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Will Frank Ragnow Become NFL's Highest Paid Center? | In a recent SI All Lions roundtable article, the question was posed regarding who is the Detroit Lions best player on the 2021 roster. Several readers weighd in and commented that center Frank Ragnow should be in the conversation based on his play the past couple of seasons. The 2018 first-round pick cemented his place in the hearts of fans when he completed an entire football game against the Green Bay Packers last season with a fractured throat. Ragnow signaled to his teammates that he lost his voice early in divisional matchup last December. He then did not miss a single snap the remainder of the game. "He came up to me early in the game, and was very hoarse and kind of faint sounding and was like, 'I cant really talk right now. I cant really talk, just to let you know. Just make sure youre communicating with everybody up front even more than (you) normally would,'" Matthew Stafford said regarding Ragnow. "So, it was kind of crazy, but it was good. Didnt have any communication issues the rest of the game, really." Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports According to The Athletic, it is going to cost the Lions $12,657,00 to pick up the centers fifth-year option. Corey Linsley is currently the highest-paid center in the league. The Los Angeles Charges center signed a five-year, $62.5 million agreement back in March. The contract will pay Linsley $26 million over his first two seasons with his new team. In 2019, Ragnow allowed just two sacks on 996 offensive snaps and earned a 74.9 grade from Pro Football Focus -- ranking sixth among 38 qualified centers. Last season, Ragnow did not allow a sack in 929 snaps and only had three penalties called against him all season. He earned a PFF grade of 80.3. Vote here. More from SI All Lions: Odds Lions Trade Down from No. | Frank Ragnow should be in the conversation for the NFL's highest-paid center. The Detroit Lions center is set to earn $12,657,00 for his fifth-year option. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/polls/poll-should-ragnow-be-highest-paid-center | 0.233946 |
Will Frank Ragnow Become NFL's Highest Paid Center? | In a recent SI All Lions roundtable article, the question was posed regarding who is the Detroit Lions best player on the 2021 roster. Several readers weighd in and commented that center Frank Ragnow should be in the conversation based on his play the past couple of seasons. The 2018 first-round pick cemented his place in the hearts of fans when he completed an entire football game against the Green Bay Packers last season with a fractured throat. Ragnow signaled to his teammates that he lost his voice early in divisional matchup last December. He then did not miss a single snap the remainder of the game. "He came up to me early in the game, and was very hoarse and kind of faint sounding and was like, 'I cant really talk right now. I cant really talk, just to let you know. Just make sure youre communicating with everybody up front even more than (you) normally would,'" Matthew Stafford said regarding Ragnow. "So, it was kind of crazy, but it was good. Didnt have any communication issues the rest of the game, really." Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports According to The Athletic, it is going to cost the Lions $12,657,00 to pick up the centers fifth-year option. Corey Linsley is currently the highest-paid center in the league. The Los Angeles Charges center signed a five-year, $62.5 million agreement back in March. The contract will pay Linsley $26 million over his first two seasons with his new team. In 2019, Ragnow allowed just two sacks on 996 offensive snaps and earned a 74.9 grade from Pro Football Focus -- ranking sixth among 38 qualified centers. Last season, Ragnow did not allow a sack in 929 snaps and only had three penalties called against him all season. He earned a PFF grade of 80.3. Vote here. More from SI All Lions: Odds Lions Trade Down from No. | Frank Ragnow should be in the conversation for the NFL's highest-paid center. The Detroit Lions have a fifth-year option on Ragnow's contract that will pay him $12,657,00. Ragnow played the entire game against the Green Bay Packers last season with a fractured throat. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/polls/poll-should-ragnow-be-highest-paid-center | 0.313896 |
Should the Bears consider trading up with Falcons for No. 4 pick? | With the 2021 NFL draft less than three weeks away, theres been plenty of discussion about what the Chicago Bears are going to do with a plethora of positional needs. While general manager Ryan Pace has only drafted one quarterback in his six-year tenure, the Bears are primed to select a quarterback in this years draft. Whether thats in the first round or on Day 2 remains to be seen. But theres always the possibility that Chicago could trade up to try and land one of the top five quarterback prospects. Theres already been one big trade ahead of the draft with the San Francisco 49ers trading a boatload of picks their 12th-overall pick, a 2022 third-round compensatory pick and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 to the Miami Dolphins to move up to the third overall pick, where theyre primed to select a quarterback. But there could be more movement leading up to the draft. According to ESPNs Adam Schefter, the Atlanta Falcons are willing to trade the No. 4 pick and have been in discussions with teams about potential trades. On Good Morning Football, NFL Network analyst Peter Schrager believes the Bears are among a handful of teams that should be engaging with the Falcons for that fourth overall pick. Atlanta holds the keys to the Draft with the fourth pick right now, Schrager said. Id look at Denver, New England, Washington, even Chicago to pick up that phone and see what it would take. Atlantas willing to listen. This is where it gets really interesting. Atlanta holds the keys to the Draft with the 4th pick right now. Id look at Denver, New England, Washington, even Chicago to pick up that phone and see what it would take. Atlantas willing to listen. This is where it gets really interesting. @PSchrags pic.twitter.com/kl0rxYEmYl GMFB (@gmfb) April 6, 2021 If someone does trade up for that fourth overall pick, theyll be looking for a quarterback, which would likely mean four quarterbacks chosen with the first four picks. Story continues With Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson looking to go 1-2 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, that would leave Justin Fields, Trey Lance and Mac Jones as the remaining top quarterback prospects on the board. The San Francisco 49ers are a team to keep an eye on as theyre rumored to be interested in Mac Jones, who is believed by many to be the fifth quarterback in this class. That would leave Fields and Lance up for grabs, which should certainly intrigue the Bears. List | The 2021 NFL draft is less than three weeks away. The Chicago Bears are primed to select a quarterback in this years draft. The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly willing to trade the No. 4 pick. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-consider-trading-falcons-no-121023513.html?src=rss | 0.166528 |
Should the Bears consider trading up with Falcons for No. 4 pick? | With the 2021 NFL draft less than three weeks away, theres been plenty of discussion about what the Chicago Bears are going to do with a plethora of positional needs. While general manager Ryan Pace has only drafted one quarterback in his six-year tenure, the Bears are primed to select a quarterback in this years draft. Whether thats in the first round or on Day 2 remains to be seen. But theres always the possibility that Chicago could trade up to try and land one of the top five quarterback prospects. Theres already been one big trade ahead of the draft with the San Francisco 49ers trading a boatload of picks their 12th-overall pick, a 2022 third-round compensatory pick and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 to the Miami Dolphins to move up to the third overall pick, where theyre primed to select a quarterback. But there could be more movement leading up to the draft. According to ESPNs Adam Schefter, the Atlanta Falcons are willing to trade the No. 4 pick and have been in discussions with teams about potential trades. On Good Morning Football, NFL Network analyst Peter Schrager believes the Bears are among a handful of teams that should be engaging with the Falcons for that fourth overall pick. Atlanta holds the keys to the Draft with the fourth pick right now, Schrager said. Id look at Denver, New England, Washington, even Chicago to pick up that phone and see what it would take. Atlantas willing to listen. This is where it gets really interesting. Atlanta holds the keys to the Draft with the 4th pick right now. Id look at Denver, New England, Washington, even Chicago to pick up that phone and see what it would take. Atlantas willing to listen. This is where it gets really interesting. @PSchrags pic.twitter.com/kl0rxYEmYl GMFB (@gmfb) April 6, 2021 If someone does trade up for that fourth overall pick, theyll be looking for a quarterback, which would likely mean four quarterbacks chosen with the first four picks. Story continues With Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson looking to go 1-2 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, that would leave Justin Fields, Trey Lance and Mac Jones as the remaining top quarterback prospects on the board. The San Francisco 49ers are a team to keep an eye on as theyre rumored to be interested in Mac Jones, who is believed by many to be the fifth quarterback in this class. That would leave Fields and Lance up for grabs, which should certainly intrigue the Bears. List | The 2021 NFL draft is less than three weeks away. The Chicago Bears are primed to select a quarterback in this years draft. The San Francisco 49ers traded a boatload of picks to the Miami Dolphins to move up to third. The Atlanta Falcons are willing to trade the No. 4 pick and have been in discussions with teams. | bart | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-consider-trading-falcons-no-121023513.html?src=rss | 0.162484 |
How do the Miami Dolphins stack up to NFL in wins during 16-game era? | The 2021 NFL season will mark the end of an era as the league transitions to a 17-game season this upcoming fall. The NFL agreed this offseason to add games to the schedule for the first time since 1978; positioning the league for more revenue and more action courtesy of ticket sales and television deals like. And with the end of the 16-game era, the Miami Dolphins are hoping to leave some of their shortcomings behind along with them. Yes, we saw the entirety of the Dan Marino tenure come while the league played 16 games. We saw the entire careers of Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas and other prominent defenders too. But the Dolphins never won a Super Bowl during the 16-game era and the team struggled over the last 15 years to even keep their head above .500; undermining much of the teams successes from 1978 to the early 2000s. And yet despite the hardship of the last 15 years and the lack of hardware during the 16-game era, when you stack the Dolphins up agains the rest of the NFL youll find that Miami was still one of the most accomplished and winningest franchises of the timeframe. Miamis 0.543 win percentage from 1978 to 2020 ranks as the NFLs 9th-best over that timeframe. That win percentage is almost identical to the teams all-time win percentage (0.553) a mark that is still the 6th-best in the history of the NFL. Green Bay Packers 0.569 Dallas Cowboys 0.569 Baltimore Ravens 0.564 Chicago Bears 0.563 New England Patriots. 0.562 Miami Dolphins 0.553 The Dolphins are also closer to the Patriots at No. 5 in the rankings than the No. 7 team (Minnesota) is to the Dolphins. So with the team aligned for sustained success, perhaps the Dolphins can push back up the ranks with a new era of the NFL upon us. And hopefully the teams championship success in the 17-game era will mirror that of the 14-game era from the early 1970s, too. | The Miami Dolphins never won a Super Bowl during the 16-game era. The Dolphins are still one of the most accomplished and winningest franchises of the timeframe. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/miami-dolphins-stack-nfl-wins-150938572.html?src=rss | 0.222123 |
How do the Miami Dolphins stack up to NFL in wins during 16-game era? | The 2021 NFL season will mark the end of an era as the league transitions to a 17-game season this upcoming fall. The NFL agreed this offseason to add games to the schedule for the first time since 1978; positioning the league for more revenue and more action courtesy of ticket sales and television deals like. And with the end of the 16-game era, the Miami Dolphins are hoping to leave some of their shortcomings behind along with them. Yes, we saw the entirety of the Dan Marino tenure come while the league played 16 games. We saw the entire careers of Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas and other prominent defenders too. But the Dolphins never won a Super Bowl during the 16-game era and the team struggled over the last 15 years to even keep their head above .500; undermining much of the teams successes from 1978 to the early 2000s. And yet despite the hardship of the last 15 years and the lack of hardware during the 16-game era, when you stack the Dolphins up agains the rest of the NFL youll find that Miami was still one of the most accomplished and winningest franchises of the timeframe. Miamis 0.543 win percentage from 1978 to 2020 ranks as the NFLs 9th-best over that timeframe. That win percentage is almost identical to the teams all-time win percentage (0.553) a mark that is still the 6th-best in the history of the NFL. Green Bay Packers 0.569 Dallas Cowboys 0.569 Baltimore Ravens 0.564 Chicago Bears 0.563 New England Patriots. 0.562 Miami Dolphins 0.553 The Dolphins are also closer to the Patriots at No. 5 in the rankings than the No. 7 team (Minnesota) is to the Dolphins. So with the team aligned for sustained success, perhaps the Dolphins can push back up the ranks with a new era of the NFL upon us. And hopefully the teams championship success in the 17-game era will mirror that of the 14-game era from the early 1970s, too. | The 2021 NFL season will mark the end of an era as the league transitions to a 17-game season. The NFL agreed this offseason to add games to the schedule for the first time since 1978. The Dolphins never won a Super Bowl during the 16-game era and the team struggled over the last 15 years. | bart | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/miami-dolphins-stack-nfl-wins-150938572.html?src=rss | 0.458309 |
Is TCU safety Trevon Moehrig an option for Washington in 1st round of 2021 NFL draft? | While Washington has arguably the leagues top defensive line and a solid group of cornerbacks, it could use at least one linebacker and a free safety to take the defense from good to elite. Fortunately for Washington, there is one top prospect at free safety, TCU safety Trevon Moehrig. Washington signed Landon Collins to a record contract two years. Unfortunately, Collins is a box safety and hasnt exactly lived up to his contract. He did miss a large portion of 2020 with an Achilles injury, allowing seventh-round rookie Kam Curl to step in and shine. Collins will be back this season. Sure, but that wouldnt be ideal. Curl is a natural at strong safety and deserves the opportunity to start there in 2021. Back to Moehrig. At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Moehrig has outstanding size. He combines that size with terrific athleticism and outstanding instincts. He has proven to be strong in coverage during his time at TCU. Trevon Moehrig has been a beast for @TCUFootball. Now he's the top Safety prospect in the draft, per @MoveTheSticks. : Pro Day coverage continues all month long on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/I4WYdIfhgo NFL (@NFL) March 19, 2021 He could play various roles for Washington, including being a single-high safety if the team wanted to bring Curl or Collins down in the box. Washington could draft the fourth-best offensive tackle at No. 19 or the best safety prospect. Sure, the fourth-best offensive tackle in this draft will be an excellent prospect, but a player like Moehrig could completely transform Washingtons defense. Moehrig should certainly be an option for Washington if it remains at No. 19 in the 2021 NFL draft. | TCU safety Trevon Moehrig is the top free safety prospect in the 2021 NFL draft. | pegasus | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/tcu-safety-trevon-moehrig-option-135525712.html?src=rss | 0.135355 |
Is TCU safety Trevon Moehrig an option for Washington in 1st round of 2021 NFL draft? | While Washington has arguably the leagues top defensive line and a solid group of cornerbacks, it could use at least one linebacker and a free safety to take the defense from good to elite. Fortunately for Washington, there is one top prospect at free safety, TCU safety Trevon Moehrig. Washington signed Landon Collins to a record contract two years. Unfortunately, Collins is a box safety and hasnt exactly lived up to his contract. He did miss a large portion of 2020 with an Achilles injury, allowing seventh-round rookie Kam Curl to step in and shine. Collins will be back this season. Sure, but that wouldnt be ideal. Curl is a natural at strong safety and deserves the opportunity to start there in 2021. Back to Moehrig. At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Moehrig has outstanding size. He combines that size with terrific athleticism and outstanding instincts. He has proven to be strong in coverage during his time at TCU. Trevon Moehrig has been a beast for @TCUFootball. Now he's the top Safety prospect in the draft, per @MoveTheSticks. : Pro Day coverage continues all month long on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/I4WYdIfhgo NFL (@NFL) March 19, 2021 He could play various roles for Washington, including being a single-high safety if the team wanted to bring Curl or Collins down in the box. Washington could draft the fourth-best offensive tackle at No. 19 or the best safety prospect. Sure, the fourth-best offensive tackle in this draft will be an excellent prospect, but a player like Moehrig could completely transform Washingtons defense. Moehrig should certainly be an option for Washington if it remains at No. 19 in the 2021 NFL draft. | TCU safety Trevon Moehrig is the top free safety prospect in the 2021 NFL draft. Washington signed Landon Collins to a record contract two years ago. Collins is a box safety and hasnt exactly lived up to his contract. | pegasus | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/tcu-safety-trevon-moehrig-option-135525712.html?src=rss | 0.483883 |
Is TCU safety Trevon Moehrig an option for Washington in 1st round of 2021 NFL draft? | While Washington has arguably the leagues top defensive line and a solid group of cornerbacks, it could use at least one linebacker and a free safety to take the defense from good to elite. Fortunately for Washington, there is one top prospect at free safety, TCU safety Trevon Moehrig. Washington signed Landon Collins to a record contract two years. Unfortunately, Collins is a box safety and hasnt exactly lived up to his contract. He did miss a large portion of 2020 with an Achilles injury, allowing seventh-round rookie Kam Curl to step in and shine. Collins will be back this season. Sure, but that wouldnt be ideal. Curl is a natural at strong safety and deserves the opportunity to start there in 2021. Back to Moehrig. At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Moehrig has outstanding size. He combines that size with terrific athleticism and outstanding instincts. He has proven to be strong in coverage during his time at TCU. Trevon Moehrig has been a beast for @TCUFootball. Now he's the top Safety prospect in the draft, per @MoveTheSticks. : Pro Day coverage continues all month long on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/I4WYdIfhgo NFL (@NFL) March 19, 2021 He could play various roles for Washington, including being a single-high safety if the team wanted to bring Curl or Collins down in the box. Washington could draft the fourth-best offensive tackle at No. 19 or the best safety prospect. Sure, the fourth-best offensive tackle in this draft will be an excellent prospect, but a player like Moehrig could completely transform Washingtons defense. Moehrig should certainly be an option for Washington if it remains at No. 19 in the 2021 NFL draft. | TCU safety Trevon Moehrig is considered the top free safety prospect in the 2021 NFL draft. Washington has a strong defensive line and a solid group of cornerbacks, but it could use a linebacker and a free safety to take the defense from good to elite. The Washington Redskins are expected to pick at No. 19 in the draft. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/tcu-safety-trevon-moehrig-option-135525712.html?src=rss | 0.611959 |
Can Alex Rodriguez transform Timberwolves from miserable losers to lovable winners? | Alex Rodriguez would bring power and glamour to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA franchise located in Minneapolis needs an injection of money, excitement and a new ownership groups immediate desire to have a winning product for its fans and players. Rodriguez, the former MLB MVP, and billionaire business partner Marc Lore, an e-commerce entrepreneur, are closing in on a deal to buy the Timberwolves from Glen Taylor. Since signing an exclusive letter of intent on Saturday to finalize a deal in 30 days, the two sides are motivated to close a win-win for both parties. Taylor purchased the team in 1994 for $90 million and is expected to sell for nearly $1.5 billion, and Rodriguez and Lore have had their sights set on pro sports ownership, coming close to buying the New York Mets last year. The Timberwolves need a jolt. Since Taylor bought the franchise, Minnesota has more losses than any other NBA team and has the second-worst winning percentage. The Timberwolves have made the playoffs once in the past 17 seasons. They had their best seasons from 1996-97 through 2003-04 with Kevin Garnett eight consecutive playoff appearances but just once did they get out of the first round, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2004. This season, they are 14-40 (worst record in the NBA) and headed for another high lottery pick. New ownership can help pull a team out of that misery. The best example might be in the neighboring state with the Milwaukee Bucks. New ownership elevated the franchise after buying the Bucks from Herb Kohl. Yes, it helps to draft a generational player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, but since then, ownership has paid Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday and helped build a new downtown arena and practice facility. If a deal is finalized, one of the new groups first tasks will be figuring out Karl-Anthony Towns future. The two-time All-Star, who is 25 and experienced the playoffs just once in his Timberwolves career, has three more seasons and $101.5 million remaining on his contract. The Timberwolves need to find out if they can retain him, if they will have to trade him for valuable assets or let him leave in free agency with nothing in return. Taylor plans to set up a unique structure to transfer ownership. Rodriguez and Lore will initially own a smaller stake and gradually purchase more until they have controlling ownership in about 2 years. This is important, because while Taylors teams have struggled, he is an important NBA owner. He was the NBA Board of Governors chairman and was integral to both commissioner Adam Silver and former commissioner David Stern as a confidant and right-hand man during labor and TV rights negotiations. POINT ZION:Pelicans' Zion Williamson, who is 6-foot-7, says playing point guard 'feels natural' EARLY RETURNS:As LeBron James hints of an early return, medical experts say he's not falling to Father Time yet His stewardship on that front is important as is his understanding of a pro sports franchise as a civic institution. Rodriguez should understand that from his time as an MLB star for Seattle, Texas and the New York Yankees. The Timberwolves have value to the community, and its why Taylor, a native Minnesotan, wants to include a clause that keeps the franchise in Minneapolis. It might be difficult to enforce such a clause in perpetuity. So while there will be rumblings and even concerns that Rodriguez will want to move the team to Seattle, keep this in mind: the NBA doesnt want a current team to relocate to Seattle as much it wants to the expansion fee ($2.5 billion or higher) for a new team in Seattle. Relocation simply doesnt generate that kind of money. Given his personality type Rodriguez loves the spotlight he would be less like Taylor and more like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who is Rodriguezs friend and sometimes guest on Cubans Shark Tank TV show. That doesnt mean he would go full Cuban either. But it is guaranteed he will be involved. There is a learning curve for all new NBA owners. Its the not the same as investing in a sporting goods apparel or health food company or working in the low-key but lucrative maze of private equitys billion-dollar deals. Rodriguez and Lore need to be smart enough to know what they dont know and learn from those who do. | Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are closing in on a deal to buy the Minnesota Timberwolves. Since Glen Taylor bought the franchise, Minnesota has more losses than any other NBA team and has the second-worst winning percentage. | bart | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/twolves/2021/04/12/can-alex-rodriguez-turn-timberwolves-losers-into-winners/7189736002/ | 0.111797 |
Can Alex Rodriguez transform Timberwolves from miserable losers to lovable winners? | Alex Rodriguez would bring power and glamour to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA franchise located in Minneapolis needs an injection of money, excitement and a new ownership groups immediate desire to have a winning product for its fans and players. Rodriguez, the former MLB MVP, and billionaire business partner Marc Lore, an e-commerce entrepreneur, are closing in on a deal to buy the Timberwolves from Glen Taylor. Since signing an exclusive letter of intent on Saturday to finalize a deal in 30 days, the two sides are motivated to close a win-win for both parties. Taylor purchased the team in 1994 for $90 million and is expected to sell for nearly $1.5 billion, and Rodriguez and Lore have had their sights set on pro sports ownership, coming close to buying the New York Mets last year. The Timberwolves need a jolt. Since Taylor bought the franchise, Minnesota has more losses than any other NBA team and has the second-worst winning percentage. The Timberwolves have made the playoffs once in the past 17 seasons. They had their best seasons from 1996-97 through 2003-04 with Kevin Garnett eight consecutive playoff appearances but just once did they get out of the first round, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2004. This season, they are 14-40 (worst record in the NBA) and headed for another high lottery pick. New ownership can help pull a team out of that misery. The best example might be in the neighboring state with the Milwaukee Bucks. New ownership elevated the franchise after buying the Bucks from Herb Kohl. Yes, it helps to draft a generational player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, but since then, ownership has paid Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday and helped build a new downtown arena and practice facility. If a deal is finalized, one of the new groups first tasks will be figuring out Karl-Anthony Towns future. The two-time All-Star, who is 25 and experienced the playoffs just once in his Timberwolves career, has three more seasons and $101.5 million remaining on his contract. The Timberwolves need to find out if they can retain him, if they will have to trade him for valuable assets or let him leave in free agency with nothing in return. Taylor plans to set up a unique structure to transfer ownership. Rodriguez and Lore will initially own a smaller stake and gradually purchase more until they have controlling ownership in about 2 years. This is important, because while Taylors teams have struggled, he is an important NBA owner. He was the NBA Board of Governors chairman and was integral to both commissioner Adam Silver and former commissioner David Stern as a confidant and right-hand man during labor and TV rights negotiations. POINT ZION:Pelicans' Zion Williamson, who is 6-foot-7, says playing point guard 'feels natural' EARLY RETURNS:As LeBron James hints of an early return, medical experts say he's not falling to Father Time yet His stewardship on that front is important as is his understanding of a pro sports franchise as a civic institution. Rodriguez should understand that from his time as an MLB star for Seattle, Texas and the New York Yankees. The Timberwolves have value to the community, and its why Taylor, a native Minnesotan, wants to include a clause that keeps the franchise in Minneapolis. It might be difficult to enforce such a clause in perpetuity. So while there will be rumblings and even concerns that Rodriguez will want to move the team to Seattle, keep this in mind: the NBA doesnt want a current team to relocate to Seattle as much it wants to the expansion fee ($2.5 billion or higher) for a new team in Seattle. Relocation simply doesnt generate that kind of money. Given his personality type Rodriguez loves the spotlight he would be less like Taylor and more like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who is Rodriguezs friend and sometimes guest on Cubans Shark Tank TV show. That doesnt mean he would go full Cuban either. But it is guaranteed he will be involved. There is a learning curve for all new NBA owners. Its the not the same as investing in a sporting goods apparel or health food company or working in the low-key but lucrative maze of private equitys billion-dollar deals. Rodriguez and Lore need to be smart enough to know what they dont know and learn from those who do. | Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are closing in on a deal to buy the Minnesota Timberwolves from Glen Taylor. The Timberwolves have made the playoffs just once in the past 17 seasons and have the second-worst winning percentage in the NBA. New ownership can help pull a team out of that misery, and the best example might be in the neighboring state with the Milwaukee Bucks. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/twolves/2021/04/12/can-alex-rodriguez-turn-timberwolves-losers-into-winners/7189736002/ | 0.256371 |
Can Alex Rodriguez Turn the Timberwolves Around? | The former MLB star and current ESPN analyst is nearing a deal to own the Timberwolves. Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, the former president and CEO of Walmart U.S. eCommerce, are nearing a deal to become the next owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The two would serve as limited partners for the next two and a half years before taking control of the team if a deal were to get done. Current owner Glen Taylor would serve as a mentor for the two new owners. The deal would also include Taylor's WNBA team, the Minnesota Lynx, according to the Star Tribune, with an agreement to keep both teams in Minnesota. The Crossover staff reacts to the news. Michael Pina The Timberwolves were arguably the NBAs worst team when Glen Taylor purchased them in 1994, and they were arguably the NBAs worst team on the day he agreed to sell them to an ownership group headlined by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. In between, zero organizations that existed at the time have had a lower winning percentage or a worse defense. Change is good, but the sale should be met with cautious optimism. Taylor told the newspaper he owns that there will be language in his contract with Rodriguez and Lore that prohibits them from moving the Timberwolves to another market, though thats not likely to be ironclad and must be approved by the league. But if youre a Timberwolves fan whos suffered through several eras marred by ineptitude, a new face or two at the top is a very good thing. For a little while, at least. The ideal scenario for everyone who loves the NBA would have been for Kevin Garnett to become the face of Minnesotas next ownership group. Imagine KG at draft workouts, giving press conferences, involving himself in trades and reinserting himself as an iconic character in the NBAs narrative. Hes forever connected to that teamwhich hasnt won a playoff series since Garnetts MVP season in 2004and the Timberwolves might not be there today had the Hall of Famer spent most of his prime elsewhere. Jeremy Woo As they say, the biggest competitive advantage in sports is ownership. If A-Rod and his group are smart enough to commit financially, empower their basketball people and stay out of the way, then yes, there's no reason it can't work. By the time they actually take over, the Wolves should be trending upthey have to get lucky in the lottery to keep their pick away from the Warriors this year, of course, but there's talent on the team and some actual direction right now. It's not a bad time to get in, if A-Rod avoids meddling. Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports Chris Herring Theres very, very little that could stop me from feeling terrified if I were a Minnesota fanparticularly with Rodriguez having ties to Seattle. Its all well and good that Glen Taylor is saying the right things for now. But the NBAs last relocation, from Seattle to Oklahoma City, revealed that people can and apparently will say whatever is necessary to get a deal done where they want to. In that case, Clay Bennett wrote in an email to then commissioner David Stern suggesting hed never had conversations with his partners about moving the Sonics out of Seattle. Later, we learned those conversations were already well underway, and that he was simply lying. The Timberwolves may very well stay put forever. I hope they do. But short of seeing ironclad legal paperwork, it's hard to imagine anyone feeling totally assured of that, based on how these things work. Pinky promises arent adequate. This is, after all, a franchise that has made the playoffs just once since the 200405 season and just nine times in its history. I think a potentially more interesting question is what does this new ownership group mean for the WNBA's Lynx. The Lynx have won four titles in the last decade and have made the postseason in 10 straight seasons. But in Rodriguez's statement announcing they are entering the next phase of the process to buy both franchises, he explicitly mentioned the Timberwolves, but failed to mention the Lynx. Lynx coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve has called outgoing owner Glen Taylor one of the best listeners Ive ever had in my life, and Taylor has shown a willingness to pour resources into the citys WNBA team. Maybe Rodriguezs omission of the Lynx in his lone statement wont mean anything down the road, but it is eyebrow-raising nevertheless. Michael Shapiro I dont think Alex Rodriguez and Minnesotas new ownership group will look to move the team, so theres no need to panic on that front. I have no idea. Rodriguezs success will ultimately be dictated by the people he chooses to run basketball operations, which (David Kahn alert) effectively ruined the chances of the previous regime. If Minnesota emerges as a title contender in the next decade, its likely were talking about Chris Finch and Cade Cunningham more than the former Yankees third baseman. MORE NBA STORIES Beck: Rick Welts is ready to exit the stage Nadkarni: Nets are pushing the regular season to its limits Pina: Chicago's future is brighter than it appears Mannix: Why you should not worry about the Lakers | Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are nearing a deal to become the next owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves. | bart | 0 | https://www.si.com/nba/2021/04/12/alex-rodriguez-timberwolves-ownership | 0.169727 |
Can Alex Rodriguez Turn the Timberwolves Around? | The former MLB star and current ESPN analyst is nearing a deal to own the Timberwolves. Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, the former president and CEO of Walmart U.S. eCommerce, are nearing a deal to become the next owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The two would serve as limited partners for the next two and a half years before taking control of the team if a deal were to get done. Current owner Glen Taylor would serve as a mentor for the two new owners. The deal would also include Taylor's WNBA team, the Minnesota Lynx, according to the Star Tribune, with an agreement to keep both teams in Minnesota. The Crossover staff reacts to the news. Michael Pina The Timberwolves were arguably the NBAs worst team when Glen Taylor purchased them in 1994, and they were arguably the NBAs worst team on the day he agreed to sell them to an ownership group headlined by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. In between, zero organizations that existed at the time have had a lower winning percentage or a worse defense. Change is good, but the sale should be met with cautious optimism. Taylor told the newspaper he owns that there will be language in his contract with Rodriguez and Lore that prohibits them from moving the Timberwolves to another market, though thats not likely to be ironclad and must be approved by the league. But if youre a Timberwolves fan whos suffered through several eras marred by ineptitude, a new face or two at the top is a very good thing. For a little while, at least. The ideal scenario for everyone who loves the NBA would have been for Kevin Garnett to become the face of Minnesotas next ownership group. Imagine KG at draft workouts, giving press conferences, involving himself in trades and reinserting himself as an iconic character in the NBAs narrative. Hes forever connected to that teamwhich hasnt won a playoff series since Garnetts MVP season in 2004and the Timberwolves might not be there today had the Hall of Famer spent most of his prime elsewhere. Jeremy Woo As they say, the biggest competitive advantage in sports is ownership. If A-Rod and his group are smart enough to commit financially, empower their basketball people and stay out of the way, then yes, there's no reason it can't work. By the time they actually take over, the Wolves should be trending upthey have to get lucky in the lottery to keep their pick away from the Warriors this year, of course, but there's talent on the team and some actual direction right now. It's not a bad time to get in, if A-Rod avoids meddling. Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports Chris Herring Theres very, very little that could stop me from feeling terrified if I were a Minnesota fanparticularly with Rodriguez having ties to Seattle. Its all well and good that Glen Taylor is saying the right things for now. But the NBAs last relocation, from Seattle to Oklahoma City, revealed that people can and apparently will say whatever is necessary to get a deal done where they want to. In that case, Clay Bennett wrote in an email to then commissioner David Stern suggesting hed never had conversations with his partners about moving the Sonics out of Seattle. Later, we learned those conversations were already well underway, and that he was simply lying. The Timberwolves may very well stay put forever. I hope they do. But short of seeing ironclad legal paperwork, it's hard to imagine anyone feeling totally assured of that, based on how these things work. Pinky promises arent adequate. This is, after all, a franchise that has made the playoffs just once since the 200405 season and just nine times in its history. I think a potentially more interesting question is what does this new ownership group mean for the WNBA's Lynx. The Lynx have won four titles in the last decade and have made the postseason in 10 straight seasons. But in Rodriguez's statement announcing they are entering the next phase of the process to buy both franchises, he explicitly mentioned the Timberwolves, but failed to mention the Lynx. Lynx coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve has called outgoing owner Glen Taylor one of the best listeners Ive ever had in my life, and Taylor has shown a willingness to pour resources into the citys WNBA team. Maybe Rodriguezs omission of the Lynx in his lone statement wont mean anything down the road, but it is eyebrow-raising nevertheless. Michael Shapiro I dont think Alex Rodriguez and Minnesotas new ownership group will look to move the team, so theres no need to panic on that front. I have no idea. Rodriguezs success will ultimately be dictated by the people he chooses to run basketball operations, which (David Kahn alert) effectively ruined the chances of the previous regime. If Minnesota emerges as a title contender in the next decade, its likely were talking about Chris Finch and Cade Cunningham more than the former Yankees third baseman. MORE NBA STORIES Beck: Rick Welts is ready to exit the stage Nadkarni: Nets are pushing the regular season to its limits Pina: Chicago's future is brighter than it appears Mannix: Why you should not worry about the Lakers | Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are nearing a deal to become the next owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The deal would also include Taylor's WNBA team, the Minnesota Lynx. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nba/2021/04/12/alex-rodriguez-timberwolves-ownership | 0.178097 |
Can Alex Rodriguez Turn the Timberwolves Around? | The former MLB star and current ESPN analyst is nearing a deal to own the Timberwolves. Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, the former president and CEO of Walmart U.S. eCommerce, are nearing a deal to become the next owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The two would serve as limited partners for the next two and a half years before taking control of the team if a deal were to get done. Current owner Glen Taylor would serve as a mentor for the two new owners. The deal would also include Taylor's WNBA team, the Minnesota Lynx, according to the Star Tribune, with an agreement to keep both teams in Minnesota. The Crossover staff reacts to the news. Michael Pina The Timberwolves were arguably the NBAs worst team when Glen Taylor purchased them in 1994, and they were arguably the NBAs worst team on the day he agreed to sell them to an ownership group headlined by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. In between, zero organizations that existed at the time have had a lower winning percentage or a worse defense. Change is good, but the sale should be met with cautious optimism. Taylor told the newspaper he owns that there will be language in his contract with Rodriguez and Lore that prohibits them from moving the Timberwolves to another market, though thats not likely to be ironclad and must be approved by the league. But if youre a Timberwolves fan whos suffered through several eras marred by ineptitude, a new face or two at the top is a very good thing. For a little while, at least. The ideal scenario for everyone who loves the NBA would have been for Kevin Garnett to become the face of Minnesotas next ownership group. Imagine KG at draft workouts, giving press conferences, involving himself in trades and reinserting himself as an iconic character in the NBAs narrative. Hes forever connected to that teamwhich hasnt won a playoff series since Garnetts MVP season in 2004and the Timberwolves might not be there today had the Hall of Famer spent most of his prime elsewhere. Jeremy Woo As they say, the biggest competitive advantage in sports is ownership. If A-Rod and his group are smart enough to commit financially, empower their basketball people and stay out of the way, then yes, there's no reason it can't work. By the time they actually take over, the Wolves should be trending upthey have to get lucky in the lottery to keep their pick away from the Warriors this year, of course, but there's talent on the team and some actual direction right now. It's not a bad time to get in, if A-Rod avoids meddling. Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports Chris Herring Theres very, very little that could stop me from feeling terrified if I were a Minnesota fanparticularly with Rodriguez having ties to Seattle. Its all well and good that Glen Taylor is saying the right things for now. But the NBAs last relocation, from Seattle to Oklahoma City, revealed that people can and apparently will say whatever is necessary to get a deal done where they want to. In that case, Clay Bennett wrote in an email to then commissioner David Stern suggesting hed never had conversations with his partners about moving the Sonics out of Seattle. Later, we learned those conversations were already well underway, and that he was simply lying. The Timberwolves may very well stay put forever. I hope they do. But short of seeing ironclad legal paperwork, it's hard to imagine anyone feeling totally assured of that, based on how these things work. Pinky promises arent adequate. This is, after all, a franchise that has made the playoffs just once since the 200405 season and just nine times in its history. I think a potentially more interesting question is what does this new ownership group mean for the WNBA's Lynx. The Lynx have won four titles in the last decade and have made the postseason in 10 straight seasons. But in Rodriguez's statement announcing they are entering the next phase of the process to buy both franchises, he explicitly mentioned the Timberwolves, but failed to mention the Lynx. Lynx coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve has called outgoing owner Glen Taylor one of the best listeners Ive ever had in my life, and Taylor has shown a willingness to pour resources into the citys WNBA team. Maybe Rodriguezs omission of the Lynx in his lone statement wont mean anything down the road, but it is eyebrow-raising nevertheless. Michael Shapiro I dont think Alex Rodriguez and Minnesotas new ownership group will look to move the team, so theres no need to panic on that front. I have no idea. Rodriguezs success will ultimately be dictated by the people he chooses to run basketball operations, which (David Kahn alert) effectively ruined the chances of the previous regime. If Minnesota emerges as a title contender in the next decade, its likely were talking about Chris Finch and Cade Cunningham more than the former Yankees third baseman. MORE NBA STORIES Beck: Rick Welts is ready to exit the stage Nadkarni: Nets are pushing the regular season to its limits Pina: Chicago's future is brighter than it appears Mannix: Why you should not worry about the Lakers | Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are nearing a deal to become the next owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Current owner Glen Taylor would serve as a mentor for the two new owners. The deal would also include Taylor's WNBA team, the Minnesota Lynx, with an agreement to keep both teams in Minnesota. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/nba/2021/04/12/alex-rodriguez-timberwolves-ownership | 0.193231 |
Can Ukraine deploy U.S.-made weapons against the Russians? | Wess Mitchell, who served as the Trump administrations top State Department official overseeing European and Eurasian affairs, noted that the Javelins and other lethal weapons are designed not for first use but to deter Moscow from encroaching on Ukrainian territory. But while Washington urges Kyiv to use the Javelins only for defensive purposes and requires that the weapons be stored in a secure facility away from the conflict, there are no geographic restrictions on the actual deployment of the missiles, U.S. officials said, which means that Ukrainian forces can transport, distribute and use them at any time. Javelins are defensive weapons and the United States expects Ukraine to deploy them responsibly and strategically when needed for defensive purposes, said Pentagon spokesperson Mike Howard. If the Javelins were to be moved, it doesnt necessarily mean theyd be used in Kyivs estimation, the threshold for actually firing the weapons has not yet been met, according to two Ukrainians familiar with the discussions. The red line, they said, would be if Russian tanks crossed over into Ukrainian territory. The current Russian movement in Eastern Europe is exactly the kind of scenario the Javelin sale was designed to counter, said two former senior U.S. defense officials familiar with the agreement. Im sure there is a discussion going on, the person said. Its a no-brainer. An official close to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said that any discussions about moving the Javelins had not reached the presidential level and that no decisions have been made on whether to deploy them. Zelensky is eager to de-escalate tensions, so he would not be naturally inclined to move the weapons east, said another person close to the Ukrainian president. U.S. officials said they were not aware of any decisions to deploy the Javelins. Senior Ukrainian officials are not yet convinced that the troop buildup means that Russia is planning an invasion the fact that the troop movements have been so public and dragged on in the open for more than two weeks, suggests to Kyiv that Moscow may just be saber-rattling to try to create leverage with the new Biden administration. But Ukrainian officials are still nervous that the conflict could escalate dramatically and with little notice. At least seven Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since late last month amid a spike in violence in the Donbass region, where Ukrainian government forces have been battling Russia-backed separatists since 2014. President Joe Biden and Zelensky spoke for the first time this month amid the escalating tensions. A White House readout of the conversation said Biden reaffirmed the United States unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression in the [Donbass] and Crimea. The U.S. has provided Ukraine $2 billion in security assistance since 2014, including two tranches of Javelin missiles as well as other military equipment. Biden, who pushed unsuccessfully to provide lethal aid to Kyiv during the Obama administration, also recently approved an additional $125 million worth of lethal aid to help the country defend its borders, including two armed patrol boats and counter-artillery radar. Morning Defense The latest news in defense policy and politics. Sign Up Loading By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or updates from POLITICO and you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service. You can unsubscribe at any time and you can contact us here. This sign-up form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Still, the Javelins are an incomplete solution to Russias aggression. Jim Townsend, a Pentagon official during the Obama administration, said that while the deployment of missiles in itself would not be escalatory, they would be of limited use if the Russians are not planning on mounting a conventional attack with armored vehicles. If the Russians are up to something, and that something doesnt involve armor, then the Javelins wont matter, said Townsend, who went on to refer to Russia's paramilitary forces that invaded Crimea in 2014. For instance, Javelins arent useful if the Russians are using little green men to infiltrate Ukrainian lines." | The U.S. has provided Ukraine $2 billion in security assistance since 2014, including two tranches of Javelin missiles as well as other military equipment. The Javelins are designed not for first use but to deter Moscow from encroaching on Ukrainian territory. | bart | 2 | https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/12/ukraine-us-missile-weapons-russia-480985 | 0.187584 |
Can Vaccinated People Travel With Kids This Summer? And Where? | It can be difficult to know whether it's okay to travel with kids this summer getty Its becoming clear that people who have been vaccinated will be able to travel much more freely over the summer and the CDC has given the go-ahead for vaccinated people to be able to travelboth domestically and overseas. Heres a roundup of the best advice out there at the moment: It depends on the destination Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious disease epidemiologist and science communication lead at the Covid Tracking Project, told Cond Nast Traveler that whilst children arent considered high risk for infection from Covid-19, nor for transmission, parents need to analyse the access to vaccines in the destination. Ideally, people shouldnt be traveling from a high vaccine area into somewhere with low vaccine rates. Many countries are opening up as they get nearer herd immunity (like Israel) but others are still open to U.S. travelers even with high infection rates (it is possible to fly to Mexico, even though the land border is closed). Stay in your bubble Dr. Ilan Shapiro, a Los Angeles-based paediatrician told Cond Nast Traveler that risk can be minimised by staying inside the family bubbles that people were in during the early stages of lockdown. Limit risk by staying within the same family/friendship group and rent a house instead of hotel rooms and if at all possible, drive. Indeed, The NY Times asked many experts on the safest way to travel and reported that most were planning on driving to limit risk to their children. If you are choosing to stay in a hotel, Dr. Abraar Karan, an internal medicine physician at the Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School suggests analysing how far you can stay away from people while staying there. Try to think about elevators, indoor dining areas and lobbies as places to be avoided as much as possible. Experts are also advising on using the same caution when putting your children in kids clubseven if they have the same rules as schools (wearing masks, playing in small groups at least six feet apart from one another and spending most of the time outdoors) they are bringing together kids from different parts of the world, which is probably something that should be avoided right now. Whats more, one expert said if the pool was very crowded, they wouldnt go in. A very crowded swimming pool is probably a no-no, say epidemiologists getty Acclimatise kids beforehand It can be helpful to get kids used to wearing masks by building up to it in incremental stageswearing them in the house for a bit, before departure, for instance. Take a large selection of different kinds of fun masks so they can choose and keep swapping and whenever possible, push them into the outdoors to play. Short-haul flights are probably safer The NY Times reported that the experts they asked were not planning on traveling internationally with their children, because of the rise in cases around the world and also because of the strict re-entry requirements upon landing in the U.S. However, Dr. Arthur L. Reingold, head of the epidemiology division at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health said that the instances where transmission had been documented on an airplane, it was during long-haul flights. Experts were in agreement that shorter flights posed less risk to travelers because masks were lifted less frequently for taking a drink or eating. Ultimately, whilst things seem to be improving globally, there is always a chance of a new wave of infections arising from new variant strains of Covid-19. Make sure there is a back up plan (particularly a domestic one, if you have international travel plans) and check that all costs are refundable or at the very least, can be rolled into new dates or rebooked later. | Its becoming clear that people who have been vaccinated will be able to travel much more freely over the summer. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2021/04/12/can-vaccinated-people-travel-with-kids-this-summer-and-where/ | 0.105059 |
Can Vaccinated People Travel With Kids This Summer? And Where? | It can be difficult to know whether it's okay to travel with kids this summer getty Its becoming clear that people who have been vaccinated will be able to travel much more freely over the summer and the CDC has given the go-ahead for vaccinated people to be able to travelboth domestically and overseas. Heres a roundup of the best advice out there at the moment: It depends on the destination Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious disease epidemiologist and science communication lead at the Covid Tracking Project, told Cond Nast Traveler that whilst children arent considered high risk for infection from Covid-19, nor for transmission, parents need to analyse the access to vaccines in the destination. Ideally, people shouldnt be traveling from a high vaccine area into somewhere with low vaccine rates. Many countries are opening up as they get nearer herd immunity (like Israel) but others are still open to U.S. travelers even with high infection rates (it is possible to fly to Mexico, even though the land border is closed). Stay in your bubble Dr. Ilan Shapiro, a Los Angeles-based paediatrician told Cond Nast Traveler that risk can be minimised by staying inside the family bubbles that people were in during the early stages of lockdown. Limit risk by staying within the same family/friendship group and rent a house instead of hotel rooms and if at all possible, drive. Indeed, The NY Times asked many experts on the safest way to travel and reported that most were planning on driving to limit risk to their children. If you are choosing to stay in a hotel, Dr. Abraar Karan, an internal medicine physician at the Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School suggests analysing how far you can stay away from people while staying there. Try to think about elevators, indoor dining areas and lobbies as places to be avoided as much as possible. Experts are also advising on using the same caution when putting your children in kids clubseven if they have the same rules as schools (wearing masks, playing in small groups at least six feet apart from one another and spending most of the time outdoors) they are bringing together kids from different parts of the world, which is probably something that should be avoided right now. Whats more, one expert said if the pool was very crowded, they wouldnt go in. A very crowded swimming pool is probably a no-no, say epidemiologists getty Acclimatise kids beforehand It can be helpful to get kids used to wearing masks by building up to it in incremental stageswearing them in the house for a bit, before departure, for instance. Take a large selection of different kinds of fun masks so they can choose and keep swapping and whenever possible, push them into the outdoors to play. Short-haul flights are probably safer The NY Times reported that the experts they asked were not planning on traveling internationally with their children, because of the rise in cases around the world and also because of the strict re-entry requirements upon landing in the U.S. However, Dr. Arthur L. Reingold, head of the epidemiology division at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health said that the instances where transmission had been documented on an airplane, it was during long-haul flights. Experts were in agreement that shorter flights posed less risk to travelers because masks were lifted less frequently for taking a drink or eating. Ultimately, whilst things seem to be improving globally, there is always a chance of a new wave of infections arising from new variant strains of Covid-19. Make sure there is a back up plan (particularly a domestic one, if you have international travel plans) and check that all costs are refundable or at the very least, can be rolled into new dates or rebooked later. | Its becoming clear that people who have been vaccinated will be able to travel much more freely over the summer. The CDC has given the go-ahead for vaccinated people to be able to travelboth domestically and overseas. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2021/04/12/can-vaccinated-people-travel-with-kids-this-summer-and-where/ | 0.268786 |
Can Vaccinated People Travel With Kids This Summer? And Where? | It can be difficult to know whether it's okay to travel with kids this summer getty Its becoming clear that people who have been vaccinated will be able to travel much more freely over the summer and the CDC has given the go-ahead for vaccinated people to be able to travelboth domestically and overseas. Heres a roundup of the best advice out there at the moment: It depends on the destination Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious disease epidemiologist and science communication lead at the Covid Tracking Project, told Cond Nast Traveler that whilst children arent considered high risk for infection from Covid-19, nor for transmission, parents need to analyse the access to vaccines in the destination. Ideally, people shouldnt be traveling from a high vaccine area into somewhere with low vaccine rates. Many countries are opening up as they get nearer herd immunity (like Israel) but others are still open to U.S. travelers even with high infection rates (it is possible to fly to Mexico, even though the land border is closed). Stay in your bubble Dr. Ilan Shapiro, a Los Angeles-based paediatrician told Cond Nast Traveler that risk can be minimised by staying inside the family bubbles that people were in during the early stages of lockdown. Limit risk by staying within the same family/friendship group and rent a house instead of hotel rooms and if at all possible, drive. Indeed, The NY Times asked many experts on the safest way to travel and reported that most were planning on driving to limit risk to their children. If you are choosing to stay in a hotel, Dr. Abraar Karan, an internal medicine physician at the Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School suggests analysing how far you can stay away from people while staying there. Try to think about elevators, indoor dining areas and lobbies as places to be avoided as much as possible. Experts are also advising on using the same caution when putting your children in kids clubseven if they have the same rules as schools (wearing masks, playing in small groups at least six feet apart from one another and spending most of the time outdoors) they are bringing together kids from different parts of the world, which is probably something that should be avoided right now. Whats more, one expert said if the pool was very crowded, they wouldnt go in. A very crowded swimming pool is probably a no-no, say epidemiologists getty Acclimatise kids beforehand It can be helpful to get kids used to wearing masks by building up to it in incremental stageswearing them in the house for a bit, before departure, for instance. Take a large selection of different kinds of fun masks so they can choose and keep swapping and whenever possible, push them into the outdoors to play. Short-haul flights are probably safer The NY Times reported that the experts they asked were not planning on traveling internationally with their children, because of the rise in cases around the world and also because of the strict re-entry requirements upon landing in the U.S. However, Dr. Arthur L. Reingold, head of the epidemiology division at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health said that the instances where transmission had been documented on an airplane, it was during long-haul flights. Experts were in agreement that shorter flights posed less risk to travelers because masks were lifted less frequently for taking a drink or eating. Ultimately, whilst things seem to be improving globally, there is always a chance of a new wave of infections arising from new variant strains of Covid-19. Make sure there is a back up plan (particularly a domestic one, if you have international travel plans) and check that all costs are refundable or at the very least, can be rolled into new dates or rebooked later. | CDC has given the go-ahead for vaccinated people to be able to travelboth domestically and overseas. It can be difficult to know whether it's okay to travel with kids this summer getty. It depends on the destination and parents need to analyse the access to vaccines in the destination. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2021/04/12/can-vaccinated-people-travel-with-kids-this-summer-and-where/ | 0.307255 |
Will the NFL yank the 2023 Super Bowl from Arizona? | Back in 2018, the National Football League announced that the 2023 Super Bowl will be played in the Glendale home of the Arizona Cardinals. Team owner Michael Bidwill and his friend Gov. Doug Ducey were positively giddy. This is fantastic news for the State of Arizona, Ducey said. This comes on the heels of us hosting Super Bowl 49, the college football national championship, the NCAA Final Four, spring training and the Phoenix Open. We couldnt be happier to do this. This is a tremendous economic impact for the State of Arizona. Bidwill added, Were thrilled by the unanimous vote and we look forward to making this the most fan friendly Super Bowl in the history of Super Bowls and bigger and better than any Super Bowl. I wonder what theyd say if the NFL yanks the game from Arizona over the raft of voter suppression laws working their way through the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature. MLB yanked the All-Star Game. It could happen. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement, Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box. Fair access to voting continues to have our unwavering support. As it should. After Arizona voters failed to approve a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in 1990, NFL owners voted to remove the 1993 Super Bowl from Phoenix. (We got it back for 1996 after voters approved the holiday in 1992.) If the Republicans who control the Arizona Legislature continue on the voter suppression path, trotting out nearly two-dozen bills aimed at making it more difficult for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights and sullying the reputation of the state, the ramifications could be broad and long-lasting and negative. Arizona doesn't need that economic impact Weve been through this before. There is the very real possibility of damage to the economy, particularly the tourism industry, but also to other businesses. And not only would an anti-voter reputation hurt the bottom line for Arizona businesses, but it will make it more difficult to recruit the best and brightest people to work in those businesses, as well as our schools, hospitals and more. And it would make it more difficult to keep the talent that is already here. There is no doubt that if it gets ugly at the Legislature with the Republican-led voter suppression effort there will be pressure to move the 2023 Super Bowl. Our own history tells us it could happen. And if the ugly bills pass, and Ducey doesnt veto them, it should happen. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | The 2023 Super Bowl will be played in the Glendale home of the Arizona Cardinals. | bart | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/12/nfl-yank-2023-super-bowl-arizona-passes-voter-suppression-bills/7174997002/ | 0.172403 |
