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Tag: National Football League

  • Minnesota Vikings bested by Tennessee Titans 23-13 in final preseason game

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    Cam Ward’s first NFL touchdown of any kind will have to wait for the regular season after the No. 1 overall pick helped the Tennessee Titans wrap up the preseason by beating the Minnesota Vikings 23-13 Friday night.

    Ward finished his preseason 10 of 19 for 145 yards while playing into the second quarter of all three games. Against the Vikings, Ward didn’t complete his first pass. In his second series, he was 3 of 3 for 36 yards, driving the Titans 13 plays for 90 yards over 8:33.

    Julius Chestnut capped the drive with a 1-yard run that put the Titans (2-1) up 7-3.

    Minnesota (1-2) started rookie Max Brosmer at quarterback with J.J. McCarthy among the starters watching. Brosmer left after two series with the Vikings up 3-0 and returned in the final 30 seconds of the first half.

    The quarterback who played his last college season at Minnesota in 2024 did nothing to hurt his chances at being the No. 3 behind McCarthy. Brosmer pulled the Vikings within 17-10 with a 21-yard TD pass to Bryson Nesbit in the third quarter and finished 15 of 23 for 161 yards.

    Veteran Brandon Allen came in and put the Titans up 14-3 with Van Jefferson taking a catch 65 yards up the sideline for a touchdown. Jefferson, who dropped a deep pass from Ward against Atlanta last week, caught all three passes thrown his way for 102 yards in this game.

    Late in the game, a neon green sex toy was tossed onto the field and quickly picked up by security.

    Anything you can do

    Minnesota kicker Will Reichard missed a 63-yard field goal just short of the crossbar as the half expired, and he later missed a 55-yarder wide left. Reichard sneaked a 58-yarder inside the left upright midway through the fourth to make it 20-13.

    The Titans let kicker Joey Slye try a 63-yarder in the third quarter. The kicker now with his sixth NFL team made his. Slye’s career long is a 63-yarder last season with New England, and this kick would’ve been good from at least 70. He added two more field goals in the fourth.

    Simmons asks an plays

    Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons made clear earlier this week he wanted to play, even though he couldn’t remember the last time he played in a preseason game.

    The Titans sat plenty of their starters, including three offensive linemen, running back Tony Pollard and wide receiver Calvin Ridley. On defense, tackle T’Vondre Sweat missed his third preseason game recovering from a tonsillectomy.

    Up next

    The Vikings open the season on Monday, Sept. 8 at Chicago.

    The Titans visit Denver in their opener on Sept. 7.

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  • Minnesota Vikings receiver Thayer Thomas aims to make roster after 2 years on practice squad

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    In an NFL preseason game, players want to shine. When the opportunities don’t come, the pressure builds. 

    For guys on the bubble like Minnesota Vikings receiver Thayer Thomas, it’s about being on all the time.

    “I don’t know when I’m gonna be thrown in there with the ones. But I just got to prepare each and every day like I am gonna be thrown in there, so when that time comes, I’m ready,” said Thomas. “Just know the playbook in and out, be able to play multiple spots on the offense.”

    Thomas is a football lifer. He’s spent the last two seasons on the Vikings’ practice squad and has never seen a snap in the regular season. The 27-year-old caught two touchdowns in day two of the Vikings’ joint practice 11-on-11 sessions with the New England Patriots, gaining valuable chemistry with Minnesota’s new quarterback.

    “J.J.’s really talented. The growth I’ve seen in the last year and a half since he’s been here has been great to see,” said Thomas. “It’s awesome to be able to connect with him. I know he’s got elite receivers everywhere on the field; it’s pretty special. Hopefully, we get to connect a lot more.”

    Thomas’s hope is to make the team. With Jordan Addison’s three-game suspension to start the season, there is an opportunity. He was a walk-on at North Carolina State and is charting his pro career in a similar way. Any given day in practice, he’s seen with and without gloves.

