Tag: local

NFL suspends Jameson Williams, 3 other Lions for gambling violations

The NFL suspended Jameson Williams and 3 other Lions players for gambling violations. Williams will miss 6 games to start the 2023 season.

The NFL announced on Friday that four players from the Detroit Lions have been suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy. C.J. Moore and Quintez Cephus are both suspended indefinitely and will be sidelined at least one year. Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill have both been suspended for six games.

The Lions didn’t waste any time moving on from both Moore and Cephus, who have already been released by the team following their suspensions. Williams and Berryhill remain on the roster, but GM Brad Holmes expressed his frustration and disappointment in both players.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Below is the statement released by Holmes following the announcement of the four players’ suspensions.

According to ESPN, several members of the Lions’ staff were also dismissed for violating the gambling policy, so this went beyond just the players.

Separate from these punishments, several Lions staff members in various departments were dismissed last month for violating the gambling policy, a source told ESPN.

Of course, Williams is the biggest loss from this news. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft and missed 11 games of the season due to an ACL injury. Now, he’ll miss six games to start the 2023 campaign, delaying a potential breakout from the former Alabama wideout.

Williams and Berryhill were only suspended six games because they were found to have bet on college games from the Lions’ facility, while Cephus and Moore bet on NFL games, landing them indefinite suspensions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

NBA playoffs: Former Vols’ April 20 results

A look at how former Vols performed in the NBA playoffs Thursday.

One former Vol competed in the NBA playoffs Thursday, while another did not play due to a coach’s decision.

Forward Tobias Harris started and played 36 minutes for Philadelphia in its 102-97 victory over the Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Harris totaled 15 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal for the No. 3 seed 76ers, who took a 3-0 lead in the first-round series against the No. 6 Nets.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Harris was 6-for-13 from the field, 2-for-4 in three-point attempts and 1-for-1 from the free throw line.

Jaden Springer did not play for the 76ers for a second consecutive game due to a coach’s decision.

Game No. 4 will be Saturday at 1 p.m. EDT and televised by TNT.

Giants’ Joe Schoen focused on adding talent over scheme fit

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen knows he may eventually lose a coordinator or two, so it’s important to add talented players over a scheme fit.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen did not come from just anywhere when the team hired him last year. He had a significant track record as a scout, talent evaluator, and front-office executive with organizations such as Miami, Carolina, and Buffalo.

In his travels, he learned from some of the best in the business. One name, in particular, keeps coming up when Schoen talks about philosophy and team building: former Giants Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells, who Schoen worked under in Miami.

When talking about building a team around a scheme — such as the defense that is run by coordinator Wink Martindale — Schoen recalled the advice Parcells gave him years back.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Martindale was a hot name on the head coaching carousel this offseason and could eventually be hired away if the Giants’ defense continues to thrive.

“It’s actually something that Coach Parcells told me a long time ago,” Schoen told reporters on Thursday during his pre-draft press conference. “He told me, ‘Coaches come and go. You need to draft good football players.’

“Yeah, you don’t want to get too pigeonholed into scheme-specific, because then, you’re right, if Wink gets a head job a year from now and you bring somebody else in that runs a totally different defense, you have a scheme-specific player. Part of our job is to balance that. Like is this guy, again, adding value? Like, he’s only going to fit this one scheme. And yeah, Wink’s got a really good chance to get a head coaching job. If he moves on and we change things up, then yeah, you definitely have to balance that and be aware of that.”

That is why Schoen and his team are careful not to draft players who might be scheme-specific. That would also apply to the offense, where coordinator Mike Kafka was also courted by several teams only to wind up back with the Giants.

[lawrence-related id=708907,708898,708902]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Sam Presti said it’s possible Chet Holmgren plays in summer league

Summer League might be appointment viewing for Thunder fans.

It looks like fans might see Chet Holmgren sooner than expected.

During his end-of-season press conference, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti didn’t officially rule Holmgren out from participating in the summer leagues, which will be held in July.