Will the NFL yank the 2023 Super Bowl from Arizona? | Back in 2018, the National Football League announced that the 2023 Super Bowl will be played in the Glendale home of the Arizona Cardinals. Team owner Michael Bidwill and his friend Gov. Doug Ducey were positively giddy. This is fantastic news for the State of Arizona, Ducey said. This comes on the heels of us hosting Super Bowl 49, the college football national championship, the NCAA Final Four, spring training and the Phoenix Open. We couldnt be happier to do this. This is a tremendous economic impact for the State of Arizona. Bidwill added, Were thrilled by the unanimous vote and we look forward to making this the most fan friendly Super Bowl in the history of Super Bowls and bigger and better than any Super Bowl. I wonder what theyd say if the NFL yanks the game from Arizona over the raft of voter suppression laws working their way through the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature. MLB yanked the All-Star Game. It could happen. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement, Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box. Fair access to voting continues to have our unwavering support. As it should. After Arizona voters failed to approve a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in 1990, NFL owners voted to remove the 1993 Super Bowl from Phoenix. (We got it back for 1996 after voters approved the holiday in 1992.) If the Republicans who control the Arizona Legislature continue on the voter suppression path, trotting out nearly two-dozen bills aimed at making it more difficult for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights and sullying the reputation of the state, the ramifications could be broad and long-lasting and negative. Arizona doesn't need that economic impact Weve been through this before. There is the very real possibility of damage to the economy, particularly the tourism industry, but also to other businesses. And not only would an anti-voter reputation hurt the bottom line for Arizona businesses, but it will make it more difficult to recruit the best and brightest people to work in those businesses, as well as our schools, hospitals and more. And it would make it more difficult to keep the talent that is already here. There is no doubt that if it gets ugly at the Legislature with the Republican-led voter suppression effort there will be pressure to move the 2023 Super Bowl. Our own history tells us it could happen. And if the ugly bills pass, and Ducey doesnt veto them, it should happen. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | The 2023 Super Bowl will be played in the Glendale home of the Arizona Cardinals. Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature is working on raft of voter suppression laws. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/12/nfl-yank-2023-super-bowl-arizona-passes-voter-suppression-bills/7174997002/ | 0.131768 |
Will the NFL yank the 2023 Super Bowl from Arizona? | Back in 2018, the National Football League announced that the 2023 Super Bowl will be played in the Glendale home of the Arizona Cardinals. Team owner Michael Bidwill and his friend Gov. Doug Ducey were positively giddy. This is fantastic news for the State of Arizona, Ducey said. This comes on the heels of us hosting Super Bowl 49, the college football national championship, the NCAA Final Four, spring training and the Phoenix Open. We couldnt be happier to do this. This is a tremendous economic impact for the State of Arizona. Bidwill added, Were thrilled by the unanimous vote and we look forward to making this the most fan friendly Super Bowl in the history of Super Bowls and bigger and better than any Super Bowl. I wonder what theyd say if the NFL yanks the game from Arizona over the raft of voter suppression laws working their way through the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature. MLB yanked the All-Star Game. It could happen. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement, Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box. Fair access to voting continues to have our unwavering support. As it should. After Arizona voters failed to approve a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in 1990, NFL owners voted to remove the 1993 Super Bowl from Phoenix. (We got it back for 1996 after voters approved the holiday in 1992.) If the Republicans who control the Arizona Legislature continue on the voter suppression path, trotting out nearly two-dozen bills aimed at making it more difficult for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights and sullying the reputation of the state, the ramifications could be broad and long-lasting and negative. Arizona doesn't need that economic impact Weve been through this before. There is the very real possibility of damage to the economy, particularly the tourism industry, but also to other businesses. And not only would an anti-voter reputation hurt the bottom line for Arizona businesses, but it will make it more difficult to recruit the best and brightest people to work in those businesses, as well as our schools, hospitals and more. And it would make it more difficult to keep the talent that is already here. There is no doubt that if it gets ugly at the Legislature with the Republican-led voter suppression effort there will be pressure to move the 2023 Super Bowl. Our own history tells us it could happen. And if the ugly bills pass, and Ducey doesnt veto them, it should happen. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | The 2023 Super Bowl will be played in the Glendale home of the Arizona Cardinals. Ed Montini: NFL owners could yank the game from Arizona over voter suppression laws. MLB yanked the All-Star Game. It could happen, he says. Montini: There is the very real possibility of damage to the economy, particularly the tourism industry. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/12/nfl-yank-2023-super-bowl-arizona-passes-voter-suppression-bills/7174997002/ | 0.395057 |
Could Seahawks Benefit From Marquise Blair Changing Positions... Again? | Making an easy transition from safety to slot cornerback and turning in an outstanding training camp, Blair looked primed for a breakout 2020 season. Coming off an uneven rookie season in which he started a trio of games, numerous roadblocks stood in the way as obstacles preventing Marquise Blair from earning more consistent playing time for the Seahawks defensively. Heading towards training camp, Seattle already had two proven starters in Quandre Diggs and Bradley McDougald under contract at the safety position. Then, general manager John Schneider pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade to acquire All-Pro talent Jamal Adams from the New York Jets for two first-round picks and a third-round selection in late July. With Adams in the fold and Diggs still having two years left on his contract, Blair was the odd man out on the depth chart. But coach Pete Carroll was determined to find a path to get the 2019 second-round pick onto the field and after hinting at a possible position change on multiple occasions during the offseason, Seattle slid him to nickel cornerback at the start of camp. Despite having no prior background at the position, Blair remained confident his skill set would translate to the slot effectively. Coverage rules generally staying the same helped ease his transition from safety as well. While Blair made his share of mistakes adjusting to a new position on the fly during the first few practice sessions, he quickly emerged as one of the biggest stars in an abbreviated Seahawks training camp. He consistently got his hands on the football in coverage, including picking off two passes in the team's mock scrimmages, and found his way to Russell Wilson and Geno Smith as a blitzer from the slot. By the time camp wrapped up, the hard-hitting Blair had beaten out Ugo Amadi for the starting nickel cornerback role and looked poised for a breakout second season. Playing alongside Adams and Diggs in nickel and dime packages, Carroll expected the versatile trio to be a disruptive force and help Seattle's defense return to the ranks of the NFL's elite. Unfortunately, the Seahawks weren't able to see what the group could accomplish together, as Blair's season came to an abrupt end in a Week 2 win over the Patriots. While finishing a tackle, K.J. Wright inadvertently hit his helmet against the young defender's knee, causing his leg to buckle. He had to be helped off the field and only a few days later, after registering eight tackles and a forced fumble in the first two games, he was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Nearly seven months after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery, Blair is on schedule to be 100 percent healthy for the start of camp in August. In a video of a recent workout, he looked quick and explosive running through agility hurdles and transitioning in and out of his backpedal, a positive sign for his recovery process. Just like last offseason, the Seahawks will have to figure out where Blair fits into the team's defensive plans in 2021 and beyond. At safety, Adams and Diggs are both entering the final year of their respective contracts and all signs point to Seattle extending both players at some point. Meanwhile, at the nickel corner spot, Amadi performed well in Blair's absence, earning a respectable 67.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus while producing 45 tackles and six pass breakups on 552 defensive snaps. Considering how well Blair performed out of the slot during training camp, it would seem safe to assume he will remain at that position and once again compete against Amadi for the starting role. But as a coach who has never been afraid to experiment in the secondary, Carroll may have one other option to at least consider. While the Seahawks have been able to fortify their defensive line during free agency, the team lost starting cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar, leaving the team with significant question marks at the position. Former 49ers starter Ahkello Witherspoon was signed to a one-year contract, while D.J. Reed and Tre Flowers will return with one year remaining on their current deals. Known for his physicality and toughness, Blair already proved he could adapt to Seattle's kick-step technique and handle press coverage duties in the slot last summer. While quicker receivers may have been problematic for him working inside, he would have the added benefit of the sideline functioning as an extra "defender" to help him in coverage on the outside. Though Blair has only 30 3/4-inch arms, which falls below Seattle's typical threshold of 32 inches, his 40-yard dash (4.48), 3-cone drill (6.84), and vertical jump (35 inches) all meet the team's testing requirements at the position. Coupled with his size and aggressive play style, these numbers suggest he has more than enough athleticism to play on the outside. However, there are several reasons why such a position switch may not be near as successful for Blair as last time around. Aside from playing deep zone, he has spent the vast majority of his time at the college and NFL level playing in the box. Lining up on an island on the outside with more one-on-one matchups may be too far outside of his comfort zone and there would be additional technique hurdles he would need to overcome to be effective. It's also debatable whether playing outside cornerback would truly maximize Blair's biggest strengths. He'd rarely be used as a blitzer, wouldn't be as involved defending the run, and would not draw as many matchups against big tight ends, which is an area he could certainly be utilized given his size and physical presence. Ultimately, Blair has most of the physical and athletic tools Seattle looks for at outside cornerback, but he doesn't have the background. Shifting outside would be a far trickier move than sliding from safety to slot cornerback as he did a year ago. That much upheaval can also severely stunt a player's development. With that said, if there is a coach who could transform Blair into a viable outside corner and do so quickly, it is Carroll, who has rightfully earned his reputation as a defensive back guru. Most likely, he will stay in the slot where he thrived last summer, but the intrigue of seeing Blair press receivers into submission on the outside may be worth careful consideration. | Marquise Blair made an easy transition from safety to slot cornerback. The 2019 second-round pick turned in an outstanding training camp. | bart | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/news/could-seahawks-benefit-from-marquise-blair-changing-positions-again | 0.102187 |
Could Seahawks Benefit From Marquise Blair Changing Positions... Again? | Making an easy transition from safety to slot cornerback and turning in an outstanding training camp, Blair looked primed for a breakout 2020 season. Coming off an uneven rookie season in which he started a trio of games, numerous roadblocks stood in the way as obstacles preventing Marquise Blair from earning more consistent playing time for the Seahawks defensively. Heading towards training camp, Seattle already had two proven starters in Quandre Diggs and Bradley McDougald under contract at the safety position. Then, general manager John Schneider pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade to acquire All-Pro talent Jamal Adams from the New York Jets for two first-round picks and a third-round selection in late July. With Adams in the fold and Diggs still having two years left on his contract, Blair was the odd man out on the depth chart. But coach Pete Carroll was determined to find a path to get the 2019 second-round pick onto the field and after hinting at a possible position change on multiple occasions during the offseason, Seattle slid him to nickel cornerback at the start of camp. Despite having no prior background at the position, Blair remained confident his skill set would translate to the slot effectively. Coverage rules generally staying the same helped ease his transition from safety as well. While Blair made his share of mistakes adjusting to a new position on the fly during the first few practice sessions, he quickly emerged as one of the biggest stars in an abbreviated Seahawks training camp. He consistently got his hands on the football in coverage, including picking off two passes in the team's mock scrimmages, and found his way to Russell Wilson and Geno Smith as a blitzer from the slot. By the time camp wrapped up, the hard-hitting Blair had beaten out Ugo Amadi for the starting nickel cornerback role and looked poised for a breakout second season. Playing alongside Adams and Diggs in nickel and dime packages, Carroll expected the versatile trio to be a disruptive force and help Seattle's defense return to the ranks of the NFL's elite. Unfortunately, the Seahawks weren't able to see what the group could accomplish together, as Blair's season came to an abrupt end in a Week 2 win over the Patriots. While finishing a tackle, K.J. Wright inadvertently hit his helmet against the young defender's knee, causing his leg to buckle. He had to be helped off the field and only a few days later, after registering eight tackles and a forced fumble in the first two games, he was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Nearly seven months after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery, Blair is on schedule to be 100 percent healthy for the start of camp in August. In a video of a recent workout, he looked quick and explosive running through agility hurdles and transitioning in and out of his backpedal, a positive sign for his recovery process. Just like last offseason, the Seahawks will have to figure out where Blair fits into the team's defensive plans in 2021 and beyond. At safety, Adams and Diggs are both entering the final year of their respective contracts and all signs point to Seattle extending both players at some point. Meanwhile, at the nickel corner spot, Amadi performed well in Blair's absence, earning a respectable 67.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus while producing 45 tackles and six pass breakups on 552 defensive snaps. Considering how well Blair performed out of the slot during training camp, it would seem safe to assume he will remain at that position and once again compete against Amadi for the starting role. But as a coach who has never been afraid to experiment in the secondary, Carroll may have one other option to at least consider. While the Seahawks have been able to fortify their defensive line during free agency, the team lost starting cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar, leaving the team with significant question marks at the position. Former 49ers starter Ahkello Witherspoon was signed to a one-year contract, while D.J. Reed and Tre Flowers will return with one year remaining on their current deals. Known for his physicality and toughness, Blair already proved he could adapt to Seattle's kick-step technique and handle press coverage duties in the slot last summer. While quicker receivers may have been problematic for him working inside, he would have the added benefit of the sideline functioning as an extra "defender" to help him in coverage on the outside. Though Blair has only 30 3/4-inch arms, which falls below Seattle's typical threshold of 32 inches, his 40-yard dash (4.48), 3-cone drill (6.84), and vertical jump (35 inches) all meet the team's testing requirements at the position. Coupled with his size and aggressive play style, these numbers suggest he has more than enough athleticism to play on the outside. However, there are several reasons why such a position switch may not be near as successful for Blair as last time around. Aside from playing deep zone, he has spent the vast majority of his time at the college and NFL level playing in the box. Lining up on an island on the outside with more one-on-one matchups may be too far outside of his comfort zone and there would be additional technique hurdles he would need to overcome to be effective. It's also debatable whether playing outside cornerback would truly maximize Blair's biggest strengths. He'd rarely be used as a blitzer, wouldn't be as involved defending the run, and would not draw as many matchups against big tight ends, which is an area he could certainly be utilized given his size and physical presence. Ultimately, Blair has most of the physical and athletic tools Seattle looks for at outside cornerback, but he doesn't have the background. Shifting outside would be a far trickier move than sliding from safety to slot cornerback as he did a year ago. That much upheaval can also severely stunt a player's development. With that said, if there is a coach who could transform Blair into a viable outside corner and do so quickly, it is Carroll, who has rightfully earned his reputation as a defensive back guru. Most likely, he will stay in the slot where he thrived last summer, but the intrigue of seeing Blair press receivers into submission on the outside may be worth careful consideration. | Marquise Blair had an uneven rookie season in which he started a trio of games. After hinting at a position change during the offseason, Seattle slid him to nickel cornerback at the start of camp. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/news/could-seahawks-benefit-from-marquise-blair-changing-positions-again | 0.138861 |
Could Seahawks Benefit From Marquise Blair Changing Positions... Again? | Making an easy transition from safety to slot cornerback and turning in an outstanding training camp, Blair looked primed for a breakout 2020 season. Coming off an uneven rookie season in which he started a trio of games, numerous roadblocks stood in the way as obstacles preventing Marquise Blair from earning more consistent playing time for the Seahawks defensively. Heading towards training camp, Seattle already had two proven starters in Quandre Diggs and Bradley McDougald under contract at the safety position. Then, general manager John Schneider pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade to acquire All-Pro talent Jamal Adams from the New York Jets for two first-round picks and a third-round selection in late July. With Adams in the fold and Diggs still having two years left on his contract, Blair was the odd man out on the depth chart. But coach Pete Carroll was determined to find a path to get the 2019 second-round pick onto the field and after hinting at a possible position change on multiple occasions during the offseason, Seattle slid him to nickel cornerback at the start of camp. Despite having no prior background at the position, Blair remained confident his skill set would translate to the slot effectively. Coverage rules generally staying the same helped ease his transition from safety as well. While Blair made his share of mistakes adjusting to a new position on the fly during the first few practice sessions, he quickly emerged as one of the biggest stars in an abbreviated Seahawks training camp. He consistently got his hands on the football in coverage, including picking off two passes in the team's mock scrimmages, and found his way to Russell Wilson and Geno Smith as a blitzer from the slot. By the time camp wrapped up, the hard-hitting Blair had beaten out Ugo Amadi for the starting nickel cornerback role and looked poised for a breakout second season. Playing alongside Adams and Diggs in nickel and dime packages, Carroll expected the versatile trio to be a disruptive force and help Seattle's defense return to the ranks of the NFL's elite. Unfortunately, the Seahawks weren't able to see what the group could accomplish together, as Blair's season came to an abrupt end in a Week 2 win over the Patriots. While finishing a tackle, K.J. Wright inadvertently hit his helmet against the young defender's knee, causing his leg to buckle. He had to be helped off the field and only a few days later, after registering eight tackles and a forced fumble in the first two games, he was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Nearly seven months after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery, Blair is on schedule to be 100 percent healthy for the start of camp in August. In a video of a recent workout, he looked quick and explosive running through agility hurdles and transitioning in and out of his backpedal, a positive sign for his recovery process. Just like last offseason, the Seahawks will have to figure out where Blair fits into the team's defensive plans in 2021 and beyond. At safety, Adams and Diggs are both entering the final year of their respective contracts and all signs point to Seattle extending both players at some point. Meanwhile, at the nickel corner spot, Amadi performed well in Blair's absence, earning a respectable 67.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus while producing 45 tackles and six pass breakups on 552 defensive snaps. Considering how well Blair performed out of the slot during training camp, it would seem safe to assume he will remain at that position and once again compete against Amadi for the starting role. But as a coach who has never been afraid to experiment in the secondary, Carroll may have one other option to at least consider. While the Seahawks have been able to fortify their defensive line during free agency, the team lost starting cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar, leaving the team with significant question marks at the position. Former 49ers starter Ahkello Witherspoon was signed to a one-year contract, while D.J. Reed and Tre Flowers will return with one year remaining on their current deals. Known for his physicality and toughness, Blair already proved he could adapt to Seattle's kick-step technique and handle press coverage duties in the slot last summer. While quicker receivers may have been problematic for him working inside, he would have the added benefit of the sideline functioning as an extra "defender" to help him in coverage on the outside. Though Blair has only 30 3/4-inch arms, which falls below Seattle's typical threshold of 32 inches, his 40-yard dash (4.48), 3-cone drill (6.84), and vertical jump (35 inches) all meet the team's testing requirements at the position. Coupled with his size and aggressive play style, these numbers suggest he has more than enough athleticism to play on the outside. However, there are several reasons why such a position switch may not be near as successful for Blair as last time around. Aside from playing deep zone, he has spent the vast majority of his time at the college and NFL level playing in the box. Lining up on an island on the outside with more one-on-one matchups may be too far outside of his comfort zone and there would be additional technique hurdles he would need to overcome to be effective. It's also debatable whether playing outside cornerback would truly maximize Blair's biggest strengths. He'd rarely be used as a blitzer, wouldn't be as involved defending the run, and would not draw as many matchups against big tight ends, which is an area he could certainly be utilized given his size and physical presence. Ultimately, Blair has most of the physical and athletic tools Seattle looks for at outside cornerback, but he doesn't have the background. Shifting outside would be a far trickier move than sliding from safety to slot cornerback as he did a year ago. That much upheaval can also severely stunt a player's development. With that said, if there is a coach who could transform Blair into a viable outside corner and do so quickly, it is Carroll, who has rightfully earned his reputation as a defensive back guru. Most likely, he will stay in the slot where he thrived last summer, but the intrigue of seeing Blair press receivers into submission on the outside may be worth careful consideration. | Marquise Blair made an easy transition from safety to slot cornerback and turned in an outstanding training camp. Blair's season came to an abrupt end in a Week 2 win over the Patriots when he was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. The Seahawks will have to figure out where Blair fits into the team's defensive plans in 2021 and beyond. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/news/could-seahawks-benefit-from-marquise-blair-changing-positions-again | 0.268735 |
Will FinCENs Crypto Conundrum Hurt Ransomware Victims? | Ransomware was invented 30 years ago when an AIDS researcher mailed between 10 and 20 thousand 5.25 floppy disks emblazoned with the name AIDS Information Version 2.0, to people and business around the world. Over the past 30 years, much has changed including our use of computers which now, instead of being attached to cathode ray television sets, fit into our pockets. The trajectory, from floppy disks in the 80s, to e-commerce by the early 2000s, has culminated in the minting of digital money. Since then, as the use of cryptocurrency has grown, other industries have grown with it. One industry, often overlooked, is ransomware. Ransomware is a plague on businesses world-wide. Indeed, the U.S. government recommends not paying these ransoms . New guidance, however, issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to the industry in late 2020, takes this too far; it threatens to impose sanctions on the insurance industry that has bloomed around cyber crime and will likely hurt the victims, not the criminals. Ransomware is Everywhere Today, ransomware is a booming business for cyber criminals, making cyber insurance a business imperative. Says Bridget Choi, the General Counsel of Kivu Consulting, a digital forensic-incident response (DFIR) firm, who leads their regulatory program. Since the dot.com boom, cyber insurance has become a billion-dollar industry. Originally designed to be a risk transfer should a network go down and a business lose revenue, cyber insurance is now frequently used to protect against and respond to ransomware attacks. And cyber insurance claims happen to be an excellent metrics for tracking these cyber-attacks. As recently as 2013, the large cyber-claims were typically well-known data or payment card data security breaches, explains Choi. With the growth of digital payments and cryptocurrency, the cyber threat landscape has changed. Indeed, the FBI estimates that $144.35 million in Bitcoin have been paid for ransomware attacks between 2013 and 2019. Estimates for ransomware payments for 2020based in part on the surge in remote work spurred by COVID-19reached $350,000,000. Enter the U.S. Government, which is trying to address cybercrime by applying Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) compliance to the ransomware recovery industrythe businesses who help victims navigate the world of ransomware. That help often includes making ransomware payments. You Might Not Want to Help ... In late 2020, overshadowed by the pandemic, election-mania, and riots that swept our nation, the U.S. Treasury issued dual guidance reminding the various cyber-incident response companiesa big part of the billion dollar cyber insurance industrythat they can be at risk for sanctions if they assist malware victims in making payments to actors who are on OFACs blacklist (known as the SDN list). When US regulators hint that certain actions can subject entities to regulatory risks, it should be understood as a warning that taking such actions will subject the actor to regulatory action. And FinCEN was plain that this will happen: Processing ransomware payments is typically a multi-step process that involves at least one depository institution and one or more money services business (MSB). Many ransomware schemes involve convertible virtual currency (CVC), the preferred payment method of ransomware perpetrators. Following the delivery of the ransom demand, a ransomware victim will typically transmit funds via wire transfer, automated clearinghouse, or credit card payment to a CVC exchange to purchase the type and amount of CVC specified by the ransomware perpetrator. Next, the victim will send the CVC, often from a wallet hosted at the exchange, to the perpetrators designated account or CVC address. Crypto May Boost Ransomware, but it May Help Catch the Thieves As suggested by FinCEN and others, cryptocurrency may have arguably boosted the business of ransomware. But nearly all cryptocurrencies run on publicly available blockchains. These distributed ledgers provide the complete transaction histories from one anonymous address to another. Once an address has been linked to an individual, however, investigators start connecting the dots. Just ask Hugh Haney, an unobtrusive 60-year-old, living in Columbus, Ohio. Haney, ran the Pharmville narcotics operation on the now infamous Silk Road online criminal marketplace. He was arrested by the United States government in July of 2019 after trying to liquidate $19 million worth of Bitcoin that was traced to Haneys Silk Road wallet. (According to Haneys lawyers, at the time of his narcotics sale, the total Bitcoin he was paid at the time he received the transfers was worth, approximately $7,600.). In the press release issued by the United States Attorneys Office, the government went into detail about the ability to use wallet addresses to track the bitcoin that was moved, and to catch Haney. More recently, an international sting operation netted the corporate heads of an infamous and prodigious ransomware company known as Egregor, who were living and working in Ukraine. Now that they are caught, the pseudonymous nature of the blockchain may be Egregors forensic undoing. Good Intentions Be Damned. While FinCENs guidance has been on the books for almost 5 months, it is too short of a time to determine its effect. FinCENs admonishment could result in more reporting, or it could shut down the section of the insurance companies and DFIRs that assist victim-customers with making payments. After all, nothing prevents ransomware victims from opening an account on a cryptocurrency trading platform, buying cryptocurrency, and paying the ransom themselves. Less draconian treatment, such as requiring these companies to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with basic information such as the amounts paid and the wallet addresses, would serve to provide the government with information and not punish the industry actors who are looking to assist ransomware victims. The answer may very well be yes. Unfortunately for us all, no amount of regulation can stop crimeit certainly has not stopped ransomware, which has grown from a one-man, floppy-disk-by-snail-mail operation to complex, distributed international criminal syndicates replete with third-party service providers that specialize in everything from testing a targets security to web hosting providers. FinCENs new guidance may only end up hurting the victims of cybercrime; an irony that should not be lost on our regulators. | Ransomware is a plague on businesses world-wide. The U.S. government recommends not paying these ransoms. FinCENs Crypto Conundrum will likely hurt the victims, not the criminals. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonnagi/2021/04/12/will-fincens-crypto-conundrum-hurt-ransomware-victims/ | 0.487073 |
Will FinCENs Crypto Conundrum Hurt Ransomware Victims? | Ransomware was invented 30 years ago when an AIDS researcher mailed between 10 and 20 thousand 5.25 floppy disks emblazoned with the name AIDS Information Version 2.0, to people and business around the world. Over the past 30 years, much has changed including our use of computers which now, instead of being attached to cathode ray television sets, fit into our pockets. The trajectory, from floppy disks in the 80s, to e-commerce by the early 2000s, has culminated in the minting of digital money. Since then, as the use of cryptocurrency has grown, other industries have grown with it. One industry, often overlooked, is ransomware. Ransomware is a plague on businesses world-wide. Indeed, the U.S. government recommends not paying these ransoms . New guidance, however, issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to the industry in late 2020, takes this too far; it threatens to impose sanctions on the insurance industry that has bloomed around cyber crime and will likely hurt the victims, not the criminals. Ransomware is Everywhere Today, ransomware is a booming business for cyber criminals, making cyber insurance a business imperative. Says Bridget Choi, the General Counsel of Kivu Consulting, a digital forensic-incident response (DFIR) firm, who leads their regulatory program. Since the dot.com boom, cyber insurance has become a billion-dollar industry. Originally designed to be a risk transfer should a network go down and a business lose revenue, cyber insurance is now frequently used to protect against and respond to ransomware attacks. And cyber insurance claims happen to be an excellent metrics for tracking these cyber-attacks. As recently as 2013, the large cyber-claims were typically well-known data or payment card data security breaches, explains Choi. With the growth of digital payments and cryptocurrency, the cyber threat landscape has changed. Indeed, the FBI estimates that $144.35 million in Bitcoin have been paid for ransomware attacks between 2013 and 2019. Estimates for ransomware payments for 2020based in part on the surge in remote work spurred by COVID-19reached $350,000,000. Enter the U.S. Government, which is trying to address cybercrime by applying Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) compliance to the ransomware recovery industrythe businesses who help victims navigate the world of ransomware. That help often includes making ransomware payments. You Might Not Want to Help ... In late 2020, overshadowed by the pandemic, election-mania, and riots that swept our nation, the U.S. Treasury issued dual guidance reminding the various cyber-incident response companiesa big part of the billion dollar cyber insurance industrythat they can be at risk for sanctions if they assist malware victims in making payments to actors who are on OFACs blacklist (known as the SDN list). When US regulators hint that certain actions can subject entities to regulatory risks, it should be understood as a warning that taking such actions will subject the actor to regulatory action. And FinCEN was plain that this will happen: Processing ransomware payments is typically a multi-step process that involves at least one depository institution and one or more money services business (MSB). Many ransomware schemes involve convertible virtual currency (CVC), the preferred payment method of ransomware perpetrators. Following the delivery of the ransom demand, a ransomware victim will typically transmit funds via wire transfer, automated clearinghouse, or credit card payment to a CVC exchange to purchase the type and amount of CVC specified by the ransomware perpetrator. Next, the victim will send the CVC, often from a wallet hosted at the exchange, to the perpetrators designated account or CVC address. Crypto May Boost Ransomware, but it May Help Catch the Thieves As suggested by FinCEN and others, cryptocurrency may have arguably boosted the business of ransomware. But nearly all cryptocurrencies run on publicly available blockchains. These distributed ledgers provide the complete transaction histories from one anonymous address to another. Once an address has been linked to an individual, however, investigators start connecting the dots. Just ask Hugh Haney, an unobtrusive 60-year-old, living in Columbus, Ohio. Haney, ran the Pharmville narcotics operation on the now infamous Silk Road online criminal marketplace. He was arrested by the United States government in July of 2019 after trying to liquidate $19 million worth of Bitcoin that was traced to Haneys Silk Road wallet. (According to Haneys lawyers, at the time of his narcotics sale, the total Bitcoin he was paid at the time he received the transfers was worth, approximately $7,600.). In the press release issued by the United States Attorneys Office, the government went into detail about the ability to use wallet addresses to track the bitcoin that was moved, and to catch Haney. More recently, an international sting operation netted the corporate heads of an infamous and prodigious ransomware company known as Egregor, who were living and working in Ukraine. Now that they are caught, the pseudonymous nature of the blockchain may be Egregors forensic undoing. Good Intentions Be Damned. While FinCENs guidance has been on the books for almost 5 months, it is too short of a time to determine its effect. FinCENs admonishment could result in more reporting, or it could shut down the section of the insurance companies and DFIRs that assist victim-customers with making payments. After all, nothing prevents ransomware victims from opening an account on a cryptocurrency trading platform, buying cryptocurrency, and paying the ransom themselves. Less draconian treatment, such as requiring these companies to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with basic information such as the amounts paid and the wallet addresses, would serve to provide the government with information and not punish the industry actors who are looking to assist ransomware victims. The answer may very well be yes. Unfortunately for us all, no amount of regulation can stop crimeit certainly has not stopped ransomware, which has grown from a one-man, floppy-disk-by-snail-mail operation to complex, distributed international criminal syndicates replete with third-party service providers that specialize in everything from testing a targets security to web hosting providers. FinCENs new guidance may only end up hurting the victims of cybercrime; an irony that should not be lost on our regulators. | Ransomware is a plague on businesses world-wide. The U.S. government recommends not paying these ransoms. FinCENs new guidance to the industry in late 2020 will likely hurt the victims, not the criminals, says one expert. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonnagi/2021/04/12/will-fincens-crypto-conundrum-hurt-ransomware-victims/ | 0.291903 |
Should the Atlanta Falcons draft a QB at No. 4? | In the past twenty years, the Falcons have held a top-5 selection only twice. With those two draft picks, the team landed quarterbacks Michael Vick and Matt Ryan. Unlike Vick, though, Ryan has remained the starting quarterback in Atlanta for the past 13 years. Lets take a look at both sides of the argument. Why the Falcons should... Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports For the first time in the modern era, there is a very likely scenario where five quarterbacks are taken in the top 10. There's even an outside shot that the first five picks could all be quarterbacks. Since the 2010 NFL draft, an average of two quarterbacks have gone inside the top 10. Only four times in the last 11 drafts have there been more than two quarterbacks drafted. Statistically, this crop of signal-callers is either being grossly overrated, or is simply a rare, all-time great draft class. Matt Ryan will be 36 years old by the time the season rolls around. His age and $48 million cap hit in 2022 may be off-putting for Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith. With that being said, the No. 4 selection is the perfect spot to grab a quarterback. Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Mac Jones are likely going off the board 1-2-3, leaving the Falcons with a choice between Justin Fields and Trey Lance. Both players could be capable of riding out the next two seasons and fine tuning their game in the event that Ryan begins to decline. https://twitter.com/LRiddickESPN/status/1376963771495776257?s=20 Justin Fields has a big arm and is very capable of making all the throws in the NFL. Drafting Fields now would provide the quarterback a year of experience behind Ryan to progress in his reads at a faster rate and improve his fundamentals altogether. The biggest reason the Falcons should consider drafting a quarterback at number four isn't necessarily the talent but rather getting that fifth-year option, which lessens the cap blow down the road if the player sits behind Ryan for a year or two. It's based on a player's playing time and Pro Bowl accolades. The math here is simple, the less playing time the player receives, the lower the eventual price tag the team. If this draft class is as good as it's hyped up to be, this could be the right time for the Falcons to pull the trigger on Ryan's eventual successor. Story continues Why the Falcons shouldn't... Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports While there are plenty of reasons for the Falcons to draft a QB at No. 4, there are also plenty of reasons why they shouldn't. Ryan himself stated back in 2018 that he wishes to play into his 40s. Health has never been an issue with Ryan. In fact, during his 13-year career with the Falcons, the quarterback has only missed three games -- two of which came in the 2009 season. On the production front, the former MVP has shown he is still capable of producing in the NFL. Many people point to his age as the biggest reason to draft his future replacement. However, there is no indication that his performance will drop off a considerable amount. In fact, his performance in 2021 is expected to be elevated by Arthur Smith's offense due to its similarities to the offense Atlanta ran in 2016. The team could instead use that pick to add to Ryan's game by bringing in another pass catcher or going after Oregon's left tackle Penei Sewell. Both would bring an immediate impact to the Falcons and help the team win now. On the financial front, many like to point out the Falcons cutting Matt Ryan after June 1 of 2022 would save the team $23 million in cap space. However, you're not cutting Ryan for nothing. Even with his age and contract, he still has market value. The $23 million in cap savings may look good on paper, but this move is simply not practical. This would incur a dead cap hit of $24 million, and despite what others may tell you, this is something teams try and avoid. The Eagles and Ram only did it due to internal conflicts and Goff not living up to his premature big contract. Sam Bradford is the only notable quarterback to get a post-June 1 cut, making Ryan unlikely to be the next. Finally, drafting a quarterback with the intention of sitting them for a year isn't as easy as many choose to believe. The 2011 collective bargaining agreement saw a decrease in the amount of hours teams could practice, both during the year and in the offseason. This limits the growth of a young quarterback. Not to mention, coaches don't allocate a lot of time during the season for true quarterback development. Instead, we see a much bigger focus on game-planning since their jobs are more predicated on success than anything else. Overview Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports Terry Fontenot is coming from an organization in New Orleans that struggled to part ways with Drew Brees. It's unknown if Fontenot was a believer in continuing to build around Brees, or if he preferred to move on from the future Hall of Fame quarterback sooner than the team did. Fontenot being at odds with Falcons head coach Arthur Smith could suggest the latter, but both have since aligned themselves with the direction they want to go with the No. 4 pick, per D'Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC. However, that direction has yet to be disclosed. An alternate universe suggest that the Saints would have used their No. 11 pick in the 2017 NFL draft to take Patrick Mahomes, thus pushing Drew Brees out the door sooner. However, as we know today, the Chiefs traded one spot ahead of New Orleans before they could pull the trigger. Atlanta is truly at a crossroads. On one hand, Ryan has proven he can compete on a high level and has no indication this should change. On the other, he will be 36 years old this season and the Falcons will need to eventually have a plan in place for life after Ryan. You don't want to be stuck in a situation in year two or three with Matt Ryan still playing at a high level, despite his age, and have a young quarterback sitting idle on the bench. Not only will the young quarterback be unhappy with the situation, but this could also cause a riff between Ryan and the Falcons organization. By taking a quarterback at No. 4, there is an expectation that he will be a starter in year one or year two at the latest. Let's also not forget, only three quarterbacks who are not currently playing on their rookie contract are still with the team that drafted them. Ben Roethlisberger (2004), Aaron Rodgers (2005), and Matt Ryan (2008). Quarterback scouting, while it may be flashy and exciting, it is entirely speculative and ends up being inaccurate more times than not. The Falcons have a proven winner at quarterback and consistency is hard to come by at the NFL level. https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1375480089740206084?s=20 And while you can plan for the future, you can also do this by addressing key holes or taking the best player available at the time. With the top three quarterbacks already off the board, the best player available is not likely to be a QB. The Falcons don't have the luxury of drafting a quarterback at No. 4 and still expect to win in 2021. By doing so, the team would be committing to a rebuild and not expected to compete until 2023 or 2024. Threading the needle between winning now or building for the future is much easier said than done. 1 1 | Matt Ryan has been the Falcons' starting quarterback for the past 13 years. This year's quarterback class is one of the best in the history of the NFL. There are plenty of reasons for the Falcons to draft a QB at No. 4. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/atlanta-falcons-draft-qb-no-195716446.html?src=rss | 0.235772 |
Who is Daunte Wright, the 20-year-old Black man killed in officer-involved shooting in Minnesota? | Daunte Wright was a 20-year-old Black man fatally shot by a female police officer during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb Sunday afternoon. Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon on Monday described the shooting as "an accidental discharge." He said the officer responsible intended to fire a Taser, not a handgun. Body camera footage of the fatal encounter shows three officers around a stopped car. When another officer attempts to handcuff Wright, a struggle ensues. "Taser! Taser! Taser!" one of the officers is heard shouting. Another officer fires a single shot from her handgun, the car speeds away and the officer is heard saying, "Holy (expletive)! I shot him." Authorities said the car was pulled over for having an expired registration and after determining the driver had an outstanding warrant, police said they tried to arrest him. The driver then re-entered the vehicle, and an officer fired, striking him, police said. The vehicle traveled several blocks before striking another vehicle. BIDEN ADDRESSES DEADLY OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING, SAYS 'PAIN IS REAL,' BUT NO 'JUSTIFICATION FOR VIOLENCE' A female passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the crash, authorities said. Dauntes mother, Katie Wright, said the passenger was her son's girlfriend. Court records show Wright was being sought after failing to appear in court on charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June. In that case, a statement of probable cause said police got a call about a man waving a gun who was later identified as Wright. Katie Wright said her son called her as he was supposedly getting pulled over for having air fresheners hanging in his rear-view mirror an offense in Minnesota. "All he did was have air fresheners in the car, and they told him to get out of the car," Wright said. During the call, she said she heard scuffling and then someone saying "Daunte, don't run" before the call ended. When she called back, her son's girlfriend answered and said he had been shot. Shortly after the shooting, demonstrators began to gather, with some jumping atop police cars. Marchers also descended on the Brooklyn Center Police Department, where rocks and other objects were thrown at officers, authorities said. MINNESOTA SPORTS TEAMS POSTPONE GAMES IN LIGHT OF DAUNTE WRIGHT SHOOTING Wright's father, Aubrey, told the Washington Post that his son had just asked his mom for $50 for a carwash and was headed there when he was shot. "I know my son. He was scared. He still [had] the mind of a 17-year-old because we babied him," Wright told the outlet. "If he was resisting an arrest, you could Tase him. I don't understand it." Aubrey said Daunte had a 2-year-old son and dropped out of high school two years ago because of a learning disability. Daunte has since worked in retail and fast-food restaurants to support his son and planned to get his GED, Aubrey told The Post. "He was a great kid," Aubrey Wright said. "He was a normal kid. He was never in serious trouble. He enjoyed spending time with his 2-year-old son. He loved his son." FOR CHAUVIN'S TRIAL ATTORNEY, IT'S ALL ABOUT RAISING DOUBT Wrights death comes as the area was already on edge because of the trial of the first of four police officers charged in George Floyd's death. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer charged in Floyd's death, continued Monday. Floyd, a Black man, died May 25 after Chauvin, who is White, pressed his knee against Floyd's neck. Prosecutors say Floyd was pinned for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. The judge in that case refused Monday to sequester the jury after a defense attorney argued that the panel could be influenced by the prospect of what might happen as a result of their verdict. Speaking before Sunday nights unrest in Brooklyn Center, a city of about 30,000 people on the northwest border of Minneapolis, Wright's mother, Katie Wright, urged protesters to stay peaceful and focused on the loss of her son. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "All the violence, if it keeps going, it's only going to be about the violence. We need it to be about why my son got shot for no reason," she said to a crowd near the shooting scene. "We need to make sure it's about him and not about smashing police cars, because that's not going to bring my son back." The Associated Press contributed to this report. | Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a female police officer during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb Sunday afternoon. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/daunte-wright-police-shot-brooklyn-center-minneapolis | 0.127406 |
Will Social Media Lead To Police Reform Following Recent High Profile Events? | BROOKLYN CENTER, MN - APRIL 11: Demonstrators chant around a chalk circle that says Justice for ... [+] Daunte Wright on April 11, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Protesters took to the streets today after 20 year old Daunte Wright was shot and killed during a traffic stop by members of the Brooklyn Center police. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Getty Images Even as one of the most high profile criminal cases involving a former law enforcement officer continues to unfold in Minnesota, two other recent police-related events are now in the spotlight this week. Both have gone viral on social media. The first involves a black man, Daunte Wright, who was shot and killed by a police officer during what should have been a routine traffic stop. In that incident on Sunday, the police officer drew a handgun instead of a Taser, resulting in Wright's death. The tragic chain of events, which sparked protests in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota on Sunday evening, took place just 10 miles from where former police officer Derek Chauvin is on trial for the killing of another black man, George Floyd. As of Monday, Windsor, Virginia police officer Joe Gutierrez has been fired following a confrontation that occurred last December. Gutierrez and his partner Daniel Crocker had stopped black and Latino U.S. Army Lt. Caron Nazario and the situation escalated. Body camera footage from the two police officers as well as from Nazario's cell phone went viral on social media last week. In the footage, the Army officer, who was in uniform at the time, can be heard repeatedly asking why he was stopped and when he refused to step out of his SUV he was subsequently pepper-sprayed by Gutierrez. The pair of incidents ignited Twitter on Monday, with many calling for police reform, while a few also took to the platform to defend the hard job that law enforcement has today. Response To Another Tragedy The hashtags #DuanteWright, #ItwasaGun and #Manslaugher were widely shared on Monday afternoon. Activists, celebrities, political pundits and lawmakers quickly voiced their concerns over the tragedy. A common refrain was how a trained police officer could make such a heartbreaking mistake, which resulted in Wright's death. "Daunte wright was shot in cold blood by a female police officer. there was no reason for her to taser him. there was no reason to murder him . No excuse .this daily horror of our black brothers and sisters being murdered by police officers must end get racist cops out," wrote actress/activist Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette). Pastor and author/activist Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) shared a similar sentiment, "Lives depend on a cop knowing the difference between a gun and a taser." TV producer Andrew Kimmel was among those who posted a very similar stance: "If you can't distinguish between your gun or your taser, you shouldn't be a cop." "Body cam footage shows the officer drew her service weapon instead of her taser. Duante Wright was killed," posted former RNC chairman and MSNBC analyst Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele). Go To the Video Since last week, the video footage involving Caron Nazario in Virginia has been widely shared, and even resulted in the firing of Officer Gutierrez. It has been tagged with various hashtags including #PoliceBrutality, #PoliceReformNOW and #armyveteran. Human rights attorney, Qasim Rashid (@QasimRashid) was among those who recapped the event with some of the footage. He has had nearly 26,000 likes while he has been retweeted more than 13,000 times: By Monday afternoon "Cops" was among the most trending topics across Twitter. While much of the discussion was around police reform, there were some that actually offered support for law enforcement. These criminals all add insult to injury by acting shady when police are attempting to do their jobs (a very dangerous job). Being asked to show your hands and exit your vehicle is for YOUR safety and the officers safety," wrote @goodblackdude. Social Media And Social Change The fact that so many have been so vocal speaks to the power of social media following these events. It was 30 years ago in March 1991 that footage of the Los Angeles police beating of Rodney King by amateur videographer George Holliday sparked outrage. That footage was eventually widely shared with the mainstream media, but today it is now possible for such video to be quickly disseminated across social media even as events are unfolding. The question is how such videos shared on social media could lead to social change. "It took longer for the Rodney King footage to get air time, but not all that long and when it did it was ubiquitous," said Steve Blum of Tellus Venture Associates. "The George Floyd video was distributed more quickly but I wonder if it had more cumulative effect over time, despite being even more disturbingly dramatic. The Rodney King video was the beginning, or at least the watershed moment, of crowd sourced video of police misconduct. It was ever more shocking as a result." However, as has been seen with other issues, the battle lines remain firmly drawn on the social platforms. While activists may be vocal, it isn't clear if this leads to real change. In the case of Lt. Nazario it may have resulted in the firing of a police officer who certainly seems in the wrong. "There's little or no discussion across ideological divides on social media, regarding policing related issues or anything else," admitted Blum. "Social media has become the megaphone that reaches into most households," said technology analyst Roger Entner of Recon Analytics. "It raises awareness, shows people that they are not alone, helps them connect, or deafens people and makes them less sensitive," Entner explained. Whether social media can actually bring wider change is not as clear. "Social media also lowers the barriers for uncivil conduct. Social media alone does not bring about change," added Entner. "The people who are touched by social media can bring about change when they take the step from the virtual world into the real world." | Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in Minnesota on Sunday. Body camera footage of a confrontation involving a black and Latino U.S. Army officer in Virginia has also gone viral. Both incidents ignited Twitter on Monday, with many calling for police reform. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2021/04/12/will-social-media-lead-to-police-reform-following-recent-high-profile-events/ | 0.185841 |
Should people vaccinated against coronavirus still get tested? | As COVID-19 vaccines go into arms at record pace, and more than one in four U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some may question whether testing is still necessary after receiving jabs. "Fully vaccinated people should test if they develop symptoms of COVID or if they think they may have had a significant exposure," said Dr. Anna P. Durbin, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore who specializes in infectious disease and vaccines, in an emailed statement to Fox News. Likewise, the CDC suggests fully vaccinated people can do without testing and quarantine after an exposure if they dont develop symptoms. MICHIGAN CORONAVIRUS STRATEGY SHOULD FOCUS ON RESTRICTIONS, NOT MORE VACCINE SUPPLY, WALENSKY SAYS "If symptoms develop, all people regardless of vaccination status should isolate and be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, including SARS-CoV-2 testing, if indicated," the CDC says. The guidance differs for those in congregate settings (like correctional facilities and group homes) due to turnover rates, heightened risk of virus spread and difficulties maintaining distancing. In these instances, the agency recommends 14-day quarantine and testing following a potential exposure. As Durbin explains, vaccines are designed to protect against disease, particularly for respiratory viruses. Evidence from clinical trials has shown the recently approved vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna are about 95% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, and real-world data has suggested the mRNA vaccines cut infection risk by 90%. Johnson & Johnson previously said its single-shot coronavirus vaccine was 72% effective in preventing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 in the U.S., but fell to 66% in a larger trial conducted worldwide. According to the CDC, early data suggests the Janssen vaccine may tamp down asymptomatic transmission too. "Breakthrough" cases of COVID-19 or, contracting the virus despite having received the vaccine are rare, but possible, Dr. John Whyte, the chief medical officer of the health care website WebMD, previously told Fox News. The vaccines are very good, he said, but "arent 100% effective." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Fully vaccinated people should still watch for symptoms of COVID-19, especially following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19," the CDC advises. However, the federal health agency says that the risk of becoming infected is "low" for vaccinated individuals. With this, the CDC has already said testing and isolation before-and-after travel is not necessary for those who have completed their vaccinations. "It is possible that people who have completed their vaccination series can still be infected with SARS-CoV-2; however, the rate of being infected after vaccination appears to be reduced by 70-80% compared to the non-vaccinated population," said Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory in Mayo Clinics Division of Clinical Microbiology, in an emailed statement to Fox News. "Furthermore, in the event that a vaccinated person becomes infected, they may shed lower amounts of the virus and for shorter periods of time compared to non-vaccinated individuals." Fox News' Madeline Farber contributed to this report. | More than one in four U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated against coronavirus. The CDC says fully vaccinated people can do without testing and quarantine after an exposure if they dont develop symptoms. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/health/vaccinated-against-coronavirus-testing | 0.302782 |
Should people vaccinated against coronavirus still get tested? | As COVID-19 vaccines go into arms at record pace, and more than one in four U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some may question whether testing is still necessary after receiving jabs. "Fully vaccinated people should test if they develop symptoms of COVID or if they think they may have had a significant exposure," said Dr. Anna P. Durbin, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore who specializes in infectious disease and vaccines, in an emailed statement to Fox News. Likewise, the CDC suggests fully vaccinated people can do without testing and quarantine after an exposure if they dont develop symptoms. MICHIGAN CORONAVIRUS STRATEGY SHOULD FOCUS ON RESTRICTIONS, NOT MORE VACCINE SUPPLY, WALENSKY SAYS "If symptoms develop, all people regardless of vaccination status should isolate and be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, including SARS-CoV-2 testing, if indicated," the CDC says. The guidance differs for those in congregate settings (like correctional facilities and group homes) due to turnover rates, heightened risk of virus spread and difficulties maintaining distancing. In these instances, the agency recommends 14-day quarantine and testing following a potential exposure. As Durbin explains, vaccines are designed to protect against disease, particularly for respiratory viruses. Evidence from clinical trials has shown the recently approved vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna are about 95% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, and real-world data has suggested the mRNA vaccines cut infection risk by 90%. Johnson & Johnson previously said its single-shot coronavirus vaccine was 72% effective in preventing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 in the U.S., but fell to 66% in a larger trial conducted worldwide. According to the CDC, early data suggests the Janssen vaccine may tamp down asymptomatic transmission too. "Breakthrough" cases of COVID-19 or, contracting the virus despite having received the vaccine are rare, but possible, Dr. John Whyte, the chief medical officer of the health care website WebMD, previously told Fox News. The vaccines are very good, he said, but "arent 100% effective." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Fully vaccinated people should still watch for symptoms of COVID-19, especially following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19," the CDC advises. However, the federal health agency says that the risk of becoming infected is "low" for vaccinated individuals. With this, the CDC has already said testing and isolation before-and-after travel is not necessary for those who have completed their vaccinations. "It is possible that people who have completed their vaccination series can still be infected with SARS-CoV-2; however, the rate of being infected after vaccination appears to be reduced by 70-80% compared to the non-vaccinated population," said Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory in Mayo Clinics Division of Clinical Microbiology, in an emailed statement to Fox News. "Furthermore, in the event that a vaccinated person becomes infected, they may shed lower amounts of the virus and for shorter periods of time compared to non-vaccinated individuals." Fox News' Madeline Farber contributed to this report. | More than one in four U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated against coronavirus. The CDC says fully vaccinated people can do without testing and quarantine after an exposure if they dont develop symptoms. The risk of becoming infected is "low" for vaccinated individuals, the CDC says. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.foxnews.com/health/vaccinated-against-coronavirus-testing | 0.343588 |