    “I sweat a lot. Right now, it’s not too bad, but when I grew up in North Carolina, when I went to NC State, going to camp, it was like 95 degrees,” said Thomas. “So, I would go through probably eight to 10 pairs of gloves a day, just cuz I was sweating so much. So, if we’re not in the live period, if we’re just doing routes, just indi and stuff, I won’t wear gloves. But as we get into the practice, I’ll put gloves on. I have like 10 pairs of gloves that I bring out to practice every day.”

    Time may be running out to latch on in the NFL. This week is the most crucial of Thomas’s football life.

    “Finally, I feel like I’m getting an opportunity to show what I can do,” said Thomas. “Hopefully that continues.”

    Note: The above video first aired on Aug. 21, 2025.

    Ren Clayton

    Ren Clayton joined WCCO-TV in October 2021. Ren has covered it all, from surfing, to rodeos, to hurricanes.

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  • Minnesota Vikings trade Harrison Phillips to Jets for sixth-round draft picks, AP source says

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    The New York Jets agreed to terms on a deal to acquire veteran nose tackle Harrison Phillips from the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press.

    The Jets are sending sixth-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027 to the Vikings, who are trading a 2027 seventh-rounder along with Phillips — pending the 29-year-old D-lineman’s physical — according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams didn’t announce the deal.

    ESPN and NFL Network first reported the trade, which came a few hours after New York made another addition to its defensive line when it acquired defensive tackle Jowon Briggs and a seventh-rounder next year from Cleveland for a sixth-rounder.

    According to multiple reports, the Vikings also agreed to pay $3.7 million of Phillips’ $7.4 million salary due this season.

    Phillips played the past three seasons for the Vikings after spending his first four with Buffalo. He was a third-round pick out of Stanford in 2018. Phillips has eight career sacks, five fumble recoveries and is regarded as a top run stuffer.

    The 6-foot-3, 307-pound Phillips started every game during his tenure with Minnesota, with 6 1/2 of his sacks and 17 quarterback hits during that time. He signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Vikings in 2022 and then was signed to a two-year extension in September.

    Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (97) lines up against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Dec. 10, 2023, in Las Vegas.

    Rick Scuteri / AP


    Briggs had 13 tackles with two quarterback hits in six games for Cleveland last season after being a seventh-round selection.

    The 6-1, 313-pound D-lineman had 12 career sacks and 170 tackles during a college career that began at Virginia (2019-20) and finished with three years at Cincinnati (2021-23) — where he was teammates with current Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner for one season.

    Phillips and Briggs join a D-line that’s led by three-time Pro Bowl pick Quinnen Williams and includes Micheal Clemons, Jay Tufele, Will McDonald and Rashad Weaver.

    Defensive tackle Byron Cowart has missed time in training camp with an ankle injury, so the additions of Phillips and Briggs could help fill that void for the Jets if Cowart is sidelined for an extended time.

    Before the trades Wednesday, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks praised his line and was excited about its potential.

    “I preach all the time to the defense, everything that we do starts up front,” Wilks said. “Those guys are going to be the cowbells of this defense and really try to spark and get us going.”

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  • NFL, Crocs kicking off a multi-year licensing deal starting this season

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    NFL fans will soon be able to let their feet do the talking in cheering on their favorite team. 

    Shoe company Crocs and the NFL announced Monday that they were launching a new collection starting September 18, two weeks after the season kicks off with a game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. The NFL x Crocs Collection is part of a multi-year licensing agreement, according to a statement from the NFL.

    The new line includes NFL-themed Crocs and decorative charms known in the Crocs world as Jibbitz.

    “The Crocs brand has made a significant impact on footwear culture with their shoes becoming synonymous with ease and comfort,” Ryan Samuelson, vice president of consumer products at the NFL, said in a statement. 

    The NFL and shoe manufacturer Crocs are teaming up for tion to launch team-inspired footwear.

    Crocs


    In its release, the NFL said its bestselling shoes, The Classic Clogs, will a “marquee product” in the collection and will feature “team-centric elements,” including team colors, mascots and logos. The new Crocs range in price from $79.99 to $84.99. The Jibbitz, which feature various team logos, are priced at $4.99.

