Tag: NFL

Sports Stingers: 18 May 20

Sport Stingers

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Wrestling

  • WWE and wrestler Drew Gulak parted ways. This is after Gulak lost his match to Daniel Bryan in the Intercontinental Championship tournament. 
  • Jinder Mahal is rumored to have a babyface run now that he’s back. He’s been absent due to recovering from a knee injury. While being interviewed he stated that his journey will be a hero’s journey.

 

Basketball

  • NBA.com is reporting that Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the rest of the passengers in the crash all died instantly.  The Los Angeles County coroner reported that the victims had broken bones, dismembered body parts, and smelled of fuel. The report summarized that they all died from the blunt force trauma of the crash and not the subsequent injuries. Bryant and the others were heading to a tournament, but the helicopter flew into thick fog and they crashed, and when the pilot, Ara Zobayan, tried to clear it, the helicopter took a turn and crashed into the hills. They are reported to have crashed at 184 mph with the impact scattering the bodies and debris over the size of a football field. Bryant was found outside the wreckage, his daughter found on the ravine. For more on this sad story: https://www.nba.com/article/2020/05/16/autopsies-show-bryant-passengers-died-instantly
  • NBA teams started to reopen their gyms and allow players to work out. Kevin Love expressed how happy he was to return to the gym. There still isn’t any news on if the season will continue, but owners are working on a plan that may see players return, but with no fans in attendance. 

Football

  • Eagles center Jason Kelce believes Andre Dillard can take over at left tackle. Dillard is going into his second season and was drafted in hopes of taking over from Jason Peters. Peters is exploring free agency and it appears won’t be coming back. This is the first time since Peters arrived in Philly, that the Eagles had to worry about the position. The Eagles made it into the playoffs due to the Dallas Cowboys’ poor play in the last four weeks of the season.

Hockey

  • William Douglas, a writer for the NHL, hosts a blog called The Color of Hockey on the NHL site which covers people of color in the game of hockey.  In his most recent post, he talks about Reggie Millette.

 

Baseball

  • MLB.com has a feature article on the best moments in each ballpark’s history.

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-ballpark-best-moments

 

Jameis Winston Signing

Jameis Winston has signed with the New Orleans Saints. He will be a back up to Drew Bress and possibly Taysom Hill. After a lackluster three seasons with Tampa Bay, Winston has the chance to learn from Drew Brees, one of the most accurate passers in the NFL last year.

According to his interview with Jeremy Bergman, writer of Around the NFL, he seems excited about the opportunity. Winston considers Brees to be someone he has always looked up too and admired. He views this as preparation for the next phase of his career.

Las Vegas Raiders Draft Results

The Raiders finished 4-12 two seasons ago and improved to a 7-9 last year in John Gruden’s sophomore year as head coach. They had glaring positional needs this year, chief among them being is improving the wide receivers and corner-backs.position. In the 2020 draft, the Raiders impressed with their picks and look ready to take another step towards their division rivals and reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Henry Ruggs III - Football - University of Alabama Athletics
Henry Ruggs III making a play in college. Image taken from https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/henry-ruggs-iii/5465

In the first round, the Raiders chose with the 12th pick wide receiver Henry Ruggs III from Alabama. This reunites Ruggs with the Raiders running back and college teammate, Josh Jacobs. Ruggs dedicated the night to his dead friend who encouraged him to pursue football. Ruggs is a speedy receiver that will compliment Tyrell Williams. With Williams’s questionable durability, Ruggs could be primed to become Derek Carr’s number one choice. He stretches the field which will allow newcomer Nelson Agholor to play slot receiver and open up Williams more.

With the 19th pick of the first round, they chose Damon Arnette from Ohio. A physical cornerback that helps improve their defensive backs. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder, from the answer he gave Coach Gruden on draft night, about not being the first cornerback chosen in the draft. The Raiders made the most out of this pick that came from Chicago.

The Raiders had three third-round picks at number 80,81 and 100. They drafted versatile Lynn Bowden Jr., from Kentucky who can play wide receiver and running back, giving the Raiders more flexibility to their offense and helping Josh Jacobs who had to carry the ball most of the time. Then they drafted Bryan Edwards a wideout from South Carolina. Edwards is a big, strong target that again gives Carr more weapons on the offense. Tanner Muse, a safety from Clemson, promises to make an immediate contribution to the defensive backs and special teams.

In the fourth round with picks 109 and 139, the Raiders drafted John Simpson and Amik Robertson. Simpson is a big guard that will be groomed to take over for the aging Richie Incognito. Giving the offensive line a younger, more dynamic future. Robertson broke into tears when he received the call from Gruden. Robertson is a cornerback from Louisiana Tech and will help improve defense and has great instincts.

The Raider’s improvement last year is thanks to a highly talented rookie class led by running back Josh Jacobs and defensive end Max Crosby. The Raiders improved both their offense and defense with their picks this year as they try to win the division from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Antonio Brown Saga…Patriots!!!!

When I heard the news yesterday that the Oakland Raiders were going to suspend Antonio Brown fro missing appearances I had two thoughts. The first was as a fan and with that was “here we go” and “I hope he gets it together.” The second was as a fantasy owner of AB in which I was upset.

I don’t know what it is with superegos, but the wide receivers of the NFL take it to interesting heights. Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Odell Beckham, Jr. Okay to be fair those are really the only ones that stick out, but AB is starting to top them all. Now I believe he is one the best and maybe once the season actually starts things will boil over.

 

Then he had a press conference and apologize to the team. Fast forward to Saturday morning and we went from he will play on Monday to being released.  Again as a fan I thought that this was a good move. Players, no matter how good, need to be reminded that they are not above the system. I’m not saying AB was in the wrong totally, but he was fined for missing appearances, bottom line. To react the way he did which must of further the consequences is unbecoming of a star of his caliber.

My initial thoughts agreed with Stephen Smith that the Patriots will pick him up.  Around 5pm? Adam Scheffer reported that AB is finalizing talks with the New England Patriots. AB lost all his guarantee money from the fines with Oakland, so the Patriots will be signing him the a veterans minimum, but don’t quote me on that.

This just made the defending Super Bowl champions a little more dangerous…if AB is determined to show why he should had the 30 million dollar guarantee contract. Plus he’s playing with the greatest of all time, Tom Brady.

As a fan it sucks we lost a good piece, but I understand the need to stand your ground, especially with a whole locker room of players looking at the situation. Oh well, as fantasy owner of AB I knew some team would take a chance to get him. Now I benefit from Tom Brady which was one of my strategies…to get receivers from Patrick Mahomes and Brady. So. Yeah. Keep it together AB and I hope you’re happy. Oakland? I still love you and respect you even more! Let’s go !