the basis for Stingley’s promise in the NFL comes from his freshman season in 2019 when he had 15 pass breakups and six interceptions to help LSU win the CFP National Championship.
If the Texans are able to get that level of athletic ability from Stingley, who is also trying to acquire as much knowledge of the game as he can beforehand, it should help Houston rebuild their secondary in a hurry. | 2022-08-12T17:24:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans WR Chris Conley says rookie CB Derek Stingley picks his brain | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-wr-chris-conley-says-164100780.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-wr-chris-conley-says-164100780.html?src=rss |
While the video cuts out before Moore leaves, the Maryland product seemed to have successfully defused the situation, as there weren't any reports of the two fans going at it afterward.
Carolina opens its preseason against the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field on Saturday afternoon.
Tune in to NBC Sports Washington at 12 pm Saturday for Pregame Live and 1:00 pm for Commanders vs. Panthers
Florida State held its 14th practice of the 2022 preseason on Friday morning on the campus of the University of North Florida. Coach Mike Norvell and his staff put their team through an hour-and-a-half workout under cloudy skies and humid conditions in shells. The offensive and defensive skill positions spent a good portion of Friday's practice in 7-on-7 pass skeleton work, taking reps in an open-field (between the 40s), red zone (inside the 20) and goal-line situations. | 2022-08-12T17:24:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Panthers star D.J. Moore prevents fight between fans | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-panthers-star-d-j-163611932.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-panthers-star-d-j-163611932.html?src=rss |
On this date in Boston Celtics history, the Celtics kept the Memphis Grizzlies from clinching a postseason berth with a 122-107 win in the so-called Orlando bubble teams played in after the NBA restarted play following a nearly four-month pause in play due to the viral malady that put much of the rest of the global economy on ice.
The Celtics were finally seeming to find a rhythm as the win against the Grizzlies extended their first win streak since play resumed to four games after a 1-2 start. They had the added benefit of forcing Memphis to have to wait for another win to secure a spot in the 2020 NBA playoffs.
“I feel like every game we play it’s the underdog,” said Ja Morant of the loss via the AP.
Aug. 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida; Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball as Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics defends during the third quarter at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Aug.11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann-USA TODAY Sports
“We were projected to be 27th this year and we here. So that’s how we’ve been attacking every game,” he added. “I feel like our next game won’t be (any) different.”
Boston won via big games from star forward Jayson Tatum (29 points and 6 rebounds), point guard Kemba Walker (19 points), and veteran forward Gordon Hayward (19 points, 5 boards, 5 assists).
Reserve center Robert Williams III chipped in 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks off of the bench.
Aug. 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida; Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball down the court after the game during the first quarter at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Mike Ehrmann-USA TODAY Sports
“I think we’re pretty close to being ready, especially after tonight,” said Boston’s Walker after the game.
“We’ve definitely come a long way. We’re jelling really well. We’re having fun. Competing at a very high level. I think we’re feeling pretty good right now.”
Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball as Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics defends during the second quarter at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Aug. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Mike Ehrmann-USA TODAY Sports
“Hopefully we can just keep getting better,” agreed then-head coach Brad Stevens. “The way the ball has been moving has been good.”
“The way guys are covering for one another. But we know that we’ve got less than a week before we open a playoff series. So all of it better be getting good.” | 2022-08-12T17:31:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | On this day: Boston keeps Memphis from clinching playoff spot in 2020 Orlando bubble | https://sports.yahoo.com/day-boston-keeps-memphis-clinching-080011796.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/day-boston-keeps-memphis-clinching-080011796.html?src=rss |
Naomi Osaka and Cordae Seemingly Responded to Those Breakup Rumors
Naomi Osaka and her Grammy-nominated boyfriend Cordae are the sweetest couple, and they couldn't be more supportive—get to know Naomi's boyfriend here.
The day after a newly coronavirus-free President Biden embarked on a post-infection vacation to South Carolina, the Centers for Disease Control released revisions to pandemic guidance that clearly indicate a shift from the state-of-emergency approached that has been in place, at least on a federal level, since 2020.
The Western & Southern Open returns to the area this week. Here's everything you should know about the annual tennis tournament. | 2022-08-12T17:57:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Novak Djokovic handed late US Open boost | https://sports.yahoo.com/novak-djokovic-handed-us-open-170211446.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/novak-djokovic-handed-us-open-170211446.html?src=rss |
The UNC basketball program continues to be a team fighting it out for some of the top talent in the country during this recruiting cycle. And, that should be the same memo with one of the best players in the country regardless of class.
2024 five-star shooting guard Ian Jackson is in the middle of planning out some of his junior year official visits and the Tar Heels are expected to receive a visit.
According to Rivals national analyst Travis Graf, Jackson is most likely to visit four schools at the moment.
Jackson is the No. 1 ranked player in the Rivals rankings for the class of 2024. Jackson is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who plays for Cardinal Hayes (NY) and New York Wiz Kids on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit.
Jackson is just one of a few players in the 2024 class that hold an offer from North Carolina.
While Jackson is currently in the 2024 class, reclassification has been a topic of discussion with the talented wing. While a decision about joining the 2023 class is a bit away, he did discuss that earlier this year.
“Yeah, that can be possible. I feel like I’d have a decision made by the end of my junior year, going into AAU. If I feel like I’m ready to reclass up and take the next step and go to college, I’ll make the decision then.”
North Carolina has just one committed player in the 2023 class after the de-commitment of No. 1 overall player GG Jackson. That commitment is from five-star combo guard Simeon Wilcher.
Regardless of class, Jackson is going to be a player that will make a big impact once he steps on a college campus.
While Kentucky has garnered most of the attention with Jackson up to this point, he has a long ways to go in his decision making process and once he gets on campus for official visits and has feedback on the programs he visits, it’s anyones guess as to who has a lead at the moment.
RELEASE DISCLOSURE OF TRADING IN OWN SHARES FROM AUGUST 8 TO AUGUST 12, 2022 In accordance with the authorization granted by the Shareholders’ Meeting in order to trade in own shares and pursuant to applicable law on share repurchases, Rexel declares the following purchases of its own shares from August 8 to August 12, 2022. Name of IssuerIdentify code of the IssuerDay of the transactionIdentify code of the financial instrumentTotal daily volume (quantity of shares)Average Weighted daily acquisi | 2022-08-12T18:23:38Z | sports.yahoo.com | Top-ranked 2024 prospect ‘likely’ to visit North Carolina | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-ranked-2024-prospect-likely-163352634.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-ranked-2024-prospect-likely-163352634.html?src=rss |
It isn’t every day that you see a running back similar to future Hall of Fame running back Adrian Peterson. However, if any running back is eerily similar to the former Sooners running back, it has to be former Alabama running Najee Harris.
When speaking with ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, here is what Peterson had to say about Harris’ physique:
“I caught myself a couple times looking at him. I’m like golly, this boy’s thick…and those big quads.”
That doesn’t seem like much, but it holds more meaning coming from the seven-time Pro Bowl back. Peterson stands at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. Harris stands at 6-foot-1, 232 pounds. That just goes to show how closely their measurables are to one another.
Last season, Harris burst onto the scene in his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had 307 carries for 1,200 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. While being impactful in the running attack, Harris was also a receiving threat to opposing defenses. He hauled in 74 receptions for 467 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
His playing style is reminiscent of Peterson in several different ways. Both running backs are downhill runners, but they can also be game changers in the passing game. The two had very successful college careers as well. Peterson continued that into the NFL and now Harris will look to do the same.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Harris during his NFL career as well as other former Alabama football players in the NFL.