Can Rockies Alan Trejo step in if Trevor Story is traded? | Alan Trejo says hes more than ready to dive into the big leagues. I think I can play defense with anybody, the Rockies 24-year-old infielder said. I think Im one of the best guys out there defensively. I just need to hit. But just how soon Trejo gets the chance to make a splash remains to be seen. Hes a shortstop by trade, but hes not going to supplant all-star Trevor Story. Not yet, anyway. Story becomes a free agent at the end of the season and if the 3-7 Rockies continue to lose, the chances will increase that the Rockies will explore a trade for Story by the July 31 trade deadline. Its doubtful the Rockies will be able to re-sign Story and there have been no talks about a contract extension. Trejo, called up from the taxi squad when veteran Chris Owings was placed on the 10-day IL with a sprained left thumb, made his big-league debut Saturday night, pinch-hitting in the ninth inning. He lined out to San Francisco center fielder Mauricio Dubon. Trejo, who attended San Diego State, was selected in the 16th round of the 2017 draft. Hes from the Los Angeles area, where his dad was a high school basketball coach. His family will get a chance to see him play in person for the first time as a major-leaguer when the Rockies begin a three-game series against the Dodgers on Tuesday. It will be an emotional time for Trejo and his parents, Ray and Elsa Trejo. But probably not more emotional than the phone call he made to tell them hed been called up. Just hearing my moms voice when I told her made me break down, he said. I started crying with her. Trejo played some second base in college, so hes comfortable moving around the diamond, including playing third base. That could open up some playing time while Owings is on the IL. I think hell get opportunities, manager Bud Black said, noting that the Rockies have only 12 position players on their 26-man roster. I can see Trejo getting starts here and there, just like (outfielder Yonathan) Daza will get starts. If Trevor needs a break, we will play Trejo at shortstop and feel very good about that. Trejo last played for Double-A Hartford in 2019. He was at the Rockies alternative training site last summer and was at the alternative camp again this year until he was added to the taxi squad for the first road trip. Black loves Trejos sure hands and baseball acumen. The all-around play has been impressive for us, Black said. I think moving forward, he (needs) to continue to refine his game. He has great poise and he doesnt scare off. At Double-A, Trejo hit .243/.290/.391 with 15 homers. As a non-roster invitee to spring training, he slashed .313/.478/.791 in 48 plate appearances in the Cactus League. The Rockies have been impressed by his ability to hit big-league fastballs. Still, Trejo realizes he must become a more consistent hitter. I started to (put up) some power numbers, especially in Double-A, he said. But I think with that comes bigger swings and more strikeouts. That was definitely something that I do not like to do. In his conversations with Rockies farm director Zach Wilson, the big topic was how to cut down on Trejos strikeouts and increase his walk rate. At Double-A, his .290 on-base percentage featured 105 strikeouts (27.5%) vs. just 25 walks in 473 plate appearances. Diving into that, I think I could be a really good contact hitter with some power, Trejo said. I think thats the kind of person Im going to be in the big leagues someone who can consistently put the barrel on the ball. And if it happens to go out, then it goes out. Black has seen marked improvement in Trejos game. We have seen that especially in the strength of his body, Black said. As a player in our lower minor leagues, he was on our radar, but hes really made strides in terms of first-step quickness, range, arm strength and with the bat. Hes made strides with his strength with the bat and an increase in bat speed. A tip of the cap to him for the hard work hes put in. Hes got really good hands and good baseball instincts. On Deck Rockies Antonio Senzatela (1-1, 5.56 ERA) at Dodgers RHP Trevor Bauer (1-0, 4.15) 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, Dodger Stadium TV: AT&T SportsNet Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM Bauer has made just two starts for the Dodgers and pitched 13 innings but hes already embroiled in controversy. Major League Baseball is looking into baseballs used by Bauer in his start against Oakland on Wednesday. An article in The Athletic cited unnamed sources who said the balls were sticky and had visible markings on them. Bauer already faced the Rockies once this season, picking up the win April 2 at Coors Field. He gave up four runs on only three hits in 6 1/3 innings, but two of those hits were home runs; solo shots by Charlie Blackmon and Ryan McMahon in the seventh. After a rough first outing vs the Dodgers, Senzatela pitched a gem in his last start, throwing eight scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks at Coors. He allowed just four hits with two walks and three strikeouts, collecting 14 groundball outs. He has not fared well against the Dodgers, going 3-4 with a 6.70 ERA in 11 career appearances (nine starts). Hes 0-3 with a 7.13 ERA in five career starts at Dodger Stadium. Trending: Dodger Stadium tends to gobble up the Rockies and spit them out. The Rockies all-time record there is 84-147 (.364), including a 2-4 record last season and a 1-9 mark in 2019. At issue: First baseman C.J. Cron, whom the Rockies hope will supply some power this season, is off to a slow start. Hes hitting .148 (4-for-27) with no home runs and just one RBI. Pitching Probables Wednesday: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (1-0, 1.54) at Dodgers RHP Dustin May (1-0, 0.00), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM Thursday: Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-2, 2.89) at Dodgers LHP Julio Urias (2-0, 2.85), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM Friday: Mets RHP Marcus Stroman, (1-0, 1.42) at Rockies RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (1-0. 3.60), 6:40 p.m, ATTRM | Alan Trejo, 24, made his big-league debut Saturday night. Trejo is a shortstop by trade, but he's not going to supplant all-star Trevor Story. Story becomes a free agent at the end of the season and if the Rockies continue to lose, the chances will increase that the Rockies will explore a trade for Story. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.denverpost.com/2021/04/12/rockies-alan-trejo-shortstop-trevor-story-traded/ | 0.258392 |
Did Varsity Blues documentary makers pick the wrong man to profile? | Innocent until proven guilty. Its a simple principle and a bedrock of our legal system. But Netflix in a new defamation lawsuit is accused of crossing that line in a documentary about the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal. As the mother of a current freshman and senior in college, I have little sympathy for parents who would lie, cheat and bribe their kids ways into elite colleges. Not when my kids worked their tails off for admission into, well, their second-choice schools after their super-selective first choices turned them down. Still, one of the parents charged in the 2019 federal criminal case raises some legitimate questions about his portrayal in the documentary Operation Varsity Blues, which was released March 17 on Netflix. In a defamation suit filed last week in Massachusetts state court, private equity firm founder John B. Wilson stresses that unlike the other parents depicted in the film, he has pleaded not guilty to all fraud charges. Instead, he says that he was duped by a man behind the scheme, William (Rick) Singer, and that he believed he was making legitimate donations to USC, Harvard and Stanford. Wilsons trial is set for Sept. 13 in federal court in Boston. Aside from a quick message at the end of the one hour and 40-minute documentary, youd never know this. Instead, Wilsons story is intermingled with those of parents including former Willkie Farr & Gallagher co-chair Gordon Caplan, actress Lori Loughlin, TPG Growth founder William McGlashan and Hot Pockets heiress Michelle Janavs. They all pleaded guilty and received modest prison sentences. (Caplan in February also had his law license suspended for two years.) Wilsons lawyers argue that lumping everyone together amounts to guilt by association. Over the past two years, Mr. Wilson and his family have endured many false things being written and said about them, but the Netflix episode, which they contend effectively suggests Mr. Wilsons guilt to an audience of millions, has harmed them by an order of magnitude, Wilsons lawyer in the defamation suit, Howard Cooper of Todd & Weld, told me. Even a defendant awaiting trial in a criminal case is entitled not to have his reputation, and the reputation of his family, unfairly destroyed. A Netflix spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Davis Wright Tremaine partner Diana Palacios, who represents 241C Films, the producer of the documentary, also did not respond to a request for comment. However, in a March 16 letter to Cooper, Palacios laid out elements of her clients defense. First, truth is an absolute defense to a defamation claim, she wrote. Indeed, if a jury this fall finds Wilson guilty, I imagine his defamation claim would be moot. Palacios pointed out that all of Wilsons statements in the movie come from transcripts of wiretaps released by the U.S. government. The documentary makers hired look-alike actors (Matthew Modine stars as Singer) to reenact the conversations. Such statements are protected by the fair report privilege and thus not defamatory, she wrote. The privilege protects journalists from being sued for accurately reporting on official actions or proceedings. Finally, our confidence that the Documentary will not defame your clients is bolstered by the documentarians track record of telling difficult stories based on real-life events, Palacios wrote. Per Netflix, the documentary is from the makers of Fyre, about the failed private island music festival. But just because something might be legal, that doesnt necessarily make it fair. For example, the opening features Singer on the phone explaining that, You make a financial commitment. What school you want may determine how much that actually is. The actor playing John Wilson asks, In terms of things that are more than half a million or 300, whats that set of schools? So thats, uh, Georgetown, Boston College, Georgia Tech, USC, UCLA, Berkeley, Singer replies. Meanwhile, viewers see a photo of a water polo player being photoshopped, swapping one boys head for another. Wilsons son was accepted to University of Southern California in 2014 as a water polo recruit, but prosecutors do not allege that his photos were doctored. Moreover, Wilsons son was a high school and club water polo player whod previously been invited to join the United States Olympic water polo development program, according to the defamation complaint. He also played on USCs water polo team during his first year of college. Wilson claims he intended to donate $200,000 to USC, and that Singer stole half; USC received the other half as planned, acknowledging the gift in an official thank-you letter. (Singer pleaded guilty in March 2019 to facilitating cheating on college entrance exams and using bribery to secure the admission of students to colleges as fake athletic recruits.) Wilson also has twin daughters. The feds say he conspired with Singer in 2018 to get his daughters admitted as crew or sailing recruits at Stanford and Harvard, donating $1 million to Singers foundation to secure spots in advance of their applications. To be sure, some of the wiretap quotes do not cut in Wilsons favor: Ill mark that shes a sailor because she is, but not at the level in which she can sail at Stanford, Singer said, to which Wilson replied Right, right. But Wilsons lawyers say the feds failed to mention a call where Singer told the Wilson family that schools can legitimately admit non-athlete applicants with the necessary academic credentials, if those students worked as assistant managers or in other support roles. Both daughters scored in the 99th percentile on their college entrance exams, according to the defamation suit, and prosecutors have not challenged the legitimacy of their scores. But I wonder why, given how forcefully he has denied the fraud allegations, that the documentarians chose to feature him so prominently especially when 31 other parents have acknowledged their guilt. Opinions expressed here are those of the author. Reuters News, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence and freedom from bias. | John Avlon: John B. Wilson is one of the parents charged in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal. Avlon says the documentary makers picked the wrong man to profile. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.reuters.com/article/varsity-defamation/did-varsity-blues-documentary-makers-pick-the-wrong-man-to-profile-idUSL1N2M52ZS | 0.310864 |
Did Varsity Blues documentary makers pick the wrong man to profile? | Innocent until proven guilty. Its a simple principle and a bedrock of our legal system. But Netflix in a new defamation lawsuit is accused of crossing that line in a documentary about the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal. As the mother of a current freshman and senior in college, I have little sympathy for parents who would lie, cheat and bribe their kids ways into elite colleges. Not when my kids worked their tails off for admission into, well, their second-choice schools after their super-selective first choices turned them down. Still, one of the parents charged in the 2019 federal criminal case raises some legitimate questions about his portrayal in the documentary Operation Varsity Blues, which was released March 17 on Netflix. In a defamation suit filed last week in Massachusetts state court, private equity firm founder John B. Wilson stresses that unlike the other parents depicted in the film, he has pleaded not guilty to all fraud charges. Instead, he says that he was duped by a man behind the scheme, William (Rick) Singer, and that he believed he was making legitimate donations to USC, Harvard and Stanford. Wilsons trial is set for Sept. 13 in federal court in Boston. Aside from a quick message at the end of the one hour and 40-minute documentary, youd never know this. Instead, Wilsons story is intermingled with those of parents including former Willkie Farr & Gallagher co-chair Gordon Caplan, actress Lori Loughlin, TPG Growth founder William McGlashan and Hot Pockets heiress Michelle Janavs. They all pleaded guilty and received modest prison sentences. (Caplan in February also had his law license suspended for two years.) Wilsons lawyers argue that lumping everyone together amounts to guilt by association. Over the past two years, Mr. Wilson and his family have endured many false things being written and said about them, but the Netflix episode, which they contend effectively suggests Mr. Wilsons guilt to an audience of millions, has harmed them by an order of magnitude, Wilsons lawyer in the defamation suit, Howard Cooper of Todd & Weld, told me. Even a defendant awaiting trial in a criminal case is entitled not to have his reputation, and the reputation of his family, unfairly destroyed. A Netflix spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Davis Wright Tremaine partner Diana Palacios, who represents 241C Films, the producer of the documentary, also did not respond to a request for comment. However, in a March 16 letter to Cooper, Palacios laid out elements of her clients defense. First, truth is an absolute defense to a defamation claim, she wrote. Indeed, if a jury this fall finds Wilson guilty, I imagine his defamation claim would be moot. Palacios pointed out that all of Wilsons statements in the movie come from transcripts of wiretaps released by the U.S. government. The documentary makers hired look-alike actors (Matthew Modine stars as Singer) to reenact the conversations. Such statements are protected by the fair report privilege and thus not defamatory, she wrote. The privilege protects journalists from being sued for accurately reporting on official actions or proceedings. Finally, our confidence that the Documentary will not defame your clients is bolstered by the documentarians track record of telling difficult stories based on real-life events, Palacios wrote. Per Netflix, the documentary is from the makers of Fyre, about the failed private island music festival. But just because something might be legal, that doesnt necessarily make it fair. For example, the opening features Singer on the phone explaining that, You make a financial commitment. What school you want may determine how much that actually is. The actor playing John Wilson asks, In terms of things that are more than half a million or 300, whats that set of schools? So thats, uh, Georgetown, Boston College, Georgia Tech, USC, UCLA, Berkeley, Singer replies. Meanwhile, viewers see a photo of a water polo player being photoshopped, swapping one boys head for another. Wilsons son was accepted to University of Southern California in 2014 as a water polo recruit, but prosecutors do not allege that his photos were doctored. Moreover, Wilsons son was a high school and club water polo player whod previously been invited to join the United States Olympic water polo development program, according to the defamation complaint. He also played on USCs water polo team during his first year of college. Wilson claims he intended to donate $200,000 to USC, and that Singer stole half; USC received the other half as planned, acknowledging the gift in an official thank-you letter. (Singer pleaded guilty in March 2019 to facilitating cheating on college entrance exams and using bribery to secure the admission of students to colleges as fake athletic recruits.) Wilson also has twin daughters. The feds say he conspired with Singer in 2018 to get his daughters admitted as crew or sailing recruits at Stanford and Harvard, donating $1 million to Singers foundation to secure spots in advance of their applications. To be sure, some of the wiretap quotes do not cut in Wilsons favor: Ill mark that shes a sailor because she is, but not at the level in which she can sail at Stanford, Singer said, to which Wilson replied Right, right. But Wilsons lawyers say the feds failed to mention a call where Singer told the Wilson family that schools can legitimately admit non-athlete applicants with the necessary academic credentials, if those students worked as assistant managers or in other support roles. Both daughters scored in the 99th percentile on their college entrance exams, according to the defamation suit, and prosecutors have not challenged the legitimacy of their scores. But I wonder why, given how forcefully he has denied the fraud allegations, that the documentarians chose to feature him so prominently especially when 31 other parents have acknowledged their guilt. Opinions expressed here are those of the author. Reuters News, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence and freedom from bias. | John Avlon: John B. Wilson is one of the parents charged in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal. Avlon says the documentary makers picked the wrong man to profile. He says Wilson's story is intermingled with those of other parents who pleaded guilty. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.reuters.com/article/varsity-defamation/did-varsity-blues-documentary-makers-pick-the-wrong-man-to-profile-idUSL1N2M52ZS | 0.584234 |
Are Giants one of the NFLs most improved teams? | The New York Giants were quite busy this offseason, spending wildly in free agency before conducting an extremely involved draft, which featured three trades in total two back and one up. Most of the teams moves were somewhat unexpected, but the overhaul was needed. The Giants were one of the thinnest teams in the league over the previous few seasons, and that lack of depth almost certainly cost them some wins in Joe Judges first year as head coach. Well, according to Robert Mays of The Athletic, theyre on the outside looking in. Honorable Mention: New York Giants Notable additions: Kenny Golladay, Adoree Jackson, Kadarius Toney (rookie), Azeez Ojulari (rookie) What it means for 2021: The Giants seemed to miss the memo that the salary cap fell to $185 million this spring. After signing Golladay to a four-year, $72 million deal (sixth in average annual value among WRs), general manager Dave Gettleman inked former Titans cornerback Adoree Jackson to a three-year, $39 million deal to round out the teams secondary. The Giants still have some questions along the offensive line and will be heavily relying on Ojulari to improve their pass rush, but with Golladay and Toney in the mix, Daniel Jones has more than enough offensive weaponry at his disposal. If the Giants quarterback can take a step forward in 2021, the rest of the roster is ready to compete in the NFC East. Mays five most improved teams included the Jacksonville Jaguars (5), Cleveland Browns (4), New York Jets (3), New England Patriots (2) and Washington Football Team (1). Although we can acknowledge they improved some, seeing the WFT ranked No. 1 overall with the notable additions of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Ereck Flowers is interesting in comparison to the other teams. Arguably and this stings to admit the Jets are more improved than Washington and even the Giants. | The New York Giants were one of the thinnest teams in the league over the previous few seasons. The Giants spent wildly in free agency before conducting an extremely involved draft, which featured three trades in total two back and one up. The Jets are more improved than Washington and even the Giants. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-one-nfl-most-improved-120023052.html?src=rss | 0.114857 |
Why might covid-19 booster vaccinations be needed? | VACCINE-MAKERS HAVE developed covid-19 jabs at unprecedented speed. Now they are turning their attention to booster vaccines. In February Pfizer/BioNTech, the makers of one jab, said they had started a clinical trial looking at giving another shot to people who had already received two doses six to 12 months earlier. This month preliminary data released by Moderna, an American drugmaker, showed that a further dose of one of two jabs, tailored to new variants of the virus and given six to eight months after the first round of vaccinations, triggered a strong immune response against variants first identified in South Africa and Brazil. And this week the Financial Times reported that the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca is effective when used as a booster shot, according to the results of an upcoming study. But some experts argue that there are not yet enough data to determine whether booster shots are even needed. Booster shots are supposed to solve two problems: that immunity tends to wane after vaccination or infection; and that variants might be better at evading the immune systems defences. Covid-19 vaccines carry out a mock attack on the body for the immune system to practise on. Once the infectious pathogen has been fought off, specialised memory B and T cells will stand ready to combat any reinfection. A booster shot is designed to remind the immune system how it responded to a previous infection or teach it to respond to an evolved threat, increasing the level of protection. It could use the vaccine a person received the first time or a slightly modified version. Pfizer has said that people are likely to need a booster dose a year after their initial vaccination; Moderna thinks the same, for as long as the virus is circulating widely. But there is little evidence so far to confirm this. Although covid-19 vaccines have been tested in clinical trials, the duration of the protection they confer in the real world is still unknown. To determine this, scientists need to observe immunity levels in vaccinated people over many months. Until thats been looked at, we dont know if theres a problem that needs to be solved by further boosts next autumn or winter, says Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London. From June a trial in Britain will test how an additional dose of one of several vaccines affects the immune responses of people who had their first doses in December or January. It is also unclear whether new variants of the virus will evade existing jabs. Most vaccines tested in clinical trials so far prevent most symptomatic and almost all severe cases of covid-19. They also appear to offer sufficient protection against the known variants of the virus to prevent severe disease and death. However different variants pose different threats. We need to understand the nature of each variant, and the immune responses required to generate a level of protection before we can decide if any tweaks are needed to the next round of booster vaccinations, explains Sarah Gilbert, one of the scientists behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. If needed, vaccine-makers could produce shots tailored to different variants, or a bivalent vaccine that would work against the original strain and a mutant. Pfizer/BioNTech, for example, have said that they can create a jab adapted to new variants in six weeks. In the meantime covid-19 will continue to circulate and evolve. It is still too early to tell whether a single regimen of vaccines is enough to bring the disease under control, or whether the world will need a boost. | Booster shots are supposed to solve two problems: that immunity tends to wane after vaccination or infection and that variants might be better at evading the immune systems defences. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/05/20/why-might-covid-19-booster-vaccinations-be-needed | 0.11981 |
Why might covid-19 booster vaccinations be needed? | VACCINE-MAKERS HAVE developed covid-19 jabs at unprecedented speed. Now they are turning their attention to booster vaccines. In February Pfizer/BioNTech, the makers of one jab, said they had started a clinical trial looking at giving another shot to people who had already received two doses six to 12 months earlier. This month preliminary data released by Moderna, an American drugmaker, showed that a further dose of one of two jabs, tailored to new variants of the virus and given six to eight months after the first round of vaccinations, triggered a strong immune response against variants first identified in South Africa and Brazil. And this week the Financial Times reported that the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca is effective when used as a booster shot, according to the results of an upcoming study. But some experts argue that there are not yet enough data to determine whether booster shots are even needed. Booster shots are supposed to solve two problems: that immunity tends to wane after vaccination or infection; and that variants might be better at evading the immune systems defences. Covid-19 vaccines carry out a mock attack on the body for the immune system to practise on. Once the infectious pathogen has been fought off, specialised memory B and T cells will stand ready to combat any reinfection. A booster shot is designed to remind the immune system how it responded to a previous infection or teach it to respond to an evolved threat, increasing the level of protection. It could use the vaccine a person received the first time or a slightly modified version. Pfizer has said that people are likely to need a booster dose a year after their initial vaccination; Moderna thinks the same, for as long as the virus is circulating widely. But there is little evidence so far to confirm this. Although covid-19 vaccines have been tested in clinical trials, the duration of the protection they confer in the real world is still unknown. To determine this, scientists need to observe immunity levels in vaccinated people over many months. Until thats been looked at, we dont know if theres a problem that needs to be solved by further boosts next autumn or winter, says Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London. From June a trial in Britain will test how an additional dose of one of several vaccines affects the immune responses of people who had their first doses in December or January. It is also unclear whether new variants of the virus will evade existing jabs. Most vaccines tested in clinical trials so far prevent most symptomatic and almost all severe cases of covid-19. They also appear to offer sufficient protection against the known variants of the virus to prevent severe disease and death. However different variants pose different threats. We need to understand the nature of each variant, and the immune responses required to generate a level of protection before we can decide if any tweaks are needed to the next round of booster vaccinations, explains Sarah Gilbert, one of the scientists behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. If needed, vaccine-makers could produce shots tailored to different variants, or a bivalent vaccine that would work against the original strain and a mutant. Pfizer/BioNTech, for example, have said that they can create a jab adapted to new variants in six weeks. In the meantime covid-19 will continue to circulate and evolve. It is still too early to tell whether a single regimen of vaccines is enough to bring the disease under control, or whether the world will need a boost. | Booster shots are supposed to solve two problems: that immunity tends to wane after vaccination and that variants might be better at evading the immune systems defences. But some experts argue that there are not yet enough data to determine whether booster shots are even needed. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/05/20/why-might-covid-19-booster-vaccinations-be-needed | 0.119684 |
How is the UK government planning to change the rail network? | The long-awaited review of Britains rail industry has been published by the government, with the creation of a new Great British Railways promising a simpler, more accountable system. The rail industry will be overseen by an arms-length public sector body, accountable to ministers, but running all aspects of the railway. GBR will subsume Network Rail, which currently manages Britains rail infrastructure the track, signalling, and the biggest stations. It will also be in charge of issuing contracts to train operators, setting timetables and managing ticketing and revenue. Yes: although franchises have been abolished, new contracts are primarily aimed at private firms who will compete to run trains. Instead of a firm having to calculate its expected costs and revenue and then decide how much money it would pay, or subsidy it would need, as under the failed franchise model, the firms will be paid a fixed fee with bonuses for performance on criteria such as punctuality mirroring the system used in London for the capitals Overground trains. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said that the state-owned operator of last resort which currently runs LNER and Northern would still exist and could run services. In terms of how fares are paid, passengers have been told to expect more contactless and integrated ticketing nationwide, along the model of London. New season tickets will be launched aimed at part-time commuters, although the savings for rail users appear marginal for now. How much passengers will pay is harder to say. Indeed, the transport secretary refused to rule out fare rises in years to come, which possibly suggests that the head of Great British Railways, rather than ministers, might be in the firing line for commuter anger over annual increases in future. Certainly GBR will be given the power to set most individual fares, according to the white paper, but within a framework agreed by ministers. Ultimately, the level of fares will depend on how much subsidy the government is prepared to pay. The government says it has spent 12bn supporting rail during the pandemic, when most of the revenue from fare-paying passengers disappeared and that figure is unsustainable. However, Shapps said the government is committed to rail and the cost to the taxpayer is unlikely to reduce below the more normal 4bn annual subsidy for some years. Raising fares to cover the shortfall would deter recovery even more, although the industry is resigned to lower passenger numbers due to changing work patterns. For that reason, the government is determined to hammer down costs. It hopes that the new structure alone will save 1.5bn in efficiencies, with wages and productivity also under scrutiny. Probably not significantly. Although, with the track and train operators under one roof, GBR might well decide that a sparser but more reliable and punctual schedule is preferable to a packed timetable, while capacity allows. Transport in Scotland and Wales is technically devolved and yet Network Rail owns their rail assets. (Northern Ireland is completely separate.) The SNP says that Scotland, despite its ruling party declaring the ScotRail franchise would be nationalised, has not been consulted over the reform. The white paper says that the government will explore options with Transport Scotland to enable the railway in Scotland to benefit from the reforms. An agreement also needs to be negotiated with Wales too. | Great British Railways will run all aspects of the railway. It will subsume Network Rail, which manages Britains rail infrastructure. | bart | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/20/how-is-the-uk-government-planning-to-reform-the-rail-network | 0.126126 |
How is the UK government planning to change the rail network? | The long-awaited review of Britains rail industry has been published by the government, with the creation of a new Great British Railways promising a simpler, more accountable system. The rail industry will be overseen by an arms-length public sector body, accountable to ministers, but running all aspects of the railway. GBR will subsume Network Rail, which currently manages Britains rail infrastructure the track, signalling, and the biggest stations. It will also be in charge of issuing contracts to train operators, setting timetables and managing ticketing and revenue. Yes: although franchises have been abolished, new contracts are primarily aimed at private firms who will compete to run trains. Instead of a firm having to calculate its expected costs and revenue and then decide how much money it would pay, or subsidy it would need, as under the failed franchise model, the firms will be paid a fixed fee with bonuses for performance on criteria such as punctuality mirroring the system used in London for the capitals Overground trains. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said that the state-owned operator of last resort which currently runs LNER and Northern would still exist and could run services. In terms of how fares are paid, passengers have been told to expect more contactless and integrated ticketing nationwide, along the model of London. New season tickets will be launched aimed at part-time commuters, although the savings for rail users appear marginal for now. How much passengers will pay is harder to say. Indeed, the transport secretary refused to rule out fare rises in years to come, which possibly suggests that the head of Great British Railways, rather than ministers, might be in the firing line for commuter anger over annual increases in future. Certainly GBR will be given the power to set most individual fares, according to the white paper, but within a framework agreed by ministers. Ultimately, the level of fares will depend on how much subsidy the government is prepared to pay. The government says it has spent 12bn supporting rail during the pandemic, when most of the revenue from fare-paying passengers disappeared and that figure is unsustainable. However, Shapps said the government is committed to rail and the cost to the taxpayer is unlikely to reduce below the more normal 4bn annual subsidy for some years. Raising fares to cover the shortfall would deter recovery even more, although the industry is resigned to lower passenger numbers due to changing work patterns. For that reason, the government is determined to hammer down costs. It hopes that the new structure alone will save 1.5bn in efficiencies, with wages and productivity also under scrutiny. Probably not significantly. Although, with the track and train operators under one roof, GBR might well decide that a sparser but more reliable and punctual schedule is preferable to a packed timetable, while capacity allows. Transport in Scotland and Wales is technically devolved and yet Network Rail owns their rail assets. (Northern Ireland is completely separate.) The SNP says that Scotland, despite its ruling party declaring the ScotRail franchise would be nationalised, has not been consulted over the reform. The white paper says that the government will explore options with Transport Scotland to enable the railway in Scotland to benefit from the reforms. An agreement also needs to be negotiated with Wales too. | Great British Railways will run all aspects of Britain's rail network. New contracts will be aimed at private firms who will compete to run trains. New season tickets will be launched aimed at part-time commuters. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/20/how-is-the-uk-government-planning-to-reform-the-rail-network | 0.17599 |
How is the UK government planning to change the rail network? | The long-awaited review of Britains rail industry has been published by the government, with the creation of a new Great British Railways promising a simpler, more accountable system. The rail industry will be overseen by an arms-length public sector body, accountable to ministers, but running all aspects of the railway. GBR will subsume Network Rail, which currently manages Britains rail infrastructure the track, signalling, and the biggest stations. It will also be in charge of issuing contracts to train operators, setting timetables and managing ticketing and revenue. Yes: although franchises have been abolished, new contracts are primarily aimed at private firms who will compete to run trains. Instead of a firm having to calculate its expected costs and revenue and then decide how much money it would pay, or subsidy it would need, as under the failed franchise model, the firms will be paid a fixed fee with bonuses for performance on criteria such as punctuality mirroring the system used in London for the capitals Overground trains. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said that the state-owned operator of last resort which currently runs LNER and Northern would still exist and could run services. In terms of how fares are paid, passengers have been told to expect more contactless and integrated ticketing nationwide, along the model of London. New season tickets will be launched aimed at part-time commuters, although the savings for rail users appear marginal for now. How much passengers will pay is harder to say. Indeed, the transport secretary refused to rule out fare rises in years to come, which possibly suggests that the head of Great British Railways, rather than ministers, might be in the firing line for commuter anger over annual increases in future. Certainly GBR will be given the power to set most individual fares, according to the white paper, but within a framework agreed by ministers. Ultimately, the level of fares will depend on how much subsidy the government is prepared to pay. The government says it has spent 12bn supporting rail during the pandemic, when most of the revenue from fare-paying passengers disappeared and that figure is unsustainable. However, Shapps said the government is committed to rail and the cost to the taxpayer is unlikely to reduce below the more normal 4bn annual subsidy for some years. Raising fares to cover the shortfall would deter recovery even more, although the industry is resigned to lower passenger numbers due to changing work patterns. For that reason, the government is determined to hammer down costs. It hopes that the new structure alone will save 1.5bn in efficiencies, with wages and productivity also under scrutiny. Probably not significantly. Although, with the track and train operators under one roof, GBR might well decide that a sparser but more reliable and punctual schedule is preferable to a packed timetable, while capacity allows. Transport in Scotland and Wales is technically devolved and yet Network Rail owns their rail assets. (Northern Ireland is completely separate.) The SNP says that Scotland, despite its ruling party declaring the ScotRail franchise would be nationalised, has not been consulted over the reform. The white paper says that the government will explore options with Transport Scotland to enable the railway in Scotland to benefit from the reforms. An agreement also needs to be negotiated with Wales too. | Great British Railways will run all aspects of Britain's rail network. New contracts will be aimed at private firms who will compete to run trains. New season tickets will be launched aimed at part-time commuters, although the savings for rail users appear marginal for now. The government hopes that the new structure alone will save 1.5bn in efficiencies. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/20/how-is-the-uk-government-planning-to-reform-the-rail-network | 0.193784 |
Are Vertical Turbines The Future Of Offshore Wind Power? | A concept rendering of offshore vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). World Economic Forum What makes renewable energy so exciting is the immense economic potential of groundbreaking technology advancements. A recent discovery by engineers of Oxford Brookes Universitys School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics could change the design of offshore wind farms forever. The study, led by Professor Iakovos Tzanakis, demonstrates that deep sea and coastal wind turbines could achieve a 15% increase in power output if traditional horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) are replaced by a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) design. While classic HAWT windmills produce energy with a standard three-blade pinwheel design, VAWT utilizes a more cylindrical shape with blades rotating around a central shaft. Animated comparison of HAWT vs. leading VAWT designs World Economic Forum The main issue with conventional HAWT windfarms which can number 60 to 70 turbines over 1500 acres is that efficiency degrades rapidly in the back rows due to turbulence from the first rows of the formation. Vertical axis turbines solve this issue by generating less turbulence, and in some cases even improving the efficiency of nearby turbines. The basis of their research is in computational flow analysis using 11,500 hours of computer simulations to optimize placement. They also analyzed the effects of downstream generated turbulence which reduces the back-row efficiency of traditional HAWTs to 25-30%. This finding demands further study of condensed wind farms since the current turbine designs are meant to be used in a singular application. When installed in close proximity to one another, the performance characteristics change, reducing the efficiency of surrounding turbines due to turbulence created down wind. The typical offshore turbine from GE is massive, measuring 220 m across and 248 m high, and producing 12-14 MW of power on average or enough to power up to 12,600 homes. Current U.S. turbine capacity for wind totals at 118 GW or 8.4% of utility scale energy production. The offshore wind capacity is a measly 42 MW led by the first off shore wind farm at Block Island, RI, which accounts for 30 MW 1 GW is 1,000 MW. In addition to the recently announced Vineyard Wind Project providing 800 MW, Danish company Orsted has been developing two Ocean Wind projects to provide a total of 2.3 GW to the state of New Jersey. Initial applications of wind turbine technology began in the 1970s with a focus on remote small-scale applications, such as research stations that are disconnected from the power grid. The largest hurdle in the progression of VAWT designs is the lack of a proper airfoil shape and troubles with the braking systems, which drive unit costs up. Traditional aerospace applications have provided years of research and technical basis for the creation of the commonly seen pinwheel design. The onshore wind turbine market is dominated by an industry standard three-rotor HAWT design, but there is no standard design for VAWTs. Recent investments in offshore wind farms, like the Vineyard Wind Project, use a typical three-rotor HAWT design offered by market leader GE in a bedrock-based application not suited for deep water. Block Island, R.I.: Deepwater Wind offshore wind farm at Block Island, Rhode Island on August 14, ... [+] 2016. (Photo by Mark Harrington/Newsday RM via Getty Images) Newsday via Getty Images Given the violent and unpredictable conditions of deep ocean water, not to mention the weight and balance of a wind turbine, it is understandable that the technology required to mount a floating turbine was only created recently. A proposed solution was devised by Sandia National Laboratory, in partnership with the Department of Energy and universities around the nation. After conducting Phase One research under a grant of $4.1 million over 5 years, this solution provided insights which included a reduction in Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) through the application of a VAWT design. Much of Sandia Labs initial work was in creating simulations of offshore wind projects. Further developments have included improving the design of airfoils and mechanical generators, as well as perfecting the methods to secure a turbine for safe operation in deep water conditions. The project research concluded in 2014, and was followed by a Department of Energy publication in 2017 establishing the official design recommendations. Current VAWT market solutions are all geared towards microgrid and extreme weather applications. They possess an inherent benefit in that they are able to perform well in stressful weather environments; turbines are able to function even in typhoon weather, which can be a a lifesaver for deep ocean water infrastructure such as oil wells. Nations including the United Kingdom and Germany are already at the forefront for production capacity and investment in offshore wind. The British Isles are home to the first GE-made 12 MW (MegaWatt) offshore unit, the same design being used in the Vineyard Wind project. British interests reside in coastal sea applications, where conditions are easily managed by the HAWT design offered by GE. The U.S. project is the Block Island wind farm three miles off the coast of Rhode Island, which produces 30 MW from a series of units provided by GE, enough to power 27,000 homes. Few nations currently use deep-sea wind energy, as it can cost twice as much as the coastal alternative on an LCOE basis. Offshore wind has found a niche application for providing offshore power. One of the most demanding clients for offshore energy is the oil industry, which currently powers platforms with diesel electric generators. The typical offshore oil well consumes 20-30 cubic meters (5200-8000 gallons) per day. This specific application allows a high LCOE like offshore wind to be considered competitive. Recent investments by Norwegian energy provider Equinor in the North Sea focus on powering their oil platforms with offshore wind. The proposed Hywind Tampen project includes 11 floating HAWTs producing 88 MW, meeting upwards of 35% of energy demand for a series of five offshore platforms. The Hywind project is expected to cut 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Further investment in offshore wind technology could eliminate the need for diesel fuel altogether. In the United States, there have been small-scale projects to test the designs of floating HAWTs. In 2013, a scale model was installed off the coast of Maine by the DeepCwind Consortium, working in partnership with the University of Maine. The Seattle-based Principle Power has installed their patented Windfloat design off the U.S. west coast in a deep sea application. Principle Power currently has five units in operation and has proven their designs ability to withstand up to 17 m (55 9) waves and 41 m/s (92 mph) winds. If the United States chooses to invest further in the development of floating VAWT turbine technology, it could become the global leader in deep sea wind. Once it overcomes the technical barriers created by materials and mechanical systems, the production capacity of a deep-sea wind farm is infinitely scalable when the correct technology is utilized. Models such as those created by the Oxford Brookes University team give credence to the idea of replacing floating oil platforms with wind turbines. The ultimate irony would be oil giants applying their deep-sea technologies to develop the first line of scalable floating turbines for deep sea applications. With Assistance From Sean Moroney | Oxford Brookes University engineers have discovered a way to improve the efficiency of offshore wind farms. Traditional horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) are replaced by a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) design. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2021/05/20/are-vertical-turbines-the-future-of-offshore-wind-power/ | 0.167019 |
Are Vertical Turbines The Future Of Offshore Wind Power? | A concept rendering of offshore vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). World Economic Forum What makes renewable energy so exciting is the immense economic potential of groundbreaking technology advancements. A recent discovery by engineers of Oxford Brookes Universitys School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics could change the design of offshore wind farms forever. The study, led by Professor Iakovos Tzanakis, demonstrates that deep sea and coastal wind turbines could achieve a 15% increase in power output if traditional horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) are replaced by a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) design. While classic HAWT windmills produce energy with a standard three-blade pinwheel design, VAWT utilizes a more cylindrical shape with blades rotating around a central shaft. Animated comparison of HAWT vs. leading VAWT designs World Economic Forum The main issue with conventional HAWT windfarms which can number 60 to 70 turbines over 1500 acres is that efficiency degrades rapidly in the back rows due to turbulence from the first rows of the formation. Vertical axis turbines solve this issue by generating less turbulence, and in some cases even improving the efficiency of nearby turbines. The basis of their research is in computational flow analysis using 11,500 hours of computer simulations to optimize placement. They also analyzed the effects of downstream generated turbulence which reduces the back-row efficiency of traditional HAWTs to 25-30%. This finding demands further study of condensed wind farms since the current turbine designs are meant to be used in a singular application. When installed in close proximity to one another, the performance characteristics change, reducing the efficiency of surrounding turbines due to turbulence created down wind. The typical offshore turbine from GE is massive, measuring 220 m across and 248 m high, and producing 12-14 MW of power on average or enough to power up to 12,600 homes. Current U.S. turbine capacity for wind totals at 118 GW or 8.4% of utility scale energy production. The offshore wind capacity is a measly 42 MW led by the first off shore wind farm at Block Island, RI, which accounts for 30 MW 1 GW is 1,000 MW. In addition to the recently announced Vineyard Wind Project providing 800 MW, Danish company Orsted has been developing two Ocean Wind projects to provide a total of 2.3 GW to the state of New Jersey. Initial applications of wind turbine technology began in the 1970s with a focus on remote small-scale applications, such as research stations that are disconnected from the power grid. The largest hurdle in the progression of VAWT designs is the lack of a proper airfoil shape and troubles with the braking systems, which drive unit costs up. Traditional aerospace applications have provided years of research and technical basis for the creation of the commonly seen pinwheel design. The onshore wind turbine market is dominated by an industry standard three-rotor HAWT design, but there is no standard design for VAWTs. Recent investments in offshore wind farms, like the Vineyard Wind Project, use a typical three-rotor HAWT design offered by market leader GE in a bedrock-based application not suited for deep water. Block Island, R.I.: Deepwater Wind offshore wind farm at Block Island, Rhode Island on August 14, ... [+] 2016. (Photo by Mark Harrington/Newsday RM via Getty Images) Newsday via Getty Images Given the violent and unpredictable conditions of deep ocean water, not to mention the weight and balance of a wind turbine, it is understandable that the technology required to mount a floating turbine was only created recently. A proposed solution was devised by Sandia National Laboratory, in partnership with the Department of Energy and universities around the nation. After conducting Phase One research under a grant of $4.1 million over 5 years, this solution provided insights which included a reduction in Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) through the application of a VAWT design. Much of Sandia Labs initial work was in creating simulations of offshore wind projects. Further developments have included improving the design of airfoils and mechanical generators, as well as perfecting the methods to secure a turbine for safe operation in deep water conditions. The project research concluded in 2014, and was followed by a Department of Energy publication in 2017 establishing the official design recommendations. Current VAWT market solutions are all geared towards microgrid and extreme weather applications. They possess an inherent benefit in that they are able to perform well in stressful weather environments; turbines are able to function even in typhoon weather, which can be a a lifesaver for deep ocean water infrastructure such as oil wells. Nations including the United Kingdom and Germany are already at the forefront for production capacity and investment in offshore wind. The British Isles are home to the first GE-made 12 MW (MegaWatt) offshore unit, the same design being used in the Vineyard Wind project. British interests reside in coastal sea applications, where conditions are easily managed by the HAWT design offered by GE. The U.S. project is the Block Island wind farm three miles off the coast of Rhode Island, which produces 30 MW from a series of units provided by GE, enough to power 27,000 homes. Few nations currently use deep-sea wind energy, as it can cost twice as much as the coastal alternative on an LCOE basis. Offshore wind has found a niche application for providing offshore power. One of the most demanding clients for offshore energy is the oil industry, which currently powers platforms with diesel electric generators. The typical offshore oil well consumes 20-30 cubic meters (5200-8000 gallons) per day. This specific application allows a high LCOE like offshore wind to be considered competitive. Recent investments by Norwegian energy provider Equinor in the North Sea focus on powering their oil platforms with offshore wind. The proposed Hywind Tampen project includes 11 floating HAWTs producing 88 MW, meeting upwards of 35% of energy demand for a series of five offshore platforms. The Hywind project is expected to cut 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Further investment in offshore wind technology could eliminate the need for diesel fuel altogether. In the United States, there have been small-scale projects to test the designs of floating HAWTs. In 2013, a scale model was installed off the coast of Maine by the DeepCwind Consortium, working in partnership with the University of Maine. The Seattle-based Principle Power has installed their patented Windfloat design off the U.S. west coast in a deep sea application. Principle Power currently has five units in operation and has proven their designs ability to withstand up to 17 m (55 9) waves and 41 m/s (92 mph) winds. If the United States chooses to invest further in the development of floating VAWT turbine technology, it could become the global leader in deep sea wind. Once it overcomes the technical barriers created by materials and mechanical systems, the production capacity of a deep-sea wind farm is infinitely scalable when the correct technology is utilized. Models such as those created by the Oxford Brookes University team give credence to the idea of replacing floating oil platforms with wind turbines. The ultimate irony would be oil giants applying their deep-sea technologies to develop the first line of scalable floating turbines for deep sea applications. With Assistance From Sean Moroney | Oxford Brookes University engineers have discovered a way to improve the efficiency of offshore wind farms. Traditional horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) are replaced by a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) design. Traditional HAWT windmills produce energy with a standard three-blade pinwheel design. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2021/05/20/are-vertical-turbines-the-future-of-offshore-wind-power/ | 0.192855 |
How Different Will Louisville's Style Look Next Season? | Currently in the midst of a very active offseason, the Cardinals will have a very different team next season. (Photo of Chris Mack and Louisville Players: David Butler II - USA TODAY Sports) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Since the end of the 2020-21 season, where they finished 13-7 and barely missed out on going to the NCAA Tournament, the Louisville men's basketball program has had a myriad of moving pieces. David Johnson and Carlik Jones declared for the NBA; Aidan Igiehon, Josh Nickelberry and Quinn Slazinski all transferred, and Charles Minlend graduated. Counterbalancing the departures, Matt Cross, Jarrod West and Noah Locke transferred in; El Ellis is signing from the JUCO ranks; and Michael James and Roosevelt Wheeler are signing out of high school. Even amongst the coaching and support staff, Louisville will look much different. Assistant coaches Dino Gaudio and Luke Murray were not retained, leading head coach Chris Mack to promote Kahil Fennell from director of basketball operations, as well as hire New Zealand National Team assistant Ross McMains. Based on the current roster makeup alone, even with two free scholarships still open for a transfer or high school signee, you can draw conclusions that Louisville should be a much different team next season. Related: Chris Mack Provides Team Update First, let's start on the offensive end of things. Traditionally, Mack has utilized a continuity pick and roll offense that uses unique schemes to take advantage of mismatches. As for newly-hired McMains, his offensively philosophy revolves around the ball to never stop moving, specifically in half-court sets. This hire was undoubtedly made as a response to Louisville's sluggish pace under Mack, who had relatively up-tempo teams during his time as Xavier. "There's going to be certain things that we keep that's been very good for us through my 12 years as a head coach, there's going to be some things that we add," Mack said. "I think, a small part, it's about our players too, and what their capabilities are, both to learn and execute some of the things that we put in. That's something that we have to be able to use this summer for quite honestly." Speaking of the players, based on who Mack has brought in so far this offseason, they should be much better at one area in particular: shooting three-pointers. Of the six newcomers to Louisville next season, only Roosevelt Wheeler did not shoot over 40% from three-point range during his previous season of competition. Of course, that's all for naught if you can't draw up a play to get them open, and McMains has long developed a reputation as an offensive tactician. But as he transitions to the college level, based on Mack's comments, it seems that the offense won't quite be as analytical as one would think, and McMains' input will mainly be used to increase tempo. "I think (analytics) certainly has a place in the game, but it's not everything," Mack said. "Yes there is a little bit of that, but he's not just a computer geek. He's a basketball guy, He said before, his whole life has been dedicated to basketball. Although he's only 32 years old, he's got a lot more years of experience in the game than that." Even if Mack didn't hire McMains, Louisville should play at a faster pace next season. As of now, the Cardinals have three viable starting options in the backcourt in West, Ellis and Locke, and they could still bring on another guard. Last season, they mainly relied on David Johnson and Carlik Jones, and if COVID doesn't present a problem again, they should be able to push the pace in full court sets due to guard depth. "David and Carlik were playing 40 minutes a night. We were dealing with two COVID pauses where those guys had a tough time keeping their conditioning," Mack said. "Having said that, we've always wanted to play faster. I think our pace was not where we wanted it this past year." Now let's transition to the defensive side. As far as the actual style of play goes, not much is really anticipated to change here. Mack says he wants to make some defensive changes, but it will be mainly coming from getting the proper personnel, both by ability and numbers, that can execute the game plan. "While we may not look like a team that's running and jumping and having a guy on the ball 94 feet, I'd like to think that we can pick up from time to time, and increase our pressure more than we have over the last couple seasons," he said. When it comes to defensive changes to Louisville next season, Mack admits that he doesn't want to change too much. If he changes too much to his pack-line defensive philosophy, then even the veterans will need help with the adjustments. "If everything's brand new, I'm going to look like, and our players are going to look like. we did year one where you have 13 hands in the air asking questions at the same time," he said. You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter: Facebook - @LouisvilleOnSI Twitter - @LouisvilleOnSI and Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @GeneralWasp | The Louisville men's basketball team is in the midst of a very active offseason. Head coach Chris Mack has hired a new offensive tactician. The Cardinals should play at a faster pace next season. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/college/louisville/basketball/how-different-will-louisville-look | 0.281182 |
How Different Will Louisville's Style Look Next Season? | Currently in the midst of a very active offseason, the Cardinals will have a very different team next season. (Photo of Chris Mack and Louisville Players: David Butler II - USA TODAY Sports) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Since the end of the 2020-21 season, where they finished 13-7 and barely missed out on going to the NCAA Tournament, the Louisville men's basketball program has had a myriad of moving pieces. David Johnson and Carlik Jones declared for the NBA; Aidan Igiehon, Josh Nickelberry and Quinn Slazinski all transferred, and Charles Minlend graduated. Counterbalancing the departures, Matt Cross, Jarrod West and Noah Locke transferred in; El Ellis is signing from the JUCO ranks; and Michael James and Roosevelt Wheeler are signing out of high school. Even amongst the coaching and support staff, Louisville will look much different. Assistant coaches Dino Gaudio and Luke Murray were not retained, leading head coach Chris Mack to promote Kahil Fennell from director of basketball operations, as well as hire New Zealand National Team assistant Ross McMains. Based on the current roster makeup alone, even with two free scholarships still open for a transfer or high school signee, you can draw conclusions that Louisville should be a much different team next season. Related: Chris Mack Provides Team Update First, let's start on the offensive end of things. Traditionally, Mack has utilized a continuity pick and roll offense that uses unique schemes to take advantage of mismatches. As for newly-hired McMains, his offensively philosophy revolves around the ball to never stop moving, specifically in half-court sets. This hire was undoubtedly made as a response to Louisville's sluggish pace under Mack, who had relatively up-tempo teams during his time as Xavier. "There's going to be certain things that we keep that's been very good for us through my 12 years as a head coach, there's going to be some things that we add," Mack said. "I think, a small part, it's about our players too, and what their capabilities are, both to learn and execute some of the things that we put in. That's something that we have to be able to use this summer for quite honestly." Speaking of the players, based on who Mack has brought in so far this offseason, they should be much better at one area in particular: shooting three-pointers. Of the six newcomers to Louisville next season, only Roosevelt Wheeler did not shoot over 40% from three-point range during his previous season of competition. Of course, that's all for naught if you can't draw up a play to get them open, and McMains has long developed a reputation as an offensive tactician. But as he transitions to the college level, based on Mack's comments, it seems that the offense won't quite be as analytical as one would think, and McMains' input will mainly be used to increase tempo. "I think (analytics) certainly has a place in the game, but it's not everything," Mack said. "Yes there is a little bit of that, but he's not just a computer geek. He's a basketball guy, He said before, his whole life has been dedicated to basketball. Although he's only 32 years old, he's got a lot more years of experience in the game than that." Even if Mack didn't hire McMains, Louisville should play at a faster pace next season. As of now, the Cardinals have three viable starting options in the backcourt in West, Ellis and Locke, and they could still bring on another guard. Last season, they mainly relied on David Johnson and Carlik Jones, and if COVID doesn't present a problem again, they should be able to push the pace in full court sets due to guard depth. "David and Carlik were playing 40 minutes a night. We were dealing with two COVID pauses where those guys had a tough time keeping their conditioning," Mack said. "Having said that, we've always wanted to play faster. I think our pace was not where we wanted it this past year." Now let's transition to the defensive side. As far as the actual style of play goes, not much is really anticipated to change here. Mack says he wants to make some defensive changes, but it will be mainly coming from getting the proper personnel, both by ability and numbers, that can execute the game plan. "While we may not look like a team that's running and jumping and having a guy on the ball 94 feet, I'd like to think that we can pick up from time to time, and increase our pressure more than we have over the last couple seasons," he said. When it comes to defensive changes to Louisville next season, Mack admits that he doesn't want to change too much. If he changes too much to his pack-line defensive philosophy, then even the veterans will need help with the adjustments. "If everything's brand new, I'm going to look like, and our players are going to look like. we did year one where you have 13 hands in the air asking questions at the same time," he said. You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter: Facebook - @LouisvilleOnSI Twitter - @LouisvilleOnSI and Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @GeneralWasp | The Louisville men's basketball team is in the midst of a very active offseason. Head coach Chris Mack has hired a new offensive tactician, Ross McMains. The Cardinals should play at a faster pace with McMains' input, which will increase tempo and allow them to take advantage of mismatches. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/louisville/basketball/how-different-will-louisville-look | 0.122471 |
