tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149297652024-03-18T23:59:54.052-04:00Neil Cornrich & NC Sports, LLCManaging the careers of professional athletes and coachesNeil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comBlogger2782125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-32179127370004271332024-03-05T16:50:00.002-05:002024-03-05T16:50:51.924-05:00South Carolina Football: Newest assistant gets ringing endorsement from former NFL QB, ESPN personality<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb22o8BlQgh5EkPUMSlW_FUpROItJeUhvrB350V4T4l-z_dg3lznS_rZ9VLTF-hEm1Z4Jk3ZluXOUpbrMhdpKLpUEzmWPZU3Ayeuh-dvrnm4BcQeY1LULBeBapsfMBiiOW3WE-y1kEq_jMSdFMxYU1P-bKkpCL5Yv8i0rcByKystPGPY4YRJJrvw/s193/gnc.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="46" data-original-width="193" height="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb22o8BlQgh5EkPUMSlW_FUpROItJeUhvrB350V4T4l-z_dg3lznS_rZ9VLTF-hEm1Z4Jk3ZluXOUpbrMhdpKLpUEzmWPZU3Ayeuh-dvrnm4BcQeY1LULBeBapsfMBiiOW3WE-y1kEq_jMSdFMxYU1P-bKkpCL5Yv8i0rcByKystPGPY4YRJJrvw/s1600/gnc.png" width="193" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">South Carolina football
wide receiver coach Mike Furrey just got the job this week, but he has gotten a
ringing endorsement from Dan Orlovsky</span>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h4 style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 60.0pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Montserrat; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By <a href="https://garnetandcocky.com/author/kmiller6/"><span style="color: #111111;">Kevin
Miller</span></a> | Mar 3, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></h4><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBb_HiWc9CjVxbCjLj_92eMMiSzdRp_H2P8aU997HnjrCrRFuo2iTvH_FduB16SShCCz7EKJkukXvXJ_YH9roSpkgSrmT_MExBUJl_CIzRFx6Xrx9KDGAyzw93D8B8XiVpprMjrZL4UzmjAJ2O8n5HCgkbzeXcD0TosornxWpeiDltIGsy64dHw/s720/furrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBb_HiWc9CjVxbCjLj_92eMMiSzdRp_H2P8aU997HnjrCrRFuo2iTvH_FduB16SShCCz7EKJkukXvXJ_YH9roSpkgSrmT_MExBUJl_CIzRFx6Xrx9KDGAyzw93D8B8XiVpprMjrZL4UzmjAJ2O8n5HCgkbzeXcD0TosornxWpeiDltIGsy64dHw/w400-h225/furrey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">South Carolina football wide receivers coach Mike Furrey
when he coached with the Chicago Bears / Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports</p>
<p class="tagstyle4o6kkn-oo-style1tcxgp3-oo-style1pinbx1-oo-style48hmcm" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin: 0in; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; scroll-margin-top: 100px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://garnetandcocky.com/posts/south-carolina-football-furrey-wr" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8a122b;">South Carolina football coach Shane
Beamer hired Mike Furrey this week to be the Gamecocks' wide receivers coach</span></a>.
It was the second time this offseason that Beamer hired a receivers coach as he
moved Justin Stepp to tight ends (then, Stepp left to coach receivers at
Illinois), brought in James Coley to replace Stepp, and then Coley left for the
same job with the Georgia Bulldogs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="tagstyle4o6kkn-oo-style1tcxgp3-oo-style1pinbx1-oo-style48hmcm" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; scroll-margin-top: 100px;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Furrey has an impressive
resume that includes an NFL playing career as a wide receiver (including
leading the NFC in catches in 2006 with the Detroit Lions), coaching NFL
receivers with the Chicago Bears, coaching receivers at the Division-I level at
Marshall, and being a head coach at two smaller programs, Kentucky Christian
and Limestone</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="tagstyle4o6kkn-oo-style1tcxgp3-oo-style1pinbx1-oo-style48hmcm" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; scroll-margin-top: 100px;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">As a coach, Furrey is
considered a good motivator and relationship-builder, and his pedigree as both
a professional player and coach should prove that he knows what he's doing
technique-wise and that development will be real under his coaching</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="tagstyle4o6kkn-oo-style1tcxgp3-oo-style1pinbx1-oo-style48hmcm" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; scroll-margin-top: 100px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;">However, on Friday, Furrey got a ringing endorsement of a
different kind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="tagstyle4o6kkn-oo-style1tcxgp3-oo-style1pinbx1-oo-style48hmcm" style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-highlight: yellow;"><a href="https://x.com/danorlovsky7/status/1763579996994408893?s=20" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8a122b;">Dan Orlovsky, Furrey's former
quarterback with the Detroit Lions and current ESPN analyst, said of Furrey,
"Great coach...great man."</span></a> Orlovsky played with
Furrey for three seasons in Detroit, and he is considered one of the brightest
minds in the football analyst world today. His endorsement of the newest South
Carolina football assistant is a big deal</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAxH9BEqegnWE-TyCpOpu7SgeMI8J1Km1SdttCMPRoGdNALqRkHWoYDV0-zIP0KUp3yFzBY73tNdGD8Vy3yQTL5Zo6umD-kGg0KeeO3hmBcZkyWDw5LKIIdsZ1vC-2AWAMxRJoVw2UkFHbSRZN26AGKGO4WgHapXgputP2hwIuAXb8nssVe2lTw/s932/furrey%20tweet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="531" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAxH9BEqegnWE-TyCpOpu7SgeMI8J1Km1SdttCMPRoGdNALqRkHWoYDV0-zIP0KUp3yFzBY73tNdGD8Vy3yQTL5Zo6umD-kGg0KeeO3hmBcZkyWDw5LKIIdsZ1vC-2AWAMxRJoVw2UkFHbSRZN26AGKGO4WgHapXgputP2hwIuAXb8nssVe2lTw/w365-h640/furrey%20tweet.png" width="365" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="tagstyle4o6kkn-oo-style1tcxgp3-oo-style1pinbx1-oo-style48hmcm" style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="tagstyle4o6kkn-oo-style1tcxgp3-oo-style1pinbx1-oo-style48hmcm" style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;">Gamecock fans are hopeful that Orlovsky's seal of approval
translates to better production on the field for Furrey's wide receiver unit
than what has been seen the last two seasons. A breakout from Juice Wells in
2022 and Xavier Legette in 2023 were obvious positives, but the rest of the
receiver room struggled some in both seasons, especially in 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="tagstyle4o6kkn-oo-style1tcxgp3-oo-style1pinbx1-oo-style48hmcm" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; scroll-margin-top: 100px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;">Recruiting and development of young players are two areas Coach
Beamer hopes Furrey can upgrade for the Gamecocks, but if Dan Orlovsky is
correct, Carolina fans have much to look forward to from their newest assistant
coach.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-23544142266829040822024-03-04T17:07:00.000-05:002024-03-04T17:07:07.011-05:0010 NFL Players Who Actually Never Played College Football<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNaane5Dkjt5P8TW2e70SAIPpXVprO33K31TucVDoET0l3KuIkIzUubBiFeJfjnl7-MFgf9dIPCj0LEIxgUodJL244uqKYC7XK2G-yWI58OblvMuW5YNQ6ZXT4ih1u_4BYRHjpcSrYsfxErIaIXTkeZaiL2Su4hmicYMJ-e3ivtPl9UEAeTcpIg/s202/tps.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="64" data-original-width="202" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNaane5Dkjt5P8TW2e70SAIPpXVprO33K31TucVDoET0l3KuIkIzUubBiFeJfjnl7-MFgf9dIPCj0LEIxgUodJL244uqKYC7XK2G-yWI58OblvMuW5YNQ6ZXT4ih1u_4BYRHjpcSrYsfxErIaIXTkeZaiL2Su4hmicYMJ-e3ivtPl9UEAeTcpIg/s1600/tps.png" width="202" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="entry-author"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 8.5pt;"><a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/author/kennpantiggmail-com/"><span class="entry-author-name"><span style="color: blue;">Kenny Nosay</span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="entry-author"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 8.5pt;">February 29, 2024</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">When it
comes to the NFL, only the best of the best, truly can compete in this
league. Most of the NFL’s talent comes from your typical Division One
college, while other rare talent arrives from Division Two, Division Three, or
NAIA colleges. However, every so often there comes along a rare player
who does not follow the typical path into the NFL. It is the rare few who
impact the sport without playing a single snap of college football. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Here are 10 players who made it in the NFL but skipped
the college route:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ray Seals</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Seals is a
former defensive end for the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/">Tampa Bay
Buccaneers</a>, from 1989 until 1993. Seals managed to find his way onto
an NFL roster with never playing college football. Before joining the
Bucs, in 1988, Seals played for the Syracuse Express, in the Empire Football
League. Seals brought his talent to Tampa the following year. In
1994 Seals joined the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/">Pittsburgh
Steelers</a>, where he got to play in <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/tag/super-bowl/">Super Bowl</a> 30.
Seals finished his NFL career in 1997 with the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/nfl/carolina-panthers/">Carolina Panthers</a>.
Overall, Seals made the best of his time in the NFL and proved anything is
possible.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stephen Neal</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupClZH4hLXLARGpgPegZBRbck3DkCiOXDklw6NMYamkgQ01nuRQH0xbQwX5nNdD5NB23JZDXAqet3es74uu6z2oH9je5mgxkQBYKtF288su7d9S9npsDi4yTZURfb4fShjiyxOCc1rtAp_emu2RbrLiWEoZrdEUXQb74vmyaB8Jb2EUncDyiLNg/s3203/neal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="3203" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupClZH4hLXLARGpgPegZBRbck3DkCiOXDklw6NMYamkgQ01nuRQH0xbQwX5nNdD5NB23JZDXAqet3es74uu6z2oH9je5mgxkQBYKtF288su7d9S9npsDi4yTZURfb4fShjiyxOCc1rtAp_emu2RbrLiWEoZrdEUXQb74vmyaB8Jb2EUncDyiLNg/w400-h264/neal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX between the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/">Philadelphia
Eagles</a> and the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/">New England
Patriots</a> at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on February 6,
2005. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Neal is a former offensive guard who
played 10 seasons for the New England Patriots. He was on the rosters
that won Super Bowls 36, 38, and 39, respectively</span><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">. Before all of that, Neal was
actually on the wrestling team at California State University Bakersfield, a
college that does not even have football. <span style="background: yellow;">Neal
had an outstanding wrestling career in college, winning two gold medals at
the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/ncaa/">NCAA</a> Division
One championships and gold medals at the World Wrestling Championships and Pan
American Games</span>. Neal originally signed with the Patriots in July
2001 until he was released in August 2001. He then had a brief stop with
the Philadelphia Eagles before rejoining the Patriots in December 2001 where
the rest is history. He helped protect the GOAT of all
quarterbacks, <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/tag/tom-brady/">Tom
Brady</a> during his time in the NFL.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Antonio Gates</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Gates is a
soon-to-be Hall of Fame tight end who spent his entire football career playing
for the San Diego/ Los Angeles Chargers. Before embarking on his, Hall of
Fame caliber, football career, Gates was on the hardwood, playing college
basketball, at Kent State University. During his junior year at Kent
State, Gates helped the Golden Flashes appear in the 2002 NCAA Tournament,
where the team made a run to the Elite Eight before getting knocked out by the
three-seeded Pitt Panthers. After college, Gates was told was too short
for the NBA and then decided to give the NFL a try. He tried out for the
Chargers, where he became part of history. Gates became an eight-time Pro
Bowler with the Bolts and was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.
Talk about one heck of a career.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brandon Aubrey</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Aubrey is
the placekicker for the Dallas Cowboys. But before Aubrey took his talent
to the football field, he was a soccer player, who played college soccer at
Notre Dame. Aubrey then signed with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer in
2017. He then was on the MLS Next Pro League, for two seasons with
Toronto FC II and Bethlehem Steel FC. After his soccer career ended, his
wife encouraged him to give field goal kicking in football a try, after
watching a game where the kicker missed making a field goal. After years
of coaching, Aubrey was drafted in the USFL Draft by the Birmingham Stallions,
where he played for two seasons until he joined the Dallas Cowboys in
2023. During the 2023 season, Aubrey made 36 of 38 field goals and 49 of
52 extra points. Not bad, for a guy who started out as a soccer player.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sav Rocca</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Rocca is a
former Australian rules footballer, who spent 15 years in the Australian
Football League, before taking his talents to the NFL, as a punter. Rocca
played for the Collingwood Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club
Kangaroos and was a seven-time leading goal kicker with Collingwood, and a
three-time leading goal kicker in North Melbourne. Rocca joined the
Philadelphia Eagles in 2007 and earned the honor of, the Oldest Rookie of the
Year, at the time. Rocca later joined Washington, from 2011 until
2013 and finished his brief NFL career with 517 punts. Rocca rejoined the
AFL in 2015 with the Carlton Football Club, as a mentor for new athletes, and
became a coach with the team from 2016 until 2020. What a career for this
Australian footballer!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Michael Lewis</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Lewis is a
former wide receiver and kick returner for the New Orleans Saints, from 2000
until 2006. Lewis never played college football. In fact, he only played
one year of high school football, as he had to help support his family, during
this time period. Lewis’ football career began while working as a truck
driver, when a friend of his introduced him to flag football. From there,
Lewis then pursued playing semi-professional football and played with some
arena league teams, until the Philadelphia Eagles gave him a call. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Unfortunately, Lewis’ time with the Eagles was short as
he was cut before the regular season began, but the Saints signed Lewis at the
end of the 2000 season. In 2002, Lewis had his best season in the Big
Easy, as a kick returner with 1,807 yards, scored two touchdowns, as a punt
returner with 625 yards and scored a touchdown, and earned himself a trip to
the Pro Bowl. Lewis later played with the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/">San Francisco
49ers</a> in 2007 and became a team ambassador to the Saints in 2009
(which he still holds today). The Saints presented Lewis with a Super
Bowl 44 ring for his contributions to the team. An amazing story!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Efe Obada</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Obada is
currently a defensive end for the Washington Commanders, and he also never
played a snap of college football, in his life. Obada was born in Nigeria
and raised in the Netherlands and England, where at one point Obada and his
sister found themselves experiencing homelessness. Obada was able to turn
that around and support his family, by working as a security guard.
Obada’s football career began when he played for the London Warriors of the
BAFA National League in 2014. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">After his year with the Warriors, defensive football
coach Aden Durde helped Obada land a workout with the Dallas Cowboys.
Obada eventually joined the Cowboys’ practice squad. He bounced around
the league in 2016 until finding a home with the Carolina Panthers from 2017
until 2020. Obada later joined the Buffalo Bills in 2021 and then signed
with the Washington Commanders in 2022. Obada’s story is one of triumph
over adversity, which should be made into a movie!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rico Gathers</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Unlike a lot
of people on this list, Gathers was drafted into the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/tag/nfl-draft/">NFL Draft</a>.
Gathers started his athletic career playing college basketball for the Baylor
Bears. He averaged 11.6 points per game, 11.6 rebounds per game, 1.2
steals, and one block per game as a junior power forward on the team.
Gathers informed then-Baylor football coach Art Briles of his interest in
joining the football team, but changed his mind and declared for the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/tag/nfl-draft/">NFL Draft</a> after
the Bears lost in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament to the Yale
Bulldogs. Gathers got drafted in 217th overall, in the sixth round of
the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/tag/nfl-draft/">NFL Draft</a>-
to the Dallas Cowboys. Gathers played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2016
until 2018 and had a brief stop with the <a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/">Cleveland Browns</a> in
2019. Unfortunately, injuries and off-the-field trouble kept Gathers’
action limited in the NFL.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vince Papale</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Papale was
the subject of the Disney biopic “Invincible” starring Mark Wahlberg and has an
amazing back story. Papale attended college at Saint Joseph University in
Philadelphia and was on a track scholarship. The Hawks haven’t had a
football team since 1939. Papale won a United States Track and Field
Federation college pole vault, as a junior, at Madison Square Garden, with a
vault of 14 feet and six inches. Papale changed direction and his
professional football journey began with stops in minor league football teams,
like the Aston Green Knights of the Seaboard Football League, and then the
Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League for two seasons. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">After his stint with the Bell, Papale joined the
Philadelphia Eagles in 1976 and became the oldest rookie, at the time, at 30
years old. Papale played for the Eagles for three seasons before a
shoulder injury derailed his career and he became a broadcaster for eight years
before transitioning to a commercial mortgage banker. Talk about one of
the most incredible sports stories out there.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eric Swann</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #585858; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.5pt;">Swann was
drafted in the first round of the NFL draft, but there was a catch, like the
rest of the list, Swann never college football. Swann was supposed to
play college ball at North Carolina State University but was ruled academically
ineligible at the time. Instead, Swann chose to go the semi-professional
route by joining a team called the Bay State Titans in Lynn, MA. After
his time with the Bay State Titans, Swann was drafted sixth overall in the
first round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals. Swann became
a two-time Pro Bowler during his time in the desert and his brief season with
the Carolina Panthers. He racked up 46.5 sacks, three safeties, eight
fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and one defensive touchdown. Not
bad for a guy that never played collegiate football.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-91878506759813547772024-02-20T10:27:00.004-05:002024-02-20T10:27:48.889-05:00Current, former Patriots players salute Super Bowl champ after retiring<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jpVSSllTlQ5SeI3JcQb68HRyfoEgx9qOOq98_8k15nvXW9LcwfOSBFzAF5UfcCNb8EP9-rlTTPUZZgp9UQciaNVOyqDub1SXjA5PoDEkE-yC6nRJLKsfLKhQ25MZhOr8Yj5RRZOj0skmIRE1U8YkoD1jYUnoUV3GOEzYDUKQGnQxlVdiGTK7tA/s143/run.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="58" data-original-width="143" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jpVSSllTlQ5SeI3JcQb68HRyfoEgx9qOOq98_8k15nvXW9LcwfOSBFzAF5UfcCNb8EP9-rlTTPUZZgp9UQciaNVOyqDub1SXjA5PoDEkE-yC6nRJLKsfLKhQ25MZhOr8Yj5RRZOj0skmIRE1U8YkoD1jYUnoUV3GOEzYDUKQGnQxlVdiGTK7tA/s1600/run.png" width="143" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nVV0tx6wxiXmJX4TwTOyhzCrVpQN1MqM6yY7dbjjXtJ1Lst-XmDqb54yqD_6Wi2wMSQrc30ZO6tPp1MTHFiaFVgo6HPmF21ZTDqYxYSwieFH9rMYeRdB2STacHymJw5lqv8VKJ_CQYl55QQ1HNyW68r62rw5cqFQTR59Cr7EodbdZ2OeFL3Oqw/s685/run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="685" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nVV0tx6wxiXmJX4TwTOyhzCrVpQN1MqM6yY7dbjjXtJ1Lst-XmDqb54yqD_6Wi2wMSQrc30ZO6tPp1MTHFiaFVgo6HPmF21ZTDqYxYSwieFH9rMYeRdB2STacHymJw5lqv8VKJ_CQYl55QQ1HNyW68r62rw5cqFQTR59Cr7EodbdZ2OeFL3Oqw/w400-h268/run.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="articlemm-image-caption-text"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Retired New England Patriots offensive
lineman James Ferentz. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)<span class="articlemm-image-credit">AP</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Updated: Feb. 19, 2024, 5:31 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #27aae1; font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lauren
Campbell | <a href="mailto:LCampbell@masslive.com">LCampbell@masslive.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="articleparagraph"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">James Ferentz announced his retirement Monday after
spending the last seven seasons with the New England Patriots. An
under-the-radar center was part of the Super Bowl LIII winning team and played
a big role for the Patriots in 2019 when David Andrews missed the season due to
blood clots.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="articleparagraph" id="B3YCIP2S2NAQVCOP26HNYHCNMU" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">The 34-year-old leaves the NFL after 10 seasons, two Super Bowls
and leaves behind an impact that was clearly felt by current and former
Patriots.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="articleparagraph" id="W33ICDKKEVF7LPNBHXNCETDAGA" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">After Ferentz <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3ij7usxwak/?img_index=1"><span style="color: #27aae1;">announced his retirement on Instagram</span></a>, several
teammates, past and present, saluted the offensive lineman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="articleparagraph"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Quarterback Mac Jones:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;"> “Appreciate you bro!!! I remember
you were the First dude I ever met in the locker room and one of the best!!!