Jameson Williams gets Matt Stafford's approval to wear No. 9 for Detroit Lions | 2022-08-12T19:11:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Adrian Peterson enamored by former Alabama RB Najee Harris’ frame | https://sports.yahoo.com/adrian-peterson-enamored-former-alabama-171611843.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/adrian-peterson-enamored-former-alabama-171611843.html?src=rss |
Bill Belichick raves about WR Tre Nixon's work ethic originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Tre Nixon was a key contributor for the New England Patriots in Thursday night's preseason opener. The second-year wideout made an impact in the passing game and was used as a kick returner.
Nixon is doing all he can to secure a roster spot out of camp. He faces an uphill battle with plenty of depth on the Patriots' receiver depth chart, but his hard work isn't going unnoticed.
Head coach Bill Belichick spoke highly of Nixon's work ethic after Thursday's game.
"Hard-working kid, tough kid," Belichick said. "Looking for an opportunity, has worked hard. Got an opportunity, and this is the time to take advantage of these opportunities whether it's in the return game as it was for Tre and Myles (Bryant), or whether it's in other phases of the kicking game as a coverage player or a blocker on the return team. ...
"Guys that show the aptitude in practice to be competitive in those situations earn an opportunity to play in the game and show what they can do. Tre would certainly fall into that category. Nobody works harder than he does. He's one of the hardest-working players on the team."
Belichick has said "nobody works harder" about a number of his players before, but it's still a nice compliment for the seventh-rounder out of UCF.
Nixon finished the 23-21 preseason loss to the New York Giants with four catches for 81 yards. He'll look to duplicate his efforts when the Patriots host the Carolina Panthers next Friday at 7 p.m. ET. | 2022-08-12T19:11:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bill Belichick raves about WR Tre Nixon's work ethic | https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-raves-wr-tre-184600108.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-raves-wr-tre-184600108.html?src=rss |
NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders believes he's on a different level, even among other Hall of Famers. Sanders criticized the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Friday, saying he deserves to be in a higher tier than some players inducted into the Hall.
Sanders made his case in a nearly 2-minute video. In it, he says some Hall of Famers deserve different color jackets or should be put in the "upper room" at the Hall of Fame to signify they were the elite among the elites. He puts himself in that category.
Sanders also took a swipe at some of the recent players inducted into the Hall of Fame, saying, "The Hall of Fame ain't the Hall of Fame no more." Sanders doesn't name names, and said the players who got into the Hall are worthy but not in the same way he was deserving.
Sanders proposed a few options for how the Hall of Fame should be organized:
"It needs to be a different color jacket. My jacket's got to be a different color. It needs to be a starting 11, it needs to be an upper room. My head don't belong with some of these other heads that's in the Hall of Fame. What do they call them? Busts. Well, I call them heads ... Put my head where my head is supposed to be. My head isn't supposed to be by them."
Sanders described the Hall of Fame as a "free for all," and said players who were merely good are getting inducted now. Sanders said he views the Hall as a place for "people who changed the game." Sanders added that the Hall of Fame shouldn't be for players who had "three or four good years." He claims he's seen some of the busts in the Hall of Fame and thought, "What is he doing here?" Sanders believes others feel the same way.
Who was Deion Sanders talking about when he ripped the NFL Hall of Fame?
Sanders was careful and did not mention any specific players by name. His complaint comes less than a week after six players, one coach and one official were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Of that group, the only player to receive pushback from another Hall of Famer publicly was Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Tony Boselli. Former Buffalo Bills defensive end and Hall of Famer Bruce Smith questioned Boselli's induction, saying the process used to get Boselli inducted set "a horrible precedent."
Boselli spent seven seasons in the NFL. He made five Pro Bowls and was selected to three All-Pro teams. By comparison, Sanders made eight Pro Bowls and was selected to six All-Pro teams during his 14-year career in the NFL.
Deion Sanders believes the Pro Football Hall of Fame is for players who changed the game. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | 2022-08-12T19:11:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Deion Sanders calls out quality of NFL Hall of Fame: 'My head don't belong with some of these other heads' | https://sports.yahoo.com/deion-sanders-calls-out-quality-of-nfl-hall-of-fame-my-head-dont-belong-with-some-of-these-other-heads-185450174.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/deion-sanders-calls-out-quality-of-nfl-hall-of-fame-my-head-dont-belong-with-some-of-these-other-heads-185450174.html?src=rss |
It was apparent a year ago and pretty much every moment since then that the Raiders had a real problem at tackle. Despite this glaring issue, they did next to nothing to address it this offseason. So, it should come as no surprise the problem has not magically fixed itself. If anything, it’s worse now, because the season is fast approaching.
This issue is mainly about finding a viable starting right tackle. But based on what we saw in the Hall of Fame game last week, it extends even farther than that.
The Raiders used their first round pick in 2021 on Alex Leatherwood who lost the starting job four weeks into the season and has never gotten it back.
Thus far in camp, reports have Brandon Parker lining up as the first team right tackle more times than not. Despite countless chances over his first four seasons to develop into a starting caliber tackle, and never showing it, he is getting yet another shot and appears to be the leader in that race.
In reality, the Raiders should not be going into the season with Parker as the starter. It’s not just risky, it’s a risk that they’ve taken and been bitten by on more than one occasion already.
The problem there is should Parker take a backup spot, the ideal situation would be that the backup is a swing tackle. It was his performance in the Hall of Fame game that proved he is simply not the answer at swing tackle.
With the Raiders sitting Kolton Miller for the game, Parker got the start…and he was completely destroyed. This included getting worked over by journeyman former Raiders edge rusher Arden Key.
Josh McDaniels said he will be trying out a few others on the left side for this Sunday’s preseason game against the Vikings.
“You’ll see a few different people over there,” McDaniels said of the left tackle spot. “We did some of that against Jacksonville. It’s an important opportunity. It’s like the backup quarterback; nobody talks about him until it’s the most important person in the organization. The same thing is true for the left tackle and the person that would swing on either side. Once you have an injury all of a sudden that position becomes really important. It’s not easy. So, to have the ability to do that, and we flop some guys during training camp to give them opportunities to work at that. It’s something that takes a lot of reps. It’s something that you’re getting a lot of calls on the right side that you’re not getting on the left side, so you’ve got to think very quickly on both sides. We’re going to gain more knowledge on that for sure on Sunday.”
Parker has been missing practice all week, so naturally other guys will have to get a look. But the mere fact that through last week he was leading the way among the tackles tells you something about the group as a whole.
They clearly don’t see Leatherwood as the answer if he’s playing behind Parker. And Josh McDaniels made it clear that while rookie Thayer Munford has gained a lot of confidence, the sixth round pick has “a long way to go.”
That leaves just Jermaine Eluemunor who started at right tackle for McDaniels for a season in New England, but who otherwise has spent much of his career lining up at guard.
Either someone on the roster needs to really step up soon or more drastic moves must be made. The prospect of going into the season with no starting right tackle and no trusted swing tackle is a very scary proposition, especially for the hopes of a high-powered offense.
There’s now a little less mystery as to why Raiders tight end Darren Waller has not been practicing during training camp. Waller has been sidelined by a hamstring injury, but it’s not considered serious, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Paul Gutierrez of ESPN reported late Thursday that Waller indicated he should return to practice next [more] | 2022-08-12T19:12:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raiders still have a big problem at tackle | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-still-big-problem-tackle-183220912.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-still-big-problem-tackle-183220912.html?src=rss |
The Chicago Bears and linebacker Roquan Smith appear far from reaching an agreement on a contract extension. Smith has been deadlocked in contract negotiations since April, but he hasn’t been happy with the offer he received.
