text stringlengths 237 126k | date_download stringdate 2022-01-01 00:32:20 2023-01-01 00:02:37 ⌀ | source_domain stringclasses 60 values | title stringlengths 4 31.5k ⌀ | url stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ | id stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Update (5:52 p.m.): The Bills have cleared Elam to return.
Update (5:35 p.m.): Elam was spotted leaving the blue medical tent on the Bills sideline still holding his helmet. A positive sign.
Buffalo Bills first-round rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam is being evaluated for a head injury, the team has announced. Elam was dinged up in the Bills’ preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
The injury occurred late in the second quarter as the Colts took a 10-7 lead on a touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Foles. On the play, Elam was covering receiver Ty’Son Williams as he came out of the backfield.
But Elam was crossing the middle of the Bills defense and ran into a group of other players including fellow Buffalo rookie Terrel Bernard. The linebacker was covering a receiver of his own and was not facing Elam.
Due to the nature of the preseason, it’s unlikely that Elam would return to the field regardless of analysis of the medical team. | 2022-08-13T23:22:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Injury update: Bills’ Kaiir Elam evaluated for head injury vs. Colts | https://sports.yahoo.com/injury-bills-kaiir-elam-being-213232388.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/injury-bills-kaiir-elam-being-213232388.html?src=rss |
Cardinals coach defends Shanahan over strange 'Shanahat' ban originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
A movement has begun for 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and his famous “Shanahat” after he openly discussed his “beef” with the NFL over a peculiar rule that impacts what he can wear on the sideline.
But Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury made it very clear that he has Shanahan’s back.
“I’ve got to voice my support for Kyle Shanahan’s hat,” Kingsbury told reporters after Arizona’s 36-23 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday. “I have seen that they are trying to make him change. I just want to say let my guy live! He’s been one of the most swaggy coaches for his entire career on the sideline.”
The fiasco began on Wednesday when Shanahan, known for wearing a flat-bim red hat on the sideline, was asked if he plans on wearing the famous hat this season on KNBR’s “Murph & Mac”.
But it was understandably a sensitive subject for Shanahan.
"I have such beef with them right now," Shanahan said. "It's a tough issue going on. They won't let me pick out my own [hat]. They won't let me wear any one that's from a [previous] year, so I can't wear like an older one. I've got to wear the new ones that they give this year.”
But neither Kingsbury nor Shanahan seem to be a fan of this year’s hat collection.
“I'm not sure if you’ve seen the camouflage pattern they offered to us but it’s not doing it,” Kingsbury said. “If you are in a deer blind in New Braunfels, Texas, you can pull it off. But not on the sideline.
“So Kyle, I got you, buddy.”
Shanahan hasn’t always worn a hat on the sideline, but that changed during the 2019-20 season when the 49ers, yes, went to Super Bowl LIV. And with all the success pouring in for the 49ers that season, the 49ers Faithful was absolutely loving it. That’s when “Shanahat” was adopted.
But now, per league rules, coaches can’t wear a hat from a previous year, which means the era of the fan-favorite head covering has come to an end.
"I've got to wear the new ones that they give this year and unfortunately, there's none I like wearing," Shanahan said. "Hopefully, we can figure it out or wait until Salute to Service ... It's just deals. I don't want to go too hard and get fined or anything but trust me, I'm upset about it." | 2022-08-13T23:22:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kliff Kingsbury defends 'swaggy' Kyle Shanahan over bizarre NFL hat rules | https://sports.yahoo.com/kliff-kingsbury-defends-swaggy-kyle-212000120.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kliff-kingsbury-defends-swaggy-kyle-212000120.html?src=rss |
The Game Delivers 10th Studio Album 'Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind'
After several delays, the Game has released his 10th album 'Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind,' which marks his first full-length offering since 2019.
J.J. Spaun did just enough right at the end to fashion a 2-under 68 and keep his one-shot lead Saturday in the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a familiar name lurking. At stake for Cameron Smith is No. 1 in the world. Already a banner year with his first major at the British Open, and under heavy scrutiny for reports that he is headed to Saudi-funded LIV Golf, Smith birdied his last hole for a 67. | 2022-08-13T23:23:12Z | sports.yahoo.com | Patrick Mahomes discounts Bears' grass dilemma: 'I love playing here at Soldier Field' | https://sports.yahoo.com/patrick-mahomes-discounts-bears-grass-222526442.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/patrick-mahomes-discounts-bears-grass-222526442.html?src=rss |
Matt Araiza gained national attention at San Diego State for his incredible punting prowess.
“The Punt God” lasted until the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft before the Buffalo Bills selected him.
He is going to become a folk hero with the Bills Mafia if his first boot in the preseason is any indication.
Araiza took the snap against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday and unloaded an 82-yard punt. It bounced deep in Colts territory and into the end zone for a touchback.
That would be a net of 62 yards. Imagine how much of a weapon Araiza will be if can somehow combine this kind of distance with direction to pin foes deep.
Araiza averaged 51 yards per punt at San Diego State over two seasons.
If you are wondering how he lasted so long before being chosen by Buffalo, there were concerns about outkicking the coverage.
Araiza allowed 10.5 yards per return. He also had 14 touchbacks.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been acting since he was 6 years old, but he managed to create a bond on the set of Bullet Train that he’s never had before with another actor. In the David Leitch and Brad Pitt-led action-comedy, Taylor-Johnson plays Tangerine, who’s one half of an assassin duo known as The Twins. The […] | 2022-08-13T23:23:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rookie Matt Araiza booms 82-yard punt for Bills | https://sports.yahoo.com/rookie-matt-araiza-booms-82-214059678.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rookie-matt-araiza-booms-82-214059678.html?src=rss |
🥶❄️#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/Pf2hZbqwNl
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are kicking off their 2022 NFL preseason at home Saturday night, welcoming the Miami Dolphins to Raymond James Stadium.
The Bucs will be dressed in a familiar uniform combo for the occasion, going with white jerseys and white pants, along with the usual pewter helmet.
The all-white look is pretty standard for the Bucs in the early part of the season, even for home games, given the hot and sticky weather.
Everything you need to know about how to tune in to Saturday night's NFL preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins | 2022-08-13T23:23:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Which uniform combo are the Bucs wearing vs. the Dolphins? | https://sports.yahoo.com/uniform-combo-bucs-wearing-vs-215054873.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/uniform-combo-bucs-wearing-vs-215054873.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts got their first touchdown of the preseason during the second quarter of Saturday’s opener against the Buffalo Bills by way of a 15-yard reception from running back Ty’Son Williams.
After Nick Foles and Case Keenum traded interceptions on consecutive plays, the Colts took advantage of the new set of downs and capped off the drive with an easy 15-yard touchdown pass to Williams. | 2022-08-13T23:24:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Ty’Son Williams scores Colts’ first TD of preseason | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-ty-son-williams-scores-213036891.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-ty-son-williams-scores-213036891.html?src=rss |
The Denver Broncos (0-0) will host the Dallas Cowboys (0-0) in Week 1 of preseason at 7 p.m. MT on Saturday, Aug. 13 (TV info).
Next week, the Broncos will face the Buffalo Bills on the road, followed by a home preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 27. After preseason, Denver will have two more weeks to prepare for their regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 12. | 2022-08-14T01:03:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Broncos vs. Cowboys: Live game updates from Twitter | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-vs-cowboys-live-game-000015938.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-vs-cowboys-live-game-000015938.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts took the field for their first action of the preseason Saturday as Frank Reich’s squad visited the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.
While this game was filled with sloppy play, that is expected with young players and new faces getting their first live reps in a new environment.
There are always things to improve on before Week 1, and the Colts have things to build off of. That’s what the preseason is for.
With the opener now behind us, it’s time to take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly from the first preseason game:
The first quarter featured the Colts starters without their two best players on both sides of the ball. Without linebShaquille Leonard, this defense has always looked different and Saturday was no different. Even without their All-Pro linebacker, Gus Bradley’s defense managed to force four turnovers in the first half, with five total on the day.
Impressive interceptions by Rodney McLeod and Isaiah Rodgers were the headlines in a secondary that played well throughout the afternoon.
Another impressive factor early in the game was defensive end, Dayo Odeyingbo. He was all over the field providing a consistent pass rush and chasing down rushers out of the backfield. He could be an X-factor for this defense going forward.
The defense also managed to really step up when it counts on third down and in the red zone. Loading the box and getting in the face of opposing quarterbacks has to be priority No. 1 for this unit as they face some strong offenses in 2022.
Quarterback Sam Ehlinger also looked comfortable in the second half, much better than he looked in last year’s preseason. He even managed to toss a good-looking touchdown pass to his big rookie tight end, Jelani Woods. He added another touchdown in the fourth quarter as well.
While there may not be a spot on the active roster for Sam this year, it’s good to know he is progressing well as a young player.
While the defense managed to look strong, the pass rush overall was somewhat lackluster. Going against the Bills second-string offensive line, this should have been a field day for Indy’s front four and they struggled at times. This is not a new issue for the Colts, but something that has to be addressed and worked on during the remainder of training camp.
Another key issue was the lack of separation by Reggie Wayne’s receiving room. The routes were pretty simply so it’s not a major issue, but it is something to monitor. Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce need to be able to find the holes in opposing secondaries and create the space for Matt Ryan to thread the needle.
The tackle position has been one to watch this off-season, with Matt Pryor being named the starter on the left side opposite Braden Smith. However, both players had a below-average day against a Bills pass rush that did not feature Von Miller or Ed Oliver.
Matt Ryan faced a lot of pressure which led to shorter passes and had to quickly process his throws. This poor performance was also evident in the run game. It goes without saying that the tackle position is incredibly difficult, but it’s vital for a team that has a run-first identity and the league’s leading rusher last season.
Another ugly spot was the bad turnovers. Both teams turned the ball over multiple times and while it’s just the preseason, you can’t cough up the ball so easily. There has to be security with the football no matter where you are on the depth chart.
The Colts also committed nine penalties, but that is to be expected somewhat during the preseason opener.
Game 1 is in the books means we are one step closer to football. The Colts and Frank Reich are happy to have this one behind them as they regroup and host the Detroit Lions next week. We will see if some of these issues persist as we get closer to the season opener. | 2022-08-14T01:03:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts fall to Bills in preseason: The good, the bad and the ugly | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-fall-bills-preseason-good-234954188.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-fall-bills-preseason-good-234954188.html?src=rss |
George Pickens has been the talk of Pittsburgh Steelers camp and it didn’t take long for the second-round pick to show why Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Pickens, who played college ball at Georgia, caught a pass from Mason Rudolph and did a beautiful toe-tap in the back of the end zone for the six points. The play was good for 26 yards and after the PAT Pittsburgh had a 14-0 lead.
Rudolph has already praised Pickens, who tore his ACL in the spring of 2021 with the Dawgs.
He returned to play in the final four games, catching 5 passes and recorded a 52-yard reception in Georgia’s win over Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship game.
“I’ve watched the way George, as well as Calvin (Austin III), as well as a lot of younger players have come in and worked and been hungry,” Rudolph said on an interview with Jim Colony of 93.7 The Fan. “… And I think George has a lot of ability and I think he keeps his head on straight, which you know he’s a good kid, he’s gonna make a lot of plays.” | 2022-08-14T01:04:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | George Pickens with pretty toe-tap for a Steelers touchdown | https://sports.yahoo.com/george-pickens-pretty-toe-tap-235101128.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/george-pickens-pretty-toe-tap-235101128.html?src=rss |
The Jacksonville Jaguars exited Friday’s game still looking for their first preseason win after a 24-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. However, the positive part about the loss is that their starters played well.
On defense, that included No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker, who ended the night with a Pro Football Focus grade of 73.7, which was the fifth-highest on the unit. It was also the ninth-highest on the entire team.
While he didn’t get a sack as he did in the Hall of Fame Game and only registered one tackle, he made his presence known. He laid a few massive hits on running back D’Ernest Johnson and also drew a holding call after beating tackle Jedrick Wills on a rep during the Browns’ third offensive series.
Travon Walker comes in to lay the hit 👀 (via @LaurieFitzptrck) pic.twitter.com/KNN8var4i3
Travon draws a hold pic.twitter.com/Bc6kLQxwV2
Jags coach Doug Pederson was asked about Walker after the game and said he felt like the rookie was disruptive in his second game and picked up where he left off against Las Vegas.
“Yeah, I think he’s doing well. It’s hard — I’m going to obviously watch the film and see it, but I think overall he did some really good things out there,” said Pederson. “He’s disruptive, and kind of picked up where he left off last week, and it’s good to see him and Josh Allen both out there at the same time.”
Overall, Walker’s first two games have been what a team would like to see out of their top pick. If he can continue to make strides, he should give the Jags the boost they desperately needed in 2021 when the defense finished 20th in the league. | 2022-08-14T01:04:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jags’ Travon Walker has another good performance in second preseason game | https://sports.yahoo.com/jags-travon-walker-another-good-234421724.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jags-travon-walker-another-good-234421724.html?src=rss |
You may have seen what Soldier Field’s playing field looked like before Saturday’s Bears-Chiefs game. It looked like people were practicing their nine-iron shots ahead of a Masters round with all the divots, when the real reason for the field’s raw shape was a recent Elton John concert.
NFLPA President and free-agent center J.C. Tretter was not amused.
Per the NFL’s operations website, here’s what’s supposed to go into assessing whether a natural playing field is acceptable for play:
Natural surfaces are tested for moisture content at the same time they are tested for hardness. Within 48 hours after a game, the field is also subject to a stability test, which measures how well it held up.
There is no single way to define exactly when a field is stable or when it should be resurfaced, so the league relies on an expert’s opinion. Field experts use the online Gameday Field Surface Reporting System to grade fields in three areas:
These criteria determine whether a surface is fine or needs to be repaired or replaced.
As it turns out, the Bears’ home turf may get worse before it gets better,
So… Rammstein, if you’re not familiar, is a German Goth-Metal band with perhaps the most insane pyro show you’ve ever seen. They’re set to play Soldier Field on Saturday, September 3, which gives everybody just over a week to recover from THIS before the Bears welcome the 49ers for the regular season opener on Sunday, September 11.
Yeah… good luck with that. | 2022-08-14T01:04:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFLPA President J.C. Tretter was unimpressed with Soldier Field’s field | https://sports.yahoo.com/nflpa-president-j-c-tretter-234229137.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nflpa-president-j-c-tretter-234229137.html?src=rss |
The Seahawks offense finally managed to find the end zone against the Steelers with about 21 seconds left in the first half.
Watch quarterback Geno Smith scramble for a score.
That capped off the best drive of the game so far from No. 7. For the half, Smith went 10/15 for 101 yards, one sack and an 85.7 passer rating.
Pittsburgh leads 17-10 going into halftime. | 2022-08-14T01:04:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Seahawks Highlights: Geno Smith scrambles for a touchdown | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-highlights-geno-smith-scrambles-003302846.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-highlights-geno-smith-scrambles-003302846.html?src=rss |
The one thing you never want to see in the preseason are injuries. But midway through the first quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game with the Seattle Seahawks, the injury bug has bit already.
According to the broadcast, Steelers safety Karl Joseph suffered an ankle injury and had to be carted off the field.
Joseph, a former first-round pick joined the Steelers in 2021. Joseph is currently listed at the team’s No. 3 strong safety. | 2022-08-14T01:05:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers S Karl Joseph carted off with ankle injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-karl-joseph-carted-off-233050115.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-karl-joseph-carted-off-233050115.html?src=rss |
Ever since the start of training camp, all anyone has talked about is how great Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver George Pickens has been. It didn’t take long in his first preseason game to show it isn’t just practice.
Late in the first quarter the Steelers were set up with a short field and quarterback Mason Rudolph took advantage. Rudolph dropped in a perfect pass in the corner of the end zone that only Pickens could get to and Pickens showed his tremendous athleticism and body control bringing it down inbounds. The touchdown went for 26 yards and put the Steelers up against the Seattle Seahawks in both team’s first preseason game. | 2022-08-14T01:05:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers WR George Pickens impresses with 1st NFL touchdown | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-wr-george-pickens-impresses-235654554.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-wr-george-pickens-impresses-235654554.html?src=rss |
The Houston Texans have been preaching takeaways under new coach Lovie Smith, and they were able to find their first blessing, even if it was in a preseason game.
With 3:03 to go in the first quarter, defensive back Tremon Smith picked off second-year quarterback Ian Book on a deflection. Smith returned the pick for 12 yards up to the Saints’ 34-yard line.
The Texans were able to cash in on the extra possession with kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn drilling a 49-yard field goal.
In 2021, Smith had 21 combined tackles and a fumble recovery through 17 games, two of which he started. | 2022-08-14T01:05:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Texans DB Tremon Smith intercepts Saints QB Ian Book in preseason | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-texans-db-tremon-smith-003941663.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-texans-db-tremon-smith-003941663.html?src=rss |
You could not have scripted this better … unless it was in the regular season.
Kenny Pickett played college football at Pitt and was drafted by the Steelers in the first round. He’s in a three-way scramble for the quarterback spot with Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph.
Pickett was sacked late in the fourth quarter Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks on a fourth-down play with the score tied at 25. The perfect ending was not happening.
But wait, the Steelers forced a fumble and Pickett got another chance at the dramatic final flourish.
He delivered, big time.
The Steelers had a 32-25 victory that thrilled the fans who were chanting “Kenny” throughout the second half when the offense was on the field.
Pickett was 13-of-15 passing for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Another angle of the game-winner.
Rudolph was 9-of-15 for 93 yards and a sweet TD pass to George Pickens.
Trubisky started and 4-of-6 passing for 63 yards and a score. | 2022-08-14T02:39:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kenny Pickett throws game-winning TD pass for Steelers with 3 seconds left | https://sports.yahoo.com/kenny-pickett-throws-game-winning-020828956.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kenny-pickett-throws-game-winning-020828956.html?src=rss |
Shanahan notices Sermon's progress in preseason opener originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers run game had a slow start on Friday night but coach Kyle Shanahan thought it was a step in the right direction.
Shanahan has always prioritized the run game and since becoming the 49ers' head coach, he has had a different back lead the team in rushing yards each season.
The head coach and general manager John Lynch spent a third-round draft pick on Trey Sermon in 2021 and hoped he would become the franchise ball carrier of the future, but the Ohio State product got off to a slow start in his rookie season.
In the club’s 28-21 win over the Green Bay Packers in their preseason debut, Sermon carried the ball six times and gained 11 yards — a 1.8-yard per carry average, but the coach was not discouraged.
“Yeah, I was real happy with Trey,” Shanahan said. “There were things that we wanted him to improve on from last year. He's shown that in training camp every single day that he's got the opportunity to, and I thought he did the same thing last night.
“I didn't think he had any really good looks that he should have got more on, but he didn't hesitate. He hit the whole hard and I thought he did a real good job with his opportunities.”
The 49ers closed out Friday night with 32 carries for 116 yards giving them a 3.6 yard per carry average. JaMycal Hasty and Ty Davis-Price lead the group with 36 yards a piece. While Shanahan admitted there were mistakes made on the field, he thought the group did a “decent job” in the run game.
The ground game also cannot be at its full potential without the starting offensive line on the field. All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams sat out of the game and right tackle Mike McGlinchey was only seen on the field for one series.
As the interior of the offensive starts to become solidified, the run game should also start to become more productive. Sermon and the entire running backs group will benefit. After the game Sermon shared he has not yet reached his potential.
“Could have done a little bit more,” Sermon said after the game. “I felt like it was an okay night. I definitely could have done better. I just feel like I have a chip on my shoulder and that’s just my mentality.”
Sermon will have more opportunities to show he is capable of being the lead back for the 49ers while Elijah Mitchell nurses a hamstring injury and Jeff Wilson Jr. is excused for a personal matter. Sermon will likely be running with the 1s in team drills when practice resumes on Sunday afternoon. | 2022-08-14T02:39:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kyle Shanahan sees Trey Sermon's development in 49ers preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/kyle-shanahan-sees-trey-sermons-012843860.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kyle-shanahan-sees-trey-sermons-012843860.html?src=rss |
Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Dolphins sat out many starters and the Buccaneers held out just about everyone who might play in Week 1. This is what preseason football looks like:
Second-year Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask got a long look. After Blaine Gabbert was pretty good (5-of-5 for 56 yards and nicely thrown touchdown), Trask was up and down. Trask threw an interception that landed on the defender's legs before it hit the ground, but it shouldn't have been thrown in the first place as he was under pressure. He did have a touchdown drive in which he completed five of six passes for 56 yards. | 2022-08-14T02:39:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Preseason Blitz: All 3 Steelers QBs including rookie Kenny Pickett play well | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-preseason-blitz-all-3-steelers-q-bs-play-well-but-kenny-pickett-steals-the-show-021013613.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-preseason-blitz-all-3-steelers-q-bs-play-well-but-kenny-pickett-steals-the-show-021013613.html?src=rss |
The Seahawks lost their first preseason game of the year, falling on the road against the Steelers by a score of 32-25.
Here are several takeaways from tonight’s game.
A lot of key starters were missing
There’s no inactives list during the preseason and the Seahawks didn’t give the courtesy of officially ruling any of their players out before the game started. However, it became clear pretty early that many of their most-important pieces would not be involved. On offense, the team’s top-two wide receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf were among those sitting out. Defensively, star safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs were also on the sidelines, as was linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
Geno Smith played the whole first half
While the Steelers only allowed starter Mitch Trubisky to play one quarter, the Seahawks gave the ball to Geno Smith for the entire first half. For the most part, Smith’s possessions were unremarkable. It didn’t help him not having Metcalf and Lockett on the field. However, Smith turned it up in the two-minute drill to end the half, throwing some sharp passes and finishing the drive with a scramble for a rushing touchdown. That was it for Smith, who went out with a line of 10/15, 101 yards, no picks and an 85.7 rating.
Drew Lock went the rest of the way
Seahawks fans were treated to the entire Drew Lock experience in his debut for the team. Lock played the entire second half and was generally more productive than Smith while facing Pittsburgh’s defensive backups. Lock posted a final line of 10/14 for 112 yards, two touchdowns and a 135.4 passer rating. However, he also missed a few big third down throws and took a blindside sack that resulted in a fumble, leading to the Steelers’ game-winning drive.
Seattle's defense was sloppy
Pittsburgh got the ball first to begin the game and Mitch Trubisky immediately led a quick scoring drive. Most of that was thanks to some obvious rust on the part of Seattle’s defense. The first drive saw several missed tackles and the Steelers scored on a blown coverage against slot receiver Gunner Olszewski.
The missed tackles continued into the next drive for Pittsburgh, and Darrell Taylor allowed Mitch Trubisky to escape what should have been a sack. Not long after, Mason Rudolph threw a touchdown to George Pickens, who straight up beat Coby Bryant in the red zone. That gave the Steelers a 14-0 lead and set the tone for the day.