    According to the NFL, the Crocs collection will initially include footwear for 14 teams before expanding to include all 32 teams. Starting September 18, consumers cans can buy items from the NFL x Crocs Collection from NFLshop.com, Crocs.com, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Fanatics and select retailers starting.

    The teams set for their own crocs in the initial rollout: Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

    Mary Cunningham

    Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. Before joining the business and finance vertical, she worked at “60 Minutes,” CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the CBS News Associate Program.

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  • Happy New Year!: New coach, talent bring hope and energy back to historic franchise

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    FOXBOROUGH — Mike Vrabel earned his degree from Ohio State in exercise science, graduating in 2005, just months after picking up his third Super Bowl ring as a linebacker with the New England Patriots.

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    By Hector Longo hlongo@eagletribune.com

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  • Cardinals are a team with flaws, but QB Kyler Murray’s play isn’t one of them

    Cardinals are a team with flaws, but QB Kyler Murray’s play isn’t one of them

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    TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyler Murray has been around the NFL long enough to have seen a few things.

    The 27-year-old was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019. He’s been a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

    He’s led the Arizona Cardinals to an 11-win season. He’s suffered playoff disappointment. He’s seen one head coach hired and another fired. He’s torn knee ligaments and missed nearly a year.

    With all that experience as background, he still believes the Cardinals are on the right track despite a 2-4 record this season, steadfastly supporting second-year coach Jonathan Gannon as the two embark on their first Monday night game together when they host the Los Angeles Chargers.

    Six years after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick after winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma, Murray is in his NFL prime.

    “We’re 2-4, but when we go out there on Sunday and we’re on the field, you’re at that point where you’ve seen pretty much all of it,” Murray said. “It’s a good feeling. Obviously, we have to deliver and execute.”

    Murray said on an ESPN podcast this week that he feels this is the best he’s played through six games and the stats largely back that claim. He came into the weekend ranked No. 8 in quarterback rating, just behind Lamar Jackson and C.J. Stroud and ahead of others such as two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield.

    The Cardinals are still struggling to produce wins consistently. But their quarterback — for the most part — has never been better.

    “He’s one of the premier players in the world,” Gannon said earlier this season. “He’s always in control and he understands what’s going on. That’s the cool thing for me. The mental part of the game.”

    In many ways, Murray is still the same player who debuted in 2019. He’s a good passer despite being undersized, and can use his shifty speed to make big plays on the ground, including a 50-yard touchdown run against the 49ers two weeks ago.

    The biggest difference is his attitude. The quarterback was accustomed to almost uninterrupted success during his high school and college days, piling up wins and awards at a dizzying pace.

    Then he was drafted by the Cardinals. Turning around one of the NFL’s perennial also-ran franchises hasn’t been as easy. Arizona has been to the playoffs just nine times since 1949 and won its most recent title in 1947.

    “Getting into the league and dealing with failure, I took it super hard,” Murray said. “I think it was kind of a detriment.

    “You don’t want to learn how to lose, but at the end of the day you kind of have to learn how to deal with those things and continue to play the game at a high level. I guess you could say that’s maturity and age.”

    Murray’s maturity has been on display in various ways. During the offseason, he organized a few team-building trips, including one to Oklahoma and another to Los Angeles. Murray posted a photo of the California trip over the summer, which featured 12 teammates, including running back James Conner, rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride.

    Murray has quickly bonded with Harrison, who was the No. 4 overall pick out of Ohio State. The on-field chemistry is still a work in progress, but there have been plenty of good moments, including four touchdown catches. Harrison is expected to play on Monday despite suffering a concussion in last week’s game against the Packers.

    The Murray-Harrison combo has been a microcosm of the Cardinals this season: Occasionally fantastic, but too inconsistent to be a weekly winner.

    But Murray’s newfound maturity has allowed him to learn patience. It’s what keeps him going as the Cardinals try to get back to the playoffs for just the second time in nine seasons.

    “Honestly, the culture that we’re building, the mindset, the mentality of the team, the temperament of the team, nobody is going to waver,” Murray said. “Like I said, it’s a long season. Everybody’s confident.