Earlier this week, Smith requested a trade citing he doesn’t feel valued by the new front office. Smith said he lost trust in the organization in their attempts to take advantage of him during contract negotiations.
Smith started training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but he was removed from the list shortly after the trade request. Now, as Smith sits out practice, he’s subject to a $40,000 fine for each practice he misses.
Now, things appear to be getting even more awkward.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, “a person purporting to represent Smith has been calling other teams in order to gauge potential trade interest.”
As Smith has previously shared, he does not have an agent and has been representing himself. So the fact someone’s calling on behalf of Smith and the Bears haven’t granted him permission to seek a trade could have some serious ramifications.
General manager Ryan Poles expressed his intention to re-sign Smith — although he’ll ultimately do what’s best for the team. | 2022-08-12T19:12:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Someone is calling teams to gauge trade interest for Bears LB Roquan Smith | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-someone-calling-teams-gauge-181622301.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-someone-calling-teams-gauge-181622301.html?src=rss |
NASCAR Official Release
RICHMOND, Va. (Aug. 12, 2022) — NASCAR and 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace hosted a community block party at Richmond Raceway on Aug. 11, a first-time event designed to engage new fan audiences and bring local families to the racetrack ahead of a full weekend of NASCAR racing action.
Bubba‘s Block Party was free to the public and attended by thousands of Richmond residents who enjoyed NASCAR‘s virtual iRacing experience, pit stop demonstrations and a variety of Black-owned food trucks from the local community. Multi-platinum hip-hop artist Wale headlined the live music performances which also featured DJ Domo, Rob V and the Virginia State University Trojan Explosion Marching Band.
MORE: Richmond schedule | Buy tickets
“I feel that our sport as a whole has made real gains in expanding and diversifying our fan base, and with events like Bubba‘s Block Party, my hope is that we can continue to attract minorities that may be curious to see what NASCAR has to offer,” said Wallace, who signed autographs and took photos with fans at the event. “NASCAR fans, both veteran and new, drive our sport and they are the reason I get to do what I love every Sunday. Now, I want others to feel welcomed to experience that thrill that only NASCAR has to offer.”
A first-of-its-kind event, Bubba‘s Block Party was designed to drive awareness and engagement with the sport among the Black community while generating excitement for the race weekend ahead. Richmond Raceway will both NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Cup Series race events this weekend.
Wallace, who last season became the first Black driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race since 1963, engaged the audience as part of a fireside chat hosted by NASCAR Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Brandon Thompson.
“Bubba‘s Block Party is an initiative that will open the door for new fans to learn about our sport in a fun and unique way,” said Thompson. “It‘s been really exciting to work with Bubba and phenomenal partners like DoorDash and Xfinity on this event as we continue to foster a community of inclusion and support.”
NASCAR joined forces with Black Restaurant Week for a food truck village at the event serving up local bites from Black-owned businesses to drive awareness, support and economic impact. Participating business included Traditionz Mobile Kitchen, K & M Salmon Balls & Cakes, Kingzz Water Ice, Fantabulous Chef Service LLC, Taste Good Authentic Jaflava, Hooks Lunchbox and Fries in Disguise.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees enjoyed live pit stop demonstrations hosted by Rev Racing drivers and crew members, took laps on iRacing simulators as part of the eNASCAR Arcade, and received free gear from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Bubba‘s Block Party was inspired by an idea Wallace shared as part of NASCAR‘s industry-wide DE&I committee, which meets regularly during the season to discuss ways to promote diversity, equity and inclusion across the sport. Thursday‘s event, driven by culture and community, was produced by global creative agency Palette Group.
Richmond Raceway‘s first-ever summer race weekend on Aug. 13-14, features the Worldwide Express 250 for Carrier Appreciation NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs on Saturday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. ET (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and the Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Aug. 14 at 3 p.m. ET (USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). To join the summer race party at Richmond Raceway, NASCAR tickets are available for purchase via phone at 866-455-7223 or online at richmondraceway.com.
Stewart Friesen has fond memories of racing at Canada‘s Ohsweken Speedway. The track, located just shy of two hours from his hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, is the site of one of the biggest victories of the 38-year-old’s career. The date was July 28, 2015. Friesen, who is best known as a Dirt Modified racer when […]
The contract, which covers more than 3,000 pilots of the company, is a short-term extension that will provide for improvements in compensation and retirement benefits. The new agreement extends the term of the contract until Sept. 1, 2025, the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) said. | 2022-08-12T19:54:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bubba Wallace and NASCAR host Bubbas Block Party at Richmond Raceway | https://sports.yahoo.com/bubba-wallace-nascar-host-bubbas-114136312.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bubba-wallace-nascar-host-bubbas-114136312.html?src=rss |
23XI Racing announced Friday that Bubba Wallace has signed a multiyear extension that keeps him in the driver’s seat of the No. 23 Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Wallace is in his second season with the organization, which entered Cup Series competition in 2021 with the backing of fellow driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan as co-owners.
MORE: Silly Season key players | Bubba Wallace’s career highlights
The organization did not disclose the length of the contract extension, but the deal keeps Wallace behind the wheel of the No. 23 Camry in 2023 and beyond. Hamlin had hinted in recent weeks that renewing Wallace’s agreement was coming, saying July 30 at Indianapolis that “we’ve got something on the table, and obviously want him long-term with us.”
The 28-year-old driver said he recognized the faith that 23XI management had shown in him, adding that he had not shopped around for a ride elsewhere, focusing solely on sealing his return.
“These guys made a commitment to me, and I made a commitment to them that this is where it all is put together,” said Wallace, who delivered the team’s first victory last October at Talladega Superspeedway. “You know, I want to make this a super-long-term deal. I’d love to retire here — hopefully retirement’s not until like 10, 15 years down the road — but that was that was my goal from day one.”
Wallace’s season to date has been one of measured improvement. He’s already surpassed his season total from a year ago in top-five and top-10 finishes, and he followed up his first career pole last weekend at Michigan with a second-place result.
Wallace ranks 19th in the Cup Series standings, just outside of an already crowded playoff picture. Three regular-season races remain for him to make a last-ditch postseason bid, starting with Sunday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 (3 p.m. ET, USA, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM) at Richmond Raceway.
MORE: Richmond weekend schedule
“I think where we’re at, we put ourselves behind the front part of the season, and so now we’re playing catch-up,” Wallace said. “It’s super hard to do at the Cup level, right? I mean, everybody’s the best of the best, and you have opportunities like last week in Michigan that … you know, second place was a phenomenal finish for the weekend for our team, but in this scenario, if you’re looking at we’ve got to be in the playoffs because that’s how you win championships then, we didn’t get there.
“So that’s where the frustration came from, because I know our team is capable, I believe, in making a really good run at the playoffs, especially with how (crew chief) Bootie (Barker) and I are on the same level right now, how JR (Houston), my engineer, and I are on the same level and then everybody with us on my road crew. We’re all hitting every stride in the right way. And so, for the future, I think if we just continue to do what we’re doing right now, we’ll really be one of those top teams that we’re talking about every week, so not just popping in and out for speedway races. We’ve been to a handful of different tracks this last month, and we’ve been able to capitalize on that. So it’s been fun to be behind the wheel.”
MORE: Wallace on runner-up finish at Michigan
The organization has undergone significant growth since its formation in September 2020. The group expanded to a two-car operation this season with Kurt Busch as the driver of the No. 45 Toyota, and 23XI Racing made big noise last month by signing top prospect Tyler Reddick to a deal starting in 2024.
The pace has been accelerated, and Wallace has a vested interest in where it goes next.