The Seahawks continued to struggle on this side of the ball throughout the game, giving up another six points to rookie Kenny Pickett on the first drive of his NFL career. Overall, this was a very-forgettable performance from a defense that was admittedly missing some key pieces.
The one exception to the rule was the play of rookie edge rusher Boye Mafe, who notched two sacks, including one in crunch time.
Special teams miscues
Last year Seattle’s special teams unit was actually one of the strongest units in the NFL. They certainly didn’t look like it early on. First, wide receiver Aaron Fuller muffed the first punt return of the game, then the punt coverage unit allowed a 38-yard return, helping set up Pittsburgh’s second touchdown. Jason Myers also nearly missed his first field goal attempt, getting a friendly doink from the goal post. This was a shaky start to say the least for this phase.
The offensive line held up
While there’s clearly a lot of work to be done, there were a few positives to take away from this loss for Seattle. At the top of the list should be the stable performance from an offensive line unit that some thought would be the worst in the NFL going into this season. The front five stood up well in pass protection, usually giving both Smith and Lock time to throw. Two of the three sacks allowed were on the quarterbacks.
Meanwhile, their zone rushing attack was also effective no matter who was involved. The trio of Ken Walker, Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas combined for 133 rushing yards on 19 attempts. | 2022-08-14T02:39:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Seahawks: 6 takeaways from their preseason loss to Steelers | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-6-takeaways-preseason-loss-020446534.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-6-takeaways-preseason-loss-020446534.html?src=rss |
Denver Broncos wide receiver Seth Williams caught a one-year touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Johnson in the second quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.
This is exactly the kind of play that was typical from Tim Patrick, who will miss the entire 2022 season with a knee injury. With a similar size (6-3, 211 pounds) and skill-set to Patrick, Williams will aim to win a larger role on offense with the Broncos this summer.
Midway through the second quarter, Denver leads Dallas 7-0. | 2022-08-14T02:40:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Broncos WR Seth Williams catches TD pass against Cowboys | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-broncos-wr-seth-williams-020329460.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-broncos-wr-seth-williams-020329460.html?src=rss |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have bounced back from a rough finish to the first half in Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, finding the end zone for the third time on their first offensive possession of the third quarter.
Second-year quarterback Kyle Trask finished off the impressive scoring drive with a perfect pass to rookie wide receiver Jerreth Sterns, who hauled it in for a 19-yard touchdown.
The Bucs still trail the Dolphins 23-21, but they’ve got the momentum back, and their young players are making the most of their opportunities to shine under the bright lights.
For the first time, fans can see Mike McDaniel's coaching style as Dolphins head coach, against the Buccaneers. | 2022-08-14T02:40:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Bucs QB Kyle Trask finds WR Jerreth Sterns for 19-yard TD vs. Dolphins | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-bucs-qb-kyle-trask-013348250.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-bucs-qb-kyle-trask-013348250.html?src=rss |
It’s only preseason, but when your rookie quarterback throws a game-winning touchdown in the final seconds, it’s still something to celebrate.
That’s what happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks, as Kenny Pickett made sure his team wouldn’t need a field goal at the buzzer to break a 25-25 tie.
Pickett found wide receiver Tyler Vaughns near the sideline, and the former USC pass-catcher did the rest, making a defender miss and diving into the end zone for the score.
The No. 20 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Pickett played his college ball for the Pitt Panthers, so he’s used to celebrating big wins in the same stadium. | 2022-08-14T02:40:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Kenny Pickett throws game-winning TD in final seconds of preseason debut | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-kenny-pickett-throws-game-022638644.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-kenny-pickett-throws-game-022638644.html?src=rss |
Plays like this will help Jalen Camp make his case.
With 11:54 to go in the second quarter, Houston Texans quarterback Jeff Driskel threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Camp to cap off a five-play, 47-yard drive that was setup by a New Orleans Saints turnover. With Ka’imi Fairbairn’s extra point, the Texans took a 10-7 lead at NRG Stadium.
The Texans had opportunities for their reserve wideouts to showcase their talents against the Saints. Starter Brandin Cooks did not play as some of the first-team offense was shelved against New Orleans.
Inside linebacker Jonas Griffith was one of two starters on defense who played tonight for the Broncos. His night didn’t last long. On the second play from scrimmage, Griffith stayed on the ground after a 4-yard run by Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle. He was writhing in pain. Griffith walked directly to the training room [more] | 2022-08-14T02:41:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Texans QB Jeff Driskel throws 4-yard touchdown pass to WR Jalen Camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-texans-qb-jeff-driskel-010940302.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-texans-qb-jeff-driskel-010940302.html?src=rss |
"It's nice being able to say that I am the fastest to ever do it," Popovici said.
"It was great and it's very special to break this record that was set here in 2009 by Cesar Cielo," Popovici added.
"That was euphoria just kicking in. Simply that."
"There's not really a lot of adjectives I can give on how I'm feeling. I'm simply just happy," said Popovici, who speaks faultless and exuberant English.
"I planned to go very fast and I planned to have fun and that was really about it," said Popovici.
"It hurt, but it's still worth it and I feel good now."
Hungary's Kristof Milak, the world record holder in the 200m butterfly, was second in 47.47 with Italy's Alessandro Miressi third 47.63.
"Right now, I'm in the world record club," Popovici said.
"Just after I finished, Kristof Milak said to me welcome to the club."
Asked if he had swum the perfect race, Popovici replied: "I think so, yeah."
But then he added: "Well my coach has to decide that but for the moment I think it's probably the best race I ever did.
"Yesterday I said that the European record was just a step in the right direction, and I was right," Popovici said.
- 'No rush' -
"I think I still like the 200 more but I have to get a little bit closer to the world record maybe not tomorrow, maybe not the day after tomorrow but I have a lot of time, so there is no rush," said Popovici, who is expected to compete in the world junior championships in Peru starting at the end of August.
Swedish veteran Sarah Sjostrom won the women's 50m butterfly gold for the fifth time in 24.96. The 28-year-old is the only woman to go under 25 seconds in the event in a 50m pool.
France's Marie Wattel won silver with Maaike de Waard of the Netherlands third.
He beat Hungary's Benedek Kovacs and England's Luke Greenbank.
Viktoria Milhalyvari-Farkas, an 18-year-old, led a Hungarian one-two in the women's 400m individual medley ahead of Zsuzsanna Jakabos with Freya Colbert of Britain third.
Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri dominated the men's 800m freestyle ahead of German Lukas Martens and a second Italian Lorenzo Galossi.
The British ended the evening by edging the Swedes and the Dutch to win the women's 400x100m freestyle relay.
dif-dlo/smr/pb/dj
A pre-season commitment was not always the plan for four-star Apple Valley OL Raymond Pulido. After taking official visits early in the process, many in the area believed that he would take more visits. | 2022-08-14T03:26:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Popovici 'euphoria' after new 100m freestyle world record | https://sports.yahoo.com/popovici-breaks-world-100m-freestyle-171719738.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/popovici-breaks-world-100m-freestyle-171719738.html?src=rss |
A couple of days ago, the Oregon Ducks strapped on full pads for the first time this fall and got after it on the practice field. On Saturday, they had their first scrimmage of the season, playing inside Autzen Stadium and working on some real competition in a semi-game-like setting.
The offense sent against the defense, the 1’s went against the 2’s, and players at every level of the depth chart got a chance to prove what they can do and tried to make an impression on the coaching staff who is evaluating every bit of practice before the season rolls around.
After the scrimmage, media members got a chance to talk with head coach Dan Lanning, who broke down some of the top performers and how the team can get better in certain areas as the Ducks enter their second full week of practices. Here are some of the most notable quotes that Lanning had:
“Good first scrimmage. I thought the compete was high. The offense really moved the ball early on. They had some early success. The defense had two big stops during two-minute. It was impressive on their side. Plenty of room for improvement on both sides of the ball, but there was good compete. This was that first time when you get to see guys actually go tackle, and I think there was some nervousness around that to start, but the guys pulled the trigger and were able to finish. It was relatively clean from a penalty standpoint. I think we can still continue to get better there.
“All of our quarterbacks, if you actually pulled the stats afterward, it’s like ‘wow, they actually had very similar days’. I think all of them had success. All of them scored touchdowns. Two of them threw picks. We talked about taking care of the ball, but in general they were very similar performances across the board by those guys.
Question: Did players protect the football well?
Lanning: “No, because we had turnovers. If you have one turnover that’s one too many. On the same note, our goal one defense is to be plus-3 every game. There were takeaways. Some of those situations are ones where you’ve got to throw the ball. Let’s say it’s fourth down in the two-minute and you need to throw the ball to get into field goal range, we’re going to throw the ball, right? So there’s a chance there might be a pick where on a third down or second down you might say an incomplete is OK. We had a situation like that where we threw picks on must-throw fourth downs. Ultimately, we want to do a better job of taking care of the ball. I think we were closer today. For those to come in those situations tells you a little bit about our quarterback’s decision-making, but we can certainly still get cleaner.
Q: Did any young players stand out on Saturday?
Lanning: “I’d have to go back and look at the film because there’s a lot of administration going on today. I don’t know if I saw a real young guy stick out that really caught my eye. But like I said, overall the compete was pretty good.
Q: How do the coaches go about evaluating a scrimmage?
Lanning: “We watch it in sequence. We’ll grade every single play — positive or negative. Just like we talk to our players about going to the doctor and seeing what medicine we have to take and what we have to fix, we’ll do the same thing. When it comes to us as coaches, we’ll do a write-up. What tools do we have in our tool belt that we feel we need to carry into the season, and what do we need to add. We’ll have a pretty extensive write-up on offense, defense and special teams and what we need to improve and what need to get.”
Win the Day
Q: Which side of the ball won the day?
Lanning: “I would have definitely said offense early. They were definitely moving the ball and having some success early. I think the defense late. It’s good to see the ying and yang, but plenty to clean up on both sides.”
Q: What did you see from kickers and punters?
Lanning: “It’s good to get those live kicks. I said to coach Lorig this morning that it’s time to have a pressure punt with someone actually running against us. We created a couple of those scenarios. I thought overall our punters did a good job of punting. We didn’t get as many field goals into this scrimmage as I wanted to. We could’ve probably done a better job of working those in earlier in practice. When they did, they hit some big kicks at the end. We actually worked every scenario of special teams. So a lot of guys got a lot of opportunities. I need to go back and watch it to see who performed the best. Overall, there were some good kicks.
Quarterback Room
Q: Did any QBs stand out on Saturday?
Lanning: “I don’t know. Everyone has had shining moments. I don’t feel there is one who’s separated themselves from the others. I think there’s certainly room for improvement for each one of those guys. They’ve all had really good moments, and they’ve all had really poor moments. I feel really confident that we have quarterbacks that we can win with, which is a big positive.”
Q: How did the RB room look on Saturday?
Lanning: “It was good. Our goal was to be even across the board. I’d have to look at our numbers to see what they were like. We wanted to see what each of those guys had. We know what some of them have, but we were wanting to see each guy get touches and each guy get in the game.
Florida A&M will scrimmage Saturday, and ahead of that scrimmage, head coach Willie Simmons said the focus of practice Friday was on assignments and fundamentals.
Michigan State football featured in Jayden Bonsu’s top 3 with decision Sunday | 2022-08-14T03:29:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | 8 notable quotes from Dan Lanning following Ducks’ first scrimmage of the fall | https://sports.yahoo.com/8-notable-quotes-dan-lanning-005519751.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/8-notable-quotes-dan-lanning-005519751.html?src=rss |
Earlier this week, 2024 four-star running back Bryan Jackson out of McKinney, Texas, announced his top 10 schools he’ll consider moving forward, a list that included the University of Wisconsin.
Per the 247sports Composite, Jackson is the No. 287 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, the No. 38 ATH in the country, and the No. 42 player in Texas.
Wisconsin is up against some heavy hitters for the four-star RB, who also listed Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, Alabama, Baylor, Texas A&M, and Arkansas.
As a sophomore, the 6-foot, 225-pound RB ran for 973 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 12 catches for 100 yards receiving.
You can watch his highlights here.
Astros vs Athletics Betting Forecast for Aug 12
Yahoo Sports looks at the latest betting information as the Houston Astros host the Oakland Athletics | 2022-08-14T03:30:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Wisconsin makes the top 10 for 2024 four-star RB Bryan Jackson | https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-makes-top-10-2024-013940476.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-makes-top-10-2024-013940476.html?src=rss |
The Broncos rested most of their starters — including quarterback Russell Wilson — against the Dallas Cowboys, choosing to feature mostly backups who are hoping to make the roster. Denver started veteran Josh Johnson in Wilson’s place at QB.
Johnson started the game slowly, going 0-of-3 passing early, but his play picked up in the second quarter when he threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Seth Williams and he later hit Kendall Hinton on a 24-yard TD toss.
Williams and Hinton have big opportunities to win more playing time this summer following Tim Patrick’s injury.
Johnson played the first half and went 16-of-23 passing for 172 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers. He also had a three-yard rush.
Brett Rypien came in for the second half and he went 8-of-18 passing for 113 yards with no touchdowns and no turnovers.
In addition to Johnson’s two touchdown passes, kicker Brandon McManus converted a 52-yard field goal to give the Broncos 17 points.
On defense, safety P.J. Locke continued his impressive summer with an interception in the first quarter, and outside linebacker Baron Browning was the team’s standout player, totaling three tackles (including one behind the line of scrimmage), one sack and one pass breakup in the win.
Denver’s defense played well overall, but Dallas avoided a shutout by scoring late in the fourth quarter.
On the injury front, the Broncos lost starting inside linebacker Jonas Griffith to an elbow injury on the first series of the game and he did not return. The Broncos already had uncertainty at linebacker, so it will be a big blow to the team’s defense if Griffith’s injury is serious.
Denver will now have to make five roster cuts by Tuesday, Aug. 16. After that, the Broncos will play their second preseason game of the summer on the road against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Aug. 20. | 2022-08-14T04:17:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | Broncos defeat Cowboys 17-7 in first preseason game | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-defeat-cowboys-17-7-040205184.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-defeat-cowboys-17-7-040205184.html?src=rss |
When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent their second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft on Kyle Trask, they were hoping to land their franchise quarterback of the future, and the eventual successor to Tom Brady.
After Trask was inactive for every game of his rookie season, many wondered if the Bucs could have spent that pick more wisely.
Heading into this year’s preseason, the pressure was on for Trask to prove himself ready to supplant veteran Blaine Gabbert as Brady’s backup this season, instead of riding the pine every week for a second straight year.
If his performance in Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins is any indication, he might just be ready to make that jump.
Despite a 26-24 loss, Trask delivered an impressive performance, completing 25 of his 33 passes for 258 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He bounced back from a pair of costly turnovers at the end of the first half, the blame for both of which can’t fall squarely on his shoulder alone, making some big throws in key moments to help put the Bucs back in front in the second half.
After the Dolphins took the lead back yet again in the final minutes, Trask led the Bucs down the field and into range for a potential game-winning field goal, converting a key fourth down to keep the drive alive. Though the would-be winning kick glanced off the upright, the fact that Trask got them in position was a huge win.
There are still two more preseason games to go, and Gabbert himself was impressive in his limited action Saturday night (5-for-5, 56 yards, and a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jaelon Darden), but it looks like this might be an actual competition if Trask keeps proving his development is quickly moving in the right direction. | 2022-08-14T04:17:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bucs QB Kyle Trask shines despite loss in preseason opener vs. Dolphins | https://sports.yahoo.com/bucs-qb-kyle-trask-shines-034315285.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bucs-qb-kyle-trask-shines-034315285.html?src=rss |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped their 2022 NFL preseason opener Saturday night, losing 26-24 to the Miami Dolphins in front of their home crowd at Raymond James Stadium.
Here’s everything you need to know about how things went down in this exhibition matchup:
Final Score: Dolphins 26, Bucs 24
Tampa Bay lost despite outgaining the Dolphins 389-242 in total yardage, thanks in large part to a pair of turnovers that led directly to back-to-back touchdowns for Miami just before the half. The Bucs didn’t force any takeaways on defense, and the Dolphins made the most of their opportunities to turn Tampa Bay mistakes on offense into immediate points.
Only six total flags were thrown in this game, but the Bucs had four of them, a couple of which came at inopportune times. Big plays were taken away, and offensive drives were set back, sometimes even before they started.
Questionable Ending
Tampa Bay had moved the ball to the Dolphins’ 32-yard-line, and still had a timeout with 26 seconds left in the game. Instead of running another play to make the potential game-winning field goal a bit more manageable for kicker Jose Borregales, the Bucs opted to run the clock all the way down and set him up for a 49-yarder. He drilled his practice kick after the Dolphins called a timeout to ice him, then bounced the second try off the upright at the buzzer.
Borregales bounced his second try at a 49-yarder off the right upright, despite having drilled a 55-yarder earlier in the game that looked like it would have been good from even longer.
After two drives from veteran Blaine Gabbert, Trask took over at quarterback for the rest of the game, and looked impressive for most of it. He finished the night completing 25 of his 33 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He showed poise and mental toughness, bouncing back from the costly turnovers to get the lead back in the second half. Gabbert might have a worthy challenger on his hands for the right to back up Tom Brady this year.
Young WRs
Tyler Johnson led the Bucs with six receptions for 73 yards, while Jerreth Sterns and Kaylon Geiger combined for 103 yards on eight receptions, with Sterns hauling in a sweet 19-yard touchdown over his shoulder from Trask. Jaelon Darden’s only catch was a 23-yard touchdown from Gabbert.
Tampa Bay bagged three sacks in the game, one each from Cam Gill, Anthony Nelson and Pat O’Connor, all of them coming on third down to end Miami drives. With most of the starters sitting this one out, that trio was among many who made the most of their chance to shine under the bright lights in a game situation.
Three Bucs left the game with injuries and didn’t return: Inside linebacker Grant Stuard (hamstring), running back Giovani Bernard (ankle), and outside linebacker Cam Gill (foot). It’s possible they were all held out as a precaution, but there should be further updates in the coming days.
The Bucs travel to Tennessee for their next preseason game, facing the Titans next Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. | 2022-08-14T04:18:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dolphins 26, Bucs 24: Everything you need to know | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-26-bucs-24-everything-031423646.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-26-bucs-24-everything-031423646.html?src=rss |
Kendall Hinton was thrown into the worst possible situation during the 2020 COVID-19-plagued NFL season.
Saturday, the wide receiver turned quarterback turned wide receiver, was on the receiving end of a much better circumstance.
In 2020, Hinton became the Broncos’ starting quarterback for a game when the team’s QB room became ruled out because of COVID protocols.
The game was forgettable but it did land his wristband in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Against the Dallas Cowboys in the 2022 preseason opener, Hinton showed it is much better to receive the ball than to try and give it to receivers.
He made a spectacular catch in the end zone for a 24-yard TD on a pass from Josh Johnson.
Hinton had 3 catches for 53 yards in the first half, including the TD reception. | 2022-08-14T04:18:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ex-Broncos QB Kendall Hinton with stunning TD catch | https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-broncos-qb-kendall-hinton-040117075.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-broncos-qb-kendall-hinton-040117075.html?src=rss |
The Miami Dolphins took the field on Saturday night for their preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a game that resulted in their first win of the season.
With starting offensive linemen Terron Armstead and Connor Williams not playing, and the other three starters just playing a couple of drives, the Dolphins’ offense struggled to get a whole lot going in the first half. However, Skylar Thompson was hitting his receivers.
It wasn’t until the defense started producing that the team started to put things together. Elijah Campbell’s interception set Thompson up for an easy touchdown pass to Lynn Bowden Jr. Just two plays later, linebacker Darius Hodge stripped Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask, allowing Sam Eguavoen to pick up the ball and score.
They entered halftime up 20-14, but the Buccaneers led in nearly every statistic.
After the break, the Dolphins only points came in the form of field goals, as Jason Sanders returned to form, making all four of his attempts on the night. The offensive line depth continued to be an issue, as they couldn’t keep pressure from the rookie signal-caller or provide any push for the running game.
As a team, Miami only rushed for 49 yards on 14 attempts, and 25 of those yards came on scrambles from Thompson.
One of the biggest hits that the Dolphins took in the second half was cornerback Trill Williams, who had been having a great camp, suffering an injury that resulted in him being carted back to the locker room.
Tampa Bay had a chance to win with a 49-yard field goal with just three seconds left on the clock. Head coach Mike McDaniel called a timeout to freeze the kicker, and it worked to perfection, as Jose Borregales missed the kick.
The Dolphins won their first game under McDaniel by a final score of 26-24. | 2022-08-14T04:18:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Instant analysis from Dolphins win vs. Buccaneers in preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-dolphins-win-vs-024607236.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-dolphins-win-vs-024607236.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens hosted the Tennessee Titans for their first preseason game of 2022 on Thursday night, coming away with their 21st consecutive exhibition game victory by the final score of 23-10. Baltimore’s ability to have playmakers on all sides of the ball is a great thing to have, especially when the team has so much depth.
During the game, Ravens safety Geno Stone made a spectacular interception during the fourth quarter. The safety caught a ball that bounced off Tennessee wide receiver Mason Kinsey while falling to the ground.
Following the contest, Stone spoke with the media. When asked about the play and the celebration with his teammates, Stone said the football gods were on his side.
“It was crazy, because before I walked out for the drive, I told them I was going to get a pick, and I said we’re going to come celebrate on the sidelines. I had two opportunities before that; I missed the one on the out, and then I broke the one up in the end zone, and then I finally got that last one. So, it was like the football Gods were just trying to give me a pick so I could go celebrate with my teammates.”
In two seasons, Stone has played in 17 games, starting in one. The safety is looking to make the final 53-man roster and have an increased role on the Baltimore defense, two things that he took a big step closer to doing in Thursday’s performance. | 2022-08-14T04:19:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens S Geno Stone discusses sensational interception in Week 1 of preseason vs. Titans | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-geno-stone-discusses-sensational-031940033.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-geno-stone-discusses-sensational-031940033.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens got back onto the practice field on Saturday after their 23-10 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 of the 2022 preseason. They got a few players back from injuries, but there were two new absences in running back J.K. Dobbins and defensive lineman Justin Madubuike.
After practice, head coach John Harbaugh spoke with the media and answered a multitude of different questions. He was asked about both Dobbins and Madubuike, and provided an update on both. For Dobbins, Harbaugh made clear that his absence was a scheduled one.
“Yes, they were planning on these two days – today and tomorrow – kind of being an evaluation day based on the week of work. So, they went through whatever process they’re going through, [and] he [J.K. Dobbins] should be back Monday.”
Harbaugh then revealed that Madubuike has had migraine issues, and doesn’t want to mess around with that situation.
“Yes, he had a little headache problem, migraine deal, so we’re kind of working through that right now. You don’t mess around with those too much.” | 2022-08-14T04:19:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens HC John Harbaugh explains absences of RB J.K. Dobbins, DL Justin Madubuike at Saturday’s practice | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-explains-035840352.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-explains-035840352.html?src=rss |
When you aren’t expected to win much, you take the “W” anytime and anywhere.