“It’s possible,” Presti said. “We’ll see when we get to that point. If he’s at that point where we feel good about making that decision — I wouldn’t say he wouldn’t. It’s very possible that he does, but he’s got a lot of time between now and then.

“He’ll want to play for sure because he’ll play anywhere, anytime. It’s just a matter of if it’s the right thing for him physically at that point.”

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

It’s a little eyebrow-raising to see Presti not officially rule Holmgren out from summer league. Many assumed the Thunder would play it extra safe and not have him return to in-game action until the 2023-24 season starts.

When asked if he’d play in summer league during his exit interview, Holmgren was noncommittal and said he’s focused on continuing his rehab and progressing toward 5v5 action, which is in the near future.

“I’m focused on following the plan that we have in place, and when that time comes, that’s part of the plan, I’ll follow the plan like I have up to this point,” Holmgren said. “But right now I’m focused on the plan that I have here in the near future, and we’ll figure that out as we go.”

The No. 2 pick missed the 2022-23 season recovering from a season-ending Lisfranc injury he suffered last August. Holmgren’s last competitive game was in last year’s summer league, during which he garnered hype due to how impressive he looked.

Presti also acknowledged during his presser that the Thunder will play in two separate summer leagues once again this year — as was the case last year with Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Colts’ Ryan Kelly: ‘Impossible to not see rumors’

Ryan Kelly is ready for his shot at redemption.

Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly was the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason, but the team essentially decided to hold on to the veteran.

Whether that was due to a lack of a trade market or another reason isn’t clear, but Kelly did his best to distract himself from the rumors around the league.

“It’s impossible not to see rumors. I did a really good job of it, but people around me would call me and say, ‘What’s up, dude? Heard you’re going here,’” Kelly told reporters this week.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

The former first-round pick hasn’t played like himself in recent seasons. He’s been among the leaders in pressures and sacks allowed at the center position over the last two campaigns while dealing with the tragic death of his unborn daughter in 2021.

Kelly, for the time being, is still under contract for the Colts for the next two seasons. He will be owed $27 million during that span. However, the Colts can save $12.4 million against the salary cap ($2.25 million in dead cap) if he’s released after the 2023 season.

Being the subject of trade rumors is never easy on the mind, but Kelly found a sense of relief and peace when he got a call from new head coach Shane Steichen the night he was hired.

“He gave me a call that night and we talked for 20 minutes,” Kelly said of Steichen. “I thought that was kind of refreshing in my mind of like, ‘I still love this place. It still means the world to me.’”

With a new head coach in tow, Kelly will remain the anchor of an offensive line with a new position coach as well—Tony Sparano Jr.

The 29-year-old center already has been impressed by the new offensive line coach, who joins the staff after a stint with the New York Giants.

“He’s been awesome. I think, from Day One, he said the integrity of the offensive line room is paramount. That’s number one,” Kelly said. “That was the first thing that really impressed me and b), it’s just believing in guys. He believes he took this job because the guys in that room can get the job done and that belief, ultimately, transfers over to us. So, obviously he’s got the knowledge and the scheme. He wouldn’t be in that position if he didn’t, but to me, those are the two factors that set him apart and really make it awesome the last two weeks and hopefully going forward.”

Kelly is the leader of the offensive line. He’s the longest-tenured player on the entire roster and has the crucial role of anchoring the offensive line, a unit that did not play up to expectations in 2022.

He’ll be tasked with helping a rookie quarterback develop into a capable starter as the Colts hold the No. 4 overall pick in the draft next week.

Kelly will have his shot at redemption in 2023, and it will be crucial both for him and the team that he finds his form.

