Anthony Castonzo still working through retirement decision

Colts hope to hear soon from their left tackle.

The Indianapolis Colts hope to hear from veteran left tackle Anthony Castonzo soon regarding his decision on retirement as he continues to work through the process.

While at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday for the first day of practice, head coach Frank Reich gave an update on the situation without actually giving an update on the decision.

“I know he’s working through that decision,” Reich said at the Senior Bowl. “Hopefully there will be some news before too long. We’ll see how that plays out.”

Castonzo enjoyed arguably his best season anchoring the blindside on the Colts offensive line. He was one of the reasons the unit has been held in such high regard across the league—some even calling it the best offensive line in football.

As the trend of players retiring younger and younger, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Castonzo hang it up. If he does, that would be a major problem for the Colts, who would have to add another need to the long list that already exists.

Castonzo is the veteran leader of the offensive line, but he continues to go through his process of making the crucial decision.

French Boxing Federation will oversee initial phase of legalized MMA in France

Francis Ngannou might not be that far off from fighting in France, as the country took a major step toward implementing the sport Tuesday.

The French Boxing Commission (Fédération Française de Boxe) has been tasked with overseeing the implementation of legalized mixed martial arts in France.

France had long been one of the last European holdouts on legalizing the sport but finally did in 2019, with an eye on getting started Jan. 1. The launch was delayed late last year, but now things appear to be moving forward. The country’s minister of sport, Roxana Maracineanu, tasked the boxing federation with getting things up and running on a supervisory level.

“Having requested and analysed all relevant information received from a number of combat federations who were interested in welcoming MMA, we have decided, by an official Ministerial Decision, to delegate the sport of MMA to the French Boxing Federation,” the ministry stated.

This is not a permanent marriage, as the federation will oversee things for two years. The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation issued a statement supporting the selection.

“We are delighted to see that Boxing will now be the partner of MMA in France, where it has extremely well established and respected structures,” IMMAF president Kerrith Brown said. “Above all, we believe that by partnering with boxing, MMA will show that it shares a willingness to create the right culture and values, especially in membership and education programmes for athletes, coaches and officials.

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The country banned the sport in 2016 with the proviso it would be legalized when it came under the jurisdiction of a French sports federation.

The UFC, who has a major star with French ties in heavyweight contender [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag], has stated interest in running a show in Paris once legalization is finalized.

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What Brandon Beane said about 2020 NFL draft’s pass rushers

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane on the 2020 NFL draft’s pass rushers.

The Buffalo Bills could use plenty of their nine draft picks at the 2020 NFL draft on the offensive side of the ball.

But don’t overlook the defense and pass rusher, specifically.

One of the unofficial starts to draft season is the Senior Bowl and this year’s got underway on Tuesday. On the first day of practices this week, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane spoke to reporters. There, he addressed the potential pass rushers he could be targeting, starting his thoughts with a rather strong statement.

“You can never have enough pass rushers,” Beane said.

Even without thoughts like that, the Bills could realistically need a couple this offseason.

Buffalo’s leading sack-artist from the defensive end spot in 2019, Shaq Lawson (6.5 sacks) is slated to become a free agent. Trent Murphy could be a cap casualty himself. Speaking of sacks, the team’s overall leader, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, could also leave via free agency like Lawson.

The Bills could need some bodies, and overall improvement in the category, and the 2020 draft could be the ticket, according to Beane. He projects some starters in this class of rookies, and perhaps hinted the Bills might need to use an early pick, such as their first one at No. 22 overall, to get one.

“We’ll compare [draftees] to the guys we have. How quick? How smart is he? What’s his skill set? At the end of the day, there’s guys in this draft that I’m already aware of that can come right in and play for us now,” Beane said. “Those guys usually go pretty quick, though. So I don’t know how long they’ll last in the draft versus free agency. It’s a premium position.”

The top prospect in the draftee pool, perhaps overall, could be Ohio State’s Chase Young. The Bills are too far down the draft board to have a shot at him, though. Depending how things fall, Iowa’s AJ Epenesa (No. 13 on Draft Wire‘s big board), LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson (No. 15) and Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos (No. 22) could be on Buffalo’s radar in the first round.

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Could this key decision made by Isaiah Simmons hurt Jags’ chances to acquire him?

One player who has been heavily mocked to the Jacksonville Jaguars is Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who declared for the draft this past weekend. After his impressive performance in the national championship against the Louisiana State Tigers, …

One player who has been heavily mocked to the Jacksonville Jaguars is Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who declared for the draft this past weekend. After his impressive performance in the national championship against the Louisiana State Tigers, his name is one Jags fans have really gravitated towards because the team needs help at the linebacker position. 