Lovie Smith is the coach of the Houston Texans, his third go as a head man in the NFL.
His Texans were trailing the Saints in the fourth quarter Saturday when journeyman Jeff Driskel delivered some magic.
It came in the form of a 7-play, 90-yard drive that was capped by a 6-yard TD pass to Johnny Johnson III with 25 seconds left.
After the PAT, Houston had a 17-13 victory, and Saints head coach Dennis Allen took a loss in his first game in the position.
Driskel, who is looking to back up Davis Mills, was 16-of-26 for 165 yards and a pair of TD passes. He also threw a trio picks, which won’t help his case.
Johnson is another nice training-camp story.
He signed as an undrafted free agent after playing at Oregon, where he had 25 catches for 311 yards and a touchdown in 10 games before breaking a bone in his right foot last season.
He finished No. 10 in Oregon history with 139 career receptions and just outside the top 10 in program history with 1,928 career receiving yards. | 2022-08-14T04:19:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans topple Saints with late 90-yard drive | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-topple-saints-90-yard-034727021.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-topple-saints-90-yard-034727021.html?src=rss |
The Chargers are on the board first in the preseason opener against the Rams.
After driving down the field, with running back Joshua Kelley paving the way, quarterback Chase Daniel found a wide-open wide receiver Joe Reed for a 41-yard touchdown.
Chargers vs. Rams preseason Week 1: How to watch, listen and stream online
Find out how to tune in to watch the Chargers take on the Rams in the preseason opener.
Bucs vs. Dolphins: Who won’t be playing in preseason opener?
See who won't be suiting up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins in Saturday night's preseason opener | 2022-08-14T04:19:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Watch: Chase Daniel connects with Joe Reed for Chargers’ first touchdown vs. Rams | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-chase-daniel-connects-joe-023701171.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-chase-daniel-connects-joe-023701171.html?src=rss |
Houston Texans quarterback Jeff Driskel uncorked a deep shot to Chad Beebe who looked to have a step on Saints cornerback DaMarcus Fields. Fields though didn’t give up on the play and made an impact at the catch point causing the pass to be tipped in the air. That’s when Evans saw and made good on the opportunity, diving to finish the play with an interception. He then quickly got back up to his feet for a big return. Evans starts off his return to the NFL with great momentum that he’ll look to build on throughout the rest of the preseason. | 2022-08-14T04:20:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Justin Evans snags Saints second interception vs. Texans | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-justin-evans-snags-saints-024841636.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-justin-evans-snags-saints-024841636.html?src=rss |
Cool Papa Bell
Baseball player; born 19 November 1921 Philadelphia Pa; Baltimore Elite Giants Negro National League (NNL); Brooklyn Dodgers 1948; died 26 June 1993 Woodland Hills Ca
Dodgers infielder Hanser Alberto and catcher Will Smith celebrate after the Dodgers' 13-3 win over the Kansas City Royals. Alberto pitched the ninth inning for the Dodgers. (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
Clayton Kershaw was one of about a dozen Dodgers players who took the tour along with manager Dave Roberts, coaches, media members and dozens of fans wearing Dodgers gear who showed up because they could rub elbows with their heroes but soon became engrossed by Kendrick's narrative.
"As far as how we are winning games, from the get-to, sustaining leads, the lineup one through nine, this is as good as I've seen," Roberts said.
"There wasn’t much reason to keep him out there," Roberts said. "He was fighting to stay in, which is a good thing. I expect him to make his next start."
Pulling the lens back to view the entire season does nothing to diminish the Dodgers' accomplishments. Their 79-33 record puts them on pace to finish 114-48, a winning percentage of .704. The record for victories in a season is 116, held by the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners.
Because of inconsistent record-keeping, it's unclear how many — if any — Negro League teams won at a comparable clip. For the Dodgers, however, numbers took a backseat to uplifting anecdotes and accomplishments relayed by Kendrick during the museum tour.
"These players knew full well they were talented enough to play in the major leagues, but they weren’t allowed," Kendrick told the Dodgers contingent. "By the time you bear witness to everything they had to endure, you will understand."
For Kirsten Watson, a Black Dodgers' SportsNet LA reporter and studio host, the museum visit confirmed a story passed down in her family, that her great-great-grandfather Frank Miller played on the first all-Black professional baseball team. There it was, a team photo of the Cuban Giants from 1885, and there was Miller, his name stitched across his jersey. Watson yelped in delight and got a high-five from Roberts.
A description next to the photo clarified that the term "Cuban" was meant to fool whites into believing they were Latin American players, reducing the chances of the team being persecuted. The team was formed in Philadelphia and hired to play as summer entertainment for guests at the Argyle Hotel in Long Island.
For Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia, the experience was enthralling. "My favorite players growing up were David Price, CC Sabathia, guys that have impacted my life significantly. To learn about these Black players they looked up to, that’s important to me."
"That’s why we go and why we come back, to expand our minds and learn about the past of what the Negro League guys went through," he said.
And for Roberts, a history major at UCLA who is of Black and Japanese descent and the first minority to manage the Dodgers, most impressive was "the spirit of the Negro Leagues."
"In talking to Buck O'Neil and Hank Aaron, it's clear there wasn’t animosity," Roberts said. "When you think of segregation, you think of anger and animosity, and these players endured that turmoil, the racism, the segregation, but they didn’t let it deter their joy of performing the game they love."
The popular Field of Dreams game in Iowa won't take place next season because the stadium will be under construction. There is talk of replacing it with a nod to the Negro Leagues, perhaps a game held in Birmingham or Mobile, Ala. Roberts is all for it.
"We can’t push this game forward and sustain it with real substance if we can’t appreciate the history of the game," he said. "Talking about the Field of Dreams, the Negro Leagues and talking about Jackie Robinson and Buck O'Neill, it's important that we continue to do that." | 2022-08-14T05:01:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dodgers make it a day to remember with Negro Leagues museum visit and 12th consecutive win | https://sports.yahoo.com/dodgers-day-remember-negro-leagues-040645143.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dodgers-day-remember-negro-leagues-040645143.html?src=rss |
Shohei Ohtani hit a homer in the eighth inning to get the Angels’ offense started, and Taylor Ward hit a game-ending two-run blast to right-center in the 11th inning as Los Angeles completed a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night. It was Ward’s second career game-ending hit as the Angels won for the fourth time in five games. Carlos Correa hit a home and Luis Arraez had three hits for the Twins, who blew a three-run lead in the eighth inning and remained 1 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. | 2022-08-14T05:50:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | 7 takeaways from Rams’ 29-22 win over Chargers | https://sports.yahoo.com/7-takeaways-rams-29-22-051224383.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/7-takeaways-rams-29-22-051224383.html?src=rss |
The Los Angeles Rams know FCS wide receiver talent. They drafted Cooper Kupp out of Eastern Washington in the third round in 2017.
And in their opening game of the 2022 preseason Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers they may have found another gem.
Lance McCutcheon, an undrafted free agent from Montana State, caught two touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion in the 29-22 win over the Bolts.
So, who is this Lance McCutcheon, he of the 5 catches for 87 yards in his NFL debut?
McCutcheon played college ball at Montana State. The 6-foot-3, 202-pounder had 94 catches for 1,741 yards and 13 touchdowns as a Bobcat.
McCutcheon had five 100-yard receiving games in 2021.
He was First Team All-Big Sky last year, averaging 81.3 yards per game off 1,219 yards and 19.3 yards per catch, leading the league.
What he isn’t is related to former great Rams RB Lawrence McCutcheon.
McCutcheon spoke to Montanasports.com about being in the same wide receivers room as 2021 receiving Triple Crown winner and Super Bowl MVP Kupp.
“You know, I’m sitting in the back and I’m looking around,” he said. “I’ve got Cooper [Kupp] in front of me, Matthew Stafford in the front row. The first two days I was a little star-struck. It was a little surreal for me, but we got good with it. Now they’re just my teammates.”
McCutcheon said Kupp has been incredibly supportive.
“Since day one, Cooper has been awesome,” McCutcheon told Montaasports.com. “The first day he came and introduced himself to me and said, ‘If you ever have any questions or anything just let me know I’m always here to help you,’ and he helped me every single day whether it was with the plays or the routes.”
The Rams have Kupp, Van Jefferson, and free-agent signee Allen Robinson among others in the WR room. The specter of another free agent, Odell Beckham Jr., looms.
After his performance against the Chargers, McCutcheon has made a statement that he belongs among the group when the regular season starts.
The highlight reel:
I'm as surprised as anyone but it appears Lance McCutcheon is the next Megatron
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) August 14, 2022
Girls volleyball: McCutcheon defeats HSE 3-1
McCutcheon defeats Hamilton Southeastern three sets to one on Saturday, August 13, 2022. | 2022-08-14T05:51:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rams have another FCS gem in undrafted Lance McCutcheon | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-another-fcs-gem-undrafted-045917909.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-another-fcs-gem-undrafted-045917909.html?src=rss |
No one expected the Rams to play any of their top players in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Chargers, but Sean McVay held back even more players than expected. This game was all about the third- and fourth-stringers who are on the roster bubble and fighting to make the team.
John Wolford, Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowronek, Coleman Shelton and Riley Dixon were all among the players who didn’t take the field on Saturday, an indication that their jobs and roles are safe. It was Bryce Perkins, Lance McCutcheon and a collection of running backs who led the offense on Saturday night, and while things got off to a slow start, they finally found a rhythm in the second quarter.
They played behind an offensive line that experienced plenty of shuffling and experimentation, with Alaric Jackson and Tremayne Anchrum Jr. changing positions during the game and Logan Bruss stepping in and out of the lineup.
It looked bleak for the Rams early when Joe Reed caught a 41-yard touchdown pass to put the Chargers up 7-0 less than 4 minutes into the game, but the Rams scored back-to-back touchdowns to go up 14-7 in the second quarter – including a 60-yard score from Perkins to McCutcheon.
Chase Daniel threw a 16-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds left in the first half to tie things up at the break, however.
In the second half, Perkins scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown to put the Rams ahead again, taking a 22-14 lead with 8:17 left in the third quarter. But again, the Chargers responded, this time with Easton Stick rushing it in from 3 yards out to cap off an 18-play drive and tie the game at 22.
Then McCutcheon came through in the clutch again. He caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Perkins with 6:11 left in the game, a tough contested catch in the corner of the end zone to put the Rams up 29-22.
Thanks to a sack by Earnest Brown IV, the Chargers’ following drive stalled, but so did the Rams’ possession after that, which gave the Bolts another opportunity to win the game late in the fourth.
Dan Isom, a reserve safety, wouldn’t let the Chargers pull out the late win. He sealed the victory for the Rams with a pick on third-and-6 – a pass that looked like it was completed over the middle but Isom somehow came down with the interception.
Perkins and McCutcheon were the stars of the game for the Rams, being the two most important players on the field Saturday night. McCutcheon finished with 87 yards and two touchdowns, while Perkins threw for 133 yards and two scores. Perkins was clutch on the ground, too, rushing for 39 yards and a touchdown.
The Rams will take on the Texans at home in their next preseason game, which comes on Friday night at 10 p.m. ET.
Nevada Football: 2022 Schedule Predictions Win/Loss Predictions for the 2022 Nevada Football Team Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake & @MWCwire How Will New Nevada Head Coach Ken Wilson Do In His Debut Season? The Nevada Wolf Pack's 2022 season will ... | 2022-08-14T05:51:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rams hold off Chargers, 29-22: Recapping L.A.’s preseason win | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-hold-off-chargers-29-050200591.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-hold-off-chargers-29-050200591.html?src=rss |
A good portion of the Rams’ fanbase was excited to see Tutu Atwell on the field against the Chargers in the preseason opener, especially after hearing all the highlight-reel plays he made in training camp. But when the offense took the field for the first time, Atwell wasn’t out there.
He was dressed in uniform and on the sideline, but Atwell never stepped on the field. That’s not a bad thing if you ask Sean McVay. The coach told reporters after the Rams’ 29-22 win that the team simply didn’t want to risk injury with Atwell because “he’s gonna have a role with this team.”
“Tutu was only dressed as a result if we wanted to be able to put him back in some punt situations where he’s just fielding punts,” McVay said. “He’s done a great job throughout camp. He’s gonna have a role with this team and we didn’t want to put him at harm’s risk. So he’s gonna be a part of what we’re doing this year and that was because he’s done well, not because he’s done anything other than that.”
If you were worried that Atwell was either hurt or benched, there’s no reason for concern. In fact, it sounds like he’ll be a much bigger part of the offense than last year, a very positive development for the second-year speedster. | 2022-08-14T05:51:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Sean McVay ensures Tutu Atwell’s absence vs. Chargers is a good sign | https://sports.yahoo.com/sean-mcvay-ensures-tutu-atwell-051856826.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/sean-mcvay-ensures-tutu-atwell-051856826.html?src=rss |
Welcome to the NFL, Lance McCutcheon.
While the undrafted rookie isn’t on a regular-season roster yet, he introduced himself to the world with a spectacular debut in the Rams’ preseason opener. McCutcheon caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in the first half, one of the best catches of the preseason so far.
But he wasn’t done there. Later on, he came down with an 11-yard score on a jump ball from Bryce Perkins, simply boxing out the defender and using his big frame to make the catch. The touchdown put the Rams up 29-22 with 6:11 left in the game, continuing the rookie’s huge night at SoFi Stadium. | 2022-08-14T05:51:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Watch: Lance McCutcheon wins jump ball for 2nd TD in preseason debut | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-lance-mccutcheon-wins-jump-044108283.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-lance-mccutcheon-wins-jump-044108283.html?src=rss |
There may not be anything on the line record-wise for the Rams this preseason, but a ton is riding on the three exhibition games for 50-plus players who are battling to make the team. Saturday night was their first chance to impress the coaching staff, and several players – including Bryce Perkins and Lance McCutcheon – did exactly that.
The Rams still have two more preseason games to go after Saturday’s 29-22 win over the Chargers, but this was an important night for a bunch of guys in Los Angeles.
Here are our studs and duds from the Rams’ comeback win.
Perkins played every snap on offense, getting his chance to lead the team against the Chargers. It wasn’t a regular season-type stat line – 10-for-17, 133 yards, two touchdowns – but he certainly got the job done beyond just completing passes and creating big plays.
Where he did a lot of his damage was on the ground with 39 yards rushing on eight carries with one touchdown – a beautiful zone-read from the 1-yard line. His athleticism was on full display, especially during this 9-yard run.
Gotta be quicker than that to catch @TDN_Perk ! 🏃💨
📺 @ABC7 | 📱 https://t.co/4beUdmlymg pic.twitter.com/CsNlk7DSAQ
He threw both of his touchdown passes to Lance McCutcheon, perhaps the Rams’ breakout player at wide receiver. Both of them were great throws, too, giving his receiver a chance to make a play with his bigger frame.
McCutcheon opened some eyes on Saturday night when he made a spectacular grab over a defender along the sideline and turned it into a 60-yard touchdown after breaking a tackle. He’s a bigger receiver with good speed and a huge catch radius, showing off his whole skill set against the Chargers.
McCutcheon also made a tough grab over the middle on third down to move the sticks in the third quarter, and he was on the receiving end of the Rams’ two-point conversion after their third touchdown.
One of his better plays came in the fourth quarter, a jump-ball touchdown from Perkins in the corner of the end zone. His size is a real weapon in the red zone.
Stud: Daniel Hardy
Hardy flashed a few times early in the game with a pair of pressures, including a hit on Chase Daniel. Daniel still managed to complete the pass while being dragged to the ground, but it was a good rush by the rookie Hardy.
He’s definitely making a strong case for a spot on the 53-man roster this season and he’s off to a great start in the preseason so far. He finished with three tackles and a quarterback hit.
Stud: Benton Whitley
Whitley is in the same boat as Hardy. They’re both rookies looking to prove themselves, and they got off to a good start Saturday. Whitley made one tackle and had a quarterback hit, pressuring Daniel once in the first half.
He showed good burst off the edge from the right side of the defensive front but he was caught with his eyes in the backfield on Easton Stick’s 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Stud: Derion Kendrick
Kendrick’s playing time was limited to the first few series by the Chargers, but he looked the part in limited action. His best play of the game came on a throw by Daniel to a receiver on a hitch route, which Kendrick read like a book. He jumped the route and showed good change-of-direction agility, nearly coming up with an interception.
Had he held on, Kendrick would’ve turned it into an easy pick-six.
Stud: Grant Haley
Haley got most of his opportunities in the second half and he made the most of them. He made a great tackle on Zander Horvath in the flat on third down, keeping him short of the first-down line. He finished the game with eight tackles and looked very comfortable both in coverage and when asked to come up and make plays on ball carriers.
He could be pushing for a roster spot with plenty still to be determined in the secondary.
Stud: Bobby Brown III
Brown recorded the Rams’ only sack of the night, an impressive win from his nose tackle position against the Chargers’ center. He quickly beat the center to the right, using his speed and power to push upfield and right into the lap of the quarterback.
Brown showed good effort and a high motor during the game, too, chasing down the running back on a screen early in the game. He did suffer an ankle injury in the second half but the Rams are hopeful it’s nothing major.
Duds: Bobby Evans and A.J. Arcuri
Evans didn’t have the best night at right tackle, allowing a few pressures on Perkins throughout the first half before Arcuri took over in the second half. He’s still fighting for a roster spot and isn’t yet locked in as a primary backup, so this preseason performance won’t exactly help his case as the regular season approaches.
It wasn’t much better for Arcuri at right tackle in the second half, as he struggled to prevent the Chargers’ edge rushers from pressuring Perkins in the pocket.
Dud: Terrell Burgess
Burgess needs to do more than he has in the last two-plus seasons. He got the start at safety against the Chargers and in the first quarter, he was on the wrong end of a 41-yard touchdown pass from Chase Daniel to Joe Reed. He was out of position in coverage, letting the receiver get behind him and break wide open.
It wasn’t the best look for a former third-round pick with two years of experience. | 2022-08-14T07:26:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Studs and duds from Rams’ win vs. Chargers: Perkins, McCutcheon lead the way | https://sports.yahoo.com/studs-duds-rams-win-vs-054351111.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/studs-duds-rams-win-vs-054351111.html?src=rss |
The Buffalo Bills rallied against the Indianapolis Colts in their first exhibition game of the 2022 preseason.
As is the nature of such games, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The Colts got in their highlights early, but the Bills eventually had one more in the end.
Check out the video player above for highlights from the win. | 2022-08-14T10:30:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Highlights of Bills’ preseason win over the Colts | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-highlights-bills-preseason-win-095522554.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-highlights-bills-preseason-win-095522554.html?src=rss |
While fans love to see what players do on the field, it’s worth recognition when they do something impressive off it.
A trio of LSU players earned degrees during the school’s summer commencement ceremony on Friday. A pair of veterans and returning starters in defensive end Ali Gaye and receiver Jaray Jenkins each received undergraduate degrees in interdisciplinary studies.
Graduate tight end Nick Storz, meanwhile, earned his Master’s in Business Administration.
Gaye is a two-year starter who was a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2020. His 2021 season was cut short by an injury after four games, but he returns hoping for a big year playing alongside preseason First Team All-SEC selection BJ Ojulari.
He came to the United States from Gambia at 12 years old. Now @unos1_ is a college graduate from @LSU.
A proud day for the Gaye family. The American Dream 🎓🇬🇲 pic.twitter.com/epwdTI78Mh
Jenkins is coming off the most productive season of his career as he totaled 34 catches for 502 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught the game-winning touchdown pass against Texas A&M last fall. The Tigers are deep at receiver, but the fifth-year player will be a key part of the passing game this fall.
A kid from Jena, Louisiana. @JenkinsJaray has worked hard to fulfill our mission to Graduate Champions. pic.twitter.com/YQr0dumYAw
Storz, meanwhile, has one of the more interesting stories on the roster. Originally a baseball player, he joined the football team as a tight end in 2020 but had initially medically retired ahead of last season. However, he is back on the roster, indicating he has been cleared to play.
Cat and dog rescued from Overland Park house fire likely caused by careless smoking
Smoke alarms alerted family to the blaze and they were able to escape unharmed and call 911. The fire caused extensive damage to the two-story house. | 2022-08-14T12:06:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | 3 LSU football players earn degrees | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-lsu-football-players-earn-110001282.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-lsu-football-players-earn-110001282.html?src=rss |
The No. 2 linebacker in the nation for 2024 gave short notice for his recruitment.
Atlanta native Myles Graham announced Saturday night that he planned to commit at noon on Sunday. Graham has Auburn in his final five schools, all of which are SEC schools save for Ohio State.
Graham currently has no projected Crystal Ball, as his class is a year out, but he has a legacy that it may be important to keep an eye on — his father is Earnest Graham, who played running back for the Florida Gators and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. Florida is one of the schools that Graham has in his last five, so Auburn fans will find out soon if he commits to the Tigers, his legacy school of Florida or goes a different route entirely.
The Tigers only have two hard commits for the class of 2024, but they’re both four-star prospects — Auburn currently has 247Sports’ ninth-ranked class. Coach Bryan Harsin and his staff will be hoping to boost that number with Graham’s potential commitment on Sunday.
Class of 2024 Top 45 Recruit Myles Graham (No. 4 LB) will announce his college decision tomorrow at 1:00 PM ET.
Will choose between Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Auburn, and Texas A&M.https://t.co/2cvs6UIfwg | 2022-08-14T12:06:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Auburn 2024 linebacker target set to commit at noon Sunday | https://sports.yahoo.com/auburn-2024-linebacker-target-set-100032601.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/auburn-2024-linebacker-target-set-100032601.html?src=rss |
Hopefully, the real game-changer in Watson’s case isn’t discipline. It’s professional help.
A quick flashback: When Watson, 26, arrived in Cleveland in late March, dismissing the allegations of sexual misconduct during massages made in 24 then-active lawsuits, he punted on the idea of entering counseling.
“I don’t have a problem,” he said, nearly six months ago. “I don’t have an issue.”
Perhaps counseling will not only save potential victims in the future, but also save Watson from himself if it addresses root causes. In other words, reveal it to heal it.
Fast forward to Friday, before Watson made his preseason debut at Jacksonville. During a two-minute interview with Aditi Kinkhabwala, Watson said he wants to continue with the counseling sessions he began last spring. He also, for the first time publicly, expressed remorse “to all the women that I have impacted in this situation.”
It’s about time. And maybe it's also about timing and some optics from Watson, awaiting a decision from Peter C. Harvey, aka Roger Goodell’s designee for the NFL’s appeal of the six-game suspension recommended by disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson.
Harvey’s decision could come as soon as Monday, with the NFL pushing for at least a year-long ban that might address some of the outrage that flowed long before Robinson’s ruling was announced on Aug. 1.
Robinson, a former federal judge, noted in her decision that Watson never expressed contrition.
So, with the case in Harvey’s hands, Watson suddenly attempted to move the meter on remorse.
