Month: July 2024

Ravens MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson ‘wants to be labeled a champion’

Baltimore Ravens MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson says he wants to be labeled a champion

Through seven seasons as an NFL quarterback, Lamar Jackson has accomplished almost everything possible with the Baltimore Ravens, including two MVP awards and multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. However, one major milestone remains for Jackson: winning a Super Bowl.

Jackson was asked if a Super Bowl was the last box he needed to check.

“That’s been the first checkbox for me since 2018,” Jackson said. “I said that [on] April 26 – whenever I was drafted – I said that, and I meant that. This is the highest level of the game we play. You’ve got to go out a champion, and that’s what I want to be labeled as – a champion. [I don’t] just want to be labeled as MVP [Most Valuable Player] here and there; I want to be a champion.”

The Ravens fell just one game short of making the Super Bowl last season, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship, after finishing with a league-best 13-4 record and Jackson taking home his second MVP. Jackson and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes are both two-time MVPs, but the main thing separating the two is that Mahomes has also won three Super Bowls and three Super Bowl MVP awards, while Jackson had only two playoff wins.

To be champions, Jackson and Baltimore will likely have to overcome the Kansas City-sized obstacle that has been blocking the rest of the AFC for years now.

 

Watch – New York Jets might have gotten a Day 3 steal in Braelon Allen

Braelon Allen is certainly an interesting running back option.

Braelon Allen is turning heads in New York Jets training camp. The rookie running back from Wisconsin is coming off an impressive collegiate career.

The Jets took Allen in the fourth round of April’s NFL draft. He was their third selection in the draft.

In his three years at Wisconsin, he rushed for 3,494 yards and 35 rushing touchdowns. Last year he had 28 catches for 131 yards – both numbers were career highs during his collegiate career.

At Wisconsin, Allen was named all-Big Ten all three of his seasons in college.

At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, Allen has the potential to be a nice complement to starting running back Breece Hall.

 

With his strong build and solid speed, Allen is certainly an intriguing option in the Jets’ backfield. He can be a good change-of-pace running back as well as a goal-line and shot-yardage option in the backfield.

 

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He also showed at Wisconsin that he has some wiggle and elusiveness in his hard-running style.

Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays odds and lines, with MLB expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Miami Marlins (39-67) visit the Tampa Bay Rays (54-52) on Tuesday. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Marlins vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Rays lead 2-0, winning 9-5 and 5-3 in Miami on June 4-5

The Marlins had a 2-game winning streak snapped on Sunday with a 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers while failing to cover as +185 road underdogs. SS Xavier Edwards and RF Bryan De La Cruz each had an RBI.

The Rays have won back-to-back games after taking down the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 on Sunday and covering as -102 home favorites.

Marlins at Rays projected starters

RHP Edward Cabrera vs. LHP Jeffrey Springs

Cabrera (1-3, 7..04 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.62 WHIP, 5.63 BB/9 and 11.50 K/9 in 38 1/3 IP.

  • Last start: No-decision, 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K in 6-3 win against Baltimore Orioles Wednesday
  • Career vs. Rays: 0-2, 10.80 ERA (5 IP, 6 ER), 6 H, 6 BB, 6 K in 2 starts; last outing in 2023

Springs makes his 1st start of the season after returning from an elbow injury.

  • Went 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in 3 starts in 2023, allowing 1 ER, 4 H, 4 B, 24 K in 16 IP
  • Career vs. Marlins: 0-0, 9 ERA (1 IP, 1 ER), 3 H, 0 BB, 3 K in 2 appearances; last outing in 2021

Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.

Marlins at Rays odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:43 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Marlins +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Rays -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Marlins +1.5 (-145) | Rays -1.5 (+120)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Marlins at Rays picks and predictions

Prediction

Rays 5, Marlins 4

Moneyline

BET RAYS (-175).