Is the Browns defense versatile enough to have a Death Lineup? | CLEVELAND, Ohio The Cleveland Cavaliers led the 2015 NBA Finals 2-1 when the Golden State Warriors decided to make a change. For Game 4 they replaced center Andrew Bogut in the starting lineup with small forward Andrew Iguodala. The idea was to substitute size for versatility, which resulted in a quicker pace against the Cavaliers. The Warriors versatile group of mostly guards and small forwards were able to switch assignments on defense while creating mismatches on offense. The Death Lineup was born. It became a regular part of the Warriors scheme as they returned to the NBA Finals in each of the next four seasons. The Death Lineup nickname got attention, but what the Warriors were doing wasnt new. They were simply adding to the trend of positionless basketball by taking small-ball to a new level. And its a philosophy not confined to basketball. Positionless football has been part of the NFL conversation for some time now, but not put into practice as much as in the NBA. Still, every team wants to find that hybrid player able to handle multiple jobs and create - or avoid - mismatches. This is especially true on defense. Two years ago, the Chargers had seven defensive backs on the field for most of their playoff game against the Ravens. By putting more speed on the field to track Lamar Jackson and having more players able to drop in coverage, the Chargers won, 22-10. Instead of linebackers, the Chargers put two safeties typically smaller and quicker players - in linebacker roles. The Ravens gained only three first downs and 83 yards on offense through three quarters. Remember, this was the same Ravens offense that was second in the NFL in rushing yards. In last seasons AFC championship, the Chiefs used six defensive backs on 75 percent of the snaps, including four safeties for most of the first three quarters. The Chiefs were able to clog passing lanes against the Bills potent passing game while also guarding against the run. As FiveThirtyEight pointed out, Josh Allens average time to throw last season was 3.05 seconds. The Bills were 11-0 when he beat that time. They were 4-4 when he didnt. Against the Chiefs, Allens time to throw was 3.30. These kinds of game plans werent likely to work for the Browns last season. They led the league in games lost to injury by defensive backs. A lack of depth at cornerback and safety made it difficult to overcome those injuries. The Browns also lacked versatility at linebacker, where five players got more than 200 snaps as defensive coordinator Joe Woods went with a situational approach. But that was last year. This year, the Browns have remade their defense. Theyve added speed and versatility at every level of the defense. Being able to deploy schemes like the Chargers used against the Ravens or the Chiefs used against the Bills is certainly in play for Woods. SAFETY Theres an expectation that we will see John Johnson III, Grant Delpit and Ronnie Harrison on the field together this season. And they would be one of the highlights of a Browns Death Lineup. Johnson and Harrison both have the ability to play as deep safeties, in the box, or in the slot. Delpit, meanwhile, brings speed and ability in coverage that the Browns were hoping to showcase last season. With all three on the field, the Browns can fight off offenses trying to create mismatches in coverage with running backs or tight ends. And against the run, Johnson had the fourth best Pro Football Focus grade among safeties last season. CORNERBACK Not much versatility is needed from this group, but having three of them on the field combined with three safeties can make a quarterback hold the ball longer than he wants. And since NFL teams have three receivers on the field an average of 60 percent of the time, the Browns figure to be in a nickel look a lot anyway. Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, Greg Newsome and Greedy Williams are not the best run defenders in the league, but a Death Lineup would be more concerned coverage first. The Browns finally have the potential for quality depth in that area. LINEBACKER This would be a key to a Death Lineup. Of course, the Browns could add another defensive back and skip linebacker altogether the way the Chargers did against the Ravens. But then youre dipping a bit too far into your depth. Instead, the ideal player to sit in the middle of such a lineup is Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. His ability to play well against the run and in coverage, both in the box and in the slot, are why the Browns drafted him. Like Johnson and Delpit, hes a player that helps offset potential mismatches with tight ends, which has been a problem area for the Browns in recent years. JOK also has the speed and quickness to deal with receivers in the slot while giving the Browns much more against the run than the fourth cornerback or safety would. DEFENSIVE LINE The front four of a potential Death Lineup is where the Browns can get creative. Myles Garretts versatility would be at the center of it. Garretts ability to rush from anywhere along the line could be used as a way to get both Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley on the field with him. Imagine Garrett slipping inside, something he did a handful of times last season, next to Malik Jackson. Or maybe its Clowney who moves inside, which is often his path to the quarterback anyway. With so many players able to drop in coverage behind them, the quarterback would likely have to hold the ball longer (the way Josh Allen did against the Chiefs), allowing the Browns front four more time to create problems. And with their top three pass rushers on the field, the Browns wouldnt necessarily need all that extra time. Much like the Warriors Death Lineup, a Browns version wouldnt necessarily be a full-time thing. An obvious situation would be late in a game when the Browns want to protect a lead and the opponent needs to throw. Or even on a key third-and-long, when the Browns want to clog passing lanes but also have the speed to deal with a screen pass. But in a key game, some opponents and some quarterbacks in particular could be candidates to get the Death Lineup treatment as a part of the game plan. The Ravens probably top the list, especially after the Chargers had their success. A multi-threat quarterback such as Kyler Murray could be on the list. The best team to get creative against could be the very first team the Browns face this season the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes creates all sorts of problems, as does matchup nightmare Travis Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs speedy offense. Perhaps the Death Lineup is the antidote to all that. Dont expect Joe Woods to show all his cards in Week 1. But the lineup the Chiefs see should be much more versatile, talented and fast than what they saw in the playoffs. No matter what you want to call it. - Browns playoffs shirts, hats for sale: Heres where Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats celebrating the team qualifying for the 2020 NFL playoffs. Hey, Mary Kay! City Council cautious on Browns, mayors lakefront vision Where Stefanski and 2020 Browns rank among biggest Cleveland turnarounds Defining roles in 2021 for Browns draft picks Browns OTAs virtual this week, but will take to the field next week Newsome on Garretts workouts: Hes a freak | The Cleveland Browns have added speed and versatility to their defense. The Death Lineup was used by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/05/is-the-browns-defense-versatile-enough-to-have-a-death-lineup.html | 0.464593 |
Is the Browns defense versatile enough to have a Death Lineup? | CLEVELAND, Ohio The Cleveland Cavaliers led the 2015 NBA Finals 2-1 when the Golden State Warriors decided to make a change. For Game 4 they replaced center Andrew Bogut in the starting lineup with small forward Andrew Iguodala. The idea was to substitute size for versatility, which resulted in a quicker pace against the Cavaliers. The Warriors versatile group of mostly guards and small forwards were able to switch assignments on defense while creating mismatches on offense. The Death Lineup was born. It became a regular part of the Warriors scheme as they returned to the NBA Finals in each of the next four seasons. The Death Lineup nickname got attention, but what the Warriors were doing wasnt new. They were simply adding to the trend of positionless basketball by taking small-ball to a new level. And its a philosophy not confined to basketball. Positionless football has been part of the NFL conversation for some time now, but not put into practice as much as in the NBA. Still, every team wants to find that hybrid player able to handle multiple jobs and create - or avoid - mismatches. This is especially true on defense. Two years ago, the Chargers had seven defensive backs on the field for most of their playoff game against the Ravens. By putting more speed on the field to track Lamar Jackson and having more players able to drop in coverage, the Chargers won, 22-10. Instead of linebackers, the Chargers put two safeties typically smaller and quicker players - in linebacker roles. The Ravens gained only three first downs and 83 yards on offense through three quarters. Remember, this was the same Ravens offense that was second in the NFL in rushing yards. In last seasons AFC championship, the Chiefs used six defensive backs on 75 percent of the snaps, including four safeties for most of the first three quarters. The Chiefs were able to clog passing lanes against the Bills potent passing game while also guarding against the run. As FiveThirtyEight pointed out, Josh Allens average time to throw last season was 3.05 seconds. The Bills were 11-0 when he beat that time. They were 4-4 when he didnt. Against the Chiefs, Allens time to throw was 3.30. These kinds of game plans werent likely to work for the Browns last season. They led the league in games lost to injury by defensive backs. A lack of depth at cornerback and safety made it difficult to overcome those injuries. The Browns also lacked versatility at linebacker, where five players got more than 200 snaps as defensive coordinator Joe Woods went with a situational approach. But that was last year. This year, the Browns have remade their defense. Theyve added speed and versatility at every level of the defense. Being able to deploy schemes like the Chargers used against the Ravens or the Chiefs used against the Bills is certainly in play for Woods. SAFETY Theres an expectation that we will see John Johnson III, Grant Delpit and Ronnie Harrison on the field together this season. And they would be one of the highlights of a Browns Death Lineup. Johnson and Harrison both have the ability to play as deep safeties, in the box, or in the slot. Delpit, meanwhile, brings speed and ability in coverage that the Browns were hoping to showcase last season. With all three on the field, the Browns can fight off offenses trying to create mismatches in coverage with running backs or tight ends. And against the run, Johnson had the fourth best Pro Football Focus grade among safeties last season. CORNERBACK Not much versatility is needed from this group, but having three of them on the field combined with three safeties can make a quarterback hold the ball longer than he wants. And since NFL teams have three receivers on the field an average of 60 percent of the time, the Browns figure to be in a nickel look a lot anyway. Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, Greg Newsome and Greedy Williams are not the best run defenders in the league, but a Death Lineup would be more concerned coverage first. The Browns finally have the potential for quality depth in that area. LINEBACKER This would be a key to a Death Lineup. Of course, the Browns could add another defensive back and skip linebacker altogether the way the Chargers did against the Ravens. But then youre dipping a bit too far into your depth. Instead, the ideal player to sit in the middle of such a lineup is Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. His ability to play well against the run and in coverage, both in the box and in the slot, are why the Browns drafted him. Like Johnson and Delpit, hes a player that helps offset potential mismatches with tight ends, which has been a problem area for the Browns in recent years. JOK also has the speed and quickness to deal with receivers in the slot while giving the Browns much more against the run than the fourth cornerback or safety would. DEFENSIVE LINE The front four of a potential Death Lineup is where the Browns can get creative. Myles Garretts versatility would be at the center of it. Garretts ability to rush from anywhere along the line could be used as a way to get both Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley on the field with him. Imagine Garrett slipping inside, something he did a handful of times last season, next to Malik Jackson. Or maybe its Clowney who moves inside, which is often his path to the quarterback anyway. With so many players able to drop in coverage behind them, the quarterback would likely have to hold the ball longer (the way Josh Allen did against the Chiefs), allowing the Browns front four more time to create problems. And with their top three pass rushers on the field, the Browns wouldnt necessarily need all that extra time. Much like the Warriors Death Lineup, a Browns version wouldnt necessarily be a full-time thing. An obvious situation would be late in a game when the Browns want to protect a lead and the opponent needs to throw. Or even on a key third-and-long, when the Browns want to clog passing lanes but also have the speed to deal with a screen pass. But in a key game, some opponents and some quarterbacks in particular could be candidates to get the Death Lineup treatment as a part of the game plan. The Ravens probably top the list, especially after the Chargers had their success. A multi-threat quarterback such as Kyler Murray could be on the list. The best team to get creative against could be the very first team the Browns face this season the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes creates all sorts of problems, as does matchup nightmare Travis Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs speedy offense. Perhaps the Death Lineup is the antidote to all that. Dont expect Joe Woods to show all his cards in Week 1. But the lineup the Chiefs see should be much more versatile, talented and fast than what they saw in the playoffs. No matter what you want to call it. - Browns playoffs shirts, hats for sale: Heres where Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats celebrating the team qualifying for the 2020 NFL playoffs. Hey, Mary Kay! City Council cautious on Browns, mayors lakefront vision Where Stefanski and 2020 Browns rank among biggest Cleveland turnarounds Defining roles in 2021 for Browns draft picks Browns OTAs virtual this week, but will take to the field next week Newsome on Garretts workouts: Hes a freak | The Cleveland Browns have added speed and versatility to their defense. The Death Lineup was used by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. The Browns are hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Warriors. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/05/is-the-browns-defense-versatile-enough-to-have-a-death-lineup.html | 0.502378 |
Is the Browns defense versatile enough to have a Death Lineup? | CLEVELAND, Ohio The Cleveland Cavaliers led the 2015 NBA Finals 2-1 when the Golden State Warriors decided to make a change. For Game 4 they replaced center Andrew Bogut in the starting lineup with small forward Andrew Iguodala. The idea was to substitute size for versatility, which resulted in a quicker pace against the Cavaliers. The Warriors versatile group of mostly guards and small forwards were able to switch assignments on defense while creating mismatches on offense. The Death Lineup was born. It became a regular part of the Warriors scheme as they returned to the NBA Finals in each of the next four seasons. The Death Lineup nickname got attention, but what the Warriors were doing wasnt new. They were simply adding to the trend of positionless basketball by taking small-ball to a new level. And its a philosophy not confined to basketball. Positionless football has been part of the NFL conversation for some time now, but not put into practice as much as in the NBA. Still, every team wants to find that hybrid player able to handle multiple jobs and create - or avoid - mismatches. This is especially true on defense. Two years ago, the Chargers had seven defensive backs on the field for most of their playoff game against the Ravens. By putting more speed on the field to track Lamar Jackson and having more players able to drop in coverage, the Chargers won, 22-10. Instead of linebackers, the Chargers put two safeties typically smaller and quicker players - in linebacker roles. The Ravens gained only three first downs and 83 yards on offense through three quarters. Remember, this was the same Ravens offense that was second in the NFL in rushing yards. In last seasons AFC championship, the Chiefs used six defensive backs on 75 percent of the snaps, including four safeties for most of the first three quarters. The Chiefs were able to clog passing lanes against the Bills potent passing game while also guarding against the run. As FiveThirtyEight pointed out, Josh Allens average time to throw last season was 3.05 seconds. The Bills were 11-0 when he beat that time. They were 4-4 when he didnt. Against the Chiefs, Allens time to throw was 3.30. These kinds of game plans werent likely to work for the Browns last season. They led the league in games lost to injury by defensive backs. A lack of depth at cornerback and safety made it difficult to overcome those injuries. The Browns also lacked versatility at linebacker, where five players got more than 200 snaps as defensive coordinator Joe Woods went with a situational approach. But that was last year. This year, the Browns have remade their defense. Theyve added speed and versatility at every level of the defense. Being able to deploy schemes like the Chargers used against the Ravens or the Chiefs used against the Bills is certainly in play for Woods. SAFETY Theres an expectation that we will see John Johnson III, Grant Delpit and Ronnie Harrison on the field together this season. And they would be one of the highlights of a Browns Death Lineup. Johnson and Harrison both have the ability to play as deep safeties, in the box, or in the slot. Delpit, meanwhile, brings speed and ability in coverage that the Browns were hoping to showcase last season. With all three on the field, the Browns can fight off offenses trying to create mismatches in coverage with running backs or tight ends. And against the run, Johnson had the fourth best Pro Football Focus grade among safeties last season. CORNERBACK Not much versatility is needed from this group, but having three of them on the field combined with three safeties can make a quarterback hold the ball longer than he wants. And since NFL teams have three receivers on the field an average of 60 percent of the time, the Browns figure to be in a nickel look a lot anyway. Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, Greg Newsome and Greedy Williams are not the best run defenders in the league, but a Death Lineup would be more concerned coverage first. The Browns finally have the potential for quality depth in that area. LINEBACKER This would be a key to a Death Lineup. Of course, the Browns could add another defensive back and skip linebacker altogether the way the Chargers did against the Ravens. But then youre dipping a bit too far into your depth. Instead, the ideal player to sit in the middle of such a lineup is Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. His ability to play well against the run and in coverage, both in the box and in the slot, are why the Browns drafted him. Like Johnson and Delpit, hes a player that helps offset potential mismatches with tight ends, which has been a problem area for the Browns in recent years. JOK also has the speed and quickness to deal with receivers in the slot while giving the Browns much more against the run than the fourth cornerback or safety would. DEFENSIVE LINE The front four of a potential Death Lineup is where the Browns can get creative. Myles Garretts versatility would be at the center of it. Garretts ability to rush from anywhere along the line could be used as a way to get both Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley on the field with him. Imagine Garrett slipping inside, something he did a handful of times last season, next to Malik Jackson. Or maybe its Clowney who moves inside, which is often his path to the quarterback anyway. With so many players able to drop in coverage behind them, the quarterback would likely have to hold the ball longer (the way Josh Allen did against the Chiefs), allowing the Browns front four more time to create problems. And with their top three pass rushers on the field, the Browns wouldnt necessarily need all that extra time. Much like the Warriors Death Lineup, a Browns version wouldnt necessarily be a full-time thing. An obvious situation would be late in a game when the Browns want to protect a lead and the opponent needs to throw. Or even on a key third-and-long, when the Browns want to clog passing lanes but also have the speed to deal with a screen pass. But in a key game, some opponents and some quarterbacks in particular could be candidates to get the Death Lineup treatment as a part of the game plan. The Ravens probably top the list, especially after the Chargers had their success. A multi-threat quarterback such as Kyler Murray could be on the list. The best team to get creative against could be the very first team the Browns face this season the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes creates all sorts of problems, as does matchup nightmare Travis Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs speedy offense. Perhaps the Death Lineup is the antidote to all that. Dont expect Joe Woods to show all his cards in Week 1. But the lineup the Chiefs see should be much more versatile, talented and fast than what they saw in the playoffs. No matter what you want to call it. - Browns playoffs shirts, hats for sale: Heres where Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats celebrating the team qualifying for the 2020 NFL playoffs. Hey, Mary Kay! City Council cautious on Browns, mayors lakefront vision Where Stefanski and 2020 Browns rank among biggest Cleveland turnarounds Defining roles in 2021 for Browns draft picks Browns OTAs virtual this week, but will take to the field next week Newsome on Garretts workouts: Hes a freak | The Cleveland Browns have added speed and versatility to their defense. The Death Lineup was used by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. The Browns are hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Warriors' example. The team has also added safeties and cornerbacks to its defense. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/05/is-the-browns-defense-versatile-enough-to-have-a-death-lineup.html | 0.530327 |
How did the Predators Erik Haula become Public Enemy No. 56 against his former team? | Erik Haula started Game 2 the way he finished Game 1: Resuming a running debate with Martin Necas after the whistle, then later drawing a retaliation penalty on Sebastian Aho to give the Nashville Predators one of their seven power plays Wednesday night. Whether Haula intended to go into this series as the Predators primary antagonist against his former team or not, thats the way things have turned out. For chunks of the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 win, Haula was booed not only when he had the puck but merely when he stepped on the ice. That booing and yelling, all those things, honestly I love it, Haula said after Game 1. But now that he has, its worth looking back heading into Fridays Game 3 in Nashville at Haulas departure from the Hurricanes last season, and where all the acrimony -- on both sides -- that has bubbled to the surface on the ice in this series actually arose. Theres a big reason Erik Haula was traded, Bally Sports South analyst Shane Willis said during Wednesdays broadcast. Its not because of his skill. Ill leave it at that. A trade acquisition during the summer of 2019, Haula had a productive start to his Hurricanes career before he was slowed by a persistent knee injury. As the trade deadline approached, and Haulas ice time dwindled, the Hurricanes made it clear they were not interested in offering the impending free agent a new contract. The circumstances led to at least one shouting match in a back hallway of the dressing room during a media access period. Amid concerns over Haulas fit in the dressing room, the Hurricanes included him in the deadline trade with the Florida Panthers for center Vincent Trocheck, a flat-out steal of a deal that in recent history ranks only behind the grand larceny that was Nino Niederreiter for Victor Rask. Haula ended up signing with the Predators this season on a cut-rate $1.75 million, one-year deal. In an interview Thursday, Willis elaborated on his comments about Haula, whose skill level Willis said he admires. I always go back to what Rod (BrindAmour) wants in the locker room, Willis said. He just wasnt one of those guys. Thats just how I was commenting on it. When you look at a room of guys like Staal, Pesce, Slavin and their attitudes, it just doesnt work. Conversely, it would be easy to see why Haula might harbor bad feelings about not being offered a new contract, not to mention the kind of residual gripes with former teammates that tend to be quickly forgotten only to resurface during a playoff series. Whether Haulas antagonist behavior in Game 1 set off the home fans or they were picking up on his former teammates apparent dislike for him on the ice -- and there were plenty of words exchanged after the whistle, without any smiles -- the Finnish center has certainly embraced the role of pantomime villain in the series. I must be doing something right, Haula said. As BrindAmour said earlier this week, (Haula) can handle that. I think he likes that. *extreme chuck amato voice* discipline While there was no question the Predators goaded the officials into two of the seven penalties that went against the Hurricanes and led to Nashville power plays on Wednesday, BrindAmour was unhappy that the Predators goaded the Hurricanes into those kinds of retaliation plays at all. In the NHL, as in fights between siblings, its always the second guy that gets caught. We dont want to get involved in all that stuff, BrindAmour said. It opens up, whether you think theyre penalties or not, embellishment or not, it opens up to have that be called. Youve got to take a cheap shot. You just have to. We didnt tonight. We wanted to give it back and those were the ones getting called. You cant get engaged in that kind of stuff. It just doesnt help. Still, there was clearly some frustration over an 18-12 penalty differential in favor of the visiting team through two games, not the way it usually works in the postseason. That remains an area to watch because there have been times where the Hurricanes let concerns with the officiating affect their focus, at times during the Washington Capitals series in 2019 and certainly in both of the recent series with the Boston Bruins. They maintained their composure in Game 1 against Nashville; they were less successful in Game 2. Man disadvantage advantage Then again, none of that mattered thanks to the penalty kill that is now 10-for-10 in the series and, while shorthanded, outchanced the Predators power play Wednesday night. Thats not out of the norm for an attacking, aggressive PK unit that ranked third in the league and scored seven short-handed goals in the 56-game regular season. The Hurricanes nearly had their first of the postseason but Juuse Saros was able to stop a Aho breakaway and deny Trocheck on a two-on-one. The way I like to play PK is puck pressure, and sometimes theres bounces, and it doesnt matter if its PK, PP, five-on-five, if theres a breakaway chance Im going for it, Aho said. I guess it just happens. Its not something Im thinking about when Im out there, that Ive got to get the breakaway on PK, no. Its from the puck pressure and sometimes you get little lucky bounces. Hurricanes vs. Predators What: Game 3, Stanley Cup playoff first-round series. When: Friday, 7 p.m. Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn. TV: BSSO (Bally) | Erik Haula has been the Predators' primary antagonist against his former team. The Finnish center has been booed not only when he has the puck but also when he steps on the ice. | bart | 1 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article251559908.html | 0.113018 |
How did the Predators Erik Haula become Public Enemy No. 56 against his former team? | Erik Haula started Game 2 the way he finished Game 1: Resuming a running debate with Martin Necas after the whistle, then later drawing a retaliation penalty on Sebastian Aho to give the Nashville Predators one of their seven power plays Wednesday night. Whether Haula intended to go into this series as the Predators primary antagonist against his former team or not, thats the way things have turned out. For chunks of the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 win, Haula was booed not only when he had the puck but merely when he stepped on the ice. That booing and yelling, all those things, honestly I love it, Haula said after Game 1. But now that he has, its worth looking back heading into Fridays Game 3 in Nashville at Haulas departure from the Hurricanes last season, and where all the acrimony -- on both sides -- that has bubbled to the surface on the ice in this series actually arose. Theres a big reason Erik Haula was traded, Bally Sports South analyst Shane Willis said during Wednesdays broadcast. Its not because of his skill. Ill leave it at that. A trade acquisition during the summer of 2019, Haula had a productive start to his Hurricanes career before he was slowed by a persistent knee injury. As the trade deadline approached, and Haulas ice time dwindled, the Hurricanes made it clear they were not interested in offering the impending free agent a new contract. The circumstances led to at least one shouting match in a back hallway of the dressing room during a media access period. Amid concerns over Haulas fit in the dressing room, the Hurricanes included him in the deadline trade with the Florida Panthers for center Vincent Trocheck, a flat-out steal of a deal that in recent history ranks only behind the grand larceny that was Nino Niederreiter for Victor Rask. Haula ended up signing with the Predators this season on a cut-rate $1.75 million, one-year deal. In an interview Thursday, Willis elaborated on his comments about Haula, whose skill level Willis said he admires. I always go back to what Rod (BrindAmour) wants in the locker room, Willis said. He just wasnt one of those guys. Thats just how I was commenting on it. When you look at a room of guys like Staal, Pesce, Slavin and their attitudes, it just doesnt work. Conversely, it would be easy to see why Haula might harbor bad feelings about not being offered a new contract, not to mention the kind of residual gripes with former teammates that tend to be quickly forgotten only to resurface during a playoff series. Whether Haulas antagonist behavior in Game 1 set off the home fans or they were picking up on his former teammates apparent dislike for him on the ice -- and there were plenty of words exchanged after the whistle, without any smiles -- the Finnish center has certainly embraced the role of pantomime villain in the series. I must be doing something right, Haula said. As BrindAmour said earlier this week, (Haula) can handle that. I think he likes that. *extreme chuck amato voice* discipline While there was no question the Predators goaded the officials into two of the seven penalties that went against the Hurricanes and led to Nashville power plays on Wednesday, BrindAmour was unhappy that the Predators goaded the Hurricanes into those kinds of retaliation plays at all. In the NHL, as in fights between siblings, its always the second guy that gets caught. We dont want to get involved in all that stuff, BrindAmour said. It opens up, whether you think theyre penalties or not, embellishment or not, it opens up to have that be called. Youve got to take a cheap shot. You just have to. We didnt tonight. We wanted to give it back and those were the ones getting called. You cant get engaged in that kind of stuff. It just doesnt help. Still, there was clearly some frustration over an 18-12 penalty differential in favor of the visiting team through two games, not the way it usually works in the postseason. That remains an area to watch because there have been times where the Hurricanes let concerns with the officiating affect their focus, at times during the Washington Capitals series in 2019 and certainly in both of the recent series with the Boston Bruins. They maintained their composure in Game 1 against Nashville; they were less successful in Game 2. Man disadvantage advantage Then again, none of that mattered thanks to the penalty kill that is now 10-for-10 in the series and, while shorthanded, outchanced the Predators power play Wednesday night. Thats not out of the norm for an attacking, aggressive PK unit that ranked third in the league and scored seven short-handed goals in the 56-game regular season. The Hurricanes nearly had their first of the postseason but Juuse Saros was able to stop a Aho breakaway and deny Trocheck on a two-on-one. The way I like to play PK is puck pressure, and sometimes theres bounces, and it doesnt matter if its PK, PP, five-on-five, if theres a breakaway chance Im going for it, Aho said. I guess it just happens. Its not something Im thinking about when Im out there, that Ive got to get the breakaway on PK, no. Its from the puck pressure and sometimes you get little lucky bounces. Hurricanes vs. Predators What: Game 3, Stanley Cup playoff first-round series. When: Friday, 7 p.m. Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn. TV: BSSO (Bally) | Erik Haula has been the Predators' primary antagonist against his former team. The Finnish center has been booed not only when he has the puck but also when he steps on the ice. The Hurricanes made it clear they were not interested in offering the impending free agent a new contract. He ended up signing with the Predators this season. | bart | 2 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article251559908.html | 0.249244 |
How will Ryan Walk build on all-Pac-12 debut season as Oregon Ducks right guard? | With spring practice over, The Oregonian/OregonLive is reviewing Oregons depth chart position by position. We continue the 25-part series by looking at the right guards. Ryan Walks journey to becoming a starter at Oregon is one of perseverance. The Eugene native missed his senior season of high school due to injury, came to UO as a walk-on, redshirted, saw some action at center in 2018 and 2019 and put himself in position to contend for a starting job in 2020, which he eventually won. He was also awarded a scholarship. Then he went on to earn AP all-Pac-12 honors in his first season as a starter thanks in large part to consistently strong grades from Pro Football Focus. Tackles draw the most attention, but theres absolutely a case to be made that Walk is Oregons top returning offensive lineman. Post-spring depth chart Ryan Walk: 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, redshirt-junior Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu: 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, redshirt-junior Logan Sagapolu: 6-foot-2, 345 pounds, freshman Faaope Laloulu: 6-foot-6, 395 pounds, freshman Oregon offensive lineman Ryan Walk (53) against Iowa State during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)AP Starter Much like Alex Forsyth, Walk has earned the respect of his teammates for the way he goes about preparing and studying the game. They care, deeply, about getting the job done and doing it the right way. Theyre the type of players the help build and maintain a programs culture. With another year of the same group up front, Walk believes the Ducks will take the next step as an offensive line. Last year after some drives wed come off the sideline and we were a little wide-eyed, things are really happening and the games a lot faster, he said. I think after seven games playing together we know what to expect from each other and we know what the standard needs to be and were trying to elevate that every day. The familiarity of playing next to these guys, I think were getting better each and every day and thats the goal. Oregon's Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu against the Montana Grizzlies at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 14, 2019 (Eric Evans Photography) Backup Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu missed the spring due to the injury he suffered in the Pac-12 Championship game against USC. Hes capable of playing guard or tackle and should contend to keep the starting spot at right tackle. Next wave Logan Sagapolu drew praise from virtually every member of the offensive line this spring. Hes clearly going to be on the second team, but dont assume that means he would see the field in the fall. Faaope Laloulu is said to have lost a significant amount of weight, though Mario Cristobal still refers to him as the human eclipse. Walk is helping bring both of them along. They just want to learn, Walk said. They both sit next to me in meetings and theyre both willing to ask me questions all the time. Ill tell them whatever I got. I think thats the biggest thing as a young guy, you got to ask questions, you got to learn. Once you pick up the offense you can play fast and once you can play fast then you can be physical, you can start honing in on your technique and fundamentals. I think thats the big thing with Logan and Oope, theyre trying to learn the offense and thats really good for them. Quotable Were going to try to expand on what we did last year and grow the offense and have even more plays. Coach Moorhead is a genius of an offensive mind. Its awesome to see what hes able to dial up all the time. - Ryan Walk | Ryan Walk earned AP all-Pac-12 honors in his first season as a starter. Walk believes the Ducks will take the next step as an offensive line this year. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2021/05/how-will-ryan-walk-build-on-all-pac-12-debut-season-as-oregon-ducks-right-guard.html | 0.143241 |
How will Ryan Walk build on all-Pac-12 debut season as Oregon Ducks right guard? | With spring practice over, The Oregonian/OregonLive is reviewing Oregons depth chart position by position. We continue the 25-part series by looking at the right guards. Ryan Walks journey to becoming a starter at Oregon is one of perseverance. The Eugene native missed his senior season of high school due to injury, came to UO as a walk-on, redshirted, saw some action at center in 2018 and 2019 and put himself in position to contend for a starting job in 2020, which he eventually won. He was also awarded a scholarship. Then he went on to earn AP all-Pac-12 honors in his first season as a starter thanks in large part to consistently strong grades from Pro Football Focus. Tackles draw the most attention, but theres absolutely a case to be made that Walk is Oregons top returning offensive lineman. Post-spring depth chart Ryan Walk: 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, redshirt-junior Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu: 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, redshirt-junior Logan Sagapolu: 6-foot-2, 345 pounds, freshman Faaope Laloulu: 6-foot-6, 395 pounds, freshman Oregon offensive lineman Ryan Walk (53) against Iowa State during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)AP Starter Much like Alex Forsyth, Walk has earned the respect of his teammates for the way he goes about preparing and studying the game. They care, deeply, about getting the job done and doing it the right way. Theyre the type of players the help build and maintain a programs culture. With another year of the same group up front, Walk believes the Ducks will take the next step as an offensive line. Last year after some drives wed come off the sideline and we were a little wide-eyed, things are really happening and the games a lot faster, he said. I think after seven games playing together we know what to expect from each other and we know what the standard needs to be and were trying to elevate that every day. The familiarity of playing next to these guys, I think were getting better each and every day and thats the goal. Oregon's Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu against the Montana Grizzlies at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 14, 2019 (Eric Evans Photography) Backup Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu missed the spring due to the injury he suffered in the Pac-12 Championship game against USC. Hes capable of playing guard or tackle and should contend to keep the starting spot at right tackle. Next wave Logan Sagapolu drew praise from virtually every member of the offensive line this spring. Hes clearly going to be on the second team, but dont assume that means he would see the field in the fall. Faaope Laloulu is said to have lost a significant amount of weight, though Mario Cristobal still refers to him as the human eclipse. Walk is helping bring both of them along. They just want to learn, Walk said. They both sit next to me in meetings and theyre both willing to ask me questions all the time. Ill tell them whatever I got. I think thats the biggest thing as a young guy, you got to ask questions, you got to learn. Once you pick up the offense you can play fast and once you can play fast then you can be physical, you can start honing in on your technique and fundamentals. I think thats the big thing with Logan and Oope, theyre trying to learn the offense and thats really good for them. Quotable Were going to try to expand on what we did last year and grow the offense and have even more plays. Coach Moorhead is a genius of an offensive mind. Its awesome to see what hes able to dial up all the time. - Ryan Walk | Ryan Walk earned AP all-Pac-12 honors in his first season as a starter. Walk believes the Ducks will take the next step as an offensive line with another year of the same group up front. The Oregonian/OregonLive is reviewing Oregons depth chart position by position. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2021/05/how-will-ryan-walk-build-on-all-pac-12-debut-season-as-oregon-ducks-right-guard.html | 0.256597 |
What is Bill C-10 and why are the Liberals planning to regulate the internet? | Open this photo in gallery Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault makes his way to his seat for a news conference in Ottawa, on April 17, 2020. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press Debate over Bill C-10 is erupting on Parliament Hill, months after the Liberal government tabled the legislation in November. With just a few weeks left before Parliament rises for summer, supporters of the bill are pushing to have it rushed into law in the event that the Liberals call a snap election. Advocates say the bill is about ensuring Canadian artists are properly supported as music, movies and television shows are increasingly consumed on global streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. Story continues below advertisement Critics warn Canadians could lose access to some websites and potentially having their freedom of speech curtailed by federal government regulators. To help readers make sense of it all, The Globe and Mail takes a closer look at whats in the bill and the potential consequences for Canadians should it be passed into law. Bill C-10 was introduced in the House of Commons in November by Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault. The government says the bill is meant to level the playing field between internet streaming services, such as Amazon Prime, Disney Plus and Netflix, and traditional broadcasters such as CTV, Global and private radio stations. The bill updates the Broadcasting Act, which is Canadas existing legislation aimed at promoting and developing Canadian producers and creators. It also requires broadcasters to support cultural industries financially. Traditional broadcasters are regulated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, an independent administrative tribunal created in 1976. It supervises broadcasting in Canada by issuing licences and enforcing federally approved policies such as Canadian content rules. The original Broadcasting Act, however, dates back to 1991 before the internet changed the way media is shared and consumed. Since the legislation that oversees this regulatory regime hasnt been updated for the internet age, streaming services currently dont have to abide by the same rules. Bill C-10 is supposed to fix this imbalance. It would subject web giants broadcasting in Canada to the same regulations as traditional broadcasters, which would mean they would have to offer certain amounts of Canadian content on their sites, and contribute financially to the production of Canadian cultural industries. Bill C-10 is one part of a much broader effort to overhaul Canadas internet rules. The 2017 federal budget first announced Ottawas plans to review and modernize Canadas broadcasting and telecommunications laws and to outline a new approach to growing Canadas cultural sector. The next year, the government created a panel of independent experts, led by former telecom executive Janet Yale, to review those laws and make recommendations on how they can be modernized. The Yale reports mandate also included questions about the future of the Canadian news media, the CBC and Radio-Canada and whether new laws are required to protect the safety and security of Canadians online. Story continues below advertisement The panels 235-page response was made public in January, 2020, and the task force made 97 wide-ranging recommendations. Some of the recommendations included calls for an ad-free CBC, government regulation of the financial relationships between social media and news organizations and an overhaul of the CRTC as a new, more powerful, Canadian Communications Commission. Those issues are not addressed in Bill C-10, but the government has signalled further bills in response to the Yale report will be introduced over time. On the matters that directly led to C-10, the Yale report said federal regulations should go beyond traditional broadcasting to include online media content. It said the media communications sector should contribute financially to the creation of high-quality Canadian content that reflects Canadian diversity and that it should be required to ensure Canadian content is promoted on their services and that their algorithms that decide what content is presented to consumers are subject to audit by the CRTC. Bill C-10 does include requirements that large platforms such as Netflix contribute and promote Canadian content. However, several expert witnesses have told MPs that the bills language is currently unclear as to whether the CRTC would have the power to review algorithms. The changes to the CRTC in the bill are not as extensive as what the Yale report had proposed. The bill is currently being reviewed by the House of Commons heritage committee. Members of the committee were studying the document line-by-line, but that process was disrupted in late April when Liberals on the committee moved an amendment that removed a section of the bill. The change was approved on division, meaning there was no recorded vote to show which opposition parties sided with the Liberals. This segment, section 4.1, provided an exclusion for user-generated content. Removing that exclusion set off concerns that the legislation could then be used to regulate Canadians social media posts. Liberals said they removed that section because it provided a loophole for certain sites. For example, it would have meant that Spotify fell under the legislation, but YouTube, which also streams music, did not. However, Conservatives on the committee began raising questions about how the amendment could allow the CRTC to regulate Canadians social media content and threaten free speech. They said that by removing the exemption, the legislation could now apply to any videos that people upload to sites such as TikTok or YouTube to share with friends. The NDP and Bloc Qubcois committee members told The Globe at the time that they werent concerned with the amendment, and that there were other parts of the legislation that ensured individual users were protected. They cited section 2.1, which excludes users from being regulated. However, other critics draw a distinction between users, specified in 2.1, and 4.1s exclusion for user-generated content, and so maintain that social media posts could still be subjected to the legislation. Open this photo in gallery Conservatives on the committee have raised questions about how the amendment could allow the CRTC to regulate Canadians social media content and threaten free speech. ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images On May 7, the Liberals introduced a new amendment that they said would put these questions to rest. The text of the new amendment is very similar to the text of section 4.1 that was originally removed, but was added to a different section of the bill that defines the regulatory powers of the CRTC. The government says this change ensures that the posters of user-generated content are not regulated. Platforms that host such content, like YouTube, could be forced to ensure Canadian content is promoted and would have to contribute to Canadian content producers if they act as broadcasters, the government says. On May 13, at the request of committee members reviewing the bill, the Justice Department released an updated Charter review of the legislation, which assessed whether the bill is in compliance with rights set out in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This updated statement concluded that the bill and its amendments do not infringe on freedom of expression as outlined in the Charter. Despite this, Opposition Leader Erin OToole said that his government would not support the bill, and if it passed, a future Conservative government would repeal it. After receiving the Charter review, and hearing from the ministers of Canadian heritage and justice, the committee is set to resume its line-by-line review of the bill. To date, the committee has approved a large number of amendments proposed by Liberal and opposition MPs. Some of the heightened controversy and confusion over Bill C-10 traces back to the governments main messenger, Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault. The career environmentalist was a star candidate for the Liberals in Quebec in the 2019 election campaign. The rookie MP was immediately promoted to cabinet as heritage minister at a time of massive global change in the culture sector as content is increasingly consumed online and governments struggle to adjust existing rules to this new reality. In recent weeks, at least three of Mr. Guilbeaults media interviews on C-10 have knocked the government off message. The Minister appeared to struggle in a May 1 interview with the CBC to explain why the government had removed section 4.1, which excluded social media. The Ministers office later clarified its answer to that question, saying the section was removed because it would have created a loophole that could have allowed YouTube to avoid regulation when streaming professional content such as music, while similar services like Spotify would be regulated. Story continues below advertisement Then in a CTV interview broadcast on May 9, Mr. Guilbeault said YouTube could be required to regulate individual channels with large viewership. If you have a YouTube channel with millions of viewers, and youre deriving revenues from that, then at some point the CRTC will be asked to put a threshold. But were talking about broadcasters here, were not talking about everyday citizens posting stuff on their YouTube channel, he said. Hours later, CTV reported that it had received an updated statement from Mr. Guilbeault, which said he used unclear language and should have been more precise in stating that an individual who uses social media will never be considered as a broadcaster under the act. In another case, Mr. Guilbeault appeared to suggest he was battling against supporters of net neutrality, the concept that all traffic on the internet should be treated equally by internet providers. The Toronto Star reported on May 12 that the Minister said in an interview that those criticizing Bill C-10 believe in this concept of net neutrality. Mr. Guilbeaults office told The Globe in an e-mail that the minister and the government continue to support net neutrality. While the bill seeks to promote Canadian music and storytelling, it does not impact Canadas commitment to net neutrality, a spokesperson said. Story continues below advertisement NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh referenced these incidents while appearing recently with Mr. Guilbeault on an episode of the French-language talk show Tout le monde en parle. You have to admit that [those comments] created confusion, said Mr. Singh. That hurt the process and that created problems. Im a new MP. Im a new minister, Mr. Guilbeault replied to the NDP Leader. I readily admit that I should have been clearer in certain interviews. The existing Broadcasting Act states that the Canadian broadcasting system shall be effectively owned and controlled by Canadians. The original wording of C-10 would have deleted that reference and replaced it with a requirement that each broadcaster shall contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the broadcasting policy. The Yale report had said that in a world where Canadian streaming options like Crave and CBC Gem compete with foreign platforms such as Netflix, it would be unrealistic to base broadcasting laws on the concept of a single system that is owned and controlled by Canadians. The advocacy group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting expressed strong concern with this aspect of the bill and the labour organization Unifor had said the bill should at least say that the system should maximize ownership and control by Canadians. Story continues below advertisement To repeal it outright is a very dangerous thing to do, we think, Unifors Howard Law told MPs in March. The committee later agreed to a Bloc amendment in April that added language stating that the Canadian broadcasting system shall be effectively owned and controlled by Canadians, and foreign broadcasting undertakings may also provide programming to Canadians. Mr. Law said in an e-mail to The Globe that the amendment addressed Unifors concerns. Another key change to the acts definition of Canadas broadcasting policy relates to sectors that should receive federal support. The current law references the the circumstances and aspirations, of Canadian men, women and children, including equal rights, the linguistic duality and multicultural and multiracial nature of Canadian society and the special place of aboriginal peoples within that society. That section is changed through C-10 to reference all Canadians, including Canadians from racialized communities and Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and ages . Many of the details as to how this new system will work in practice wont be decided until long after the bill becomes law. The federal cabinet approved draft policy directions last year that will give the CRTC broad powers, should the bill be approved, in areas such as defining Canadian content and how to support specific communities. The fact that many details are left to be decided later partly explains why MPs have heard such wide-ranging views from experts as to what the legislation will mean in practice. The main concern of critics is that the bill goes too far in terms of regulating the internet. Though most agree that an update to the Broadcasting Act is necessary, critics say that these changes need to very specifically target online broadcast activities while leaving other parts of the internet untouched. Many critics argue that Bill C-10 is too broad and gives the CRTC too much regulatory reach. Emily Laidlaw, a law professor at the University of Calgary, said the bill needs to be reworked. Its not well-drafted at the moment because it sweeps into its ambit a whole bunch of things that shouldnt be there, she said. Ms. Laidlaw said the legislation is incredibly important and that she doesnt want to see it scrapped completely, but said it does need significant changes. I think its a mistake to tackle user-generated content through broadcasting legislation. Its not going to work, she said. Theres just too many unintended consequences when you try to regulate platforms in this particular way. Tackle it for the way they produce their own content or for affiliated content, she said. Maybe explore ways they can pay into Canadian cultural industries. Theres so many ways this can be tackled without getting into the messy business of user-generated content. Though Ms. Laidlaw said she doesnt think the government intends to regulate user-generated content specifically, the legislation leaves the door open for that possibility. She said it would be better to have clearer legislation rather than leave it up to the discretion of the CRTC. Another critic has been former CRTC Chair Konrad von Finckenstein, who told The Globe that the bill should not be passed in its present form. He said the legislation was flawed from the start because its too broad. You dont want to discourage people from being innovative and finding better ways to use the internet, he said. You should only deal with it to the extent its necessary to protect Canadian cultural institutions, not more. One of the bills most vocal critics has been University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist. Both Mr. Geist and Mr. von Finckenstein added their names to an open letter released May 17 from the Internet Society, a global non-profit that promotes an open and secure internet. The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asks the government to reconsider the effect that Bill C-10 and other legislation would have on the internet in Canada. The letter has over 20 signatories, and also includes Ronald Deibert, director of the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, and Laura Tribe, executive director of OpenMedia. In the House of Commons and in committee meetings, Conservative MPs continue to be vocal critics of the bill, saying that it is a threat to freedom of speech. Many of the bills supporters are those in the arts and culture sector who want to see the broadcast legislation updated, and are concerned about local artists and producers being left unsupported while internet giants dominate. This is of particular concern in Quebec, where the protection of local culture and the promotion of French-language content is very important. C-10 also outlines support for racialized communities, including providing opportunities for Indigenous communities and programming that reflects Indigenous cultures, provisions which many people would also like to see implemented. ShoShona Kish, an Anishinaabekwe musician and community organizer, said that the bill would lay the groundwork for continuing to foster local talent and culture. What were talking about here is amplifying voices that need to be heard, and continuing to invest in our stories, she said. This bill opens a space for that. Ms. Kish, who is also the founder and artistic director of the International Indigenous Music Summit, said that Canadas system to support the arts is something quite extraordinary, and that artists from elsewhere are often envious of the resources we have to tell stories here. While she said the legislation may not be perfect, it would provide a solid foundation to support local artists and producers. To me, thats what this bill boils down to, Ms. Kish said. Are we going to continue to plant seeds to nurture talent? Story continues below advertisement Jrme Payette, director-general of the Professional Music Publishers Association, said the bill is incredibly important, and hes frustrated to see its progress stalled. The legislation is absolutely fundamental for the future of Canadian culture, he told The Globe. He said that the intent behind the bill is being skewed, and that disinformation is being spread about the legislation. Its an attack on culture for political reasons, Mr. Payette said. On May 11, the National Assembly of Quebec passed a unanimous motion supporting Bill C-10. The motion outlined how the legislation would provide more protection and promotion for cultural content. Members of the Liberal government, which introduced this legislation, continue to support the bill. The NDP and Bloc Qubcois members on the heritage committee have both said they are also generally supportive of the legislation. Bloc Qubcois MP Martin Champoux said on Monday that C-10 in its current form will have his support, though he is also critical of the way the government has handled the bill. I think they dropped the ball quite a few times, he said. In its submission to the Canadian Heritage Committee, Spotify expressed strong concerns with the bill and said music streaming should not be regulated like a radio station. The company noted that it already has Canadian-focused playlists. Open this photo in gallery Netflix has criticized Bill C-10, noting in its submission that it has invested over $2.5-billion in film and television production in Canada between 2017 and 2020. OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/Getty Images Spotify is committed to supporting and promoting Canadian creators. But without clear guidance on how Bill C-10 is to be applied to streaming, we are concerned that unintended consequences will hurt both Canadian culture domestically and globally, the company said. Netflix has also criticized the bill, noting in its submission that it has invested over $2.5-billion in film and television production in Canada between 2017 and 2020. It also proposed two pages of specific amendments primarily at keeping any financial disclosures to the CRTC confidential. An overly burdensome regulatory framework could result in reduced choice for Canadians, the company said. The committee appears to have ignored Netflixs recommendations. Traditional broadcasters arent pleased with the bill either. BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc. warned in submissions to the committee that the bill still leaves them with onerous obligations that hinder their ability to compete with foreign streaming services. Traditional broadcasters in Canada, such as television and radio stations, are required by the CRTC to broadcast certain amounts of Canadian content. Quotas differ depending on the type of station: for example, commercial radio stations playing popular music must have at least 35 per cent Canadian music, while the CBC must have 50 per cent Canadian music. However, this approach doesnt work for streaming platforms where consumers access content on demand. Instead, Bill C-10 gives the CRTC power to implement discoverability requirements on these platforms essentially, they have to make it possible for consumers to discover Canadian content. This means that services like Netflix or Spotify will have to promote Canadian content on their sites and make it easier to find. The CRTC would have the power to implement these discoverability requirements. This approach to discoverability is problematic for many of the bills critics, such as Mr. Geist, who said this could limit consumer choice. The government through its regulator gets to determine what gets prioritized, he told MPs on the Canadian Heritage committee. Its going to make choices elevating some and deprioritizing others. That clearly has an impact on individual Canadians expressive rights. Story continues below advertisement Ms. Laidlaw points out that social media companies would fall under these requirements as well, which could be problematic because there arent any provisions to distinguish positive cultural content from more negative and potentially harmful posts. Its not just a Canadian artist wanting their content promoted, she said, adding that shes not satisfied with leaving the details of discoverability up to the CRTC. However, Ms. Kish said that she sees issues with the way content is already curated online, since various algorithms determine what consumers have access to. When we allow corporations to define who we are as a culture, I think we run a very frightening risk of losing the deep substance of what our communities are, she said. Discoverability requirements, she maintained, could help share Canadian culture. Under Bill C-10, internet streaming companies operating in Canada would have to promote Canadian content and financially contribute to local production. However, there is some debate over how this would work, and what content counts. The CRTC currently has criteria that determines what makes content Canadian or not. For films, it considers such things as if members of the production team are Canadian, and if program expenses and post-program expenses are paid by Canadian companies. Netflix has raised concerns about these Canadian content guidelines, though. In a February submission to the Heritage committee regarding Bill C-10, Netflix cited examples of films that are not considered Canadian enough both The Willoughbys and Jusquau Dclin, two films with Canadian casts and crews, were financed exclusively by Netflix and therefore do not meet the standards for Canadian content. Current definitions of Canadian content do not acknowledge all contributions of streaming services to Canadian programming, reads the document. The idea that streaming companies would have to contribute to local productions is outlined in the Yale report. It reads that streaming services would be required to devote a portion of their program budgets to Canadian programs. However, it doesnt include specifics on how this would be done the report says that the CRTC would establish the details. Mr. Geist advised MPs that simply rerouting taxes paid by the internet giants would be easier. [The government] should take some of that tax money and allocate it directly to the various creator programs, he said, adding that this would be a more immediate way to fund producers. The government claims Bill C-10 would force streaming services to contribute up to $830-million annually toward Canadian creators by 2023. However, Bill C-10 is one of several federal plans aimed at extracting cash from large digital companies and to expand regulation of the internet. The Liberal government has said two more bills are in the works that could be made public soon. One would attempt to set new rules regarding online harms, such as hate speech and the non-consensual sharing of images known as revenge porn. Similar efforts by other governments, such as Germany, that require platforms to remove hate speech within short periods of time after receiving a complaint have prompted concern related to freedom of speech. Mr. Guilbeault has also said his department is working on a bill that would require platforms such as Google and Facebook to negotiate licensing deals with Canadian news organizations. A similar law in Australia prompted a major controversy that saw Facebook temporarily remove all news from its platform. The company ultimately agreed to reach licensing deals with news publishers in Australia. Requiring social media platforms to compensate news publishers would be in addition to requirements under C-10 to contribute to Canadian cultural content. The Canadian government has further plans to extract money from web giants through the tax system. Finance Minister Chrystia Freelands November update detailed plans to require foreign digital service providers to collect and submit sales tax on Canadian sales and to pay a new corporate tax on digital services. The update said these and other tax increases on the digital economy would raise $6.5-billion over five years. Know what is happening in the halls of power with the days top political headlines and commentary as selected by Globe editors (subscribers only). Sign up today. | Bill C-10 was introduced in the House of Commons in November by Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault. The bill updates the Broadcasting Act, which is Canadas existing legislation aimed at promoting and developing Canadian producers and creators. Critics warn Canadians could lose access to some websites and potentially have their freedom of speech curtailed. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-what-is-bill-c-10-and-why-are-the-liberals-planning-to-regulate-the/ | 0.166455 |