Goodluck in your next chapter!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="articleparagraph" id="G5UTRV65AJA5RM2OV3H37STIYM" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Guard Mike Onwenu:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;"> “Thank
you for the example you set James. Congrats!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="articleparagraph" id="OZUMUJOQZVBUZC65TASTHK2NKE" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Former Patriots quarterback Jarrett Sitdham:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;"> “Thousands
of snaps together. Congrats on the career dude!!!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="articleparagraph" id="KF5VZ7CPOBB3RK74D3AWI3LXHE" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Former Patriots safety Devin McCourty:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;"> “Little
lineman!!!!! Congrats man. Always enjoyed turning around and talking about the
greatness of (Rutgers University)...enjoy the family.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="articleparagraph" id="UITR2ZIWPRDHPFAWXQ5SS57AJA" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Former Patriots running back </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2024/02/former-patriots-rb-retires-after-10-nfl-seasons.html"><b><span style="color: #27aae1;">Rex Burkhead</span></b></a><b>:</b> “Congrats
brother!! Great career!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="articleparagraph" id="AXRL2YRNEVCX7FPI3DY26DNBDE" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Ferentz spent the 2023 season on the Patriots practice squad,
but still found ways to provide a veteran presence for the rookies. He often
traveled with the team to help the offensive line throughout the year. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">What’s next for the veteran is
unknown, but he leaves the NFL having played 61 total games and winning two
Super Bowl rings</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-75315611702581921882024-02-20T10:22:00.000-05:002024-02-20T10:22:01.563-05:00Patriots OL James Ferentz retires<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaedSw9DZTQsL28mHthBIAoOLQ_vf7G6nDHKJSd6SC5Ln4hWglj0pJsNBtDRcldmHcG8h-NF9Xup8c1mwcTh99sfHIyq1_jlPA-nOlacHMVNiiPyDjWN6Gy5gFOp00Z6vq4lyItdPqHvjLIEOB-pWZF0qMD1sB3D8Y7B18V3FfiwTrfZBfeGrkqw/s319/pft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="319" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaedSw9DZTQsL28mHthBIAoOLQ_vf7G6nDHKJSd6SC5Ln4hWglj0pJsNBtDRcldmHcG8h-NF9Xup8c1mwcTh99sfHIyq1_jlPA-nOlacHMVNiiPyDjWN6Gy5gFOp00Z6vq4lyItdPqHvjLIEOB-pWZF0qMD1sB3D8Y7B18V3FfiwTrfZBfeGrkqw/w200-h117/pft.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBSet6IOhz2DwYPVMkfVZzvEHKkZb9air6UfezowgpVm6e2PbtQ9Dev4q-w5l4z76wCiaLcosT2vfApPy2SYQVuAROONglmnO5RxGPxGctgB-GMBZ7ropbnR5-iHzKCqfeBggFW4n5RTa-2s_RMN5utFsFdLA6s7PNqTVL9iP3yKafyWwQbhkeg/s542/65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="542" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBSet6IOhz2DwYPVMkfVZzvEHKkZb9air6UfezowgpVm6e2PbtQ9Dev4q-w5l4z76wCiaLcosT2vfApPy2SYQVuAROONglmnO5RxGPxGctgB-GMBZ7ropbnR5-iHzKCqfeBggFW4n5RTa-2s_RMN5utFsFdLA6s7PNqTVL9iP3yKafyWwQbhkeg/w400-h225/65.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="page-authors-by"><br /></p><p class="page-authors-by"><br /></p><p class="page-authors-by"><br /></p><p class="page-authors-by"><br /></p><p class="page-authors-by"><br /></p><p class="page-authors-by"><br /></p><p class="page-authors-by"><br /></p><p class="page-authors-by">By <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/author/charean-williams">Charean Williams</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Published February 19, 2024 03:59 PM<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">Patriots offensive lineman
James Ferentz announced his retirement on Instagram on Monday afternoon.</p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">“After taking the time to
collect my thoughts and speaking with my wife, Skylar, I’ve decided to retire
from playing football,” Ferentz wrote.</p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">He did not indicate whether
coaching is next for him. His father, Kirk, has been the head coach at the
University of Iowa since 1999 and his brother, Brian, has been an assistant
coach at Iowa since 2012 after four seasons coaching for the Patriots.</p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">James Ferentz, 34, played only
one game in 2023 as he spent time on both the active roster and the practice
squad. <span style="background: yellow;">The Patriots,
though, valued his knowledge in the offensive line room and on the sideline on
game day</span>.</p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: yellow;">He played eight seasons, winning two Super Bowl rings</span>.</p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">Ferentz spent time with the
Texans and Broncos before landing in New England in 2018. The interior
offensive lineman appeared in 61 games with 10 starts in his NFL career.</p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-23774538592359479592024-02-13T10:14:00.002-05:002024-02-13T10:14:16.656-05:00Thorburn: Jay Sawvel has quickly found his stride as Wyoming Cowboys head coach<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFGQeFBXylQS1vbcywhJdaJxWuD2uxDl-9L8psP-Ry07es3D1SKsMiTiVjpDoUjIezH891iUjkpP1Ka8Ag8oiV0WcXKBHCUv22b6ivjllM4c_sgvTRg-_WdmE2oV0YmSQ8wJF2c3bEsJ-vujqvu8JfWpsS59Ehm5bKqa2UY9oSwvxvBsGaTfFqQ/s317/st.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="62" data-original-width="317" height="39" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFGQeFBXylQS1vbcywhJdaJxWuD2uxDl-9L8psP-Ry07es3D1SKsMiTiVjpDoUjIezH891iUjkpP1Ka8Ag8oiV0WcXKBHCUv22b6ivjllM4c_sgvTRg-_WdmE2oV0YmSQ8wJF2c3bEsJ-vujqvu8JfWpsS59Ehm5bKqa2UY9oSwvxvBsGaTfFqQ/w200-h39/st.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="tnt-byline"><b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="https://trib.com/users/profile/Ryan%20Thorburn"><span style="color: windowtext;">Ryan
Thorburn</span></a></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Feb 9, 2024 </span><span class="text-muted"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Updated </span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">16 hrs ago<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp0NGUkdrmdL7pnmcTDsUCRQ9lydZ5uqnTHQzFc-bsWLOqCOOmUApJQM0bvwqFLFPvWMmxwefkyzHI39_qWkfEWjDykynsmZsHxtYCXMKiNJmdtcSbpBcAUzz90t5GB3GsFQLhUVoLUq9OqUcSPCp5y9WT9FqCnjMdq72UZnHv3lJMM6OnMoWAg/s249/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp0NGUkdrmdL7pnmcTDsUCRQ9lydZ5uqnTHQzFc-bsWLOqCOOmUApJQM0bvwqFLFPvWMmxwefkyzHI39_qWkfEWjDykynsmZsHxtYCXMKiNJmdtcSbpBcAUzz90t5GB3GsFQLhUVoLUq9OqUcSPCp5y9WT9FqCnjMdq72UZnHv3lJMM6OnMoWAg/s16000/17.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #595959; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #595959; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Wyoming quarterback Evan Svoboda scores a touchdown in the
Cowboys' 42-9 victory over Hawaii on Nov. 18 at War Memorial Stadium in
Laramie.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="tnt-byline"><span style="color: #595959; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Andrew Towne, Star-Tribune</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="tnt-byline"><span style="color: #595959;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">LARAMIE – Jay Sawvel didn’t feel quite right about asking
someone to pick up his dry cleaning during a busy week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">“I’ve never done that in my career,”
Wyoming’s new head coach said. “I feel terrible.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Pokes
fans should be feeling great about how Sawvel’s hectic first two months on the
job have gone</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">UW
added 11 more players, including two impact transfers from the Power 5 level,
during Wednesday’s signing day after landing 27 prospects in December as part
of a recruiting class that remained intact despite Craig Bohl’s retirement and
changes to the coaching staff</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Sawvel conducted Wednesday’s press
conference via Zoom, but the excitement and momentum inside the High Altitude
Performance Center was palpable coming through the computer screen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">“It’s really easy to come work in
this building right now with the way our players are and the coaches that we
work with and the people that we’re adding to the program right now,” Sawvel
said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Two years ago, Bohl posted a help wanted ad on social media
seeking quarterbacks. The old-school coach had to recalibrate his approach to
relating to today’s players and roster management following a mass exodus of
talent to the portal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Since the Cowboys capped Bohl’s
four-decade career with a 9-4 campaign and a dramatic victory in the Arizona
Bowl, <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">no players that were
expected to have a major role on the 2024 team have transferred</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">UW added seven transfers, headlined
by North Carolina running back DJ Jones and Texas Tech wide receiver TK King,
to give brawny quarterback Evan Svoboda more explosive weapons to work with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">I asked Gordie Haug, the program’s
executive director of recruiting, how the Pokes avoided attrition and accrued
several high-end players during a coaching transition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">“It kind of just speaks volumes of
the university,” Haug explained. “Our culture, our program, the athletic
department, the fans, the support that we get … people are starting to
understand it’s not always greener on the other side. This is a good place to
develop and turn into hopefully the best player they can become.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Three players that could have garnered significant interest in
the portal – defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole, wide receiver Alex Brown and
linebacker Shae Suiaunoa – decided to return to UW as super seniors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">“It’s three really good recruits,”
Sawvel said. “That’s probably the best work we could have done in the transfer
portal.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Bertagnole, an all-Mountain West
player from Casper, was injured late in the season and wants to improve his NFL
stock. Suiaunoa, arguably the most improved player on the team last season,
will slide over to middle linebacker to continue the tradition of excellence at
the position established by predecessors Logan Wilson, Chad Muma and Easton
Gibbs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Sawvel, who promoted Aaron Bohl to
defensive coordinator, returns nine starters on that side of the ball.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">There’s also a lot of potential on
offense based on the small but tantalizing sample size the 6-foot-5, 245-pound
Svoboda displayed in relief of Andrew Peasley.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Starting running back Harrison
Waylee returns and will be pushed by Jones, Dawaiian McNeely, Jamari Ferrell
and Sam Scott.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Svoboda already has great chemistry
with his roommate, John Michael Gyllenborg, who has NFL tight end traits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">King adds Olympic speed to a
promising, albeit unproven, receiver room that includes Devin Boddie, Caleb
Merritt, Will Pelissier, Jaylen Sargent and Justin Stevenson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Sawvel’s ability to
connect and retain players has been as impressive</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> as those three-piece suits
he had dry cleaned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">What really stood out to me was what
Sawvel said about Brown, who has really only had one shining moment – the
game-winning touchdown catch at Colorado State in 2022 – during a quiet career.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">“He just feels like he’s got
unfinished business in the fact that he really wants to put together a really
good last year. I like Alex a lot and I talked to him about that,” Sawvel said.
“As a head coach, he’s a guy I want to put time in myself. I want to be a big
cheerleader behind him because he’s a really good kid. He’s got a lot of
talent, and I want to see him have a really good year and elevate himself.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">At his introductory press conference
on Dec. 6, Sawvel made the analogy that the Cowboys’ pursuit of the program’s
first MW championship was like a 4x100 relay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Bohl ran the first three legs and
handed the baton to his protégé with a lot of momentum for the final lap.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">So
far, Sawvel has quickly found his stride and the Pokes have not stumbled</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-75018000025762644522024-02-12T17:17:00.002-05:002024-02-12T17:17:46.473-05:00Stephen Neal on Tom Brady<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60bAg7Zfa0t_ehwjsoLHNZ-teUqgVg0b999rwAVjktJVEPgLEvX3Z_hTRJF5X0KY3E7z4JIk-oAbWoaoP86VZABRqPI1HBwxG_k6wY_NcjLqdz2xDBTgOKP5C1LeWgSVO2kBWLStDkMNzyvJCru7oHmHBe_ieVFnjZr-GoIzk6oKxKsW42yQEHQ/s779/neal%20tweet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="589" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60bAg7Zfa0t_ehwjsoLHNZ-teUqgVg0b999rwAVjktJVEPgLEvX3Z_hTRJF5X0KY3E7z4JIk-oAbWoaoP86VZABRqPI1HBwxG_k6wY_NcjLqdz2xDBTgOKP5C1LeWgSVO2kBWLStDkMNzyvJCru7oHmHBe_ieVFnjZr-GoIzk6oKxKsW42yQEHQ/w485-h640/neal%20tweet.png" width="485" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="https://x.com/FloWrestling/status/1756453748111519880?s=20">https://x.com/FloWrestling/status/1756453748111519880?s=20</a></span><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-7004192670433714222024-02-08T13:04:00.003-05:002024-02-08T13:04:46.976-05:00Plano football legend Rex Burkhead announces retirement from NFL<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaddt9uPvXmMpYqRa885uMupvUAE0Dy-8wns_uQS3ncLmSTQ7p7V4DMf933VxALYvFWAO__J5mEgNk2YHDByEHmXb8GlNMIKk4p72zKcxn0UihpgiojsNkqHbZcum2SIbQcvzjYOkN2GwXFHaLo8DDRf6ogE5rotz1H-62i0RqiswQ7Uwmy41xQ/s258/plano.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="258" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaddt9uPvXmMpYqRa885uMupvUAE0Dy-8wns_uQS3ncLmSTQ7p7V4DMf933VxALYvFWAO__J5mEgNk2YHDByEHmXb8GlNMIKk4p72zKcxn0UihpgiojsNkqHbZcum2SIbQcvzjYOkN2GwXFHaLo8DDRf6ogE5rotz1H-62i0RqiswQ7Uwmy41xQ/s1600/plano.png" width="258" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="tnt-byline"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 10.5pt;">By Matt Welch | Star Local Media</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 10.5pt;">Feb 6, 2024</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYWCbSKwulB5FxXtrI2e43F6bR9_ZuFMcsw7OTsSJG-saHP27vQ94zkl1QSyk6dwsmMklit13aHl_01481-1Z1prEpEjF0-uGM2SsbH-qma9smtUw0qMCwz1qow7-c-iGmLBIxT0cvouzsdaT2C4reWBU3gxP28rFJVpDo0MhaUoWBH6it9D2yA/s400/rex20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYWCbSKwulB5FxXtrI2e43F6bR9_ZuFMcsw7OTsSJG-saHP27vQ94zkl1QSyk6dwsmMklit13aHl_01481-1Z1prEpEjF0-uGM2SsbH-qma9smtUw0qMCwz1qow7-c-iGmLBIxT0cvouzsdaT2C4reWBU3gxP28rFJVpDo0MhaUoWBH6it9D2yA/w400-h400/rex20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 10.0pt;">Plano Senior alum Rex Burkhead, a 10-year
NFL veteran, was a star on both the football field and basketball court for the
Wildcats.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="tnt-byline"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 9.0pt;">File Photo</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
After 10 seasons in the NFL, Plano alum Rex Burkhead announced his retirement
from the league on Monday.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Burkhead's
decade-long career included stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, New England
Patriots and Houston Texans. He was a sixth-round draft pick by the Bengals in
2013.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"To all my
coaches, strength coaches, trainers, doctors, ownership and other staff, thank
you for the opportunities to live out my childhood dream and making sure I was
performing to the best of my abilities," Burkhead said in a statement on
social media. "It was a privilege to go to work every day with you
all."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Burkhead
totaled 1,908 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns, as well as 1,534
receiving yards and nine receiving scores</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
running back appeared in two consecutive Super Bowls during his four-year run
with the Patriots, including in a 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in 2019</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Among
the rusher's career highlights was a two-touchdown performance that same season
in New England's 37-31 overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC
championship game</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Prior
to suiting up in the NFL, Burkhead authored a prolific high school career at
Plano. Burkhead was an all-state rusher during his junior and senior campaigns,
helping lead the Wildcats' football team to a Class 5A Division I state
semifinals in 2007</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">During the 2007-08
seasons, Burkhead totaled 3,530 rushing yards and 57 touchdowns.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Burkhead
was a two-sport athlete during his Plano days, also playing for the Wildcats'
boys basketball team. He was part of Plano's 5A state title team in 2006 and
earned all-district honors as a junior and senior</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Plano alum has also been instrumental in raising awareness for pediatric brain
cancer through his work with the Team Jack Foundation, of which he is a board
member. In 2012, while still in college at Nebraska, Burkhead was named the
Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">"I'd like to
thank all my friends, fans and other family who cheered me on throughout my
career," Burkhead said. "From the days as a Plano Wildcat, Husker,
Bengal, Patriot and Texan, you all have encouraged me every single day and I
appreciate it from the bottom of my heart."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene,
follow <a href="https://twitter.com/MWelchSLM"><span style="color: black;">Matt
Welch</span></a> on Twitter. Email him with sports story suggestions
at <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=mwelch@starlocalmedia.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">mwelch@starlocalmedia.com</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-84797506551418225362024-02-08T10:45:00.002-05:002024-02-08T10:45:19.429-05:00Katie Smith helping Upper Arlington girls basketball as volunteer assistant coach<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTdhgka9S86mPPBeCNPZ49lV0nrfmISLqvdnw80CjYfS-krOj-SyRxuqu2AE4hlhP03GXpI_AL9pG7TmFJq7pBMkijlScZwDnLJF2gVyqKQB4_na1maaAzQX3dh_KzxNlGwtgqfF3iOS7gRgw2FURCInnBbb2D8oeHFqN0O_N2cJtwqtX4fty-A/s162/hs.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="162" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTdhgka9S86mPPBeCNPZ49lV0nrfmISLqvdnw80CjYfS-krOj-SyRxuqu2AE4hlhP03GXpI_AL9pG7TmFJq7pBMkijlScZwDnLJF2gVyqKQB4_na1maaAzQX3dh_KzxNlGwtgqfF3iOS7gRgw2FURCInnBbb2D8oeHFqN0O_N2cJtwqtX4fty-A/s1600/hs.png" width="162" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The former Ohio State and WNBA star has shared her wisdom
and experience with the Golden Bears<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="https://highschool.si.com/author/aaron-blankenship"><span style="color: #333333;">AARON BLANKENSHIP</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">20
HOURS AGO (fEBRUARY 7, 2024)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Katie Smith is not
only one of the greatest professional women’s basketball players to lace up a
pair of sneakers, she’s also a well-respected basketball coach, who currently
is the associate head coach for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women’s National Basketball
Association (WNBA)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">So when John Wanke was hired to coach the <a href="https://scorebooklive.com/ohio/schools/25303-upper-arlington" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2d3148;">Upper Arlington</span></a> girls
basketball team in 2021, and heard from a mutual friend that Smith owns a home
in the community, he decided to reach out to her to ask if you she would be
willing to help out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">It took just a three-minute phone conversation for Wanke
to convince Smith to join his coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach,
and <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">the Golden Bears’
entire program has benefited greatly from her contributions over the past three
seasons</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“That’s not an exaggeration to say that was the most
productive three-minute conversation I’ve had on the phone,” Wanke said, with a
chuckle. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">“Katie’s name by
itself carries a lot of weight and she’s a huge presence, and I believe that
great leaders surround themselves with people who are smarter than they are, so
I wasn’t intimidated to bring her in</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">“Katie’s arguably
the greatest player of all time, and our girls are getting coached by someone
who is likely going to be the greatest coach who they will ever learn from. I
can’t imagine there are many high school coaches anywhere in the nation, who
have earned three Olympic gold medals as a player and who also have her
coaching experience.”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Smith said it’s been a pleasure coaching high school