“It’s definitely been cool to see how fast we’re moving,” Wallace said. “I think that’s Denny’s mindset. He wants to have the best drivers as soon as possible and making this team grow as fast as possible. And MJ is right there, too. Obviously, we know the competitive side of both people there, and it’s a good spot to be, and I’m proud to be a part of it because I feel like I’m just as competitive as those guys.
“So to see the growth of the team, the personnel that we hire on, the partners that we bring in, it’s all made everybody grow together. And that’s been our mindset, that’s been our philosophy, whoever we bring on, we act as one team. We show up at the race track as one team, it just happens to be two different numbers.”
The rest of the playoff quest begins in the coming days at Richmond, where Wallace has already made an impression in setting the stage for the weekend’s entertainment. Thursday at the Virginia track’s neighboring fairgrounds, Wallace hosted ‘Bubba’s Block Party’ in conjunction with NASCAR featuring live performances headlined by Wale.
Wallace has already taken steps to stay involved through community outreach, diversity efforts and with educational and charitable causes. But Thursday’s event marked a new step in drawing in new fans with music, iRacing rigs and a food-truck roundup as part of the pre-race festivities.
“I actually didn’t really know what to expect, the first time kind of venturing out and doing this deal with NASCAR,” Wallace said. “I kind of left it in their hands, and it was actually good to see some of the good things that we could build on, and make it even better for the next one. But I’m really, really happy with the turnout. And obviously, Wale coming in there to perform was just icing on the cake for everybody there. So it was cool, definitely a cool atmosphere.”
Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby violated a court order last month when she commented about Keith Davis Jr.’s controversial criminal cases on social media, a judge ruled Friday, holding the city’s top prosecutor in contempt of court. Circuit Judge John Nugent fined Mosby $1,500 but said she could avoid that fee if she abided by a more restrictive “gag order” for 90 days. Rather than ...
Uma Pemmaraju helped launch the Fox News Channel as an anchor in 1996.
Britain's government proposed a far-reaching financial services law last month to exploit "freedoms" to write its own capital market rules since leaving the European Union. Liz Truss, the front-runner to become Britain's next prime minister, would give ministers "call-in" powers under the bill to override financial regulators such as the Bank of England, the Financial Times reported. She has also said she would revisit the Bank's mandate for curbing inflation, raising concerns about its independence. | 2022-08-12T19:55:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bubba Wallace signs multiyear extension with 23XI Racing | https://sports.yahoo.com/bubba-wallace-signs-multiyear-extension-130119385.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bubba-wallace-signs-multiyear-extension-130119385.html?src=rss |
Canadian racing driver
Stewart Friesen has fond memories of racing at Canada‘s Ohsweken Speedway.
The track, located just shy of two hours from his hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, is the site of one of the biggest victories of the 38-year-old’s career.
The date was July 28, 2015. Friesen, who is best known as a Dirt Modified racer when he‘s not competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, was racing a sprint car against the stars of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.
To the surprise of many in attendance, Friesen emerged as the winner that summer night at Ohsweken, beating champion sprint car racers like Donny Schatz, Brad Sweet and Daryn Pittman in the process.
“It was just a really, really cool night,” Friesen recalled. “My wife Jess was about six months pregnant with (their son) Parker at the time. It was a mid-August race, really hot and it got really slick. She just had it dialed in perfect, and we went out there and raced with the best of the best and got the win.
“It was definitely one of the best moments in my career, and to do it with my wife, with her team and her crew chief was really, really special.”
Now Friesen is returning to Ohsweken, this time to compete in the inaugural NASCAR Pinty‘s Series dirt race. The Pinty‘s 100 is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 16 and will be available to watch live on FloRacing at 9:35 p.m. ET.
RELATED: Watch the Pinty’s 100 from Ohsweken on FloRacing
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: Stewart Friesen, driver of the #52 Halmar International Toyota, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series DoorDash 250 at Sonoma Raceway on June 10, 2022 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“I‘m really looking forward to this deal,” said Friesen, who will drive a car fielded by team owner Scott Steckly on Tuesday evening. “We tried to do it in 2020, and COVID kind of shut everything down. Now two years later we‘re finally going to get the opportunity to go racing.”
Friesen isn‘t the only driver with NASCAR national series experience expected to participate. Among the other entrants are Joe Gibbs Racing driver and NASCAR Cup Series star Christopher Bell, as well as four-time NASCAR Cup Series winner and veteran dirt racer Ken Schrader.
Also among the anticipated entries are the regulars of the NASCAR Pinty‘s Series, including championship leader D.J. Kennington, Marc-Antoine Camirand, Kevin Lacroix, L.P. Dumoulin, Alex Tagliani and Andrew Ranger, among others.
“It‘s very humbling to be able to do this with Schrader and Bell and with all the Pinty‘s Series guys, too,” said Friesen, who will also be racing a sprint car at Ohsweken next week. “I‘m pretty good friends with D.J. Kennington and Tagliani and some of the big names of that series. It‘s going to be a cool event, and I‘m really excited for it.”
While many of the drivers slated to compete in Tuesday‘s event may not know what to expect, Friesen at least has a general idea. His extensive dirt racing résumé, combined with his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Eldora Speedway, Knoxville Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway, could give him an edge when the green flag waves at Ohsweken.
RELATED: 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s Series schedule
“You‘re definitely trying to put a square peg in a round hole,” Friesen said. “You‘ve got to try and make (the car) handle the surface as best you can, but what we‘ve learned the last couple of years is try to not make it something that it isn‘t. You‘re not going to make a pavement car a dirt car.
“You‘ve got to do the stuff that‘s within the adjustability of the wheelhouse of the vehicle and do the best you can with it.”
Friesen is excited to race in front of his home crowd and believes Tuesday‘s race could be among the biggest motorsports events in Canada this year.
Now seven years removed from one of the biggest wins of his career, Friesen could add another big win at Ohsweken to his résumé.
“We‘ll have a lot of friends and family there as well being that it‘s a hometown race for me. I‘m just looking forward to getting up there and doing it,” Friesen said. “It‘s going to be a big event, probably the biggest racing event in Canada this year.”
Mark Faber will become the third GM in the history of Texas Motor Speedway, taking over after Rob Ramage was promoted to a new role. | 2022-08-12T19:55:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Stewart Friesen hopes to recreate career highlight in return to Ohsweken for Pinty's Series dirt race | https://sports.yahoo.com/stewart-friesen-hopes-recreate-career-095048943.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/stewart-friesen-hopes-recreate-career-095048943.html?src=rss |
Defense will once again be the hallmark of Wisconsin football in 2022. The Badgers have a mix of new faces and returning stars, but it will be the latter that will likely lead this unit.
Among those returners are Nick Herbig and Keeanu Benton, who are expected to be at the front of everything Wisconsin’s defense accomplishes in 2022. Jim Leonhard’s group had a tremendous 2021 season, highlighted by holding Iowa, Northwestern, and Rutgers to a total of 17 points over a three-week stretch.
Can the Badgers repeat their success from a year ago? Here is where 247Sports sees them heading into the season:
Dec 27, 2019; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Tyree Johnson (3) celebrates sacking Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Dru Brown (6) (not pictured) in the first half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Matthew Jones (55) and Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Thayer Munford (75) block Clemson Tigers defensive lineman Bryan Bresee (11) on a passing play during the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.
College Football Playoff Ohio State Faces Clemson In Sugar Bowl | 2022-08-12T20:08:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | 247Sports’ top 10 defenses: Where does Wisconsin rank? | https://sports.yahoo.com/247sports-top-10-defenses-where-180251928.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/247sports-top-10-defenses-where-180251928.html?src=rss |
College football insider Brett McMurphy of the Action Network recently released his ballot for the preseason AP Top-25.
