After ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols — …

After ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols — the show’s host — offered a clarification that the leadership was simply “different,” Pierce jumped back in. “It’s better,” reiterated Pierce. “Kemba, he’s known throughout the league as being a great leader. I mean, he played on losing teams, he stayed positive. He went out and played hard every night, and that can be infectious. That can be the difference between losing and winning and chemistry. That’s what he’s brought to the Celtics.”

Mock draft watch: Lions haul in major help in the latest 3-rounder from Draft Wire

Two ready-to-roll defensive linemen and an impact wide receiver join the Lions in this fantasy projection

The latest three-round mock draft update from our friends at Draft Wire is one that should pique some intrigue among Detroit Lions fans. Disconsolate over the direction of the defense? You’re gonna like this one…

This edition breaks from the prior versions where the first-rounder has been a defensive back. It’s still defensive help, just in much brawnier fashion at the No. 11 pick.

South Carolina’s wrecking ball of a defensive tackle that is Javon Kinlaw gets the nod in edit Luke Easterling’s latest. It’s a pick that makes a lot of sense,

Matt Patricia’s defense needs more help across the board in the trenches, making this pick a choice between the best value at defensive tackle or on the edge. In this scenario, Kinlaw’s incredible athleticism and limitless upside give him the nod.

I have personally compared Kinlaw to the healthy and motivated Shaun Rogers of his Pro Bowls years; they play with a similar style and destructive athletic dominance on the interior.

The second round brings talented Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson. With only Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones under contract at WR  after this season (and both potential free agents after 2020), adding receiving help is a major imperative.

In the third round, Draft Wire sticks close to Detroit. Michigan State EDGE Kenny Willekes joins the Lions with the No. 75 overall pick. That’s decent value for a high-floor, high-motor player who plays the run well on his way to the passer.

Texans vs Ravens: Time, TV schedule and streaming info for Week 11

The Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens square off for Week 11 at M&T Bank Stadium. Find out how to catch the potential quarterback shootout.

The Houston Texans get back in action with one of the most challenging games on the schedule as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens on the road.

While it is a continuation of the great ACC showdowns between Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson, it is also one of the earliest bouts for first-round bye supremacy. Currently, the Ravens are 7-2 and have one of the biggest tiebreakers in all the NFL with a win over the New England Patriots. If the Ravens and Patriots tie, Baltimore achieves home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

But what if the Ravens don’t catch the Patriots? That’s why the Week 11 encounter is so significant. If that happens, then a win for the Texans gives them the tiebreaker of the Ravens, and they would have it immediately as both teams’ records after a Texans win would be 7-3.

Beating the Ravens probably won’t have an impact on Houston’s postseason qualification as there are still six more games to go and three more AFC South games. However, in terms of securing the franchise’s first ever first-round bye, beating the Ravens goes a long way. In terms of the city’s NFL team having a first-round bye, this feat has not been seen around Harris County since January 1994 with the Houston Oilers.

To get ready for the Week 11 action here is important game day information so you can catch the game. Follow the @TheTexansWire and the crew (@therealmarklane, @averydduncan, @ChrisNallsNFL, @arwoodNFL, @CotyDavis_24, @Get_Crumped, @MrRadioMann, @RondilMedia, @JonFuentesMMA, @somesportsguyy).

You can live stream the game on FuboTV (try it free).

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens — Sunday, Nov. 17 at 12:00 p.m. CT

TV channel: CBS (Ian Eagle & Dan Fouts)

Live stream: FuboTV (try it free)

Radio: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), Mega 101 (KLOL-FM) (Marc Vandermeer & Andre Ware)

Location: M&T Bank Stadium

Forecast: Mostly cloudy, 42 degrees, 12 mph wind

Referee: Alex Kemp

Odds: Ravens -4.5

Saints WR Keith Kirkwood working to return from injured reserve

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton commended the progress WR Keith Kirkwood has made in working to return from injured reserve.

[jwplayer sXmBDaQ3]

The New Orleans Saints had high hopes for second-year wide receiver Keith Kirkwood during the summer. Kirkwood was their preferred stand-in for Michael Thomas during his brief holdout for a contract extension, but he played just a dozen snaps in the season-opener before exiting with a hamstring injury. It continued to dog him throughout the following week and was so badly aggravated in pregame warmups that he landed on injured reserve.

Now, nine weeks later, Kirkwood is working to return to the team. Because of the NFL’s injured reserve rules, players designated to return from that list have a two-week window in which to practice before they can be allowed to suit up for a game. The Saints haven’t given Kirkwood that designation yet, so it means the earliest he could possibly return would be Week 13’s game with the Atlanta Falcons. But Saints coach Sean Payton did offer an update on his status before practice Wednesday.

“He’s doing well,” Payton said. “He’s been moving well and running well, so we’ll keep paying attention to that and keep working with him and getting him to where he’s able to play.”