athletes for the first time in her illustrious career.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">While playing
basketball at Logan High School in southeastern Ohio, Smith first gained
national attention when she was recognized as the Gatorade National Player of
the Year as a senior</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">. She capped her senior season by leading
the Chieftains to the 1992 Division I state final, where they lost to
Pickerington 53-46 in front of a record crowd of 12,385 fans at St. John Arena,
despite Smith scoring a game-high 24 points.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“I’m having a lot of fun and getting just as much
pleasure out of the experience as they are,” Smith said. “This is the first
time I’ve been around high school basketball players this much since I was in
high school, and it brings back a lot of great memories. There’s a certain
innocence and excitement, because high school basketball is not a business, and
they are doing it only because they love it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Smith helps out in a wide variety of ways, most notably
working with athletes to help improve their individual skill sets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Some of Upper Arlington’s players were a little
intimidated by Smith when she first joined their program, but she quickly put
them at ease and began making them better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“Much like polish on a shoe, <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Katie helps refine things for our players to help
them take their games to the next level,” Wanke said. “Katie could have an
arrogance to her, because of what she’s accomplished, but she doesn’t. She has
an amazing grace, empathy and humility that helps her blend in as one of the
members of our team, and makes people comfortable around her.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Smith sometimes has to miss practices, or more rarely a
game, because of scouting duties for the Minnesota Lynx. She lives in Upper
Arlington with her wife, Yesenia, and two children, Yesslynn and Lenin for
about half the year, and lives in an apartment in Minnesota for close to six
months.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“I wasn’t looking to be a high school head coach because
that would be too much on top of my (WNBA) and family duties,” Smith said. “But
John’s an awesome coach who has done an exceptional job of putting things in
place, and he was supportive of me coming around to help out as much as I can.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“I feel blessed that I’m able to be around the coaches,
kids and staff here at Upper Arlington.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Upper Arlington senior point guard Quinn Buttermore said
Smith makes a big impact in the time she spends with the Golden Bears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">“Katie has so much
knowledge and insight, and she’s such a great resource as a coach,” said
Buttermore, who is averaging a team-best 3.7 assists. “Whenever she chimes in
in practice, it gets very quiet, because we know what she has to say is legit,
meaningful and helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">“When we were
struggling with our shooting in practice recently, she gave us pointers and
told us to slow down and make sure we were shooting with good form. We listened
to her, because whenever Katie shoots in practice, it always goes in. She’s
definitely an amazing, one-of-a-kind coach and person.”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Smith also helps out with tactical advice during games.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“I have a certain system and scheme that I’ve put into
place, but when Katie and my other assistants offer me feedback, I always
listen,” Wanke said. “She offers a lot of invaluable feedback to us as coaches,
as well as to the players.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">The Golden Bears are thriving under the direction of
Wanke and his staff, which includes varsity assistants Kendal Glandorff,
Brianna Lowry, Smith and DuJuan White, freshman coach Jarret Hubbard and
volunteer assistants Jennifer Green and Jodi Green.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">After finishing 3-14 overall during the 2020-21 season,
Wanke’s staff led the Golden Bears to a 15-9 record the following season and a
17-7 mark last season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">This season, Upper Arlington is 16-3 overall and 7-2 in
the Ohio Capital Conference-Central Division.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Elizabeth Hunt is averaging a team-best 16.9 points per
game, followed by Ava Harrigan (6.5), Buttermore (5.5), Ella Hanky (4.6),
Hannah Hunt (4), Tatum Thrush (3.8) and Lucy Martin (3.6). Thrush also averages
a team-leading 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“We’re playing with tempo, offensively and defensively,
because we’re eight or nine deep on this team,” Wanke said. “We’re defending at
a high level, primarily playing man-to-man, and it’s translating into wins. Our
first three losses were by a total of seven points, so we’ve been competitive
every game.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRVMt01fm4DT4OIt8a228rN89ogwTOhGiXAozq436kU_ncNSJMKVBbEGIVubLnHX6bxwq50HJsOAz9itzusO01wTK8CRlU-MaZb-K_GaxwmgW7Yg7P8xxzHkMMKLQOywvNHArNkh2f4z9XtPqPf1CA4eJaxZ7oBZTXGhCCxZyhyphenhyphenOOHHER9c3Tew/s807/katie%20team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="807" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRVMt01fm4DT4OIt8a228rN89ogwTOhGiXAozq436kU_ncNSJMKVBbEGIVubLnHX6bxwq50HJsOAz9itzusO01wTK8CRlU-MaZb-K_GaxwmgW7Yg7P8xxzHkMMKLQOywvNHArNkh2f4z9XtPqPf1CA4eJaxZ7oBZTXGhCCxZyhyphenhyphenOOHHER9c3Tew/w400-h271/katie%20team.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="tml-image--caption" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="tml-image--caption" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Katie Smith poses on the bench with the Upper Arlington
girls basketball team. Smith has been serving as a volunteer assistant coach o
for the Golden Bears. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Katie Smith</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Many of Upper Arlington’s players didn’t
fully grasp how famous Smith is in Columbus until the Golden Bears watched the
Ohio State University women’s basketball team defeat Iowa 100-92 in overtime in
front of a program-record crowd of 18,660 fans at the Schottenstein Center on
Jan. 21.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Smith’s No. 30
uniform now hangs in the rafters at the Schottenstein Center, after Ohio State
honored her on Jan. 21, 2001 as the first female Buckeye athlete to have her
uniform number retired</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">During her
freshman season, Smith averaged 18.8 points per game to lead the Buckeyes to a
Big Ten title and earn both Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-American
honors. She also helped lead Ohio State to its first NCAA Final Four appearance</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">, where it eventually lost to Texas Tech in the
championship game.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">In four seasons at Ohio State, Smith averaged 20.8 points
and led the Buckeyes to an 80-44 record while making 124 consecutive starts. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">She scored a career total of
2,578 points to become the Big Ten’s career scoring leader in both men’s and
women’s basketball</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">As a senior, Smith
scored an Ohio State single-season-record 745 points to earn All-American
honors once again and be named the 1996 Big Ten Player of the Year</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Smith, who was a
three-time academic all-Big Ten selection while earning a degree in zoology,
was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in October, 2001</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">“We knew she was a
great player, but I don’t think we realized what a big deal she is, because
she’s so humble and she never puts a spotlight on herself,” Buttermore said.
“When we were at the Schott, we saw her uniform number hanging up there retired
because of how great she is. And then when she came to say hi to our team,
people were looking at her and stopping her for photos, and I think everyone
realized how fortunate we are to have her as our coach.”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">The Golden Bears also got to see firsthand the impact
that Smith is continuing to make at the professional basketball level, when
they traveled as a team to Indianapolis, Indiana in the spring of 2022 to watch
Smith’s Minnesota Lynx play at the Indiana Fever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Smith has coached in the WNBA since the fall of 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">After serving as an assistant coach for New York Liberty
for four years, Smith was Liberty’s head coach for two seasons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">When her contract was not renewed after Liberty went
17-51 during her tenure, Smith served as an assistant coach for the Lynx from
January 2020 to December 2021, before being promoted to associate head coach in
January 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“Watching Katie coach in the WNBA was very cool,”
Buttermore said. “We usually forget that she’s done so much stuff, because
she’s so mellow and cool to talk to. She doesn’t talk about winning gold medals
or her other accomplishments unless we force it out of her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">During her playing
career, Smith also enjoyed an impressive run as part of the USA national team,
helping her squad win gold medals in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics, as well
as in the 1998 and 2002 World Championships</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“Only a select few get to represent their country in the
Olympics, so that was my dream after I started playing in the fifth grade,”
Smith said. “I hoped that I could play in college, be an Olympian, and then
come back home to become a dentist, because the opportunity to play
professionally didn’t always exist.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSKvg7ZMUCRoEnbHFJSLyJp0cAy5giKUiTvgfA57Ujf-hegr8Jg20oGq40OxR0o-YNXiPF5NoR59qZhyphenhyphenUeFuuCPY2HwlxvBLXe0ALe31eIIWTFgs91ce4uiJ7WuiYU2G3BtzGmSLvoZ1J0ng2N7rbqqWJfJduQm1lzGhapfxc2sgFA1vkR-AYEQ/s692/katie%20hoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSKvg7ZMUCRoEnbHFJSLyJp0cAy5giKUiTvgfA57Ujf-hegr8Jg20oGq40OxR0o-YNXiPF5NoR59qZhyphenhyphenUeFuuCPY2HwlxvBLXe0ALe31eIIWTFgs91ce4uiJ7WuiYU2G3BtzGmSLvoZ1J0ng2N7rbqqWJfJduQm1lzGhapfxc2sgFA1vkR-AYEQ/w310-h400/katie%20hoop.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="tml-image--caption" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="tml-image--caption" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Katie Smith goes up for a layup as a member of Team USA<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="tml-image--attribution" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Katie Smith<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">However, as fate would have it, <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Smith was drafted in the first round of the
newly-formed American Basketball League in 1996, and she would go on to lead
the Columbus Quest to back-to-back ABL championships in the only two full
seasons that the league existed in 1997 and 1998</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Smith then
embarked upon a legendary WNBA career</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">, in which
she averaged 13.9 points while playing for a total of five teams in 15 seasons,
in Minnesota (1999-2005), Detroit (2005-09), Washington (2010), Seattle
(2011-12) and New York (2013).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">In 2006, Smith
helped the Detroit Shock win the WNBA championship to become the only player to
capture both ABL and WNBA titles</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Two years later,
Smith was the MVP of the WNBA finals while leading the Shock to a 3-0 sweep of
the San Antonio Silver Stars</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“Winning those championships in Detroit was awesome,
because it meant we were the best at the highest professional level.” Smith
said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">By the end of her
career, Smith was the all-time leading scorer in women’s professional
basketball history with a total of 7,885 points, including 6,452 points in the
WNBA</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">The versatile,
sharp-shooting guard also was named a WNBA All-Star a total of seven times
(2000-03, 05, 06 and 09), was first-team all-WNBA in 2001 and 03, and was the
WNBA scoring champion in 2001</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">In 2018, Smith was
inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">“When you think of
a great basketball player at every level, she’s it,” Wanke said</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">. “Katie has a little bit of an aura around her, and I
think she’s helped spark enthusiasm for girls basketball in our community. Our
youth program has doubled in size in the past three years, to where we now have
40 kids in grades three through six. And we had 211 kids in our last youth
summer camp.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Upper Arlington has three regular season games remaining,
including its league finale on Friday at Dublin Coffman and the sixth-seeded
Golden Bears will open the Division I district tournament on Feb. 21 by playing
host to 38</span><sup><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">th</span></sup><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">-seeded
Central Crossing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“We just want to keep building for the tournament, and
hopefully, we can make a run,” Smith said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">More importantly for Smith, she hopes to continue to
teach valuable life lessons to Upper Arlington’s student athletes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“I’ve coached the elite, and these kids make the same
mistakes that we yell at them for,” Smith said. “I just want to do my best to
teach them what I can, while also making this the best possible experience for
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">“This experience is part of what will shape them as they
become young adults, and all I want for them is to be prepared to work hard and
treat people well, so they will be successful wherever their life journey takes
them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-23027308333197525072024-02-05T17:32:00.001-05:002024-02-05T17:32:51.146-05:00RB Rex Burkhead retiring from NFL after 10 seasons<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-NW6lNRWx1-Q5J7CyJazjlJYoixUG4L2btwzotvYym5MmHEtDPeCktqCFfYFE3GRObBiyiNfhTuprM9kEjklndAz10L7NY1AJ1BLZ0OYMy1paaptQ1otL4JxXDG-VoR1tsEBNBkhNUmAqipIsh659CTk1JPV5uvw9JUR-alA0xHlNnXaFfD9wA/s317/espn.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="317" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-NW6lNRWx1-Q5J7CyJazjlJYoixUG4L2btwzotvYym5MmHEtDPeCktqCFfYFE3GRObBiyiNfhTuprM9kEjklndAz10L7NY1AJ1BLZ0OYMy1paaptQ1otL4JxXDG-VoR1tsEBNBkhNUmAqipIsh659CTk1JPV5uvw9JUR-alA0xHlNnXaFfD9wA/w200-h79/espn.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGZg4JSvWhLuCSU5YcJBBV_St8ctydA1vJfPqfRZKq7KZZR75Ty7WyfP-lsub_CyRgAoArTvO83elq87a8CrvrPMkDN42ia3qp50zT5OMh80SjdmE-A1JKmHD_rUP1iNwPTiviMRFURNQulqWfeHOvNYKdw3RWicWnwyr7g2Lolb41LE0zxWhRg/s643/rb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="643" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGZg4JSvWhLuCSU5YcJBBV_St8ctydA1vJfPqfRZKq7KZZR75Ty7WyfP-lsub_CyRgAoArTvO83elq87a8CrvrPMkDN42ia3qp50zT5OMh80SjdmE-A1JKmHD_rUP1iNwPTiviMRFURNQulqWfeHOvNYKdw3RWicWnwyr7g2Lolb41LE0zxWhRg/w400-h266/rb1.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9pt;">ESPN</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #6c6d6f; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Feb 5, 2024, 03:49 PM ET</span><span style="color: #6c6d6f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Running back </span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;">Rex Burkhead</span><span style="font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 12pt;">announced
his retirement from the NFL on Monday in a post to social media.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 12pt;">"I've been blessed to be able
to play the game of football for 26 years and looking back there are many
people I would like to thank," </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2-pSdtOqSE/?hl=en" style="font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #0066cc; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Burkhead wrote</span></a><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, proceeding to thank his parents, his
wife Danielle, his two children, his coaches, ownership and support staff and
his teammates and fans.</span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUpyFQ6DpwTkNbZ0wUjqup1wTmNedm75qAPYF5WcnqV31pRfxLw4dr5CLOTBA2h9n4vat8GlCd94K2r-GAEqCFi71rmvjjdQawhTLXb_jZf2sF_6Q9wJsY_ebkBjIj0xyjBMFmdH0NaNqm4v9o9Yd2iFDWFQncYHe5Wy9eYC7BF0qORVsOls5Ew/s1297/rex%20highlight.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1297" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUpyFQ6DpwTkNbZ0wUjqup1wTmNedm75qAPYF5WcnqV31pRfxLw4dr5CLOTBA2h9n4vat8GlCd94K2r-GAEqCFi71rmvjjdQawhTLXb_jZf2sF_6Q9wJsY_ebkBjIj0xyjBMFmdH0NaNqm4v9o9Yd2iFDWFQncYHe5Wy9eYC7BF0qORVsOls5Ew/w506-h640/rex%20highlight.png" width="506" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Burkhead,
33, played for three teams over 10 seasons, last appearing in an NFL game in
2022.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #48494a; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Drafted
in the sixth round out of Nebraska in </span><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">2013
by the <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Cincinnati Bengals</span>, Burkhead had 3,442 total yards 26
touchdowns in his career</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 12pt;">He
signed as a free agent with the <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">New England Patriots</span> in
2017 and set a career best with eight touchdowns that season (5 rushing, 3
receiving), and helped the franchise win a Super Bowl after the 2018 season
when he scored three touchdowns that postseason</span><span style="font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. He finished his career with
the <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Houston Texans</span> after signing with the team in 2021,
setting a career best in rushing yards that season with 427.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39465910/rb-rex-burkhead-retiring-nfl-10-seasons">https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39465910/rb-rex-burkhead-retiring-nfl-10-seasons</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-38269529168995396082024-02-01T10:14:00.003-05:002024-02-01T10:14:37.417-05:00Bengals’ Darrin Simmons now NFL’s longest-tenured special teams coordinator by large margin<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3D-jG6rxbqCmzg1-C2rkYqaw7Z_sg-FdMpws4lhZL1GRL1fkH2XEMcwlcHBkPe1-RxhWlPW5WQ2YRQmpjKUaXo4vEVxhGd0BIsZJ5uy3n2o2WVcEeuAWZNAVq9CqNHkhSDJlOlpE83TUnAcOD_3LeJSRTNDNGhqhSUIBjM89nO5yfFnLPfcKFA/s96/sb%20bengals.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="96" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3D-jG6rxbqCmzg1-C2rkYqaw7Z_sg-FdMpws4lhZL1GRL1fkH2XEMcwlcHBkPe1-RxhWlPW5WQ2YRQmpjKUaXo4vEVxhGd0BIsZJ5uy3n2o2WVcEeuAWZNAVq9CqNHkhSDJlOlpE83TUnAcOD_3LeJSRTNDNGhqhSUIBjM89nO5yfFnLPfcKFA/s1600/sb%20bengals.png" width="96" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="c-entry-summary"><i><span style="background: yellow; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Darrin Simmons has
survived several turnovers, and his longevity speaks to how solid he has been
for Cincinnati</span></i><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 16.5pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="c-byline-wrapper"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">By </span></span><span class="c-bylineitem"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/users/PatrickJudis"><span class="c-bylineauthor-name"><span style="color: #ea6a28;">PatrickJudis</span></span></a> </span></span><span class="c-bylineitem"><span style="font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="c-bylineitem"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jan 25, 2024, 7:00am EST <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjIzabup0hbVtfzflYuYtuLCkbkT0wcHEAe4947Fm_A3qmH0c0XJwFEG0nBxMYz9L0-vQHVk_kpX4_EK-iGFfLpfNmt7xSqS2_Jhk9PC44jkTun_eyGSysvBCxOGufuZ9vROnQ7weSCDvR7KO-9cft2rATRzibNsmhlbIE8Bxm2dITk-9OZZgfQ/s263/darrin%20s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="263" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjIzabup0hbVtfzflYuYtuLCkbkT0wcHEAe4947Fm_A3qmH0c0XJwFEG0nBxMYz9L0-vQHVk_kpX4_EK-iGFfLpfNmt7xSqS2_Jhk9PC44jkTun_eyGSysvBCxOGufuZ9vROnQ7weSCDvR7KO-9cft2rATRzibNsmhlbIE8Bxm2dITk-9OZZgfQ/w400-h266/darrin%20s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><cite><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Enquirer-USA TODAY Sports</span></cite></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">This is the
time of year when many fans have eyes on the coaching carousel in between
playoff games.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">The NFL has
always been a “what have you done for me lately” league, but since the turn of
the millennium, we have seen owners get impatient quicker, with many head
coaches seemingly getting only a couple or maybe even one year. That can be
even worse for coordinators around the league who can often be scapegoats for a
team’s struggle.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">In the midst
of these flurry of moves — that includes Cincinnati Bengals offensive