Why have there been so many no-hitters in 2021? | It had been less than 24 hours since Spencer Turnbull of the Detroit Tigers completed baseballs fifth no-hitter of the 2021 season when Corey Kluber of the New York Yankees threw the sixth. The pitchers have remarkably different pedigrees Turnbull led the majors in losses two seasons ago and Kluber has won two AL Cy Young Awards but their achievements were celebrated with the same bells and whistles of a typical no-hitter: Wire services sent news alerts, MLB.com gave their box scores special badges and the players celebrated wildly with teammates or at least as wildly as Kluber, nicknamed Klubot for his stoicism, is capable of. Turnbull, though, was obviously elated. It is by far the best night of my life, most exciting, and its definitely kind of like one of those landmark stamps on my career up to this point, he said in a postgame video conference from Seattle in the early hours of Wednesday. Those two no-hitters, and the four before them this season, have raised questions about how baseball could already have so many no-hitters so early in the year, and why they seem to be occurring at such an extraordinary rate. Joe Musgrove, San Diego Padres (April 9 vs. Texas Rangers): In throwing the first no-hitter in his franchises long history, Musgrove allowed only one base runner, on a hit-by-pitch. He threw 112 pitches, but manager Jayce Tingler was determined to let him see it through. He was in control, Tingler said. After the seventh inning, thats when we kind of put all the chips in. For Joe, for the team, for the organization, for the city that hadnt had a no-hitter before, at that point you throw everything out the window and you roll with it. Advertising Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox (April 14 vs. Cleveland Indians): Rodon was two outs from baseballs 24th perfect game when he hit Roberto Perez with a pitch. It just feels good to finally sit here and tell you I dominated today, and it felt good, Rodon said. John Means, Baltimore Orioles (May 5 vs. Seattle Mariners): Like Musgrove, Means was breaking a long streak for his franchise: No Baltimore starter had thrown a no-hitter on their own since Jim Palmer did so in 1969. Means had never thrown a complete game and said he was nervous entering the ninth inning. I got a little bit of the Jell-O legs, started to feel a little wobbly, he said. But once I threw that first pitch, I was able to lock in again. Wade Miley, Cincinnati Reds (May 8 vs. Cleveland): Miley had to wait out an 83-minute rain delay before getting started, but he needed only 2 hours, 34 minutes to record baseballs fourth no-hitter of the season. He put on a clinic, Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. Spencer Turnbull, Detroit Tigers (May 18 vs. Seattle): He said he did not feel right at all to start the game, but Turnbull, who led the majors in losses in 2019, made quick work of the Mariners, striking out nine and allowing only two base runners on walks. It got to a point I think the last four innings, I dont know if he shook one time, catcher Eric Haase said. We were just in really great sync and whatever I was putting down he was throwing and he was executing. Corey Kluber, New York Yankees (May 19 vs. Texas): A four-pitch walk to Charlie Culberson in the third inning was all that stood between Kluber and perfection. But Kluber, in his first season in pinstripes after throwing only one inning for Texas last year because of injury, still managed the Yankees first no-hitter since David Cones perfect game in 1999. Theres a lot of things that have to go your way, Kluber said. Sort of! Bumgarner, the former ace (and three-time World Series winner) of the San Francisco Giants, shut out Atlanta on April 25 and allowed no hits in the process. But because of doubleheader rules developed last season, the game was limited to seven innings. A 1991 ruling intended to eliminate rain-shortened no-hitters and other oddities made throwing at least nine complete innings a requirement for a game to be recognized as a no-hitter. Bumgarners game will instead be classified as a notable achievement. Advertising I didnt give up any hits today, Bumgarner said. A number of factors are in play leading to the surge of no-hitters. Chief among them are an emphasis on power pitching and batters having shown a willingness to sell out contact in order to increase power. Those factors, plus surgical deployment of high-quality relievers, has resulted in strange numbers across the board. Teams were averaging 7.82 hits per game through May 19 the second-lowest mark in baseball history behind 1908, according to Baseball Reference and were striking out a record 8.98 times a game. As a result, batters were hitting a record-low .236 and scoring was down significantly for a second consecutive season. Another factor that has to be considered is control. Shutouts are almost entirely a thing of the past there have been 15 this season, and there have been fewer than 40 in each season since 2015 but the six pitchers who have thrown a no-hitter this season have kept their pitch counts low by employing remarkable control. Turnbull walked two batters and Miley and Kluber each walked one. The other three pitchers who threw a no-hitter this season didnt issue a single free pass. Factor in colder weather in April and May, a new baseball, advanced defensive positioning and other changes in the game and it has seemingly become a recipe for no-hitters becoming a common occurrence. But you cant discount simple variance. While no-hitters come at a fairly predictable rate over long periods of time, they have frequently come in clumps and then gone long stretches without one. Six no-hitters through May 19 edges 1917 for the fastest start in major league history. That season baseball raced to its fifth no-hitter by May 6 despite not starting the season until April 11 but did not get a sixth no-hitter until June 23. With teams not having reached even 50 games each this season, and the season scheduled to go a full 162, matching the modern record of seven no-hitters (shared by multiple seasons) seems within reach, as does the overall record of eight, which was set in 1884. But nothing is certain no matter how quickly no-hitters pile up. Baseball raced to five no-hitters in 1917, but finished with just six. That last no-hitter was certainly memorable: Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox walked the first batter of the game, got ejected for arguing balls and strikes (and struck the umpire behind the ear in an epic tantrum), only to have reliever Ernie Shore erase the base runner on a caught stealing before retiring all 26 batters he faced. Hardly. While Nolan Ryan was the most unhittable pitcher in major league history, and threw a record seven no-hitters, other dominant pitchers failed to throw one despite similar credentials most notably Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Steve Carlton and Grover Cleveland Alexander. Among the current stars who have yet to throw one: Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees, Clevelands Shane Bieber, Zack Greinke of the Houston Astros and Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets. Meanwhile, Mike Fiers, a fairly uninspiring veteran for the Oakland Athletics, has thrown two. With all of these no-hitters it would seem logical that a perfect game would be mixed in, but baseball is in a strangely long stretch without one. Both Rodon and Means came tantalizingly close to perfection this season, but Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners threw baseballs last perfect game, on Aug. 15, 2012. That stretch of nearly nine years is the longest between perfect games since the gap of 13 years, 7 days between Catfish Hunters masterpiece on May 8, 1968, and Len Barkers on May 15, 1981. Seattle, Cleveland and Texas have each been no-hit twice already this season, but things are starting to get weird for Kyle Seager, the Mariners third baseman. As Christopher Kamka noted on Twitter, Seager has now been involved in nine no-hitters in his 11-season career. Of course, Seagers odds of being involved in no-hitters are helped by the fact that his team was hitting a major league-worst .199 through May 18. | There have already been five no-hitters in the 2021 season. There have been four so far this season, including two no-hitter by San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove in April. The Padres have never had a no-Hitter in their franchise history. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/why-have-there-been-so-many-no-hitters-in-2021/ | 0.131624 |
Why is Denmark trying to send Syrians back to their war-torn country? | At the heart of the matter are broad Danish concerns that migrants and refugees are undermining the countrys societal cohesion, which many Danes believe depends on a shared language and cultural heritage. The effort to stem migration is popular across the Danish political spectrum, despite the threat it poses to Syrians. What the Danish authorities are assessing is whether the Syrians have a risk of being persecuted on an individual basis, says Lisa Blinkenberg of Amnesty International. It is not enough to say that there is a lot of violence going on. You need to prove that you are individually persecuted. Denmarks asylum policies prioritize return over integration. But that can be life-threatening when the country one must return to is Syria. Syria experts reject the notion that Damascus and its surroundings can be considered safe as long as the country is run by Mr. Assad. But by declaring Damascus safe, Denmark has shifted the ground of debate. Syria remains in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, who destroyed large swaths of the country to stay in power. But Denmark has concluded it is safe for Syrians who fled to the Nordic country to return to Damascus, and is rapidly revoking or refusing to extend residency permits. The move has earned the country a barrage of criticism. Sabriya struggles to sleep on good days. Now its next to impossible. She is terrified the Danish government will eventually send her back to Syria because her residency permit was revoked. If her appeal fails, she will be facing the choice of going back voluntarily to the country she fled or residing in a deportation center. How can I go back to the regime that turned my children into orphans, displaced us, and leveled our houses with bombs? the widow asks, stressing that under no circumstances would she return to Syria. I have no one left there. All my relatives have been scattered and suffered their own tragedies. Syria remains in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, who destroyed large swaths of the country to stay in power. But Denmark has concluded it is safe for Syrians to return to Damascus and is rapidly revoking or refusing to extend residency permits on that basis. The move has earned the country which once took pride as the first signatory of the 1951 United Nations refugee convention a barrage of criticism. Why We Wrote This Denmarks asylum policies prioritize return over integration. But that can be life-threatening when the country one must return to is Syria. At the heart of the matter are broad Danish concerns that migrants and refugees are undermining the countrys societal cohesion, which many Danes believe depends on a shared language and cultural heritage. The effort to stem migration, including asylum requests, is popular across the Danish political spectrum, despite the deadly impact it could have on vulnerable Syrian refugees. The whole idea is to send a message to both refugees who are here and people who are not here yet: Dont come to Denmark, says Karen Nielsen Breidahl, associate professor in political science at Aalborg University. The safety of Damascus Political scientists say the governments decision reflects a long-running effort to make wealthy Denmark less appealing to asylum-seekers. Controversial measures, such as stripping new arrivals of their jewelry and separating young couples, multiplied after the influx of migrants to Europe in 2015-16. Concerns that foreigners are a strain on the Danish welfare system and hurt social cohesion predate that crisis by a few decades, but now cut across party lines. The Danish government says it is convinced that it is now safe for Syrians to return to the Damascus area. In a statement handed out by his office, Danish Minister of Immigration and Integration Mattias Tesfaye said, the general security situation in the area in and around Damascus has improved to such an extent that the need for protection for persons who are not individually persecuted ... has ceased to exist. And Mr. Tesfaye, whose father was an Ethiopian refugee, has been adamant that refugees should return home to rebuild their lives there as soon as conditions allow. Denmark has been open and honest from day one, he said. We have made it clear to the Syrian refugees that their residence permit is temporary and that the permit can be revoked if the need for protection ceases to exist. Syria experts including the vast majority of those consulted by the Danish authorities reject the notion that Damascus and its surroundings can be considered safe as long as the country is run by Mr. Assad. The Syrian conflict, now in its 10th year, has killed over half a million people, including tens of thousands of people tortured to death in regime-controlled detention centers. Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters/File Danish Minister of Immigration and Integration Mattias Tesfaye, standing at Holmen Church in Copenhagen, Denmark, has been adamant that Syrians given residency permits in Denmark must return home as soon as conditions allow. Lisa Blinkenberg, a senior adviser at Amnesty International, notes Syrians returning to government-held areas must go through security clearances. This involves interrogation by the security forces and these same forces have been behind widespread and systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity, she says. We are talking about torture, extrajudicial executions, and enforced disappearances. But by declaring Damascus safe, Denmark has shifted the ground of debate for Syrians trying to argue they would still be in danger there. Syrian refugees stress that the violent government that triggered their displacement remains in place, along with its brutal security apparatus. Denmark focuses on the absence of clashes. What the Danish authorities are assessing is whether the Syrians have a risk of being persecuted on an individual basis, Ms. Blinkenberg says. It is not enough to say that there is a lot of violence going on. You need to prove that you are individually persecuted. Denmark does not take these feelings into account Because family members receive different levels of protection when seeking asylum in Denmark, that heightens the risk that they will be split up. That possibility overshadowed the Eid celebrations of the Alata family, who came to Denmark in a staggered fashion. The first to arrive after surviving the journey of death across the Mediterranean was Abdo Alata. He has been the de facto head of the family since 2012, when snipers shot his father off his motorbike and then executed him in Darayya, one of the first areas near Damascus to rebel against Mr. Assad. Mr. Alata has political asylum in Denmark and lives in the port city of Vejle. His brother, Mohamed, got that status only after turning 18. But their mother, Sabriya, and two sisters had their permits revoked just a few weeks ago. They worry Sabriya risks arrest on return to Syria because she gave food and water to protesters, and because Abdo and Mohamed dodged military service. Courtesy of Abdo Alata Abdo Alata lives with his mother, Sabriya, and sisters Tasnim (far left) and Sahed (far right) in the Danish port city of Vejle. Mr. Alata has refugee status, but Denmark revoked the temporary protection status granted to his mother and sisters because it considers the situation in Damascus, Syria, safe for them. They also fret over how sisters Tasnim and Sahed would cope in Syria, since life in Denmark is all they know. The girls speak Danish fluently, have Danish friends, and dont know how to write Arabic. The little ones dont know the details or the scale of crimes in Syria, says Mr. Alata. They only know our father in pictures. I raised them. Sometimes they call me baba [father] but Denmark does not take these feelings into account. Anxiety also filled Belqis Ibrahim as she drove her parents for a routine COVID-19 test earlier this month in Aarhus, Denmarks second-largest city. Every time I listen to the news, I get stressed, says Ms. Ibrahim, who recently completed studies in software engineering. From the moment we got here, there have been discussions in parliament about sending Syrians back. Refugees are seen as problematic The dominance of far-right and conservative nationalist values came into sharp focus with the tough-on-migration campaign promises that returned the leftist Social Democrats to power in the summer of 2019. Those promises became policies building on a February 2019 paradigm shift law that had secured the backing of major parties and puts an emphasis on returns over integration. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen now aims for zero asylum-seekers. The Nordic country is not too far from achieving that goal. In 2020, the country accepted 1,515 asylum applications a drop from 3,500 in 2017. Only 1% of the 2020 requests were granted in Denmark, compared to 11% in Sweden, which handled nearly 13,000 applications, and 88% in Germany, which tackled more than 100,000 that year. The Social Democrats realized early on that they have to be strict if they want to keep power and form governments, says Professor Breidahl. She notes that there is a widespread perception particularly among the decisive demographic of older, white- and blue-collar voters that social cohesion and high social trust in Denmark require a homogeneous society. The welfare state is valued by all, but over time it has become less inclusive. Refugees are seen as problematic, especially refugees from Muslim and African countries, says Professor Breidahl. It began with the political parties who wanted to gain voters but now the political parties are also constructing the voters and the way they think about refugees and immigrants. There are so many wrong pictures about what a refugee is, what is an asylum-seeker. The result, she adds, is stricter and stricter rules that are demotivating even for those who have the residency permits and are trying to integrate. Municipal social workers who try to facilitate integration through language courses and professional training are required to raise the option of return at every meeting, not just with Syrians, but also Iranians, Iraqis, and South Americans. The system is full of dilemmas, says Professor Breidahl, who researches global migration flows and their impact on the welfare system. It is really difficult. Expulsions on hold To date, about 400 Syrians, including minors, have had their cases rejected by the Danish immigration services. But under criticism both domestic and abroad, forced returns have been ruled out by the government. Courtesy of Rahal family Khadijah Rahal and her husband, Nader, who live in Roskilde, Denmark, hope to successfully appeal the Danish government's revocation of their residency permits, as their daughter did. Regardless, the rejections cannot result in any immediate expulsions for a simple legal reason: Syrians cannot be forcibly returned as long as Copenhagens diplomatic ties with Damascus remain broken. That leaves Charlotte Slente, head of the Danish Refugee Council, puzzled. It is pointless to remove people from the life they are trying to build in Denmark and put them in a waiting position without an end date, after they have fled the horrible conflict in their homeland. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Still, since 2019, about 250 Syrians with legal residency in Denmark have been repatriated voluntarily, taking up the government on a substantive cash offer of $28,400, according to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration. But some, like Khadijah Rahals daughter, Nevien, have been able to mount successful appeals against having their status revoked. She hopes she and her husband will be able to do the same. For someone who has problems with the Syrian regime, you can give them all the millions of the world, but they will not go back, says Ms. Rahal. Over there it is certain death. Here it is psychological warfare. | Denmark says it is safe for Syrians who fled to the Nordic country to return to Damascus. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2021/0520/Why-is-Denmark-trying-to-send-Syrians-back-to-their-war-torn-country?icid=rss | 0.10251 |
Why is Denmark trying to send Syrians back to their war-torn country? | At the heart of the matter are broad Danish concerns that migrants and refugees are undermining the countrys societal cohesion, which many Danes believe depends on a shared language and cultural heritage. The effort to stem migration is popular across the Danish political spectrum, despite the threat it poses to Syrians. What the Danish authorities are assessing is whether the Syrians have a risk of being persecuted on an individual basis, says Lisa Blinkenberg of Amnesty International. It is not enough to say that there is a lot of violence going on. You need to prove that you are individually persecuted. Denmarks asylum policies prioritize return over integration. But that can be life-threatening when the country one must return to is Syria. Syria experts reject the notion that Damascus and its surroundings can be considered safe as long as the country is run by Mr. Assad. But by declaring Damascus safe, Denmark has shifted the ground of debate. Syria remains in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, who destroyed large swaths of the country to stay in power. But Denmark has concluded it is safe for Syrians who fled to the Nordic country to return to Damascus, and is rapidly revoking or refusing to extend residency permits. The move has earned the country a barrage of criticism. Sabriya struggles to sleep on good days. Now its next to impossible. She is terrified the Danish government will eventually send her back to Syria because her residency permit was revoked. If her appeal fails, she will be facing the choice of going back voluntarily to the country she fled or residing in a deportation center. How can I go back to the regime that turned my children into orphans, displaced us, and leveled our houses with bombs? the widow asks, stressing that under no circumstances would she return to Syria. I have no one left there. All my relatives have been scattered and suffered their own tragedies. Syria remains in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, who destroyed large swaths of the country to stay in power. But Denmark has concluded it is safe for Syrians to return to Damascus and is rapidly revoking or refusing to extend residency permits on that basis. The move has earned the country which once took pride as the first signatory of the 1951 United Nations refugee convention a barrage of criticism. Why We Wrote This Denmarks asylum policies prioritize return over integration. But that can be life-threatening when the country one must return to is Syria. At the heart of the matter are broad Danish concerns that migrants and refugees are undermining the countrys societal cohesion, which many Danes believe depends on a shared language and cultural heritage. The effort to stem migration, including asylum requests, is popular across the Danish political spectrum, despite the deadly impact it could have on vulnerable Syrian refugees. The whole idea is to send a message to both refugees who are here and people who are not here yet: Dont come to Denmark, says Karen Nielsen Breidahl, associate professor in political science at Aalborg University. The safety of Damascus Political scientists say the governments decision reflects a long-running effort to make wealthy Denmark less appealing to asylum-seekers. Controversial measures, such as stripping new arrivals of their jewelry and separating young couples, multiplied after the influx of migrants to Europe in 2015-16. Concerns that foreigners are a strain on the Danish welfare system and hurt social cohesion predate that crisis by a few decades, but now cut across party lines. The Danish government says it is convinced that it is now safe for Syrians to return to the Damascus area. In a statement handed out by his office, Danish Minister of Immigration and Integration Mattias Tesfaye said, the general security situation in the area in and around Damascus has improved to such an extent that the need for protection for persons who are not individually persecuted ... has ceased to exist. And Mr. Tesfaye, whose father was an Ethiopian refugee, has been adamant that refugees should return home to rebuild their lives there as soon as conditions allow. Denmark has been open and honest from day one, he said. We have made it clear to the Syrian refugees that their residence permit is temporary and that the permit can be revoked if the need for protection ceases to exist. Syria experts including the vast majority of those consulted by the Danish authorities reject the notion that Damascus and its surroundings can be considered safe as long as the country is run by Mr. Assad. The Syrian conflict, now in its 10th year, has killed over half a million people, including tens of thousands of people tortured to death in regime-controlled detention centers. Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters/File Danish Minister of Immigration and Integration Mattias Tesfaye, standing at Holmen Church in Copenhagen, Denmark, has been adamant that Syrians given residency permits in Denmark must return home as soon as conditions allow. Lisa Blinkenberg, a senior adviser at Amnesty International, notes Syrians returning to government-held areas must go through security clearances. This involves interrogation by the security forces and these same forces have been behind widespread and systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity, she says. We are talking about torture, extrajudicial executions, and enforced disappearances. But by declaring Damascus safe, Denmark has shifted the ground of debate for Syrians trying to argue they would still be in danger there. Syrian refugees stress that the violent government that triggered their displacement remains in place, along with its brutal security apparatus. Denmark focuses on the absence of clashes. What the Danish authorities are assessing is whether the Syrians have a risk of being persecuted on an individual basis, Ms. Blinkenberg says. It is not enough to say that there is a lot of violence going on. You need to prove that you are individually persecuted. Denmark does not take these feelings into account Because family members receive different levels of protection when seeking asylum in Denmark, that heightens the risk that they will be split up. That possibility overshadowed the Eid celebrations of the Alata family, who came to Denmark in a staggered fashion. The first to arrive after surviving the journey of death across the Mediterranean was Abdo Alata. He has been the de facto head of the family since 2012, when snipers shot his father off his motorbike and then executed him in Darayya, one of the first areas near Damascus to rebel against Mr. Assad. Mr. Alata has political asylum in Denmark and lives in the port city of Vejle. His brother, Mohamed, got that status only after turning 18. But their mother, Sabriya, and two sisters had their permits revoked just a few weeks ago. They worry Sabriya risks arrest on return to Syria because she gave food and water to protesters, and because Abdo and Mohamed dodged military service. Courtesy of Abdo Alata Abdo Alata lives with his mother, Sabriya, and sisters Tasnim (far left) and Sahed (far right) in the Danish port city of Vejle. Mr. Alata has refugee status, but Denmark revoked the temporary protection status granted to his mother and sisters because it considers the situation in Damascus, Syria, safe for them. They also fret over how sisters Tasnim and Sahed would cope in Syria, since life in Denmark is all they know. The girls speak Danish fluently, have Danish friends, and dont know how to write Arabic. The little ones dont know the details or the scale of crimes in Syria, says Mr. Alata. They only know our father in pictures. I raised them. Sometimes they call me baba [father] but Denmark does not take these feelings into account. Anxiety also filled Belqis Ibrahim as she drove her parents for a routine COVID-19 test earlier this month in Aarhus, Denmarks second-largest city. Every time I listen to the news, I get stressed, says Ms. Ibrahim, who recently completed studies in software engineering. From the moment we got here, there have been discussions in parliament about sending Syrians back. Refugees are seen as problematic The dominance of far-right and conservative nationalist values came into sharp focus with the tough-on-migration campaign promises that returned the leftist Social Democrats to power in the summer of 2019. Those promises became policies building on a February 2019 paradigm shift law that had secured the backing of major parties and puts an emphasis on returns over integration. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen now aims for zero asylum-seekers. The Nordic country is not too far from achieving that goal. In 2020, the country accepted 1,515 asylum applications a drop from 3,500 in 2017. Only 1% of the 2020 requests were granted in Denmark, compared to 11% in Sweden, which handled nearly 13,000 applications, and 88% in Germany, which tackled more than 100,000 that year. The Social Democrats realized early on that they have to be strict if they want to keep power and form governments, says Professor Breidahl. She notes that there is a widespread perception particularly among the decisive demographic of older, white- and blue-collar voters that social cohesion and high social trust in Denmark require a homogeneous society. The welfare state is valued by all, but over time it has become less inclusive. Refugees are seen as problematic, especially refugees from Muslim and African countries, says Professor Breidahl. It began with the political parties who wanted to gain voters but now the political parties are also constructing the voters and the way they think about refugees and immigrants. There are so many wrong pictures about what a refugee is, what is an asylum-seeker. The result, she adds, is stricter and stricter rules that are demotivating even for those who have the residency permits and are trying to integrate. Municipal social workers who try to facilitate integration through language courses and professional training are required to raise the option of return at every meeting, not just with Syrians, but also Iranians, Iraqis, and South Americans. The system is full of dilemmas, says Professor Breidahl, who researches global migration flows and their impact on the welfare system. It is really difficult. Expulsions on hold To date, about 400 Syrians, including minors, have had their cases rejected by the Danish immigration services. But under criticism both domestic and abroad, forced returns have been ruled out by the government. Courtesy of Rahal family Khadijah Rahal and her husband, Nader, who live in Roskilde, Denmark, hope to successfully appeal the Danish government's revocation of their residency permits, as their daughter did. Regardless, the rejections cannot result in any immediate expulsions for a simple legal reason: Syrians cannot be forcibly returned as long as Copenhagens diplomatic ties with Damascus remain broken. That leaves Charlotte Slente, head of the Danish Refugee Council, puzzled. It is pointless to remove people from the life they are trying to build in Denmark and put them in a waiting position without an end date, after they have fled the horrible conflict in their homeland. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Still, since 2019, about 250 Syrians with legal residency in Denmark have been repatriated voluntarily, taking up the government on a substantive cash offer of $28,400, according to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration. But some, like Khadijah Rahals daughter, Nevien, have been able to mount successful appeals against having their status revoked. She hopes she and her husband will be able to do the same. For someone who has problems with the Syrian regime, you can give them all the millions of the world, but they will not go back, says Ms. Rahal. Over there it is certain death. Here it is psychological warfare. | At the heart of the matter are broad Danish concerns that migrants and refugees are undermining the countrys societal cohesion. Syria remains in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, who destroyed large swaths of the country to stay in power. | bart | 1 | https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2021/0520/Why-is-Denmark-trying-to-send-Syrians-back-to-their-war-torn-country?icid=rss | 0.118326 |
Why is Denmark trying to send Syrians back to their war-torn country? | At the heart of the matter are broad Danish concerns that migrants and refugees are undermining the countrys societal cohesion, which many Danes believe depends on a shared language and cultural heritage. The effort to stem migration is popular across the Danish political spectrum, despite the threat it poses to Syrians. What the Danish authorities are assessing is whether the Syrians have a risk of being persecuted on an individual basis, says Lisa Blinkenberg of Amnesty International. It is not enough to say that there is a lot of violence going on. You need to prove that you are individually persecuted. Denmarks asylum policies prioritize return over integration. But that can be life-threatening when the country one must return to is Syria. Syria experts reject the notion that Damascus and its surroundings can be considered safe as long as the country is run by Mr. Assad. But by declaring Damascus safe, Denmark has shifted the ground of debate. Syria remains in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, who destroyed large swaths of the country to stay in power. But Denmark has concluded it is safe for Syrians who fled to the Nordic country to return to Damascus, and is rapidly revoking or refusing to extend residency permits. The move has earned the country a barrage of criticism. Sabriya struggles to sleep on good days. Now its next to impossible. She is terrified the Danish government will eventually send her back to Syria because her residency permit was revoked. If her appeal fails, she will be facing the choice of going back voluntarily to the country she fled or residing in a deportation center. How can I go back to the regime that turned my children into orphans, displaced us, and leveled our houses with bombs? the widow asks, stressing that under no circumstances would she return to Syria. I have no one left there. All my relatives have been scattered and suffered their own tragedies. Syria remains in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, who destroyed large swaths of the country to stay in power. But Denmark has concluded it is safe for Syrians to return to Damascus and is rapidly revoking or refusing to extend residency permits on that basis. The move has earned the country which once took pride as the first signatory of the 1951 United Nations refugee convention a barrage of criticism. Why We Wrote This Denmarks asylum policies prioritize return over integration. But that can be life-threatening when the country one must return to is Syria. At the heart of the matter are broad Danish concerns that migrants and refugees are undermining the countrys societal cohesion, which many Danes believe depends on a shared language and cultural heritage. The effort to stem migration, including asylum requests, is popular across the Danish political spectrum, despite the deadly impact it could have on vulnerable Syrian refugees. The whole idea is to send a message to both refugees who are here and people who are not here yet: Dont come to Denmark, says Karen Nielsen Breidahl, associate professor in political science at Aalborg University. The safety of Damascus Political scientists say the governments decision reflects a long-running effort to make wealthy Denmark less appealing to asylum-seekers. Controversial measures, such as stripping new arrivals of their jewelry and separating young couples, multiplied after the influx of migrants to Europe in 2015-16. Concerns that foreigners are a strain on the Danish welfare system and hurt social cohesion predate that crisis by a few decades, but now cut across party lines. The Danish government says it is convinced that it is now safe for Syrians to return to the Damascus area. In a statement handed out by his office, Danish Minister of Immigration and Integration Mattias Tesfaye said, the general security situation in the area in and around Damascus has improved to such an extent that the need for protection for persons who are not individually persecuted ... has ceased to exist. And Mr. Tesfaye, whose father was an Ethiopian refugee, has been adamant that refugees should return home to rebuild their lives there as soon as conditions allow. Denmark has been open and honest from day one, he said. We have made it clear to the Syrian refugees that their residence permit is temporary and that the permit can be revoked if the need for protection ceases to exist. Syria experts including the vast majority of those consulted by the Danish authorities reject the notion that Damascus and its surroundings can be considered safe as long as the country is run by Mr. Assad. The Syrian conflict, now in its 10th year, has killed over half a million people, including tens of thousands of people tortured to death in regime-controlled detention centers. Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters/File Danish Minister of Immigration and Integration Mattias Tesfaye, standing at Holmen Church in Copenhagen, Denmark, has been adamant that Syrians given residency permits in Denmark must return home as soon as conditions allow. Lisa Blinkenberg, a senior adviser at Amnesty International, notes Syrians returning to government-held areas must go through security clearances. This involves interrogation by the security forces and these same forces have been behind widespread and systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity, she says. We are talking about torture, extrajudicial executions, and enforced disappearances. But by declaring Damascus safe, Denmark has shifted the ground of debate for Syrians trying to argue they would still be in danger there. Syrian refugees stress that the violent government that triggered their displacement remains in place, along with its brutal security apparatus. Denmark focuses on the absence of clashes. What the Danish authorities are assessing is whether the Syrians have a risk of being persecuted on an individual basis, Ms. Blinkenberg says. It is not enough to say that there is a lot of violence going on. You need to prove that you are individually persecuted. Denmark does not take these feelings into account Because family members receive different levels of protection when seeking asylum in Denmark, that heightens the risk that they will be split up. That possibility overshadowed the Eid celebrations of the Alata family, who came to Denmark in a staggered fashion. The first to arrive after surviving the journey of death across the Mediterranean was Abdo Alata. He has been the de facto head of the family since 2012, when snipers shot his father off his motorbike and then executed him in Darayya, one of the first areas near Damascus to rebel against Mr. Assad. Mr. Alata has political asylum in Denmark and lives in the port city of Vejle. His brother, Mohamed, got that status only after turning 18. But their mother, Sabriya, and two sisters had their permits revoked just a few weeks ago. They worry Sabriya risks arrest on return to Syria because she gave food and water to protesters, and because Abdo and Mohamed dodged military service. Courtesy of Abdo Alata Abdo Alata lives with his mother, Sabriya, and sisters Tasnim (far left) and Sahed (far right) in the Danish port city of Vejle. Mr. Alata has refugee status, but Denmark revoked the temporary protection status granted to his mother and sisters because it considers the situation in Damascus, Syria, safe for them. They also fret over how sisters Tasnim and Sahed would cope in Syria, since life in Denmark is all they know. The girls speak Danish fluently, have Danish friends, and dont know how to write Arabic. The little ones dont know the details or the scale of crimes in Syria, says Mr. Alata. They only know our father in pictures. I raised them. Sometimes they call me baba [father] but Denmark does not take these feelings into account. Anxiety also filled Belqis Ibrahim as she drove her parents for a routine COVID-19 test earlier this month in Aarhus, Denmarks second-largest city. Every time I listen to the news, I get stressed, says Ms. Ibrahim, who recently completed studies in software engineering. From the moment we got here, there have been discussions in parliament about sending Syrians back. Refugees are seen as problematic The dominance of far-right and conservative nationalist values came into sharp focus with the tough-on-migration campaign promises that returned the leftist Social Democrats to power in the summer of 2019. Those promises became policies building on a February 2019 paradigm shift law that had secured the backing of major parties and puts an emphasis on returns over integration. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen now aims for zero asylum-seekers. The Nordic country is not too far from achieving that goal. In 2020, the country accepted 1,515 asylum applications a drop from 3,500 in 2017. Only 1% of the 2020 requests were granted in Denmark, compared to 11% in Sweden, which handled nearly 13,000 applications, and 88% in Germany, which tackled more than 100,000 that year. The Social Democrats realized early on that they have to be strict if they want to keep power and form governments, says Professor Breidahl. She notes that there is a widespread perception particularly among the decisive demographic of older, white- and blue-collar voters that social cohesion and high social trust in Denmark require a homogeneous society. The welfare state is valued by all, but over time it has become less inclusive. Refugees are seen as problematic, especially refugees from Muslim and African countries, says Professor Breidahl. It began with the political parties who wanted to gain voters but now the political parties are also constructing the voters and the way they think about refugees and immigrants. There are so many wrong pictures about what a refugee is, what is an asylum-seeker. The result, she adds, is stricter and stricter rules that are demotivating even for those who have the residency permits and are trying to integrate. Municipal social workers who try to facilitate integration through language courses and professional training are required to raise the option of return at every meeting, not just with Syrians, but also Iranians, Iraqis, and South Americans. The system is full of dilemmas, says Professor Breidahl, who researches global migration flows and their impact on the welfare system. It is really difficult. Expulsions on hold To date, about 400 Syrians, including minors, have had their cases rejected by the Danish immigration services. But under criticism both domestic and abroad, forced returns have been ruled out by the government. Courtesy of Rahal family Khadijah Rahal and her husband, Nader, who live in Roskilde, Denmark, hope to successfully appeal the Danish government's revocation of their residency permits, as their daughter did. Regardless, the rejections cannot result in any immediate expulsions for a simple legal reason: Syrians cannot be forcibly returned as long as Copenhagens diplomatic ties with Damascus remain broken. That leaves Charlotte Slente, head of the Danish Refugee Council, puzzled. It is pointless to remove people from the life they are trying to build in Denmark and put them in a waiting position without an end date, after they have fled the horrible conflict in their homeland. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Still, since 2019, about 250 Syrians with legal residency in Denmark have been repatriated voluntarily, taking up the government on a substantive cash offer of $28,400, according to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration. But some, like Khadijah Rahals daughter, Nevien, have been able to mount successful appeals against having their status revoked. She hopes she and her husband will be able to do the same. For someone who has problems with the Syrian regime, you can give them all the millions of the world, but they will not go back, says Ms. Rahal. Over there it is certain death. Here it is psychological warfare. | Denmark says it is safe for Syrians who fled to the Nordic country to return to Damascus. The country is rapidly revoking or refusing to extend residency permits on that basis. The move has earned the country a barrage of criticism, including from the U.N. It is also seen as an effort to make wealthy Denmark less appealing to asylum-seekers. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2021/0520/Why-is-Denmark-trying-to-send-Syrians-back-to-their-war-torn-country?icid=rss | 0.242364 |
Should the Titans Try Again With Taja Sharpe? | It is not common for an NFL team to bring back a former player once that player has left. The primary goal of roster turnover is to get younger. That does not mean it never happens. The Tennessee Titans, for example, have turned to former players on occasion for any number of reasons, from the desire to recapture past glory to the peace of mind that comes with a proven performer. An opportunity exists right now to do it again. Earlier this week, the Kansas City Chiefs released wide receiver Taja Sharpe, which means he now has failed to catch a pass for two franchises since he left the Titans a little more than a year ago. Sharpe played four games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2020 before he was released and then finished the campaign on Kansas Citys practice squad. Given that Tennessee looks to be far from settled at wide receiver, franchise officials ought to at least consider the idea of a return for the 2016 fifth-round pick. After all, the roster includes two established wide receivers (A.J. Brown, Josh Reynolds), two draft picks (Dez Fitzpatrick, Racey McMath) and a collection of veterans with varying experience who contributed little if anything in 2020 (Cameron Batson, Chester Rogers, Marcus Johnson, Cody Hollister). Theres a lot of things about player acquisition that go into it, coach Mike Vrabel said early in the offseason during a season ticket holder event. Cost basis is also a part of it. The fit is a part of it. And then need what you need, what you feel like your team needs. Given his inability to catch on with the Vikings and Chiefs, Sharpes market value never has been lower. In 2019, his last season with Tennessee, he was the primary backup at all three wide receiver spots, which means he knows the offense. He also was particularly effective on third down and close to the goal line, two areas that can decide a game. Plus, he is 6-foot-2, 194 pounds and is willing to be physical, which is consistent with that the Titans want at that position. It could be that Sharpes best days are really behind him, but it also seems likely that Tennessee could do worse than him in an attempt to beef up the wide receiver room. A look at some notable players who have returned to the Titans after time away: Jevon Kearse, defensive end (1999-03, 2008-09): The Freak took the league by storm and helped the Titans reach Super Bowl XXXIV when he set an NFL rookie sack record with 14 1/2 in 1999. He remained highly productive through his first three seasons (he made the Pro Bowl every year) then left as a free agent in 2004. He spent four years with Philadelphia before he returned. Kearse played all 16 games but had just three and a half sacks in his first year back (2008). In 2009, he lost his job as a starter after four games and was scratched more often than not the rest of the way. Justin McCareins, wide receiver (2001-03, 2008): During an extended period when the Titans struggled to find productive wide receivers in the draft, McCareins was something of a revelation. He improved steadily over three seasons and in 2003 was the second-leading receiver with 47 catches, 813 yards and seven touchdown receptions. He came back in 2008 after four seasons of steadily declining numbers with the New York Jets and was fifth on the Titans (third among wide receivers) with 30 catches for 412 yards with no touchdowns in what turned out to be his final NFL season. Perry Phenix, safety (1998-00, 2001): A hard-hitting safety who made the roster as an undrafted free agent, Phenix led the Titans in special teams tackles in his second season and played 47 out of a possible 48 games over three years. Tennessee drafted a pair of safeties in 2000, and the next year traded Phenix to Carolina just before the roster was reduced to the 53-man limit for the 2001 season. He was with the Panthers and Cleveland Browns briefly before the Titans re-signed him due to injuries that decimated the secondary. He appeared in 12 games and started 11 that season. He was the third-leading tackler with a career-high 87 but was not re-signed in 2002. Marc Mariani, wide receiver/returner (2010-13, 2016): A seventh-round pick, he was a member of the All-Rookie team and a Pro Bowler as a return man in 2010. He never carved out a role for himself as a receiver, and injuries sidelined him for all of his third and fourth seasons. The Titans never successfully replaced him during the two years he spent in Chicago (2014-15), so they brought him back in 2016 to serve as their primary return man. He was reliable but not nearly as explosive the second time around, which was his final NFL season. Will Compton, inside linebacker (2018, 2020): He was a prominent free agent addition in 2018 but ultimately served as a depth guy and special teams performer, and the Titans allowed him to leave in free agency the next year. They brought him back late in the 2020 training camp to provide some insurance for the defense. He started the first game after Jayon Brown was injured but quickly returned to a role player when David Long took over that spot. He actually played more snaps on defense last season (124) than he did in 2018 (79) and made 14 tackles, three more than he had two years earlier. Robaire Smith, defensive tackle (2000-03, 2006): There were questions about his work ethic when the Titans selected him in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, but over time he established himself as an aggressive, physical member of the defense who became a full-time starter in his fourth year, when he made 73 tackles and had four and a half sacks. He went to Houston as a free agent in 2004 but was cut just before the start of his third season there. Tennessee re-signed him and he picked up where he left off in 2003 (76 tackles). He once again left as a free agent, and he finished his career with four seasons in Cleveland. Gary Anderson, kicker (2003, 2004): He was 45 years old and retired, or so he thought, when Joe Nedney was injured in the 2003 opener. With lofty aspirations, Tennessee convinced Anderson to suit up for a 22nd NFL season and he made 87 percent of his field goals and made a decisive kick in a wild card victory at Baltimore. Unimpressed with Aaron Ellings Week 1 performance in 2004, the Titans turned to Anderson again, and he answered again. This time he made just 77 percent of his field goal tries for a team that finished 5-11. Neil ODonnell, quarterback (1999-02, 2003): He was invaluable as Steve McNairs backup for four seasons, but the Titans decided to go younger and cheaper when they elevated Billy Volek to that spot in 2003. ODonnell went almost the entire season without a contract, but Tennessee pulled him off the street in Week 16 after Volek was hurt. McNair was injured the next week, and at 37 years old ODonnell completed 18 of 27 passes for 232 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in a 33-13 season-ending victory over Tampa Bay. | Taja Sharpe played four games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2020 before he was released and then finished the campaign on Kansas Citys practice squad. In 2019, his last season with Tennessee, he was the primary backup at all three wide receiver spots. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/titans/news/tennessee-titans-nfl-free-agency-tajae-sharpe-worth-a-second-look | 0.14797 |
Should Massachusetts require all school districts to allow at least some inter-district school choice students to enroll? | Andrew Flowers Contributed photo School segregation issues run deep in Massachusetts. While the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) was intended as a short-term patch, the program has been striving for decades to address racial imbalances in our suburban schools, with limited impact. Our schools remain woefully segregated. We know that our children are growing up to be citizens of an increasingly diverse world. Segregated schools harm white and Black, indigenous, and children of color alike by creating insular communities that limit exposure to diverse cultures and experiences. Advertisement So its discouraging to see predominantly white school districts in the Boston suburbs opt out, year after year, from another existing, popular program in which school systems can welcome out-of-district students. The Legislature should require all districts to accept some students through the Inter-District School Choice program that has been on the books in Massachusetts since 1991, especially in areas that remain stubbornly segregated. School choice is a politically loaded term, applied broadly to include private school voucher programs in other states. Not so for this program. The choice is not between a private and public school; It simply gives parents the option to send their children to a public school in another district. Through the program, 14,403 students were enrolled in out-of-district schools in 2019-20, according to the Department of Education. That is more than four times the number of students in METCO. All districts are presumed to participate in the school choice program if they have enrollment space, but they can opt out annually. In the 2020-2021 school year, 168 districts were in the program while 151 opted out. But most of the opt-out districts are disproportionately wealthy suburban districts with few Black or Hispanic students, according to my analysis of state data. The opt-out provision undercuts the integration potential of this program. Advertisement One thing we know for certain is that there is a strong demand among families for sending their children to schools outside their own district, evidenced by the fact that for years there have been thousands of students on the waiting list for METCO. To encourage more diverse enrollments, participation in inter-district school choice should be mandatory. NO Brendan R. Walsh Former Salem School Committee member; former teacher, administrator in the Salem public schools; longtime member of Massachusetts Association of School Committees Brendan R. Walsh Contributed photo My primary objection to making school choice mandatory stems from my opposition to racial, linguistic, and/or economic segregation. What do such things have to do with a progressive idea like school choice? Everything! Racial, linguistic, and/or economic segregation are, in reality, the major accomplishments of school choice intended or not. The program effectively allows wealthier school districts to poach predominantly white, English-speaking middle to upper-middle-class students from districts that serve all students, including high numbers of students of color, immigrants, and children who are economically disadvantaged or have special needs. It encourages parents to abandon their local schools in the mistaken belief that their child will be attending school in a better school district. The concept of better is sold to people on the basis of MCAS scores, SAT scores, college acceptance percentages, and the like. Not stated are the many findings that standardized test scores most correlate with the socio-economic status of the test takers, not the quality of the schools. College attendance rates are also driven by individuals socioeconomic status. Higher education is often not considered an option in the homes of poor children of parents with little to no education experience of their own and meager financial resources. The children of better-off, highly educated parents grow up with collegiate expectations not tamped down by questions like How will we pay for it? Advertisement I also oppose mandating school choice from the perspective of a person who served his community as a teacher and administrator for 37 years and as a member of the school committee for 12 years. No other instrument of our democracy is closer to its clientele than an elected school committee. No other body is constantly targeted by a power-hungry state bureaucracy and politicians, state and local, who should know better. I suggest that if mandating school choice for all districts is a progressive idea, we really need to rethink what progressive policy is. Simply forcing more communities to take part in a program that does little to promote real integration in the classrooms is hardly a step toward a more equitable future. In fact, its a step backwards. As told to Globe correspondent John Laidler. To suggest a topic, please contact laidler@globe.com. This is not a scientific survey. Please only vote once. | Andrew Flowers: Massachusetts should require all school districts to allow inter-district school choice students. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/20/metro/should-massachusetts-require-all-school-districts-allow-least-some-inter-district-school-choice-students-enroll/ | 0.435284 |
Should Massachusetts require all school districts to allow at least some inter-district school choice students to enroll? | Andrew Flowers Contributed photo School segregation issues run deep in Massachusetts. While the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) was intended as a short-term patch, the program has been striving for decades to address racial imbalances in our suburban schools, with limited impact. Our schools remain woefully segregated. We know that our children are growing up to be citizens of an increasingly diverse world. Segregated schools harm white and Black, indigenous, and children of color alike by creating insular communities that limit exposure to diverse cultures and experiences. Advertisement So its discouraging to see predominantly white school districts in the Boston suburbs opt out, year after year, from another existing, popular program in which school systems can welcome out-of-district students. The Legislature should require all districts to accept some students through the Inter-District School Choice program that has been on the books in Massachusetts since 1991, especially in areas that remain stubbornly segregated. School choice is a politically loaded term, applied broadly to include private school voucher programs in other states. Not so for this program. The choice is not between a private and public school; It simply gives parents the option to send their children to a public school in another district. Through the program, 14,403 students were enrolled in out-of-district schools in 2019-20, according to the Department of Education. That is more than four times the number of students in METCO. All districts are presumed to participate in the school choice program if they have enrollment space, but they can opt out annually. In the 2020-2021 school year, 168 districts were in the program while 151 opted out. But most of the opt-out districts are disproportionately wealthy suburban districts with few Black or Hispanic students, according to my analysis of state data. The opt-out provision undercuts the integration potential of this program. Advertisement One thing we know for certain is that there is a strong demand among families for sending their children to schools outside their own district, evidenced by the fact that for years there have been thousands of students on the waiting list for METCO. To encourage more diverse enrollments, participation in inter-district school choice should be mandatory. NO Brendan R. Walsh Former Salem School Committee member; former teacher, administrator in the Salem public schools; longtime member of Massachusetts Association of School Committees Brendan R. Walsh Contributed photo My primary objection to making school choice mandatory stems from my opposition to racial, linguistic, and/or economic segregation. What do such things have to do with a progressive idea like school choice? Everything! Racial, linguistic, and/or economic segregation are, in reality, the major accomplishments of school choice intended or not. The program effectively allows wealthier school districts to poach predominantly white, English-speaking middle to upper-middle-class students from districts that serve all students, including high numbers of students of color, immigrants, and children who are economically disadvantaged or have special needs. It encourages parents to abandon their local schools in the mistaken belief that their child will be attending school in a better school district. The concept of better is sold to people on the basis of MCAS scores, SAT scores, college acceptance percentages, and the like. Not stated are the many findings that standardized test scores most correlate with the socio-economic status of the test takers, not the quality of the schools. College attendance rates are also driven by individuals socioeconomic status. Higher education is often not considered an option in the homes of poor children of parents with little to no education experience of their own and meager financial resources. The children of better-off, highly educated parents grow up with collegiate expectations not tamped down by questions like How will we pay for it? Advertisement I also oppose mandating school choice from the perspective of a person who served his community as a teacher and administrator for 37 years and as a member of the school committee for 12 years. No other instrument of our democracy is closer to its clientele than an elected school committee. No other body is constantly targeted by a power-hungry state bureaucracy and politicians, state and local, who should know better. I suggest that if mandating school choice for all districts is a progressive idea, we really need to rethink what progressive policy is. Simply forcing more communities to take part in a program that does little to promote real integration in the classrooms is hardly a step toward a more equitable future. In fact, its a step backwards. As told to Globe correspondent John Laidler. To suggest a topic, please contact laidler@globe.com. This is not a scientific survey. Please only vote once. | Andrew Flowers: Massachusetts should require all school districts to allow some inter-district school choice students to enroll. He says it's discouraging to see predominantly white school districts in the Boston suburbs opt out. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/20/metro/should-massachusetts-require-all-school-districts-allow-least-some-inter-district-school-choice-students-enroll/ | 0.53516 |