Not too soon after declaring, Simmons, like most players, decided to name an agent. Unfortunately for the Jags, it was an agent they know for all the wrong reasons in David Mulugheta.

As many are aware, Mulugheta was the agent of Jalen Ramsey, who the Jags traded to the Los Angeles Rams after he and the Jags’ front office had a rough saga with each other. During Week 2’s game against the Houston Texans, Ramsey and coach Doug Marrone got into a heated argument on the sidelines that led former front office executive Tom Coughlin to hold  a meeting with Ramsey in the locker room after the game. Ramsey left the meeting feeling “disrespected” and demanded a trade through Mulugheta, and the rest is history. 

However, the issues allegedly caused by Coughlin didn’t stop there. 

Before the season could end, the NFL Players Association won a grievance filed by Dante Fowler Jr. against the Jags in December due to the team fining him over $700,000 for not rehabbing at their facility during the 2018 offseason. As details came to the surface, the NFLPA singled out the Jags by stating that 25% of the grievances filed by players were against them and warned players to be mindful of that before considering them as a destination. The incident later led to the firing of Coughlin on Dec.18.

That leads us to the question of the day: will Mulugheta advise Simmons to avoid playing for the Jags? While Coughlin is gone, one has to wonder whether the player and agent perception towards the Jags will remain the same. 

Another thing worth noting is that Ramsey told ESPN that there were four people who met with him after Week 2’s game, saying he respected two of the people present, which leaves two others who fans are left to assume he doesn’t view favorably. At this point, it can be assumed that Coughlin was probably one of those two — but what if there’s a possibility that general manager Dave Caldwell was the other? How does Mulugheta feel about him? 

Only time will tell if Simmons is willing to play for the Jags as the decision is ultimately up to him. If there is any silver lining to the Jags’ front office situation it’s the fact that agents seem to view Caldwell more favorably as he’s gotten multiple marquee names to sign with Jacksonville when they previously wouldn’t. With Coughlin gone, maybe Mulugheta won’t have an issue with Simmons coming to Jacksonville, but the saga with Ramsey does make it fair to question Simmons’ potential to be a Jaguar come April.

How do you all at home feel on the matter? Could Simmons’ decision to hire Mulugheta hurt his chances to be a Jaguar? Let us know in our Jags Wire forum. 

Packers sign 10-man practice squad to futures deals

The Packers signed their entire practice squad to the 90-man offseason roster.

The Green Bay Packers announced the signing of 10 players – all from the team’s practice squad – to reserve/futures contracts on Tuesday.

The 10 players, including three who spent time on the Packers’ 53-man roster during the 2019 season, will officially join the 90-man offseason roster.

TE Evan Baylis
OT Cody Conway
RB Damarea Crockett
TE James Looney
CB Kabion Ento
OLB Randy Ramsey
WR Darrius Shepherd
WR Malik Taylor
OLB Tim Williams
QB Manny Wilkins

Baylis, Shepherd and Williams were all on the active roster for brief periods in 2019. Also, note: Looney, a former seventh-round draft pick, transitioned from defensive line to tight end while on the practice squad this season.

Any player not on an active roster to end the season is eligible to sign a futures contract.

Texas Longhorns To Retire Cat Osterman’s Number 8 Jersey

The University of Texas will be honoring Olympic Gold Medalist Cat Osterman by retiring her jersey on March 25th.

It has been a long time coming for former Texas Longhorns’ softball star Cat Osterman to get the recognition that she deserved from her time in Austin. The University of Texas announced that she will be the first former softball player to have their jersey retired by the school.

Cat Osterman spent her playing days in Austin for the University of Texas. She would end up redshirting in 2004 to join Team USA in the olympics where she helped bring home the gold. During her time with the Longhorns, Osterman helped lead the team to Women’s College World Series appearances in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

Cat Osterman School Records At Time of Graduation:

  • Wins
  • Strikeouts
  • ERA (earned run average)
  • WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched)
  • Innings Pitched
  • Shutouts
  • Strikeout Ratio
  • Opponents Batting Average

Osterman also added a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. She also finished her career 6th in wins, 2nd in strikeouts, 3rd in shutouts and 3rd in no hitters in NCAA Division I records.

Drew Brees’ son is a Lamar Jackson fan

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has made a lot of fans but it’s the son of eventual Hall of Famer Drew Brees that’s most interesting

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had a spectacular season. In spite of playing in only 15 games this season (less if you count the five fourth-quarters he was rested in), Jackson broke several franchise and NFL records en route to a Pro Bowl nod.

While not everyone is a fan of Jackson’s still, he’s earned some pretty influential followers. That apparently includes the son of one of the players he’ll be facing in the Pro Bowl, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Brees posted a photo of his son all decked out in Ravens merchandise and telling Jackson he’s excited to meet him this week.