coordinator Brian Callahan taking the head coaching opening for
the Tennessee Titans — </span><span style="background: yellow; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">Bengals fans can appreciate the solid bedrock on their coaching staff
that has been special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">Simmons joined Cincinnati alongside Marvin Lewis
taking over the Bengals. Ever since then, we have not seen a change to that
position, nor has it ever really been in doubt. We have seen kickers enjoy high
levels of success like Shayne Graham, Mike Nugent, and most recently, Evan
McPherson, who kicked two last-second field goals in the 2021 playoff run that
sent Cincinnati to the AFC Championship game and then the Super
Bowl</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">It is also worth noting that Simmons' 22 seasons
with the Bengals are more than any head coach entering the 2024 season as well,
with the closest being Mike Tomlin (17 years) and John Harbaugh (16 years)</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">Simmons
survived a couple of times when Lewis had to clean house of his defensive and
offensive coordinators, as well as sticking on the team when Zac Taylor came
along.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">At this
point, it seems like Simmons can stick around as long as he’d like. He will
head the search for a possible replacement/competition for rookie punter Brad
Robbins after a pretty bad season.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: inherit; text-decoration-line: inherit;">Otherwise,
it will be bringing along the next Stanley Morgans and Cedric Peermans to be
ready for 2024.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-77222371969158037862024-01-31T16:08:00.000-05:002024-01-31T16:08:37.044-05:00International Rugby Players Within the NFL<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLOt8DmsWx3ARzwu9nkEVPLXpyaBNzjN4RXdUgHydPV4j7rhl8AlRw3MTBIdb3uxWq_GxKrUYXdC6lvUCkTf9pnpZWHYyWeBJ9MoXz0sDeAwk5jNft1gBCKliothJ1cXYGSVaeqZ-HsIXI4mSyPalxxF8TGWdvCnu6FcPHXlkEEGogdYU68sxKA/s140/diamonds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLOt8DmsWx3ARzwu9nkEVPLXpyaBNzjN4RXdUgHydPV4j7rhl8AlRw3MTBIdb3uxWq_GxKrUYXdC6lvUCkTf9pnpZWHYyWeBJ9MoXz0sDeAwk5jNft1gBCKliothJ1cXYGSVaeqZ-HsIXI4mSyPalxxF8TGWdvCnu6FcPHXlkEEGogdYU68sxKA/s140/diamonds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="140" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLOt8DmsWx3ARzwu9nkEVPLXpyaBNzjN4RXdUgHydPV4j7rhl8AlRw3MTBIdb3uxWq_GxKrUYXdC6lvUCkTf9pnpZWHYyWeBJ9MoXz0sDeAwk5jNft1gBCKliothJ1cXYGSVaeqZ-HsIXI4mSyPalxxF8TGWdvCnu6FcPHXlkEEGogdYU68sxKA/s1600/diamonds.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="meta-author"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://nfldraftdiamonds.com/author/damond/" title="Damond Talbot"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Damond Talbot</span></b></a></span></span><span class="date"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">January 30, 2024</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQvzrVQ-UKBNGy8Jn7gT4eBFsKGkNVpYf7p1jsDcLfY5msEZbffJK-FQM6Dfxh9ioFa7bTZZj-kpWVZPwhev6NamScET72cEuorEe5mSuBkQrEuUSss4uSZkC8LLuLgj2Wp78duI8d-kBk76A8nTwnqk_hE-ZODxRqE4fciU0LdY9YypmsUinMg/s519/double.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="519" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQvzrVQ-UKBNGy8Jn7gT4eBFsKGkNVpYf7p1jsDcLfY5msEZbffJK-FQM6Dfxh9ioFa7bTZZj-kpWVZPwhev6NamScET72cEuorEe5mSuBkQrEuUSss4uSZkC8LLuLgj2Wp78duI8d-kBk76A8nTwnqk_hE-ZODxRqE4fciU0LdY9YypmsUinMg/w640-h285/double.png" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date"><br /></span></p><p></p><p style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">The sports world buzzed with excitement at the news of Louis
Rees-Zammit, the Welsh rugby phenomenon, making the audacious switch to the
NFL. This transition shines a spotlight on the intriguing journey from rugby to
football, a path less traveled, but rich with success stories. As Rees-Zammit
prepares to don the pads and helmet, we delve into the legacy of rugby players
who have carved out careers in the NFL, setting the stage for this latest
crossover.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id="h-notable-rugby-to-nfl-success-stories" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #2c2f34; font-family: Poppins; font-size: 20.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">Notable Rugby-to-NFL Success Stories</span><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: Poppins; font-size: 20.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Christian
Scotland-Williamson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">A former rugby union player
who played for Worcester Warriors in England, Scotland-Williamson switched to
football, joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018 as a tight end through the
International Player Pathway Program. He’s an English talent that will be
sorely missed in <a href="https://www.rugbypass.com/live/england-vs-scotland/"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">England’s match against Scotland</span></a>in the upcoming Six
Nations tournament.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Nate Ebner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Formerly an Olympic rugby sevens player
for the United States, Ebner made his mark with the New England Patriots,
showcasing his special teams prowess and contributing to multiple Super Bowl
victories. Ebner’s successful transition is a testament to the complementary
skills between all codes of rugby and NFL play.</span><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Christian
Wade<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
English rugby union standout made headlines with his switch to the Buffalo
Bills. Despite facing steep learning curves, Wade’s explosive speed and agility
have made him a player to watch, demonstrating the potential for rugby talents
in the NFL.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Jarryd
Hayne<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
Australian rugby league star’s stint with the San Francisco 49ers was met with
great anticipation. Hayne’s versatility and athleticism allowed him to make an
impact, albeit in a brief NFL career, highlighting the challenges and
opportunities of such a transition.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Alex
Gray<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">A
former England rugby union sevens player and captain, Gray transitioned to
American football, signing with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 as a tight end
through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. He spent multiple
seasons on the Falcons’ practice squad.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.5pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><span style="color: #2c2f34; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Louis
Rees-Zammit’s move to the NFL is more than just a career change; it’s a
continuation of the intriguing narrative of rugby players making their mark in
football. As he joins the ranks of those who have ventured before him,
Rees-Zammit carries the torch for the next generation of athletes looking to
make a similar leap. His journey underscores the growing interconnectedness of
global sports, promising exciting developments for fans and future players
alike.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span class="date">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-19264664309546739092024-01-29T14:31:00.002-05:002024-01-29T14:31:57.632-05:00Giants 2024 UFA Primer: LS Casey Kreiter<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qCTcb305GZQCqEjdyfuHvrnufq4INZzhLGSLQuztgt11e8yBYUFMoElSfy6d-1P05KPAZvPnRp9mJ9s9CINxS3DAsyBv8bXX5Zrju-jxmZqyRH1vc9tm_leD4Dr8BFQ5PLNVVzLAU4buvlsfy1sJYIIGiamIuC_EAMlv2w3oVEIeVIeyrzIL0g/s186/GCOUNTRY.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="186" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qCTcb305GZQCqEjdyfuHvrnufq4INZzhLGSLQuztgt11e8yBYUFMoElSfy6d-1P05KPAZvPnRp9mJ9s9CINxS3DAsyBv8bXX5Zrju-jxmZqyRH1vc9tm_leD4Dr8BFQ5PLNVVzLAU4buvlsfy1sJYIIGiamIuC_EAMlv2w3oVEIeVIeyrzIL0g/s1600/GCOUNTRY.png" width="186" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Casey
Kreiter has been a steady performer for the Giants in an underrated position.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhuZ8h_s2L0Fs9_Q22CHCbfVXdh2QcQAhma1R2_DrfquwHzg6wlDZnHJVtEoRPvZkEF_JVYmpZwsH6HSIXzm9sO9sBsETyEPD99WB6YSQyCofpDfxqLF415OPnEpHTrKFbbDEllDte9yQ1aLidYiG-cCZ_o_rkYOVFJnOcb_XRIl1EMl0fztIjQ/s364/59.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="246" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhuZ8h_s2L0Fs9_Q22CHCbfVXdh2QcQAhma1R2_DrfquwHzg6wlDZnHJVtEoRPvZkEF_JVYmpZwsH6HSIXzm9sO9sBsETyEPD99WB6YSQyCofpDfxqLF415OPnEpHTrKFbbDEllDte9yQ1aLidYiG-cCZ_o_rkYOVFJnOcb_XRIl1EMl0fztIjQ/w270-h400/59.png" width="270" /></a></div><br /><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/author/olivier-dumont" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">OLIVIER DUMONT</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">JAN
25, 2024 10:00 AM EST<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Casey Kreiter, LS<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Height:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;"> 6 foot
1<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Weight:</span></strong> 250
lbs.<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Age: </span></strong>33<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">NFL Exp.: </span></strong>8
seasons<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">College:</span></strong> Iowa<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Casey Kreiter was signed by the New York
Giants in 2020 to a one-year deal worth $1,047,500. Kreiter was acquired
to replace long-time Giants long-snapper Zak DeOssie. Following a promising
preseason showcase and the retirement of DeOssie that year, Kreiter earned his
spot as the starting long snapper.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Before becoming a Giant, Kreiter signed with
the Dallas Cowboys to a three-year deal as an undrafted free agent
following the 2014 NFL Draft. The Cowboys would cut Kreiter that August,
only to re-sign him in March 2015. Though he was given a second chance at
becoming the Cowboys’ long snapper, Kreiter lost out to L.P. Ladouceur and was
released before the start of the 2015 regular season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">After signing in April of that year, Kreiter finally got
his turn to shine in 2016 with the Denver Broncos. Kreiter started in the
first ten games before sustaining a calf injury that sidelined him for the rest
of the 2016 campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Kreiter played
another three seasons for the Broncos as their starting long snapper, finishing
his four-year stint with five combined tackles (four solo) and a Pro Bowl
appearance in 2018</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;"> (the only one of his career).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Since arriving in
New York, Kreiter has yet to miss a single game due to injury</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">. Kreiter, who began his Giants tenure as No. 58,
switched to No. 59 last year, yielding his former jersey number to new inside
linebacker Bobby Okereke.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<hr align="center" size="1" style="width: 525.0pt;" width="700" />
</span></div>
<h2 id="more-ufa-primers" style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: inherit; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2023
Recap<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">There’s a saying
in football that ‘the best ability is availability.’ And when it comes to
Kreiter, he’s been as available as it gets, never missing a game due to injury
since becoming a Giant. Executing clean snaps week in and week out, Kreiter
managed to post a career-high in tackles (4) over 2023 as well, all of which
were solo</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 id="why-giants-should-re-sign-him" style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: inherit; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why Giants Should Re-Sign Him<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">When you have a
specific positional player that has delivered nothing but efficient and
consistent results, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t keep them</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">, particularly if they can be re-signed to an affordable
deal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Kreiter
has grown into his role on this Giants' special teams unit and delivered a
standout performance in 2023</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;"> for someone who’s never
had more than two tackles in a single season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">In addition, Kreiter, who signed a one-year $1,317,500
deal with the Giants for 2023, will most likely stay with a one-year deal,
which the Giants should be able to fit comfortably under their salary cap.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 id="why-giants-shouldn-t-re-sign-him" style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: inherit; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why Giants Shouldn’t Re-Sign Him<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">For as good as Kreiter has been, he is set to turn 34
this August. While there is no evidence to suggest his game has fallen off,
that's something to consider as he continues his career.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">But more importantly, there is the money aspect. As
already noted, Kreiter had his best season as a Giant last year. So would
another one-year deal be enough, or might he want a little something more? And
could the Giants maybe look to get younger at the position by bringing in
someone whose veteran minimum would be less than Kreiter would need to receive?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">The Giants have cap space and are expected to gain
more <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/big-blue-plus/new-york-giants-salary-cap-checkup"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">with some anticipated moves</span></strong></a>.
But at what point might the team want to start looking for a snapper to develop
for when the time comes to pass the baton?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 id="keep-or-pass" style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: inherit; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keep
or Pass?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Until the Giants find a long snapper able to deliver at
the same if not better level, they might as well stay with Kreiter, who has
chemistry working with Gillan and Gano, for at least another one-year deal. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">From punts to field goals to
extra point attempts, Kreiter got the job done on special teams and delivered
crisp snaps to his intended targets every game week this season</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 22.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 22.5pt; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Unless he asks for an outrageous type of contract, the
Giants have no reason to move on from Kreiter. Kreiter comes with plenty of
veteran experience. Seeing how well he played, especially last year, the Giants
could do worse than to keep Kreiter around for another season.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-46381273682021462872024-01-10T15:51:00.000-05:002024-01-10T15:51:03.910-05:00Tyler Linderbaum<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiUcDueef98p6HY4j0wJbTbQ6jr1PluKlJ4GCtxlWwSsz8mWzBdgzS6MGsocA0dVAogqBmcnGCd8cdYpRDMu3r86mmaEoSaOBJNOBVvana6RHmalPg3ZWsVvF3c_cls9Cm5WEDvLdrI0k21pWeSCxRA7w65icFNMti6HlIV7o9mtERNpEofQW4A/s1381/64.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="931" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiUcDueef98p6HY4j0wJbTbQ6jr1PluKlJ4GCtxlWwSsz8mWzBdgzS6MGsocA0dVAogqBmcnGCd8cdYpRDMu3r86mmaEoSaOBJNOBVvana6RHmalPg3ZWsVvF3c_cls9Cm5WEDvLdrI0k21pWeSCxRA7w65icFNMti6HlIV7o9mtERNpEofQW4A/w432-h640/64.png" width="432" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="https://x.com/PFF_Ravens/status/1745086371214106873?s=20">https://x.com/PFF_Ravens/status/1745086371214106873?s=20</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-66285884156401230562024-01-08T13:38:00.002-05:002024-01-08T13:38:20.009-05:00The best NFL third-round draft pick in the history of each franchise<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSz46gJzAzkfhBXlUXELJx_q5eCXr-E54jzKRB9rV6a98K4Dmx4fsahMM2CEDBf3QomB4XWK9vDTDv5-EIBSFo0XHFVwOoLFtymR-YLx0u_lnklM24xtXkme5PfZHzEkBSHGrqYNRYEUWcOaw8bo9Ksrhhtzv4jzI93QEyHHVOv7hWmHDC3OZecw/s149/yard.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="35" data-original-width="149" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSz46gJzAzkfhBXlUXELJx_q5eCXr-E54jzKRB9rV6a98K4Dmx4fsahMM2CEDBf3QomB4XWK9vDTDv5-EIBSFo0XHFVwOoLFtymR-YLx0u_lnklM24xtXkme5PfZHzEkBSHGrqYNRYEUWcOaw8bo9Ksrhhtzv4jzI93QEyHHVOv7hWmHDC3OZecw/s1600/yard.png" width="149" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #888888; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Updated 4 days ago (January 4, 2023) |
By </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://www.yardbarker.com/authors/seth_trachtman/158"><span style="background: white; color: #1779ba; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Seth Trachtman</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Great
middle-round picks can make all the difference for a franchise's future. <span style="background: yellow;">These are the best third-round picks in the history
of each NFL franchise</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="slide_1"><span style="color: #1779ba; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 1.0pt;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: slide_1;"></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: "Fira Sans Condensed",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cleveland Browns: Anthony
Pleasant, DE (1990)</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A 14-year pro out of Tennessee State, Pleasant peaked in his
six seasons with the Browns. He recorded 11 sacks in 1993 and eight sacks two
years later. A favorite of Bill Belichick, he followed the historic head
coach to stops with the Jets and Patriots</span><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoHEenXwD23WV2hOgB6_peeB9otYpGsF__NbdRpw5APkbwhC73iOEZvv7cJrj7euqyyCYiANFCXm54qwi5dcF5ZRlmKQ_d7cpknSuYzy0-0Rd0o_Mlb7ADAPLyVpY5jI0IZkV0oEUYnLQB8L60xQYe7wDJyuxwURlT1knhBb1q0fAyXWv-4e0hg/s800/98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoHEenXwD23WV2hOgB6_peeB9otYpGsF__NbdRpw5APkbwhC73iOEZvv7cJrj7euqyyCYiANFCXm54qwi5dcF5ZRlmKQ_d7cpknSuYzy0-0Rd0o_Mlb7ADAPLyVpY5jI0IZkV0oEUYnLQB8L60xQYe7wDJyuxwURlT1knhBb1q0fAyXWv-4e0hg/w350-h400/98.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #888888; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #888888; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #888888; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Long
Photography / USA Today Sports Images</span></div><div><span style="color: #888888; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #888888; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-73774229317530969262024-01-04T16:27:00.004-05:002024-01-04T16:27:54.963-05:00Ravens Have Seven 2023 Pro Bowlers<p> </p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Jan 03, 2024 at 08:00 PM</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><a href="https://www.baltimoreravens.com/author/ryan-mink"><b><span style="color: #24135f;">Ryan Mink</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: 9.0pt; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Editorial Director</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kpPzHQZs2bKgJduFiq-5the9XJ4y61-EhsNBXNEpscG0sNnLy7q1MOIXzvNg2CF3-3-SigpX8pHTgHOvyYdnoebD9bEn-XCxNSelYnY8tBswVSUNIM8FitS5owh_Dh7WZSjEIfCZoSmmCitOeYF5FwNYLs5sFwFm08tPAK54DC3BXk3A2lxKyw/s742/games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="742" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kpPzHQZs2bKgJduFiq-5the9XJ4y61-EhsNBXNEpscG0sNnLy7q1MOIXzvNg2CF3-3-SigpX8pHTgHOvyYdnoebD9bEn-XCxNSelYnY8tBswVSUNIM8FitS5owh_Dh7WZSjEIfCZoSmmCitOeYF5FwNYLs5sFwFm08tPAK54DC3BXk3A2lxKyw/w400-h225/games.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">With the best record in football comes the rewards – and not
just a first-round playoff bye.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">The
Ravens have seven 2023 Pro Bowlers, including four first-timers.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Baltimore's Pro Bowlers are </span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">quarterback Lamar
Jackson, linebacker Roquan Smith, safety Kyle Hamilton, defensive tackle Justin
Madubuike, <span style="background: yellow;">center Tyler Linderbaum</span>,
linebacker Patrick Queen, and kicker Justin Tucker.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">It's
the first time for Hamilton, Madubuike, Queen, and Linderbaum – all players
General Manager Eric DeCosta drafted.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">While
seven is a very healthy number, the <a href="https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-tie-nfl-record-with-12-pro-bowlers"><span style="color: #24135f;">Ravens had a dozen the last time</span></a> they
were the AFC's top playoff seed in 2019, which tied an NFL record.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">The
Ravens are poised to make a playoff run this year, so all of them are hoping
not to actually play in the Pro Bowl Games, which will take place on Feb. 4 in
Orlando. Baltimore has its eyes on Las Vegas instead.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Here's
why each of the seven Ravens made it:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">QB Lamar Jackson</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">(third trip / 2019, 2021, 2023)</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Jackson
is the runaway favorite to win his second MVP, so this was a slam dunk.