New Orleans could certainly use his help, whenever he does return. Thomas paces the team (and the NFL) with 86 receptions, but all of their other wide receivers have combined for just 30 catches this season. They’ve gotten by with Thomas putting the team on his back each week and some creative use of their other skills position talent, but a 26-9 loss to the Falcons last Sunday highlighted just how thin the position group is. Somebody has to step up and make a play besides No. 13 sometimes.

Maybe Kirkwood could be the help the Saints need. He came through in clutch moments last season as a rookie practice squad call-up, appearing in nine games (including the playoffs). He went 15-of-23 for 217 yards, a clip of 14.5 yards per catch, converting 12 first downs and scoring three touchdowns. For perspective, here’s how that stat line would rank among Saints wide receivers this year:

  • Third in receptions
  • Third in receiving yards,
  • Second in touchdown catches
  • Tied for second in first down conversions

Even if his performance came on limited snap counts (Kirkwood averaged 30.9 plays per game on offense, but trailed only Thomas among snaps played by wide receivers in their playoff game with the Philadelphia Eagles), it was enough to earn Brees’ trust and build some momentum going into the offseason. Hopefully they can pick up where they left off when Kirkwood returns, if he’s able. Payton is clearly encouraged by his progress so far.

[vertical-gallery id=22291]

Tyson Fury accepts challenge of UFC’s Stipe Miocic: ‘after I get Wilder out of the way?

Tyson Fury, at least in words, has accepted UFC’s Stipe Miocic’s offer for a crossover fight.

Tyson Fury has a lot on his plate these days.

That apparently includes the possibility of a crossover fight with Stipe Miocic, the UFC heavyweight champion who recently stated his desire to fight the “Gypsy King.” Miocic told ESPN that he would rather face Fury than engage in a third fight with former UFC titleholder Daniel Cormier.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Fury, it seems, has taken up Miocic on his offer.

“Stipe says he wants to box me. That would be a good fight, for sure,” Fury told his management company MTK Global.

Fury, of course, has a pretty packed schedule. He is tentatively scheduled to face Wilder in February if the American titleholder defeats Luis Ortiz in their November 23 rematch.

“After I get Wilder out of the way, I’ll fight Stipe in a boxing match if he wants it,” Fury continued. “It would be a big crossover fight like Mayweather and McGregor.”

Fury (29-0-1, 20 knockouts) is no stranger to the crossover fight, having already stepped into the professional wrestling universe against the WWE’s Braun Strowman in October. Most recently, Fury was shown on a video throwing knees and elbows with UFC middleweight champion Darren Till in the gym. That caught Miocic’s attention on Twitter.

Fury, for his part, relishes the idea of taking on the UFC stars.

“I’m open to (fighting Miocic), so he should come and see me,” Fury said. “It would be the same outcome for any of (the UFC fighters): They’ll all get smashed.”

 

Loss to Buccaneers puts Cardinals in top 10 of 2020 draft

Their loss to the Buccaneers moves them to being projected to have the No. 10 pick in the 2020 draft.

The Arizona Cardinals are nowhere near the worst team in the NFL this year. However, at 3-6-1, their record says they are one of the worst. After a 30-27 loss to Sunday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, if the season ended now, they would have a top-10 pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

They would have the 10th overall pick, as Draft Wire managing editor Luke Easterling updated this week.

Who have been the No. pick of the last few drafts?

  • In 2019, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected linebacker Devin Bush.
  • In 2018, the Cardinals selected quarterback Josh Rosen.
  • In 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs took quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
  • In 2016, the New York Giants selected cornerback Eli Apple.
  • In 2015, the St. Louis Rams (they had not yet moved back to Los Angeles) selected running back Todd Gurley.
  • In 2014, the Detroit Lions selected tight end Eric Ebron.
  • In 2013, the Tennessee Titans selected guard Chance Warmack.

The Cardinals still have six games remaining on their schedule. We will see where they ultimately end up.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

[protected-iframe id=”e1d0fe3745adff805885f9c1789909c9-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/20006504/download.mp3″ ]

‘Good Morning Football’ calls Vita Vea one of the best players we’re not talking about

See what the folks over on “Good Morning Football” had to say about Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally got the proverbial monkey off their back last Sunday when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals and put an end to their four-game skid.

The Bucs entered their Week 10 contest just 2-6 after going 1-4 during a brutal five-game road trip away from Raymond James Stadium. Now, back in the friendly confines of their home stadium, the Bucs will look to keep the momentum going in Week 11 when Drew Brees and the division-leading New Orleans Saints come to town.

The Bucs secondary will have its work cut out for them as the team parted ways with cornerback and former first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves yesterday. Fortunately, for Tampa Bay, they still have the league’s best rush defense, giving up just 77.8 yards per game.

One of the big reasons they’ve been so great up front has been the play of second-year man Vita Vea. He not only played defense in their win over the Cardinals, but he saw some action on the offensive side of the ball, too.

And, according to NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” Vea is one of the best players in the NFL we aren’t talking about.

Take a look.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Vea get some more looks on offense. I think Bucs fans everywhere would like to see a little Refrigerator Perry action at some point.

[lawrence-related id=24892,24886,24881,24876]