While the odds are not extremely profitable, the Rays will see Spring start his 1st game since April 13, 2023. They have won 3 of their last 4 including back-to-back games at home while the Marlins have dropped 2 of their last 4 including their last game on the road.

Run line/Against the spread

PASS.

There is value on the Rays run line, however the Marlins are 4-2 in their last 6 games and have scored 6 runs or more in 5 of their last 6 overall.

Over/Under

BET OVER 7.5 (-110).

Miami has an Over record of 7-2-1 in its last 10 games including 6-0-1 in its last 7. It has scored 6 or more runs in 6 of its last 10. Tampa Bay has hit the Over in 5 of its last 9 while scoring 4 or more runs in 5 of its last 9.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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WATCH: Camryn Bynum makes a special play in Training Camp

Camryn Bynum has been making plays ever since he was drafted by the Vikings but on Monday it was a special play he made in training camp.

Several Minnesota Vikings players have made great plays in training camp, but the defense has not seen any. On Monday, the Vikings social media teams changed things up and posted a play made by Camryn Bynum for the world to see.

The play came against Sam Darnold, who has had an up-and-down camp thus far, but it was yet another turnover. Darnold has been building up a streak of days throwing interceptions in camp. While the turnovers aren’t great, they are a good sign that the defense is ready to step up.

Camryn Bynum decided to step up and make the biggest play of camp on Monday. As seen by the video, Bynum comes from offscreen to make a diving interception to show that despite how tough the defensive back situation the Vikings may be facing,  they are able to make plays still.

Training camp continues to roll on for the Vikings as they near their first preseason game.

Ethan Bonner made ‘the craziest jump’ from 2023, says Jaylen Waddle

Jaylen Waddle is really impressed with the play of second-year cornerback Ethan Bonner so far in camp.

Ethan Bonner appeared in two regular season games as a rookie with the Miami Dolphins and spent the rest of the year on the team’s practice squad. The former undrafted free agent cornerback could be in line to do much more in year two.

“Bonner probably has had like the craziest jump from I think any player from last year, in my opinion,” Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle told reporters Monday after a training camp practice. “He just seems like a totally different player out there. He’s more patient at the line. Maybe it’s just a year under his belt. His patience, he’s using his long arms.

“He obviously knows he can run, so he can stay hip-to-hip with anyone and he’s playing with a lot of confidence out there. I tell ‘EB’ every day, ‘You’re getting us better.'”

Bonner, 24, has never been lacking for athleticism. The former Stanford defensive back reportedly recorded a 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day after not getting invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

“Bonner is one of the fastest guys on the team,” Waddle said. “I think people [think we’re] joking, but Bonner is probably top three.”

“He ran 22 [miles per hour] in camp,” Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill told reporters in October 2023. “He had me like, ‘Okay, this dude, okay.’ I may not call him out in a race.”

Now that speed appears to be translating into more reliable coverage in the secondary. And it’s coming at a good time for the Dolphins.

Depth behind the starting cornerback duo of Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller could be thin, especially after 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith left Sunday practice with an injury and didn’t return Monday. While head coach Mike McDaniel said the issue isn’t serious enough to end Smith’s camp, the Dolphins could use the emergence of a reliable fourth cornerback along with Kader Kohou. It seems, perhaps, that Bonner is prepared to make that leap.

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Panthers place former Eagles running back Rashaad Penny on reserve/retired list

Former Philadelphia Eagles running back Rashaad Penny is set to retire from the NFL

Rashaad Penny plans to retire after being barely utilized in 2023 and facing a similar scenario in 2024 with Carolina.

The veteran running back, who played for head coach Dave Canales in Seattle, signed with the Panthers in May, but he’ll leave the NFL after six seasons.

The 28-year-old Penny played five years for the Seahawks and spent last season with the Eagles, where saw limited action.

In 45 career games, Penny ran for 1,951 yards and 13 touchdowns.