Should Massachusetts require all school districts to allow at least some inter-district school choice students to enroll? | Andrew Flowers Contributed photo School segregation issues run deep in Massachusetts. While the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) was intended as a short-term patch, the program has been striving for decades to address racial imbalances in our suburban schools, with limited impact. Our schools remain woefully segregated. We know that our children are growing up to be citizens of an increasingly diverse world. Segregated schools harm white and Black, indigenous, and children of color alike by creating insular communities that limit exposure to diverse cultures and experiences. Advertisement So its discouraging to see predominantly white school districts in the Boston suburbs opt out, year after year, from another existing, popular program in which school systems can welcome out-of-district students. The Legislature should require all districts to accept some students through the Inter-District School Choice program that has been on the books in Massachusetts since 1991, especially in areas that remain stubbornly segregated. School choice is a politically loaded term, applied broadly to include private school voucher programs in other states. Not so for this program. The choice is not between a private and public school; It simply gives parents the option to send their children to a public school in another district. Through the program, 14,403 students were enrolled in out-of-district schools in 2019-20, according to the Department of Education. That is more than four times the number of students in METCO. All districts are presumed to participate in the school choice program if they have enrollment space, but they can opt out annually. In the 2020-2021 school year, 168 districts were in the program while 151 opted out. But most of the opt-out districts are disproportionately wealthy suburban districts with few Black or Hispanic students, according to my analysis of state data. The opt-out provision undercuts the integration potential of this program. Advertisement One thing we know for certain is that there is a strong demand among families for sending their children to schools outside their own district, evidenced by the fact that for years there have been thousands of students on the waiting list for METCO. To encourage more diverse enrollments, participation in inter-district school choice should be mandatory. NO Brendan R. Walsh Former Salem School Committee member; former teacher, administrator in the Salem public schools; longtime member of Massachusetts Association of School Committees Brendan R. Walsh Contributed photo My primary objection to making school choice mandatory stems from my opposition to racial, linguistic, and/or economic segregation. What do such things have to do with a progressive idea like school choice? Everything! Racial, linguistic, and/or economic segregation are, in reality, the major accomplishments of school choice intended or not. The program effectively allows wealthier school districts to poach predominantly white, English-speaking middle to upper-middle-class students from districts that serve all students, including high numbers of students of color, immigrants, and children who are economically disadvantaged or have special needs. It encourages parents to abandon their local schools in the mistaken belief that their child will be attending school in a better school district. The concept of better is sold to people on the basis of MCAS scores, SAT scores, college acceptance percentages, and the like. Not stated are the many findings that standardized test scores most correlate with the socio-economic status of the test takers, not the quality of the schools. College attendance rates are also driven by individuals socioeconomic status. Higher education is often not considered an option in the homes of poor children of parents with little to no education experience of their own and meager financial resources. The children of better-off, highly educated parents grow up with collegiate expectations not tamped down by questions like How will we pay for it? Advertisement I also oppose mandating school choice from the perspective of a person who served his community as a teacher and administrator for 37 years and as a member of the school committee for 12 years. No other instrument of our democracy is closer to its clientele than an elected school committee. No other body is constantly targeted by a power-hungry state bureaucracy and politicians, state and local, who should know better. I suggest that if mandating school choice for all districts is a progressive idea, we really need to rethink what progressive policy is. Simply forcing more communities to take part in a program that does little to promote real integration in the classrooms is hardly a step toward a more equitable future. In fact, its a step backwards. As told to Globe correspondent John Laidler. To suggest a topic, please contact laidler@globe.com. This is not a scientific survey. Please only vote once. | Andrew Flowers: Massachusetts should require all school districts to allow some inter-district school choice students to enroll. He says it's discouraging to see predominantly white school districts in the Boston suburbs opt out, year after year, from another existing, popular program in which school systems can welcome out-of- District students. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/20/metro/should-massachusetts-require-all-school-districts-allow-least-some-inter-district-school-choice-students-enroll/ | 0.576338 |
Could Former Longhorns OT Samuel Cosmi Be Starting Week 1 in Washington? | Samuel Cosmi now will have the chance to win the right tackle role for the Washington Football Team Samuel Comsi won big when selected by the Washington Football Team last April with the No. 51 pick. Now, he could be winning the starting job come Week 1. Washington officially released offensive tackle Morgan Moses following the announcement he would be granted access to request a trade. The release of the veteran will now save WFT $7.75 million in salary-cap space and will only cost $1.9 million in dead cap room. The hope is now that Comsi can come in and take over in place of Moses prior to the start against Los Angeles come September. By all inclinations, Ron Rivera did not draft the former Longhorn to sit on the sidelines when other needs could have been addressed in Round 2. READ MORE: Texas Athletics Announces Plans To Return To 100-Percent Capacity At Outdoor Events Comsi was highly regarded for his athletic frame and superb footwork coming out of Austin. He will have the opportunity to earn first-team reps under the direction of veteran offensive line coach, John Matsko. Initially, some believed that Comsi would fight for snaps against Cornelius Lucas for the left tackle role while Moses held down the right side. Instead, the two likely are battling to be the replacement for Moses instead. Washington signed veteran Charles Leno Jr. following his release from the Chicago Bears earlier this month. He made 94 starts as a seventh-round pick in 2014 and stabilized the Bears' left side for nearly seven seasons. Lucas has more experience over Cosmi and played better overall than Leno in 2020. According to Pro Football Focus, Leno ranked 32nd among all offensive tackles while Lucas finished 23rd. No matter the formula though, it's clear Rivera sees Leno as the superior option. READ MORE: Longhorns Senior Jericho Sims Enters Name In 2021 NBA Draft As a three-year starter for the Longhorns, Cosmi also has experience playing the right side. During his first season in Austin, then-Texas coach Tom Herman played him at right tackle to help him transition to college speed and better become situated on the left side the following season. Cosmi only got better over the next season on the Forty Acres. He finished the 2020 season with a 90.7 pass-blocking grade, third-highest among all tackles in college football. His 86.4 run-blocking grade also is better than most right tackles already in the NFL. After the first few snaps, Cosmi looked the part of rookie camp, but anyone can seem fit when playing against air. The pressure will be on once training camp is underway and the snaps count towards the depth chart. With Moses now looking for a home, the expectation is for Cosmi to come in right away and contribute. Although a win on paper, the hope is it will also be a victory when it comes to production. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Sign up for your premium membership to LonghornsCountry.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook | Samuel Cosmi was drafted by the Washington Football Team in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Cosmi is expected to compete with Morgan Moses for the starting right tackle role. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/college/texas/longhorns-in-the-pros/could-former-texas-longhorns-ot-samuel-cosmi-be-starting-week-1-in-washington | 0.175085 |
Could Former Longhorns OT Samuel Cosmi Be Starting Week 1 in Washington? | Samuel Cosmi now will have the chance to win the right tackle role for the Washington Football Team Samuel Comsi won big when selected by the Washington Football Team last April with the No. 51 pick. Now, he could be winning the starting job come Week 1. Washington officially released offensive tackle Morgan Moses following the announcement he would be granted access to request a trade. The release of the veteran will now save WFT $7.75 million in salary-cap space and will only cost $1.9 million in dead cap room. The hope is now that Comsi can come in and take over in place of Moses prior to the start against Los Angeles come September. By all inclinations, Ron Rivera did not draft the former Longhorn to sit on the sidelines when other needs could have been addressed in Round 2. READ MORE: Texas Athletics Announces Plans To Return To 100-Percent Capacity At Outdoor Events Comsi was highly regarded for his athletic frame and superb footwork coming out of Austin. He will have the opportunity to earn first-team reps under the direction of veteran offensive line coach, John Matsko. Initially, some believed that Comsi would fight for snaps against Cornelius Lucas for the left tackle role while Moses held down the right side. Instead, the two likely are battling to be the replacement for Moses instead. Washington signed veteran Charles Leno Jr. following his release from the Chicago Bears earlier this month. He made 94 starts as a seventh-round pick in 2014 and stabilized the Bears' left side for nearly seven seasons. Lucas has more experience over Cosmi and played better overall than Leno in 2020. According to Pro Football Focus, Leno ranked 32nd among all offensive tackles while Lucas finished 23rd. No matter the formula though, it's clear Rivera sees Leno as the superior option. READ MORE: Longhorns Senior Jericho Sims Enters Name In 2021 NBA Draft As a three-year starter for the Longhorns, Cosmi also has experience playing the right side. During his first season in Austin, then-Texas coach Tom Herman played him at right tackle to help him transition to college speed and better become situated on the left side the following season. Cosmi only got better over the next season on the Forty Acres. He finished the 2020 season with a 90.7 pass-blocking grade, third-highest among all tackles in college football. His 86.4 run-blocking grade also is better than most right tackles already in the NFL. After the first few snaps, Cosmi looked the part of rookie camp, but anyone can seem fit when playing against air. The pressure will be on once training camp is underway and the snaps count towards the depth chart. With Moses now looking for a home, the expectation is for Cosmi to come in right away and contribute. Although a win on paper, the hope is it will also be a victory when it comes to production. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Sign up for your premium membership to LonghornsCountry.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook | Samuel Cosmi was drafted by the Washington Football Team in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Texas offensive tackle is expected to compete with Morgan Moses for the starting right tackle role. Cosmi is a three-year starter at right tackle for the Longhorns. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/texas/longhorns-in-the-pros/could-former-texas-longhorns-ot-samuel-cosmi-be-starting-week-1-in-washington | 0.247116 |
Which Royals Starter is Most Likely to Throw a No-Hitter? | Love it or hate it, a no-hit game is far more likely to happen now than it ever has before. Wednesday night, deep in the heart of Texas, New York Yankees starting pitcher Corey Kluber tossed an unprecedented sixth no-hitter of the young baseball season. Love it or hate it, a no-hit game is far more likely to happen now than it ever has before. League-wide batting averages are at a historic low and the pitchers today are taking advantage. If we are looking for some common themes (besides playing the Indians, Mariners & Rangers) that could help predict who will have a no-hitter we have to look at command and pitch variety. All in total from the 61 innings pitched in no-hit contests (including Arizona Diamondbacks' Madison Bumgarner's seven-inning no-hitter) there were a combined four walks. Although, it isnt just about locating one pitch and rolling with it. Both Kluber and Detroit Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull executed five different pitches during their no-hit games, keeping hitters guessing and off-balance even on their third plate appearances. But without further adieu, heres my list of likeliest candidates to throw the Royals' first no-no since Brett Saberhagen during the 1991 season. 4. Brad Keller Brad Keller does well with the utilization of different pitches, throwing a four-seam fastball just under 40% of his pitches and mixing in a sinker and slider with regularity. While he is good about pitching to contact, the average exit velocity of balls batted off of Keller is on the high side of the league and his WHIP of 1.84 makes it a little harder to see Keller going the distance with limited traffic on the bases. 3. Mike Minor Mike Minors last outing, a seven-inning, two-hit game, was a good glimpse at the kind of stuff he brings to the table when hes got it going on. Minor uses four pitches, his best of which might be his fastball. Not overpowering, but ranking in the 94th percentile for spin rate, Minor has a go-to pitch that could keep him ahead in counts and get him out of trouble. He is also good with limiting baserunners, ranking ahead of reigning AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber in WHIP and trailing the latest no-hit pitcher, Kluber, in the category by just .02 points. 2. Brady Singer Brady Singer has been a mixed bag this season, to say the least. However, Singer is heralded for his natural pitching talent and the filthy stuff he can produce. Singer flirted with the no-hitter last season, going eight and two thirds without allowing a hit against the Cleveland Indians. He doesnt allow a ton of hard-hit balls, ranking in the 85th percentile, and is ultra-competitive on the mound. His aggressive attitude to go at hitters coupled with his splendid splitter and a well-executed slider could prove dangerous for batters. 1. Danny Duffy No surprises here. The Royals ace is the most likely to complete a no-hit bid once returning from the injured list. Danny Duffy has been fantastic through the first month and a half of the season with an ERA of 1.94, good for seventh in the league among qualified starting pitchers. Duffy has the highest average pitches per start on the team and eats up the most innings by far of anyone on the staff. Duffy has been in command all season, issuing just 12 walks in 41.2 innings worked. He has the most in his repertoire among the Royals staff, throwing five types of pitches on a consistent basis. Duffy excels in whiff rate and in chase percentage, which allows him to record outs without giving the hitters many chances at a hittable pitch. Though Ive tried my best to accurately rank the most likely candidates to throw a no-hitter this season, the beauty of a no-hitter is that we never see it coming. I can't promise that there will be a Royals pitcher throw a no-hitter this season but in the words of the late, four-time All-Star Joaquin Andujar, You can sum up the game of baseball in just one word, you never know. | Royals ace Danny Duffy is the most likely to complete a no-hit bid once returning from the injured list. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/mlb/royals/opinion/which-royals-starter-is-most-likely-to-throw-a-no-hitter | 0.469311 |
Which Royals Starter is Most Likely to Throw a No-Hitter? | Love it or hate it, a no-hit game is far more likely to happen now than it ever has before. Wednesday night, deep in the heart of Texas, New York Yankees starting pitcher Corey Kluber tossed an unprecedented sixth no-hitter of the young baseball season. Love it or hate it, a no-hit game is far more likely to happen now than it ever has before. League-wide batting averages are at a historic low and the pitchers today are taking advantage. If we are looking for some common themes (besides playing the Indians, Mariners & Rangers) that could help predict who will have a no-hitter we have to look at command and pitch variety. All in total from the 61 innings pitched in no-hit contests (including Arizona Diamondbacks' Madison Bumgarner's seven-inning no-hitter) there were a combined four walks. Although, it isnt just about locating one pitch and rolling with it. Both Kluber and Detroit Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull executed five different pitches during their no-hit games, keeping hitters guessing and off-balance even on their third plate appearances. But without further adieu, heres my list of likeliest candidates to throw the Royals' first no-no since Brett Saberhagen during the 1991 season. 4. Brad Keller Brad Keller does well with the utilization of different pitches, throwing a four-seam fastball just under 40% of his pitches and mixing in a sinker and slider with regularity. While he is good about pitching to contact, the average exit velocity of balls batted off of Keller is on the high side of the league and his WHIP of 1.84 makes it a little harder to see Keller going the distance with limited traffic on the bases. 3. Mike Minor Mike Minors last outing, a seven-inning, two-hit game, was a good glimpse at the kind of stuff he brings to the table when hes got it going on. Minor uses four pitches, his best of which might be his fastball. Not overpowering, but ranking in the 94th percentile for spin rate, Minor has a go-to pitch that could keep him ahead in counts and get him out of trouble. He is also good with limiting baserunners, ranking ahead of reigning AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber in WHIP and trailing the latest no-hit pitcher, Kluber, in the category by just .02 points. 2. Brady Singer Brady Singer has been a mixed bag this season, to say the least. However, Singer is heralded for his natural pitching talent and the filthy stuff he can produce. Singer flirted with the no-hitter last season, going eight and two thirds without allowing a hit against the Cleveland Indians. He doesnt allow a ton of hard-hit balls, ranking in the 85th percentile, and is ultra-competitive on the mound. His aggressive attitude to go at hitters coupled with his splendid splitter and a well-executed slider could prove dangerous for batters. 1. Danny Duffy No surprises here. The Royals ace is the most likely to complete a no-hit bid once returning from the injured list. Danny Duffy has been fantastic through the first month and a half of the season with an ERA of 1.94, good for seventh in the league among qualified starting pitchers. Duffy has the highest average pitches per start on the team and eats up the most innings by far of anyone on the staff. Duffy has been in command all season, issuing just 12 walks in 41.2 innings worked. He has the most in his repertoire among the Royals staff, throwing five types of pitches on a consistent basis. Duffy excels in whiff rate and in chase percentage, which allows him to record outs without giving the hitters many chances at a hittable pitch. Though Ive tried my best to accurately rank the most likely candidates to throw a no-hitter this season, the beauty of a no-hitter is that we never see it coming. I can't promise that there will be a Royals pitcher throw a no-hitter this season but in the words of the late, four-time All-Star Joaquin Andujar, You can sum up the game of baseball in just one word, you never know. | Royals ace Danny Duffy is the most likely to complete a no-hit bid once returning from the injured list. Duffy has the most in his repertoire among the Royals staff, throwing five types of pitches. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/mlb/royals/opinion/which-royals-starter-is-most-likely-to-throw-a-no-hitter | 0.524557 |
Which Royals Starter is Most Likely to Throw a No-Hitter? | Love it or hate it, a no-hit game is far more likely to happen now than it ever has before. Wednesday night, deep in the heart of Texas, New York Yankees starting pitcher Corey Kluber tossed an unprecedented sixth no-hitter of the young baseball season. Love it or hate it, a no-hit game is far more likely to happen now than it ever has before. League-wide batting averages are at a historic low and the pitchers today are taking advantage. If we are looking for some common themes (besides playing the Indians, Mariners & Rangers) that could help predict who will have a no-hitter we have to look at command and pitch variety. All in total from the 61 innings pitched in no-hit contests (including Arizona Diamondbacks' Madison Bumgarner's seven-inning no-hitter) there were a combined four walks. Although, it isnt just about locating one pitch and rolling with it. Both Kluber and Detroit Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull executed five different pitches during their no-hit games, keeping hitters guessing and off-balance even on their third plate appearances. But without further adieu, heres my list of likeliest candidates to throw the Royals' first no-no since Brett Saberhagen during the 1991 season. 4. Brad Keller Brad Keller does well with the utilization of different pitches, throwing a four-seam fastball just under 40% of his pitches and mixing in a sinker and slider with regularity. While he is good about pitching to contact, the average exit velocity of balls batted off of Keller is on the high side of the league and his WHIP of 1.84 makes it a little harder to see Keller going the distance with limited traffic on the bases. 3. Mike Minor Mike Minors last outing, a seven-inning, two-hit game, was a good glimpse at the kind of stuff he brings to the table when hes got it going on. Minor uses four pitches, his best of which might be his fastball. Not overpowering, but ranking in the 94th percentile for spin rate, Minor has a go-to pitch that could keep him ahead in counts and get him out of trouble. He is also good with limiting baserunners, ranking ahead of reigning AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber in WHIP and trailing the latest no-hit pitcher, Kluber, in the category by just .02 points. 2. Brady Singer Brady Singer has been a mixed bag this season, to say the least. However, Singer is heralded for his natural pitching talent and the filthy stuff he can produce. Singer flirted with the no-hitter last season, going eight and two thirds without allowing a hit against the Cleveland Indians. He doesnt allow a ton of hard-hit balls, ranking in the 85th percentile, and is ultra-competitive on the mound. His aggressive attitude to go at hitters coupled with his splendid splitter and a well-executed slider could prove dangerous for batters. 1. Danny Duffy No surprises here. The Royals ace is the most likely to complete a no-hit bid once returning from the injured list. Danny Duffy has been fantastic through the first month and a half of the season with an ERA of 1.94, good for seventh in the league among qualified starting pitchers. Duffy has the highest average pitches per start on the team and eats up the most innings by far of anyone on the staff. Duffy has been in command all season, issuing just 12 walks in 41.2 innings worked. He has the most in his repertoire among the Royals staff, throwing five types of pitches on a consistent basis. Duffy excels in whiff rate and in chase percentage, which allows him to record outs without giving the hitters many chances at a hittable pitch. Though Ive tried my best to accurately rank the most likely candidates to throw a no-hitter this season, the beauty of a no-hitter is that we never see it coming. I can't promise that there will be a Royals pitcher throw a no-hitter this season but in the words of the late, four-time All-Star Joaquin Andujar, You can sum up the game of baseball in just one word, you never know. | Royals ace Danny Duffy is the most likely to complete a no-hit bid once returning from the injured list. Duffy has the highest average pitches per start on the team and eats up the most innings by far of anyone on the staff. The Royals face the Indians, Mariners and Rangers this week. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/mlb/royals/opinion/which-royals-starter-is-most-likely-to-throw-a-no-hitter | 0.615567 |
Should the 49ers Trade for Julio Jones? | The 49ers could use another receiver outside of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. The Falcons have been known to want to get their salary cap back to a respectable level, which is why Jones is available as a trade candidate. One team that could be a destination for Jones is the 49ers. They were mentioned as a trade candidate by Jeff Schultz of The Athletic in his most recent article regarding a Jones trade. Jones is undoubtedly a Hall of Fame player. Watching him wreak havoc on the league year after year has been a sight to see. Adding him to the 49ers offense would improve it. However, the cost to get Jones is concerning. Not only is draft capital a concern for a team that will be missing its first-round picks the next two seasons, but the cap cost from acquiring Jones. His cap hit in 2021 is $15.3 million, then $11.5 million in 2022 and 2023. For an aging player who no longer has trajectory, that is quite a sum to get him. The only way a trade for Jones makes sense is if the 49ers cut Jimmy Garoppolo. Lance will assuredly start at some point in 2021. Paying Garoppolo his high salary as a backup with Jones would be insane. Both of their contracts cannot exist on the team. If the 49ers acquire Jones, then it makes even more sense to start Trey Lance right away. He will have all the talent in the world surrounding him to ensure his success and reduce as many mistakes as possible. This is the only way a trade for Jones makes sense because the 49ers do not need another wide receiver. I get that it is Jones, but the guy missed seven games last season and is 32-years old this season. His primetime days are over, and perhaps even his consistent availability. The 49ers entered the draft with a new grading process to avoid and reduce as many injury situations for the future. They do not want to sniff anywhere near the injuries as they did in 2020. Acquiring Jones would contradict their new page in the book of how they view players and their injuries. Wide receiver is not a crucial position of need, anyway. That is the one position where Kyle Shanahan can manufacture production. They do not need to sacrifice precious cap space for a declining star. Plus, the chances are that the 49ers will have to enter in a bidding war with another team. Once that happens, a second- or third-round pick for Jones goes out of the window. The Falcons are going to want to squeeze as much out of a team as possible. This does not behoove the 49ers for this aging star. They're already the second-oldest team in the NFL. That is pretty absurd. The 49ers are a bigger-picture franchise and it is tough to envision a future where Jones is still playing at a high level for the vast majority of a season. Trade for Jones if and only if Garoppolo is out of the picture. Other than that, he isn't worth the 49ers' time. | The 49ers could use another receiver outside of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. One team that could be a destination for Jones is the 49ers. The cost to get Jones is concerning. The only way a trade for Jones makes sense is if the 49ers cut Jimmy Garoppolo. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/should-the-49ers-trade-for-julio-jones | 0.154059 |
Should the Chiefs Trade for Julio Jones? | The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly looking to trade away star wide receiver Julio Jones. The Arrowhead Report roundtable reconvenes to answer that question. Tucker Franklin: I don't think there is anyone in Chiefs Kingdom fully against Kansas City adding another dynamic talent at wide receiver. It's still the one position group in need of a talent infusion. The Falcons aren't likely to part with their star receiver for chump change and Jones brings along a large cap hit. With the Falcons in the early stages of a rebuild, they're going to want to get as many draft picks as possible in return for Jones. The Chiefs would likely have to give up at least a first-round pick and a combination of a second- or third-round selection with a later pick as well. I don't think so. Kansas City only has an estimated $7 million left in cap space for 2021. That's going to take some work from general manager Brett Veach. And while he hasn't missed time, Jones has certainly been on the injury report a decent amount. Not to mention that Jones is 32 and will turn 33 in February. Absolutely. Nope. Not at all. Jordan Foote: In taking on significant cap hits for each of the final years of Julio Jones's contract in addition to forfeiting draft compensation, the Chiefs would undoubtedly be making a sacrifice in order to acquire the future Hall of Fame wide receiver. A Tyrann Mathieu extension would generate quite a bit of immediate cap relief but even then, Tyreek Hill is due for a renewed deal in the near future as well. By adding Jones, one of the more top-heavy rosters in the league would be investing more money into star players and possibly be losing a first-round pick in the process. With Jones's recent production and injury history, its worth questioning whether giving up significant draft capital would be a wise move by the Chiefs especially given the fact that adding productive players on rookie contracts will be critical for Veach and company moving forward. Jones would be so much fun in Kansas City, but the money and draft picks have to be right in order for a trade to get a vote of confidence from me. Taylor Witt: The Chiefs are in a position that most organizations in sports strive to be: championship or bust. Trading for Jones would be the final piece in the puzzle for assembling the best roster in football, with the greatest chance of winning a ring. That's the end goal. No price in draft picks or player salary is too high to get Julio Jones to Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs have had one first-round pick in the last four drafts, so I don't want to hear anything about the team needing their picks. What they need is rings, and Jones would all but guarantee that outcome. With their rebuilt offensive line, they would have a legitimate case as being the best offense of all time. Sign me up for that 10 times out of 10. Conner Christopherson: If the Chiefs are all-in on winning this year, then trading for Jones does make some sense. Without a standout XWR on the roster, Jones would fit right into that hole and give the Chiefs one of the most dynamic offenses of all time. It is hard to not want to see Jones, Hill and Travis Kelce on the same field at once. However, beyond the on-the-field implications, the trade starts to make less sense. Any team trading for Jones will have to pick up a $15.3 million price tag in 2021. With around $7.5 million in salary cap space currently, the Chiefs would have to make a fair bit of room. Jones is also on the wrong side of 30 and has had his share of wear and tear over the years. While his price tag for the next two years is manageable and the price seems to be less than a first-rounder, it is hard to see the move being smart for the Chiefs. If the asking price is low enough it could make sense. Unequivocally, yes. Heck yes. Probably not. Julio has been a beast when healthy, but he has suffered through some injury issues the past few years. Assuming the Falcons wouldn't eat the majority of the contract, his price tag should factor in as well. If you can give up a third-rounder in 2022 and maybe late-round pick swaps in 2023 for Jones, I would definitely consider it. Thinking about Patrick Mahomes having the options to throw it to Hill, Kelce or Jones seems like video game silliness, and Id be here for it! Jacob Harris: Yeah, fine, go ahead. I give my approval. | The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly looking to trade star wide receiver Julio Jones. The Kansas City Chiefs would have to give up a first-round pick in exchange for Jones. Jones has two years left on his contract and will turn 33 in February. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/gm-report/should-the-kansas-city-chiefs-trade-for-wide-receiver-julio-jones | 0.187961 |
Should the Chiefs Trade for Julio Jones? | The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly looking to trade away star wide receiver Julio Jones. The Arrowhead Report roundtable reconvenes to answer that question. Tucker Franklin: I don't think there is anyone in Chiefs Kingdom fully against Kansas City adding another dynamic talent at wide receiver. It's still the one position group in need of a talent infusion. The Falcons aren't likely to part with their star receiver for chump change and Jones brings along a large cap hit. With the Falcons in the early stages of a rebuild, they're going to want to get as many draft picks as possible in return for Jones. The Chiefs would likely have to give up at least a first-round pick and a combination of a second- or third-round selection with a later pick as well. I don't think so. Kansas City only has an estimated $7 million left in cap space for 2021. That's going to take some work from general manager Brett Veach. And while he hasn't missed time, Jones has certainly been on the injury report a decent amount. Not to mention that Jones is 32 and will turn 33 in February. Absolutely. Nope. Not at all. Jordan Foote: In taking on significant cap hits for each of the final years of Julio Jones's contract in addition to forfeiting draft compensation, the Chiefs would undoubtedly be making a sacrifice in order to acquire the future Hall of Fame wide receiver. A Tyrann Mathieu extension would generate quite a bit of immediate cap relief but even then, Tyreek Hill is due for a renewed deal in the near future as well. By adding Jones, one of the more top-heavy rosters in the league would be investing more money into star players and possibly be losing a first-round pick in the process. With Jones's recent production and injury history, its worth questioning whether giving up significant draft capital would be a wise move by the Chiefs especially given the fact that adding productive players on rookie contracts will be critical for Veach and company moving forward. Jones would be so much fun in Kansas City, but the money and draft picks have to be right in order for a trade to get a vote of confidence from me. Taylor Witt: The Chiefs are in a position that most organizations in sports strive to be: championship or bust. Trading for Jones would be the final piece in the puzzle for assembling the best roster in football, with the greatest chance of winning a ring. That's the end goal. No price in draft picks or player salary is too high to get Julio Jones to Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs have had one first-round pick in the last four drafts, so I don't want to hear anything about the team needing their picks. What they need is rings, and Jones would all but guarantee that outcome. With their rebuilt offensive line, they would have a legitimate case as being the best offense of all time. Sign me up for that 10 times out of 10. Conner Christopherson: If the Chiefs are all-in on winning this year, then trading for Jones does make some sense. Without a standout XWR on the roster, Jones would fit right into that hole and give the Chiefs one of the most dynamic offenses of all time. It is hard to not want to see Jones, Hill and Travis Kelce on the same field at once. However, beyond the on-the-field implications, the trade starts to make less sense. Any team trading for Jones will have to pick up a $15.3 million price tag in 2021. With around $7.5 million in salary cap space currently, the Chiefs would have to make a fair bit of room. Jones is also on the wrong side of 30 and has had his share of wear and tear over the years. While his price tag for the next two years is manageable and the price seems to be less than a first-rounder, it is hard to see the move being smart for the Chiefs. If the asking price is low enough it could make sense. Unequivocally, yes. Heck yes. Probably not. Julio has been a beast when healthy, but he has suffered through some injury issues the past few years. Assuming the Falcons wouldn't eat the majority of the contract, his price tag should factor in as well. If you can give up a third-rounder in 2022 and maybe late-round pick swaps in 2023 for Jones, I would definitely consider it. Thinking about Patrick Mahomes having the options to throw it to Hill, Kelce or Jones seems like video game silliness, and Id be here for it! Jacob Harris: Yeah, fine, go ahead. I give my approval. | The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly looking to trade away star wide receiver Julio Jones. The Chiefs would likely have to give up at least a first-round pick and a combination of a second- or third-round selection with a later pick as well. Any team trading for Jones will have to pick up a $15.3 million price tag in 2021. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/gm-report/should-the-kansas-city-chiefs-trade-for-wide-receiver-julio-jones | 0.16964 |
Could the Vikings Have a Top 10 Offense and a Top 10 Defense in 2021? | The Vikings are an exciting team because of their ceiling on both sides of the ball. Since it's May and that means it's time for optimism, allow me to drive the Vikings hype train a little bit by saying this: there's a realistic chance Minnesota could have both a top-ten offense and a top-ten defense in 2021. That would presumably result in being a legitimate contender in the NFC. The offense doesn't require much explanation given that the Vikings were just a top-ten unit on that side of the ball last season (fourth in yards per game, 11th in EPA per play, eighth in DVOA). The four key skill position weapons are still around in Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen. Irv Smith Jr. will be just 23 years old this season and is a breakout candidate in year three. And most importantly, the Vikings might actually have a league-average offensive line this year with rookie starters Christian Darrisaw and Wyatt Davis. Garrett Bradbury is another year three breakout candidate with the best guard situation (Davis and Ezra Cleveland) that he's had next to him during his NFL career. Regression and injuries are obviously possible, and losing either Cousins or Jefferson for a long time would be borderline impossible to overcome. The O-line being fixed is also no sure thing. But on paper, this absolutely looks like it could be a top-ten unit once again with Klint Kubiak leading the way. Cynthia Frelund of NFL.com recently ranked her top ten offenses for 2021, with the Vikings coming in at No. 8. Don't sleep on the Vikings this season. The addition of Christian Darrisaw with the No. 23 pick last month addressed a real problem that matters for this style of offense and how Kirk Cousins executes it. Minnesota ranked 23rd last season when it came to its rate of sacks per pass attempt (7.6%). Basically, when defenses had a good sense the Vikings were passing, pressure increased and Minnesota's efficiency went down. One way to see this is that the Vikings ranked 16th on third down (40.9 percent conversation rate) despite having the third-most earned first downs per game (23.9). With a rushing average of 4.9 yards per attempt (fourth in the NFL) and a passing figure of 8.3 yards per attempt (second), the Vikes were creating the right opportunities and making the most of them, just not keeping the sequencing efficient enough. Then there's the defensive side of the ball, where the Vikings were awful last season. Mike Zimmer called it the worst defense he's ever had, and he was right. Minnesota finished towards the bottom of the league in virtually every category. But as Vikings fans know, there's a lot of context needed. Just take a look at this graphic showing the team's starting defense last December and its projected starters this fall. Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce didn't play at all last year, and Anthony Barr was done after one game. Eric Kendricks missed the last month-plus. Then the Vikings went out and added Dalvin Tomlinson, Patrick Peterson, and Mackensie Alexander in free agency, while only slightly downgrading from Anthony Harris to Xavier Woods at the safety spot opposite Harrison Smith. Jeff Gladney's legal situation is unfortunate, but Cameron Dantzler showed signs of being a legit No. 1 corner last year and has added some weight this offseason. Third-round draft picks Chazz Surratt and Patrick Jones II might even be able to help out a little as rookies. There are still valid reasons to be concerned about the pass rush (Hunter is coming off injury and there's a lack of proven options behind him) and the cornerback situation (Peterson bouncing back isn't a lock), but it's also not too difficult to imagine Mike Zimmer turning this into a standout defense once again. 2020 was a major aberration for Zimmer. And hey, don't just take it from me. Bleacher Report's recent power rankings of every NFL defense put the Vikings at No. 10. These are both optimistic outlooks, there's no doubt about that. But it's not unrealistic to think that if a few things break right, the Vikings could have a top-ten unit on both sides of the ball. As for the special teams... Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there. | There's a realistic chance Minnesota could have both a top-ten offense and a top-ten defense in 2021. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/could-vikings-have-top-10-offense-and-top-10-defense-in-2021 | 0.459703 |
Could the Vikings Have a Top 10 Offense and a Top 10 Defense in 2021? | The Vikings are an exciting team because of their ceiling on both sides of the ball. Since it's May and that means it's time for optimism, allow me to drive the Vikings hype train a little bit by saying this: there's a realistic chance Minnesota could have both a top-ten offense and a top-ten defense in 2021. That would presumably result in being a legitimate contender in the NFC. The offense doesn't require much explanation given that the Vikings were just a top-ten unit on that side of the ball last season (fourth in yards per game, 11th in EPA per play, eighth in DVOA). The four key skill position weapons are still around in Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen. Irv Smith Jr. will be just 23 years old this season and is a breakout candidate in year three. And most importantly, the Vikings might actually have a league-average offensive line this year with rookie starters Christian Darrisaw and Wyatt Davis. Garrett Bradbury is another year three breakout candidate with the best guard situation (Davis and Ezra Cleveland) that he's had next to him during his NFL career. Regression and injuries are obviously possible, and losing either Cousins or Jefferson for a long time would be borderline impossible to overcome. The O-line being fixed is also no sure thing. But on paper, this absolutely looks like it could be a top-ten unit once again with Klint Kubiak leading the way. Cynthia Frelund of NFL.com recently ranked her top ten offenses for 2021, with the Vikings coming in at No. 8. Don't sleep on the Vikings this season. The addition of Christian Darrisaw with the No. 23 pick last month addressed a real problem that matters for this style of offense and how Kirk Cousins executes it. Minnesota ranked 23rd last season when it came to its rate of sacks per pass attempt (7.6%). Basically, when defenses had a good sense the Vikings were passing, pressure increased and Minnesota's efficiency went down. One way to see this is that the Vikings ranked 16th on third down (40.9 percent conversation rate) despite having the third-most earned first downs per game (23.9). With a rushing average of 4.9 yards per attempt (fourth in the NFL) and a passing figure of 8.3 yards per attempt (second), the Vikes were creating the right opportunities and making the most of them, just not keeping the sequencing efficient enough. Then there's the defensive side of the ball, where the Vikings were awful last season. Mike Zimmer called it the worst defense he's ever had, and he was right. Minnesota finished towards the bottom of the league in virtually every category. But as Vikings fans know, there's a lot of context needed. Just take a look at this graphic showing the team's starting defense last December and its projected starters this fall. Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce didn't play at all last year, and Anthony Barr was done after one game. Eric Kendricks missed the last month-plus. Then the Vikings went out and added Dalvin Tomlinson, Patrick Peterson, and Mackensie Alexander in free agency, while only slightly downgrading from Anthony Harris to Xavier Woods at the safety spot opposite Harrison Smith. Jeff Gladney's legal situation is unfortunate, but Cameron Dantzler showed signs of being a legit No. 1 corner last year and has added some weight this offseason. Third-round draft picks Chazz Surratt and Patrick Jones II might even be able to help out a little as rookies. There are still valid reasons to be concerned about the pass rush (Hunter is coming off injury and there's a lack of proven options behind him) and the cornerback situation (Peterson bouncing back isn't a lock), but it's also not too difficult to imagine Mike Zimmer turning this into a standout defense once again. 2020 was a major aberration for Zimmer. And hey, don't just take it from me. Bleacher Report's recent power rankings of every NFL defense put the Vikings at No. 10. These are both optimistic outlooks, there's no doubt about that. But it's not unrealistic to think that if a few things break right, the Vikings could have a top-ten unit on both sides of the ball. As for the special teams... Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there. | The Vikings are an exciting team because of their ceiling on both sides of the ball. There's a realistic chance Minnesota could have both a top-ten offense and a top-ten defense in 2021. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/could-vikings-have-top-10-offense-and-top-10-defense-in-2021 | 0.515437 |
Could the Vikings Have a Top 10 Offense and a Top 10 Defense in 2021? | The Vikings are an exciting team because of their ceiling on both sides of the ball. Since it's May and that means it's time for optimism, allow me to drive the Vikings hype train a little bit by saying this: there's a realistic chance Minnesota could have both a top-ten offense and a top-ten defense in 2021. That would presumably result in being a legitimate contender in the NFC. The offense doesn't require much explanation given that the Vikings were just a top-ten unit on that side of the ball last season (fourth in yards per game, 11th in EPA per play, eighth in DVOA). The four key skill position weapons are still around in Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen. Irv Smith Jr. will be just 23 years old this season and is a breakout candidate in year three. And most importantly, the Vikings might actually have a league-average offensive line this year with rookie starters Christian Darrisaw and Wyatt Davis. Garrett Bradbury is another year three breakout candidate with the best guard situation (Davis and Ezra Cleveland) that he's had next to him during his NFL career. Regression and injuries are obviously possible, and losing either Cousins or Jefferson for a long time would be borderline impossible to overcome. The O-line being fixed is also no sure thing. But on paper, this absolutely looks like it could be a top-ten unit once again with Klint Kubiak leading the way. Cynthia Frelund of NFL.com recently ranked her top ten offenses for 2021, with the Vikings coming in at No. 8. Don't sleep on the Vikings this season. The addition of Christian Darrisaw with the No. 23 pick last month addressed a real problem that matters for this style of offense and how Kirk Cousins executes it. Minnesota ranked 23rd last season when it came to its rate of sacks per pass attempt (7.6%). Basically, when defenses had a good sense the Vikings were passing, pressure increased and Minnesota's efficiency went down. One way to see this is that the Vikings ranked 16th on third down (40.9 percent conversation rate) despite having the third-most earned first downs per game (23.9). With a rushing average of 4.9 yards per attempt (fourth in the NFL) and a passing figure of 8.3 yards per attempt (second), the Vikes were creating the right opportunities and making the most of them, just not keeping the sequencing efficient enough. Then there's the defensive side of the ball, where the Vikings were awful last season. Mike Zimmer called it the worst defense he's ever had, and he was right. Minnesota finished towards the bottom of the league in virtually every category. But as Vikings fans know, there's a lot of context needed. Just take a look at this graphic showing the team's starting defense last December and its projected starters this fall. Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce didn't play at all last year, and Anthony Barr was done after one game. Eric Kendricks missed the last month-plus. Then the Vikings went out and added Dalvin Tomlinson, Patrick Peterson, and Mackensie Alexander in free agency, while only slightly downgrading from Anthony Harris to Xavier Woods at the safety spot opposite Harrison Smith. Jeff Gladney's legal situation is unfortunate, but Cameron Dantzler showed signs of being a legit No. 1 corner last year and has added some weight this offseason. Third-round draft picks Chazz Surratt and Patrick Jones II might even be able to help out a little as rookies. There are still valid reasons to be concerned about the pass rush (Hunter is coming off injury and there's a lack of proven options behind him) and the cornerback situation (Peterson bouncing back isn't a lock), but it's also not too difficult to imagine Mike Zimmer turning this into a standout defense once again. 2020 was a major aberration for Zimmer. And hey, don't just take it from me. Bleacher Report's recent power rankings of every NFL defense put the Vikings at No. 10. These are both optimistic outlooks, there's no doubt about that. But it's not unrealistic to think that if a few things break right, the Vikings could have a top-ten unit on both sides of the ball. As for the special teams... Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there. | The Vikings are an exciting team because of their ceiling on both sides of the ball. There's a realistic chance Minnesota could have both a top-ten offense and a top-ten defense in 2021. The Vikings were just a top-ten unit on that side of the ball last season. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/could-vikings-have-top-10-offense-and-top-10-defense-in-2021 | 0.55123 |
Should Phoenix Suns give rookie Jalen Smith opportunity against size of defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers? | Phoenix Suns General Manager James Jones had the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Deandre Ayton in mind when drafting Jalen Smith out of Maryland. "I'm looking forward to seeing those two guys anchoring the floor together, even if it's for stints," said Jones after the 2020 NBA Draft about Smith and Ayton. "We talk about teams like the Lakers, those are teams that have great size, skill and versatility. You talk about teams like Denver, they have great size, skill and versatility. And so we'll have to match and exceed that if we want to continue this journey that we're on to become a powerhouse in the West." Six months and 51 wins later, Phoenix has made the come up in finishing with the NBA's second-best record, but will open its first playoff run in 11 years against the Lakers and all their size of Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol with Smith hardly being a factor going into the postseason. The 10th overall pick only averaged two points and 1.4 rebounds in 27 games as he dealt with an ankle injury early in the season, had a bout with COVID-19 and spent time in the G-League. If the Suns were able to pull off the upset they're the first second-seed underdog in the first round in NBA playoff history they'd play the Portland-Denver winner in the Western Conference semifinals. The Nuggets have leading-MVP candidate, 6-11 Nikola Jokic, as well as 7-footer JaVale McGee, 6-10 Michael Porter Jr., 6-9 JaMychal Green and 6-8 Paul Millsap. So Phoenix may have to go through the two teams Jones noted when talking about Smith just to reach the conference finals. Smith did show signs of his potential in the final regular season game, though, which created a little buzz that he may see some action in the playoffs. Getting his first career start, Smith posted his first career double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in 41 minutes, all career highs, in helping Phoenix win a 123-121 thriller Sunday at San Antonio. "That game should give him confidence he can play in an NBA game," Suns coach Monty Williams said. The performance also led to Williams fielding questions about whether Smith has earned playing time in the postseason. Williams said any player who puts the work in has a chance to play, but put some reality on the idea of Smith possibly playing in the playoffs. "I'll throw anybody in the game if I feel like they can help us win, but for him, we don't want to get carried away," Williams said. "He's had one game, but he's worked his butt off all year long. To be a high pick like that and not play as much as your contemporaries is hard. There are a lot of people in his class that have done a lot more than he has done, but to have a game like on the last game of the season, that has to give him a lot of confidence not just in that game, but in the work that he's putting in." So Phoenix will likely continue to give 6-10 Dario Saric and 7-footer Frank Kaminsky III minutes at the backup four and five against the Lakers. Forward Torrey Craig, who at 6-7 and 221 pounds has shown the ability to guard bigger players, may see some spot duty defending Davis or Harrell, but Ayton will have to lead the inside presence for the Suns. Ayton missed Phoenix's last three games with left knee soreness, but that didn't stop him from celebrating one of Smith's second-half dunks by sprinting in the area behind the basket. Well, maybe not sprinting. "Depends on what you consider a sprint," Ayton said. "I was creep walking a little bit." All joking aside, Ayton said he's been doing therapy and rehab on the knee, gained confidence from Wednesday's practice and expects to play Sunday. "I'm A OK, ready to go," Ayton said. "I feel great." Ayton also said he could've played if those were playoff games. "I would've pushed through and tried my best, but we kept it safe and did what we had to do to get me back on the floor fully healthy," Ayton said. Even with a healthier Ayton, Phoenix still is undermanned inside. Had Smith become the contributor Jones envisioned going into the season, the Suns would be better suited to handle Davis, Drummond, Harrell and Gasol to start the playoffs but like Williams said, he'll play anybody who he feels can help them win. So maybe Smith will get that chance starting Sunday in Phoenix. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin. Support local journalism. Start your online subscription. | Phoenix Suns rookie Jalen Smith hasn't played much in the regular season. The 10th overall pick is expected to start against the Los Angeles Lakers. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2021/05/21/should-suns-give-rookie-jalen-smith-opportunity-against-size-lakers/5187872001/ | 0.31091 |
Should Phoenix Suns give rookie Jalen Smith opportunity against size of defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers? | Phoenix Suns General Manager James Jones had the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Deandre Ayton in mind when drafting Jalen Smith out of Maryland. "I'm looking forward to seeing those two guys anchoring the floor together, even if it's for stints," said Jones after the 2020 NBA Draft about Smith and Ayton. "We talk about teams like the Lakers, those are teams that have great size, skill and versatility. You talk about teams like Denver, they have great size, skill and versatility. And so we'll have to match and exceed that if we want to continue this journey that we're on to become a powerhouse in the West." Six months and 51 wins later, Phoenix has made the come up in finishing with the NBA's second-best record, but will open its first playoff run in 11 years against the Lakers and all their size of Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol with Smith hardly being a factor going into the postseason. The 10th overall pick only averaged two points and 1.4 rebounds in 27 games as he dealt with an ankle injury early in the season, had a bout with COVID-19 and spent time in the G-League. If the Suns were able to pull off the upset they're the first second-seed underdog in the first round in NBA playoff history they'd play the Portland-Denver winner in the Western Conference semifinals. The Nuggets have leading-MVP candidate, 6-11 Nikola Jokic, as well as 7-footer JaVale McGee, 6-10 Michael Porter Jr., 6-9 JaMychal Green and 6-8 Paul Millsap. So Phoenix may have to go through the two teams Jones noted when talking about Smith just to reach the conference finals. Smith did show signs of his potential in the final regular season game, though, which created a little buzz that he may see some action in the playoffs. Getting his first career start, Smith posted his first career double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in 41 minutes, all career highs, in helping Phoenix win a 123-121 thriller Sunday at San Antonio. "That game should give him confidence he can play in an NBA game," Suns coach Monty Williams said. The performance also led to Williams fielding questions about whether Smith has earned playing time in the postseason. Williams said any player who puts the work in has a chance to play, but put some reality on the idea of Smith possibly playing in the playoffs. "I'll throw anybody in the game if I feel like they can help us win, but for him, we don't want to get carried away," Williams said. "He's had one game, but he's worked his butt off all year long. To be a high pick like that and not play as much as your contemporaries is hard. There are a lot of people in his class that have done a lot more than he has done, but to have a game like on the last game of the season, that has to give him a lot of confidence not just in that game, but in the work that he's putting in." So Phoenix will likely continue to give 6-10 Dario Saric and 7-footer Frank Kaminsky III minutes at the backup four and five against the Lakers. Forward Torrey Craig, who at 6-7 and 221 pounds has shown the ability to guard bigger players, may see some spot duty defending Davis or Harrell, but Ayton will have to lead the inside presence for the Suns. Ayton missed Phoenix's last three games with left knee soreness, but that didn't stop him from celebrating one of Smith's second-half dunks by sprinting in the area behind the basket. Well, maybe not sprinting. "Depends on what you consider a sprint," Ayton said. "I was creep walking a little bit." All joking aside, Ayton said he's been doing therapy and rehab on the knee, gained confidence from Wednesday's practice and expects to play Sunday. "I'm A OK, ready to go," Ayton said. "I feel great." Ayton also said he could've played if those were playoff games. "I would've pushed through and tried my best, but we kept it safe and did what we had to do to get me back on the floor fully healthy," Ayton said. Even with a healthier Ayton, Phoenix still is undermanned inside. Had Smith become the contributor Jones envisioned going into the season, the Suns would be better suited to handle Davis, Drummond, Harrell and Gasol to start the playoffs but like Williams said, he'll play anybody who he feels can help them win. So maybe Smith will get that chance starting Sunday in Phoenix. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin. Support local journalism. Start your online subscription. | Phoenix Suns rookie Jalen Smith hasn't played much in the regular season. The 10th overall pick is expected to start against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2021/05/21/should-suns-give-rookie-jalen-smith-opportunity-against-size-lakers/5187872001/ | 0.321775 |
Should Phoenix Suns give rookie Jalen Smith opportunity against size of defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers? | Phoenix Suns General Manager James Jones had the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Deandre Ayton in mind when drafting Jalen Smith out of Maryland. "I'm looking forward to seeing those two guys anchoring the floor together, even if it's for stints," said Jones after the 2020 NBA Draft about Smith and Ayton. "We talk about teams like the Lakers, those are teams that have great size, skill and versatility. You talk about teams like Denver, they have great size, skill and versatility. And so we'll have to match and exceed that if we want to continue this journey that we're on to become a powerhouse in the West." Six months and 51 wins later, Phoenix has made the come up in finishing with the NBA's second-best record, but will open its first playoff run in 11 years against the Lakers and all their size of Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol with Smith hardly being a factor going into the postseason. The 10th overall pick only averaged two points and 1.4 rebounds in 27 games as he dealt with an ankle injury early in the season, had a bout with COVID-19 and spent time in the G-League. If the Suns were able to pull off the upset they're the first second-seed underdog in the first round in NBA playoff history they'd play the Portland-Denver winner in the Western Conference semifinals. The Nuggets have leading-MVP candidate, 6-11 Nikola Jokic, as well as 7-footer JaVale McGee, 6-10 Michael Porter Jr., 6-9 JaMychal Green and 6-8 Paul Millsap. So Phoenix may have to go through the two teams Jones noted when talking about Smith just to reach the conference finals. Smith did show signs of his potential in the final regular season game, though, which created a little buzz that he may see some action in the playoffs. Getting his first career start, Smith posted his first career double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in 41 minutes, all career highs, in helping Phoenix win a 123-121 thriller Sunday at San Antonio. "That game should give him confidence he can play in an NBA game," Suns coach Monty Williams said. The performance also led to Williams fielding questions about whether Smith has earned playing time in the postseason. Williams said any player who puts the work in has a chance to play, but put some reality on the idea of Smith possibly playing in the playoffs. "I'll throw anybody in the game if I feel like they can help us win, but for him, we don't want to get carried away," Williams said. "He's had one game, but he's worked his butt off all year long. To be a high pick like that and not play as much as your contemporaries is hard. There are a lot of people in his class that have done a lot more than he has done, but to have a game like on the last game of the season, that has to give him a lot of confidence not just in that game, but in the work that he's putting in." So Phoenix will likely continue to give 6-10 Dario Saric and 7-footer Frank Kaminsky III minutes at the backup four and five against the Lakers. Forward Torrey Craig, who at 6-7 and 221 pounds has shown the ability to guard bigger players, may see some spot duty defending Davis or Harrell, but Ayton will have to lead the inside presence for the Suns. Ayton missed Phoenix's last three games with left knee soreness, but that didn't stop him from celebrating one of Smith's second-half dunks by sprinting in the area behind the basket. Well, maybe not sprinting. "Depends on what you consider a sprint," Ayton said. "I was creep walking a little bit." All joking aside, Ayton said he's been doing therapy and rehab on the knee, gained confidence from Wednesday's practice and expects to play Sunday. "I'm A OK, ready to go," Ayton said. "I feel great." Ayton also said he could've played if those were playoff games. "I would've pushed through and tried my best, but we kept it safe and did what we had to do to get me back on the floor fully healthy," Ayton said. Even with a healthier Ayton, Phoenix still is undermanned inside. Had Smith become the contributor Jones envisioned going into the season, the Suns would be better suited to handle Davis, Drummond, Harrell and Gasol to start the playoffs but like Williams said, he'll play anybody who he feels can help them win. So maybe Smith will get that chance starting Sunday in Phoenix. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin. Support local journalism. Start your online subscription. | Phoenix Suns rookie Jalen Smith hasn't played much in the regular season. The 10th overall pick is expected to start against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns will face the Denver Nuggets or Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference semifinals. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2021/05/21/should-suns-give-rookie-jalen-smith-opportunity-against-size-lakers/5187872001/ | 0.408487 |