Jackson's growth as an all-around quarterback this season has been clear, as he
has set career bests in completions (307), completion percentage (67.2) and
passing yards (3,678), while also rushing for 821 yards. He has been on fire
during Baltimore's current six-game winning streak, throwing for 14 touchdowns
with just two interceptions and a 109.8 quarterback rating, including
spectacular performances against some of the top defenses in the league in San
Francisco and Miami the past two weeks.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LB Roquan Smith</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">(second trip / 2022, 2023)</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Smith
has been the heart of the Ravens' defense since he first arrived midway through
last year and he's only elevated his game this season. Smith has the fifth-most
tackles in the league (158), as well as 1.5 sacks, one interception, and a
forced fumble. But his impact goes well beyond his stats. Smith is the leader
of the NFL's best defense, which has given up a league-low 16.4 points per
game. Baltimore is currently on track to finish as the first unit in NFL
history rank No. 1 in scoring (16.4 ppg), sacks (57), and takeaways (29). The
way Smith patrols the middle with Queen sets the tone for Baltimore.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">"It's
an honor to be voted into the Pro Bowl. I'm very grateful for my teammates and
coaches; each and every week we go to war together, and the guys put me in some
of the best possible situations to be successful," Smith said. "I'm
also very thankful for the fans who voted for me and see my talent and the way
I respect the game. I'm very grateful to be in this position, and I don't take
this award lightly.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">"My
plan, though, is to not be playing in the game, because I want to be in the Big
Dance. But still, I appreciate that accolade next to my name. It's a great
honor."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">S Kyle Hamilton</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">(first trip)</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Hamilton
has been Mr. Do-It-All in the Ravens defense. He's the first NFL defender since
Tyrann Mathieu in 2015 to notch four interceptions and 10 tackles for loss in a
single season. Hamilton also has three sacks and 13 passes defensed, playing
all over Baltimore's formation. The Ravens' scheme versatility and ability to
match up with a variety of different offensive threats and schemes is in large
part due to Hamilton's unique abilities.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">"It's
kind of surreal. I don't think it has settled in yet. I have to be thankful for
where I'm at and for all the people who got me here. Honestly, growing up,
watching the Pro Bowl every year, it's cool to have the opportunity to play in
it. Obviously, we want to be playing in the Super Bowl, but I'm blessed either
way, just to be selected. I'm thankful for everybody who voted for me and
believed I'm good enough to be in the position that I am.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">"It's
an honor, honestly, this early in my career to see success like this. I feel
like it's a confidence booster. I feel like I have a lot more room to get
better, and that's a good thing. I feel like I haven't reached my peak, and I'm
still getting better each and every day, but being included in a group of
people like all of the past Ravens Pro Bowlers, it's an honor."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DT Justin Madubuike</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">(first trip)</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Madubuike
leads all NFL defensive linemen with 13 sacks. He leads Baltimore's pass rush,
which has a league-high 57 sacks. This season, Madubuike tied the NFL record
with at least a half sack in 11 straight games, putting him alongside some of
the greatest pass rushers to ever play the game. In his fourth season,
Madubuike has been a game-wrecker inside for Baltimore, causing all sorts of
problems for opposing quarterbacks and run games.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">"Being
named a Pro Bowler is special and something I share with my family and everyone
who has believed in me. I'm very grateful for all these people – my parents,
coaches, teammates and Ravens fans – because they're the ones who help inspire
me every day. While this honor is amazing, it just makes me hungrier and more
focused to work even harder. This year has been so unique in the sense that I'm
playing better, learning more and am truly enjoying the football journey with
my teammates. Hopefully this is just the start of many more great things to
come for all of us."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">C Tyler Linderbaum</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">(first trip)</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Linderbaum anchors Baltimore's offensive line, which has
allowed Jackson to flourish and paved the way for the league's top running game
(159.7 yards per game). Linderbaum was a dominant and versatile run blocker as
a rookie, but he's elevated his game specifically in pass blocking. He hasn't
allowed a sack, per Pro Football Focus, in 484 pass blocking opportunities</span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">"A
lot of credit goes to my teammates – the other O-linemen I work with every
single day. Without them, I wouldn't be in this position for this accolade.
It's just a team effort. I'm always a firm believer that if the team is
winning, a lot of accolades are going to come with that. There's still a long
way to go, but it's good for my second year.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">"There
is hard work that goes into it. It isn't easy, but there is more work to be
done. I'm a long way from where I want to be. And hopefully, we'll be doing
something else when that time comes around the Pro Bowl time. But to just be
recognized by other people, it feels pretty good."</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlH5IDZlDvivDL5PEKzkZ6i0w-yix4AszbINzCXy13SGHt0gScGHv4bfdtj_zNOgcaxnxrBgjEhb_knT3wFLSq0oTb5XSaQhlAv21OE38GuFwToqbuivmHB9PLt_TQiLS2aKa7rDIqd5jB9ASzwkmc8I1OXgfZ8kPja4Ce5USw6KMsnaF08m7DQ/s1037/TY%20TWEET.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="620" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlH5IDZlDvivDL5PEKzkZ6i0w-yix4AszbINzCXy13SGHt0gScGHv4bfdtj_zNOgcaxnxrBgjEhb_knT3wFLSq0oTb5XSaQhlAv21OE38GuFwToqbuivmHB9PLt_TQiLS2aKa7rDIqd5jB9ASzwkmc8I1OXgfZ8kPja4Ce5USw6KMsnaF08m7DQ/w382-h640/TY%20TWEET.png" width="382" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><h3 style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LB Patrick Queen</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">(first trip)</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Queen
has been a playmaker in the middle of Baltimore's defense, both for himself and
in helping to set up teammates. He has a career-high 125 tackles (78 solo) and
matched a career high with six passes defensed, while adding 3.5 sacks, nine
tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
for the best defense in the league. Queen is a tone-setter alongside Smith.
This has been a long time coming considering Queen is the only NFL defender to
produce at least 400 tackles (445), 10 sacks (13.5), and 10 takeaways (four
interceptions and six fumble recoveries) since he entered the league in 2020.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">"This
honor means a lot, just for the recognition and all the hard work that goes
into it. I have nobody but God to thank, because truly without Him, it's not
possible to be in this position. It's everything that you could want, and
knowing the type of run that we're on right now makes it that much better.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">"The
way we play, I think everyone on our defense should have made it, honestly. The
guys that didn't make it, it's a shoutout to them for how much time and effort
and dedication that goes into us playing well as a unit. You could easily fall
off at any point, and for our team to just be steady, be on the uphill climb
and prove themselves every day, it means a lot for everyone."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">K Justin Tucker</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">(seventh trip / 2013, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022,
2023)</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">Tucker
is still the best kicker in the league. This season, the most accurate kicker
ever (90.2%) has connected on 31-of-36 field goal attempts and 50-of-51 point
after tries, scoring a career-high, team-record and AFC-best 143 points in
2023. All but one of Tucker's misses this season have been on tries of at least
53 yards, including a blocked 55-yarder. Tucker last missed a field goal from
within 40 yards on Jan. 2, 2022, drilling 46 consecutive tries within that
distance. In 2023, Tucker posted his ninth-ever season reaching at least 30
field goals made, with no other kicker in NFL history producing more than five
such seasons. He also owns an NFL-record 12 straight seasons (each year of his
career) with at least 25 field goals made.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">𝕋𝕙𝕒</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">𝔽</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">𝕚𝕤</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">𝕗𝕠𝕣</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> “</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">𝔽𝕝𝕪</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">𝕥𝕙𝕖</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Cambria Math",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ℝ𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕤</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">” - <a href="https://twitter.com/LilTunechi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span style="color: #24135f;">@LilTunechi</span></a><br />
<br />
</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">🎶</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">: "Birds" <a href="https://twitter.com/RepublicRecords?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span style="color: #24135f;">@RepublicRecords</span></a><br />
</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">📺</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">: 1/6 4:30 ABC/ESPN <a href="https://t.co/Pvtfu5EKdk"><span style="color: #24135f;">pic.twitter.com/Pvtfu5EKdk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">— Baltimore Ravens
(@Ravens) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ravens/status/1742712846302019740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January
4, 2024</a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-25680081675017754462023-12-29T17:07:00.002-05:002023-12-29T17:07:55.892-05:00Ravens’ Tyler Linderbaum is as competitive as they come: ‘He just won’t allow himself to fail’<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu19Kl7eF3vZnv0Vnxs0LkZ5rDuRnBpiYRk0oBb0tUJxiWkhpWEYFtKaOx16Lw5PJWJAy9vX4I7QdHgAHytg_oFgAjXHIghDX6oYTGBcuSxpKrPYbV3ueQbk7k-7vMZaqdQdDr9PT4O_ZqsjY9NhJKGw4oNI4korgUgLmF340dSYFNyPUCBbaLQ/s353/ath.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="353" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu19Kl7eF3vZnv0Vnxs0LkZ5rDuRnBpiYRk0oBb0tUJxiWkhpWEYFtKaOx16Lw5PJWJAy9vX4I7QdHgAHytg_oFgAjXHIghDX6oYTGBcuSxpKrPYbV3ueQbk7k-7vMZaqdQdDr9PT4O_ZqsjY9NhJKGw4oNI4korgUgLmF340dSYFNyPUCBbaLQ/w200-h41/ath.png" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzXzx8_0uzAIEaqFt5mA32GXy_PRS_q_r0kx9BL_movgVTM898uN4czXQ_Wc6ti2DcWDBU-XZojpN7GXgpe3jdaJBDUy7pKJggEnyqObpvoRjLbSSOAVXNyF5TwUkkrYcZUhlxV3DPEbdJukAJQBTxsWgumJaqG2Ic57hAqMs3BQ7aj9l9J9A0A/s606/ty%20new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="606" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzXzx8_0uzAIEaqFt5mA32GXy_PRS_q_r0kx9BL_movgVTM898uN4czXQ_Wc6ti2DcWDBU-XZojpN7GXgpe3jdaJBDUy7pKJggEnyqObpvoRjLbSSOAVXNyF5TwUkkrYcZUhlxV3DPEbdJukAJQBTxsWgumJaqG2Ic57hAqMs3BQ7aj9l9J9A0A/w400-h268/ty%20new.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="sc-aa8f1740-2"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">By </span></span><span class="sc-aa8f1740-2"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Jeff
Zrebiec</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7d7d7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">5h ago (December 29, 2023)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="Save Article" style='width:14.25pt;height:14.25pt;visibility:visible;
mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/SDronzek/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif"
o:title="Save Article"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Save Article" height="19" src="file:///C:/Users/SDronzek/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4" width="19" /><!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<hr align="left" size="1" style="width: 505.5pt;" width="674" />
</span></div>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">The team stretch was over and the Solon High School football
squad started to break into its position groups. For young Tyler
Linderbaum, that meant one thing: It was time to loosen up his right arm.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Linderbaum’s earliest years on the football field were spent as
a quarterback. That’s the position he envisioned playing at the high school
level, and dozens of coaches over the years have learned that telling
Linderbaum he couldn’t do something didn’t often generate a positive response.
Linderbaum’s older brother, Logan, was an offensive lineman. Linderbaum was a
quarterback, or so he thought.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">The only problem was that kids who looked like Linderbaum didn’t
play quarterback. He had that thick, sturdy neck, that short and squatty build,
those wide shoulders. He had that Iowa farm boy strength, too, even though he
didn’t grow up working in the corn fields.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">So when Solon football coach Kevin Miller saw Linderbaum jogging
over to the quarterback group at the start of one of his first high school
practices, the first thing Miller did was chuckle. The second thing he did was
walk over to Linderbaum and ask him what exactly he was doing.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“I kind of joked with him. I said, ‘I don’t know where you think
you are going to be,’” said Miller. “‘But put your hard hat on and go over
there with the big uglies.’”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Linderbaum wasn’t the only one who didn’t initially view himself
as a center. He was recruited to nearby Iowa as a defensive tackle and played
two games at that position as a freshman. Even after <span style="background: yellow;">Linderbaum switched to the offensive line and eventually established
himself as the best center in college football</span>, there
were NFL organizations that questioned whether he was big enough or
his arms were long enough to thrive at the next level.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">With their second first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft,
the Baltimore Ravens took that bet and are reaping the rewards. In
just his second season, Linderbaum is already regarded as one of the top
centers in football. He’s been one of the keys to the Ravens’ top-ranked run
game, and heading into Sunday’s highly anticipated matchup with the Miami
Dolphins where a win would give Baltimore the AFC’s top seed, <span style="background: yellow;">Linderbaum has allowed zero sacks and three
quarterback hits in 13 games this season</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Ravens coach John Harbaugh believes that with
Linderbaum, Baltimore has <em>the</em> best center in
football. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken says Linderbaum is
playing at an “elite level.” Veteran right tackle Morgan Moses called
Linderbaum “special” and predicted that the 23-year-old would become a
“foundational piece” in Baltimore for years to come.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Just about everyone you talk to in the Ravens’
locker room brings up Linderbaum’s competitiveness, toughness and physicality</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">. As
a rookie, he played through a significant foot injury. This year, he barely
missed any time with a high ankle sprain.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Stories about his traits are still being told
in Solon, a city in Eastern Iowa, where Linderbaum was a multi-sport standout
for the Spartans and a one-time winner of the “Solon Beef Days” hay bale toss;
and in Iowa City, where he became yet another star offensive lineman produced
by Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes program.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“You can’t measure someone’s toughness and
competitive spirit,” Miller said. “He just has some of these elements that
separate himself from these guys he competes against.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<hr align="left" size="15" width="100%" />
</span></div>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">The clip was shown before, during and after the 2022 NFL Draft
almost as often as highlights of Linderbaum sprinting downfield and knocking
down Big Ten defenders like bowling pins. <span style="background: yellow;">There
was Linderbaum, in his white, orange and black Solon High wrestling singlet,
executing an overtime takedown of rival and future Iowa teammate and NFL
first-round pick Tristan Wirfs in 2017 to win a key match</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3JKfXYVdKCTGBzlqLlpaXJFwSrDMtEj6Qye0R18TAjUPb7QcIhRcxO8hIJBGNxM32tCRIq4htyKlEEsUyNmq7Cq6wJqJOqCM_LetCgwuMNeg_Dl2BxoD4ahJHpS19jhPR6HtGUm1N_XZf5RTeUSvlWVTI24ArL_t7iwVT-WWT8SmHpYJ2G3frg/s480/purple.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3JKfXYVdKCTGBzlqLlpaXJFwSrDMtEj6Qye0R18TAjUPb7QcIhRcxO8hIJBGNxM32tCRIq4htyKlEEsUyNmq7Cq6wJqJOqCM_LetCgwuMNeg_Dl2BxoD4ahJHpS19jhPR6HtGUm1N_XZf5RTeUSvlWVTI24ArL_t7iwVT-WWT8SmHpYJ2G3frg/w400-h300/purple.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Linderbaum rose from the mat, his mouth agape, and stomped
around like a conquering hero. Wirfs was a state champion wrestler who had
dominated Linderbaum in previous matchups. He also was significantly bigger
than Linderbaum. Yet, the result showed the persistence, competitiveness and
toughness that Linderbaum possessed, and it foreshadowed how he’d become one of
the league’s best centers despite being considered undersized at 6-foot-2, 305
pounds with a below-average 31 1/8-inch arm size.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“When I first started wrestling, I was not good,” Linderbaum
said. “I only wrestled for three years in high school. My sophomore year, I got
my butt whooped.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">How bad did it get?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“I probably went 30-20,” Linderbaum said. “But most of those 30
wins were against fat puds, kids that probably shouldn’t have been wrestling,
and I’m sure half of those were forfeits. The other 15 of those were against
kids I should have beaten just because of my athleticism. But I started to
learn how to wrestle, and then my junior and senior year, I did better.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Linderbaum initially played basketball, but he opted to turn to
wrestling because Solon needed a heavyweight to replace his brother. He
struggled so much early that he quit on multiple occasions, but only
temporarily. Getting thrown around wasn’t something he ever wanted to get used
to. One such occasion came when Logan, who wrestled at Minnesota State Mankato,
returned to Solon to practice with the high school team. Logan dominated his
younger brother so thoroughly that Linderbaum left the gym in frustration.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“I’d be like, ‘I’m done,’ and I’d go take a five-minute walk and
then come back in,” Linderbaum said. “I wouldn’t actually quit.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">By the time he graduated, Linderbaum had won 122 matches in just
three years and registered fifth- and third-place finishes in the state. The
lessons he learned, though, about leverage, balance and one-on-one competition
served him well in the sport that he planned to play in college.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“In a competitive setting, you don’t want to lose,” Linderbaum
said. “I feel like I’m a sore loser, so any time we’re in a competitive game or
something like that, I want to give it my best, and the competitive spirit
comes out.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<hr align="left" size="15" width="100%" />
</span></div>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Iowa was preparing for the Outback Bowl in early 2019 when
Ferentz decided to make the move. While Linderbaum had ability as a defensive
tackle, the program didn’t have an intriguing center prospect in the pipeline.