Alongside the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll, the AP Poll, which is set to be released on August 15, will act as the primary rankings until the College Football Playoff Selection Committee releases theirs on Tuesday, November 1.
We’ll share with you McMurphy’s top-ten rankings, which may surprise some readers once you scroll past No. 3. A few notable members outside of the top-ten include Clemson (No. 11), Arkansas (No. 14), Notre Dame (No. 18), and Tennessee (No. 22).
McMurphy’s top-ten:
Coaches Poll ranking: 10
Syndication: The Register Guard
Coaches Poll ranking: 6 | 2022-08-12T20:08:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Brett McMurphy’s preseason college football rankings | https://sports.yahoo.com/brett-mcmurphy-preseason-college-football-162214289.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/brett-mcmurphy-preseason-college-football-162214289.html?src=rss |
We have no idea how Notre Dame’s season will play out. Sure, it probably will be a very good one like everyone is predicting, but those predictions are just those. You can say that for just about every team in college football. Still, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports took a crack at predicting every bowl matchup for the coming season, and he has the Irish and Clemson in the Orange Bowl less than two months after the programs’ Nov. 5 meeting at Notre Dame Stadium.
If this comes to pass, five of the Irish’s seven most recent bowls will have been a New Year’s Six bowl. It would give the Irish their third chance since 2018 to beat the Tigers on a big stage after failing badly in the 2018 Cotton Bowl and the 2020 ACC title game. It also would be the Irish’s first Orange Bowl berth since a 31-26 loss to Florida State on New Year’s Day in 1996.
You know you want to see Marcus Freeman and his team tossing the oranges from that trophy out to whoever is in the vicinity after that game, so let’s see them make it happen. | 2022-08-12T20:08:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm predicts Notre Dame-Clemson in Orange Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-jerry-palm-predicts-181510936.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-jerry-palm-predicts-181510936.html?src=rss |
during the Gators' game against the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday, November 27, 2021 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Tim Casey Two players who will have a significant impact on the season in 2022, Middle Linebacker Ventrell Miller and Offensive Tackle Michael Tarquin. | 2022-08-12T20:08:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | CBS Sports projects this bowl destination for Florida football | https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-projects-bowl-destination-175256497.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-projects-bowl-destination-175256497.html?src=rss |
This week, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee gathered to prepare for the upcoming 2022 season.
Tuesday, Nov. 15: 9-9:30 p.m. ET*
*Approximate start time will be 9 p.m. ET live between games during the State Farm Champions Classic college basketball doubleheader at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
NC State director of athletics Boo Corrigan will be serving his first year as committee chair. He was named to the position on January 25, 2022.
“It was good to get our group back together this week to review all of our procedures in detail,” said Corrigan. “The College Football Playoff selection committee processes were built on a solid foundation, and as we enter the ninth year of the CFP, the committee members for 2022-23 are looking forward to the start of another great college football season.”
The selection committee members:
Mitch Barnhart (athletics director, University of Kentucky)
Tom Burman (athletics director, University of Wyoming)
Boo Corrigan (chair) (athletics director, North Carolina State)
Rick George (athletics director, University of Colorado)
Chet Gladchuk (athletics director at the U.S. Naval Academy)
Jim Grobe (former HC at Ohio University, Wake Forest & Baylor)
Warde Manuel (athletics director at the University of Michigan)
Will Shields (former All-American OL, University of Nebraska)
Gene Taylor (athletics director, Kansas State University)
Joe Taylor (VP for Athletics and Community Wellness, Virginia Union University)
John Urschel (Harvard Junior Fellow and former All-American offensive lineman, Penn State University)
Rod West (group president Entergy Corporation and former linebacker at the University of Notre Dame)
Kelly Whiteside (associate professor in Sports Media and Journalism at Montclair State University and a longtime sportswriter for USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Newsday) | 2022-08-12T20:08:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | College Football Playoff releases schedule for 2022 rankings | https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-playoff-releases-schedule-173054087.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-playoff-releases-schedule-173054087.html?src=rss |
David Shaw and Stanford endured a 2021 season which was almost as miserable as USC’s season under Clay Helton and Donte Williams. The Cardinal were crushed by injuries, so it’s not as though their program suffered because of mismanagement. (That was USC’s story.) Nevertheless, Stanford cratered late in the season and didn’t even make a bowl game. It was one of the most depressing and empty seasons Shaw has seen in his distinguished career.
If a coach who has succeeded handsomely goes through a rough year, it’s notable what he says when preparing for the next season. Some coaches, when coming off a bad year, will be humble and quiet and will downplay expectations. Other coaches will express total confidence in their ability to fight back and silence the doubters.
You can put David Shaw in the latter camp.
Pac-12 columnist and talk-show host John Canzano, on the premiere of the Canzano And Wilner podcast, picked up a quote from Shaw.
“We’re a tiger lying in the weeds,” Shaw said.
The Stanford coach is clearly feisty. He wouldn’t be feisty if he didn’t firmly believe in his team.
Stanford plays a cupcake game against Colgate to start its season on Sept. 3. Then comes the Cardinal’s first big game of 2022: versus USC on Sept. 10.
You know David Shaw thinks he can beat USC and Lincoln Riley.
The Trojans have to watch for that tiger, lying in the weeds, on The Farm in Palo Alto. | 2022-08-12T20:08:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | David Shaw can’t wait to spring an ambush on Lincoln Riley and USC in Week 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/david-shaw-t-wait-spring-193228217.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/david-shaw-t-wait-spring-193228217.html?src=rss |
The possibility that Notre Dame will join the Big Ten invites the accompanying possibility that USC-Notre Dame will be a conference game each year.
It is a natural point of interest for USC fans to wonder if Notre Dame will join the Big Ten. Beating Notre Dame would become an even more central and necessary step in making the College Football Playoff and winning the national championship.
As you know, the Big Ten is moving forward with its media rights negotiations. It is on the verge of finalizing deals. They haven’t been secured just yet, but all indications are pointing to an NBC night-game (4:30 p.m. in Los Angeles) deal with the Big Ten. Assuming this NBC-Big Ten deal gets finalized, it would mean that NBC would have both Notre Dame and the Big Ten under its umbrella. Given that reality, why would Notre Dame go to the Big Ten? It would already be in a position to give NBC substantial value and ratings. Its games would be directly before or after NBC’s Big Ten game.
If NBC wants to do everything in its power to secure long-term Notre Dame rights — the current rights deal expiresafter the 2025 season — Notre Dame would be in a position to demand maximum money from NBC.
ESPN could come into the picture and compete with NBC for Notre Dame rights. Given that ESPN is now fully cut off from Big Ten football, it will have more money available to throw at Notre Dame. However, would any of this mean Notre Dame would be more likely to join the Big Ten?
Remember: Independence means Notre Dame doesn’t have to share TV money with anyone. If NBC and ESPN get into a bidding war for Notre Dame football, the Irish obviously have zero incentive to join Fox’s shop in the Big Ten.
We discussed this with Mark Rogers at The Voice of College Football:
Pitchers for Arizona Diamondbacks-Colorado Rockies series at Coors Field Aug. 12-14. | 2022-08-12T20:08:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | ESPN should compete with NBC for Notre Dame TV rights, but will it matter? | https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-compete-nbc-notre-dame-181021937.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-compete-nbc-notre-dame-181021937.html?src=rss |
American football player, Heisman Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Fame, quarterback
247Sports released its top 10 list of the most hated teams in college football history, with the Steve Spurrier’s national championship-winning 1996 Gators team coming in at No. 5.
This is the Florida team that I grew up hearing about. The Fun-N-Gun was electric, so much so that Danny Wuerffel became the first Florida Gator to win the Heisman since his head coach Steve Spurrier did it back in 1966. The hatred came not because they won, but because of how they won. They talked trash, ran up the score, and were unapologetic about how they carried themselves.