[mm-video type=video id=01gyg2z951mh6xpgfxdp playlist_id=01eqbwdn1cy47y964q player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gyg2z951mh6xpgfxdp/01gyg2z951mh6xpgfxdp-8fc6837c92c6a675df7ea82b8aeba53f.jpg]

Like Colts Wire on Facebook
Follow Colts Wire on Twitter
Follow Kevin on Twitter (@KevinHickey11)

SEC championship: Vols’ Caleb Surratt leads, Jake Hall records lowest round

SEC championship: Tennessee’s Caleb Surratt leads and Jake Hall records lowest round

The Southeastern Conference championship is taking place April 19-21 at Sea Island Golf Course in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Tennessee’s Caleb Surratt leads individually after the second-round, while Jake Hall recorded the lowest round of any golfer on Thursday.

Hall’s 6-under round is tied for the third-lowest in SEC championship history. His low-round comes one day after Surratt accomplished the same feat in the first-round. Former Vol Tyler Johnson also shot a 6-under in the event last year.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Tennessee’s individual scores

1. Caleb Surratt, 64-68—132 (-8)
T22. Jake Hall, 75-64—139 (-1)
T44. Bryce Lewis, 71-72—143 (+3)
T44. Josh Hill, 71-72—143 (+3)
T54. Laurent Desmarchais, 72-73—145 (+5)

SEC team leaderboard

T1. Texas A&M, 548 (-12)
T1. Alabama, 548 (-12)
3. Florida, 550 (-10)
T4. Tennessee, 554 (-6)
T4. Vanderbilt, 554 (-6)
6. Mississippi State, 555 (-5)
7. Missouri, 558 (-2)
8. Arkansas, 560 (E)
9. Ole Miss, 561 (+1)
T10. Auburn, 562 (+2)
T10. Georgia, 562 (+2)
12. LSU, 566 (+6)
13. Kentucky, 571 (+11)
14. South Carolina, (+27)

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz9dkec01s6y18 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

The Eagles might have cold feet about hiring ex-Lions coach Matt Patricia

Maybe Pro Bowl CB Darius Slay had a few things to say to Eagles brass about Patricia

News broke on Thursday that the Philadelphia Eagles were hiring former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia as a senior defensive assistant coach. Several sources reported the news of Patricia’s hiring.

Yet the Eagles do not list Patricia on their current coaching roster. All of the other new hires and promotions are current. Patricia is not on the team’s press release, either.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

But he once was. It seems the team scrubbed him from all communications. As Glenn Erby of Eagles Wire notes,

One name on the list was former Patriots assistant and Lions head coach Matt Patricia, who was supposed to be a Senior Defensive Assistant.

By 2:00 PM Eastern time, Patricia was no longer listed among the coaching hires.

There is no official word now on if Patricia is still with the Eagles. Perhaps they were shamed into revoking his status, or maybe Pro Bowl CB Darius Slay had some say. Patricia and Slay infamously clashed in Detroit before the cornerback was traded away to the Eagles.

However, Eagles head coach Nick Siriianni praised Patricia in a press conference. Sirianni also explained that Patricia had not yet been hired officially,

“I know there was a report out that that was said and we’re trending in that direction,” said Sirianni. “Nothing is final yet. We’re trending in that direction. So, we’ll see how that progresses, but it’s trending in that direction, yes.”

Based on what Sirianni said, it appears the Eagles are indeed going to hire Patricia. But it’s not a done deal yet, and the erasure of any mention of Patricia by the team certainly raises an eyebrow.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Giants expand their vision on a potential WR1

The New York Giants are expanding their vision on a potential No. 1 wide receiver and what they may look like in the modern NFL.

The 2023 NFL draft class has quite a few talented wide receivers and the New York Giants could end up with one of them with the 25th overall selection if things break right for them.

That aside, general manager Joe Schoen has said in the past that a team does not necessarily need a ‘No. 1’ or ‘big play’ wideout to be successful.

On Thursday, Schoen backed off on that opinion a bit, saying that he is open to bringing in an elite player if the situation is right.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

“If you have got a guy that can take the top off and throw the ball down the field and goes up and gets it like a Randy Moss, then you’d love to have that; or if it’s Steve Smith in Carolina, you throw a slant, and he can take it 80. Any time you can generate yards after a catch, I think that helps you,” Schoen told reporters. “You don’t have to do the 15, 16-play drives. Maybe now it’s six because a guy had a 50-yarder in there. I think all those things are important when you’re looking at the receiver.”