    “We know what needs to be done, and we just have to go do it.”

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    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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  • Feeling like his old self again, Chris Godwin is flourishing in Tampa Bay’s offense

    Feeling like his old self again, Chris Godwin is flourishing in Tampa Bay’s offense

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    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Chris Godwin is back, even if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver who’s a model of consistency never actually went away.

    But nearly three years removed from a serious knee injury he feels is finally behind him, the longtime sidekick of Mike Evans is flourishing like never before.

    Entering play Sunday, Godwin led the NFL in receptions (43), ranked third in receiving yards (511) and was tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions (five) with Evans, Ja’Marr Chase, George Kittle and Allen Lazard.

    The Bucs (4-2), coming off a 51-point outburst against New Orleans in which Godwin had 11 catches for 125 yards and two TDs, host the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) on Monday night.

    Godwin’s strong start has followed an offseason in which he grieved the death of his father while also preparing for a move to slot receiver on the field, a role he filled earlier in his career.

    The position change has also helped the Bucs’ rejuvenated running game, which is benefitting from Godwin being an excellent blocker.

    “I think what I learned over the last four or five years, I’m really comfortable there. … It allows me to be involved in other ways instead of just catching the ball,” Godwin said.

    A third-round draft pick of the Bucs in 2017, Godwin is a four-time 1,000-yard receiver whose accomplishments are sometimes overshadowed by the remarkable consistency of Evans, the only receiver in NFL history to begin a career with 10 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

    Godwin was closing in on 100 receptions in December 2021, when a severe knee injury ended his season with 98 catches for 1,103 yards.

    And although he recovered well enough to catch 104 passes in 2022 and top 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons, it took Godwin until this year to begin feeling like he’s truly back.

    “I mean, he’s helping as much in the run game as he is in the pass game. … His (performance) speaks for itself,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said, reflecting on Tampa Bay rushing for 277 of the franchise-record 594 yards the Bucs gained at New Orleans.

    On one of his two touchdowns against the Saints, Godwin took a short reception from Baker Mayfield, broke two tackles and turned it into a 55-yard scoring play.

    Entering Sunday, Godwin led the NFL in yards after catch with 335, including 105 of the 125 yards receiving he had at New Orleans.

    “He’s healthy, he’s competitive, he’s out there having fun. He’s running, he’s catching, he’s blocking,” Bowles said. “You’ve seen the best of what Chris Godwin has right now.”

    Baltimore, which has won four straight following an 0-2 start, has the NFL’s top-ranked run defense. The Ravens are 31st against the pass and will be tested by Evans and Godwin, who coach John Harbaugh said pose “tremendous matchup problems.”

    “You single (Evans) up, he’s a problem. And then you have (Godwin) in the slot — if you single him up, he’s a problem,” Harbaugh said. “They’re both catch-and-run players; they’re both contested-catch players.”

    With Mayfield also off to a strong start in first-year offensive coordinator’s Liam Coen’s system, the Bucs have a top 10 offense and are averaging 29.7 points per game.

    One of the keys has been getting playmakers other than Godwin and Evans involved. Rookie Bucky Irving is the team’s leading rusher, and second-year pro Sean Tucker figures to get more playing time against the Ravens after scoring twice and accumulating 192 yards from scrimmage last week.

    “It’s one thing when a guy is going off because you feed the hot hand, right? But, if we’re able to spread the ball around, everybody gets involved,” Godwin said.

    “And then as the game progresses, you have so much more at your disposal than just the handful of plays that were working early on,” the receiver added. “So, when a team makes adjustments, now you have answers for it.”

    Just don’t ever expect the Bucs to forget Godwin is one of the answers.

    “Chris is a reliable guy,” said Mayfield, who marvels at the consistency of both Godwin and Evans, Tampa Bay’s career receiving and scoring leader.

    “It’s how smart he is, understanding the defense and the coverages, understanding what we’re trying to get done within our own concepts, and (he’s) a guy that is all about winning,” Mayfield said. “He’s playing really well, feels good (and) we have to keep him going.”