No, Watson wasn’t charged in any of the incidents that spanned 17 months during his tenue with the Houston Texans. Two grand juries weighed allegations but didn’t move to advance the cases. Watson agreed to settle the civil cases of 23 of his accusers.
But the court of public opinion – with arrows directed at the reactionary NFL, slammed again for its methods of addressing issues that involve the mistreatment of women – is still very much in session.
Some might harshly suggest that Watson never step foot on an NFL field again. There’s also something else to be said about how the NFL’s hammer can make a statement about the pain and suffering of the alleged victims that goes beyond the financial settlements.
Others might argue that without a criminal conviction, even a short suspension is too much. And when weighing other cases in recent years that have come across Goodell’s desk – Ben Roethlisberger and Greg Hardy, to name two – the grounds for increasing the six-game suspension seem shaky.
The NFL, of course, had to throw appeal Robinson’s original ruling while public opinion apparently shows the appetite for a longer suspension. And if Goodell, who last week repeated Robinson’s description of Watson’s behavior as “predatory,” gets his way with a much longer ban, it would send a message to others in the NFL that now defines the standards in such cases.
Yet the most critical element moving forward for Watson is the counseling. Regardless of Watson's talent, getting help in dealing with his issues – and conceivably can prevent future allegations of sexual misconduct – matters more than his ability to ignite Super Bowl hopes.
Absent from Robinson’s decision was a mandate for treatment. Perhaps Robinson wanted to recommend such help or at least require an assessment to determine the need or level of professional help.
She couldn’t. According to the NFL’s personal conduct policy, negotiated by the league and the NFL Players Association, discipline is limited to a suspension and/or fine – although Robinson included in her conclusion the requirement that Watson limit his massage therapy to club-directed sessions or club-approved therapists.
The labor pact stipulates that a player who violates the conduct policy will be “offered” a formal clinical evaluation. But it also spells out that such an evaluation, counseling or other services are not disciplinary, meaning that it is the decision of the player to seek such help.
It’s unclear whether counseling could be part of a settlement agreement between Watson and the league that would prevent a ruling from Harvey.
Apparently, Watson voluntarily decided to undergo counseling – although it’s hardly a stretch to think that Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam encouraged, if not suggested it.
It’s also fair to wonder whether Watson, engulfed in damage control, has had a legitimate change of heart after declaring a few months ago that he had no regrets for the incidents that flipped his life upside down. Hopefully so.
And perhaps there’s an even greater impetus for this new start for Watson to include significant work on himself that goes far beyond throwing a football.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why NFL suspension shouldn't be lone focal point for Deshaun Watson | 2022-08-14T12:06:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Amid focus on NFL suspension, counseling could be critical for Deshaun Watson | Opinion | https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-focus-nfl-suspension-counseling-111448615.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-focus-nfl-suspension-counseling-111448615.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts didn’t get through the 27-24 preseason loss completely unscathed as cornerback Isaiah Rodgers and wide receiver Keke Coutee both left with injuries.
Rodgers is currently in the league’s concussion protocol after suffering a head injury during the second quarter of the game. After recording an interception against Buffalo Bills quarterback Case Keenum, Rodgers took a hit to the head near the sideline at the end of the return.
Rodgers tweeted an update following the game letting the fans know he’s doing well.
Coutee left in the second quarter as well and was ruled out for the remainder of the game after suffering a groin injury. It isn’t yet clear how severe that injury is, but he may need extra time to rest. | 2022-08-14T12:06:38Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts’ Isaiah Rodgers, Keke Coutee injured in preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-isaiah-rodgers-keke-coutee-113122776.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-isaiah-rodgers-keke-coutee-113122776.html?src=rss |
Saturday night was the Bryce Perkins Show at SoFi Stadium. He was the only Rams quarterback to take the field against the Chargers, with Matthew Stafford, John Wolford and Luis Perez all getting the night off.
Perkins took advantage of the extended look in the preseason opener, leading the Rams to a 29-22 win. He played a part in three of the team’s four touchdowns, throwing for two scores and rushing for one, too.
Lance McCutcheon might’ve been the star of the night, however. The undrafted rookie receiver caught five passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns, the first of which was a 60-yard bomb that he caught over a defender.
The defense was a mixed bag of good and bad plays, but it came up when the Rams needed a stop most late in the fourth quarter.
If you missed the back-and-forth game, which featured two lead changes and three ties, check out 10 minutes of highlights below.
Mississippi State football capped its first week of preseason camp with a scrimmage Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. Defense won the day again. | 2022-08-14T12:06:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Watch highlights from Rams’ back-and-forth win vs. Chargers | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-highlights-rams-back-forth-110008440.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-highlights-rams-back-forth-110008440.html?src=rss |
Preseason is a time for under-the-radar players to shine, and Bears undrafted rookie linebacker Jack Sanborn now finds himself in the spotlight.
Sanborn had an impressive rookie debut in Chicago’s 19-14 victory over the Chiefs on Saturday. In fact, his plays were the ultimate difference makers in this game.
Sanborn recorded two takeaways — an interception and a fumble recovery — in the third quarter that helped jump-start the Bears’ second-half comeback.
“It’s something that we harp on all the time in practice,” Sanborn said. “Takeaways are the name of the game here in the NFL. We got a takeaway and then we got another one right after that and kind of built some momentum.”
The first turnover came on the opening drive of the second half, where Sanborn picked off quarterback Shane Buechele on a pass intended for tight end Jordan Franks.
“We were in cover 2 and the receiver tried to stop in front of me,” Sanborn said. “I made a decent break. The quarterback tried to thread it in and I kind of boxed him out a little bit and was fortunate enough to hold onto it.”
Sanborn was all over the field, both on defense and special teams. On defense, he totaled five tackles, including one tackle-for-loss, and one pass breakup. He added two tackles on special teams, but another tackle didn’t count due to a penalty on the Bears.
“He needs to get a game ball for sure,” said quarterback Justin Fields. “He made plays on defense and special teams, so just seeing him go out there, ball out, just seeing him coming to work every day, seeing him put in the work, he’s a baller, and of course he showed it out there on the field today.”
Sanborn’s impressive preseason debut is even more special given it happened playing for his hometown team in Chicago.
“It was awesome,” he said. “It was I think something a lot of kids want to do, especially from the area. So definitely a dream come true almost in a way. But ‘let’s go out there and play,’ that was my mindset, and ‘do whatever you’re asked at your best and things will happen.'”
Andrew Vaughn hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning for the second consecutive night, AJ Pollock homered in the eighth and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Saturday night. Vaughn had three hits for the White Sox, who moved within 2 1/2 games of AL Central leader Cleveland. Liam Hendriks worked around Kerry Carpenter’s first major league hit — a single — and a walk in the ninth for the closer’s 25th save in 28 chances. | 2022-08-14T13:36:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears LB Jack Sanborn reflects on impressive rookie debut | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-lb-jack-sanborn-reflects-121037236.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-lb-jack-sanborn-reflects-121037236.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts may have lost their preseason opener against the Buffalo Bill on Saturday at Highmark Stadium, but quarterback Sam Ehlinger showed some encouraging development in his game.
The second-year quarterback came into the preseason opener during the third quarter after starter Matt Ryan and backup Nick Foles combined to play the entire first half of the game with the first and second teams, respectively.
Ehlinger played the entire third quarter and half of the fourth quarter and wound up with a strong stat line.
The 2021 sixth-round pick completed 10-of-11 passes (90%) for 88 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 139.8 passer rating. He also added four carries for 24 rushing yards.
Ehlinger came into the game and worked the quick passing game well. He didn’t try to do too much against the third and fourth-string defense for the Bills. It worked out well for him as he commanded the offense with high-percentage throws.
What was most evident with Ehlinger was his poise in the pocket. He remained vigilant with pressure in his face and didn’t crumble on the move. He had a few nice throws to rookie tight end Jelani Woods, including an 11-yard touchdown after evading pressure.
The Colts are only going to keep two quarterbacks on the active roster, but Ehlinger showed a lot of improvement to his game and continued to make his case as the QB3.
The San Diego Padres take on the Washington Nationals today at 12:00 PM ET on Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch today’s Padres vs Nationals matchup and the full Sunday schedule of games. RELATED: MLB schedule 2022: Every Sunday morning baseball game on Peacock, matchups, what to know What MLB games are | 2022-08-14T13:36:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts vs. Bills: Player of the Game in preseason Week 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-vs-bills-player-game-120024106.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-vs-bills-player-game-120024106.html?src=rss |
Austin Calitro spent a portion of the 2020 season with the Cincinnati Bengals and later returned to the team in 2022 for their wild Super Bowl run. But on Sunday, he’ll be suiting up for the New York Giants and taking on his old mates.
Understandably, Calitro is looking forward to the matchup.
“I’m looking forward to it, I built a good relationship with a lot of those guys,” Calitro told reporters. “The bond we had from last year, I was actually there in 2020 before they traded me to Denver, and it was kind of full circle that I got to go back last year and be a part of that run because I saw what they were building before Joe (Burrow) got hurt.
“To come back and feel the vibe and the team vibes, the locker room was closer than it was when I left. To have everyone healthy and to go on that run was fun, it’ll be nice to say hi to a couple of the guys before the game and say hi to the coaches that I made a connection with, but when the ball snaps it’s time to go.”
The Giants, of course, are trying to emulate the sort of turnaround Cincinnati experienced last season. And Calitro said the second he stepped foot into the East Rutherford buildings, he felt those same sort of vibes.
“The first thing that I noticed when I walked in my first week here was how close the locker room was, and I think first and foremost if you have a culture and a close locker room if everything else goes bad that’s something you can fall back on. Something they had in Cincinnati is they had a bunch of young talented players and we have that here too,” he said.
“Speaking of the coaches, I think everyone is pretty much in sync coach-wise, and front office-wise, and (Brian Daboll) does a great job telling everyone what he expects, and he holds that to us. That’s the start of a great team in my opinion. I wasn’t there for the entire turnaround, but like I said, when I went back you can tell they didn’t skip a beat. (Bengals head coach) Zac Taylor still had his expectations, and Dabes is the same kind of guy — he has his expectations and you’ve got to meet them.”
Calitro also praised Giants defense coordinator Wink Martindale, who he credited for a great call on Thursday night’s interception against the New England Patriots.
“I happened to get into the window and just did my job at the right time,” Calitro said. “Wink made a great call, it was fourth-and-short, so we knew it was some kind of quick routes, I kind of used my instincts there and tried to bat the ball. I think you guys saw the result.”
Like the close-knit locker-room, Martindale also gives off that winning vibe in Calitro’s eyes.
“To be honest with you, he’s one of the first coaches that I’ve had outside of (former Seahawks defensive coordinator) Coach Norton in Seattle that really keeps it real.” he said. “He tells you where you are, why you are where you are and what you can do to get better in the things you struggle at.
“As an undrafted guy myself, throughout the last six years it’s been difficult, but for me to finally have a coach that tells you what he needs from you and how he sees you and just being upfront and honest is really a blessing and it really puts your mind at ease as well.”
The Molsheim manse serves the French brand's customers much as it did years ago. | 2022-08-14T13:36:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants’ Austin Calitro: Wink Martindale ‘keeps it real’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-austin-calitro-wink-martindale-125511733.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-austin-calitro-wink-martindale-125511733.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts got through their preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday at Highmark Stadium, but couldn’t come away with a victory.
The starting offense played 26 snaps in total, which took them into the second quarter while there was a heavy rotation on the defensive line throughout the majority of the game.
It’s important not to overreact to the preseason, but we still need to attention. Final stat lines don’t mean everything this time of year. It’s more about how a player looked with the snaps they received.
Here are the studs and duds from the Colts’ preseason loss to the Bills:
Our player of the game from the 27-24 loss, Ehlinger showed he’s not the same quarterback from his rookie season. The 2021 sixth-round pick showed a lot of poise in the pocket, evading pressure and making precise, high-percentage throws. He completed 10-of-11 passes (90%) for 88 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 139.8 passer rating. He also added four carries for 24 rushing yards.
DUD: QB Jack Coan
In fairness to the undrafted rookie, it’s not easy to come into the fourth quarter after sitting all game and being thrown into the mix immediately. At the same time, that’s life in the NFL. The Notre Dame product played the final six snaps on offense, completing just one of five pass attempts for zero yards. The undrafted rookie wasn’t particularly sharp during his debut.
We got a pretty good glimpse of the fully healthy Odeyingbo, and it was very encouraging. His motor was high throughout the game, and it’s apparent he’s making strides with his counters. He added a batted pass on a screen, which showcased some great recognition to go along with a handful of pressures. He still has a lot of work to do, but Saturday’s game was a very encouraging development.
DUD: RT Jordan Murray
With Dennis Kelly out due to a knee injury, it was Murray who got the call as the second-team right tackle. Having signed a futures contract with the team this offseason, Murray is fighting for a roster spot. It wasn’t a great start for him on Saturday. He struggled with speed around the edge and struggled to keep his pad level down, which made it much easier for the Bills pass rushers to get into the backfield.
STUD: S Nick Cross
The rookie third-round pick got the start at safety with the first-team defense, and he had a strong debut. On the first drive of the game, the Bills targeted his area twice in the red zone. Both times they came away with nothing because of the strong coverage Cross applied to the tight ends. It was a solid start for the rookie who is likely to spend the majority of the season as the starting strong safety.
DUD: LB Brandon King
While King is undoubtedly a special teams ace, we got a peek at why he has played just two defensive snaps throughout his seven-year career. King missed at least two tackles in the open field during the fourth quarter. If the undrafted rookies he’s competing with offer more upside on the defensive side of the ball, he could find himself more on the roster bubble than initially thought.
STUD: TE Jelani Woods
It was a solid debut for many of the players in the Colts’ rookie class, including the third-round pick in Woods. Though he didn’t get into the game until the second half, he made the most of his opportunities with quarterback Sam Ehlinger. He got the ball rolling with an 11-yard reception over the middle and capped off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception in traffic. After failing to make much noise during training camp, it was encouraging to see Woods have success in a live-game situation. | 2022-08-14T13:37:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Studs and duds from Colts’ preseason loss to Bills | https://sports.yahoo.com/studs-duds-colts-preseason-loss-130231687.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/studs-duds-colts-preseason-loss-130231687.html?src=rss |
Tennessee Titans 2022 third-round pick and quarterback Malik Willis caught the attention of a lot of people around the football world during his debut on Thursday night, including Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson was on the sideline while Willis flashed his skills in the preseason-opening loss to Baltimore. The Ravens quarterback was particularly impressed with Willis’ seven-yard touchdown run.
But his affinity for Willis’ game came before watching him at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night, as the Liberty quarterback originally caught Jackson’s eye with a great throw he made during the combine.
“I saw that throw that he made at the Combine, like a 65-yard bomb, and I told [Quarterbacks] Coach ‘Urb’ [James Urban], ‘He has an arm on him,'” Jackson said, via Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com.
“Then, I saw him in the game, he did that little spin roll to the left and went crazy. I was like, ‘I like him. I like him a lot.’ He’s a great quarterback, and he made some down-the-field throws, too. He’s going to be good in the league.”
Following the game, Willis and Jackson got a chance to meet on the field as the two teams bid farewell to one another. | 2022-08-14T13:37:38Z | sports.yahoo.com | Titans QB Malik Willis has a fan in Lamar Jackson: ‘I like him a lot’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-qb-malik-willis-fan-124726777.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-qb-malik-willis-fan-124726777.html?src=rss |
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Robert Woods did not suit up in the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, and there’s a chance we may not see him at all during the exhibition slate.
While it would certainly be beneficial for Woods to see at least a series or two during the preseason as he comes back from a torn ACL with a new team, a veteran like Woods will be ready to go Week 1 no matter what.
“My biggest objective is being ready for Week 1,” Woods said, via Ben Arthur of The Tennessean. “If coach asks me to go out there [in the preseason], I’ll be ready to go. But really, it’s just being ready for Week 1.”
With some extra time on his hands, Woods is already looking ahead to the New York Giants, who the Titans play in Week 1 of the regular season on Sept. 11.
“Maybe,” Woods said with a big smile when asked if he’s already thinking about Week 1. “Never too early. We know who we’re coming out with Week 1, everybody knows. Just trying to get an edge whenever you can. You have an opportunity to not play in preseason games, just have to capitalize on the time, being able to watch your opponents’ schemes. But that’s when we’re all waiting on.”
Coming off a dreadful 4-13 season, the Giants made key additions to their defense in the 2022 NFL draft by selecting edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and hiring Don “Wink” Martindale as their defensive coordinator, someone Tennessee is quite familiar with from his days with the Baltimore Ravens.
However, Big Blue also subtracted a good cornerback in James Bradberry, who likely would have matched up with Woods quite a bit. With Bradberry gone, Woods could get a heavy dose of Adoree’ Jackson, the team’s No. 1 cornerback and elder statesman of the group.
Woods has put together a strong camp for Tennessee and looks to have no ill effects from the serious knee injury he suffered in 2021, which is good news because the Titans need a big contribution from the veteran in 2022. | 2022-08-14T13:37:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Titans’ Robert Woods already looking ahead to Week 1 vs. Giants | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-robert-woods-already-looking-131658876.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-robert-woods-already-looking-131658876.html?src=rss |
The Minnesota Vikings step foot in the “Death Star” on Sunday for a much-anticipated preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.
While many in the league, including the Raiders, have already partook in the preseason festivities, Vikings fans have patiently waited for the first kickoff of real football.
They’ll get it in this matchup and all of the drama that comes with it.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has already officially been ruled out with COVID-19. So this game will feature the backup quarterback battle between Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond. Neither player has stepped up enough to be perceived as the leader in training camp.
Even with Mannion being named the starter against the Raiders, Mond is also listed as the No. 2 option at quarterback right alongside him.
We’ll also hopefully get a longer look at the rookie defensive backs, Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. Both players are expected to greatly factor into the long-term plans for the Vikings.
Sunday, Aug. 14, 3:25 p.m. CT
FOX 9+
100.3-FM KFAN
Wind – 6 mph | 2022-08-14T13:37:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Vikings vs Raiders 2022 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-vs-raiders-2022-live-130339097.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-vs-raiders-2022-live-130339097.html?src=rss |
The veteran wide receiver is the top-ranked Ram on this year’s countdown of the Mountain West’s best players.
Still a weapon on offense.
There are plenty of reasons for Colorado State football fans to feel excited about the new era of football in Fort Collins, but imagining what Dante Wright, who makes his third appearance our preseason list of the Mountain West’s top performers, could do in the new Fort Air Raid should be chief among them.
Ever since coming onto the scene as a true freshman in 2019, Wright has been a focal point of the Rams offense and last year was no exception. Though injuries limited him to eight games last season, he saw plenty of targets when on the field and was as productive as ever, finishing the year with 43 catches for 538 yards and three touchdowns. If that doesn’t seem like much, keep in mind that on a per-game basis, his receiving yards per game were right in line with what he accomplished in that 2019 breakout and he had about a half-catch more each week, as well.
While it’s likely that he’ll have plenty of help catching passes in 2022, Wright could be more dangerous than ever with less attention devoted to him play after play.
Dante Wright's got 2⃣ TDs today for @CSUFootball. pic.twitter.com/2Xs0TEX0it | 2022-08-14T14:34:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2022 Mountain West Football Top 50: #16, Colorado State WR Dante Wright | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-mountain-west-football-top-134116087.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-mountain-west-football-top-134116087.html?src=rss |
Michigan is coming off a 12-2 campaign in 2021, a truly magical run. The Wolverines knocked off Ohio State, 42-27, at the Big House and shut down Iowa in the Big Ten championship game.
The only knocks on the resume last year were the inexplicable loss to Michigan State and the loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff.
The maize and blue return just about all of their offense from last year. The only two major departures were Hassan Haskins, who will forever be remembered after scoring five touchdowns against the Buckeyes, and Andrew Stueber from the offensive line.
Michigan’s offense should be as lethal as its ever been under Jim Harbaugh in 2022. Whoever gets the nod at quarterback will have plenty of skill weapons to help them succeed.
Every season players that may not be thought of in fall camp, or that will get an extended role, will have a breakout year.
Here are three offensive players that we could see having breakout years in 2022.
This one feels like cheating, but we are talking about a guy that was third on the depth chart last year behind both Haskins and Blake Corum.
The former five-star recruit out of West Bloomfield rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. He also caught 20 receptions for 265 yards and a score.
Now that Haskins has departed for the NFL, Edwards is going to be the 1B in the backfield behind Corum, but according to Joel Klatt, Edwards may be a Heisman contender.
Jim Harbaugh has made it known Edwards is one of his favorite players, and is a generational talent, so the writing is on the wall on how big of a season the sophomore could have.
The maize and blue will be able to utilize Edwards in a variety of ways this upcoming season from running the ball, to receiving out of the backfield, and even being able to use him as a decoy. In fact, during his freshman campaign, he broke a school record against Maryland when he hauled in 10 catches.
We fully expect Edwards to have a tremendous season, and this breakout pick feels like a safe one.
The former three-star recruit out of East Lansing has a real chance to be a star in this Michigan offense in 2022.
The only thing standing in Anthony’s way is all of the other receivers the Wolverines have. The maize and blue are absolutely loaded at this position.
The 6-foot-2 receiver had a solid freshman campaign last year when he caught 12 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. But what really got the nation’s attention was what Anthony did to his hometown team, Michigan State. Against the Spartans, Anthony caught for 155 yards and two scores.
YOU'RE NOT CATCHING HIM ⚡️@UMichFootball gets the first TD of the game thanks to this 93-yard catch and run by @andrel_jr! pic.twitter.com/QecWvygzrP
After that eye opening game from Anthony, he was named Big Ten freshman of the week.
There is a battle at the wide receiver position for 2022, but the physically gifted Anthony is right in the thick of things. The only two players that we would think are cemented into a starting role are Ronnie Bell and Cornelius Johnson.
It seems it would be hard not to give the East Lansing product a long look as the No. 3 wide out this year when it became obvious how special he could be. Anthony has all the tools to be a good jump-ball catcher and he has the speed and elusiveness to outrun the opponents.
All had a very fine season last year after he finished second on the team in receptions with 38 and he mustered 437 yards along with two scores.
After someone ranks No. 2 in receptions for a squad, you may wonder how he could be on this list.
Because All has the abilities to be the best tight end in the country. During Big Ten Media Days, Jim Harbaugh said that he believes All is the best in the country and the only person that could be better than him is Luke Schoonmaker. Pretty significant statement from the head coach.
The former four-star out of Fairfield (Ohio) had a nice bounce-back year after 2020. During 2020 fall camp, All was being talked about as having the best hands on the team, but drops ended up crushing All mentally during the COVID-19 season. During Big Ten media days, All talked about how just one drop messed him up and how he was able to regain focus.
Like we previously noted, the Wolverines have an embarrassment of riches at the skill positions on offense. But the tight end position has been utilized at a high level ever since Harbaugh took the helm back in 2015.
Jake Butt is the only Michigan tight end to win the Mackey Award for the nation’s best tight end, but All has the look to possibly change that in 2022.