Iowa knew when recruiting him that he was a high-level center and there was no
time to waste.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“He immediately started taking reps with the twos,” recalled
then-Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras. “He couldn’t snap yet. Every snap was
going between my legs or over my head, but he had this ability to pick things
up fast and to win reps when his body was in a compromised position. You’d see
Tyler contorted and bent and he finds a way to have really impressive power.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">By the following year, Linderbaum was the
starting center for a program that breeds quality NFL offensive linemen. The
year after that, he was already garnering attention for being one of the top
centers in the country</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">He wasn’t physically imposing, but <span style="background: yellow;">he
was uber-athletic for an offensive lineman. His fundamentals were sound and he
was relentless, working through the whistle on every play</span>. He took a
defensive lineman’s approach to the center position. He wanted to attack the
player in front of him, rather than always sitting back and trying to hold his
ground.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3a72Uny0Ag7ccgBKkLcabb031WsmhBzjQbIwAzY8WOfUxkfFzP7MG-jvLOuT5OfrEsEzJBbCkhwWwBqm3-qWsWQ7eVETkmWAaCeys6o5yrjm-4Afh5EWDe-scow0HW8UfjN4W8AmX0UArny-2jstNcYFGOPeI7P4VypLWvaoWcoiEx9qRJ0BWqg/s749/65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="749" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3a72Uny0Ag7ccgBKkLcabb031WsmhBzjQbIwAzY8WOfUxkfFzP7MG-jvLOuT5OfrEsEzJBbCkhwWwBqm3-qWsWQ7eVETkmWAaCeys6o5yrjm-4Afh5EWDe-scow0HW8UfjN4W8AmX0UArny-2jstNcYFGOPeI7P4VypLWvaoWcoiEx9qRJ0BWqg/w400-h266/65.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Ferentz, a former offensive line coach in
Baltimore, once described Linderbaum as being “too good to be true.”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">
Still, early on in his college career, his teammates didn’t have a good read on
him. Linderbaum is always aware of his surroundings and isn’t prone to chitchat
unless he knows his company.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Petras and Iowa teammates Nico Ragaini and Riley
Moss were playing the video game Call of Duty when Linderbaum came
strolling through their dorm room. Wanting to test the young lineman, Moss
invited him to take a game.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“He didn’t say much and we had no idea how he was as a Call of
Duty player. No warmup at all and he went up and had 50 kills and one death in
his first game,” Petras said. “It wasn’t like he was sitting on his Xbox all
day. He was a four-sport athlete in high school. This dude had things to do,
and he does 50 kills and one death. I’ve never sniffed that.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Petras would later learn something else about Linderbaum. If you
made him angry, you better be prepared to deal with the consequences. The two
Iowa teammates were partying in the offseason outside of a friend’s house. Some
button pushing started and Petras reached back from the truck they were in and
struck Linderbaum in the head with a stick of deer jerky. All hell broke loose.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Next thing I know, he climbed over in the middle seat, held
both of my arms in one of his and he was on top of me and whaling on me with
his other arm,” Petras said. “It was like, ‘Woah, OK, you win.’ When he flips
the switch, it’s nothing to mess with. It’s just part of his competitive
nature. He’s got that bite to him. When it’s time to go, he’s ready to go.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Petras says without hesitation that Linderbaum
is the most competitive person he’s ever been around. That even applies to
Linderbaum’s annual hometown hay bale toss. The challenge is to toss a hay
bale, which weighs approximately 60 pounds, over a bar that is elevated above.
Linderbaum won it one year by clearing 14 feet</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Miller recently saw the competitive side of him, too. Miller and
his son, Cam, were locked in a tight best-ball golf match with Linderbaum and
his father, Todd, who is a good athlete in his own right.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“All of a sudden, Tyler found another gear,” Miller said. “It
was like, ‘All right, we’re not losing.’ He just has that ‘it’ factor. He just
won’t allow himself to fail. He wants to be the very best at what he does.
That’s his M.O.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<hr align="left" size="15" width="100%" />
</span></div>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Former Ravens standout guard Marshal Yanda,
who has gotten to know Linderbaum through their shared Iowa and Baltimore ties,
used to say that NFL rookies should be seen and not heard</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">.
That would have been just fine for the reserved Linderbaum, except his very
position mandates that he is vocal.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">As the center, Linderbaum has to make line calls and make sure
everyone is on the same page. It’s a leadership position, and that complicated
Linderbaum’s transition to the NFL, particularly as he was surrounded by a
former league MVP quarterback and a veteran offensive line.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">The fact that Linderbaum was selected with the draft pick the
Ravens received from trading wide receiver Marquise Brown to
the Arizona Cardinals only added to the pressure. Teams don’t
regularly take centers in the first round of the draft. The ones who are
selected are essentially expected to become Pro Bowl-caliber players early in
their careers. Linderbaum, who dismissed the concerns about his arm length,
calling it “genetics, I guess,” is on that path.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9atQeHqGCzdHtYA9Py4ReZ79Q4AKGZm3DJYi6SqX7ktCbr_xVSDS_xFhuztZRciBs-A-QdJL3AUyVfQbtQ2CYBDsA2glEIeP2QzpdPeYSZ2OqS7IVvuwSTMVZrlbWRzYQsqzPVSy8bpP5D6TojSgLW5VUEMRLZnhPC4ARLrUG_yr2QLPSIjBjw/s599/push.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="599" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9atQeHqGCzdHtYA9Py4ReZ79Q4AKGZm3DJYi6SqX7ktCbr_xVSDS_xFhuztZRciBs-A-QdJL3AUyVfQbtQ2CYBDsA2glEIeP2QzpdPeYSZ2OqS7IVvuwSTMVZrlbWRzYQsqzPVSy8bpP5D6TojSgLW5VUEMRLZnhPC4ARLrUG_yr2QLPSIjBjw/w400-h266/push.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“The only thing changed is he’s been in the league another year,
but Tyler has been the same,” said <span style="background: yellow;">Ravens
quarterback Lamar Jackson. “The knowledge is there. He’s vocal. He’s being
a leader. Even though he’s young, he’s been a leader, just stepping up. He’s
very smart.”</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Linderbaum doesn’t believe anything has changed with his
demeanor from his rookie year to now, but he is certainly showing more
personality and more playfulness around the media. During a practice last week,
he chided veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley for being the last
offensive lineman out on the field. He and his locker mate and closest friend
on the team, reserve offensive lineman Patrick Mekari, are constantly
tweaking each other, much to the amusement of onlookers. Linderbaum recently
stood behind a throng of television cameras and playfully called for Jackson to
end his media availability, because it was the second-year center’s turn at the
microphones.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“It comes from him being comfortable, and he also understands he
has to find his space before he can confidently be able to voice his opinions,”
<span style="background: yellow;">Moses said. “But he’s taken the road of being a
staple in this offense and a leader.”</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Much of that goes on behind the scenes.
Teammates see how locked in he is during meetings, how hard he works every day
in the weight room</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">. They know how many nagging injuries he’s already played
through. If it were up to Linderbaum, he wouldn’t have missed any time with the
high ankle sprain earlier this season. The team, though, held him back for two
games.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“He’s tough as nails,” Moses said.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">What drives Linderbaum, though, is he still feels there are so
many areas where he can get better.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“I’m certainly not where I want to be, but I’ve definitely made
steps from Year 1 to Year 2,” he said. “Trying to be more consistent has been a
big focus point for me. There’s so many things that I can still get better at
that I’m excited about.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">(Top photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images, Nick Cammett / Diamond
Images via Getty Images)</span></em><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-77240282048197505022023-12-26T13:45:00.000-05:002023-12-26T13:45:02.417-05:00For Giants' Casey Kreiter, football is a snap and he's got it down to a science<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRKAsocXPjaoXnAJ-PLbAstQBqk8kujhG2W7SLU8OQoydRuzyBptUV_WJJKXBuiVa11NWujY88O791qNU2yJGvhU6aCtTY0IhMq40YpyCEnXoFVG0tpeN4ERZeq4khFO1xGWcuo1EWf0lC0_yrVF3BGvPbjCsEQwZX2I_Sh_VYyRzWmqJ9Cy2aQ/s173/newsday.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="43" data-original-width="173" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRKAsocXPjaoXnAJ-PLbAstQBqk8kujhG2W7SLU8OQoydRuzyBptUV_WJJKXBuiVa11NWujY88O791qNU2yJGvhU6aCtTY0IhMq40YpyCEnXoFVG0tpeN4ERZeq4khFO1xGWcuo1EWf0lC0_yrVF3BGvPbjCsEQwZX2I_Sh_VYyRzWmqJ9Cy2aQ/s1600/newsday.png" width="173" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Li3P4fuTm7qS1Rrm3I_nhtYnq_XqBMB5RltOydGWunIc9nQuUpB-85OYN6f4y1gQjk_QDJZviPBVQdZaxa_1LCvUpWk8iWuBUH9uhTCjmBL9xxbz_g2afFvz_74_hAxhSXENOBc_mNMx3wcMndT9rtaL14lvUIlD4RCxvHzYEAIeBHzxujaivA/s770/case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="770" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Li3P4fuTm7qS1Rrm3I_nhtYnq_XqBMB5RltOydGWunIc9nQuUpB-85OYN6f4y1gQjk_QDJZviPBVQdZaxa_1LCvUpWk8iWuBUH9uhTCjmBL9xxbz_g2afFvz_74_hAxhSXENOBc_mNMx3wcMndT9rtaL14lvUIlD4RCxvHzYEAIeBHzxujaivA/w400-h225/case.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #666666;">New York
Giants long snapper Casey Kreiter (58) adjusting his jersey before the start of
an NFL football game against Washington Football Team, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in
Landover, Md. Credit: Al Drago</span></p><p></p><p style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Lato",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">By Kimberly Jones</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Lato",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="mailto:kimberly.jones@newsday.com">kimberly.jones@newsday.com</a><a href="https://twitter.com/kimjonessports"><span style="color: #0076be;">kimjonessports</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Lato",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Updated December 23, 2023 5:41 pm</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br />
<span style="background: yellow;">Casey Kreiter is a student of the game</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">The Giants' long snapper takes his job seriously.
He also takes it home with him.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">“It’s truly like art,” Kreiter said in a
conversation with Newsday. “My family thinks I’m nuts because I can talk pass
protection for hours.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">If there were such a thing as eating, sleeping and
breathing a job, Kreiter probably would sign up. He loves what he does.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">And Giants special teams
coordinator Thomas McGaughey counts on him, to say the least.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">“Casey’s the glue,” McGaughey
said. “He’s the glue to our special teams unit. He is the quarterback of our
punt team. He’s a great leader, he’s insightful, he thinks like a coach on the
field.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">"He gets the guys together
every week. He does his own scouting report, writes it on the board, they come
in, they watch it, they talk about it, each unit as a whole, and I couldn’t
begin to explain to you how much he means to us as a special teams group.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Those words meant a lot to Kreiter. Long snappers
aren’t often singled out.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">“It’s a thankless job,” McGaughey said.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">To Kreiter, doing his job in relative anonymity is
ideal. Nobody notices a great long snap. But everyone can recognize one that
gets away.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Kreiter is a perfectionist because he has to be.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">“I was a guy who learned to snap by doing it,” he
said. “When I’m snapping now — and I don’t watch my snap because I have to
protect — but I can tell you within six inches where the snap ends up on the
punter’s catch just based on how it feels leaving my hand. But that’s because
I’ve snapped millions of football in my life.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Millions?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">“Easily in the millions,” he said. “I was a guy who
learned how to snap by just doing it. I had to feel my way into perfecting it.
Hundreds of snaps a day, any target. I wasn’t in camps, was kind of
self-taught, and I take a lot of pride in that.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Between six-tenths and seven-tenths of a second
isn’t a lot of time, but that's the range of time long snappers have to
deliver the ball. Kreiter said there’s some wiggle room there, but not a lot.
And there also are potential pitfalls.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">“If you snap the ball as a long snapper really,
really fast but you’re not consistent, you may be adding time on the back
end for the punter to adjust,” Kreiter said. “If he’s not comfortable catching
the ball, it just adds time.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">"If you’re not on the fast end of
snapping but the punter is super-comfortable and you’re consistent, he
knows where the ball’s going to be and he can be faster on his end. It’s a
little like jazz. There’s a marriage between the punter and the snapper.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Just ask former Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie,
who played 13 seasons, made two Pro Bowls and was a two-time Super Bowl
champion.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">He told Newsday that when he was playing, he
spent more time with his teammates on special teams than he did with his wife.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Buffalo long snapper Reid Ferguson summarized the
job in this way: “I would say the hardest part of the position is being able to
diagnose what the defense is trying to do pre-snap, delivering a perfect snap
to your punter, then getting your head back up to block the defender.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Kreiter knows he can control only what he can
control.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">“If you’re in your snap longer and you snap [the
ball] faster but you don’t block the guy in front of you and the punt gets
blocked, you don’t have anything to cover,'' he said. "It’s about trying
to find the right marriage with everything.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">A year ago, the Giants' upback/punt
protector was Julian Love. When he left in free agency, safety Dane Belton
took over that role.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">For Belton, the job is about “calling what I see.
Making sure everyone’s on the same page. It’s really talking a lot to Casey
[and sometimes the guards] on the punt teams. We have a lot of calls, so
it’s about making sure everyone is on the same page, is set and we’re ready to
go.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">"Casey is the one guy who
can coach every spot to perfection, top to bottom. He’s seen so many looks.
He’s really a coach on the field. He’s the guy.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Belton estimates there is “probably 1.2 seconds” to
ultimately get a kick off.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">“If you mess up,” he said, “they’re back there
blocking the punt.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">Not on Kreiter’s watch.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt;">“He’s a professional’s
professional,” Belton said. “He takes pride in everything he does. He leads us
in the right direction. Just being able to rely on Casey to answer questions,
he always knows the answer and he’s going to make sure we’re on the right page.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">By <a href="https://www.newsday.com/people/kimberly-jones"><span style="color: #27aae1;">Kimberly
Jones</span></a></span></strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-32218062708047548602023-12-21T17:31:00.001-05:002023-12-21T17:31:25.354-05:00T.J. Hockenson Will End 42-Year Vikings Drought<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGowhsDbgmSPgioD-2nIN92dVAiXn1AcSychaCESXvqedUdul7MXANuMYIr6FeDm956NXY-fHT2fnlhnf_FDGEkfEOdmUaJA-0RnqwJp1BAFyp-RCTmwXyBeunER4HmH18Oj8SG3mI1nXOeCxkCljLSXjVwS5I9dOq575keE9vZIJxw9s0XanTQ/s177/vt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGowhsDbgmSPgioD-2nIN92dVAiXn1AcSychaCESXvqedUdul7MXANuMYIr6FeDm956NXY-fHT2fnlhnf_FDGEkfEOdmUaJA-0RnqwJp1BAFyp-RCTmwXyBeunER4HmH18Oj8SG3mI1nXOeCxkCljLSXjVwS5I9dOq575keE9vZIJxw9s0XanTQ/s16000/vt.png" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Dustin Baker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Dec 20, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswL-Udp7NYk47lkt9EXL7HRCuMUZVUkp9Df7zjvgA3cU_ZKStgdDnETKMzMtMDdH-pssNdbgWph39jtTlQA86vZJaE3Ynjy4sctEOXRYaXafXuYqmNrWHEAcRrwdIq7GVFU2Xro9ExlBpTEeh1sZCr1oZEBEr5i41oZ6TPeRO2U0vkf1U8ckeFw/s666/throw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="666" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswL-Udp7NYk47lkt9EXL7HRCuMUZVUkp9Df7zjvgA3cU_ZKStgdDnETKMzMtMDdH-pssNdbgWph39jtTlQA86vZJaE3Ynjy4sctEOXRYaXafXuYqmNrWHEAcRrwdIq7GVFU2Xro9ExlBpTEeh1sZCr1oZEBEr5i41oZ6TPeRO2U0vkf1U8ckeFw/w400-h266/throw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Nov 12, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings
tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates his touchdown against the New Orleans
Saints in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad
Rempel-USA TODAY Sports<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;">Barring injury, Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson will
make first-time-in-42-years franchise history in the next three weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;">And
it might even happen on Christmas Eve.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">T.J.