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  • Aaron Hernandez ‘American Sports Story’ series wants to show a different view of the disgraced NFLer

    Aaron Hernandez ‘American Sports Story’ series wants to show a different view of the disgraced NFLer

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    From a podcast to multiple documentaries, the rise and fall of the once revered NFL star Aaron Hernandez is certainly well documented. An FX limited series is latest to rehash the saga, attempting to go beyond the headlines and dig deeper into his story.

    “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” stars Josh Andrés Rivera as the New England Patriots tight end. It details Hernandez’s troubled childhood with an abusive father who demanded his son play football and project masculinity and toughness to the world. Secretly, Hernandez also struggled with his sexuality.

    He played college ball at the University of Florida and was drafted by the Patriots. Over time, the series shows how Hernandez’s behavior grew increasingly erratic. He was convicted of murder and died by suicide in 2017 while serving a life sentence. After his death, research showed Hernandez’s brain showed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

    “What we tried to do with this show — is take a tabloid headline, take some story that you think you know about Aaron Hernandez … and go behind it and see what it’s like to walk in the shoes of all the people who are part of this,” said Brad Simpson, one of the series’ executive producers, in an interview.

    Hernandez’s life, crimes and death have been detailed before in long-form writing, documentaries including Netflix’s “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez,” and the podcast “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.,” which is the basis for “American Sports Story.”

    Rivera, known for his supporting roles in the recent “Hunger Games” prequel and 2021’s “West Side Story,” said playing the former tight end was a “responsibility that you have to approach with a certain level of sensitivity.”

    Once he started learning more about Hernandez’s life, diving into recordings of phone calls he made from prison and watching clips from his interviews, Rivera said he began to see the layered intricacy of Hernandez’s life. And he only became more eager to play him.

    “To a lot of people, he was very charming and very charismatic and easy to get along with. There were not a small amount of people who felt that way, so that was interesting because you have to dissect the ‘why,’” Rivera said. “There’s clearly a magnetism there, disguising an inner life that’s very complex.”

    Rivera said he enjoyed the challenge of that character work, calling Hernandez “a chameleon.”

    “There was variations on the amount of tenderness and even the frankness, or the amount of swagger he would use from person to person, so I tried to incorporate that to a core essence,” he said.

    Transforming into Hernandez was also a physical commitment for Rivera, who described getting into NFL shape as “meathead summer,” where he increased his food intake and worked with trainers to build muscle. The hardest part, though, of the transformation for Rivera, was getting inked up.

    His mobility was often limited when filming to preserve the tattoos, which he said he initially found frustrating, but ultimately, the “oppressive feeling” of not being able to move freely was something he channeled into his character’s frustration.

    Rivera stars alongside Jaylen Barron as Hernandez’s high school sweetheart and later fiancé, Shayanna Jenkins, Lindsay Mendez as his cousin, Ean Castellanos as his brother and Tammy Blanchard as his mother. Patrick Schwarzenegger plays Hernandez’s college teammate Tim Tebow, Tony Yazbeck plays former Florida coach Urban Meyer and Norbert Leo Butz plays former Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

    With the first sports-focused season of the “American Story” franchise, producers said they are interested in dissecting the “American religion of football.” They also hope viewers question the preconceptions they had about people involved in stories that captured the nation, like that of Hernandez.

    “We can use this story to challenge certain perspectives or to just add a little bit of nuance for people who maybe don’t know much about it or have a fixed mindset about it,” Rivera said. “It’s an interesting opportunity.”

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  • The Tar Heels faded in past 2 years with QB Drake Maye. Now they must fix that issue without him

    The Tar Heels faded in past 2 years with QB Drake Maye. Now they must fix that issue without him

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    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Mack Brown’s return to North Carolina stabilized the program. His sixth season begins with a pair of hurdles to accomplishing more.

    The Tar Heels are moving forward after star quarterback Drake Maye headed to the NFL, and Brown is determined to figure out how to finish better after two straight late-season fades.