Amazon partners with Wright State to offer tuition-free education to hourly employees
The program covers employees who choose to work toward certificates, associate degrees or bachelor’s degrees. | 2022-08-14T14:35:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Three Michigan football offensive players poised for a breakout year | https://sports.yahoo.com/three-michigan-football-offensive-players-123051082.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/three-michigan-football-offensive-players-123051082.html?src=rss |
Fantasy snake drafts are simple, easy to understand, and organized. Salary cap drafts are not. They are haphazard and chaotic. That’s part of what makes them so much fun. Want Jonathan Taylor? He’s yours ... if you’re willing to pay. Your ideal draft strategy or roster construction can be brought to life. You’re not beholden to a certain draft slot or to the whim of the guy picking in front of you.
It’s your team and the decisions you make will completely shape your roster, for good or for bad.
Fantasy Football Salary Cap Strategy
Salary cap leagues come in all shapes and sizes, but the most common will be a live draft with a $200 budget. With that budget, league members take turns nominating one player at a time, and the highest bidder gets to draft him. Draft night can get both hectic and stressful, especially in the early rounds, as you need to be willing to change your approach and strategy on the spot if you get outbid on a player you wanted, or strike at a player you didn't plan on drafting if their salary was too good to pass up on.
I generally budget 90 percent of my total cap for my starters. This way, I have already accounted for some extra funds to acquire some cheap backups in the latter part of the draft. This might seem like a lot to spend on your starters, but these are the guys who are playing week in and week out, so I believe it’s smart to put the vast majority of your resources to that end. Also, remember that there will be some starter- and bench-caliber players available on the waiver wire throughout the season. This approach to spending can give you a star-studded roster with two first-round players, or up to four from the first two rounds, which would be impossible in a snake draft.
In most salary cap drafts, managers are amped up and ready to spend. Usually, big-name players are nominated first, so there is a sense of urgency when the guys that nobody wants to miss out on are on the board, and you usually don't want to reach the third round of nominations without a stud to anchor your roster. The bids come fast and furious and salaries are usually inflated. How do you know if they’re inflated? 4for4's Cheat Sheet can tell you. The salaries give you a maximum suggested bid for all relevant players based on your custom league scoring format, number of teams and number of starters by position. Your goal is to try to get players you like for that salary or less.
When approaching a salary cap draft there are three prevailing strategies to consider when bidding on players:
Studs and Scrubs
I've written about Studs and Scrubs before, as it's a favorite among many passionate salary cap drafters. This approach is to hit the draft hard at the start, acquiring two to four top players — first- or second-rounders in a traditional draft format — that cost anywhere from 50 to 80% of your total budget. While you need to trust your salaries, don’t be afraid to pay a bit more than MSRP to get the guy you want.
Once you have your first few players, look to round out your roster with cheaper assets, hoping your studs will stay healthy and carry you to the playoffs. Depending on how far you pushed your payroll, this may be easier said than done. Managers who saved their money for the middle of the draft are going to be able to outbid you at will, so you have to hope that those managers aren’t interested in the cheaper players that you want. If you’re patient, you can usually find good deals in the later stages of the draft.
When getting into the final rounds with really cheap players I prefer to target high-upside talent. The third wide receiver on an average offense isn't likely to earn a starting spot in your fantasy roster, and may even get dropped in the first month of the season. Instead, look for players with league-winning potential, where taking the lead role in the offense is a real possibility. If things don't pan out you can still drop them after the first few weeks.
Rhamondre Stevenson is a great late-round player with a cheap salary to consider in fantasy salary cap drafts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
This is a high-risk, high-reward strategy. But if you focus on getting your studs for 70 to 85% of their projected value, you'll be in good shape.
Sit and Wait
Another approach is to sit on the sidelines while the other managers trip over themselves overbidding on every player on the board. At some point, they’ll all run out of money having overspent on their studs, and won’t have any money left to fill out the rest of their roster with anything but scrubs.
This is the point in the draft — usually when 60 to 70% of the total league payroll has been allocated — that the proverbial worm turns. This is when you step in with your wad of cash and pounce on value when it reveals itself. It’s not uncommon for good players (players going in the third through fifth rounds of regular redraft leagues) to go for 50% or less than their projected value. The strategy here is to build a balanced squad made up of solid mid-round talent. This type of team will be better able to absorb an injury or two, although I still recommend having one or two weaker spots in your starting lineup that could be set to benefit from smart waiver or trade activity.
There are two drawbacks to this strategy: 1) Fantasy champions usually have at least one or two studs on the roster and 2) It can be difficult to sit idly by at the start of the draft as a series of very talented players come and go.
Both strategies, if followed to the letter, have significant drawbacks. This is why I advocate something of a hybrid approach, which I dubbed ...
The Hybrid Approach
Clever, I know.
This strategy requires the manager to play a little defense in addition to offense. The first thing I do is nominate a player I don’t really want. The ADP Draft Day Sleepers tool can help to identify overvalued players. Just hit the Bargain Score column until the negative numbers come to the top. Look for a big-name player going in the first or second round. Throw his name out there and, hopefully, you can cause a feeding frenzy, eating up some of the resources of the other managers in the league. This will also burn a starting roster spot and decrease demand for comparable players nominated later. I’ll usually cap my bid at 50 to 60% of the player’s value so that no one gets a screaming deal.
Then, as the big-name players are nominated, I’ll bid them up to different levels depending on how strongly I feel about them. Sixty to 70% of the maximum suggested bid if I’m lukewarm, 70 to 80% if I like them, 80 to 85% if I really like them, 90 to 100% if I love them. You can also toss your feelings aside and target players who are being drafted cheaper than their ADP peers; they'll be there in every draft.
Sometimes, I’ll end up with a high bid on two to three big-name players early on. Don’t be afraid to spend a good chunk of your payroll on discounted studs. If you can get three first-round or early-second-round players for 60 to 75% of your total payroll, you'll be in good shape. Two studs at 45 to 50% of your payroll is also a good start. Then just lay low for a while. Only enter the fray if there is a value player available that fits your budget.
If you don’t end up with any studs in the first third of the draft, don’t fret. There are bound to be several first- and second-round talents still available, along with plenty of players who are going in the middle rounds of snake drafts. Keep track of who has and who hasn’t been nominated and only bid with a sense of urgency if the last stud running back or receiver becomes available. Chances are, you’ll be able to get him at a salary that wasn’t available earlier in the draft.
Tips & Tricks to Dominate Your Salary Cap Draft
I’ve compiled some of my favorite salary cap tips and tricks below.
Study Your League's Draft History
Looking at Average Draft Values (ADV) at different sites can be helpful. It's especially helpful to look at the ADV of the site that hosts your league, since the other managers may be influenced by the recommended bid prices provided by the site. But the most useful ADV is that of your specific league. Even if you only have one or two years' worth of data, you can get a pretty good picture of how your league values each position and you can estimate what sort of bid it will take to win a particular player. Let's say that you want to acquire Keenan Allen, and you know he's typically the 11th receiver off the board in 12-team PPR formats. Look at the two or three-year average of your league's draft. What did the 11th-most expensive receiver go for? That's the starting point for what you can expect to pay for Allen at your draft. That's not your maximum bid, just a good estimate. If you're trying to put a draft plan together it can be very helpful to know the estimated salaries for your targets at various positions.
Don't Be the Host
Live salary cap drafts will need somebody to take nominations, keep track of the highest bid, declare when a player is "sold" and write down the player, salary and team. Don't be that guy; it's going to take you away from thinking about your team and studying what the other managers are doing — and it's a thankless job. If you want to be the best manager, stay focused on the job at hand and let someone else run the draft.
Focus on Starters and Skill Players
Don't worry about backup TEs and kickers. If your league allows you to freely work the waiver wire, don't even bother bidding for a backup kicker or a backup defense. Save that cash and land another player with better upside. Remember, injuries often pave the way for NFL stars to emerge. Having a well-targeted sleeper running back at 2% of bankroll is much better than having a journeyman backup kicker at 1%.
Always Nominate With the Minimum Bid
Managers could open bidding at five percent of their bankroll and then nobody else bids on the player. For all we know, that manager could have landed the player for 3%.
Calculate the Maximum Bid of Your Competition
Toward the middle of the draft, knowing the maximum the other managers can bid can be very helpful. With the help of a simple equation in a spreadsheet, apply this formula to each team:
1 + remaining bankroll - # of positions left to fill
Assuming the minimum bid is $1, if a player has $22 remaining and has 10 roster spots to fill, the most he can bid on any single player is $13. With this data live on your computer you can quickly see the maximum anyone can bid. In addition, you can see exactly how aggressive each manager can become.
Feed the Mistake
If two managers get into a bidding war over a player and one eventually overspends, then nominate an even better player at the same position. This works beautifully when you want managers to continue overspending. The manager that lost on the last bid will be even more excited to land a better player at the same position. Others, while they would never admit it and may not even realize it, have been influenced by the bidding war they just witnessed.
Start by Nominating Players You Don't Want
Early in the draft, nominate players you don't want and who are overvalued. Use the ADP Draft Day Sleepers tool to find them. These are players ranked very high using ADP, but not so by 4for4. Nominate these players early and watch all the other managers bid for them, burning up their bankrolls. If you can get the other teams eating up extra cap dollars early, you'll be in control down the line.
Use "Jump Bids" to Throw Off the Competition
If a player you like is nominated, consider using a "jump bid," which is increasing the bid by more than the usual $1 increment. Psychologically, there's a tendency in these drafts for bidders to become more comfortable with a player's rising salary since the bids rise incrementally (i.e. slowly) and they know there are one or more other managers comfortable with the player's salary. When the salary jumps significantly and rapidly, those managers may not reassess the player's salary and you can get him for a discount. For example, say there's a receiver that you like, and you peg his value at $18. Someone else nominates the player for $1, and you immediately bid $10 or $11. If the league doesn't react quickly and increase the bid, you may get the player at a significant discount.
Don't Wait for the Last Stud in a Tier
If you want an elite receiver and feel there are six on the board, don't wait until the first five are gone. At that point, other managers may also realize that only one stud WR is left and a bidding frenzy could result.
Justin Jefferson is one of, if not the top, the elite receivers available. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Start the Run, Don't Finish It
In some salary cap drafts, there will be a run at a particular position. In the beginning, it's often the running back or wide receiver positions. In the middle of the draft, it’s usually the tight ends or quarterbacks. Late in the draft, it can be the defenses. In general, you're better off starting the run than being the one finishing it. At the end of the run, the talent at the "hot" position is usually two or three tiers lower.
Don't Panic If You're Outbid Early
It can be unnerving, nine or 10 picks into the draft, and all the other managers are clearly overpaying, but they have some great studs. You, on the other hand, don't have a single roster spot filled. Don't panic, the math will eventually come to your rescue and put the odds in your favor.
Monitor the Aggressiveness of Your Draft
You should know what kind of draft you’re in by the time the first few players fall off the board. Keep a running total of what players are going for and divide that by their total maximum suggested bids. If the number is greater than 1.1 (110%), then you're in an aggressive league (or at least there are a few aggressive owners). If it's less than 0.9 (90%), you're probably in a passive league, so look to invest in discounted studs early on.
Don't Get Emotional
I've seen managers lose a few bids early, smoke starts coming out of their ears and then really lose it on the next few players. Don't go on tilt. In fact, if you have a hothead in your group, you can often bait them into this type of overspending. Be careful when bidding players up because you might just get stuck with him.
Fill It, Then Nominate It
If you're one of the first guys to fill your starting lineup requirement at a given position and if you're strong at the position, then be sure to nominate plenty of other players at that position. The logic is simple. Let the other managers spend money at that spot in a potential bidding war. After they burn off bankroll you'll be better positioned to work on your other starting lineup requirements.
Invest in Training Camp Battles
In regular serpentine drafts, managers usually avoid players in a training camp battle. Why burn a draft spot on an uncertain player and then wait for five or 10 picks until you get your next one? In salary cap leagues, it’s more palatable to acquire the two guys competing for the job. The reason? Salary cap drafts tend to be top-heavy. In other words, the top few guys demand huge bids. After the elite guys, the player values tend to drop off very quickly. The two guys in the training camp battle tend to be devalued in salary cap leagues so they can be had on the cheap. Yet, when one of the players finally emerges, his value grows exponentially and you come out ahead (e.g. draft RB1 for $5 and RB2 for $3, if the RB1 is named the starter, his value will be much more than $8 you invested).
An example from 2019: In a $200 salary cap league, Miles Sanders went for $10 while Jordan Howard went for $4. Sanders' value by November was in the $25-$30 range, which is significantly more than the 7% of the budget that was invested in the duo.
In a Slow Draft, Don't Bid on a New Player if You're About to Win Another Player
If you’re a high bidder on a player and his timer is almost complete, wait until that auction is done before placing another bid. That way, you'll avoid freeing up money for another manager to bid up the player you're about to get.
Let Someone Else Overpay for a Kicker
Your goal should be to get a good kicker with a minimum bid. One trick is to nominate a kicker in the No. 5 to No. 10 range with a minimum bid early in the draft. You'll often win the draft as your competition is focused on other positions.
Stream Defenses or Look for Defensive Bargains
Expect to pay one to 1.5% of your bankroll on an elite team defense. If you are comfortable with using the waiver wire to change your defenses week to week, look for a mediocre defense with good matchups early in the season and spend no more than $1.
How to Approach 2022 Salary Cap Drafts
Generally speaking, a player’s ADV will closely follow his ADP, so if a certain player looks like a bargain in snake drafts, he’s likely to be a bargain in salary cap drafts as well.
Below is a table that should be useful for those managers who don't have access to their league's draft history. I compiled draft data from ESPN and Yahoo and eyeballed the % of Budget range and calculated the average on a round-by-round basis. Notice that there is some overlap in the ranges.
Fantasy ADP can help you come up with a competitive bid. (Photo by 4for4.com)
As an example, to estimate what Mike Evans might go for in a $200 salary cap draft, we can take his ADP (mid-third round) and see that he should go in the 10 to 18% range with 14.5% as a best guess. So we can plan on Evans going for $20–$36 with $29 as a reasonably likely winning bid.
Important Note: Salaries are going to fluctuate from site to site and from league to league, as managers are influenced by a variety of factors, including league size, scoring, roster size and starting lineup requirements. The best way to determine how your league values certain positions is to look at your league's draft history. Three-plus years is ideal, but even if you only have 2021 draft results, they can help to estimate how your draft is going to go. For more detail, read the "Study your league's draft history" tip above.
Born and raised in Minnesota, Blake is a lifelong Vikings fan who now lives in New York City. He's been in his most competitive fantasy league for almost 10 years, and it's what has kept him active & passionate about auction drafting. His philosophy and strategy almost always boils down to: "What can I learn from all sorts of available data, true to my background in finance?" | 2022-08-14T15:06:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2022 Fantasy Football Salary Cap Drafts: Strategies for securing a winning team | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-fantasy-football-salary-cap-drafts-strategies-for-securing-a-winning-team-145622147.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-fantasy-football-salary-cap-drafts-strategies-for-securing-a-winning-team-145622147.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts are playing it safe when it comes to their star running back as Jonathan Taylor isn’t expected to play for the remainder of the preseason.
Following the first preseason game of the year Saturday against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Frank Reich told the media that Taylor isn’t expected to suit up for the final two games before the regular season starts.
“Yeah, that’s likely the case. That’s really what Chris (Ballard) and I talked about. I can’t see that changing for any reason,” Reich said Saturday. “We’ll get good work this week against the Lions, he’ll get to see a different defensive scheme and players. We’ll thud that up a little bit. So, he’ll get some work there and I think that’ll be enough to get him ready.”
While getting ready for the season is important, it’s wise to keep Taylor from more chances of injury during meaningless games. His worth to the team is far higher than getting a handful of carries during the preseason games.
As far as the rest of the starters, who played just over a quarter during Saturday’s game, the plan is to keep them out of the second preseason game against the Detroit Lions considering they have joint practices leading up to the game.
Given how physical those practices are going to be with Dan Campbell’s squad coming into town, Reich doesn’t want to risk more injury to the starting units.
It’s becoming more of the norm to keep the starters from playing too many snaps during the preseason in order to avoid injury, and it’s not likely we’ll see much of Taylor until the Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans rolls around. | 2022-08-14T15:07:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts to sit Jonathan Taylor for remainder of preseason | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-sit-jonathan-taylor-remainder-133426211.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-sit-jonathan-taylor-remainder-133426211.html?src=rss |
When the New York Giants signed wide receiver Kenny Golladay to a four-year, $72 million contract last season, expectations were understandably high. Many assumed he’d come in and secure the No. 1 role and become a dynamic factor for quarterback Daniel Jones & Co.
Golladay’s first season with the Giants was marred by injury and inconsistency. He finished the year with 37 receptions for 521 yards and, perhaps most importantly, zero touchdowns.
It was a far cry from what the Giants thought they were getting in the 6-foot-4 contested catch master. Of course, Joe Judge and Jason Garrett’s restrictive vanilla approach certainly didn’t help.
But here in 2022, under a new regime that consists of head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, little has seemed to have changed. Throughout the spring and summer, Golladay has failed to create separation in practice and his performance has been underwhelming at best.
Even during the team’s first preseason game against the New England Patriots last Thursday, Golladay displayed more of those same issues. He seemed to be running at half speed, showed little effort and then dropped a potential touchdown.
Could Golladay’s issues stem from a hip surgery in 2020? Although the Giants (under then-GM Dave Gettleman) seemed to dismiss that, it remains the leading theory.
I’m skeptical. I’ve heard from someone who worked on his surgery that his hip will never be the same. They told the Giants this before they agreed to sign him. They signed him anyway.
Whatever the reason for Golladay’s struggles, the Giants need him to figure it out and turn things around. He’s far too valuable to the team and far too costly just to be a warm body on the field. Especially given that defenders have no fear of his straight-line speed and taken to blanketing him like a fresh coat of snow.
In order for this Giants offense to truly function at its peak — whatever that may be — they desperately need Golladay to factor in. And if he doesn’t, he needs to sit on the bench and clear the way for someone else . . . his salary be damned. | 2022-08-14T15:08:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants need more from $72 million WR Kenny Golladay | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-more-72-million-wr-135511164.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-more-72-million-wr-135511164.html?src=rss |
Reporting from Saturday night’s preseason game between the Saints and Texans, Peter King explained that training camp for post-Sean Payton New Orleans is “business as usual” under Payton’s successor, Dennis Allen. The vibe underscores the fact that, but for Payton’s departure, everything else is pretty much the same for the Saints. The players haven’t dramatically [more] | 2022-08-14T15:08:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ron Rivera pleased with Carson Wentz’s performance in the preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/ron-rivera-pleased-carson-wentz-142052611.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ron-rivera-pleased-carson-wentz-142052611.html?src=rss |
Throughout training camp — and pretty much since he arrived in Chicago — Brisker has been making an impact on defense. And it’s been awhile since we talked about the assumption that Brisker would start immediately as a rookie. Now, we know it goes without being said.
Case in point, Saturday’s preseason opener against the Chiefs, where Brisker showed that his performance on the practice field indeed translates to live action.
Brisker brought physicality and playmaking ability to his performance, where he was flying around the field making plays. He also should’ve had an interception. But the lack of a takeaway didn’t spoil his impressive debut.
“They brought me in here to make plays, create turnovers, make big hits, and great tackles and lead them to a championship,” Brisker said, via NBC Sports Chicago.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was effusive in his praise for Brisker’s preseason debut, where he showcased the kind of hard-hitting mentality that’ll make him invaluable on defense.
“The tackling, deflecting the ball,” Eberflus said of Brisker. “I think he should’ve had maybe a takeaway or two. He was high-energy. Man, he likes to hit. I really liked that aggressive style for him, how he’s playing right now.”
But what Brisker will remember most is a sequence of plays in the first quarter where he forced a three-and-out all on his own.
“The one series where I had consistent plays,” Brisker told NBC Sports Chicago. “Where I had back-to-back-to-back. Yeah, I’ll remember that. That’s who I am.”
The Morning After...the Bears' preseason win vs. Chiefs | 2022-08-14T15:08:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rookie S Jaquan Brisker already proving to be difference maker for Bears | https://sports.yahoo.com/rookie-jaquan-brisker-already-proving-142412892.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rookie-jaquan-brisker-already-proving-142412892.html?src=rss |
Linebacker Jack Gibbens has made a positive impression on the Tennessee Titans since being signed as an undrafted free agent in May, and he has even earned a nickname from head coach Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel, who calls Gibbens “Dr. Gibby,” recently explained how the nickname came about and heaped praise on the rookie for his progression and ability to answer questions and help his teammates out.
“Dr. Gibby is smart. He’s picked up the defense extremely well. He’s going to be fun to watch playing in the [preseason opener],” Vrabel said. “He gets everybody lined up. He knows exactly what to do. He can help other guys. He’s always around the football. That’s kind of what we saw last year watching film at Minnesota.”
After practice on Saturday, Gibbens touched on the nickname bestowed upon him by Vrabel.
“He started out calling me ‘Gibby’ early on and then I guess a couple of days into being here for OTAs, I was kind of answering some questions right and, I don’t know, he thought maybe I was a doctor and he started calling me ‘Dr. Gibby,'” Gibbens said.
“I didn’t really get it, I was like ‘coach, you know I wasn’t pre-med.’ I thought that maybe he thought I was studying to be a doctor. He was like ‘it’s just a joke,’ Gibbens added. “I guess that one went over my head. But I guess it’s good to have a nickname. I feel like it’s a positive one, so I’ll take it.”
Gibbens, who made his preseason debut against the Baltimore Ravens and led the team with nine tackles, also touched on his first live-game action in the NFL.
“It’s just football out there. Kind of get a little pre-game nerves but once the ball is snapped, it’s the same game you’ve been playing,” Gibbens said. “It was a lot of fun… just obviously some plays you want back, some things you want to do different but I felt like it went well.”
Gibbens is facing an uphill climb in making the roster at a position the Titans already have three roster locks at, but his ability to catch the attention of Vrabel and Co. will go a long way towards helping him make the cut. | 2022-08-14T15:09:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Titans’ Jack Gibbens talks preseason debut, ‘Dr. Gibby’ nickname | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-jack-gibbens-talks-preseason-140057289.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-jack-gibbens-talks-preseason-140057289.html?src=rss |
The Denver Broncos defeated the Dallas Cowboys 17-7 in their preseason opener on Saturday evening. Backup quarterback Josh Johnson threw two touchdown passes and kicker Brandon McManus added a field goal in the victory.
Check out highlights from the game in the above video, courtesy of the NFL. Up next for Denver is a road game against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 20. | 2022-08-14T15:09:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Highlights from Broncos’ 17-7 preseason win over Cowboys | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-highlights-broncos-17-7-135502845.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-highlights-broncos-17-7-135502845.html?src=rss |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a crushing blow on just the second day of training camp when Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen was carted off the field with a knee injury.
Although it’s clear the injury is serious, an official diagnosis or timetable for Jensen’s potential return has yet to be issued by the team.