Hockenson Will End 42-Year Vikings Drought</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">The richest tight end in league history
needs just 98 receiving yards to hit the 1,000 mark, and that’s only happened
one time in Vikings history with a tight end — Joe Senser in 1981.</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbSfy4QEJW7jEKE-Ze9ev8-759z3aj-2hwSG-kA7Zq8JvMRxGYA6dQ4KRYVFSg7GssXr-J9r7AotXhYQ2ehkVGG85539DgmMwywz1RfJ2JMZ1RAmPMj0Bqx0ap340cyx-Ls05YUK_xX7TqFJkmhn7GLaH3r2EscxjpLl2w-Ych9ZX5L9VYGBl3w/s666/SQUEEZE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="666" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbSfy4QEJW7jEKE-Ze9ev8-759z3aj-2hwSG-kA7Zq8JvMRxGYA6dQ4KRYVFSg7GssXr-J9r7AotXhYQ2ehkVGG85539DgmMwywz1RfJ2JMZ1RAmPMj0Bqx0ap340cyx-Ls05YUK_xX7TqFJkmhn7GLaH3r2EscxjpLl2w-Ych9ZX5L9VYGBl3w/w400-h266/SQUEEZE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nov 12, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA;
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) is tackled against the New
Orleans Saints in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit:
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Others have gotten
valiantly close, but Senser stands alone, at least for the next few days.
Here’s the TE lay of the land in Vikings history per yards in a single season:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #505050; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">Joe Senser</span></b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;"> (1981) — 1,004 yards<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #505050; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">T.J. Hockenson</span></b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;"> (2023) — 902 yards<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #505050; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">Steve Jordan </span></b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">(1986) — 859 yards<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #505050; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">Kyle Rudolph</span></b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;"> (2016) — 840 yards<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #505050; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;">Steve Jordan</span></b><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;"> (1985) — 795 yards<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">In 2022, Hockenson’s
first [half] season in Minnesota, he produced 60 receptions for 519 receiving
yards and three touchdowns in 10 games — not a bad opening salvo. Moreover,
spread throughout an entire regular season and per-target basis, Hockenson could’ve
— and will in 2023 — tabulated a 100+ catch, 1000+ yard season in Minnesota.</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: yellow; color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">The offseason forecast suggesting
Hockenson would have a sizable second act in Minnesota was correct. In fact,
when Justin Jefferson was lost for seven games in October, one could argue
Hockenson was a season saver.</span><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Vikings received Hockenson, a 2023
fourth-round pick (Jay Ward), and a 2024 fourth-round pick while giving up a
2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-rounder in November 2022 in a deal with
the rival Detroit Lions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_QZJZD_oxji4LisjD88-1r_R_LWq75qMlfYBKD3lBNHtYBIyhs4PzgpT0JktFtcGbOXpXUtK5BzlYBXablWRaRbbKR44kR6yriJhYKDeqNyvr6KC2cdBaIw0lGK4iIaYNIyL3okLdWaCWfK9Ly4WxGr1eDbfAXc-Bil2sMHW3-fSJ5BURf3_vA/s788/HOLD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="788" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_QZJZD_oxji4LisjD88-1r_R_LWq75qMlfYBKD3lBNHtYBIyhs4PzgpT0JktFtcGbOXpXUtK5BzlYBXablWRaRbbKR44kR6yriJhYKDeqNyvr6KC2cdBaIw0lGK4iIaYNIyL3okLdWaCWfK9Ly4WxGr1eDbfAXc-Bil2sMHW3-fSJ5BURf3_vA/w400-h225/HOLD.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA;
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) catches a two-point conversion
during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;">Too, the 27-year-old took a little heat at the beginning of the
season. Hockenson fired up a couple of drops and failed to haul in every
contested catch. Correspondingly and predictably, a small sect of Vikings fans
screamed that Hockenson’s contract wasn’t worth it. The theory claimed
Hockenson, at his lofty pricetag, should catch absolutely every ball in his
vicinity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fast
forward to Week 16, and those naysayers quieted, and the heat-of-the-moment
panic was stupid. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Hockenson
is one of the NFL’s most productive tight ends in 2023, neck and neck with
Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) and Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions). The Iowa
alumnus is worth every penny and will be attached to the Vikings’ roster for
the next four seasons.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN7qYnwzfJVev1ZAKW1LtpGE5-w9gln4cJ_GJ0LVOjmrdwLgO3IVmlncBRYbNX0DoOHDXuKmFcIGWAuc4U_ljcsjshUIFByHytnd7mzXuJyifepwbdtyqkqmxncdkv1loVHFH09i2d7Vh32Y3fJTApRU_-AfNnPvDdoo5J-gyqhrcB8ArdcawPA/s788/SUNGLASSES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="788" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN7qYnwzfJVev1ZAKW1LtpGE5-w9gln4cJ_GJ0LVOjmrdwLgO3IVmlncBRYbNX0DoOHDXuKmFcIGWAuc4U_ljcsjshUIFByHytnd7mzXuJyifepwbdtyqkqmxncdkv1loVHFH09i2d7Vh32Y3fJTApRU_-AfNnPvDdoo5J-gyqhrcB8ArdcawPA/w400-h225/SUNGLASSES.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 12.0pt;">Feb 4, 2023; Paradise, NV, USA; NFC tight end
T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings (87) during practice at Allegiant
Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;">Meanwhile, Hockenson will chase Vikings history versus <a href="https://vikingsterritory.com/2023/news/top_news/have-a-historical" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3949ab;">his old team</span></a>. Minnesota
plays Detroit twice in the next three weeks, with the Green Bay Packers in
between, and if the Vikings win two of the contests, they’ll trot into the
postseason.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #505050; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 13.5pt;">So,
write it down. Hockenson needs 98 yards to achieve a feat not accomplished in
franchise history since 1981.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-81280351768667846012023-12-13T16:40:00.004-05:002023-12-13T16:40:50.537-05:00Titans use two-pointer strategy to defy the odds<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYn2636jxWZzlB_fFBeIpU3D2pCJomU7Zc706XqOsXQSHRltIVkVyJzYab0AfQni1Z4jlRfzWwRRClKT4q_hW3uVy-FlvPQn-zFwiUo1kEi4rTsB-SYMchk_ICwZk1vzDUCNilp5P1TPEe8Sk9ZEpAGOLUMVe78_GLNK8vEKGSUPq4-zmp3z4_w/s184/pro.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="184" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYn2636jxWZzlB_fFBeIpU3D2pCJomU7Zc706XqOsXQSHRltIVkVyJzYab0AfQni1Z4jlRfzWwRRClKT4q_hW3uVy-FlvPQn-zFwiUo1kEi4rTsB-SYMchk_ICwZk1vzDUCNilp5P1TPEe8Sk9ZEpAGOLUMVe78_GLNK8vEKGSUPq4-zmp3z4_w/s1600/pro.png" width="184" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsrRYKx4uNilLKmEwLEZ5mFsYuo2_gP8CfJuWVl9glyReN7_1EBHCJCbWYPKTimd8tg9tw9fYCe6FzLi5QG0qqUCbUKIu6aJYscWVwEvjbh6cxYjzacRIdfLcw_vQvH8OtQB5AIzBfqBeOXfYJ1Us6T8vy0u8UG1496_-VsrQoIZD1OZBogCT4A/s670/vrabe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="670" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsrRYKx4uNilLKmEwLEZ5mFsYuo2_gP8CfJuWVl9glyReN7_1EBHCJCbWYPKTimd8tg9tw9fYCe6FzLi5QG0qqUCbUKIu6aJYscWVwEvjbh6cxYjzacRIdfLcw_vQvH8OtQB5AIzBfqBeOXfYJ1Us6T8vy0u8UG1496_-VsrQoIZD1OZBogCT4A/w400-h266/vrabe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">By
<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/author/mike-florio">Mike Florio</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Published December 12, 2023 12:34 AM<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt;">The Titans were 13-point underdogs to the Dolphins. Late
in the fourth quarter, Miami was poised to beat the spread against Tennessee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 2.14286vw 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt;">First went the cover. Then went the win.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 2.14286vw 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt;">Via TruMedia sports, <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">the Titans became the first team this century
to <span class="linkenhancement"><a href="https://x.com/starrettjason/status/1734436056454299784?s=20" target="_blank">win in regulation</a></span> after trailing by 14 or more
points in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 2.14286vw 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">It’s
the first win by any team down 14 or more with less than three minutes to play
since 2017</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt;">, when the <span class="linkenhancement"><a href="https://twitter.com/joshdubowap/status/1734441259723608415?s=42&t=KO5aSnKLcALFsJ2PgJe89A" target="_blank">Saints beat Washington in overtime</a></span>, 34-31. New
Orleans had trailed 31-16 with three minutes left. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Since then, teams trailing by 14 or more points
with three minutes to play <span class="linkenhancement"><a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewSiciliano/status/1734438149072589218?s=20" target="_blank">were 0-582</a></span>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 2.14286vw 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt;">The Titans avoided overtime on Monday night
by using an increasingly common analytics wrinkle aimed at avoiding an extra
session. After scoring a touchdown when previously down by 14, the trailing
team goes for two. Fail to convert, and eight points are needed to force
overtime. Make it, and seven point will win it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt;">That’s what Titans coach Mike Vrabel did. Tennessee went
for two, got it, cut the margin to 27-21, forced a three-and-out, and then
quickly went to work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 2.14286vw 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt;">Almost too quickly. Miami had a chance to
drive for a potential game-winning field goal, until Tennessee stopped Tua
Tagovailoa and company on downs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 2.14286vw 0px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt;">And so the Titans pulled off the sixth
prime-time upset since the Bears beat the Vikings in Minnesota two weeks ago
tonight. In so doing, Tennessee threw a giant wrench in Miami’s hopes to be the
No. 1 seed in the AFC.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-3917804515390059322023-12-11T16:53:00.002-05:002023-12-11T16:53:42.572-05:00In the Kirk Ferentz Era, Iowa has now won…<p> </p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/dmcbride77/status/1733309718574096389?s=12&t=HpjBGwDeuCcwxTJBAuhlJQ">https://twitter.com/dmcbride77/status/1733309718574096389?s=12&t=HpjBGwDeuCcwxTJBAuhlJQ</a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctoH2_v_8nFrEbfg5tlmQQjTQDGedegvp7VcnuvvEJ4UegsoE1RXvCkx6NV29xIAPyc27CvKX11LnoOR56HLpzbn9ibk32OHVNk0g02JhtFM1EMQGN26Jh06D6LyrEc0vjfyNPJBPbPA_OetWKYwLcldq3_FRtQvQTvEkiZk0puVb_BQzTOb18Q/s613/iowa%20post.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="613" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctoH2_v_8nFrEbfg5tlmQQjTQDGedegvp7VcnuvvEJ4UegsoE1RXvCkx6NV29xIAPyc27CvKX11LnoOR56HLpzbn9ibk32OHVNk0g02JhtFM1EMQGN26Jh06D6LyrEc0vjfyNPJBPbPA_OetWKYwLcldq3_FRtQvQTvEkiZk0puVb_BQzTOb18Q/w400-h296/iowa%20post.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-25162673659487329902023-12-11T15:42:00.001-05:002023-12-11T15:42:12.739-05:00The best NFL third-round draft pick in the history of each franchise<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhul5HOb-SweNOZKLeObL1GrL4axqZtjrm_llFy2m7B6igs2zyathFuwrB_Tzy5r8O4BhYQI-rr77Rh_SqIDdP7xTPHv2dKd4lCEqYQVtu2omdTaPS3A470vSPXhOOorniCMpaWPIDVjDpM95YCAuzdNkjehfH4lkb4tLCwU8HKP0Vxbf_tWt7Z_Q/s149/YBARKER.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="35" data-original-width="149" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhul5HOb-SweNOZKLeObL1GrL4axqZtjrm_llFy2m7B6igs2zyathFuwrB_Tzy5r8O4BhYQI-rr77Rh_SqIDdP7xTPHv2dKd4lCEqYQVtu2omdTaPS3A470vSPXhOOorniCMpaWPIDVjDpM95YCAuzdNkjehfH4lkb4tLCwU8HKP0Vxbf_tWt7Z_Q/s1600/YBARKER.png" width="149" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #888888; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Updated 3 days ago (December 8, 2023)</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #888888; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">By <a href="https://www.yardbarker.com/authors/seth_trachtman/158"><span style="color: #1779ba;">Seth Trachtman</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Great
middle-round picks can make all the difference for a franchise's future. </span><span style="background: yellow; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">These are the best third-round picks in the history
of each NFL franchise</span><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; margin: 1rem;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="slide_1"><span style="color: #1779ba; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 1.0pt;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: slide_1;"></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2><span style="color: black; font-family: "Fira Sans Condensed",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/teams/baltimore_ravens/31"><span style="color: black;">Baltimore Ravens</span></a>: Marshal Yanda, OG (2007)</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h2><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94eMhGyOt5nigGQeXzwzUGQ5nGcKVhxdF2HFSIdTfJencoIu4RbVXDFKGfv9eJYF2B-oBkpGaYOM0USux0okiozMtb8BbqNoFqn1nh5zI3LEXYI5jj_kyia5svaFUBjJpBp3JVElCF9XDljNT2K3UgvsLvIVO1V7t99rfF-Wo0ZIDFKzOofcczw/s700/yanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94eMhGyOt5nigGQeXzwzUGQ5nGcKVhxdF2HFSIdTfJencoIu4RbVXDFKGfv9eJYF2B-oBkpGaYOM0USux0okiozMtb8BbqNoFqn1nh5zI3LEXYI5jj_kyia5svaFUBjJpBp3JVElCF9XDljNT2K3UgvsLvIVO1V7t99rfF-Wo0ZIDFKzOofcczw/w400-h266/yanda.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #888888; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Mitchell Layton / USA Today Sports Images</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yanda had quite a career as a key part of Baltimore's
offensive line. He started for Baltimore almost immediately after being drafted
in 2007 and made eight Pro Bowls. We could be seeing the 13-year pro in Canton
soon enough</span><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; margin: 1rem;"><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-60897982358665641592023-12-11T15:34:00.003-05:002023-12-11T15:34:25.241-05:00T.J. Hockenson breaks Vikings single-season TE reception record<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCQPXxFaCXEdheB54UOnhCdAREo6UC5H-AFJWJbwuxrAZagiXtkT5jXMo80coyzf3mdBp1VT6ys-6IfMZze3jEdxFKDKsBpX7L-icHxTSYR3qYOKdKtUk5Lfpx9EXRb64nLiLwfugxnpPZckzOz2bJzb3PaWMft_dg1TiYRvwkniBGPSnw177ig/s233/vwire.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="43" data-original-width="233" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCQPXxFaCXEdheB54UOnhCdAREo6UC5H-AFJWJbwuxrAZagiXtkT5jXMo80coyzf3mdBp1VT6ys-6IfMZze3jEdxFKDKsBpX7L-icHxTSYR3qYOKdKtUk5Lfpx9EXRb64nLiLwfugxnpPZckzOz2bJzb3PaWMft_dg1TiYRvwkniBGPSnw177ig/s1600/vwire.png" width="233" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtz3Gn-sozjtwcMW988G4KL9v2oAYAfvPX2RYCz1g871gYMTNgKfGpfdTWco0QfeSmU-8U2GdgBv9Jh-C1hJC_nWnRXfGKnYWSK7dqbaNyJmi-sMQ2yu89EQ7xiQgNCSx0xH-qRZAx1UshsHE0Z5BU9mZqhJDKVJxGlOLAgN9fvXjAJnePHb4Tg/s679/87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="679" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtz3Gn-sozjtwcMW988G4KL9v2oAYAfvPX2RYCz1g871gYMTNgKfGpfdTWco0QfeSmU-8U2GdgBv9Jh-C1hJC_nWnRXfGKnYWSK7dqbaNyJmi-sMQ2yu89EQ7xiQgNCSx0xH-qRZAx1UshsHE0Z5BU9mZqhJDKVJxGlOLAgN9fvXjAJnePHb4Tg/w400-h240/87.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt;">MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 12: T.J. Hockenson #87
of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New
Orleans Saints during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 12,
2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Saivion Mixson</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="articleauthordate"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">December
10, 2023 9:51 pm CT</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">With his 84th reception of the season, <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Minnesota Vikings</span> TE T.J. Hockenson officially breaks
the record for most receptions by a tight end in a single season. The record
was formerly held by long-time tight end Kyle Rudolph in 2016.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI8KE79PdmOS1yuyJzoz0jVHoGR1F2gCvEJkrJq6Is1kQGlK0BMw4w6nl7Qcz3EXwZcaGxq7n_p8hepETMaQikZ4_-J9oy5iiZcUvjkwlvCdJ5x8p-t1vKcbU7XlNe1BcSjiUbrrq1RQZcbvLt_SE8m-PTgp9Kb4rdbRDeEVgZLeHU7rcRABu5A/s1228/vc.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="1032" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI8KE79PdmOS1yuyJzoz0jVHoGR1F2gCvEJkrJq6Is1kQGlK0BMw4w6nl7Qcz3EXwZcaGxq7n_p8hepETMaQikZ4_-J9oy5iiZcUvjkwlvCdJ5x8p-t1vKcbU7XlNe1BcSjiUbrrq1RQZcbvLt_SE8m-PTgp9Kb4rdbRDeEVgZLeHU7rcRABu5A/w336-h400/vc.png" width="336" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://twitter.com/VikingsPR/status/1733998570804854975?s=20</span></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">Before this season started, the plan was for T.J.