They were a 90s football version of Michigan‘s Fab Five. Not in the sense of their cultural impact, but in the sense of “I’m going to play the game completely different than how you think it should be played and I’m going to destroy you doing it” type of way.
Here is what 247Sports’ Brad Crawford had to say about the ’96 Orange and Blue:
You could probably put one of Florida’s Tim Tebow-led teams here too, but for the most part, the star quarterback was universally-well received. Prior to Tebow, Gainesville was Steve Spurrier’s city and the visor-wearing, slick-tongued ball coach left a lasting impression on the college football world. Sending verbal barbs to his opponents and running up the score with Heisman-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel in the Fun-N-Gun was his specialty. He hated Georgia, hated Tennessee and the feeling was mutual. The Gators won the national championship that fall with a 12-1 campaign, beating five top 15 teams in the process. Later in his career, Spurrier seemed to get a pass after wise crack and became somewhat of a football Jesus to sports writers.
Let’s not forget, this was a decade in which Nebraska won three national championships (1994, 1995, 1997) running the single-wing offense. Meanwhile, the 1996 Gators were a disrupter and the catalyst for the offensive revolution we would see in the 21st century.
All thanks to the HBC. | 2022-08-12T20:09:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Legendary Gators squad among 247Sports’ all-time most-hated teams | https://sports.yahoo.com/legendary-gators-squad-among-247sports-181251721.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/legendary-gators-squad-among-247sports-181251721.html?src=rss |
USC came in at No. 15 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The Trojans were ranked behind Oregon and Utah. For most analysts, that poll ranking seemed low, at least in relationship to Oregon. Fans will naturally get upset at rankings, but there’s a bigger point to make about the rankings themselves.
Our friend Mark Rogers, at The Voice of College Football, made several highly important and illuminating points about the mechanics of rankings themselves. He explained how the structure and flow of the rankings creates an uneven playing field and prevents teams from being freshly and objectively evaluated on their raw merits each week.
This is part of why the very notion of a preseason poll doesn’t make any sense at all. It immediately creates the idea that certain teams are better than others, even though no games have been played. Teams at the front of the line get the benefit of the doubt over teams in the middle of the line or the back of the line.
Subscribe to, like, and share Mark Rogers’ USC channel and his other YouTube channels at The Voice of College Football: | 2022-08-12T20:09:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | If you’re mad that USC is ranked too low, join the club — it’s a large one | https://sports.yahoo.com/mad-usc-ranked-too-low-174102175.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mad-usc-ranked-too-low-174102175.html?src=rss |
Michigan State missed out on a 4-star offensive line target when Miles McVay made the decision to make his commitment to the University of Alabama.
The Spartans had been working on McVay for a long time and some thought that they may have led for a short time, but ultimately the Crimson Tide won the battle.
Michigan State already holds commitments from four offensive linemen but is looking to add a fifth. | 2022-08-12T20:09:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Michigan State football OT target Miles McVay chooses Alabama | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-ot-target-160020876.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-ot-target-160020876.html?src=rss |
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker was a guest on “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Thursday to discuss the upcoming season, look back at his decision to sign a contract extension with the Spartans and getting his start with Nick Saban.
WATCH: MSU head coach Mel Tucker joins 'Paul Finebaum Show' ahead of 2022 season | 2022-08-12T20:09:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: MSU head coach Mel Tucker joins ‘Paul Finebaum Show’ ahead of 2022 season | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-msu-head-coach-mel-002431227.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-msu-head-coach-mel-002431227.html?src=rss |
Obviously, USC went to the Big Ten in large part because of all the television money which was being handed to the Trojans on a silver platter. Making north of $50 million per year more than any possible deal the Pac-12 could have offered USC for football media rights was too good to pass up. Money was the number one reason for the move. Yet, let’s not discount cultural and institutional fit.
A lot of Pac-12 administrators have Midwestern ties to begin with, but beyond that, the Big Ten has a lot of elite research institutions. Networking, mentoring, talent-sharing — these and other non-football factors were immensely attractive to Carol Folt, the president of USC. When we realize that she immediately shot down talk of Pac-12 expansion last summer, it becomes easier to see that she had her eyes on the Big Ten for quite some time. This thought didn’t just pop out of nowhere. It was in the background, and when Texas and Oklahoma moved to the SEC, that obviously opened the door for the Trojans to think about a big change.
On Thursday, Oregon President Michael Schill left to become the new president at Northwestern University. Schill sought out a specific school, whereas Folt joined a conference, but you can draw the parallel: Both of them viewed an association with the Big Ten, in some form, as a career-enhancing move.
If this all seems somewhat elusive or hard to fully process, watch this segment of our Trojans Wire show with Mark Rogers at The Voice of College Football. College sports consultant and USC alumnus Tony Altimore explained the appeal of the Big Ten Conference on an administrative level. We’re not talking about football or television or basketball, but academia.
It’s a short segment, but it begins to unpack why Pac-12 administrators like being attached to the Big Ten and its institutions: | 2022-08-12T20:10:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Why Pac-12 administrators want to be part of the Big Ten | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-pac-12-administrators-want-171559787.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-pac-12-administrators-want-171559787.html?src=rss |
We’ve known the NFL wants a full-year suspension, at least. It has been reported that Watson would file a lawsuit if the appeal led to that length of discipline. Recently it was reported that Watson would accept an eight-game suspension and a huge fine.
For the sake of being complete, it has also been reported that the NFL really doesn’t want Watson playing in Houston in Week 13 of this season.
Today, Pro Football Talk is reporting that a settlement between the two sides is still a possibility:
While this report may be sourced and could be hinting toward something coming, it isn’t new information. It is possible that the NFL, along with an agreement from the NFLPA, has asked Harvey to delay his decision while settlement talks are ongoing.
There are still a lot of possible outcomes to Watson’s discipline despite preseason kicking off for the Browns tonight. A settlement is one of those possible outcomes.
Big Gold Nation
What started out as a humid, overcast day at The Rock ended up as a typical sweltering morning as thuds from players’ | 2022-08-12T20:56:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Deshaun Watson, NFL still could agree on a settlement, according to a report | https://sports.yahoo.com/deshaun-watson-nfl-still-could-195550671.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/deshaun-watson-nfl-still-could-195550671.html?src=rss |
Is there a long-term plan or is Bill Belichick 'winging' it? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots' preseason opener didn't help to clear up the confusion regarding the offensive play-calling duties.
Since Bill Belichick didn't name an official offensive coordinator to replace Josh McDaniels, it's been a combination of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge splitting the work throughout the spring and summer. They continued to do so in Thursday night's loss to the New York Giants with Patricia calling plays for veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer and Judge taking over when rookie QB Bailey Zappe was under center.
"I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to do that," Belichick said after the game about splitting the play-calling duties. "We're going through a process. Just like everything else on this team."
Belichick says not to worry about the unconventional approach, but it begs the question of what direction the team is heading in. Is this all part of a long-term plan, or is Belichick just winging it?
Phil Perry and Tom E. Curran discussed that question on a new episode of the Patriots Talk Podcast.
"Calling Joe Judge the play-calling apprentice is interesting to me, because it alludes to the fact that there's a long-term plan here," Perry said. "Are they making your point, which is this is a bridge year, and there's no way we're going to get it to look the way we want it to?
"We lost Josh McDaniels, we had him for 20 years, it's just not going to happen. In the same way, 2020, (Belichick) didn't call it a bridge year but he called it a reset year in terms of the cap, the roster. Is this another reset year, but on the coaching staff? With a long-term play in mind."