Sunday morning, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles addressed Jensen’s status again, following Tampa Bay’s 26-24 loss in Saturday night’s preseason opener to the Miami Dolphins.
It appears Bowles and the Bucs are still hoping for the best, a scenario in which Jensen might be able to return later in the season, perhaps for the playoffs. In any event, it sounds like there should be a more formal update on the situation later this week. | 2022-08-14T16:39:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Latest update on Bucs C Ryan Jensen’s knee injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/latest-bucs-c-ryan-jensen-162539788.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/latest-bucs-c-ryan-jensen-162539788.html?src=rss |
The Pittsburgh Steelers won in dramatic fashion over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night, in what was the best game in Week 1 of the NFL preseason. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett connected with former USC Trojan Tyler Vaughns on a TD pass in the final seconds of the game.
Pickett was 13-of-15 passing for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Vaughns caught 2 passes for 32 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Vaughns was an undrafted free agent in 2021, which surprised many pundits surprised. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts but was waived last season. Vaughns was then signed to the Steelers’ practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Steelers on January 18, 2022.
Vaughns is trying to make the team, which has a deep depth chart at wide receiver: Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Chase Claypool, Anthony Miller, Miles Boykin, Cody White, and Calvin Austin III. | 2022-08-14T16:40:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tyler Vaughns breaks tackle for game-winning TD grab from Steelers’ Kenny Pickett | https://sports.yahoo.com/tyler-vaughns-breaks-tackle-game-161009655.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tyler-vaughns-breaks-tackle-game-161009655.html?src=rss |
LSU has a lot of momentum in the recruitment of four-star St. James athlete Khai Prean, and it seems that process is heading toward a conclusion.
On Saturday, Prean announced that he will be making his college decision on Tuesday. He’s down to four finalists, which include Auburn, Florida State, Mississippi State and the Tigers.
In-state LSU is considered the heavy favorite by the On3 RPM. Just two days ago, the Tigers had a 79.3% chance of landing him. After he set his commitment date, their odds rose to 97.8%.
They also hold five Crystal Ball projections for Prean from 247Sports — including one from the director of football recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, who has an accuracy of 97.45% on 314 predictions in this cycle.
Since picking up an offer from the Tigers in March, he has made the 30-mile trip to Baton Rouge a handful of times, including at the end of July.
“When I went up (to Baton Rouge) for the junior day, I got to meet Coach Frank (Wilson) and I really like the type of person he is,” Prean told On3 last month. “He’s real straightforward, doesn’t hold anything back, and I feel like that’s one person I can go to with anything.
“I got to sit down with Coach Kelly and meet him and knowing he’s the coach with the most wins; sitting down with and him talking to him one-on-one, I liked how he carried himself and with the most wins, he kept his composure and was humble. That’s what I like to see in a head coach and I liked his plan to use me across the middle, to create mismatches in the defense and in the passing game. He compared me to Kayshon Boutte and said I had the toughness you can’t teach.”
LSU had a big month on the recruiting trail in July, and that success has carried into August. Since the beginning of the month, it has landed five-star receiver Shelton Sampson Jr., four-star safety Kylin Jackson and four-star quarterback Rickie Collins.
Prean — who plays running back and safety while also returning kicks for St. James High School — is the nation’s No. 256 player, according to the 247Sports Composite. LSU’s 2023 class currently ranks sixth in the nation, and landing Prean could boost it into the top five. | 2022-08-14T16:51:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | Blue-chip target Khai Prean sets commitment date | https://sports.yahoo.com/blue-chip-target-khai-prean-161350314.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/blue-chip-target-khai-prean-161350314.html?src=rss |
The Cincinnati Bengals got a head start on the cut-down process on Sunday in the wake of the preseason-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Friday.
Cincinnati announced three cuts:
Daramy-Swaray and Jones were undrafted free agents this year. Pooka was an undrafted the year prior and a fan favorite asked to make the transition from running back to wide receiver. A muffed punt during the preseason opener stands out as a play that played a part in the move here.
This is the Bengals getting ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, which requires them to trim the roster down to 85. They’re currently at 87, so expect a few more moves (besides cuts, it could be moves like shifting TE Mitchell Wilcox or others to an injured list). This move also comes on the heels of Wyatt Hubert retiring. | 2022-08-14T18:12:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bengals make roster moves after first preseason game | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-roster-moves-first-preseason-173715061.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-roster-moves-first-preseason-173715061.html?src=rss |
Jackson was asked whether he had a deadline for getting an extension done. He replied, "Yeah, we coming up to it. It's coming up. Season's coming up. We're going to be good for the season." Jackson said he didn't have any updates to share regarding those talks. In June, Jackson — who does not have an agent — said he would keep his talks with the Ravens private.
Though things have been quiet so far, there's no way the Ravens will let Jackson hit the free-agent market. Jackson is a franchise-altering quarterback. In 3 1/2 seasons as a starter, Jackson has already won an MVP award, made an All-Pro team and two Pro Bowls. The Ravens made the playoffs in three of four seasons since drafting Jackson.
How much will Lamar Jackson get paid?
Jackson projects to make a boatload of money in his next contract. Using recent quarterback extensions as a guideline, Jackson can go a few different ways with his new deal. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers opted for a high annual salary, and will make roughly $50 million in each of the next three seasons. Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson got a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal, an unprecedented contract in the NFL. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray topped Watson's deal, getting $230.5 million, though Murray did not get as much guaranteed.
Jackson will likely seek to surpass Murray's $230.5 million figure. While Murray has shown flashes of brilliance, Jackson has performed much better over his career. He has a pretty good argument to get more money.
The Ravens open the season against the New York Jets on Sep. 11. Both sides have a little under a month to figure out Jackson's new deal.
Lamar Jackson wants his new contract by the start of the regular season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) | 2022-08-14T18:13:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | Lamar Jackson implies he will cut off extension negotiations with Ravens once the regular season starts | https://sports.yahoo.com/lamar-jackson-implies-he-will-cut-off-extension-negotiations-with-ravens-once-the-regular-season-starts-172624998.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/lamar-jackson-implies-he-will-cut-off-extension-negotiations-with-ravens-once-the-regular-season-starts-172624998.html?src=rss |
Sean McVay is entering just his sixth season as an NFL head coach, but he’s already garnered the respect of some of the best coaches in football. Recently, Mike Tomlin was asked to name coaches he would target if he were a general manager.
He mentioned McVay in his top five, and with good reason.
“I love my young go-getters out west, McVay and Shanahan,” Tomlin said on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast. “Man, I’ve been boys with those guys a long time. They’re challenging schematically. They take it personal. They’re trying to put their foot on your throat each and every week, and I think their players sense that and buy into that.”
McVay wasn’t the only Rams coach who received some praise from Tomlin, though. The Steelers head coach, who’s one of the best in NFL history, also mentioned Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
During this offseason, Tomlin said Morris is the best coach who doesn’t have a head coaching job in the NFL. It was surprising to see Morris not land a head coaching gig this offseason, even after being a finalist for the Vikings job.
He will probably get even more looks next offseason if the Rams defense continues to dominate like last year. | 2022-08-14T18:13:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mike Tomlin names Sean McVay, Raheem Morris among top NFL coaches | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-tomlin-names-sean-mcvay-180026580.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-tomlin-names-sean-mcvay-180026580.html?src=rss |
The Carolina Panthers will be heading into joint practices with the New England Patriots starting this week. But, unfortunately for a handful of guys, they’ll be doing it with a reduced roster.
Less than 24 hours after the team’s 23-21 win in their preseason opener against the Washington Commanders, the Panthers have waived five players. The departed includes running back Darius Bradwell, tight end Nate Becker, offensive lineman Wyatt Miller, linebacker Kamal Martin and cornerback Chris Westry.
Tuesday marks the summer’s first deadline for cut-downs. Teams must get their rosters down from 90 men to 85 with the second batch (or third if you want to count the all-important Hall of Fame Game) of exhibition contests ahead.
The chopping block will be revisited by the Panthers and the rest of the league two more times before the start of the regular season—once prior to Aug. 23 to get to 80 men and the other prior to Aug. 30 to get to 53. | 2022-08-14T18:13:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers waive 5 players following preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-waive-5-players-following-170456662.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-waive-5-players-following-170456662.html?src=rss |
Why James White is optimistic about Patriots offense despite issues in camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots are making meaningful changes to their offense entering the 2022 NFL season.
The outside-zone offense isn't the easiest to master. There have been plenty of adjustments for each position group to learn and put into practice throughout training camp.
The results, at least so far, have been underwhelming. Pass protection, the run game, the deep passing attack and other elements of the offense have all seen plenty of issues.
It's all a process, though. Improvement will come in time.
Recently retired Patriots running back James White is actually optimistic about what the offense will look like this season, and he also doesn't seem concerned about Matt Patricia's and Joe Judge's ability to get the job done.
"I think a lot of people are kinda rushing to judgment when it comes to all that," White told NFL Network on Friday. "Bill (Belichick) has coached a lot of football. (Matt Patricia) has coached a lot of football. So has Joe Judge. And you've gotta let those guys work. A lot of coaches coach a lot of different positions before they end up being an offensive coordinator. They could've coached on the defensive side of the ball first. I don't think a lot of people realize that. A lot of coaches coach a lot of positions before they get their 'main job.' So you've gotta let those guys work.
There's a lot of talent on that offense from the quarterback position, offensive line, tight end, running backs, receivers. They're very deep at the wide receiver position. I think Patricia, Judge and Belichick are putting those guys in the right positions to be successful. I think Patriots fans will be happy with the product that they put out there this year."
White is correct about the talent on offense. The Patriots have done a tremendous job building up the skill level and depth of the offense. It's come a long way since the 2020 season.
Sure, there might not be an elite level, top-five caliber player at any position on the Patriots offense, but the unit as a whole is pretty impressive.
It might take a few weeks into the regular season for the offense to really hit its stride, but when that happens, the results should be pretty good considering the talent on the field. Remember, the Patriots were sixth in points scored last season, and that was before adding veteran wideout DeVante Parker and drafting wide receiver Tyquan Thornton and guard Cole Strange over the offseason. | 2022-08-14T18:13:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Why James White is optimistic about Patriots offense despite issues in camp | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-james-white-optimistic-patriots-163407107.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-james-white-optimistic-patriots-163407107.html?src=rss |
Boston Bruins fans are really excited about Fabian Lysell's future, and he's only intensified those feelings with his performance at the 2022 World Junior Championships for Sweden.
The Bruins prospect played a role in Sweden's 6-0 victory over Austria with an absolutely incredible goal. Lysell beat the Austrian goalie top shelf from the tightest of angles to increase Sweden's lead.
Lysell was the Bruins' first-round pick (21st overall) in 2021. He has excellent offensive talent and speed -- two elements Boston has been lacking in recent years, particularly in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"We're not going to hold the best players off our team. ... Ultimately, we want to play the best players," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters earlier this week.
"So if Fabian comes in and stands out to the point we feel he's ready, that's fine. But we don't need to rush things with any of our young players. We'll put them in an opportunity and allow them to see if they can succeed."
Whether it's this season or next season, it's only a matter of time before Lysell brings his impressive goal-scoring and playmaking abilities to the Bruins. He is without a doubt the most offensively gifted player in the B's prospect pool.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine inflict losses on the occupiers on Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts the General Staff report
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO - SATURDAY, 13 AUGUST 2022, 18:22 The Armed Forces of Ukraine repulsed the Russian offensive and inflicted losses on Russian soldiers in the area of Pytomnyk on the Kharkiv front; the occupiers retreated with losses near Lozove and Shyroke in the Kherson region. | 2022-08-14T18:42:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | Watch Bruins prospect Fabian Lysell score insane goal at World Juniors | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-bruins-prospect-fabian-lysell-145328358.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-bruins-prospect-fabian-lysell-145328358.html?src=rss |
Four-star defensive tackle and Missouri native Edric Hill announced his top six schools this week.
Edric Hill attends North Kansas City High School in Missouri, and he has a four-star rating from multiple recruiting sites. The senior listed Alabama, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon and USC as his top six.
The Missouri native currently stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 290 pounds. He is projected to be an interior defensive lineman at the next level and would bolster the Trojans instantly if he commits in the near future. USC is a place where Hill could start on day one, given USC’s lack of depth on the D-line and Hill’s physical dominance.
Hill is the No. 7 player in his home state (Missouri) for the class of 2023, and he is the No. 27 defensive lineman in the nation. USC as of today only has 15 commitments for the 2023 class. Only six of them are defensive players, so adding Hill would be a home run. | 2022-08-14T18:54:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2023 target Edric Hill list USC in his top 6 | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-target-edric-hill-list-164212853.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-target-edric-hill-list-164212853.html?src=rss |
The Montgomery area still has an abundance of talent. Recently, 2023 outside linebacker Qua Russaw released his top-six schools. Alabama was one of the schools listed. His teammate, James Smith, also released an identical top six schools. It appears that the two will be teaming up at the next level.
Russaw is a premier edge rusher at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. He possesses great versatility and length for the position. The good thing is that he still has a whole year to develop before arriving at whichever school he chooses to attend in the fall. At the moment, On3’s RPM gives Georgia a slight lead at 45.8% likelihood. However, a decision likely won’t come until early signing day in December. Florida, Alabama and Auburn all remain heavily in the mix at this time.
Roll Tide Wire breaks down Russaw’s recruiting profile below.
Landed an offer from Alabama on October 13, 2021
Took an unofficial visit to Alabama on April 23, 2022
Top schools list | 2022-08-14T18:54:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Alabama listed in top six for 2023 OLB prospect Qua Russaw | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-listed-top-six-2023-183031945.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-listed-top-six-2023-183031945.html?src=rss |
Athlon Sports has been releasing a lot of interesting lists and fodder as the 2022 season gets ever so closer, and they just dropped another. The popular college football preview magazine identified 50 players in college football that could have “breakout” years, and there are two strapping Ohio State lads on the list.
It is, of course, no surprise when a player or two become the next man up and show us some pretty remarkable things at a place like OSU, but nevertheless, here’s what Athlon says about two players it sees as budding starts for the upcoming season.
Marvin Harrison Jr - Wide Receiver (Sophomore)
“The Buckeyes lost two first-round picks at receiver (Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave), but there’s no concern about this group in 2022. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (95 catches in ’21) is one reason why, but Ohio State also has a talented collection of receivers ready to emerge. Harrison, the son of the Pro Football Hall of Famer receiver, is one of those targets. The younger Harrison made a strong impression in the Rose Bowl (six catches for 71 yards and three scores), which was his first chance at extended playing time.”
“Pencil in Tuimoloau or Jack Sawyer to make an impact as a breakout player for Ohio State’s defense in 2022. Tuimoloau flashed the potential that made him a five-star recruit in ’21 with 17 tackles (4.5 for a loss) and 2.5 sacks in limited snaps last fall.” | 2022-08-14T18:54:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Athlon Sports identifies two Ohio State football players as top 50 ‘breakout’ candidates for 2022 | https://sports.yahoo.com/athlon-sports-identifies-two-ohio-181432368.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/athlon-sports-identifies-two-ohio-181432368.html?src=rss |
The first thing that comes to mind for any Buffaloes fan who sees the number 19 is Rashaan Salaam, who was a force in the early 1990s for the University of Colorado. He achieved the highest honor in all the land when he became the school’s only Heisman Trophy winner in 1994.
Salaam enrolled at CU in 1992 and would receive spot duty in his freshman season as the team relied on veterans like Lamont Warren, Kordell Stewart and the receiving duo of Michael Westbrook and Charles Johnson. Salaam’s sophomore season brought about a change in both status and number as he would rush for 885 yards in only nine games while switching from No. 3 to his iconic 19.
Expectations were high for the Buffaloes running back as he entered the 1994 season and he didn’t disappoint. Here are some highlights of that magical 1994 season for Rashaan Salaam, courtesy of CUBuffs.com;
He (Salaam) became the fifth Buffalo to earn unanimous All-America honors that year, as he became just the fourth player in college football history at the time to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season … In setting the single-season CU rushing mark with 2,055 yards, he did not play in five fourth quarters and on two other occasions, he played only briefly in the third quarter; over half of the yards (1,040) came against ranked opponents … Set a school scoring mark that same year with 24 touchdowns for 144 total points … Reeled off nine consecutive 100-yard games in ’94, including four 200-plus yard games (both school records) … Ended his career as only the second Buff to exceed 3,000 career rushing yards (3,057)… | 2022-08-14T18:55:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colorado football countdown to Week 1 kickoff: 19 days | https://sports.yahoo.com/colorado-football-countdown-week-1-165232511.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colorado-football-countdown-week-1-165232511.html?src=rss |
The Heavener Center is designed to help streamline the day-to-day operations of the program as well as overall time management for the team. The practice fields are currently a long walk from the locker room inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, a distance of over 600 yards to and fro, while the nascent edifice now resides right next to the training grounds and is attached to the indoor facility.
Today is the day 🤫
James W. “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center coming 🔜 #GoGators | @FloridaGators pic.twitter.com/x56RZlF8uS
Ahead of the momentous occasion, new head coach Billy Napier offered a few thoughts on Friday in a released statement.
“Everyone wants to talk about recruiting when it comes to the facility, but I think it’s more important to our player experience. It screams commitment and certainly the efficiency of how we’re going to be able to improve as an organization. Time is of the essence and I think the new facility is going to create more efficiency for everyone involved.”
Other student-athletes on campus will also be able to get in on the action in the front quadrant of the massive facility, which includes the dining area and athlete lounges, as well as a resort-style swimming pool and large hot tub, along with a basketball court. They also get access to the barber shop, a virtual reality room, a gaming and golf center, and a recording studio.
The new building is a huge gain for both the students and the coaches, which also includes a 13,000-square-foot weight room and training area along with plenty of office space for the staff. The future is looking pretty bright in Gainesville with this much-needed addition.
TAMPA — The Bucs want to use this preseason to find out what they have in Kyle Trask. Is the former Florida star the heir apparent to Tom Brady or an apparent error in their evaluation that he can develop into a starting NFL quarterback? With Brady taking at least 10 days off in the preseason and backup Blaine Gabbert retiring Saturday after firing a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jaelon Darden on ... | 2022-08-14T18:55:14Z | sports.yahoo.com | Florida football’s state-of-the-art facility set for grand opening | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-football-state-art-facility-163219731.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-football-state-art-facility-163219731.html?src=rss |
Earnest Graham
Gator Nation didn’t have much time to celebrate the commitment of four-star defensive lineman Kamran James on Sunday. Shortly after James made his announcement, 2024 four-star linebacker Myles Graham became the first junior to pledge his college years to the Orange and Blue.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 212-pound defender is the son of former UF running back Earnest Graham and has been among the Gators’ top targets in the class of 2024. Being a blue-chip recruit and legacy had him on Billy Napier’s radar immediately, and linebacker has become a position of need during the 2023 cycle. The 247Sports composite ranks Graham as the second-best linebacker in the class and No. 52 overall.
Being a legacy certainly helped Graham reach his decision, but it wasn’t the only factor that helped him select the University of Florida.
“Out of all the places, this was the one that just fell into place,” Graham said to Swamp247. “It’s the perfect place for me and my family. My sister goes there now, and it just works out for me. I love the staff there. Everything just worked itself out.”
The Legacy Continues.. 🐊#GoGators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/6PNYBzfBpa
— Myles Graham (@MylesGraham2_) August 14, 2022
As a sophomore, Graham worked as both a running back and linebacker at Naples Evangelical Christian. He totaled 130 tackles, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception on defense, and rushed for 595 yards (8.8 yards per carry) and five touchdowns on offense. He transferred to Atlanta Woodward Academy ahead of his junior and is looking to build on that over the next two years.
Graham is ranked higher than any of Florida’s current commits in the class of 2023. His commitment puts Florida on the board (247Sports’ team recruiting rankings) at No. 13, one spot ahead of Miami. As the first commit in the class, Graham has decided to put on his recruiting hat and says he wants to help “build the best class that (he) can build.”
A judge set bail for a man charged in a Chicago police-involved in shooting at $1 million. | 2022-08-14T18:55:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Florida lands 4-star legacy LB as first commit in class of 2024 | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-lands-4-star-legacy-174711428.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-lands-4-star-legacy-174711428.html?src=rss |
Of the 60 teams now in the Group of Five leagues - American, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt - only FIU and North Texas aren't scheduled to play a Power Five team this season, while 26 of them will play multiple P5 opponents. MAC team Kent State is the only one with three, making trips to Washington, Oklahoma and defending national champion Georgia.
An undefeated record alone wouldn't been enough for Cincinnati to make the playoff. But the Bearcats had the opportunity to play Notre Dame for the first time since 1900, and Big Ten team Indiana - and beat both on the road. | 2022-08-14T18:55:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | G5 teams could have fewer chances vs. P5 after realignment | https://sports.yahoo.com/g5-teams-could-fewer-chances-181933451.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/g5-teams-could-fewer-chances-181933451.html?src=rss |
Georgia football is currently in fall camp preparing to defend their national title.
With three weeks till the Bulldogs tee it up versus Oregon in Atlanta for the Chickfila Kickoff game, there are questions surrounding the Dawgs’ running back room.
Talent is not the question here, but rather how upperclassmen like Kenny McIntosh, Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards take over for Zamir White and James Cook, who are preparing for their rookie seasons in the NFL.
Running backs coach Dell McGee expanded on the backfield to the media earlier this week.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JANUARY 10: Kenny McIntosh #6 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with the ball in the second quarter of the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
“Kenny McIntosh, a senior, who had a really nice spring and showed a lot of leadership in the summer work program, and he’s doing a great job of mentoring the two young guys who had just come in in Branson Robinson and Andrew Paul. … He can do everything. He can run inside tackles. He can run outside tackles. He’s really good on the perimeter. He has really, really good hands, probably some of the best hands since D’Andre (Swift). He’s good at running routes. He’s a blitz pickup on third down, so he’s definitely a complete back. He’s learned a lot from James and Zamir.”
Apr 16, 2022; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Kendall Milton (2) runs for a touchdown during the Georgia Bulldogs Spring Game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
“Kendall Milton, a junior, who has suffered some injuries each year that he has been here. He’s been very healthy this spring, and he’s also been healthy this summer, so we’re looking for big things out of him, and he also serves in a leadership role because he had a chance to be led by Zamir and James, four-year guys, and Kenny. … He’s looked great during fall camp.”
Nov 6, 2021; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards (30) runs against Missouri Tigers defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
“Daijun Edwards (has been) a consummate student-athlete. He’s very unselfish, a team player, knows his role and fit. He’s going to be counted on as well this year because he adds value to our football team. … He’s really quiet. He’s not going to be a boastful guy. He doesn’t talk a whole lot. What you are going to get is what you see, based on what you’ve seen. He is very unselfish. He closed out a lot of games. He wasn’t a guy that was pouting because he didn’t get in earlier in the game.”