Hockenson to be the beneficiary of favorable looks due to the attention that
Justin Jefferson attracted. <span style="background: yellow;">With Jefferson out
for seven weeks, someone had to step up and be the primary pass-catcher in the
offense. Hockenson was that person</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2rem; margin: 2rem 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">Whether it was Kirk
Cousins, Josh Dobbs, Jaren Hall or Nick Mullens, Hockenson was always available
for an easy pitch-and-catch opportunity.<br />
<br />
<span style="background: yellow;">His combination of elite size mixed with
surprising quickness and agility makes him a nightmare to cover in space and
contested catch situations</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">This off-season, Minnesota made
Hockenson the highest-paid tight end in the league. It is safe to say that he
has lived up to his contract</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-46532305196304513882023-12-11T13:27:00.001-05:002023-12-11T13:27:14.312-05:00Giants' Thomas McGaughey: Casey Kreiter the glue that holds us together<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bP2ZiNMDk4Q65pTQsd5NTnh20o_zku8xiU88fHrfihYhkBCZhgX79rv26ybY17Ldjcft-heTXWDp8OfiBtyys2OgaZd35LA7bhqQV3__sS8VNbkwWhvG-9Nv1YjjwFGNDtS1g1PI7SjH5Qd12tNU_D89uKLZkj18hxjMgM8lNDR5lzEO-cpyzg/s286/gwire.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="286" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bP2ZiNMDk4Q65pTQsd5NTnh20o_zku8xiU88fHrfihYhkBCZhgX79rv26ybY17Ldjcft-heTXWDp8OfiBtyys2OgaZd35LA7bhqQV3__sS8VNbkwWhvG-9Nv1YjjwFGNDtS1g1PI7SjH5Qd12tNU_D89uKLZkj18hxjMgM8lNDR5lzEO-cpyzg/s1600/gwire.png" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1hwmkMCjTKzkaKpjMO3vBy3JX8-erqTyMDWCkNXErAm1WHNgU6z_3CwgS8cfgenAqKo8Guivmji9RQX_TLFbhfXukCECLHfw7p7b-nsRdx-E7HhWlr6-hNgeacom6sUPMtAO4ce0EZkY7IxdvMPK4DZxIUJQ15MNiL30G0qz_bOG1DnzCL1JXA/s656/case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="656" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1hwmkMCjTKzkaKpjMO3vBy3JX8-erqTyMDWCkNXErAm1WHNgU6z_3CwgS8cfgenAqKo8Guivmji9RQX_TLFbhfXukCECLHfw7p7b-nsRdx-E7HhWlr6-hNgeacom6sUPMtAO4ce0EZkY7IxdvMPK4DZxIUJQ15MNiL30G0qz_bOG1DnzCL1JXA/w400-h240/case.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt;">GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 17: Long snapper Casey
Kreiter #59 of the New York Giants during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on
September 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants defeated the Cardinals
31-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">By Dan Benton</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="articleauthordate"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">December
10, 2023 8:15 am ET</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">New York Giants long-snapper Casey Kreiter is somewhat of
a forgotten man. If he doesn’t make a mistake, he’s generally an afterthought
to those in the media and the fans in the stands.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2rem; margin: 2rem 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">Inside of the building
at 1925 Giants Drive, it’s a different story, however.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2rem; margin: 2rem 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">While meeting with
reporters earlier this week, <span style="background: yellow;">special teams
coordinator Thomas McGaughey heaped praise upon Kreiter and had to stop himself
from carrying on for an extended period of time</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2rem; margin: 2rem 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">“Casey’s
the glue. He is, he’s the glue to our special teams unit. He is the quarterback
of our punt team,” McGaughey told reporters this week. “I couldn’t sit here and
tell you how much he means to our special teams unit. He’s a great leader, he’s
insightful, he thinks like a coach on the field, he’s a real leader in our
room, he gets the guys together every week</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2rem; margin: 2rem 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">“He
does his own scouting report, writes it on the board, they come in, they watch
it, they talk about it, each unit as a whole, and I couldn’t begin to explain
to you how much he means to us as a special teams group</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2rem; margin: 2rem 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">Kreiter
essentially serves as an extra assistant coach in addition to a player on the
field</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">.
That will likely position him well when the time comes to hang up his cleats,
as he’ll ultimately be afforded similar opportunities to another former Giant,
Chase Blackburn.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2rem; margin: 2rem 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.0pt;">Unfortunately for
Kreiter, there isn’t much gloating to be done here in 2023. Through no fault of
his own, the Giants’ special teams unit is among the worst in football.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-43602161632338445212023-12-11T13:18:00.001-05:002023-12-11T13:18:15.843-05:00TJ Hockenson sets single-season record for a Vikings tight end<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1733999094941745347?s=20">https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1733999094941745347?s=20</a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzB8H4w_LKtInC9Hkf3SIG3zC_-_LGXnsYPUeu6ryMt6Fc50UOd-D0ZRt5bME_0_PQ7FGFgTYeUPaBzSYRD9lBeQdkQmInWhDPh1Fkd1NwfzCgNi0Ke8OIc2r271A6iVx9jGzICccM6CXDsC-ibaqbXz37HHQK_dpKAKwiRHOHMG1fq-201r_yw/s882/tj%20most.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="601" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzB8H4w_LKtInC9Hkf3SIG3zC_-_LGXnsYPUeu6ryMt6Fc50UOd-D0ZRt5bME_0_PQ7FGFgTYeUPaBzSYRD9lBeQdkQmInWhDPh1Fkd1NwfzCgNi0Ke8OIc2r271A6iVx9jGzICccM6CXDsC-ibaqbXz37HHQK_dpKAKwiRHOHMG1fq-201r_yw/w437-h640/tj%20most.png" width="437" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14929765.post-8696980457408937162023-12-07T10:43:00.002-05:002023-12-07T10:43:49.503-05:00Jay Sawvel Named Head Coach of Cowboy Football<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3m2KsyKOONAOCkMkjyoV9XlWj_wT9cAZYXnJ93al1VrCsoeP7KyfmnZ0-gfBEnGOocbH6U3o2TF7Hn6-rL019a_NZE15kT4VcaxgVJnRhSPqp5jV-e3CZ9__U03KvrcGejyjyhnJ0Z7q9XXBSqa_xkNOEuCEh8z9gkwcPNCMlHO29aaFbWLmzHg/s177/One%20W.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="44" data-original-width="177" height="44" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3m2KsyKOONAOCkMkjyoV9XlWj_wT9cAZYXnJ93al1VrCsoeP7KyfmnZ0-gfBEnGOocbH6U3o2TF7Hn6-rL019a_NZE15kT4VcaxgVJnRhSPqp5jV-e3CZ9__U03KvrcGejyjyhnJ0Z7q9XXBSqa_xkNOEuCEh8z9gkwcPNCMlHO29aaFbWLmzHg/s1600/One%20W.png" width="177" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8kkk1UleWqedZzcX3kkephJIi9KrchZlit44d0RU3gTC7No2FCasv_Bl9Jgfa-AT_V18Hn0YIgUiMFmHCrrqFhIIQ2Hp2RTo1K6cOHIoC7La9ZPmh-TjVtLpcZvUj-bxWoTp3wOXl2d35DG06CcK0YIEjP16N3y3H0gaQzuf-h7kjhUxx86yuw/s566/Jay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="566" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8kkk1UleWqedZzcX3kkephJIi9KrchZlit44d0RU3gTC7No2FCasv_Bl9Jgfa-AT_V18Hn0YIgUiMFmHCrrqFhIIQ2Hp2RTo1K6cOHIoC7La9ZPmh-TjVtLpcZvUj-bxWoTp3wOXl2d35DG06CcK0YIEjP16N3y3H0gaQzuf-h7kjhUxx86yuw/w400-h268/Jay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><h2 style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Current
Cowboy Defensive Coordinator will take over program following Barstool Sports
Arizona Bowl<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #262628;">Nick SeemanFootball12/6/2023
10:14:00 AM<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #262628;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">LARAMIE, Wyo. (Dec. 6, 2023) –</span></strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jay-sawvel/2825"><span style="color: #333333;">Jay Sawvel</span></a></span></dfn> was introduced by
University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman as the new head coach of
the Wyoming Cowboys during a team meeting on Wednesday morning. He will replace
head coach <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/craig-bohl/2816"><span style="color: #333333;">Craig Bohl</span></a></span></dfn> following
Wyoming's bowl game against Toledo in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl on Dec.
30. Bohl announced he will retire after the Toledo game to the team on
Wednesday. Bohl leaves the program after 10 seasons that saw him engineer
one of the most successful runs in program history.<br />
<br />
"Jay has done a masterful job in his time at Wyoming building strong
relationships with players and staff," Burman said. "His defense
embodies Wyoming's culture in that we play physical, disciplined and with
passion."<br />
<br />
Sawvel is the 33rd coach in Wyoming history and has served as the team's
defensive coordinator and safeties coach since February of 2020. Over his
career, he has been part of 21 teams who advanced to postseason play, including
14 bowl appearances and seven NCAA Playoff appearances.<br />
<br />
"His vision on the future of Cowboy Football energized me and I feel he
will help us reach a Mountain West Championship in the near future,"
Burman said.<br />
<br />
Sawvel has learned from some of the top minds in college football history. Some
of the names include <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/craig-bohl/2816"><span style="color: #333333;">Craig Bohl</span></a></span></dfn>, Lou Holtz, Roy Kidd
and Jerry Kill. Of the seven head coaches that Sawvel has worked for, the group
owns over 1,200 wins.<br />
<br />
"I'm excited and honored to be the next head football coach at the
University of Wyoming," Sawvel said. "I have loved working and
learning under head coach <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/craig-bohl/2816"><span style="color: #333333;">Craig Bohl</span></a></span></dfn> for the last four
years. The infrastructure Coach Bohl has put into this program makes me very
excited to be the next leader of this program."<br />
<br />
The 2023 Cowboy defense ranks No. 17 in the nation thus far in turnovers
gained. The Cowboys rank sixth in the nation this season with 11 fumble
recoveries. The Wyoming defense ranks No. 24 in the nation in fewest yards
allowed per pass attempt<s>s</s>. Sawvel's 2023 defense ranks No. 2 in the
Mountain West Conference in scoring defense (allowing only 22.9 points per game)
and ranks No. 3 in the MW in total defense (allowing opponents only 360.2 yards
per game). Linebacker <a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/easton-gibbs/8368"><span style="color: #333333;">Easton Gibbs</span></a><dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">, a first-team All-MW selection</span></dfn> finished
the 2023 regular season averaging 8.8 tackles per game to rank No. 4 in the
Mountain West and No. 29 in the nation. Gibbs will enter Wyoming's bowl
game with 359 career tackles as a Cowboy to rank eighth in school history and
13th among all active FBS players. Defensive tackle <a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/jordan-bertagnole/8346"><span style="color: #333333;">Jordan Bertagnole</span></a><dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">, was a second-team All-MW selection</span></dfn> ranking
No. 3 among all Mountain West defensive linemen in tackles this season,
averaging 4.8 tackles per game. Safety <a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/wyett-ekeler/8363"><span style="color: #333333;">Wyett Ekeler</span></a> ranked third on the Cowboy
team in tackles this season with 75 and ranked No. 9 among MW defensive backs
in tackles, averaging 6.25 per game. Ekeler was twice named MW Defensive
Player of the Week in 2023 and was an honorable mention All-MW selection.<br />
<br />
Sawvel's 2022 defense ranked No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 21 in the
nation in sacks, averaging 2.85 per game. His defense also ranked No. 2
in the MW and No. 33 in the FBS in defensive touchdowns scored, with two.
Sawvel's defense featured three All-MW honorees as selected by coaches and
media. Those three were: <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/easton-gibbs/8368"><span style="color: #333333;">Easton Gibbs</span></a></span></dfn> (LB), who
earned First Team All-MW; and defensive end <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/devonne-harris/8376"><span style="color: #333333;">DeVonne Harris</span></a></span></dfn> and
cornerback <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/cam-stone/7720"><span style="color: #333333;">Cam Stone</span></a></span></dfn>, who both earned
Honorable Mention honors. Phil Steele's All-MW team included: Gibbs and
Stone on his First Team; defensive tackle <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/jordan-bertagnole/8346"><span style="color: #333333;">Jordan Bertagnole</span></a></span></dfn> on his
Second Team; and Harris on Steele's Fourth Team. Freshman defensive
end <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/braden-siders/8425"><span style="color: #333333;">Braden Siders</span></a></span></dfn> was also named
an Honorable Mention Freshman All-American by College Football News.<br />
<br />
The Wyoming Cowboys entered the 2022 college football season as the fourth
youngest team in the country. But given that, the Cowboys went on to
record a 7-6 record, finish second in the Mountain West Conference Mountain
Division and earn a spot in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. Along the
way the '22 Pokes defeated rivals Air Force, Colorado State, Hawai'i, Utah
State and American Athletic Conference member Tulsa. Wyoming's 7-6 record
gave them their fifth winning season in the past seven
seasons. <br />
<br />
The Cowboy defense in 2021 was one of the top pass defenses in the
nation. Wyoming allowed opponents only 189.8 passing yards per game to
rank No. 1 in the Mountain West and No. 12 in the nation. The Cowboy
defense was also No. 13 in the nation in defensive touchdowns scored, with
three. Wyoming held opponents to 23.7 points per game in the 2021 season
to rank No. 5 in the MW and No. 43 in the country out of 130 FBS programs.
The Cowboys posted a 7-6 record and won their third consecutive bowl game, with
a convincing 52-38 win over Kent State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. <br />
<br />
Linebacker <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/chad-muma/9862"><span style="color: #333333;">Chad Muma</span></a></span></dfn> was one of six
national finalists for the Butkus Award in 2021. Muma earned Second Team
All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Pro Football
Focus and was a Third Team selection by Associated Press. He was selected
as the Sixth Pick in the Third Round (70th overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars
in the 2022 NFL Draft. Sawvel also had six of his defenders earn
All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2021. Muma was a First Team
selection (MW Coaches/Media and Pro Football Focus), cornerback C.J. Coldon
(Second Team MW Coaches/Media), nose tackle <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/cole-godbout/8372"><span style="color: #333333;">Cole Godbout</span></a></span></dfn> (Second Team
Pro Football Focus and Honorable Mention MW Coaches/Media), cornerback Azizi
Hearn (Second Team Pro Football Focus), defensive end Garrett Crall (Honorable
Mention MW Coaches/Media), linebacker <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/easton-gibbs/8368"><span style="color: #333333;">Easton Gibbs</span></a></span></dfn> (Honorable
Mention Pro Football Focus). <br />
<br />
In his first season guiding the Wyoming defense as defensive coordinator in
2020, the Cowboys were among the best in the country, ranking No. 16 in the
nation in total defense, allowing opponents only 328.0 yards per game.
UW's defense also ranked No. 21 in rushing defense (125.3 yards per game), No.
24 in scoring defense (21.0 points per game) and No. 29 in pass defense (202.7
yards per game). Three of his Cowboy defenders earned All-Conference
recognition in 2020. Junior linebacker <dfn><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://gowyo.com/sports/football/roster/chad-muma/9862"><span style="color: #333333;">Chad Muma</span></a></span></dfn> earned First Team
All-Mountain West honors from MW head coaches and media. Senior free
safety Esaias Gandy earned Honorable Mention honors from the conference head
coaches and media, and sophomore cornerback C.J. Coldon earned Fourth Team All-MW
from Phil Steele.<br />
<br />
Before coming to Wyoming, Sawvel served as the defensive coordinator
at Wake Forest University in 2017 and '18. He was named the
defensive coordinator at Wake Forest in January 2017 and helped the Deacons to
the 2017 Belk Bowl. During his first season at the helm of the Wake
Forest defense, the Deacons set school records for tackles for loss in a single
season and finished the season ranked No. 7 nationally in tackles for loss.<br />
<br />
As the cornerbacks coach in 2017, Sawvel coached Essang Bassey, who set a
sophomore school record with 19 passes defended and earned Honorable Mention
All-ACC honors.<br />
<br />
Prior to coaching at Wake Forest, Sawvel served as the defensive coordinator at
the University of Minnesota where he constructed a Top 25 ranked defense and
helped the Gophers to their best record in 13 seasons in 2016. Minnesota
posted a 9-4 record in 2016 and defeated Washington State, 17-12, in the
Holiday Bowl. In the Holiday Bowl victory, Minnesota held Washington
State's explosive passing offense to just 264 yards, 86 yards below its
average, and held the Cougars to their lowest point total of the season.<br />
<br />
Sawvel spent six seasons as an assistant at Minnesota. He was the defensive
backs and special teams coach from 2011 to 2015. After Jerry Kill's retirement
as the head coach at Minnesota, Tracy Claeys was elevated to head coach and
Sawvel became the Gophers' defensive coordinator.<br />
<br />
Under Sawvel's direction, the 2016 Golden Gopher defense was ranked in the Top
25 in a number of defensive categories including: rushing defense (14th),
turnover margin (18th), scoring defense (21st), total defense (21st) and sacks
(22nd). In addition, Minnesota ranked 27th nationally in team pass
efficiency defense.<br />
<br />
Sawvel has helped develop several players who went on to play in the NFL.
In 2015, two of his players at Minnesota, Eric Murray and Briean Boddy-Calhoun,
earned opportunities in the NFL. Murray was a fourth round pick of the
Kansas City Chiefs while Boddy-Calhoun signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as
a free agent. In 2014, both Murray and Boddy-Calhoun were named to the
All-Big Ten Team following a season in which the Gophers were 18th in the
nation in pass defense.<br />
<br />
Brock Vereen, a 2014 First Team All-Big Ten selection and another one of
Sawvel's pupils, was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the
Chicago Bears.<br />
<br />
For three seasons from 2014 through 2016, Sawvel had at least one of his
secondary players selected in the NFL Draft. Sawvel was part of teams
that advanced to four conference championships as a collegiate coach.<br />
<br />
Prior to his time at Minnesota, he served as the defensive backs coach on
Kill's coaching staff at Northern Illinois for three seasons from
2008-10. As secondary coach at Northern Illinois, he mentored Jimmie
Ward, a first round pick of the San Francisco 49ers.<br />
<br />
Sawvel was a member of the Southern Illinois staff under Kill for seven seasons
from 2001-07, working with the secondary and special teams.<br />
<br />
His first full-time coaching position came at Ferris State for two seasons from
1999-2000, where he coached the defensive backs and special teams.<br />
<br />
Sawvel was a three-year letterwinner and an All-Conference linebacker in 1993
at Division III power Mount Union. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1993
in sports management with minors in business administration, information
systems and physical education. He began his coaching career as a
graduate assistant at Eastern Kentucky in 1994 and moved to Notre Dame as a
graduate assistant coach for the 1996-98 seasons. Sawvel owns master's
degrees from both Eastern Kentucky and Notre Dame, where he completed his
master's in administration.<br />
<br />
Sawvel has two daughters, Mackenzie and Miranda.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">Coaching Experience</span></strong><br />
2020-
Wyoming, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties<br />
2017-18 Wake Forest, Defensive
Coordinator/Cornerbacks<br />
2016
Minnesota, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary<br />
2011-15
Minnesota, Secondary/Special Teams<br />
2008-10
Northern Illinois, Secondary/Special Teams<br />
2001-07
Southern Ilinois, Secondary/Special Teams<br />
1999-00
Ferris State, Secondary/Special Teams<br />
1996-98
Notre Dame, Graduate Assistant<br />
1994-95
Eastern Kentucky, Graduate Assistant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Neil Cornrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316114266504147659noreply@blogger.com