Schoen augmented the wide receiver room this offseason by bringing in a trio of new faces (Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder, Jeff Smith) and re-signed Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard.

The room will be a crowded one for any rookie to navigate as it will contain last year’s second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson and breakout star Isaiah Hodgins, as well as the lengthy Collin Johnson among other hopefuls.

[lawrence-related id=708902,708877,708871]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Cowboys News: Lamb in for Year 5 and Steele for Year 4, Romo talks Dak’s INTs

From @ToddBrock24f7 | The Cowboys handle 2 big pieces of business; Tony Romo weighs in on Dak Prescott’s interceptions, and the grass vs. turf debate rages.

The Cowboys front office took care of two important pieces of business on Thursday. Both moves were widely expected and are just the latest examples of an offseason that has been productive and efficient and largely drama-free. We’ve got the latest on Terence Steele and CeeDee Lamb’s paperwork news and why both mean good news for the Cowboys.

Meanwhile, Tony Romo weighed in on both Dak Prescott’s interceptions as well as the criticism over his own job performance in the CBS booth. We’ve got more pre-draft tidbits- including a consensus first-round pick according to two of the industry’s top experts, an off-the-radar prospect who analytics say may be perfect, a decision to make at running back, and the surprising lineup that could be created out of only seventh-round picks. All that, plus the grass-versus-turf war rages on, Prescott offers his thoughts on Jalen Hurts’s money, and a pair of Cowboys legends tee it up together… in this edition of News and Notes.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

The Lions are following the Chiefs’ way of building a winner

Lions GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell are following the Chiefs’ blueprint to try and build sustained success

The Detroit Lions are aiming to be where the Kansas City Chiefs are right now. Super Bowl champs with sustained viability — that’s the goal for Detroit under GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell and Lions owner Sheila Hamp.

How the Chiefs got to that pinnacle, and then remain there with an adapting roster and changing contractual demands that come with having enough talented players to remain highly successful, is not easy to pull off. As NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah noted in his pre-draft press conference, it requires successful drafting and player development by the coaching staff.

“I give their staff credit because sometimes it’s not just your scouting staff
being able to identify talent,” Jeremiah said of the Chiefs front office. “It’s your coaching staff being able to develop that talent. I think the Chiefs coaching staff is one of the best teaching staffs in the NFL, and that was evident by the way they were able to get these young guys on the field early and get them up and running. They just got better and better as the year went along.”

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

That is the basic structure the Lions are working hard at executing. It took some time, but the dividends finally starting paying off in the team’s 8-2 finish to the 2022 season. Taking the next step in Detroit isn’t a given, but the model the Chiefs used to make the jump is a smart path for the Lions to follow. Draft smartly, develop talent with good coaches who teach well, and keep the core of the band together.

Jeremiah then laid out why it’s so important to draft well while paying Patrick Mahomes.

“I think they’ve kind of laid out the blueprint for teams that have paid their
quarterback. This is how you have to do it. You’ve got to go out there, get
extra picks. You’re not going to be able to pay everybody, but you need to hit
on draft picks.”

It’s a lesson Brad Holmes and the Lions might have to experience with Jared Goff. Should Goff perform in 2023 the way he finished 2022, he’s going to command a significant pay bump in his next contract. That means the ability to find inexpensive contributors in the draft and develop them into more important pieces is so critical.

Holmes and Campbell are often referenced with the teams from whence they came, the Rams for Holmes and the Saints for Campbell. But they do appear to be closely embracing the Chiefs model through the first two years.

Jeremiah wasn’t directly referencing the Lions when he talked about the Chiefs, but it’s very easy to see Detroit following the path that Jeremiah described in Kansas City.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]