1000% C O M M I T T E D! Let’s get to work @GeorgiaFootball pic.twitter.com/UgiEGc8HFP
— Andrew Paul (@DrewP30) February 2, 2022
Branson Robinson, Germantown High School.
Branson Robinson2 | 2022-08-14T18:55:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Georgia RB coach Dell McGee updates backfield’s progress | https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-rb-coach-dell-mcgee-162742956.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-rb-coach-dell-mcgee-162742956.html?src=rss |
In a matter of weeks, the Oregon Ducks are going to be traveling down to Atlanta to take on the defending champion Georgia Bulldogs. It’s a game that holds more meaning this year than it would in other years, simply because Oregon’s new head coach Dan Lanning is less than a year removed from helping lead the Bulldogs to the promised land as their defensive coordinator.
If you take the drama away from the game, though, it is still a juicy matchup that will catch the attention of the college football world. That’s something that the Ducks have been able to do a number of times over the past few decades — schedule a big non-conference game at the start of the season to give the team a monster test before Pac-12 play begins.
We’ve seen Oregon on neutral sites in Dallas, in the belly of the beast in Columbus, or welcoming some top-ranked teams to Autzen Stadium. All of these matchups have been important, either getting the team off to a hot start on the season or derailing their potential championship hopes early on.
We decided to rank the best ones.
For this exercise, we looked at all of the non-conference games Oregon has played since 2000 — bowl games excluded, obviously — and put them in order of the ones where the result, either a win or a loss, meant the most for the team. Here’s what we came up with:
2022 — vs. BYU Cougars
Result: N/A (September 17, 2022)
Analysis: It may seem odd to start a list about Oregon history with a game that hasn’t happened yet, but the Duck’s matchup with BYU in Week 3 of the 2022 season will be among the most important games of the year. Everyone is focused on the Week 1 showdown with Georgia, and for good reason, but the Ducks are massive underdogs in that game and will do well to keep it competitive. BYU on the other hand is a very respectable team that Oregon needs to beat. They finished last year ranked No. 19 in the nation, and will offer a great chance for Dan Lanning and this new era of Ducks to show what they’re made of.
2013 — at Virginia Cavaliers
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Result: Oregon Win // 59-10
Analysis: It was the height of the Marcus Mariota era for the Ducks, and Oregon was coming off of a win in the Fiesta Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats. Despite that, there were questions about the team, as former head coach Chip Kelly had recently departed for the NFL and left offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich in charge. Would the Ducks be the same under new leadership? The answer was pretty obvious early on, with Oregon going into Charlottesville against the ACC’s Virginia Cavaliers and stomping all over them.
2017 — at Wyoming Cowboys
Analysis: Do you remember when Josh Allen lined up against the Ducks? He was supposed to be a young, hotshot QB that was poised for the NFL. Instead, it was Justin Herbert who shined on that Saturday in Laramie, while Allen was held to less than 100 yards and zero touchdowns. More importantly, after a tough freshman season that saw Herbert go 2-6 as a starter, this was a jumping-off point for him to start his storied career as a Duck.
2001 — vs. #22 Wisconsin Badgers
Otto Greule/Allsport
Analysis: A win in the Holiday Bowl against the Texas Longhorns in 2000 was a bright spot for an Oregon football program that was still working to turn things around under Mike Bellotti. Could they keep things going in 2001 with Joey Harrington under center? What better opportunity than a Week 1 game against the No. 22 ranked Wisconsin Badgers? A year after losing to the Badgers in Wisconsin, the Ducks welcomed the Badgers into Eugene and squeaked out a victory, carrying that momentum into a 11-1 season that ended with a win over the Colorado Buffaloes in the Fiesta Bowl.
2007 — at Michigan Wolverines
Result: Oregon Win // 39-7
Analysis: An ugly loss to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl in 2006 left a bad taste in Oregon fans’ mouths going into the 2007 season, but with Dennis Dixon entering his final season with the Ducks, there was still hope. That hope turned into confidence in Week 2 when Oregon went into Ann Arbor, Michigan, and trounced the Wolverines. What would have likely been a Heisman season for Dixon was derailed by injury late in the season, with the Ducks losing 3 of their last 4 games and finishing with a 9-4 record. Oh, what could have been…
2009 — at #14 Boise State Broncos
Result: Oregon Loss // 19-8
Analysis: If you were to ask any Oregon fan to point at the most famous non-conference games of all time, there’s a good chance that would choose this one vs. Boise State. It was the “punch heard around the world” for the Ducks, which took place in Chip Kelly’s first game as head coach. It was a brutal start to Kelly’s tenure, but Oregon turned it around and made it to a Rose Bowl that season before helping change the game with Kelly’s spread offense in the coming years.
2022 — at #3 Georgia Bulldogs
Result: N/A (September 3, 2022)
Analysis: Again, we’ve got a non-conference game that hasn’t happened yet, but it’s hard to overstate the meaning of Oregon’s matchup with Georgia to open the 2022 season. We’ve already touched on the meaning for Lanning, returning to his old team, but it will also show what this new era of Duck football is capable of. Will Bo Nix or Ty Thompson step up to the plate? How dominant can Oregon’s defense be against an SEC offense? What with Kenny Dillingham’s offense look like against one of the best defenses in the nation? There are endless questions, and all will be answered on Labor Day Weekend.
2011 — vs. #4 LSU Tigers
Result: Oregon Loss // 40-27
Analysis: The Ducks reached the mountain top at the end of the 2010 season, but had a championship trophy ripped away from them at the end of the game against the Auburn Tigers thanks to some questionable officiating — Dyer was down. Oregon had a chance to get back on the horse with a massive non-conference game against No. 4 LSU in a neutral site game at Jerry’s World. They couldn’t get the job done, getting blown out instead. Fortunately, the Ducks were able to get the season back on track and carry it into a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin. Still, the loss to LSU didn’t help Oregon’s “big-game” narrative that was building.
2010 — at Tennessee Volunteers
Analysis: Coming off of a loss in the Rose Bowl, Oregon had high hopes for the 2010 season with LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner tearing it up in Chip Kelly’s offense. Could they do it on the road against an SEC team though? The Ducks proved that they could with a blowout win over the Volunteers, later carrying that momentum into a trip to the BCS National Championship Game.
2015 — at #5 Michigan State Spartans
Analysis: One of the most historic eras of Oregon football had come to an end. Marcus Mariota was gone, and the national championship loss to Ohio State still stung. With Vernon Adams at the helm, could the Ducks still be a team that was competitive nationally? The week 2 game against the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans proved that they could. It ended in a loss, but Oregon was competitive until the very end and almost pulled it out. Though the Heisman winner was gone, the Ducks proved in this loss they could still be exciting.
2003 — vs. #3 Michigan Wolverines
Analysis: It was a relative downtime in the Oregon program after Joey Harrington left. The Ducks were searching for a starting QB of the same caliber, and Jason Fife was the man in 2003. With No. 3 Michigan coming to town, nobody gave Oregon much of a chance, but they were able to shock everyone and pull off an upset, landing Fife on the cover of Sports Illustrated and keeping Oregon on the map.
2019 — vs. #16 Auburn Tigers
Analysis: A new star quarterback and a new head coach were in Eugene, and the down years of the program that followed Marcus Mariota’s departure had seemingly passed. Was that enough time for the Ducks to get over their big-game woes? What better way to find out than a neutral site game against a top-25 team? It started out well for Oregon, who seemed to be on its way to an incredibly meaningful win to start the season. Of course, though, those old demons came back, and Auburn was able to claw out a comeback victory. The Ducks’ big-game boogyman was back.
2006 — vs. #15 Oklahoma Sooners
Analysis: After the Joey Harrington years, the Ducks were trying hard to stay relevant, but struggling. A close loss to the Oklahoma Sooners in the Holiday Bowl ended the 2005 season, but Oregon had a chance for some revenge early on in the next season at home. They took it. The infamous onside kick late in the game helped the Ducks seal the one-point win, and Oregon had once again downed a national power in an upset at home.
2014 — vs. #7 Michigan State Spartans
Analysis: The Ducks had been successful with Marcus Mariota at the helm, but they were yet to get that really big win under their belts. Going into Mariota’s final season in Eugene, everything was on the table for Oregon, and it started out with a chance to prove themselves on the big stage with No. 7 Michigan State coming to town. The Ducks didn’t disappoint, blowing out the Spartans and establishing themselves as a national contender ahead of their trip to the inaugural College Football Playoff.
2021 — at #3 Ohio State Buckeyes
Analysis: Call it recency bias, but it’s hard to find a non-conference game that means more for the Ducks than their win over No. 3 Ohio State last season. On the road in The Shoe, Oregon was taking on a team that held a 9-0 career record against them, and doing so without two of their best players, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Justin Flowe. The Ducks finally got the monkey off its back and won a big game on a big stage. Does that mean that they will be able to shake that narrative and win on a big stage again? We will find out at the beginning of this season against Georgia.
The veteran Colorado State wide receiver is the top-ranked Ram on this year's countdown of the Mountain West's best players. | 2022-08-14T18:55:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ranking Oregon’s most important non-conference games in recent Duck football history | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-oregon-most-important-non-132739676.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-oregon-most-important-non-132739676.html?src=rss |
Five-star defensive lineman James Smith is planning to play college football with five-star edge rusher Qua Russaw, who is his high school teammate. Both recruits named Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Alabama State, and Ohio State to their top six schools.
Both players are highly-ranked members of the class of 2023. The dynamic defensive duo plays high school football for Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama.
James Smith is the top rated recruit in Alabama and the second-ranked defensive lineman in the class of 2023. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive lineman is the No. 13 recruit in his class.
Carver’s James Smith plays running lanes during a spring game between Carver and Jeff Davis in Montgomery, Alabama. Photo by The Montgomery Advertiser/Jake Crandall
James Smith is one of the top uncommitted prospects in the country. A commitment from the duo of James Smith and Qua Russaw could push Alabama, Georgia, or Ohio State to have the top recruiting class in the country.
The Carver standout also plays basketball.
Kirby Smart and Georgia football have commitments from two defensive linemen in the class of of 2023 in Seven Cloud and Jamaal Jarrett.
The five-star defensive lineman named his top schools via Twitter:
Zion Puckett is the leader of a talented group at safety for Auburn. | 2022-08-14T18:56:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | UGA football in top group for 5-star James Smith | https://sports.yahoo.com/uga-football-top-group-5-171221927.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/uga-football-top-group-5-171221927.html?src=rss |
The Dallas Cowboys started 2022 a lot like they ended 2021, committing 17 penalties for 129 yards. Those penalties extended three scoring drives for the Denver Broncos, and also cost Dallas such as an interception for the defense and big plays both rushing and passing for the offense. Going into the fourth quarter the Cowboys had more penalty yards than they had rushing or passing yards.
It might be hard to find stars in a sloppy, noncompetitive contest, but there were some bright spots for the Cowboys in Denver.
The punter was one of the really good starters the Cowboys were forced to play tonight, and he started his 2022 campaign like he played all of 2021. Looking like the All-Pro he is, Anger had five punts for 244 yards, averaging 48.8 yards, with a long of 57 and two punts inside the 20. One of the two punts was downed at the one-yard line.
Bryan Anger drops a punt at the 1-yard line. pic.twitter.com/Kdaw5ZGBwM
To the credit of the Cowboys coaching staff, a 17-0 deficit didn’t stop the Cowboys from trying to stick to their game plan of establishing a physical rushing attack. The team never looked better then when running with undrafted rookie Malik Davis. He had the highest yardage total on the team, at 51, the best average rushing yards, 6.4, and the longest run of the game, 16.
Davis was impactful in the passing game as well with three receptions on four targets for 16 yards.
Sometimes a star isn’t just about stats. Yes, Ferguson caught all three of his targets for 29 yards and had a few nice blocks, but it was his effort that made him a star. The first play of the fourth quarter, down 17-0 already, Ben DiNucci threw up a prayer on third and 15. The ball was floating right into the hands of a waiting defender when Ferguson made a break for the play and turned to a defender to knock the ball away and save a turnover.
Jake Ferguson breaks up an interception, allowing Dallas a scoring opportunity. pic.twitter.com/Wt6GZNd0Tg
The resulting field goal on fourth down may have been missed, but effort from Ferguson is what allowed the team to even get a scoring opportunity at all. In the preseason, plays like that make stars. | 2022-08-14T19:44:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | A 2021 All Pro picking up where he left off among Cowboys 3 stars | https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-pro-picking-where-left-183742998.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-pro-picking-where-left-183742998.html?src=rss |
Backup quarterback Trevor Siemian tossed two touchdowns in the second half to bring the Bears back and the defense came alive to create turnovers and stifle the Chiefs second and third stringers to steal the opener in head coach Matt Eberflus’ debut, albeit in a meaningless game.
Dissecting a preseason game is a bit different than the regular season, but here’s what we took away from the game on Saturday.
1. Justin Fields looked a bit too relaxed at times
My overall impression of Fields was that he looked very comfortable in the pocket during his three series of work. Perhaps a little too comfortable at times, though. Fields went 4-for-7 for 48 yards on the day, notably connecting with Mooney and wide receiver Tajae Sharpe on big plays, but he seemed a hair slow to react to certain situations.
For one, Fields didn’t see guard Michael Schofield get blown up at right guard, leading to a sack. He also was a tad slow on setting up a screen pass to Khalil Herbert, resulting in a batted pass on his second series that led to a punt. It wasn’t the end of the world and perhaps it’s a net positive that he looks very comfortable while playing in a new offense. There may need to be some minor tweaks, though, when it comes to speeding up the process.
2. Jaquan Brisker is going to make an immediate impact on defense
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 13: Jaquan Brisker #9 of the Chicago Bears in action against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the preseason game at Soldier Field on August 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Rookie safety Jaquan Brisker was already my favorite to make an immediate impact when the season began and I may need to double down on that prediction. Brisker followed up his rave reviews from camp with an impressive performance against the Chiefs offense. He was coming off the line of scrimmage to drop the ball carrier for a loss, as well as flying in from the secondary to break up passes.
Brisker was made for the strong safety spot and the Bears are already having fun with his versatility, lining him up all over the field to make a play. He had the national media talking during Saturday’s game and may not only be one of the better Bears draft picks of the year, he could ultimately become one of the best steals in the 2022 NFL Draft.
3. Braxton Jones looks like a veteran at left tackle
May 7, 2022; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones speaks at a news conference during team’s rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s stick with the rookies and sing the praises of fifth-round pick Braxton Jones, who looked like a savvy veteran in just his first game action in the pros. Jones held up well against Frank Clark and the Chiefs starting defensive line, containing his man and even switching from multiple defenders in the zone blocking scheme to buy Fields time in the pocket, or create running room.
Jones has received rave reviews in camp and those were justified after seeing what he can do in a live game. He looks extremely comfortable out there and barring injury, it would be a shock if he isn’t the starting left tackle come week one. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a great start for the rookie. General manager Ryan Poles may have found a steal with Jones in the fifth round of this year’s draft.
4. Teven Jenkins should get a shot at right guard
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 13: George Karlaftis #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs is defended by Teven Jenkins #76 of the Chicago Bears during the first half of the preseason game at Soldier Field on August 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
From one young offensive lineman to another, tackle Teven Jenkins finally was able to get reps in a live game, even if it was with the reserves. After his tumultuous offseason where he fell down the depth chart, dealt with injuries, and heard his name pop up in trade talks, Jenkins was finally able to show what he can do on the football field and it was certainly a mixed bag at times.
The former second-round pick started slow, picking up a penalty and was beat by a defender that nearly led to a sack on his first couple of series. But as the game wore on, Jenkins settled down and started mauling defenders like fans had seen during his days at Oklahoma State. Given the Bears haven’t solved their issues at right guard with Schofield having a tough game, why not give Jenkins a chance at that position? He could be a perfect fit at guard given his style of play and it’s a chance to resurrect his career. Either way, he’s better than the third stringers he’s playing against and deserves to move up the depth chart at the very least.
5. Trenton Gill won't be an issue at punter
Punters are people too and it looks like the Bears found a good one in this year’s NFL Draft. Rookie Trenton Gill saw plenty of work during Saturday’s game, punting seven times for an average of 42.6 yards. He pinned the Chiefs just outside their goal line a couple of times and should have had at least one more if the coverage team was able to keep the ball from bouncing into the endzone.
Punting at Soldier Field is not an easy task, even in the summer months. Kickers and punters often talk about the unique wind tunnels and field conditions that make kicking more difficult than in other stadiums. Gill had no trouble and that’s going to be valuable when fall and winter arrive later this year.
6. LB Jack Sanborn might do more than just earn a roster spot
It wasn’t just the Bears rookie draft class that was making noise during the game. Undrafted rookie Jack Sanborn was arguably the MVP on defense and helped sparked the team’s comeback win thanks to his stellar play. Sanborn, a local product from Lake Zurich, led the team with seven tackles, all of which were solo, including one for a loss and nabbed an interception and fumble recovery that led to 10 total points on the day.
Sanborn was the talk of the locker room following the game, with Fields even saying he deserves the game ball for what he did. The team rallied around him and while it was a nice story for the preseason, it could mean much more than him battling for a roster spot. Sanborn looked instinctive and comfortable in the new defense. He buys into what Eberflus is preaching and has that takeaway mentality. Sanborn might be playing for a roster spot right now but with another strong performance and the uncertainty at the linebacker position, he might have a shot at actual playing time when the regular season begins.
7. Soldier Field is an embarrassment
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Saturday’s game had nothing to do with the play on the field, but rather the field itself. As players, media members, and fans filed into Soldier Field during the pregame festivities, everyone pointed out the numerous divots and sand areas on the field. For a stadium that hosts the charter franchise of the NFL, it was an absolute embarrassment and, more importantly, dangerous for the players.
There are about as many reasons for the Bears wanting to build their own stadium as there are seats in Soldier Field, but a big one is the ability to control the turf. The Chicago Park District manages the field and it’s rarely in perfect condition, even in favorable weather. But to have the field looking as beat up as it did for a game in August is unacceptable. Even NFLPA president and free agent center JC Tretter spoke out against the field, saying the league needs to step in and do better in evaluating playing conditions.
The City of Chicago has been trying to entice the Bears with fancy renderings of an upgrade Soldier Field recently, but nowhere on those renderings does the turf come into question. These issues have been going on for years and they never seem to get better.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has said the Bears should focus more on winning than wanting a new stadium out in Arlington Heights. Perhaps the Bears would be winning more if they had field turf that didn’t slow players down or make them more susceptible to injuries. Thankfully, this won’t be a problem for much longer when the Bears eventually finalize their deal to move to Arlington Heights. It’s just a matter of time. | 2022-08-14T19:45:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | 7 Takeaways from the Bears’ preseason win vs. Chiefs | https://sports.yahoo.com/7-takeaways-bears-preseason-win-180805961.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/7-takeaways-bears-preseason-win-180805961.html?src=rss |
The Arizona Cardinals entered training camp with only one starting offensive lineman — center Rodney Hudson — under contract in 2023, and not long before training camp it was still unknown whether Hudson was even going to play this season.
The future of the line was cloudy, at best.
Things are beginning to look a little better.
Starting left tackle D.J. Humphries signed a contract extension through 2025. Josh Jones, a reserve entering this season, is expected to start at tackle next year as he enters the final year of his contract. Offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Sean Kugler said Jones could start this year and that he was one of the team’s best five lineman entering last year.
Hudson is still under contract next season but whether he returns is uncertain.
Right guard Will Hernandez is on a one-year deal, but his contract seems to be more of a one-year tryout for a long-term deal in Arizona. If he is solid, he will be re-signed.
Justin Pugh is year-to-year at this point in his career and they drafted Lecitus Smith, a player they see as having a future at center. He could be ready to play guard next year or perhaps compete for the starting center job if Hudson doesn’t come back for the final year of his contract.
If things go as the team potentially plans, they might not need to look outside the organization for any starting position next year, even though it looked like they might have to for almost all of them just a few weeks ago.
Detroit Tigers game score vs. Chicago White Sox: Live updates from series finale
NASCAR race at Richmond live updates: All eyes on Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr. | 2022-08-14T19:45:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cardinals’ O-line future could take shape nicely | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-o-line-future-could-181301842.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-o-line-future-could-181301842.html?src=rss |
The Houston Texans were horrendous at rushing the football in 2021. The offense generated 3.4 yards per carry, 83.6 rushing yards per game, and had just one 100-yard rusher when Rex Burkhead tallied 149 against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16.
Houston added youth to the equation with the fourth-round selection of Dameon Pierce in the 2022 NFL draft. The former Florida running back averaged 5.7 yards per carry, but in a limited role.
Entering Saturday night’s preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints, the question was whether Pierce’s Florida numbers were more statistical sophistry or if there was substance to his last carries with the Gators.
Pierce produced a game-high 47 yards on five carries, including a 20-yard gallop to inaugurate his career — at least in the preseason.
“I think (Pierce) ran the ball extremely well tonight,” quarterback Davis Mills told reporters. “His average was over nine yard or something per carry. If he can keep doing things like that, it will open up our offense in a big way.”
Mills, who went 3-3 for 14 yards passing, was the consummate teammate in stating the “whole running back room is really talented,” but the focus for fans and media will be on the rookie runner from here on out.
Part of why the Texans decided to saddle up Mills as their starter in 2022 was because of the 41-29 win over the Chargers, which was the crown jewel of Mills’ final five games to finish the year. Houston’s run game was efficient, and the plan is to run that same offense all season long with new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton.
Said Mills: “Thinking back on last year, I think we ran the ball the best in the Chargers game. It really allowed the offense to flow throughout the game and be really efficient passing the ball as well because the run sets up the pass. So, it’s going to be exciting when guys like Dameon step up and are able to run the ball. He had a lot of help from the offensive line who performed well tonight too.”
When factoring out Pierce’s 20-yard run, he still had 6.75 yards per carry against the Saints. If the rookie is posting that type of average throughout preseason, he should see increased carries starting in September. | 2022-08-14T19:45:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | QB Davis Mills says RB Dameon Pierce could open Texans offense ‘in a big way’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/qb-davis-mills-says-rb-185915992.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/qb-davis-mills-says-rb-185915992.html?src=rss |
“He fits the profile,” said head coach Lovie Smith about LB Blake Cashman. “He's fast. He's a smart guy. He's kind of new to our system a little bit, but for the people that have been out at training camp, he's flashed quite a bit.” @TheTexansWire #Sarge @blockayyy pic.twitter.com/nzlLpswtC6
One of the more unnoticed transactions of the Houston Texans’ offseason was the acquisition of linebacker Blake Cashman.
The former New York Jets linebacker has opened eyes at Texans training camp as he is looking to bounce back from a groin injury that kept him out the last 10 games of the 2021 season.
All that hard work done during the offseason transcended to the field in the Texans’ first preseason game against the New Orlean Saints. Cashman had seven tackles (four solos) and one tackle for loss during the 17-13 victory over the Saints.