Since Belichick has been unwilling to share much insight about the team's direction, Curran isn't ready to say the team is planning for the long-term.
"We don't know what they're doing. So in lieu of a concrete plan where they can say 'OK, this is what we're doing,' you have to presume that they're just kind of winging it," Curran said.
"For the people out there who think that Bill Belichick doesn't wing it, he does. Because he subscribes to the notion of sometimes no decision at all is the best decision you make."
Also discussed in the episode: What did we learn about who will be calling plays? Has Belichick decided collaboration with coaches is the best route? What’s the end goal of the Patriots playing ‘process’? And who popped and who dropped vs. the Giants? | 2022-08-12T20:56:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | Patriots Talk: Is there a long-term plan or is Bill Belichick 'winging' it? | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-talk-long-term-plan-193500849.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-talk-long-term-plan-193500849.html?src=rss |
The Arizona Cardinals open the preseason Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Arizona time, taking on the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. Almost no starters are expected to play.
With no starters, it gives opportunities to younger and unproven players to make an impact and improve their chances of making the final roster.
In tonight’s game, who are the players to watch and why?
There are a bunch.
McSorley gets the start at quarterback. He is battling not only to be the No. 3 quarterback but to be on the 53-man roster. Kliff Kingsbury has been complimentary of him and now he gets to show what he can do at game speed in this offense.
Benjamin has been the talk of the offseason, receiving regular praise from Kingsbury. He has always been dynamic with the ball in his hands. Now he has learned the other parts of being an NFL running back, prepares like a professional and is a hard worker in practice. Can he carry that to a game scenario?
Ingram has flashed some in practice in training camp. As he will go against second and third-stringers in the preseason game, there is a good chance he looks really good.
With DeAndre Hopkins’ coming suspension and Antoine Wesley’s injury, Isabella suddenly has a shot at the roster. After missing most of both preseasons he has been a part of, he finally will have the opportunity to show what he can do. Will he capitalize on the opportunity?
OL Josh Jones, Josh Miles
Jones and Miles will handle most of the tackle reps in the preseason. Jones is the leader to be the backup swing tackle, but Miles has grown a lot in three seasons. Since Jones is supposed to be a starter next year, it will be important to see him handle his business without help.
OL Lecitus Smith
Smith, a rookie, is on the list for a different reason. He is learning the center position. The team is very optimistic about his potential there. But we want to see how well he handles the position in a game.
OLB Dennis Gardeck
Gardeck has the opportunity to play a more full-time role at outside linebacker. This is the first time he has played in a preseason game at the position. Last year, he was coming off a torn ACL and then in 2020, the first year on the edge, there was no preseason. Can he show some of what he did in 93 defensive snaps in the 2020 regular season?
Sanders has flashed in practice. Thomas is learning how to play from a two-point stance. Both are third-round rookies who can hopefully make an impact with their pass rushing this season. They need to show some in the preseason.
Wilson ended up being an every-down starter as a rookie and had ups and downs, as expected.
He has not gotten the praise other players have from Kingsbury and is in the mix for the starting job, but he is not a lock for it. He needs to look good.
As the only other corner with significant history starting games, Jackson playing well would go a long way to making fans feel comfortable about the situation at cornerback heading into the season.
The 2021 first-round pick needs to get game experience and show he can handle the middle of the defense. | 2022-08-12T20:56:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Players to watch in Cardinals’ preseason opener vs. Bengals | https://sports.yahoo.com/players-watch-cardinals-preseason-opener-202256375.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/players-watch-cardinals-preseason-opener-202256375.html?src=rss |
Thankfully, the passing attack was consistent, averaging the second-most net yards per pass attempt in the NFL.
And in the postseason when Cam Akers returned, the running game didn’t improve much. They rushed for 140 yards in a blowout win over the Cardinals, but in their next three playoff games, they gained just 186 total yards on the ground. That was on 82 carries, which comes out to an average of only 2.3 yards per carry.
Leading into this season, Sean McVay knows the Rams must run the ball better and more efficiently. That’s not lost on him or the team.
“It’s been a big point of emphasis because we’ve got to be more efficient running the football,” he said on SiriusXM NFL Radio recently. “You’d love to be able to create the explosives but I think just the snap-in and snap-out efficiency. Obviously, the last game we played, credit to Cincinnati, but really throughout the playoffs – with the exception of the Arizona game – we didn’t run the football very well. That’s something we’ve taken a lot of pride in here. It starts with us being able to put our players in the right spots, giving them clarity, and then we’ve got to be able to go execute. Whether it’s Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, feel really good about those guys. And then continuing to figure out with our five linemen up front, Tyler Higbee at tight end, Kendall Blanton, Brycen Hopkins, what are the things and concepts we can activate that put them in the right spots. But it’s not lost on us that we didn’t run the football good enough, we’ve got to continue to get better in that area, and then continue to maintain a high level of execution in the pass game also.”
The Rams should benefit from Akers’ return now that he’s fully recovered from his Achilles tear, but it’s more than just the running back. The offensive line has to contribute, the tight ends must block better and the wide receivers have to seal off defenders when the run goes outside.
Matthew Stafford and the passing game are still the bread and butter of this offense, but balancing it with an efficient rushing attack will pay dividends. | 2022-08-12T20:56:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Sean McVay: Running the ball better has been ‘a big point of emphasis’ for the Rams | https://sports.yahoo.com/sean-mcvay-running-ball-better-200734741.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/sean-mcvay-running-ball-better-200734741.html?src=rss |
Settlement remains possible in Deshaun Watson discipline originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
Harmful Algal blooms are colonies of microscopic algae that grow out of control. They can be damaging to people, wildlife and the environment.
Lecture attendee reacts to the Salman Rushdie attack at Chautauqua Institution,
David Johnson, a Pittsburgh resident who was in the audience for the Salman Rushdie event on Aug. 12, 2022, said he saw a man charge the stage and tackle the author. | 2022-08-12T20:57:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Settlement remains possible in Deshaun Watson discipline | https://sports.yahoo.com/settlement-remains-possible-deshaun-watson-190152313.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/settlement-remains-possible-deshaun-watson-190152313.html?src=rss |
The Dallas Cowboys will play their first game of the 2022 season when they face the Denver Broncos on Saturday night. It’s not a regular season game, but for some Cowboys it’s their biggest shot at making a good impression to win a roster spot.
Performing well in training camp practices is all well and good, but lining up against another opponent in pads, with a game script and competing is a whole different ball game. The Cowboys already got a small taste of the Broncos with their joint practice, which included a few scuffles, but that was two units on separate fields working out. This will be a real game under the lights of Empower Field at Mile High Stadium.
With only three preseason games scheduled this year, the Cowboys will have three opportunities to find out who can make the cut to the 53-man roster. It’s not a regular season game, but there’s a lot on the line for many of the players who will receive a lions share of the playing time.
Here are five players to watch as they try to make a strong impression for the Cowboys in their preseason opener.
Perhaps no player will be more scrutinized in this game than Ball. It’s been well documented how desperately the Cowboys need a swing tackle to emerge, and since Ball is the best option, all eyes will be on the second-year tackle.
Ball’s training camp performance has been suspect and his joint practice work with the Broncos did not inspire confidence. The offensive line as a whole wasn’t great working against Denver’s defense and Ball was a big part of the struggles.
Cowboys offensive line is struggling so far against this Denver front #DALvsDEN
While it’s important to note it wasn’t a real game and just a scrimmage, Ball has to get better. Perhaps in a real game setting, the light will come on and Ball will learn from a tough afternoon with the Broncos.