Jackson has set a high bar for himself this season. In just his second season in the NFL, Jackson has earned his first Pro Bowl, led the league in touchdown passes, broke Michael Vick’s single-season rushing record and seems a lock for the NFL’s MVP award.

Though many hoped Jackson wouldn’t be available for the Pro Bowl, Baltimore wasn’t able to get it done in the divisional round of the playoffs, falling to the Tennessee Titans. Still, it’s really cool to see Jackson get to rub elbows with guys he undoubtedly looks up to and see all the fans he’s made in the NFL itself.

If Jackson keeps up the pace he’s set for himself, he’s liable to be signing a lot more jerseys and earning plenty more fans.

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Peter Mathebula, first black S. African champ, dies at 67

Peter Mathebula, the first black South African to win a world title, died on Saturday night, according to multiple reports. He was 67.

Peter Mathebula, the first black South African to win a world title, died on Saturday night, according to multiple reports. He was 67.

Mathebula’s sister Dianah Tlhale told SABC News in South Africa that Mathebula had been “in and out of hospital before deteriorating.” He died at Leratong Hospital in Johannesburg.

Mathebula, nicknamed “Terror,” won the WBA flyweight title by defeating Tae-Shik Kim of South Korea by a split decision (see video below) in December 1980 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

It was his first fight outside his native country. And, according to the BBC, it was only three years after a law banning whites from fighting blacks was lifted in South Africa.

Mathebula (36-9, 17 KOs) recalled his joy during an interview with Sowetan Live in 2012.

“I thought I was dreaming,” he said. “The reality of me being the first black South African world champion did not sink in immediately. I did not believe that I beat an incredible boxer like Tae-Shik Kim. I won on a split decision and you can imagine my anxiety before the final announcement. But I remained hopeful about my chances because I believed I did well (enough) to convince the judges.

“When the ring announcer paused a bit before making the final verdict, I nearly stopped breathing . But seconds later the announcer screamed ‘and the new WBA flyweight champion of the world, Peter Terroooooor Mathebulaaaaaa!’ I nearly collapsed with joy. It was unbelievable.”

Mathebula was welcomed home as a hero.

“Unbelievable!” he said. “I’ve never seen so many people overjoyed by one’s victory. Their celebrations at the airport just reminded me how important the title was. I was given a hero’s welcome. I was humbled to see white people welcoming me. My wife and children were there screaming my name.

“We were driven as a family through the streets of Johannesburg up to my house in Mohlakeng. The party continued throughout the weekend, or was it a month?”

Mathebula’s career declined quickly after his greatest triumph. He lost his belt in his first defense, a seventh-round knockout at the hands of Santos Laciar in March 1981 in Johannesburg.

“Too much celebrating cost me my title, perhaps,” he said.

Mathebula then lost back-to-back fights to Betulio Gonzalez in Venezuela and never again fought for a world title. However, he did win his final fight, a 10th-round TKO over Joseph Molefe that gave him the Transvaal bantamweight title, before retiring at 31 in 1983.

“I wanted to quit on a high considering that my win over Molefe was the third in a row,” he said. “I’m happy that I’m not lost to the game.”

Mathebula went on to work with young fighters.

“The legend is gone, long live the legend,” the BBC quoted Boxing South Africa head Tsholofelo Lejaka as saying. “Not only was Bra Terror a trailblazer‚ but he was the gentleman of the sport through and through.”

There were 28 former Raiders on NFL playoff teams this year, but only one is headed for Super Bowl

There were 28 former Raiders on NFL playoff teams this year, but only one is headed for Super Bowl

A month ago, there were 12 playoff teams. On those teams, there were a total of 28 former Raiders players. As of Sunday, just two teams remain — the Chiefs and 49ers — as conference winners headed for the Super Bowl. And on those rosters, there is just one former Raiders player — Stefen Wisniewski.

Wisniewski is a starting guard for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is the only player on the Chiefs roster who had ever suited up for the Raiders. The 49ers have none. Though they did have former Raiders pass rusher Damontre Moore who played two games this season for the 49ers before heading to injured reserve. Moore appeared in two games for the Raiders in 2018.

Wisniewski is not just a former Raiders player. He’s the nephew of legendary Raiders guard, Steve Wisniewski. When Stefen was available in the second round of the 2011 draft, Al Davis made sure he grabbed him and then head coach Hue Jackson touted lil-Wiz as their future starting center. He would start every game in which he appeared in his four seasons in Oakland, first at guard and then at center before being allowed to leave as a free agent.

After one season as the starting center in Jacksonville in 2015, he signed on with the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent three seasons in Philadelphia. His second season, he started 11 games and was the Eagles’ starting guard in the Super Bowl when they knocked off the New England Patriots. Once a Raider, Always a Raider.