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Panthers place RB Rashaad Penny on reserve/retired list

The Panthers have placed RB Rashaad Penny on the reserve/retired list.

The Carolina Panthers have started their Tuesday morning with a bit of a shocker, as the team announced they’ve placed running back Rashaad Penny on the reserve/retired list. The 28-year-old rusher signed with the Panthers back on May 6.

Penny was selected with the 27th overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. The San Diego State product ended up playing five seasons out west, where he crossed paths with current Panthers head coach Dave Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik.

That five-year tenure resulted in 1,918 yards and 13 touchdowns on 337 carries. Penny’s best campaign came in 2021, when he recorded career-highs in starts (six), carries (119), rushing yards (749) and rushing touchdowns (six) while leading the league in yards per attempt (6.3).

He spent the 2023 season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Over three appearances, Penny totaled 33 rushing yards on 11 attempts along with one reception for five yards in what appeared to be his final act.

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Get to know the most interesting Bills player in years: Mack Hollins (video)

A lot to unpack:

Mack Hollins is the most interesting Buffalo Bills player in years.

Nothing wrong with that, but we’re not talking about some weird circumstance that makes a player live forever in Bills lore. Nothing like a freak injury or signing with the team only going on and retire or leave randomly.

Hollins just walks to the beat of his own drum. A no shoes kind of guy.

No, really.

Hollins, a candidate for playing time in the Buffalo receiving group after signing with the team this offseason, is someone you’ll want to get to know.

Hollins is different but his teammates love him for it. He recently sat down with 13WHAM-TV and discussed everything you need to know about him, which you can find in the clip below:

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Wisconsin football 2024 schedule considered to be among toughest in Big Ten

Wisconsin football schedule considered be in top-5 toughest in Big Ten

The Wisconsin Badgers will begin their 2024 season on Friday, Aug. 30 at home against Western Michigan, beginning what is considered to be one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten.

Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports ranked all of the schedules in the Big Ten this season. He listed Wisconsin’s 2024 slate as the fourth-toughest of the 18 teams in the conference this year.

Only UCLA, Purdue and USC were picked to have a harder path in 2024 — two of which are newcomers to the conference this season.

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The Badgers will face contenders including Alabama (home), USC (road), Penn State (home) and Oregon (home), as well as other typical Big Ten opponents like Iowa (road) and Nebraska (road) this year.

Luke Fickell and his staff are entering year two in Madison, looking to build off of a 2023 campaign where they finished 7-6, losing to LSU 35-31 in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

The Badgers will begin their training camp at UW-Platteville on Tuesday, ramping up their activity with one month to go before the regular season opener.

Giants sign OL Greg Van Roten, release CB Aaron Robinson

The New York Giants have signed veteran guard Greg Van Roten and released cornerback Aaron Robinson.

The New York Giants continued bolstering their offensive line on Tuesday, signing veteran guard Greg Van Roten.

The 34-year-old Van Roten is no stranger to the Giants, having played under offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.

Van Roten, who was All-State at Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York, originally signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Penn in 2012. A journeyman, he’s also made stops with the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Van Roten earned an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 75.3 in 2023, the highest grade of his career.

The addition of Van Roten could be an indicator that right tackle Evan Neal, who the Giants list as “day-to-day,” may not be close to returning. In his absence, Jermaine Eluemunor has seen action on the outside.

After confirming the signing, head coach Brian Daboll revealed that cornerback Aaron Robinson has been released in a corresponding move.

Robinson was a third-round pick of the Giants in the 2021 NFL draft but injuries have held him back. He missed much of his rookie season after starting the year on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, then had an emergency appendectomy in 2022 followed by a partially torn ACL and MCL that landed him on season-ending injured reserve and cost him the entirely of the 2023 season.

In total, Robinson appeared in 11 games (four starts) and recorded 32 tackles, one QB hit, and four passes defensed.

Linebacker Azeez Ojulari is the last player remaining from the Giants’ 2021 draft class.

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