    “It’s a problem, it’s an issue,” Brown said. “And it’s the only thing that’s keeping us from being where we need to be.”

    The Tar Heels were 9-1 in 2022 after clinching a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, then lost their last four. Last year’s team started 6-0 and reached No. 10 in the AP Top 25, then finished 2-5.

    Now Maye is gone as the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, and Brown is focused on how to get the Tar Heels to finish with some zip.

    “When we come out here and say the offense had a bad day in practice, that means you’re probably going to be an inconsistent team,” Brown said after the first preseason-camp practice. “And we’ve had too much of that around here.”

    This year’s team is picked to finish eighth in the expanded 17-team ACC.

    Brown is touting depth as the best of his second tenure in Chapel Hill, as well as showing optimism for growth under former Georgia Tech and Temple head coach Geoff Collins as defensive coordinator.

    Maye is the highest-profile of 11 departed offensive and defensive starters, though losses include one of the nation’s leading tacklers in linebacker Cedric Gray.

    Powering the offense

    Running back Omarion Hampton was an Associated Press second-team All-American last year after ranking fifth in the Bowl Subdivision by averaging 115.7 yards rushing. He’s studied film on players like NFL star Christian McCaffrey to expand his game.

    “I’m trying to catch the ball … and then pass block, because I know that’s what they do in the (NFL),” Hampton said. “I feel like doing that, it can expand my game and show them I’m able to do that as well.”

    Maye’s successor

    The Tar Heels have a preseason-camp battle to replace Maye, headlined by redshirt sophomore Conner Harrell and Max Johnson, a transfer with stops at LSU and Texas A&M.

    Harrell got his first career start in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl loss to West Virginia after Maye declared for the NFL draft, throwing for 270 yards and two scores while also running for 75 yards and a score. Johnson, son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, has 22 career starts.

    There’s also the return of Jacolby Criswell, who started his career at UNC before transferring to Arkansas for a year.

    Linework

    Willie Lampkin, who started eight games at right guard last year, is the only returning starter to the offensive line. The Tar Heels bolstered their numbers at the position through the transfer portal, including adding Austin Blaske (Georgia), Howard Sampson (North Texas) and Jakiah Leftwich (Georgia Tech).

    Brown said his goal is being able to reliably play nine offensive linemen.

    More defensively

    Brown is on the third defensive coordinator of his second UNC stint in Collins, who replaced Gene Chizik. UNC hasn’t ranked higher than 10th in the 14-team ACC in scoring or total defense for the past three seasons. Losing Gray (10.1 tackles per game) won’t help, though fellow linebacker Power Echols returns with pass rusher Kaimon Rucker (8 1/2 sacks last year).

    “More aggression — ‘Master of Mayhem’ describes him perfectly,” Echols said of Collins. “He’s going to call a real aggressive game.”

    Brown also sounded high on secondary that includes cornerback Alijah Huzzie (three interceptions) and adds safety Jakeen Harris from rival North Carolina State.

    The schedule

    The Tar Heels open at Minnesota on Aug. 29 and visit rival Duke (Sept. 28) in their ACC opener. There’s also a trip to No. 10 Florida State (Nov. 2), the reigning league champion and preseason favorite. The slate doesn’t include any of the league’s three new schools and is rooted in longtime instate or league matchups, including a trip to Virginia (Oct. 26), a visit from Wake Forest (Nov. 16) and the home finale against No. 24 N.C. State (Nov. 30).

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    AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

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  • Who is Ilona Maher? Here’s what to know about the US women’s rugby sevens Olympian and TikTok star

    Who is Ilona Maher? Here’s what to know about the US women’s rugby sevens Olympian and TikTok star

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    SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Rugby sevens star Ilona Maher has been a huge hit on social media as the U.S. women’s team has progressed to the semifinals at the Paris Olympics.

    She’s been busy making funny TikTok and Instagram reels and also empowering posts about women and sports. She’s also producing some big hits on opponents at Stade de France as a regular starter for the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team.

    Her video recruiting recently retired NFL center Jason Kelce as a super fan for the No. 4-ranked U.S. team after their first two games on Monday magnified the attention.