Outside of his ability to help in the run game, Cashman is also good enough to be dropped into coverage and defend his area as he did in the third quarter. Saints backup quarterback Ian Book tried to drop a 26-yard pass over the head of Cashman, but he was able to get his hand on the ball and prevent a big play.
“I think he was a leading tackler tonight,” said coach Lovie Smith. “He fits the profile. He’s fast. He’s a smart guy. He’s kind of new to our system a little bit, but for the people that have been out at training camp, he’s flashed quite a bit. So when a guy has been flashing in training camp practices, you want them to take that to the field on game day.
“And I think, of course, I try not to get too high or too low before I actually study the video. But we like some of the things he did tonight, just like we’ve liked what he’s done in training camp.”
The Texans traded a 2023 sixth-round draft pick to acquire Cashman, who is also very effective on special teams. | 2022-08-14T19:46:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans coach Lovie Smith says LB Blake Cashman ‘fits the profile’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-coach-lovie-smith-says-193103525.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-coach-lovie-smith-says-193103525.html?src=rss |
Pence hilariously changes mind on Giants' pursuit of Ohtani originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
During the latest edition of NBC Sports Bay Area's "Summer Sunday," former Giants star Hunter Pence spoke about the possibility of San Francisco landing the 28-year-old. Pence was initially against the idea, considering the toll it takes to be a starting pitcher and DH.
"I love Ohtani," Pence told hosts Carmen Kiew and Cole Kuiper. "He's fun to watch, but ... I don't like the two-way thing. I don't think he's going to be able to stay healthy.
"And I'm Mr. Optimist. I just know the toll that takes and he's crazy good. I definitely wouldn't be mad at it but I'm just concerned how ... I'm interested and intrigued to watch from a distance."
"But the fact that there is a DH makes it really cool," Pence added. "That is a really good question. I hate that I was like I'm not [into it].
"When I'm thinking about putting that much money into the organization that we know and love, our Giants, I want it to be ... I'm really high on [Carlos] Rodón. I want to keep Rodón here. I wanted to keep [Kevin] Gausman here."
Finally, Pence came all around on Ohtani despite initially being cautious. He jumped all in on the idea of San Francisco pursuing the two-way star, whether it's through trade or waiting until Ohtani hits free agency.
"The dudes that are pitching, coming in, grind, do it for you, those guys earned it," Pence concludes. "And Shohei is pitching and hitting. He's earned it. I'm worried about that investment. But he is a huge ... he is a freak athlete, so I'm backing off my 'Totally against it' [stance]. I'm down for that. I'm down for Shohei.
"As I think about it, I'm like, 'You know what, he's one of the best pitchers in the game. He's just DHing.' I trust our training staff. They're really good. I'm down for Shohei."
RELATED: Hunter Pence to be honored on Giants' Wall of Fame before Dodgers game | 2022-08-14T20:12:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | Possible Giants' Shohei Ohtani pursuit causes Hunter Pence to change mind | https://sports.yahoo.com/possible-giants-shohei-ohtani-pursuit-184900350.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/possible-giants-shohei-ohtani-pursuit-184900350.html?src=rss |
If you posed the question in the headline to a college football fan five years ago, you would have been laughed out of the room.
Even before LSU put together one of the best teams in college football history in 2019, this was one of the most illustrious programs in the country with a rich history of success on the gridiron. Meanwhile, the only other FBS programs in the Pelican State — Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech and Tulane — didn’t have much football history to speak of.
But the Billy Napier era in Lafayette changed that calculus a little bit. Napier, who is now the head coach at Florida, found unprecedented success with the Ragin’ Cajuns. They’ve won at least a share of the Sun Belt title in each of the last two seasons and have a 23-2 record in that span. Over that same period, LSU is just 11-12.
Still, despite recent success, it would be bold to assume things will continue on without a hitch after Napier’s departure. Louisiana at least maintained continuity, hiring offensive coordinator Michael Desormeaux to replace the best coach in program history, but those kinds of hires can be a bit unpredictable.
It’s for that reason that CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee still considers the Tigers the top dog (cat?) in the bayou.
The Tigers have been a disaster in each of the last two seasons, but the 2019 national title, coupled with the ninja-like hiring of Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame, has them clinging to their perch atop the Pelican State. The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have a case in this matter, but we are going to hold off on seeing what they look like in the post-Billy Napier era.
Despite things reaching a nadir at the back end of the Ed Orgeron era, LSU looks to be on its way back up after hiring Kelly — the third-winningest active head coach in the FBS — away from Notre Dame. Year 1 may have ups and downs in Baton Rouge, but given the early recruiting returns, that dip isn’t likely to last long.
The state of Louisiana is arguably more competitive than it has ever been right now, but the Tigers still represent the flagship program, and that isn’t likely to change any time soon.
Ed Orgeron in attendance at Louisiana football's team scrimmage
Former LSU football coach Ed Orgeron was in attendance at Louisiana's first scrimmage of preseason practice Saturday. | 2022-08-14T20:57:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Is LSU still the top football team in Louisiana? | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-still-top-football-team-190034917.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-still-top-football-team-190034917.html?src=rss |
But not all traditions are created equal. Some envoke goosebumps and chills because they are so special and have been around forever, some get the crowd whipped up in a frenzy, while some are newer and still finding their way into the collective psyche of the college football world.
Call us biased, but the Big Ten might have more storied traditions than any other conference, and if not, what you see on Saturdays in the fall is at least up there with other leagues. Some have found their way on lists of best traditions in all of college football.
We decided to get in the game and give it the ‘ole college try at ranking the ten best Big Ten football traditions. But before we do, remember that this is just an opinion piece and normally what we hear is that your school has the best tradition and is severely underrated, while an opposing school’s traditions are overrated. It’s the way of the world.
Undaunted though, here we go with our list of the ten best Big Ten football traditions as we count down from No. 10 to the best of the best. Take it to the bank.
Paul Bunyan's Axe - Wisconsin and Minnesota
Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz, holding Paul Bunyan’s Axe, will likely be playing his final game for the Badgers in the Rose Bowl. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
Why it makes the list
Why not start with a tradition that could poke someone’s eye out? To be fair, it’s not a real ax with sharp edges, but it still looks dangerous. Wisconsin and Minnesota have been playing for Paul Bunyan’s ax since 1948, the year after the original “trophy”, the “slab of bacon” — which feels about as upper midwest as you can get — disappeared.
Big Bass Drum - Purdue
A Purdue student beats their Big Bass Drum, Indianapolis, Saturday, May 28, 2022, during the 500 Festival Parade. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
The “World’s Largest Drum” was commissioned in 1921 and can be seen at home football games and other special events in and around the area. It stands about 10 feet high in its carriage and is a symbol of the Purdue band and football team. Interestingly enough, it was harder than you think to make because of finding hides large enough to stretch out over the drum. All of that effort to make an iconic symbol is worth making the list.
Gold Pants - Ohio State
Ohio State's Michael Thomas shows off his "gold pants" for beating Michigan in football! http://t.co/zuQNDVwVEW pic.twitter.com/IWNeYo1ltz
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) April 14, 2015
The Ohio State vs. Michigan game could be considered the best tradition in all of college football if we really wanted to, but there are things that surround the game that are unique. Every time the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines, each player is awarded a “pair of gold pants” charm. Former Ohio State head coach Francis Schmidt started the tradition when OSU was finding its footing against Michigan back in 1934 by saying “They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us.” There have been a lot of gold pants hanging around former Ohio State football players’ necks over the last couple of decades.
The Boilermaker Special - Purdue
Aris Hoath drives the Boilermaker Special, the official mascot of Purdue University, in downtown Louisville on March 28. He says it is street legal with a top speed of 75 miles an hour. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
There are mascots, and then there are mascots. We can’t forget about “Purdue Pete” parading around with a hammer in his hand, but the official mascot of Purdue University is a literal engine named the “Boilermaker Special.” It was first introduced in 1940 and there’s a “Boilermaker Xtra Special” that comes out onto the field for football games. As mechanical things do, it has a tendency to not last, so Purdue is on its eighth version in some way shape or form as a nod to its engineering heritage. Believe it or not, the bigger engine can actually get up to 75 miles per hour. Remember — stay out of the passing lane.
The Tunnel Walk - Nebraska
Nebraska’s “Tunnel Walk” has only been around since 1994, but even if you aren’t a Cornhuskers fan, experiencing it will give you chills. The team prepares to enter the stadium by walking down “red carpet” or field turf, with fans surrounding them, then burst out onto the field to a frenzied crowd of over 90,000 fans. It’s all shown on the jumbotron while “Sirius” plays throughout the stadium.
White Out - Penn State
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – OCTOBER 19: General view of the white out crowd before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on October 19, 2019 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
You don’t have to be there in person to understand how intimidating and awe-inspiring a White Out game in Happy Valley is. The environment has been called by many as the greatest in all of college football. Imagine a frenzied crowd dressed all in white with the music pumping, fans jumping, and the stadium moving. There’s no more intimidating setting to go in, period. The tradition has only been around since 2004, but the 2005 version of the game when Penn State upset No. 6 Ohio State cemented the White Out as an annual event that rivals any setting you’ll see in college football.
Go Blue banner - Michigan
Michigan players jump up to touch the banner as they take the field for the Ohio State game at Michigan Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
It’s simple, but it’s still iconic. In 1962, Michigan was having a bad year with just one win in six games. A literal bed sheet was made by the hockey coach’s wife with a Block M on it to show the team support. The team went out to win the next game and it became tradition. Now, before every home game, the Michigan players take the field and run to jump the “Go Blue” banner with seniors in front and freshmen in the back. When you watch it, you know you are watching college football, most likely on a gold, gray Saturday in the Midwest.
Jump Around - Wisconsin
I have to admit, I haven’t yet made the trek to cover an Ohio State game up at Wisconsin, but it’s on my bucket list. And it’s not because of the football team, it’s because of this tradition. Visually speaking, it’s awe inspiring. “Jump Around” takes place at the beginning of every 4th quarter and was first played in 1998 off of a playlist of favorite songs. It took off, was tried again to see if the result was the same, and it has been that way ever since.
The Hawkeye Wave - Iowa
Nov 20, 2021; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Fans take part in The Wave after the first quarter in the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Kinnick Stadium. Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
The Hawkeye Wave hasn’t been around very long at all, and like most traditions, it started organically. It started in 2017 when the new University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital that overlooks Kinnick Stadium was completed.
A fan on social media suggested that fans in attendance wave back to the top floor of the hospital as a sign of hope and it took off. Each home game day, the “wave” takes place when the clock strikes zero at the end of the first quarter. We may not have this tradition ranked No. 1 because of how new it is, but it’s definitely No. 1 as the most sentimental.
Script Ohio - Ohio State
Ohio State still football eyeing a full stadium in the fall
Oct 11, 2008; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes marching band performs ‘Script Ohio’ before kick-off against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Could there be any other? Even opposing fans that come to home games at Ohio State stay in their seats to watch the “Best Damn Band in the Land” march through spelling out the word Ohio to Le Regiment. At the end of it, a sousaphone player takes to the top of the formation to “dot the I.” It brings chills every time and is actually a very complex coordination that takes a lot of rehearsal. It takes place before every game the band is in attendance for and has been in place since October 10, 1936. Many consider it the best tradition in all of college football. Shockingly, we agree. | 2022-08-14T20:57:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ranking Big Ten football’s top ten traditions | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-big-ten-football-top-201118706.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-big-ten-football-top-201118706.html?src=rss |
Sunday’s preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders marks the beginning of a new era for the Minnesota Vikings. But if fans are coming into this game thinking they’re going to get a sneak peak of what’s underneath the hood, they’ll be sadly disappointed.
With less than two hours to go before kickoff, the Vikings released their list of inactives for the game.
The list featured 10 prominent starters, including Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, Patrick Peterson, Danielle Hunter, Za’Darius Smith, Harrison Smith, Eric Kendricks and Adam Thielen.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins was officially ruled out on Friday after testing positive for COVID-19, and tight end Irv Smith Jr. is still recovering from thumb surgery after suffering an injury during training camp.
Thirteen #Vikings are not expected to play in today's preseason opener. pic.twitter.com/F7pOJy1E3b
The preseason opener will feature more of the backup quarterback battle between Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion. There should also be plenty of opportunities for the rookie defensive backs, Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr., to get in on some action as well. | 2022-08-14T21:14:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | 10 starters land on inactives list for Vikings vs Raiders preseason opener | https://sports.yahoo.com/10-starters-land-inactives-list-194231019.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/10-starters-land-inactives-list-194231019.html?src=rss |
The Atlanta Falcons didn’t have to wait long for rookie WR Drake London to make his presence felt during Friday’s opener. On the team’s opening drive, QB Marcus Mariota connected with London on a drag route that went for 24 yards.
Unfortunately, London tweaked his knee and did not return to the game, although it was later reported that the injury was not serious. London, the No. 8 overall selection in this year’s draft, was nowhere to be seen on Sunday.
After practice, Falcons coach Arthur Smith said he has no long-term concerns about London’s injury. However, Smith also said the rookie will likely miss practice this week, per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.
On the bright side, London can clearly play at the NFL level. His lone catch in Friday’s preseason win over the Lions was enough to lead the team in receiving yards.
Atlanta would be wise to take a conservative approach with London for the remainder of the preseason with the hope that he can return healthy for Week 1 against the Saints. | 2022-08-14T21:14:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Arthur Smith gives update on rookie WR Drake London’s injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/arthur-smith-gives-rookie-wr-204527609.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/arthur-smith-gives-rookie-wr-204527609.html?src=rss |
An injury and inconsistency forced the Green Bay Packers to make a change at kicker after Friday night’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Packers released rookie kicker Gabe Brkic and signed kicker Ramiz Ahmed on Sunday.
Coach Matt LaFleur said Brkic “tweaked” his hamstring during pre-game warmups in San Francisco on Friday night. Although Brkic made all three extra points, he was limited on kickoffs and later shanked a field goal attempt wide left.
With Mason Crosby still on the PUP list with a knee injury, the Packers had to make a move for a second kicker, so Ahmed was picked from the free-agent list to replace Brkic on the 90-man roster.
Ahmed was an undrafted free agent out of Nevada in 2020 who spent some time with the Chicago Bears as a rookie. Earlier this year, Ahmed made 14 of 22 field goals (63.6 percent) as a member of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL. At Nevada, Ahmed made 15 of 20 field goals. | 2022-08-14T21:15:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Packers sign K Ramiz Ahmed, release K Gabe Brkic | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-sign-k-ramiz-ahmed-203128672.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-sign-k-ramiz-ahmed-203128672.html?src=rss |
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed a shoulder injury for safety Dallin Leavitt and provided an ominous timeline for his return when asked before practice on Sunday.
Per LaFleur, Leavitt is expected to be out “a while” after he left Friday’s preseason opener against the 49ers with a shoulder injury.
Leavitt, who was signed with the Packers on July 25, was injured while making a tackle late in the first half. He was down on the field for some time in visible pain while trainers attended to his injury.
It’s unclear what specific shoulder injury Leavitt suffered. The timeline suggests surgery could be in the cards.
Leavitt, a favorite of special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, arrived in Green Bay as a front runner to win a backup spot at safety, mostly due to his ability on special teams. He led the Raiders in special teams tackles a year ago.
His injury could open the door for a player such as Vernon Scott, Shawn Davis, Innis Gaines or rookie Tariq Carpenter to make the team as one of the backup safeties.
Before his injury, Leavitt gave up a long touchdown pass to rookie Danny Gray in the first half of the Packers’ 28-21 loss to the 49ers.
LaFleur did confirm that none of the other injuries suffered during the preseason opener are expected to be long term. | 2022-08-14T21:15:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Shoulder injury for Packers S Dallin Leavitt could be serious | https://sports.yahoo.com/shoulder-injury-packers-dallin-leavitt-204739692.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/shoulder-injury-packers-dallin-leavitt-204739692.html?src=rss |
The first takeaway of the Lovie Smith era — at least in the preseason — came when Houston Texans cornerback Tremon Smith picked off New Orleans Saints quarterback Ian Book.
Smith came up with the deflected pass with 3:03 to go in the first quarter and returned the free possession 12 yards to the Saints’ 34-yard line in Houston’s 17-13 win Saturday night at NRG Stadium.
The pick was another example of what Smith can provide for the defense. The 26-year-old from Central Arkansas is already an exceptional returner having posted a 25.6 yards per kickoff return last year along with a touchdown.
‘The more things you do, the better your chances, and Tremon is our returner,” Smith told reporters. “He’s gotten the ball in the end zone. We’ve seen him. We know what he can do in that role.”
What Smith would like to see from the fifth-year veteran cornerback is the activation of his returner skills after he has come up with a takeaway.
“When you say the more things you can do — to be able to do that and also play good ball at the cornerback position in a backup role is big for us,” said Smith. “And it’s always good when a cornerback will get his hands on the ball. What I expect when he got his hands on the ball, since he’s our returner, I was hoping he could maneuver and use some of those moves to get it into the end zone.”
In terms of a return, Smith’s interception return was three yards shorter than his lone punt return of the night. Smith also had a 25-yard kickoff return against the Saints.
If Smith were able to get at least 25 yards per takeaway recovery, it would help the Texans’ offense with favorable field position.
“We’ll work on that next week,” Smith said. | 2022-08-14T21:15:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans coach Lovie Smith wants CB Tremon Smith to use returner skills on interceptions | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-coach-lovie-smith-wants-194538018.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-coach-lovie-smith-wants-194538018.html?src=rss |
“I messed that whole game up right away when I gave up a home run to Harris right down the middle. That’s on me,” Scott said.
“I think the one thing we do see in this is our pitching keeps us in games,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “There’s not many of these games that we’re not close. The encouraging part is you feel like at least we’re going to be competitive today and not be down nine runs in the second. You feel like if you put some runs together we’ll be in the game.
“That’s the positive, but you want guys to keep fighting and keep playing hard and you find out who they are. Are they going to keep working and keep showing up and then the organization can make a decision as to is this guy right for us? Is he good enough or not good enough? The frustrating part is that we did that last year.”
“I think my sinker got me out of trouble whenever I got behind in counts,” Garrett said. “It got me a few extra ground balls and that was really key.”
“It’s not what you want, but you have to take it next batter and one pitch at a time and that was not a good job by me after Braxton just threw the heck out of the ball and Dylan and Steven as well,” Scott said. | 2022-08-14T21:46:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | Blown save squanders solid start as Braves complete sweep over anemic-hitting Marlins | https://sports.yahoo.com/blown-save-squanders-solid-start-205057913.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/blown-save-squanders-solid-start-205057913.html?src=rss |
Though the college football season has not yet started, it is never too early to begin making projections for the postseason.
A lot can happen over the course of the season that can impact a program’s chances of making a competitive bowl. The goal is to be one of the four teams that are selected to the College Football Playoff to compete for a national championship.
However, many programs have goals of simply making a bowl game.
CBS Sports Jerry Palm recently revealed his bowl game projections for the 2022 season. The SEC is one of the most represented conferences, despite some not expected to qualify.
Here are Bowl Season projections for all 14 SEC programs.
Vanderbilt - Didn't make it
Jerry Palm’s projections don’t include Vanderbilt. A minimum of six wins is required in order to be invited to a bowl.
Auburn - Didn't make it
Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Auburn Tigers helmet during the second half in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Auburn Tigers 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Whether they weren’t invited or didn’t win at least six games, Auburn was left off of Palms projections.
Missouri - Didn't make it
Though it appears as if the program is trending in the right direction, Palm leaves off Missouri in his projections.
LSU - Las Vegas Bowl
LSU is projected to represent the SEC in the Las Vegas Bowl, which features a program from the SEC and one from the Pac-12. The Tigers would face Washington.
South Carolina - Birmingham Bowl
Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks face Maryland in the Birmingham Bowl.
Ole Miss - Liberty Bowl
Lane Kiffin leads his team into the postseason, but far from the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss takes on Kansas State.
Mississippi State - Texas Bowl
Mike Leach and the Bulldogs face off against Iowa State in the Texas Bowl.
Arkansas - Gator Bowl
Nov 23, 2019; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; General view of Arkansas Razorbacks helmet during the second half game against LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
The Arkansas Razorbacks face the rapidly rising Miami Hurricanes in the Gator Bowl.
Kentucky - Music City Bowl
In this projection, Kentucky takes on Mel Tucker and Michigan State in the Music City Bowl.
Florida - ReliaQuest Bowl
Florida’s 2022 season will be an interesting one to watch. Palm projects the Gators end the season in the ReliaQuest Bowl taking on the Wisconsin Badgers.
Tennessee - Citrus Bowl
The Tennessee Volunteers work their way into the Citrus Bowl to face Penn State.
Texas A&M - Sugar Bowl
Texas A&M would take on Baylor in the Sugar Bowl, according to Palm’s projection.
Georgia - Fiesta Bowl (CFP)
Georgia returns to the College Football Playoff after winning it all last year. To play for a championship, the Bulldogs will have to face Ohio State in the First Bowl first.
Alabama - Peach Bowl (CFP)
Alabama will try and avenge the loss in the national championship from last season, but will first have to get through Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl.
Orange County deputies and domestic violence advocates have voiced their concern about the number of stalking cases using a new device.
Dario Argento’s 7 Best Horror Films, from ‘Suspiria’ to ‘Tenebrae’ to ‘Opera’
The Italian writer-director's masterful "Suspiria" is turning 45. But with flicks like "Deep Red" and "Opera" in the mix, is it his best film? | 2022-08-14T21:46:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bowl game projections for all 14 SEC teams | https://sports.yahoo.com/bowl-game-projections-14-sec-205444883.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bowl-game-projections-14-sec-205444883.html?src=rss |
The Los Angeles Dodgers were a runaway freight train on a streak not seen in 100 years, with an outstanding lineup laden with All-Stars and multiple former MVPs. But Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer was unmoved by his opponents’ accolades, streaks and resumes on Sunday afternoon.
Singer took the mound against the majors’ hottest team and dominated thoroughly for six innings, setting the Royals on the path to a 4-0 win in front of an announced 18,481 in attendance for the finale of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.
Singer pitched six scoreless innings an held the juggernaut Dodgers to one hit. He struck out seven and walked three.
The Royals (48-68) snapped the Dodgers’ win streak at 12 games.
The Dodgers had became the first National League team to win 12 straight games by multiple runs since the Pittsburgh Pirates had a 13-game streak in 1922.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino went 3 for 4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. Salvador Perez (1 for 3) and Kyle Isbel (1 for 2) also drove in runs.
In his last five starts, Singer has allowed just six earned runs. Those starts have included matchups against the Dodgers, who own the best record in the majors, the AL East-leading New York Yankees and the playoff-contending Chicago White Sox.
The Dodgers and Yankees are the top-scoring teams in the majors. | 2022-08-14T21:46:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Brady Singer dazzles as Kansas City Royals snap L.A. Dodgers’ streak in series finale | https://sports.yahoo.com/brady-singer-dazzles-kansas-city-211320584.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/brady-singer-dazzles-kansas-city-211320584.html?src=rss |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.