Can rookie running back Chris Evans fill former Bengals RB Giovani Bernard's shoes? | After Chris Evans moved him from quarterback to a playmaking running back in high school, Evans kept hearing the same message from his head coach. Catch the ball with your eyes first, and then catch it with your hands. Evans ability to make catches out of the backfield as a running back from the University of Michigan led him to become a sixth round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft. Since the Bengals cut longtime running back Giovani Bernard this offseason, Evans has an opportunity to fill that role as a third down running back during his rookie season. Im just trying to take advantage of every opportunity that I get and make plays when I can, Evans said. Wherever they need me, Ill excel. Evans caught the attention of Bengals head coach Zac Taylor at the Senior Bowl. That visibility was critical because after Evans was suspended at Michigan in 2019, he only had 16 carries and nine receptions last season. As Taylor was scouting offensive linemen, he saw the same running back winning one-on-one matchups and making impressive catches. Then at Evans first practice with the Bengals, Taylor said he saw the same traits. He can split out (as a receiver), Taylor said. Thats one of the things that really jumped out to us (about Evans) at the Senior Bowl. Just how dominant he was in those one-on-ones. How natural and easy it looked for him. Evans fills a need on the Bengals roster, but its rare for a rookie in his position to make an immediate impact. Bernard averaged three catches per game and 25 receiving yards per game during his Bengals career. Last season, he had 47 receptions and 355 yards in 16 games. Among rookie running backs who werent selected in the first two rounds over the last ten years, only five matched Bernards 2021 numbers. I like how hes shifty and on third down he can pick up blocks and be able to run routes out of the backfield and even in the slot, Evans said of Bernard. Hes a great player, and Im ready to do anything they need me to do. While Bernard was a second round pick, Evans was a sixth round pick. The last running back drafted in the sixth round pick or later with Bernards 2020 numbers in his rookie season was Hall of Famer Terrell Davis in 1995. Its a difficult transition as a rookie running back getting a featured role as a pass catcher. Only 14 running backs over the last 10 years have even had more than 30 receptions during their rookie season. Only one of those players, Andre Ellington, was drafted after the third round. With Joe Mixon locked in as the starter, the Bengals have enough experience at running back to pick and choose spots for Evans. To compete for more playing time, Evans is studying the Bengals pass blocking scheme and how the team used Bernard in that role in the backfield last season Just going over it and watching it and grasping it in, most of the (pass protection) stuff is pretty much what I learned under (Michigan) coach (Jim) Harbaugh. Same terminology, same language its just some names are flipped and stuff like that but its pretty much the same idea. At his first practice, Evans showed his versatility as a pass catcher out of the backfield. As he has participated in his first team meetings, he said hes becoming comfortable with the way the Bengals use their running backs in pass protection. He said hes excited to learn from Mixon, a running back he watched film of throughout his college career. I'm excited to learn from him and see the little fine-tune things that he has in his game that I can add to mine, Evans said. Hopefully I have some things that he can learn from me, too. | Chris Evans was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Bengals cut longtime running back Giovani Bernard this offseason. Evans is expected to fill Bernard's role as a third down running back. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2021/05/20/cincinnati-bengals-rookie-rb-chris-evans-compared-giovani-bernard/5146497001/ | 0.335269 |
Can rookie running back Chris Evans fill former Bengals RB Giovani Bernard's shoes? | After Chris Evans moved him from quarterback to a playmaking running back in high school, Evans kept hearing the same message from his head coach. Catch the ball with your eyes first, and then catch it with your hands. Evans ability to make catches out of the backfield as a running back from the University of Michigan led him to become a sixth round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft. Since the Bengals cut longtime running back Giovani Bernard this offseason, Evans has an opportunity to fill that role as a third down running back during his rookie season. Im just trying to take advantage of every opportunity that I get and make plays when I can, Evans said. Wherever they need me, Ill excel. Evans caught the attention of Bengals head coach Zac Taylor at the Senior Bowl. That visibility was critical because after Evans was suspended at Michigan in 2019, he only had 16 carries and nine receptions last season. As Taylor was scouting offensive linemen, he saw the same running back winning one-on-one matchups and making impressive catches. Then at Evans first practice with the Bengals, Taylor said he saw the same traits. He can split out (as a receiver), Taylor said. Thats one of the things that really jumped out to us (about Evans) at the Senior Bowl. Just how dominant he was in those one-on-ones. How natural and easy it looked for him. Evans fills a need on the Bengals roster, but its rare for a rookie in his position to make an immediate impact. Bernard averaged three catches per game and 25 receiving yards per game during his Bengals career. Last season, he had 47 receptions and 355 yards in 16 games. Among rookie running backs who werent selected in the first two rounds over the last ten years, only five matched Bernards 2021 numbers. I like how hes shifty and on third down he can pick up blocks and be able to run routes out of the backfield and even in the slot, Evans said of Bernard. Hes a great player, and Im ready to do anything they need me to do. While Bernard was a second round pick, Evans was a sixth round pick. The last running back drafted in the sixth round pick or later with Bernards 2020 numbers in his rookie season was Hall of Famer Terrell Davis in 1995. Its a difficult transition as a rookie running back getting a featured role as a pass catcher. Only 14 running backs over the last 10 years have even had more than 30 receptions during their rookie season. Only one of those players, Andre Ellington, was drafted after the third round. With Joe Mixon locked in as the starter, the Bengals have enough experience at running back to pick and choose spots for Evans. To compete for more playing time, Evans is studying the Bengals pass blocking scheme and how the team used Bernard in that role in the backfield last season Just going over it and watching it and grasping it in, most of the (pass protection) stuff is pretty much what I learned under (Michigan) coach (Jim) Harbaugh. Same terminology, same language its just some names are flipped and stuff like that but its pretty much the same idea. At his first practice, Evans showed his versatility as a pass catcher out of the backfield. As he has participated in his first team meetings, he said hes becoming comfortable with the way the Bengals use their running backs in pass protection. He said hes excited to learn from Mixon, a running back he watched film of throughout his college career. I'm excited to learn from him and see the little fine-tune things that he has in his game that I can add to mine, Evans said. Hopefully I have some things that he can learn from me, too. | Chris Evans was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Bengals cut longtime running back Giovani Bernard this offseason. Evans is expected to fill Bernard's role as a third down running back in the Bengals' passing offense. He says he's ready to do anything the Bengals need him to do. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2021/05/20/cincinnati-bengals-rookie-rb-chris-evans-compared-giovani-bernard/5146497001/ | 0.418651 |
Does LSU have a shot at landing 2023 QB Arch Manning? | Quarterback Arch Manning is not just the biggest quarterback recruit in recent memory because of his last name, his play backs up the hype. Arch Manning is the grandson of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. Arch Manning is a born and raised New Orleans native, yet he has strong connections to both Tennessee and Ole Miss, due his uncles Peyton Manning and Eli Mannings historic history with those college programs. As it currently stands, Newman QB Arch Manning is the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2023 class. As I mentioned earlier, Manning will be highly coveted thanks to his last name alone. However, Archs game has a lot of elite traits that NFL teams love. LSU has a punchers chance at landing Arch Manning, if he indeed values the programs potential to lift him to a first-round NFL Draft prospect. Manning seems to be doing his due diligence in looking at every option available, as he should. Its extremely tough to make comparisons or predictions with high school prospects, but Arch Manning does stand out a player who could become a first overall draft pick at the NFL level. If LSU can land a player like that, be pumped about it. | Newman QB Arch Manning is the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2023 class. Arch Manning has strong connections to both Tennessee and Ole Miss, due to his uncles Peyton Manning and Eli Mannings historic history with those college programs. If LSU can land a player like that, be pumped about it. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-lsu-shot-landing-2023-011143740.html?src=rss | 0.179272 |
Who will play nickel for the Packers next season? | When the Green Bay Packers hired Joe Barry, the new defensive coordinator said you can never have enough guys that are potential nickels. Luckily, the Packers will have plenty of options they can explore at slot corner for 2021. In 2020, the nickel role was handled predominately by Chandon Sullivan. In 16 games, Sullivan lined up inside on 533 snaps and received a grade of 62.2 from Pro Football Focus. Green Bay tendered Sullivan to the tune of $2.1 million back in March, expecting him to compete for a starting role once again. Sullivan will have the most experience on the roster when it comes to playing nickel, but he is far from their only option. Its very possible Green Bay could try to upgrade. If not Sullivan, Jaire Alexander should be taking snaps inside as much as the team can afford. His size and skill set makes him an ideal candidate to play closer to the ball and be a disruptive playmaker. Alexander really has no limitations to his game in that he can tackle and cover. Barry could allow him to press inside so he can completely neutralize a shifty slot receiver and also design some creative blitz packages to cater to his aggressive playstyle. However, that takes Alexander off of the boundary, which is where he is coming off an All-Pro season. Moving him inside creates a void opposite of Kevin King, but the Packers just used a first-round pick on Eric Stokes. Stokes could start as the other outside corner, giving the defense two long and fast players on the boundary with Alexander in the slot. Ultimately, that plan is contingent on Stokes being ready to contribute right away as a rookie. He will likely be the starting outside corner eventually, but Green Bay may want to give him more time to develop. Another rookie who could compete for playing time right away is Shemar Jean-Charles. The Packers used a fifth-round pick on Jean-Charles after a solid career at Appalachian State. He finished with two career interceptions, 97 tackles, and 33 passes defended. According to PFF, Charles allowed a completion rate of just 30.4 last season. Story continues Those kind of ball skills are useful for a slot corner, but Jean-Charles spent most of his time in college playing outside. However, his twitchy athleticism, shorter build, and slender frame could push Green Bay to try him inside. If he impresses during training camp and in the preseason, theres a decent chance Jean-Charles has a role that isnt just special teams in 2021. One other option is safety Darnell Savage, who played in the slot sporadically during college and his first two NFL seasons. But hes also a high-end starter at safety where his speed is a huge asset. The nickel spot has become increasingly important over the years, and the Packers will look to improve where they can. Sullivan could be a solid option for another season, or the defense could benefit from someone else emerging in the slot. List | The Green Bay Packers have plenty of options at slot corner for 2021. In 2020, the nickel role was handled predominately by Chandon Sullivan. | pegasus | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/play-nickel-packers-next-season-013132482.html?src=rss | 0.208521 |
Who will play nickel for the Packers next season? | When the Green Bay Packers hired Joe Barry, the new defensive coordinator said you can never have enough guys that are potential nickels. Luckily, the Packers will have plenty of options they can explore at slot corner for 2021. In 2020, the nickel role was handled predominately by Chandon Sullivan. In 16 games, Sullivan lined up inside on 533 snaps and received a grade of 62.2 from Pro Football Focus. Green Bay tendered Sullivan to the tune of $2.1 million back in March, expecting him to compete for a starting role once again. Sullivan will have the most experience on the roster when it comes to playing nickel, but he is far from their only option. Its very possible Green Bay could try to upgrade. If not Sullivan, Jaire Alexander should be taking snaps inside as much as the team can afford. His size and skill set makes him an ideal candidate to play closer to the ball and be a disruptive playmaker. Alexander really has no limitations to his game in that he can tackle and cover. Barry could allow him to press inside so he can completely neutralize a shifty slot receiver and also design some creative blitz packages to cater to his aggressive playstyle. However, that takes Alexander off of the boundary, which is where he is coming off an All-Pro season. Moving him inside creates a void opposite of Kevin King, but the Packers just used a first-round pick on Eric Stokes. Stokes could start as the other outside corner, giving the defense two long and fast players on the boundary with Alexander in the slot. Ultimately, that plan is contingent on Stokes being ready to contribute right away as a rookie. He will likely be the starting outside corner eventually, but Green Bay may want to give him more time to develop. Another rookie who could compete for playing time right away is Shemar Jean-Charles. The Packers used a fifth-round pick on Jean-Charles after a solid career at Appalachian State. He finished with two career interceptions, 97 tackles, and 33 passes defended. According to PFF, Charles allowed a completion rate of just 30.4 last season. Story continues Those kind of ball skills are useful for a slot corner, but Jean-Charles spent most of his time in college playing outside. However, his twitchy athleticism, shorter build, and slender frame could push Green Bay to try him inside. If he impresses during training camp and in the preseason, theres a decent chance Jean-Charles has a role that isnt just special teams in 2021. One other option is safety Darnell Savage, who played in the slot sporadically during college and his first two NFL seasons. But hes also a high-end starter at safety where his speed is a huge asset. The nickel spot has become increasingly important over the years, and the Packers will look to improve where they can. Sullivan could be a solid option for another season, or the defense could benefit from someone else emerging in the slot. List | The Green Bay Packers have plenty of options to explore at slot corner for 2021. In 2020, the nickel role was handled predominately by Chandon Sullivan. | pegasus | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/play-nickel-packers-next-season-013132482.html?src=rss | 0.185388 |
Who will play nickel for the Packers next season? | When the Green Bay Packers hired Joe Barry, the new defensive coordinator said you can never have enough guys that are potential nickels. Luckily, the Packers will have plenty of options they can explore at slot corner for 2021. In 2020, the nickel role was handled predominately by Chandon Sullivan. In 16 games, Sullivan lined up inside on 533 snaps and received a grade of 62.2 from Pro Football Focus. Green Bay tendered Sullivan to the tune of $2.1 million back in March, expecting him to compete for a starting role once again. Sullivan will have the most experience on the roster when it comes to playing nickel, but he is far from their only option. Its very possible Green Bay could try to upgrade. If not Sullivan, Jaire Alexander should be taking snaps inside as much as the team can afford. His size and skill set makes him an ideal candidate to play closer to the ball and be a disruptive playmaker. Alexander really has no limitations to his game in that he can tackle and cover. Barry could allow him to press inside so he can completely neutralize a shifty slot receiver and also design some creative blitz packages to cater to his aggressive playstyle. However, that takes Alexander off of the boundary, which is where he is coming off an All-Pro season. Moving him inside creates a void opposite of Kevin King, but the Packers just used a first-round pick on Eric Stokes. Stokes could start as the other outside corner, giving the defense two long and fast players on the boundary with Alexander in the slot. Ultimately, that plan is contingent on Stokes being ready to contribute right away as a rookie. He will likely be the starting outside corner eventually, but Green Bay may want to give him more time to develop. Another rookie who could compete for playing time right away is Shemar Jean-Charles. The Packers used a fifth-round pick on Jean-Charles after a solid career at Appalachian State. He finished with two career interceptions, 97 tackles, and 33 passes defended. According to PFF, Charles allowed a completion rate of just 30.4 last season. Story continues Those kind of ball skills are useful for a slot corner, but Jean-Charles spent most of his time in college playing outside. However, his twitchy athleticism, shorter build, and slender frame could push Green Bay to try him inside. If he impresses during training camp and in the preseason, theres a decent chance Jean-Charles has a role that isnt just special teams in 2021. One other option is safety Darnell Savage, who played in the slot sporadically during college and his first two NFL seasons. But hes also a high-end starter at safety where his speed is a huge asset. The nickel spot has become increasingly important over the years, and the Packers will look to improve where they can. Sullivan could be a solid option for another season, or the defense could benefit from someone else emerging in the slot. List | The Green Bay Packers have plenty of options to explore at slot corner for 2021. In 2020, the nickel role was handled predominately by Chandon Sullivan. Green Bay tendered Sullivan to the tune of $2.1 million back in March. If not Sullivan, Jaire Alexander should be taking snaps inside as much as the team can afford. | pegasus | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/play-nickel-packers-next-season-013132482.html?src=rss | 0.259722 |
What should we expect from Tennessee Titans' 2021 draft picks? | After a disappointing 2020 rookie class defined by injuries and the transgressions of first-round bust Isaiah Wilson the Tennessee Titans are in need of immediate contributions out of their 2021 draft class. General manager Jon Robinson believes the Titans are a better football team after what they did in the draft. These guys that we selected this weekend, we loved watching those guys play football, Robinson told reporters on May 1. (We loved) putting the tape on and watching them do a job that we are now going to hire them to do. Heres a breakdown of the expectations, best-case scenario and worst-case scenario with each of the Titans 2021 draft picks: CB Caleb Farley Round 1, No. 22 overall The expectation: Starter as a rookie (duh, he was a first-round pick). Best-case scenario: Full participant in training camp and Day 1 starter as CB1. That might be too optimistic of a timeline; its not clear how much Farley will be able to do in training camp because of the back procedure he had in March. But if he's full go in late July when camp begins, the Titans would look like they swindled the rest of the league for a talent at No. 22 in Farley, who some pundits have called a generational talent. Worst-case scenario: The fear is obviously Farley never getting past his back issues to have a productive career. For the Titans to miss big on their first-round pick for a second consecutive year would be a disaster for the franchise. See all odds for 2021 season OT Dillon Radunz Round 2, No. 53 overall The expectation: To become the long-term starter at right tackle sooner rather than later. Radunz has a big transition to make he played left tackle at North Dakota State and enters the NFL from the FCS level but as a second-round pick, thats the hope. Best-case scenario: Starting right tackle as a rookie. Radunz has this expectation of himself, too. At the right tackle spot, hell be competing with free-agent signee Kendall Lamm, Ty Sambrailo and others in his first training camp. Worst-case scenario: The Titans have used two first-round picks and a second-rounder on offensive tackles since 2016. If Radunz doesnt pan out, Tennessee again would be back to square one at right tackle, a spot it has invested a lot in but not had stability at since Jack Conklin departed in free agency after the 2019 season. LB Monty Rice Round 3, No. 92 overall The expectation: Titans coach Mike Vrabel and Robinson said they expect Rice to compete right away at the inside linebacker spots and on the special teams. Best-case scenario: Titans see enough in Rice as a rookie that he could be a key contributor/starting option on defense in Year 2. That could mean letting Rashaan Evans walk in free agency after the 2021 season. Worst-case scenario: A disappointing Rice making it hard to let Evans walk in free agency, or necessitating finding Evans replacement on the market. NFL teams would rather have a starter on a rookie contract that a pricier veteran for the same return. DB Elijah Molden Round 3, No. 100 overall Expectation: Second-year pro Kristian Fulton could be the No. 1 option at nickelback in 2021, but Molden should be a contributor defensively as a rookie regardless whether its in the slot or at safety. Vrabel indicated after Day 2 of the draft that Molden would be given one position to focus on to start, and as his understanding of the Titans defense grows, he could be given more responsibilities. Best-case scenario: Molden as the starting nickelback if Fulton is on the outside. If the former Washington star also is able to offer quality depth as a reserve safety in base looks the Titans are much weaker at the No. 3 safety spot with Kenny Vaccaro released and Amani Hooker now pegged to be a starter alongside Kevin Byard and as a backup outside cornerback, Tennessee would be thrilled. Worst-case scenario: If the Titans cant get enough production at nickel with Molden and/or a combination of players it would be a hole for opposing teams to exploit in passing situations. Tennessee gave up the second-most passing touchdowns in the NFL last season. WR Dez Fitzpatrick Round 4, No. 109 overall Expectation: To be an immediate contributor in the receiving corps. Theres more riding on Fitzpatrick than a typical fourth-round rookie, with the Titans big question marks at receiver entering 2021. Best-case scenario: Fitzpatrick becoming a legit No. 2 or No. 3 option behind star A.J. Brown. The Titans see a big, versatile wideout in the former Louisville standout, whom some draft observers didnt see getting selected until the sixth or seventh round of the draft. Tennessee traded up in the fourth round to snag him. Worst-case scenario: If Fitzpatrick is a whiff, it could be a struggle for the Titans offense in the passing game. Fitzpatrick isnt the only factor, of course; the Titans signed Josh Reynolds, and they could add another veteran receiver in the coming weeks. But Tennessee might be forced to depend heavily on Brown, who is already the focus of opposing defenses. A weak receiving room has a trickle down effect on Derrick Henry, too, who already has the largest workload of any running back in the NFL. Henry has led the league in carries since 2019. OLB Rashad Weaver Round 4, No. 135 overall Expectation:Weavers legal situation is still being sorted out, but hes slated to be the No. 3 edge rushing option behind free-agent signee Bud Dupree and Harold Landry III. Weaver was productive against the run and pass at Pitt, posting 34.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in 35 games. Best-case scenario: Weaver becomes a starting-caliber outside linebacker and shows the versatility to slide down to the defensive-line spots. Playing inside is untapped territory for Weaver he played edge in Pitts 3-4 defense but the Titans saw him get looks at the three-technique spot at the Senior Bowl. Vrabel was impressed with his willingness to take coaching at the spot. Worst-case scenario: Were not sure what will come of the misdemeanor simple assault charge that was filed against Weaver last month. But from a football standpoint, the former Pitt standout not becoming a rotational pass rusher would be a huge blow to a Titans pass rush that must be better in 2021. WR Racey McMath Round 6, No. 205 overall Expectation: To become a contributor to the special teams unit and develop his skills as a wide receiver, perhaps behind the scenes on the practice squad. Best-case scenario: McMath becomes a core special teamer and sneaks onto the depth chart at receiver. McMath has the speed and size at 6-3 and 217 pounds. The question is whether he can turn himself into an offensive threat because he wasnt one at LSU. Worst-case scenario: McMath never sticks on the roster. Theres always a big risk with taking a flyer on a project, but its a more manageable one with a sixth-round pick. S Brady Breeze Round 6, No. 215 overall Expectation: To become a key contributor on special teams. According to The Athletics Dane Brugler, Breeze played more than 700 (!) special teams snaps at Oregon. Best-case scenario: Breeze becomes a core special teamer and adds some depth at the Titans backup safety spots, which are weaker than a year ago. Breeze started just four of 38 career appearances for the Ducks, but he had big moments as a junior in 2019 (he opted out of the 2020 season): he was the Rose Bowl MVP, led Oregon in tackles in the Pac-12 championship game and his three defensive touchdowns tied for third-most in the country. Worst-case scenario: Not making the roster. Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur. | The Tennessee Titans' 2021 draft picks are expected to start immediately. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2021/05/21/tennessee-titans-draft-class-predictions-expectations/5153735001/ | 0.338741 |
What should we expect from Tennessee Titans' 2021 draft picks? | After a disappointing 2020 rookie class defined by injuries and the transgressions of first-round bust Isaiah Wilson the Tennessee Titans are in need of immediate contributions out of their 2021 draft class. General manager Jon Robinson believes the Titans are a better football team after what they did in the draft. These guys that we selected this weekend, we loved watching those guys play football, Robinson told reporters on May 1. (We loved) putting the tape on and watching them do a job that we are now going to hire them to do. Heres a breakdown of the expectations, best-case scenario and worst-case scenario with each of the Titans 2021 draft picks: CB Caleb Farley Round 1, No. 22 overall The expectation: Starter as a rookie (duh, he was a first-round pick). Best-case scenario: Full participant in training camp and Day 1 starter as CB1. That might be too optimistic of a timeline; its not clear how much Farley will be able to do in training camp because of the back procedure he had in March. But if he's full go in late July when camp begins, the Titans would look like they swindled the rest of the league for a talent at No. 22 in Farley, who some pundits have called a generational talent. Worst-case scenario: The fear is obviously Farley never getting past his back issues to have a productive career. For the Titans to miss big on their first-round pick for a second consecutive year would be a disaster for the franchise. See all odds for 2021 season OT Dillon Radunz Round 2, No. 53 overall The expectation: To become the long-term starter at right tackle sooner rather than later. Radunz has a big transition to make he played left tackle at North Dakota State and enters the NFL from the FCS level but as a second-round pick, thats the hope. Best-case scenario: Starting right tackle as a rookie. Radunz has this expectation of himself, too. At the right tackle spot, hell be competing with free-agent signee Kendall Lamm, Ty Sambrailo and others in his first training camp. Worst-case scenario: The Titans have used two first-round picks and a second-rounder on offensive tackles since 2016. If Radunz doesnt pan out, Tennessee again would be back to square one at right tackle, a spot it has invested a lot in but not had stability at since Jack Conklin departed in free agency after the 2019 season. LB Monty Rice Round 3, No. 92 overall The expectation: Titans coach Mike Vrabel and Robinson said they expect Rice to compete right away at the inside linebacker spots and on the special teams. Best-case scenario: Titans see enough in Rice as a rookie that he could be a key contributor/starting option on defense in Year 2. That could mean letting Rashaan Evans walk in free agency after the 2021 season. Worst-case scenario: A disappointing Rice making it hard to let Evans walk in free agency, or necessitating finding Evans replacement on the market. NFL teams would rather have a starter on a rookie contract that a pricier veteran for the same return. DB Elijah Molden Round 3, No. 100 overall Expectation: Second-year pro Kristian Fulton could be the No. 1 option at nickelback in 2021, but Molden should be a contributor defensively as a rookie regardless whether its in the slot or at safety. Vrabel indicated after Day 2 of the draft that Molden would be given one position to focus on to start, and as his understanding of the Titans defense grows, he could be given more responsibilities. Best-case scenario: Molden as the starting nickelback if Fulton is on the outside. If the former Washington star also is able to offer quality depth as a reserve safety in base looks the Titans are much weaker at the No. 3 safety spot with Kenny Vaccaro released and Amani Hooker now pegged to be a starter alongside Kevin Byard and as a backup outside cornerback, Tennessee would be thrilled. Worst-case scenario: If the Titans cant get enough production at nickel with Molden and/or a combination of players it would be a hole for opposing teams to exploit in passing situations. Tennessee gave up the second-most passing touchdowns in the NFL last season. WR Dez Fitzpatrick Round 4, No. 109 overall Expectation: To be an immediate contributor in the receiving corps. Theres more riding on Fitzpatrick than a typical fourth-round rookie, with the Titans big question marks at receiver entering 2021. Best-case scenario: Fitzpatrick becoming a legit No. 2 or No. 3 option behind star A.J. Brown. The Titans see a big, versatile wideout in the former Louisville standout, whom some draft observers didnt see getting selected until the sixth or seventh round of the draft. Tennessee traded up in the fourth round to snag him. Worst-case scenario: If Fitzpatrick is a whiff, it could be a struggle for the Titans offense in the passing game. Fitzpatrick isnt the only factor, of course; the Titans signed Josh Reynolds, and they could add another veteran receiver in the coming weeks. But Tennessee might be forced to depend heavily on Brown, who is already the focus of opposing defenses. A weak receiving room has a trickle down effect on Derrick Henry, too, who already has the largest workload of any running back in the NFL. Henry has led the league in carries since 2019. OLB Rashad Weaver Round 4, No. 135 overall Expectation:Weavers legal situation is still being sorted out, but hes slated to be the No. 3 edge rushing option behind free-agent signee Bud Dupree and Harold Landry III. Weaver was productive against the run and pass at Pitt, posting 34.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in 35 games. Best-case scenario: Weaver becomes a starting-caliber outside linebacker and shows the versatility to slide down to the defensive-line spots. Playing inside is untapped territory for Weaver he played edge in Pitts 3-4 defense but the Titans saw him get looks at the three-technique spot at the Senior Bowl. Vrabel was impressed with his willingness to take coaching at the spot. Worst-case scenario: Were not sure what will come of the misdemeanor simple assault charge that was filed against Weaver last month. But from a football standpoint, the former Pitt standout not becoming a rotational pass rusher would be a huge blow to a Titans pass rush that must be better in 2021. WR Racey McMath Round 6, No. 205 overall Expectation: To become a contributor to the special teams unit and develop his skills as a wide receiver, perhaps behind the scenes on the practice squad. Best-case scenario: McMath becomes a core special teamer and sneaks onto the depth chart at receiver. McMath has the speed and size at 6-3 and 217 pounds. The question is whether he can turn himself into an offensive threat because he wasnt one at LSU. Worst-case scenario: McMath never sticks on the roster. Theres always a big risk with taking a flyer on a project, but its a more manageable one with a sixth-round pick. S Brady Breeze Round 6, No. 215 overall Expectation: To become a key contributor on special teams. According to The Athletics Dane Brugler, Breeze played more than 700 (!) special teams snaps at Oregon. Best-case scenario: Breeze becomes a core special teamer and adds some depth at the Titans backup safety spots, which are weaker than a year ago. Breeze started just four of 38 career appearances for the Ducks, but he had big moments as a junior in 2019 (he opted out of the 2020 season): he was the Rose Bowl MVP, led Oregon in tackles in the Pac-12 championship game and his three defensive touchdowns tied for third-most in the country. Worst-case scenario: Not making the roster. Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur. | The Tennessee Titans' 2021 draft picks are expected to make an immediate impact. The Titans have used two first-round picks and a second-rounder on offensive tackles since 2016. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2021/05/21/tennessee-titans-draft-class-predictions-expectations/5153735001/ | 0.478633 |
What should we expect from Tennessee Titans' 2021 draft picks? | After a disappointing 2020 rookie class defined by injuries and the transgressions of first-round bust Isaiah Wilson the Tennessee Titans are in need of immediate contributions out of their 2021 draft class. General manager Jon Robinson believes the Titans are a better football team after what they did in the draft. These guys that we selected this weekend, we loved watching those guys play football, Robinson told reporters on May 1. (We loved) putting the tape on and watching them do a job that we are now going to hire them to do. Heres a breakdown of the expectations, best-case scenario and worst-case scenario with each of the Titans 2021 draft picks: CB Caleb Farley Round 1, No. 22 overall The expectation: Starter as a rookie (duh, he was a first-round pick). Best-case scenario: Full participant in training camp and Day 1 starter as CB1. That might be too optimistic of a timeline; its not clear how much Farley will be able to do in training camp because of the back procedure he had in March. But if he's full go in late July when camp begins, the Titans would look like they swindled the rest of the league for a talent at No. 22 in Farley, who some pundits have called a generational talent. Worst-case scenario: The fear is obviously Farley never getting past his back issues to have a productive career. For the Titans to miss big on their first-round pick for a second consecutive year would be a disaster for the franchise. See all odds for 2021 season OT Dillon Radunz Round 2, No. 53 overall The expectation: To become the long-term starter at right tackle sooner rather than later. Radunz has a big transition to make he played left tackle at North Dakota State and enters the NFL from the FCS level but as a second-round pick, thats the hope. Best-case scenario: Starting right tackle as a rookie. Radunz has this expectation of himself, too. At the right tackle spot, hell be competing with free-agent signee Kendall Lamm, Ty Sambrailo and others in his first training camp. Worst-case scenario: The Titans have used two first-round picks and a second-rounder on offensive tackles since 2016. If Radunz doesnt pan out, Tennessee again would be back to square one at right tackle, a spot it has invested a lot in but not had stability at since Jack Conklin departed in free agency after the 2019 season. LB Monty Rice Round 3, No. 92 overall The expectation: Titans coach Mike Vrabel and Robinson said they expect Rice to compete right away at the inside linebacker spots and on the special teams. Best-case scenario: Titans see enough in Rice as a rookie that he could be a key contributor/starting option on defense in Year 2. That could mean letting Rashaan Evans walk in free agency after the 2021 season. Worst-case scenario: A disappointing Rice making it hard to let Evans walk in free agency, or necessitating finding Evans replacement on the market. NFL teams would rather have a starter on a rookie contract that a pricier veteran for the same return. DB Elijah Molden Round 3, No. 100 overall Expectation: Second-year pro Kristian Fulton could be the No. 1 option at nickelback in 2021, but Molden should be a contributor defensively as a rookie regardless whether its in the slot or at safety. Vrabel indicated after Day 2 of the draft that Molden would be given one position to focus on to start, and as his understanding of the Titans defense grows, he could be given more responsibilities. Best-case scenario: Molden as the starting nickelback if Fulton is on the outside. If the former Washington star also is able to offer quality depth as a reserve safety in base looks the Titans are much weaker at the No. 3 safety spot with Kenny Vaccaro released and Amani Hooker now pegged to be a starter alongside Kevin Byard and as a backup outside cornerback, Tennessee would be thrilled. Worst-case scenario: If the Titans cant get enough production at nickel with Molden and/or a combination of players it would be a hole for opposing teams to exploit in passing situations. Tennessee gave up the second-most passing touchdowns in the NFL last season. WR Dez Fitzpatrick Round 4, No. 109 overall Expectation: To be an immediate contributor in the receiving corps. Theres more riding on Fitzpatrick than a typical fourth-round rookie, with the Titans big question marks at receiver entering 2021. Best-case scenario: Fitzpatrick becoming a legit No. 2 or No. 3 option behind star A.J. Brown. The Titans see a big, versatile wideout in the former Louisville standout, whom some draft observers didnt see getting selected until the sixth or seventh round of the draft. Tennessee traded up in the fourth round to snag him. Worst-case scenario: If Fitzpatrick is a whiff, it could be a struggle for the Titans offense in the passing game. Fitzpatrick isnt the only factor, of course; the Titans signed Josh Reynolds, and they could add another veteran receiver in the coming weeks. But Tennessee might be forced to depend heavily on Brown, who is already the focus of opposing defenses. A weak receiving room has a trickle down effect on Derrick Henry, too, who already has the largest workload of any running back in the NFL. Henry has led the league in carries since 2019. OLB Rashad Weaver Round 4, No. 135 overall Expectation:Weavers legal situation is still being sorted out, but hes slated to be the No. 3 edge rushing option behind free-agent signee Bud Dupree and Harold Landry III. Weaver was productive against the run and pass at Pitt, posting 34.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in 35 games. Best-case scenario: Weaver becomes a starting-caliber outside linebacker and shows the versatility to slide down to the defensive-line spots. Playing inside is untapped territory for Weaver he played edge in Pitts 3-4 defense but the Titans saw him get looks at the three-technique spot at the Senior Bowl. Vrabel was impressed with his willingness to take coaching at the spot. Worst-case scenario: Were not sure what will come of the misdemeanor simple assault charge that was filed against Weaver last month. But from a football standpoint, the former Pitt standout not becoming a rotational pass rusher would be a huge blow to a Titans pass rush that must be better in 2021. WR Racey McMath Round 6, No. 205 overall Expectation: To become a contributor to the special teams unit and develop his skills as a wide receiver, perhaps behind the scenes on the practice squad. Best-case scenario: McMath becomes a core special teamer and sneaks onto the depth chart at receiver. McMath has the speed and size at 6-3 and 217 pounds. The question is whether he can turn himself into an offensive threat because he wasnt one at LSU. Worst-case scenario: McMath never sticks on the roster. Theres always a big risk with taking a flyer on a project, but its a more manageable one with a sixth-round pick. S Brady Breeze Round 6, No. 215 overall Expectation: To become a key contributor on special teams. According to The Athletics Dane Brugler, Breeze played more than 700 (!) special teams snaps at Oregon. Best-case scenario: Breeze becomes a core special teamer and adds some depth at the Titans backup safety spots, which are weaker than a year ago. Breeze started just four of 38 career appearances for the Ducks, but he had big moments as a junior in 2019 (he opted out of the 2020 season): he was the Rose Bowl MVP, led Oregon in tackles in the Pac-12 championship game and his three defensive touchdowns tied for third-most in the country. Worst-case scenario: Not making the roster. Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur. | The Tennessee Titans' 2021 draft picks are expected to make an immediate impact. The Titans have used two first-round picks and a second-round pick on offensive tackles since 2016. The team has also used a first- and second-rounder on offensive tackle in the past. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2021/05/21/tennessee-titans-draft-class-predictions-expectations/5153735001/ | 0.48958 |
Where will the Pacers pick in the 2021 NBA Draft? | The Indiana Pacers are 13th among the 14 lottery teams with Thursday's 142-115 loss to the Washington Wizards. According to Tankathon, that gives the Pacers a 4.8% chance of a top 4 pick and a 1.0% chance for the No. 1 overall pick. Paul George and Myles Turner. Well, the two lottery picks before that were Tyler Hansbrough and Jerryd Bayless (who was traded with Ike Diogu for Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and Brandon Rush). The Pacers are likely to pick 13th so here's a look at an impressive list of talent selected in that spot recently, especially in odd years: 2020: Kira Lewis, New Orleans, averaged 6.4 points, 2.3 assists in 54 games as a rookie. 2019: Tyler Herro, Miami, an impressive playoff run as a rookie didn't carry over to his sophomore season but he was still good, averaging 15.1 points on 36.0% on 3s. 2018: Jerome Robinson, L.A. Clippers, shot just 29.5% for Washington this season, averaging 4.9 points. 2017: Donovan Mitchell, Utah, he's developed into one of the best players in the league, averaging 26.4 points and 5.2 assists for the top-seeded Jazz this season. 2016: Georgios Papagiannis, Sacramento, appeared in 39 games over two seasons. 2015: Devin Booker, Phoenix, another budding superstar, averaging 25.6 points, 4.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds this season. 2014: Zach LaVine, Minnesota, pick 13 has produced a lot of versatile wings, LaVine averaged 27.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists for Chicago this season. 2013: Kelly Olynyk, Dallas, has played for three teams but had his best run -- 54.5% overall, 39.2% on 3s, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 19.0 points -- after his trade to Houston as part of the compensation for Victor Oladipo this season. 2012: Kendall Marshall, Phoenix, went from Phoenix to the Lakers to Milwaukee to Philadelphia and hasn't played in the NBA since 2016. 2011: Markieff Morris, Phoenix, coming to the end of a long, productive NBA career, averaging 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds with the Lakers this season. Contact IndyStar Deputy Sports Editor Nat Newell at (317) 444-6182 or nat.newell@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NatJNewell. | The Indiana Pacers are likely to pick 13th in the 2021 NBA Draft. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2021/05/20/indiana-pacers-2021-nba-draft/5193999001/ | 0.519015 |
Where will the Pacers pick in the 2021 NBA Draft? | The Indiana Pacers are 13th among the 14 lottery teams with Thursday's 142-115 loss to the Washington Wizards. According to Tankathon, that gives the Pacers a 4.8% chance of a top 4 pick and a 1.0% chance for the No. 1 overall pick. Paul George and Myles Turner. Well, the two lottery picks before that were Tyler Hansbrough and Jerryd Bayless (who was traded with Ike Diogu for Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and Brandon Rush). The Pacers are likely to pick 13th so here's a look at an impressive list of talent selected in that spot recently, especially in odd years: 2020: Kira Lewis, New Orleans, averaged 6.4 points, 2.3 assists in 54 games as a rookie. 2019: Tyler Herro, Miami, an impressive playoff run as a rookie didn't carry over to his sophomore season but he was still good, averaging 15.1 points on 36.0% on 3s. 2018: Jerome Robinson, L.A. Clippers, shot just 29.5% for Washington this season, averaging 4.9 points. 2017: Donovan Mitchell, Utah, he's developed into one of the best players in the league, averaging 26.4 points and 5.2 assists for the top-seeded Jazz this season. 2016: Georgios Papagiannis, Sacramento, appeared in 39 games over two seasons. 2015: Devin Booker, Phoenix, another budding superstar, averaging 25.6 points, 4.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds this season. 2014: Zach LaVine, Minnesota, pick 13 has produced a lot of versatile wings, LaVine averaged 27.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists for Chicago this season. 2013: Kelly Olynyk, Dallas, has played for three teams but had his best run -- 54.5% overall, 39.2% on 3s, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 19.0 points -- after his trade to Houston as part of the compensation for Victor Oladipo this season. 2012: Kendall Marshall, Phoenix, went from Phoenix to the Lakers to Milwaukee to Philadelphia and hasn't played in the NBA since 2016. 2011: Markieff Morris, Phoenix, coming to the end of a long, productive NBA career, averaging 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds with the Lakers this season. Contact IndyStar Deputy Sports Editor Nat Newell at (317) 444-6182 or nat.newell@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NatJNewell. | The Indiana Pacers are likely to pick 13th in the 2021 NBA Draft. The Pacers have had two lottery picks before in Paul George and Myles Turner. The team has a 4.8% chance of a top 4 pick and a 1.0% chance for the No. 1 pick. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2021/05/20/indiana-pacers-2021-nba-draft/5193999001/ | 0.63723 |
What would it mean for Congress to pass an abortion law like the one Biden wants? | The Supreme Courts decision to hear a major abortion case this year has forced a reassessment of whether Congress might pass a law that would keep the procedure legal even if the high court repeals or weakens Roe v. Wade. The political reality is that to pass anything through the Senate would require the support of 10 Republicans. And even if Democrats abolished the filibuster so they could pass an abortion law with 51 votes, theyd need support from Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., who both have said they support making abortion illegal after 20 weeks. White House press secretary Jen Psaki at a press conference on Thursday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) So an abortion bill that passed out of the current Congress in any of the next few years would likely need to prohibit the procedure after about 20 weeks to get Manchins and Caseys votes. The trade-off would be that if the Supreme Court upholds a Mississippi law that prohibits abortion after 15 weeks, a law passed by a Democratic Congress could unwind restrictions in numerous conservative states that are much shorter than 20 weeks. In Texas, for example, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law this week that bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks after gestation. Thats assuming the Supreme Court does not entirely overturn Roe v. Wade, which is also a possibility in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the case involving the Mississippi law. This is the first time an abortion case will be heard by the court since the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett last fall. Conservatives now have a 6-3 majority on the court. Story continues If the court finds this particular law constitutional, then it opens a wider door that would allow for 12 weeks or lower, even heartbeat bills. That's obviously a much greater incentive [for Democrats] to get [a ban] that's not seven or eight weeks, said Charles Camosy, a professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University. But, Camosy added, a national law would hamstring California, New York, Oregon and places that have much more robust protections for abortions. Because states represented by Democratic senators tend to have liberal abortion laws, the instinct of those lawmakers might just be to protect home states, he said. Activists on both sides of the abortion debate in front of the the Supreme Court during the annual March for Life on Jan. 24, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Polling shows that about two-thirds of Americans do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned. At the same time, more than two-thirds of Americans favor restricting abortion after the first trimester, which is the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Kelly Baden, who organizes progressive state lawmakers around the country through her work at a group called the State Innovation Exchange, said that political polling on abortion is deeply unsatisfying and is an oversimplification of some deeply complex beliefs. She pointed to a tweet thread by an opinion researcher who cited survey data indicating that many Americans dont want the government to decide when women can get an abortion. But Baden also said the Supreme Courts looming decision in the Dobbs case, which is expected to be heard later this year with a decision likely early next year, is a wake-up call for progressives to invest in long-term political organizing around the issue. She said conservatives have out-organized the left on abortion. We have not matched that intensity, and we're realizing we need to. It's unfortunate it might take losing Roe v. Wade to do that for us, Baden said. We are already operating under a wildly uneven abortion access landscape. It has been a truly devastating year already for anyone who cares about reproductive freedom, she said, citing a report earlier this year that found over 500 laws to restrict abortion had been introduced in state legislatures across the country in 2021. But if Congress does not reach an agreement on what a national standard should be following the example of several European countries that have passed laws allowing abortion, but only until 12 to 16 weeks the most likely scenario is that the highly uneven patchwork already in place across the states only grows more so. ____ Read more from Yahoo News: | If the Supreme Court upholds a Mississippi law that prohibits abortion after 15 weeks, a law passed by a Democratic Congress could unwind restrictions in conservative states. Polling shows that about two-thirds of Americans do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned. More than two-thirds of Americans favor restricting abortion after the first trimester. | pegasus | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/what-would-it-mean-for-congress-to-pass-an-abortion-law-like-the-one-biden-wants-090027227.html?src=rss | 0.133541 |
Why is the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies falling? | The price of Bitcoin fell as much as 29% Wednesday after the China Banking Association warned member banks of risks associated with digital currencies. Other digital currencies suffered sharp declines as well. Bitcoin's volatility was on full display: The decline had narrowed to below 10% in early afternoon trading. Bitcoin has lost about 40% of its value since April 13 when it hit a high of more than $64,606 per coin. Before Wednesday, Tesla's decision to not accept the digital currency as payment for cars, along with concerns about tighter regulation of digital currencies, were major factors in the decline. The price is still up about 31% in 2021 and nearly 300% from a year ago. On Wednesday, a statement posted on the Chinese Banking Association's website said financial institutions should "resolutely refrain" from providing services using digital currencies because of their volatility. Virtually every cryptocurrency fell after the industry group's statement. Bitcoin slumped to $30,202 before recovering to $38,038, down 12% on the day, according to Coindesk. Most cryptocurrencies lost between 7% and 22% of their value and shares of Coinbase dropped 5.4%. The value of Bitcoin can change by thousands of dollars in a short time period. On the last trading day of 2020, Bitcoin closed just under $30,000. In mid-April, it flirted with $65,000. The price bounced around after that, with some notable swings, before taking a decidedly negative turn last week. How Bitcoin works Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not tied to a bank or government and allows users to spend money anonymously. The coins are created by users who "mine" them by lending computing power to verify other users' transactions. They receive Bitcoins in exchange. The coins also can be bought and sold on exchanges with U.S. dollars and other currencies. Some businesses take Bitcoin as payment, and a number of financial institutions allow it in their clients' portfolios, but overall mainstream acceptance is still limited. Bitcoins are basically lines of computer code that are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next. Transactions can be made anonymously, making the currency popular with libertarians as well as tech enthusiasts, speculators and criminals. Bitcoins have to be stored in a digital wallet, either online through an exchange like Coinbase, or offline on a hard drive using specialized software. According to Coinbase, there are about 18.7 million Bitcoins in circulation and only 21 million will ever exist. The reason for that is unclear, and where all the Bitcoins are is anyone's guess. Yes, and a fairly big one. Musk announced in February that his electric car company Tesla had invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin. In March, Tesla began accepting Bitcoin as payment. Those actions contributed to the run-up in Bitcoin's price, and Musk also promoted the digital currency Dogecoin, which also spiked in value. However, Musk reversed course in just a short time, saying last week that Tesla would stop accepting Bitcoin because of the potential environmental damage that can result from Bitcoin mining. The announcement sent Bitcoin falling below $50,000 and set the tone for the big pullback in most cryptocurrencies. A number of Bitcoin fans pushed back on Musk's reasoning. Fellow billionaire Mark Cuban said that gold mining is much more damaging to the environment than the mining of Bitcoin. A 2019 study by the Technical University of Munich and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the Bitcoin network generates an amount of CO2 similar to a large Western city or an entire developing country like Sri Lanka. But a University of Cambridge study last year estimated that on average, 39% of "proof-of-work" crypto mining was powered by renewable energy, primarily hydroelectric energy. The digital payment company Square and its CEO Jack Dorsey also the CEO of Twitter have been big proponents of Bitcoin. Overstock.com also accepts Bitcoin, and in February, BNY Mellon, the oldest bank in the U.S., said it would include digital currencies in the services it provides to clients. And Mastercard said it would start supporting "select crypto currencies" on its network. Bitcoin has become popular enough that more than 300,000 transactions typically occur in an average day, according to Bitcoin wallet site blockchain.info. Still, its popularity is low compared with cash and credit cards. Yes, plenty of it. Tracking Bitcoin's price is obviously easier than trying to figure out its value, which is why so many institutions, experts and traders are skeptical about it and cryptocurrency in general. Digital currencies were seen as replacements for paper money, but that hasn't happened so far. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has said the central bank prefers to call crypto coins "crypto assets," because their volatility undermines their ability to store value, a basic function of a currency. While some banks and financial services companies are getting in on it, others are staying away. Regulators aren't very worried about a possible crash in digital currencies dragging down the rest of the financial system or economy. Even with the recent sell-off, digital currencies have a market value of about $1.5 trillion, according to the website coinmarketcap.com. But that pales compared with the $46.9 trillion stock market, $41.3 trillion residential real estate market and nearly $21 trillion Treasury market at the start of the year. The European Central Bank said Wednesday that the risk of cryptocurrencies affecting the financial system's stability looks "limited at present." In large part, that's because they're still not widely used for payments and institutions under its purview still have little exposure to crypto-linked instruments. Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve said a survey of market contacts found roughly one in five cited cryptocurrencies as a potential shock to the system over the next 12 to 18 months. That's a turnaround from the fall, when a similar survey found none mentioning cryptocurrencies. Washington officials have been talking about regulating digital currencies more, and worries about a heavier hand have played a role in the recent swoon in prices. Gary Gensler, who took over as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, has said that cryptocurrency markets would benefit from more oversight to protect investors. In a hearing before the House's financial services committee earlier this month, Gensler said neither the SEC nor the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which he used to head, has a "regulatory framework" for trading on cryptocurrency exchanges yet. He said he thought Congress would ultimately have to address it because "there's really not protection against fraud or manipulation." How Bitcoin came to be It's a mystery. Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by a person or group of people operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin was then adopted by a small clutch of enthusiasts. Nakamoto dropped off the map as bitcoin began to attract widespread attention. But proponents say that doesn't matter: The currency obeys its own internal logic. In 2016, An Australian entrepreneur stepped forward and claimed to be the founder of Bitcoin, only to say days later that he did not "have the courage" to publish proof that he is. No one has claimed credit for the currency since. | The price of Bitcoin fell as much as 29% Wednesday. A Chinese industry group said banks should "resolutely refrain" from using digital currencies. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bitcoin-price-cryptocurrency-down-2021-05-21/ | 0.179706 |
Why is the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies falling? | The price of Bitcoin fell as much as 29% Wednesday after the China Banking Association warned member banks of risks associated with digital currencies. Other digital currencies suffered sharp declines as well. Bitcoin's volatility was on full display: The decline had narrowed to below 10% in early afternoon trading. Bitcoin has lost about 40% of its value since April 13 when it hit a high of more than $64,606 per coin. Before Wednesday, Tesla's decision to not accept the digital currency as payment for cars, along with concerns about tighter regulation of digital currencies, were major factors in the decline. The price is still up about 31% in 2021 and nearly 300% from a year ago. On Wednesday, a statement posted on the Chinese Banking Association's website said financial institutions should "resolutely refrain" from providing services using digital currencies because of their volatility. Virtually every cryptocurrency fell after the industry group's statement. Bitcoin slumped to $30,202 before recovering to $38,038, down 12% on the day, according to Coindesk. Most cryptocurrencies lost between 7% and 22% of their value and shares of Coinbase dropped 5.4%. The value of Bitcoin can change by thousands of dollars in a short time period. On the last trading day of 2020, Bitcoin closed just under $30,000. In mid-April, it flirted with $65,000. The price bounced around after that, with some notable swings, before taking a decidedly negative turn last week. How Bitcoin works Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not tied to a bank or government and allows users to spend money anonymously. The coins are created by users who "mine" them by lending computing power to verify other users' transactions. They receive Bitcoins in exchange. The coins also can be bought and sold on exchanges with U.S. dollars and other currencies. Some businesses take Bitcoin as payment, and a number of financial institutions allow it in their clients' portfolios, but overall mainstream acceptance is still limited. Bitcoins are basically lines of computer code that are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next. Transactions can be made anonymously, making the currency popular with libertarians as well as tech enthusiasts, speculators and criminals. Bitcoins have to be stored in a digital wallet, either online through an exchange like Coinbase, or offline on a hard drive using specialized software. According to Coinbase, there are about 18.7 million Bitcoins in circulation and only 21 million will ever exist. The reason for that is unclear, and where all the Bitcoins are is anyone's guess. Yes, and a fairly big one. Musk announced in February that his electric car company Tesla had invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin. In March, Tesla began accepting Bitcoin as payment. Those actions contributed to the run-up in Bitcoin's price, and Musk also promoted the digital currency Dogecoin, which also spiked in value. However, Musk reversed course in just a short time, saying last week that Tesla would stop accepting Bitcoin because of the potential environmental damage that can result from Bitcoin mining. The announcement sent Bitcoin falling below $50,000 and set the tone for the big pullback in most cryptocurrencies. A number of Bitcoin fans pushed back on Musk's reasoning. Fellow billionaire Mark Cuban said that gold mining is much more damaging to the environment than the mining of Bitcoin. A 2019 study by the Technical University of Munich and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the Bitcoin network generates an amount of CO2 similar to a large Western city or an entire developing country like Sri Lanka. But a University of Cambridge study last year estimated that on average, 39% of "proof-of-work" crypto mining was powered by renewable energy, primarily hydroelectric energy. The digital payment company Square and its CEO Jack Dorsey also the CEO of Twitter have been big proponents of Bitcoin. Overstock.com also accepts Bitcoin, and in February, BNY Mellon, the oldest bank in the U.S., said it would include digital currencies in the services it provides to clients. And Mastercard said it would start supporting "select crypto currencies" on its network. Bitcoin has become popular enough that more than 300,000 transactions typically occur in an average day, according to Bitcoin wallet site blockchain.info. Still, its popularity is low compared with cash and credit cards. Yes, plenty of it. Tracking Bitcoin's price is obviously easier than trying to figure out its value, which is why so many institutions, experts and traders are skeptical about it and cryptocurrency in general. Digital currencies were seen as replacements for paper money, but that hasn't happened so far. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has said the central bank prefers to call crypto coins "crypto assets," because their volatility undermines their ability to store value, a basic function of a currency. While some banks and financial services companies are getting in on it, others are staying away. Regulators aren't very worried about a possible crash in digital currencies dragging down the rest of the financial system or economy. Even with the recent sell-off, digital currencies have a market value of about $1.5 trillion, according to the website coinmarketcap.com. But that pales compared with the $46.9 trillion stock market, $41.3 trillion residential real estate market and nearly $21 trillion Treasury market at the start of the year. The European Central Bank said Wednesday that the risk of cryptocurrencies affecting the financial system's stability looks "limited at present." In large part, that's because they're still not widely used for payments and institutions under its purview still have little exposure to crypto-linked instruments. Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve said a survey of market contacts found roughly one in five cited cryptocurrencies as a potential shock to the system over the next 12 to 18 months. That's a turnaround from the fall, when a similar survey found none mentioning cryptocurrencies. Washington officials have been talking about regulating digital currencies more, and worries about a heavier hand have played a role in the recent swoon in prices. Gary Gensler, who took over as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, has said that cryptocurrency markets would benefit from more oversight to protect investors. In a hearing before the House's financial services committee earlier this month, Gensler said neither the SEC nor the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which he used to head, has a "regulatory framework" for trading on cryptocurrency exchanges yet. He said he thought Congress would ultimately have to address it because "there's really not protection against fraud or manipulation." How Bitcoin came to be It's a mystery. Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by a person or group of people operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin was then adopted by a small clutch of enthusiasts. Nakamoto dropped off the map as bitcoin began to attract widespread attention. But proponents say that doesn't matter: The currency obeys its own internal logic. In 2016, An Australian entrepreneur stepped forward and claimed to be the founder of Bitcoin, only to say days later that he did not "have the courage" to publish proof that he is. No one has claimed credit for the currency since. | The price of Bitcoin fell as much as 29% Wednesday after the China Banking Association warned member banks of risks associated with digital currencies. Bitcoin's volatility was on full display: The decline had narrowed to below 10% in early afternoon trading. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bitcoin-price-cryptocurrency-down-2021-05-21/ | 0.36285 |