    The 27-year-old Maher isn’t new to this. Her hilarious takes on village life in the pandemic-era Tokyo Olympics three years ago made her one of the breakout stars of those Games.

    How did Maher become famous on TikTok?

    Spectators were barred from Olympic venues in Tokyo, and there’s always strict rules anyway about who is allowed into the athletes’ village. Those weren’t barriers for Maher. With fans locked out under harsh social-distancing rules, her social media followers got a humorous inside look at the Games — starting with the bedding.

    Maher and her rugby sevens teammates tested out the cardboard beds in a TikTok video that gained millions of views, showing them performing CPR on the bed, doing yoga and even throwing a mock tantrum.

    What is Maher doing during the Paris Olympics?

    Another Olympic village, more cardboard beds.

    “Hey everyone, we’re back testing out the cardboard beds. My bed is going to break, yes, but I’m going to do it anyway,” Maher says by way of introduction to the video that showed her and some of her teammates wrestling on the beds, doing gymnastics moves and Irish jigs, among other things. Nothing to lose sleep over.

    Her U.S. teammates, including Nicole Heavirland, Naya Tapper and Sammy Sullivan, often make it into Maher’s posts. Then there’s the people she runs across at the Olympics — like Snoop Dogg (“He’s an insanely cool dude”) and U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff (the topic turned to pickleball). To the guy who asked if she was an Olympian and then wrongly guessed which sport: “All 5’10” of me, 200 pounds — a gymnast. Wrong!”

    What is #beastbeautybrains?

    Maher uses a #beastbeautybrains hashtag with the aim of spreading body image positivity and bringing more attention to rugby and women’s sports in general.

    From the U.S.-branded bikini, to the rugby uniform to the stylish formal Ralph Lauren clothes, Maher wears them all with pride and seemingly equal comfort in a vast range of photos and reels of her Olympic wardrobe.

    She’s strong — her stiff-arm shoving away attempted tackles against Japan and France were plenty evidence of that.

    She’s fast — running almost the length of the field to score against Japan showed that.

    She’s smart — as well as gaining a nursing degree, following in the footsteps of her mom, she worked to graduate from rugby enthusiast to professional athlete. Next step is to make its pay better.

    She summed it up in a quick post to her million-plus Instagram followers before the opening ceremony on Friday.

    “As the Olympics officially start, I want you all to take a look at all the different body types on display. All body types matter. All body types are worthy from the smallest gymnast to the tallest volleyball player, from a rugby player to a shot-putter and a sprinter. All bodies are beautiful and can do amazing things. So truly see yourself in these athletes and know you can do it, too.”

    How is the US women’s rugby sevens team doing in Paris?

    The U.S. advanced to a semifinal match against defending champion New Zealand with a 17-7 quarterfinal win over Britain, avenging a loss to the British at the same stage in Tokyo three years ago.

    Maher played an instrumental role in the first try, using her big fend to brush off one tackler, draw in a defender and then release Tapper into the clear on the left wing to score.

    She made another barging, long-range run just before halftime to ensure the U.S. kept momentum.

    Sammy Sullivan and Kristi Kirshe scored second-half tries to seal the win.

    ___

    AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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  • San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs To Face Off At Super Bowl LVIII

    San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs To Face Off At Super Bowl LVIII

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    On Feb. 11, the San Francisco 49ers will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have three Super Bowl wins since 2019 already under their belts. What do you think?

    “It’s a long shot, but if the Chargers win, the payout’s going to be huge.”

    Clinton Alwan, Infomercial Extra

    The Onion Reviews ‘When Harry Met Sally’

    “I’ll take any reason to get drunk in my neighbor’s living room.”

    Anthony Asnani, Charcuterie Arranger

    “We’re doing another Super Bowl this year?”

    Kiki DiToma, Systems Analyst

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  • NFL offers buyouts to more than 200 employees

    NFL offers buyouts to more than 200 employees

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    Nick Laham | Getty Images

    The National Football League offered voluntary buyouts to at least 200 employees as it gears up for start of the playoffs this coming weekend, according to a memo obtained by CNBC.