Now Wiz is a starter headed for the Super Bowl again, this time with the Chiefs. With the injury to starting guard Andrew Wylie, Wisniewski stepped in and has started every game since then, including the Chiefs’ two playoff wins. Wylie is questionable to return for the Super Bowl.

Here are all the former Raiders who were on playoff teams this year.

Texans

LB Tyrell Adams

CB Gareon Conley (D1-17)

RB Taiwan Jones (D4-11)

QB AJ McCarron

DT Eddie Vanderdoes (D3-17)

Bills

LB Lorenzo Alexander

C Jon Feliciano (D4-15)

DT Corey Liuget

TE Lee Smith

Saints

TE Jared Cook

DE Mario Edwards Jr (D2-15)

RB Latavius Murray (D6-13)

S DJ Swearinger

Ravens

DT Justin Ellis (D4-14)

WR Seth Roberts (UD-14)

S Brynden Trawick

DT Jihad Ward (D2-16)

Titans

LB Daren Bates

WR Rashard Davis

Patriots

DE Shilique Calhoun (D3-16)

OT Marshall Newhouse

Packers

WR Ryan Grant

OT Jared Veldheer (D3-10)

Seahawks

RB Marshawn Lynch

TE Luke Willson

Eagles

QB Josh McCown

DT Anthony Rush (UDFA-19)

Chiefs

G Stefen Wisniewski (D2-11)

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‘Different feel’ gives Aaron Rodgers confidence about Packers’ future

GM Brian Gutekunst gives Aaron Rodgers confidence in the Packers, who lost in the NFC title game, getting over the hump.

The last time Aaron Rodgers walked off the field as the loser of an NFC Championship Game, he couldn’t be sure his general manager – then Ted Thompson – would use every avenue and exhaust every resource to get the Green Bay Packers over the hump and back to the Super Bowl.

The feeling is different for the Packers quarterback this time around, and new general manager Brian Gutekunst is the primary reason why.

“I’m confident that he’s going to continue to add to this squad,” Rodgers said at the podium following the Packers’ 37-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. “That part is very exciting. It’s a lot different feel than three years ago.”

The Packers won 13 regular season games and vanquished the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round but couldn’t compete with the top-seeded and heavily-favored 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. They fell behind 27-0 and only briefly threatened a second-half comeback.

Rodgers insists the Packers are close. He believes the team’s window is officially wide open. Confidence in both Gutekunst and new coach Matt LaFleur is high, and there’s a strong sense that a synergy finally exists between general manager, head coach and quarterback in Green Bay.

In Atlanta to end 2016, the Packers fell behind 24-0 and eventually lost 44-21.

During the ensuing offseason, Thompson let seven important contributors leave in free agency (Micah Hyde, JC Tretter, Julius Peppers, T.J. Lang, Jared Cook, Eddie Lacy and Datone Jones) and mostly swung and missed on aging free agents Martellus Bennett, Lance Kendricks, Davon House and Ricky Jean-Francois. Instead of going all-in, the Packers suffered a net talent drain.

The Packers, who won eight straight games to get to that NFC title game in Atlanta, won only 13 games the next two seasons and both Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy were gone.

A team that needed Rodgers to go supernova just to make the playoffs went backward, which must’ve felt like a gut-punch to an aging quarterback dying to get back to the Super Bowl.

No wonder this time around feels different. In two short offseasons, Gutekunst gutted the roster left for him by Thompson and rebuilt the foundation around Rodgers, and he accomplished the task by using any and all avenues of roster building. He aggressively moved around the draft board. He paid big money to sign big-name free agents. He claimed role players off waivers. He dealt for contributors.

Draft and develop was the core roster-building philosophy for Thompson, a veteran scout who believed all a football team needed was to draft good players and have good coaches develop them in a system.  It worked for a time, especially when he hit a grand slam on Rodgers to start his tenure and then sprinkled in a rare signing like Charles Woodson or Julius Peppers.

But with Gutekunst, Rodgers can now confidently assume his general manager will turn over every leaf and use any and all resources to improve the roster. Draft and develop will always be important to building a roster in the NFL. Now, Gutekunst supports Thompson’s vision with veteran additions through free agency, trades and waiver claims.

The Packers are close, and the sting of Sunday’s defeat is soothed only by Rodgers’ confidence that Gutekunst will do whatever it takes to get his flawed but vastly improved team over the final hurdle and back into the Super Bowl.

The feeling is different, but feelings don’t win games. Gutekunst and his staff must get to work on a critical offseason that will determine whether the Packers move forward, stagnate or decline following another NFC title game failure. The team’s 36-year-old quarterback can’t afford for Gutekunst to steer the Packers down a path traveled three long years ago.

And Rodgers is confident he won’t.