Why is the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies falling? | The price of Bitcoin fell as much as 29% Wednesday after the China Banking Association warned member banks of risks associated with digital currencies. Other digital currencies suffered sharp declines as well. Bitcoin's volatility was on full display: The decline had narrowed to below 10% in early afternoon trading. Bitcoin has lost about 40% of its value since April 13 when it hit a high of more than $64,606 per coin. Before Wednesday, Tesla's decision to not accept the digital currency as payment for cars, along with concerns about tighter regulation of digital currencies, were major factors in the decline. The price is still up about 31% in 2021 and nearly 300% from a year ago. On Wednesday, a statement posted on the Chinese Banking Association's website said financial institutions should "resolutely refrain" from providing services using digital currencies because of their volatility. Virtually every cryptocurrency fell after the industry group's statement. Bitcoin slumped to $30,202 before recovering to $38,038, down 12% on the day, according to Coindesk. Most cryptocurrencies lost between 7% and 22% of their value and shares of Coinbase dropped 5.4%. The value of Bitcoin can change by thousands of dollars in a short time period. On the last trading day of 2020, Bitcoin closed just under $30,000. In mid-April, it flirted with $65,000. The price bounced around after that, with some notable swings, before taking a decidedly negative turn last week. How Bitcoin works Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not tied to a bank or government and allows users to spend money anonymously. The coins are created by users who "mine" them by lending computing power to verify other users' transactions. They receive Bitcoins in exchange. The coins also can be bought and sold on exchanges with U.S. dollars and other currencies. Some businesses take Bitcoin as payment, and a number of financial institutions allow it in their clients' portfolios, but overall mainstream acceptance is still limited. Bitcoins are basically lines of computer code that are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next. Transactions can be made anonymously, making the currency popular with libertarians as well as tech enthusiasts, speculators and criminals. Bitcoins have to be stored in a digital wallet, either online through an exchange like Coinbase, or offline on a hard drive using specialized software. According to Coinbase, there are about 18.7 million Bitcoins in circulation and only 21 million will ever exist. The reason for that is unclear, and where all the Bitcoins are is anyone's guess. Yes, and a fairly big one. Musk announced in February that his electric car company Tesla had invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin. In March, Tesla began accepting Bitcoin as payment. Those actions contributed to the run-up in Bitcoin's price, and Musk also promoted the digital currency Dogecoin, which also spiked in value. However, Musk reversed course in just a short time, saying last week that Tesla would stop accepting Bitcoin because of the potential environmental damage that can result from Bitcoin mining. The announcement sent Bitcoin falling below $50,000 and set the tone for the big pullback in most cryptocurrencies. A number of Bitcoin fans pushed back on Musk's reasoning. Fellow billionaire Mark Cuban said that gold mining is much more damaging to the environment than the mining of Bitcoin. A 2019 study by the Technical University of Munich and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the Bitcoin network generates an amount of CO2 similar to a large Western city or an entire developing country like Sri Lanka. But a University of Cambridge study last year estimated that on average, 39% of "proof-of-work" crypto mining was powered by renewable energy, primarily hydroelectric energy. The digital payment company Square and its CEO Jack Dorsey also the CEO of Twitter have been big proponents of Bitcoin. Overstock.com also accepts Bitcoin, and in February, BNY Mellon, the oldest bank in the U.S., said it would include digital currencies in the services it provides to clients. And Mastercard said it would start supporting "select crypto currencies" on its network. Bitcoin has become popular enough that more than 300,000 transactions typically occur in an average day, according to Bitcoin wallet site blockchain.info. Still, its popularity is low compared with cash and credit cards. Yes, plenty of it. Tracking Bitcoin's price is obviously easier than trying to figure out its value, which is why so many institutions, experts and traders are skeptical about it and cryptocurrency in general. Digital currencies were seen as replacements for paper money, but that hasn't happened so far. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has said the central bank prefers to call crypto coins "crypto assets," because their volatility undermines their ability to store value, a basic function of a currency. While some banks and financial services companies are getting in on it, others are staying away. Regulators aren't very worried about a possible crash in digital currencies dragging down the rest of the financial system or economy. Even with the recent sell-off, digital currencies have a market value of about $1.5 trillion, according to the website coinmarketcap.com. But that pales compared with the $46.9 trillion stock market, $41.3 trillion residential real estate market and nearly $21 trillion Treasury market at the start of the year. The European Central Bank said Wednesday that the risk of cryptocurrencies affecting the financial system's stability looks "limited at present." In large part, that's because they're still not widely used for payments and institutions under its purview still have little exposure to crypto-linked instruments. Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve said a survey of market contacts found roughly one in five cited cryptocurrencies as a potential shock to the system over the next 12 to 18 months. That's a turnaround from the fall, when a similar survey found none mentioning cryptocurrencies. Washington officials have been talking about regulating digital currencies more, and worries about a heavier hand have played a role in the recent swoon in prices. Gary Gensler, who took over as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, has said that cryptocurrency markets would benefit from more oversight to protect investors. In a hearing before the House's financial services committee earlier this month, Gensler said neither the SEC nor the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which he used to head, has a "regulatory framework" for trading on cryptocurrency exchanges yet. He said he thought Congress would ultimately have to address it because "there's really not protection against fraud or manipulation." How Bitcoin came to be It's a mystery. Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by a person or group of people operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin was then adopted by a small clutch of enthusiasts. Nakamoto dropped off the map as bitcoin began to attract widespread attention. But proponents say that doesn't matter: The currency obeys its own internal logic. In 2016, An Australian entrepreneur stepped forward and claimed to be the founder of Bitcoin, only to say days later that he did not "have the courage" to publish proof that he is. No one has claimed credit for the currency since. | The price of Bitcoin fell as much as 29% Wednesday after the China Banking Association warned member banks of risks associated with digital currencies. Bitcoin has lost about 40% of its value since April 13 when it hit a high of more than $64,606 per coin. The price is still up about 31% in 2021 and nearly 300% from a year ago. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bitcoin-price-cryptocurrency-down-2021-05-21/ | 0.387779 |
How human history affected plant life on the Earth today? | Getty Images The Earth's vegetation is changing at a faster rate today than it has over the last 18,000 years, and scientists think humans may be a big reason behind this. Researchers have found that changes in biodiversity and ecosystems stabilised at around 4,000 years ago but it then began to change very quickly at a time when human civilisations grew leading to agriculture and deforestation. The scientists involved in the study, published in the journal Science, think that these changes will continue, picking up pace over the coming decades, as a result of climate change brought about by humans. Jack Williams, professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US and one of the study authors, said: "This work suggests that 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, humans were already having an enormous impact on the world (and) that continues today." The team analysed more than 1,100 fossil pollen records from the Neotoma Paleoecology Database - which collects data on past ecosystems across every continent in the world apart from Antarctica. They also looked at how the plant life on earth changed since the end of the last Ice Age - about 18,000 years ago - and how quickly the changes took place. Getty Images Earth's ecosystems underwent drastic changes at record pace at the end of the last Ice Age, according to the data, with plants growing rapidly over what had been frozen landscapes. For most continents the changes peaked somewhere between 8,000 and 16,000 years ago, depending on the continent, and then became stable due to having a more consistent climate. Sarah Ivory, an assistant professor of geosciences at Pennsylvania State University in the US, and also one of the study authors, said: ""Ecosystems were reorganising. Many of the megafauna (large or giant animals like mammoths) went away. It's hard to explain all that without climate." But then 4,000 years ago more changes began in "a meteoric rise that continues today". Getty Images Sarah said: "During the later part of this period, there aren't major climate changes, so it is more likely human technology that is responsible." The findings suggest that the changes seen over the last two centuries likely began thousands of years before - long before the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1700s and the rise of fossil fuels in the early 1900s. They warn that as more land is used for activities like farming , and global temperatures rise due to greenhouse gases, they are likely to be many more changes to ecosystems to come which may yet again break new records. | Earth's vegetation is changing at a faster rate today than it has over the last 18,000 years. Scientists think humans may be a big reason behind this. Changes in biodiversity and ecosystems stabilised at around 4,00 years ago. | bart | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/57198261 | 0.153311 |
How human history affected plant life on the Earth today? | Getty Images The Earth's vegetation is changing at a faster rate today than it has over the last 18,000 years, and scientists think humans may be a big reason behind this. Researchers have found that changes in biodiversity and ecosystems stabilised at around 4,000 years ago but it then began to change very quickly at a time when human civilisations grew leading to agriculture and deforestation. The scientists involved in the study, published in the journal Science, think that these changes will continue, picking up pace over the coming decades, as a result of climate change brought about by humans. Jack Williams, professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US and one of the study authors, said: "This work suggests that 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, humans were already having an enormous impact on the world (and) that continues today." The team analysed more than 1,100 fossil pollen records from the Neotoma Paleoecology Database - which collects data on past ecosystems across every continent in the world apart from Antarctica. They also looked at how the plant life on earth changed since the end of the last Ice Age - about 18,000 years ago - and how quickly the changes took place. Getty Images Earth's ecosystems underwent drastic changes at record pace at the end of the last Ice Age, according to the data, with plants growing rapidly over what had been frozen landscapes. For most continents the changes peaked somewhere between 8,000 and 16,000 years ago, depending on the continent, and then became stable due to having a more consistent climate. Sarah Ivory, an assistant professor of geosciences at Pennsylvania State University in the US, and also one of the study authors, said: ""Ecosystems were reorganising. Many of the megafauna (large or giant animals like mammoths) went away. It's hard to explain all that without climate." But then 4,000 years ago more changes began in "a meteoric rise that continues today". Getty Images Sarah said: "During the later part of this period, there aren't major climate changes, so it is more likely human technology that is responsible." The findings suggest that the changes seen over the last two centuries likely began thousands of years before - long before the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1700s and the rise of fossil fuels in the early 1900s. They warn that as more land is used for activities like farming , and global temperatures rise due to greenhouse gases, they are likely to be many more changes to ecosystems to come which may yet again break new records. | Earth's vegetation is changing at a faster rate today than it has over the last 18,000 years. Scientists think humans may be a big reason behind this. Changes in biodiversity and ecosystems stabilised at around 4,000 year ago. But they then began to change very quickly at a time when human civilisations grew. | bart | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/57198261 | 0.29435 |
Will bankers embrace sensors under their desks when they return to work? | By Elizabeth Dilts Marshall NEW YORK (Reuters) - Reservation systems for seats. Algorithms that say whether a location is crowded or not. Cameras to show what's happening in real-time. Trackers that let others know you are there. Technology that has swept the world for convenience, curiosity, and accountability is arriving at workstations of U.S. bank employees, as they prepare to return to offices in coming months because of the pandemic easing, industry sources and outside vendors said. Banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank AG and HSBC Holdings PLC plan to have workers commute to buildings in New York and other U.S. cities as soon as this month, after more than a year of largely work-from-home situations. But not everyone can return at once: banks will have to extend practices like those used for small teams of traders during the pandemic. Shifting rotations of people will pass through giant buildings on different days, without clustering in the same areas on the same floors, to avoid spreading COVID-19. Some of the banks are implementing systems where employees will book "hot seats" on particular days and be monitored while they are sitting at them, sources said. In some buildings, that could mean cameras that monitor a room's occupancy level and even sensors that tell building management whether someone is sitting at a desk. "That feels a little personal," one bank employee said about desk sensors. The comment reflects a sentiment that some banks could face as they bring in tech that monitors employees more closely after an unprecedented period of working from afar: they are okay booking dinner reservations online, sharing locations with friends, live-streaming videos or wearing activity trackers for their own health, but not necessarily okay with having their employers knowing when they are seated at a desk. Employees will need to get over these hang-ups because the technology is necessary for safety and saves companies money, industry sources and consultants said. Story continues "We have to be more mindful about how space is being used and when it is being used," said Neil Murray, CEO of corporate solutions at JLL, which manages offices for JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and others. Murray said public health initiatives like contact-tracing have forced us to make certain concessions. "There is an element of having to watch interactions more closely. At the same we have to be respectful of individual privacy." JLL would not comment on specific clients, and Reuters could not independently determine which banks were using the technology. SEARCHING FOR 'OPTIMUM ROTATION' Staff returning to JPMorgan's Manhattan headquarters will soon have a new app that uses algorithms and artificial intelligence to book seats. It is part of an "optimum rotation" plan, Daniel Pinto, JPMorgan's co-president and chief operating officer said recently. That means getting the right people together on the right days for in-office collaboration. HSBC and Deutsche Bank also plan to launch reservation apps and online systems. While all three banks are still working out the details, apps like these can use card-swipes at security turnstiles to identify patterns and suggest when someone should book a desk to meet teammates. Some companies in JLL's portfolio are taking it a step further and linking their reservation systems to building cameras, which count bodies in a room, and desk sensors, which record when a seat is occupied, Murray said. In addition to flagging when a room may be near its 50% capacity limit, the data can tell companies when an office, or whole floor, is empty. That helps determine when to turn off lights, cancel janitorial services or downsize office space. JPMorgan expects to need just 60 seats for every 100 employees, on average, Chief Executive Jamie Dimon wrote in his April shareholder letter. "This will significantly reduce our need for real estate," Dimon wrote. A not insignificant number of bank employees have resisted going back to work in the office whether because of COVID-19 concerns, because they moved out of big cities during the pandemic, or because they simply prefer more flexible work arrangements. On the flip side, some junior investment bankers have complained about working from home without the hands-on guidance and camaraderie they would get in person, and without perks like free meals for late-night duties. Banks will have to balance those dynamics to get their workforce back to the office, and some are leaning on the idea of free and subsidized food. Credit Suisse, Barclays and others are using Sharebite, which coordinates orders from restaurants and directs delivery drivers to a building's service entrance. Meals are then sent to a common space where employees collect them. The service has been popular at investment banks looking for contactless food delivery, said Sharebite CEO Dilip Rao. "When you offer people food it brings people back to the office," Rao said. "They feel safe. They feel fed." (Reporting by Elizabeth Dilts Marshall in New York; edited by Lauren LaCapra and Nick Zieminski) | Banks are bringing in technology to monitor employees more closely, sources say. Some banks are implementing systems where employees will book "hot seats" Others are linking their reservation systems to building cameras and desk sensors. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/bankers-embrace-sensors-under-desks-111140558.html | 0.124427 |
Will bankers embrace sensors under their desks when they return to work? | By Elizabeth Dilts Marshall NEW YORK (Reuters) - Reservation systems for seats. Algorithms that say whether a location is crowded or not. Cameras to show what's happening in real-time. Trackers that let others know you are there. Technology that has swept the world for convenience, curiosity, and accountability is arriving at workstations of U.S. bank employees, as they prepare to return to offices in coming months because of the pandemic easing, industry sources and outside vendors said. Banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank AG and HSBC Holdings PLC plan to have workers commute to buildings in New York and other U.S. cities as soon as this month, after more than a year of largely work-from-home situations. But not everyone can return at once: banks will have to extend practices like those used for small teams of traders during the pandemic. Shifting rotations of people will pass through giant buildings on different days, without clustering in the same areas on the same floors, to avoid spreading COVID-19. Some of the banks are implementing systems where employees will book "hot seats" on particular days and be monitored while they are sitting at them, sources said. In some buildings, that could mean cameras that monitor a room's occupancy level and even sensors that tell building management whether someone is sitting at a desk. "That feels a little personal," one bank employee said about desk sensors. The comment reflects a sentiment that some banks could face as they bring in tech that monitors employees more closely after an unprecedented period of working from afar: they are okay booking dinner reservations online, sharing locations with friends, live-streaming videos or wearing activity trackers for their own health, but not necessarily okay with having their employers knowing when they are seated at a desk. Employees will need to get over these hang-ups because the technology is necessary for safety and saves companies money, industry sources and consultants said. Story continues "We have to be more mindful about how space is being used and when it is being used," said Neil Murray, CEO of corporate solutions at JLL, which manages offices for JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and others. Murray said public health initiatives like contact-tracing have forced us to make certain concessions. "There is an element of having to watch interactions more closely. At the same we have to be respectful of individual privacy." JLL would not comment on specific clients, and Reuters could not independently determine which banks were using the technology. SEARCHING FOR 'OPTIMUM ROTATION' Staff returning to JPMorgan's Manhattan headquarters will soon have a new app that uses algorithms and artificial intelligence to book seats. It is part of an "optimum rotation" plan, Daniel Pinto, JPMorgan's co-president and chief operating officer said recently. That means getting the right people together on the right days for in-office collaboration. HSBC and Deutsche Bank also plan to launch reservation apps and online systems. While all three banks are still working out the details, apps like these can use card-swipes at security turnstiles to identify patterns and suggest when someone should book a desk to meet teammates. Some companies in JLL's portfolio are taking it a step further and linking their reservation systems to building cameras, which count bodies in a room, and desk sensors, which record when a seat is occupied, Murray said. In addition to flagging when a room may be near its 50% capacity limit, the data can tell companies when an office, or whole floor, is empty. That helps determine when to turn off lights, cancel janitorial services or downsize office space. JPMorgan expects to need just 60 seats for every 100 employees, on average, Chief Executive Jamie Dimon wrote in his April shareholder letter. "This will significantly reduce our need for real estate," Dimon wrote. A not insignificant number of bank employees have resisted going back to work in the office whether because of COVID-19 concerns, because they moved out of big cities during the pandemic, or because they simply prefer more flexible work arrangements. On the flip side, some junior investment bankers have complained about working from home without the hands-on guidance and camaraderie they would get in person, and without perks like free meals for late-night duties. Banks will have to balance those dynamics to get their workforce back to the office, and some are leaning on the idea of free and subsidized food. Credit Suisse, Barclays and others are using Sharebite, which coordinates orders from restaurants and directs delivery drivers to a building's service entrance. Meals are then sent to a common space where employees collect them. The service has been popular at investment banks looking for contactless food delivery, said Sharebite CEO Dilip Rao. "When you offer people food it brings people back to the office," Rao said. "They feel safe. They feel fed." (Reporting by Elizabeth Dilts Marshall in New York; edited by Lauren LaCapra and Nick Zieminski) | Banks are bringing in technology to monitor employees more closely, sources say. Some banks are implementing systems where employees will book "hot seats" Others are linking their reservation systems to building cameras and desk sensors. The technology is necessary for safety and saves companies money, industry sources and consultants say. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/bankers-embrace-sensors-under-desks-111140558.html | 0.131201 |
Is D'Andre Swift a Top-10 NFL Running Back? | D'Andre Swift was left off of Pro Football Focus' latest ranking of 32 running backs. The No. 1 running back job in Detroit will undoubtedly be D'Andre Swift's to lose in 2021. The second-year back is coming off a 2020 campaign in which he recorded 114 carries for 521 yards and eight touchdowns, good for a yards-per-carry average of 4.6. He also made contributions as a pass-catcher, hauling in 46 balls for 357 yards and two scores. With an entire season of reps as the Lions' full-time starter, the Georgia product could very well become Detroit's first 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Bush in 2013. Yep, he was mysteriously not featured on Pro Football Focus' list of the top 32 NFL running backs for the upcoming season. Even if PFF thinks Lions offseason acquisition Jamaal Williams is going to cut into Swift's carries, it makes no sense to leave the 2020 second-round pick off the list completely. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports Swift's ability as both a ball carrier and receiver should make him at the very least a middle-of-the-road back. Heck, if he lives up to fantasy projections from ESPN and CBS Sports, he'll be much better than that. Both have him amassing over 1,300 yards from scrimmage -- ESPN projects 1,385 yards, while CBS Sports predicts 1,310 yards. If he were to have put up those numbers a season ago, he would've finished in the top 10 among all running backs in yards from scrimmage. For comparison's sake, the Dallas Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott and the Las Vegas Raiders' Josh Jacobs finished with 1,317 yards from scrimmage and 1,303 scrimmage yards, respectively, in 2020 -- good for No. 8 and No. 9 in the league. Swift has a solid shot at taking a step forward in his career development, and could end up being Detroit's most dynamic offensive weapon in 2021. However, I'm not ready to proclaim him as a top-10 NFL back just yet. My prediction is that he'll finish as a top-16 back in his sophomore campaign as a pro. More From SI All Lions: Scouting CB Ifeatu Melifonwu Lions Linebackers Coach Mark DeLeone 'Really Impressed' with Jahlani Tavai Twitter Reacts: Detroit Lions Have 'Perfect' Head Coach Mark Brunell 'Thrilled' to Coach Jared Goff PFF Ranks Jared Goff as Bottom-Tier NFL Quarterback | D'Andre Swift was mysteriously not featured on Pro Football Focus' list of the top 32 NFL running backs for the upcoming season. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/is-dandre-swift-top-ten-nfl-running-back | 0.122459 |
Is D'Andre Swift a Top-10 NFL Running Back? | D'Andre Swift was left off of Pro Football Focus' latest ranking of 32 running backs. The No. 1 running back job in Detroit will undoubtedly be D'Andre Swift's to lose in 2021. The second-year back is coming off a 2020 campaign in which he recorded 114 carries for 521 yards and eight touchdowns, good for a yards-per-carry average of 4.6. He also made contributions as a pass-catcher, hauling in 46 balls for 357 yards and two scores. With an entire season of reps as the Lions' full-time starter, the Georgia product could very well become Detroit's first 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Bush in 2013. Yep, he was mysteriously not featured on Pro Football Focus' list of the top 32 NFL running backs for the upcoming season. Even if PFF thinks Lions offseason acquisition Jamaal Williams is going to cut into Swift's carries, it makes no sense to leave the 2020 second-round pick off the list completely. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports Swift's ability as both a ball carrier and receiver should make him at the very least a middle-of-the-road back. Heck, if he lives up to fantasy projections from ESPN and CBS Sports, he'll be much better than that. Both have him amassing over 1,300 yards from scrimmage -- ESPN projects 1,385 yards, while CBS Sports predicts 1,310 yards. If he were to have put up those numbers a season ago, he would've finished in the top 10 among all running backs in yards from scrimmage. For comparison's sake, the Dallas Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott and the Las Vegas Raiders' Josh Jacobs finished with 1,317 yards from scrimmage and 1,303 scrimmage yards, respectively, in 2020 -- good for No. 8 and No. 9 in the league. Swift has a solid shot at taking a step forward in his career development, and could end up being Detroit's most dynamic offensive weapon in 2021. However, I'm not ready to proclaim him as a top-10 NFL back just yet. My prediction is that he'll finish as a top-16 back in his sophomore campaign as a pro. More From SI All Lions: Scouting CB Ifeatu Melifonwu Lions Linebackers Coach Mark DeLeone 'Really Impressed' with Jahlani Tavai Twitter Reacts: Detroit Lions Have 'Perfect' Head Coach Mark Brunell 'Thrilled' to Coach Jared Goff PFF Ranks Jared Goff as Bottom-Tier NFL Quarterback | D'Andre Swift was mysteriously not featured on Pro Football Focus' list of the top 32 NFL running backs for the upcoming season. Swift has a solid shot at taking a step forward in his career development, but I'm not ready to proclaim him as a top-10 NFL back just yet. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/is-dandre-swift-top-ten-nfl-running-back | 0.366308 |
Why is there a new cellular pole in my Minneapolis neighborhood? | Curious Minnesota Listen and subscribe to our podcast: Via Apple Podcasts |Spotify | Stitcher Hundreds of new cellular poles have swiftly blanketed Minneapolis neighborhoods in recent months, illustrating how the latest generation of wireless technology will also reshape the urban landscape. Cellular providers are racing to roll out fifth generation wireless technology, known as 5G, which will dramatically boost internet speeds on smartphones and other devices. 5G requires many new antennas across the region to deliver all that data, whether affixed to street lights and buildings or atop new standalone poles. The sudden appearance of new poles rivaling the height of nearby homes in Minneapolis with little public notice prompted one anonymous reader to contact Curious Minnesota, the Star Tribune's community reporting project fueled by great reader questions. The reader wanted to know their purpose and why the poles are spaced so close together. The short answer is that Verizon Wireless is deploying a type of 5G technology in Minneapolis neighborhoods that allows for the greatest speeds but travels the shortest distances. The proliferation of these standalone poles Verizon now owns more than 700 of them in the city was aided by a 2017 state law that eased regulations on smaller cell sites. Protections in that law for single-family neighborhoods were ultimately moot because Minneapolis eliminated single-family zoning. "My number one complaint is it's dumb technology for our neighborhoods," said Roy Vanderwerf, another Minneapolis resident who has been inquiring about the poles. "And number two, they're doing it without anybody's say-so." Roy Vanderwerf sitting in his sun room. The new cellular pole visible in the background. Vanderwerf first learned of the issue in late 2019 when he noticed workers marking the boulevard outside his sun room, where he regularly watches birds. Now a brown tower, topped by an antenna, obstructs views of a spruce tree where he sometimes spots hawks and eagles. A new generation of cellular 5G is capable of delivering speeds that are 10 to 20 times faster than the fourth-generation (LTE) technology that consumers are accustomed to today, according to professor Feng Qian, who specializes in wireless technology at the University of Minnesota. That could help autonomous cars communicate, improve teleconferencing, enable new uses for virtual reality, and make it possible to download a high-definition movie in 30 seconds, he said. Most smartphones still can't take advantage of it Apple released the first 5G-capable iPhone last fall but that will change as people upgrade. "I will say maybe in four to five years ... 5G will be a very common technology at least in major cities, major urban areas," Qian said. Cellular antennas have been moving closer to the end users with each new generation of wireless technology, said Mike Dano, editorial director of 5G and mobile strategiesat Light Reading, a trade publication covering the telecom industry. Once affixed to massive cellular towers, antennas now hang from school buildings, street lights and standalone poles. The increasing demand for cell service and roll out of 5G is requiring a lot of new infrastructure, Dano said. Unlike 3G and 4G, the fifth generation technology allows cell companies to use a variety of frequencies each with its own advantages, Dano said. Verizon initially invested heavily in acquiring higher frequencies, which travel the shortest distance but allow the fastest speeds. Hence the dense network of poles in Minneapolis. Verizon spokesman Chris Serico said the company has been adding more cell sites to support the "dramatic increase in voice and data traffic on our network." The company is marketing this improved service in parts of the Twin Cities as "5G Ultra Wideband." "Its ultrafast speeds and reduced lag time ... can give smartphones new capabilities for multi-player gaming on the go, streaming 4K movies and video, chatting in HD and more," Serico wrote in an e-mail. The company is also marketing it as a home internet alternative. T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon are also rolling out 5G on so-called "mid-band" frequencies. These travel farther and can often take advantage of existing antenna locations, though Dano said they may also require new infrastructure. Minneapolis isn't alone. Providers are installing new small cellular sites in the right of way of other cities like St. Paul and Bloomington, but in much smaller numbers so far. The legislative debate Minnesota is one of more than two dozen states that have passed laws in recent years streamlining regulations for the smaller-scale antenna sites used by 5G, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The 2017 Minnesota law was followed a year later by a similar Federal Communications Commission order, covering the entire country. Antennas are affixed to a new cellular pole in south Minneapolis. The law states that the small cellular antenna sites are an allowed use of the public right of way. It limits cities from dictating where the facilities are placed, creates a 90-day clock for approving or denying permit applications, and caps what cities can charge in rent for attaching antennas to city-owned structures. "The industry just wrote their own ticket, wrote the bill the way they wanted [to]," said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis. "And the municipalities, the cities, had nothing to say about it." Dibble, who has introduced a bill to weaken some provisions of the law, says he has heard from alarmed constituents about poles going up in their boulevards. They tell him the poles are unattractive, he said, but also express concerns about the health implications of the technology. The perceived health risks of radiation from 5G towers has fueled activism around the country. The American Cancer Society has stated that there is "isn't a lot of evidence" to support the idea that cell towers are a health risk, but the organization believes more research is needed on the issue. Rep. Marion O'Neill, who oversaw final negotiations on the legislation, rejects the idea that cities were left out of the process. She provided a list of two dozen changes that were made to accommodate concerns from The League of Minnesota Cities, which was ultimately neutral on the legislation. "Every time the League raised a concern, we did not move forward until we got consensus that they were OK with that policy," said O'Neill, R-Maple Lake. She added that the League ultimately could not support the cap on fees, however. Changes included extending the timeline to act on permit applications, limiting the height of new cell poles and allowing cities to require a "conditional use" permit for poles in historic districts and areas "zoned for single-family residential use." Requiring a conditional use permit for poles proposed in residential parts of Minneapolis would have likely triggered a public hearing and citizen input. But the city chose not to require one because it was developing the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which would ultimately eliminate single-family zoning, according to city spokesman Casper Hill. Hill said that permit process would not have benefited apartments and non-residential properties. "Instead, Minneapolis Public Works worked with Verizon to expand their notification processes to the properties affected near a pole installation," Hill wrote in an e-mail. Vanderwerf complained to Verizon about the pole outside his house and received a letter explaining that Minneapolis has seen a large increase in wireless device use that requires more capacity. He has since received a Verizon mailer advertising for "5G Home Internet," though he is already satisfied with his US Internet fiber service. "It's a waste," said Vanderwerf, looking out his window. "Because I don't anticipate very many people using that. I really don't." If you'd like to submit a Curious Minnesota question, fill out the form below: This form requires JavaScript to complete. (Minneapolis does!) | Hundreds of new cellular poles have swiftly blanketed Minneapolis neighborhoods. Verizon Wireless is deploying a type of 5G technology that allows for the greatest speeds. | bart | 0 | https://www.startribune.com/5g-wireless-antennas-minneapolis-verizon-cellular-residential/600045033/ | 0.530998 |
Why is there a new cellular pole in my Minneapolis neighborhood? | Curious Minnesota Listen and subscribe to our podcast: Via Apple Podcasts |Spotify | Stitcher Hundreds of new cellular poles have swiftly blanketed Minneapolis neighborhoods in recent months, illustrating how the latest generation of wireless technology will also reshape the urban landscape. Cellular providers are racing to roll out fifth generation wireless technology, known as 5G, which will dramatically boost internet speeds on smartphones and other devices. 5G requires many new antennas across the region to deliver all that data, whether affixed to street lights and buildings or atop new standalone poles. The sudden appearance of new poles rivaling the height of nearby homes in Minneapolis with little public notice prompted one anonymous reader to contact Curious Minnesota, the Star Tribune's community reporting project fueled by great reader questions. The reader wanted to know their purpose and why the poles are spaced so close together. The short answer is that Verizon Wireless is deploying a type of 5G technology in Minneapolis neighborhoods that allows for the greatest speeds but travels the shortest distances. The proliferation of these standalone poles Verizon now owns more than 700 of them in the city was aided by a 2017 state law that eased regulations on smaller cell sites. Protections in that law for single-family neighborhoods were ultimately moot because Minneapolis eliminated single-family zoning. "My number one complaint is it's dumb technology for our neighborhoods," said Roy Vanderwerf, another Minneapolis resident who has been inquiring about the poles. "And number two, they're doing it without anybody's say-so." Roy Vanderwerf sitting in his sun room. The new cellular pole visible in the background. Vanderwerf first learned of the issue in late 2019 when he noticed workers marking the boulevard outside his sun room, where he regularly watches birds. Now a brown tower, topped by an antenna, obstructs views of a spruce tree where he sometimes spots hawks and eagles. A new generation of cellular 5G is capable of delivering speeds that are 10 to 20 times faster than the fourth-generation (LTE) technology that consumers are accustomed to today, according to professor Feng Qian, who specializes in wireless technology at the University of Minnesota. That could help autonomous cars communicate, improve teleconferencing, enable new uses for virtual reality, and make it possible to download a high-definition movie in 30 seconds, he said. Most smartphones still can't take advantage of it Apple released the first 5G-capable iPhone last fall but that will change as people upgrade. "I will say maybe in four to five years ... 5G will be a very common technology at least in major cities, major urban areas," Qian said. Cellular antennas have been moving closer to the end users with each new generation of wireless technology, said Mike Dano, editorial director of 5G and mobile strategiesat Light Reading, a trade publication covering the telecom industry. Once affixed to massive cellular towers, antennas now hang from school buildings, street lights and standalone poles. The increasing demand for cell service and roll out of 5G is requiring a lot of new infrastructure, Dano said. Unlike 3G and 4G, the fifth generation technology allows cell companies to use a variety of frequencies each with its own advantages, Dano said. Verizon initially invested heavily in acquiring higher frequencies, which travel the shortest distance but allow the fastest speeds. Hence the dense network of poles in Minneapolis. Verizon spokesman Chris Serico said the company has been adding more cell sites to support the "dramatic increase in voice and data traffic on our network." The company is marketing this improved service in parts of the Twin Cities as "5G Ultra Wideband." "Its ultrafast speeds and reduced lag time ... can give smartphones new capabilities for multi-player gaming on the go, streaming 4K movies and video, chatting in HD and more," Serico wrote in an e-mail. The company is also marketing it as a home internet alternative. T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon are also rolling out 5G on so-called "mid-band" frequencies. These travel farther and can often take advantage of existing antenna locations, though Dano said they may also require new infrastructure. Minneapolis isn't alone. Providers are installing new small cellular sites in the right of way of other cities like St. Paul and Bloomington, but in much smaller numbers so far. The legislative debate Minnesota is one of more than two dozen states that have passed laws in recent years streamlining regulations for the smaller-scale antenna sites used by 5G, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The 2017 Minnesota law was followed a year later by a similar Federal Communications Commission order, covering the entire country. Antennas are affixed to a new cellular pole in south Minneapolis. The law states that the small cellular antenna sites are an allowed use of the public right of way. It limits cities from dictating where the facilities are placed, creates a 90-day clock for approving or denying permit applications, and caps what cities can charge in rent for attaching antennas to city-owned structures. "The industry just wrote their own ticket, wrote the bill the way they wanted [to]," said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis. "And the municipalities, the cities, had nothing to say about it." Dibble, who has introduced a bill to weaken some provisions of the law, says he has heard from alarmed constituents about poles going up in their boulevards. They tell him the poles are unattractive, he said, but also express concerns about the health implications of the technology. The perceived health risks of radiation from 5G towers has fueled activism around the country. The American Cancer Society has stated that there is "isn't a lot of evidence" to support the idea that cell towers are a health risk, but the organization believes more research is needed on the issue. Rep. Marion O'Neill, who oversaw final negotiations on the legislation, rejects the idea that cities were left out of the process. She provided a list of two dozen changes that were made to accommodate concerns from The League of Minnesota Cities, which was ultimately neutral on the legislation. "Every time the League raised a concern, we did not move forward until we got consensus that they were OK with that policy," said O'Neill, R-Maple Lake. She added that the League ultimately could not support the cap on fees, however. Changes included extending the timeline to act on permit applications, limiting the height of new cell poles and allowing cities to require a "conditional use" permit for poles in historic districts and areas "zoned for single-family residential use." Requiring a conditional use permit for poles proposed in residential parts of Minneapolis would have likely triggered a public hearing and citizen input. But the city chose not to require one because it was developing the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which would ultimately eliminate single-family zoning, according to city spokesman Casper Hill. Hill said that permit process would not have benefited apartments and non-residential properties. "Instead, Minneapolis Public Works worked with Verizon to expand their notification processes to the properties affected near a pole installation," Hill wrote in an e-mail. Vanderwerf complained to Verizon about the pole outside his house and received a letter explaining that Minneapolis has seen a large increase in wireless device use that requires more capacity. He has since received a Verizon mailer advertising for "5G Home Internet," though he is already satisfied with his US Internet fiber service. "It's a waste," said Vanderwerf, looking out his window. "Because I don't anticipate very many people using that. I really don't." If you'd like to submit a Curious Minnesota question, fill out the form below: This form requires JavaScript to complete. (Minneapolis does!) | Hundreds of new cellular poles have blanketed Minneapolis neighborhoods in recent months. Verizon Wireless is deploying a type of 5G technology that allows for the greatest speeds. The proliferation of these standalone poles was aided by a 2017 state law that eased regulations. | bart | 1 | https://www.startribune.com/5g-wireless-antennas-minneapolis-verizon-cellular-residential/600045033/ | 0.614698 |
Why is there a new cellular pole in my Minneapolis neighborhood? | Curious Minnesota Listen and subscribe to our podcast: Via Apple Podcasts |Spotify | Stitcher Hundreds of new cellular poles have swiftly blanketed Minneapolis neighborhoods in recent months, illustrating how the latest generation of wireless technology will also reshape the urban landscape. Cellular providers are racing to roll out fifth generation wireless technology, known as 5G, which will dramatically boost internet speeds on smartphones and other devices. 5G requires many new antennas across the region to deliver all that data, whether affixed to street lights and buildings or atop new standalone poles. The sudden appearance of new poles rivaling the height of nearby homes in Minneapolis with little public notice prompted one anonymous reader to contact Curious Minnesota, the Star Tribune's community reporting project fueled by great reader questions. The reader wanted to know their purpose and why the poles are spaced so close together. The short answer is that Verizon Wireless is deploying a type of 5G technology in Minneapolis neighborhoods that allows for the greatest speeds but travels the shortest distances. The proliferation of these standalone poles Verizon now owns more than 700 of them in the city was aided by a 2017 state law that eased regulations on smaller cell sites. Protections in that law for single-family neighborhoods were ultimately moot because Minneapolis eliminated single-family zoning. "My number one complaint is it's dumb technology for our neighborhoods," said Roy Vanderwerf, another Minneapolis resident who has been inquiring about the poles. "And number two, they're doing it without anybody's say-so." Roy Vanderwerf sitting in his sun room. The new cellular pole visible in the background. Vanderwerf first learned of the issue in late 2019 when he noticed workers marking the boulevard outside his sun room, where he regularly watches birds. Now a brown tower, topped by an antenna, obstructs views of a spruce tree where he sometimes spots hawks and eagles. A new generation of cellular 5G is capable of delivering speeds that are 10 to 20 times faster than the fourth-generation (LTE) technology that consumers are accustomed to today, according to professor Feng Qian, who specializes in wireless technology at the University of Minnesota. That could help autonomous cars communicate, improve teleconferencing, enable new uses for virtual reality, and make it possible to download a high-definition movie in 30 seconds, he said. Most smartphones still can't take advantage of it Apple released the first 5G-capable iPhone last fall but that will change as people upgrade. "I will say maybe in four to five years ... 5G will be a very common technology at least in major cities, major urban areas," Qian said. Cellular antennas have been moving closer to the end users with each new generation of wireless technology, said Mike Dano, editorial director of 5G and mobile strategiesat Light Reading, a trade publication covering the telecom industry. Once affixed to massive cellular towers, antennas now hang from school buildings, street lights and standalone poles. The increasing demand for cell service and roll out of 5G is requiring a lot of new infrastructure, Dano said. Unlike 3G and 4G, the fifth generation technology allows cell companies to use a variety of frequencies each with its own advantages, Dano said. Verizon initially invested heavily in acquiring higher frequencies, which travel the shortest distance but allow the fastest speeds. Hence the dense network of poles in Minneapolis. Verizon spokesman Chris Serico said the company has been adding more cell sites to support the "dramatic increase in voice and data traffic on our network." The company is marketing this improved service in parts of the Twin Cities as "5G Ultra Wideband." "Its ultrafast speeds and reduced lag time ... can give smartphones new capabilities for multi-player gaming on the go, streaming 4K movies and video, chatting in HD and more," Serico wrote in an e-mail. The company is also marketing it as a home internet alternative. T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon are also rolling out 5G on so-called "mid-band" frequencies. These travel farther and can often take advantage of existing antenna locations, though Dano said they may also require new infrastructure. Minneapolis isn't alone. Providers are installing new small cellular sites in the right of way of other cities like St. Paul and Bloomington, but in much smaller numbers so far. The legislative debate Minnesota is one of more than two dozen states that have passed laws in recent years streamlining regulations for the smaller-scale antenna sites used by 5G, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The 2017 Minnesota law was followed a year later by a similar Federal Communications Commission order, covering the entire country. Antennas are affixed to a new cellular pole in south Minneapolis. The law states that the small cellular antenna sites are an allowed use of the public right of way. It limits cities from dictating where the facilities are placed, creates a 90-day clock for approving or denying permit applications, and caps what cities can charge in rent for attaching antennas to city-owned structures. "The industry just wrote their own ticket, wrote the bill the way they wanted [to]," said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis. "And the municipalities, the cities, had nothing to say about it." Dibble, who has introduced a bill to weaken some provisions of the law, says he has heard from alarmed constituents about poles going up in their boulevards. They tell him the poles are unattractive, he said, but also express concerns about the health implications of the technology. The perceived health risks of radiation from 5G towers has fueled activism around the country. The American Cancer Society has stated that there is "isn't a lot of evidence" to support the idea that cell towers are a health risk, but the organization believes more research is needed on the issue. Rep. Marion O'Neill, who oversaw final negotiations on the legislation, rejects the idea that cities were left out of the process. She provided a list of two dozen changes that were made to accommodate concerns from The League of Minnesota Cities, which was ultimately neutral on the legislation. "Every time the League raised a concern, we did not move forward until we got consensus that they were OK with that policy," said O'Neill, R-Maple Lake. She added that the League ultimately could not support the cap on fees, however. Changes included extending the timeline to act on permit applications, limiting the height of new cell poles and allowing cities to require a "conditional use" permit for poles in historic districts and areas "zoned for single-family residential use." Requiring a conditional use permit for poles proposed in residential parts of Minneapolis would have likely triggered a public hearing and citizen input. But the city chose not to require one because it was developing the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which would ultimately eliminate single-family zoning, according to city spokesman Casper Hill. Hill said that permit process would not have benefited apartments and non-residential properties. "Instead, Minneapolis Public Works worked with Verizon to expand their notification processes to the properties affected near a pole installation," Hill wrote in an e-mail. Vanderwerf complained to Verizon about the pole outside his house and received a letter explaining that Minneapolis has seen a large increase in wireless device use that requires more capacity. He has since received a Verizon mailer advertising for "5G Home Internet," though he is already satisfied with his US Internet fiber service. "It's a waste," said Vanderwerf, looking out his window. "Because I don't anticipate very many people using that. I really don't." If you'd like to submit a Curious Minnesota question, fill out the form below: This form requires JavaScript to complete. (Minneapolis does!) | Hundreds of new cellular poles have blanketed Minneapolis neighborhoods in recent months. Verizon Wireless is deploying a type of 5G technology that allows for the greatest speeds. 5G is capable of delivering speeds that are 10 to 20 times faster than the fourth-generation (LTE) technology that consumers are accustomed to. | bart | 2 | https://www.startribune.com/5g-wireless-antennas-minneapolis-verizon-cellular-residential/600045033/ | 0.65135 |
Is Providence about to get an elected school board? | Happy Thursday and welcome to Rhode Map, your daily guide to everything happening in the Ocean State. Im Dan McGowan and I stayed up too late watching Steph Curry and LeBron. Follow me on Twitter @DanMcGowan or send tips to Dan.McGowan@globe.com . If you have friends or relatives who would like their own free copy of this daily briefing about Rhode Island, tell them they can sign up here . ICYMI: There was no COVID-19 data update available on Wednesday, so Rhode Island was at 150,737 confirmed coronavirus cases as of May 18. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,703 residents had died. There were 77 people in the hospital, and 514,975 residents were fully vaccinated. Advertisement It sure sounds like Providence is going to take a long look at moving to an elected school board. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten floated the idea during her visit to the city on Wednesday, and two elected officials didnt waste any time announcing their own ideas. City Councilman David Salvatore, a Democrat who is term-limited next year, said he thinks some version of an elected school board should be put to city voters. He said the citys Charter Review Commission could vet the plan and place it on the ballot next year. A hybrid elected and appointed school board is one option to consider, but the most important thing we must do is have public discussions that are research- and data-informed to determine the best governance approach to rebuild trust, advance student success, ensure a rigorous hiring and training process, and strengthen fiscal accountability, Salvatore said. State Senator Maryellen Goodwin, a Providence Democrat, said she will introduce legislation requiring that any community with four-year election cycles also have an elected school board. Providence currently has a mayor-appointed board, and members are confirmed by the City Council. The board has very little power right now because the state controls Providence schools, but it continues to meet. In fact, it took a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Harrison Peters last night. Advertisement There are potential risks to an elected school board. It only adds to the politics of education, and special interests can gain even more influence. Imagine how much money both the Providence Teachers Union and the charter school networks would spend trying to win school board seats. Theres also important equity issues to consider. If you create an at-large school board in the city, theres always the risk that the majority of the seats would be occupied by wealthy residents from the East Side. On the flip side, a mayor-appointed school board can be just as political, and only the mayor can hold members accountable. By taking a deep breath and doing nothing for now. Read more. It wont be long before Providence Superintendent Harrison Peters is out of his job. Heres how we got to this point. Read more. After 90 years of serving kids in crisis, COVID-19 presents new pediatric mental health challenges for Bradley Hospital. Read more. Rhode Islands only independently operated health system has announced projects that will help it expand into other parts of the state. Read more. Advertisement MORE ON BOSTONGLOBE.COM Politics: My colleague James Pindell explains why former president Donald Trump still matters in national politics. Read more. Editorial: The Globes editorial board backs takeout cocktails. Read more. Entertainment: If you havent yet attended a live music event since the beginning of the pandemic, Jon Garelick explains what its like. Read more. Sports: Here come those Bruins. Read more. Subscribe to BostonGlobe.com WHATS ON TAP TODAY Each day, Rhode Map offers a cheat sheet breaking down whats happening in Rhode Island. E-mail us at RInews@globe.com. BIRTHDAYS: Rhode Map readers, if you want a friend or family member to be recognized on Friday, send me an e-mail with their first and last name, and their age. If you want a shout out on the new Globe Rhode Island Facebook page, send along their Facebook handle as well. Governor Dan McKee will sign legislation increasing the states minimum wage at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. Governor McKee will hold his weekly COVID-19 press conference at 1 p.m. Governor McKee and Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos will host a virtual discussion on Facebook Live about higher education at 5:30 p.m. The Rhode Island Department of Education has launched EnrollRI to offer hundreds of classes and other learning opportunities for students this summer. Check it out here. Your subscription is what makes it possible. Weve got a great offer here. Advertisement Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @danmcgowan. | Providence is looking at moving to an elected school board. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/21/metro/is-providence-about-get-an-elected-school-board/ | 0.452036 |
Is Providence about to get an elected school board? | Happy Thursday and welcome to Rhode Map, your daily guide to everything happening in the Ocean State. Im Dan McGowan and I stayed up too late watching Steph Curry and LeBron. Follow me on Twitter @DanMcGowan or send tips to Dan.McGowan@globe.com . If you have friends or relatives who would like their own free copy of this daily briefing about Rhode Island, tell them they can sign up here . ICYMI: There was no COVID-19 data update available on Wednesday, so Rhode Island was at 150,737 confirmed coronavirus cases as of May 18. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,703 residents had died. There were 77 people in the hospital, and 514,975 residents were fully vaccinated. Advertisement It sure sounds like Providence is going to take a long look at moving to an elected school board. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten floated the idea during her visit to the city on Wednesday, and two elected officials didnt waste any time announcing their own ideas. City Councilman David Salvatore, a Democrat who is term-limited next year, said he thinks some version of an elected school board should be put to city voters. He said the citys Charter Review Commission could vet the plan and place it on the ballot next year. A hybrid elected and appointed school board is one option to consider, but the most important thing we must do is have public discussions that are research- and data-informed to determine the best governance approach to rebuild trust, advance student success, ensure a rigorous hiring and training process, and strengthen fiscal accountability, Salvatore said. State Senator Maryellen Goodwin, a Providence Democrat, said she will introduce legislation requiring that any community with four-year election cycles also have an elected school board. Providence currently has a mayor-appointed board, and members are confirmed by the City Council. The board has very little power right now because the state controls Providence schools, but it continues to meet. In fact, it took a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Harrison Peters last night. Advertisement There are potential risks to an elected school board. It only adds to the politics of education, and special interests can gain even more influence. Imagine how much money both the Providence Teachers Union and the charter school networks would spend trying to win school board seats. Theres also important equity issues to consider. If you create an at-large school board in the city, theres always the risk that the majority of the seats would be occupied by wealthy residents from the East Side. On the flip side, a mayor-appointed school board can be just as political, and only the mayor can hold members accountable. By taking a deep breath and doing nothing for now. Read more. It wont be long before Providence Superintendent Harrison Peters is out of his job. Heres how we got to this point. Read more. After 90 years of serving kids in crisis, COVID-19 presents new pediatric mental health challenges for Bradley Hospital. Read more. Rhode Islands only independently operated health system has announced projects that will help it expand into other parts of the state. Read more. Advertisement MORE ON BOSTONGLOBE.COM Politics: My colleague James Pindell explains why former president Donald Trump still matters in national politics. Read more. Editorial: The Globes editorial board backs takeout cocktails. Read more. Entertainment: If you havent yet attended a live music event since the beginning of the pandemic, Jon Garelick explains what its like. Read more. Sports: Here come those Bruins. Read more. Subscribe to BostonGlobe.com WHATS ON TAP TODAY Each day, Rhode Map offers a cheat sheet breaking down whats happening in Rhode Island. E-mail us at RInews@globe.com. BIRTHDAYS: Rhode Map readers, if you want a friend or family member to be recognized on Friday, send me an e-mail with their first and last name, and their age. If you want a shout out on the new Globe Rhode Island Facebook page, send along their Facebook handle as well. Governor Dan McKee will sign legislation increasing the states minimum wage at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. Governor McKee will hold his weekly COVID-19 press conference at 1 p.m. Governor McKee and Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos will host a virtual discussion on Facebook Live about higher education at 5:30 p.m. The Rhode Island Department of Education has launched EnrollRI to offer hundreds of classes and other learning opportunities for students this summer. Check it out here. Your subscription is what makes it possible. Weve got a great offer here. Advertisement Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @danmcgowan. | Providence is looking at moving to an elected school board. Here's what you need to know to get the most out of your day in the Ocean State. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/21/metro/is-providence-about-get-an-elected-school-board/ | 0.449143 |
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