There’s really no one to push Ball, yet, but he would be smart to put his best foot forward. Time is running out for Ball to stop the Cowboys from bringing in a veteran to compete for the swing tackle gig.
No player has more to gain from this game than Ball, who needs to step up his performance. He’ll be watched very closely by Cowboys Nation.
Simi Fehoko (WR)
There aren’t many players who have earned more rave reviews in camp than wide receiver Simi Fehoko. The second-year wide out has played well with more chances to shine because of injuries and a less crowded receiver room this season. Fehoko is seizing his opportunity.
Simi Fehoko is now a consistent standout at #Cowboys camp.
"I took a lot of notes from CeeDee, Coop, Ced [in 2021] …With more knowledge of the playbook, I can just get out there and [show my 4.3 speed]. ..I feel like I've found my role, and I'm stepping up into that role."
However, doing such in camp in seven-on-seven drills and against the same cornerback competition day after day is one thing, doing it against a different team in a game is another. Fehoko will have to prove that he can play against some stiff opposition, the Broncos have a good defense and one of the better young CBs in the league in Patrick Surtain.
If Fehoko can play well in the first exhibition contest, it might be time to start buying into the hype.
Tyler Smith (OG)
(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
Everyone wants to get a glimpse of the rookie who the Cowboys took with their first-round pick, yet not all fans were enamored with. To make some even more uneasy, Smith was listed as the second-string left guard on the team’s first depth chart of the season.
Where Smith is on the depth chart isn’t as important as much as how he performs in his first outing with the Cowboys. This will be the initial look at Smith at guard in the NFL and his chance to make an impact with the fan base, but more importantly, the team.
In all likelihood, Smith will be the starting LG when the regular season begins, but he’s got to earn the job. It’s always exciting to get a first look at the Cowboys’ top pick in the draft and Smith should get plenty of snaps in the team’s first preseason game. The rookie will have all eyes on him as he prepares for his debut.
Kelvin Joseph (CB)
The Cowboys were expecting a big jump from the second-round corner out of Kentucky, but that hasn’t happened yet. Thus far in camp, Joseph has been outplayed by veteran CB Anthony Brown, who’s had one of the better camps for Dallas.
With the tumultuous offseason behind Joseph, the hope was that he was going to win the starting job across from All Pro CB Trevon Diggs, but that doesn’t look like the case right now.
Players that need to do more in Cowboys camp: The kickers. Kelvin Joseph, Josh Ball, Tarell Basham and Aviante Collins.
The Broncos have a solid receiving group, but it remains to be seen how much their starters play. No matter who he lines up against, Joseph will have an opportunity to prove that he should be in the mix for being one of the top three corners on the Cowboys.
This will be Joseph’s time to build some momentum heading towards the regular season.
Sam Williams (DE)
Much like watching Smith, the intrigue is watching a young, highly drafted player in defensive end Sam Williams. The Cowboys need someone to step up as an edge rusher and Williams was selected in the second round to bring some of that pressure.
There have been some signs Williams is getting better, but he’s still a work in progress. The depth chart lists Williams as the third-string DE, which means he’ll get a lot of action in the preseason opener.
The Cowboys will want to see how much Williams has picked up in camp and fans will want to get a good look at the talented rookie edge rusher. Hopefully there’s a spark from Williams in his first competition at the professional level, there will be a lot eyes watching his play.
Welcome to Sportico’s Transactions wire, a weekly rundown of personnel, partnerships and purchases across the sports business industry. Personnel Broncos New Owners Name President The Denver Broncos have named Damani Leech as team president. Leech joins the Broncos after serving as COO of NFL International for the last three seasons. He will lead the business […]
After he was released by the Cardinals earlier this week, defensive back Nate Brooks has found a new home. According to multiple reports, the Raiders have signed Brooks to a one-year deal. Brooks has appeared in four career games with a pair of starts for Miami in 2019 and one appearance for Baltimore in 2020. [more] | 2022-08-12T22:37:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 players to watch in preseason opener for Cowboys | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-players-watch-preseason-opener-205741032.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-players-watch-preseason-opener-205741032.html?src=rss |
The Eagles entered NFL draft weekend with ten selections, but after a few blockbuster trades, Howie Roseman finished with A.J. Brown and a talented five-man draft class.
Philadelphia banked on a deep group of players going undrafted. Days later, the team announced the signings of 12 undrafted rookie free agents ahead of their May rookie minicamp.
Eagles have signed twelve undrafted free agents.@novacare | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/Emdu2pzLiM
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 6, 2022
OTAs and the first week of training camp offered several roster opportunities to under-the-radar players on the bubble.
With Philadelphia looking to get the best talent on the field, here’s a breakdown of the undrafted free agents and their chances to break out on Friday night.
The former Duke cornerback didn’t record an interception during his college career, but he is a tough, press-man cornerback with excellent speed and short-area quickness, and he’ll need to make a strong impression.
FS Reed Blankenship
One of the prizes of this group out of Middle Tennessee State, Blankenship logged 110 tackles to go with a career-best 10.0 TFLs, nine pass breakups, and three fumble recoveries during his final season.
Look for Blankenship to be a player to watch at free safety going forward, and a good showing could push him ahead of K’Von Wallace, Jaquiski Tartt, and others.
The 5-foot-11, 209-pound Brooks became the fourth player in school history to post three 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and he could be the Eagles’ power back to watch.
Brooks will need a good performance after Philadelphia signed DeAndre Torrey.
A high school quarterback who transitioned to a receiver at Utah, Covey is a 25-year-old return specialist who set the school record for career punt return yards (1,092) and ranks in the top three in program history in career punt returns (92), receptions (184), and all-purpose yards (4,241).
If he can translate that speed to the NFL early on, Covey could be a favorite for the 53-man roster.
A massive offensive lineman, Dunkles started 30 games for San Diego State and didn’t allow a single sack throughout his career, earning Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Mountain West honors in 2021.
The 22-year-old Fayad was the MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 after recording 13 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 40 total tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out as one of the top pass rushers (14th among players who played 50 percent of pass rush snaps) in all of college football this past season. Fayad finished his WMU career with 33.5 career sacks, the third most in school history, and he’ll be a player to watch.
Fayad needs to show he can be an active pass rusher at the SAM linebacker position.
The Eagles didn’t draft a cornerback in April.
Still, they landed one of college football’s top cover guys, signing former Clemson star Mario Goodrich to a massive, $217,000 guaranteed undrafted free agent deal.
During his final season with the Tigers, Goodrich earned third-team All-America honors from PFF and first-team All-ACC status, along with the MVP of the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl.
A solid player for the Crimson Tide, Jobed logged 129 tackles, 18 pass breakups, and three picks in his Tide career.
He has been solid in coverage early on for Philadelphia, and Friday night is a prime opportunity.
Sills started all 13 games at left guard in 2021, and he was a versatile player who can flourish at multiple positions, garnering First-Team All-Big 12 honors.
Sills needs to prove that he can take the Sua Opeta, Jack Driscoll approach to making a roster because of his versatility.
Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
A two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, Strong ranks third in program history in passing yards (9,368) and passing touchdowns (74).
He’ll be the player to watch on Friday night and has to show a big-time NFL arm and ability to navigate the pocket.
Jarrid Williams, OL, Miami
The 25-year-old, who spent time at Houston and Miami, graded out as the fourth-best tackle in the ACC in 2021, per Pro Football Focus.
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is one of our most common butterflies and is found east of the Mississippi River and west into the Great Plains states. | 2022-08-12T22:37:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles UDFA watch: Tracking Philadelphia’s undrafted rookies entering preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-udfa-watch-tracking-philadelphia-213724933.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-udfa-watch-tracking-philadelphia-213724933.html?src=rss |
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