    The NFL, which has about 1,100 employees, told staff that it is “continuously evaluating ways to enhance efficiency and improve outcomes,” according to the memo.

    “Every organization is increasingly challenged to be agile, responsible and strategic. The NFL is no exception,” the memo says.

    The buyouts come when the league has shown financial strength, with revenue in 2022 hitting nearly $12 billion. Commissioner Roger Goodell has set a goal of reaching $25 billion in annual revenue by the year 2027. Teams are also valued at high levels. In July, NFL owners approved the sale of the Washington Commanders, a franchise that hasn’t won a Super Bowl in over three decades, for a record $6 billion.

    The league sent the buyout memo to employees aged 50 years and older who qualified, depending on the number of years worked in the league office. It wasn’t immediately clear how many buyouts the NFL is aiming for.

    The league offered eligible employees three weeks salary for every year served, in addition to bonuses. Staffers will have until the end of February to decide whether to take the buyout.

    The NFL said its strategy going forward includes international expansion, the growth of flag football and the continued development of media and digital operations.

    “How we operate, where we invest our capital, and the workforce must evolve to align with these strategic priorities to best position the league for continued success,” the memo says.

    In May, the NFL Network laid off about 5% of its workforce.

    News of the buyouts was first reported by Sports Business Journal.

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  • From heart to head to diet, AI is learning to make a map of elite athlete bodies

    From heart to head to diet, AI is learning to make a map of elite athlete bodies

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    PARIS, ILE DE FRANCE, FRANCE – 2017/09/14: The Olympic Rings being placed in front of the Eiffel Tower in celebration of the French capital won the hosting right for the 2024 summer Olympic Games. (Photo by Nicolas Briquet/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

    Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

    Training of elite athletes dates as far back as the Ancient Olympic Games, when so-called gymnastes advised runners, chariot racers, wrestlers and boxers on technique, nutrition and strength conditioning.

    Fast forward to today’s Olympians prepping for next summer’s Paris Games. Their trainers and coaches adhere to the same Olympic motto — faster, higher, stronger — yet have the added benefit of millennia of ever-advancing technology, which now has been super-charged with artificial intelligence.

    Trainers and coaches at U.S. Soccer, one of the 47 National Governing Bodies overseen by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, are using AI technology to instantaneously identify and track player movements and ball positions. A suite of software tools allows them to study a variety of human performance metrics, such as body position, velocity, speed and timing in real time on the field of play.

    “Utilizing advances in AI and computer vision, we’ve been able to track and study personalized analytics from a variety of sports to determine the strengths and deficiencies in an athlete’s movement and help them make data-informed training and competition plans that can help them improve their performance, as well as their own health,” said Mike Levine, director of performance innovation business operations at the USOPC, based in Colorado Springs, also the home of a high-tech Olympic training center.

    While the USOPC and NGBs employ in-house experts in bleeding-edge technology development, data analytics and sports sciences and medicine, big tech companies lend their AI know-how as well. USA Surfing staff, for instance, has teamed up with Microsoft engineers to figure out how best to ride waves. They take digital videos of surfers in action and use AI to analyze data on body movement, surfboards and waves to determine what they did well and what could be improved.

    “This work saves coaches and staff hundreds of hours of video tagging, facilitates the accumulation of more and higher-quality data and affords analysts and coaches significantly more time to analyze the data and implement learnings into real-life training and performance,” Levine said.

    Creating 3-D models of athletes’ bodies with Intel technology

    These are manifestations of computer vision systems, which use AI technology to replicate the capabilities of the human brain responsible for object recognition and classification. A commercial application, called 3D Athlete Tracking (3DAT), was developed by Intel‘s Olympic Technology Group a few years ago and is now being utilized by trainers in numerous sports. 3DAT incorporates sensor-less motion capture and digital video to create three-dimensional models of an athlete’s entire body, from head to toes, which trainers use to tweak and improve performance.

    “We’re able to see ways athletes move and detect things not possible with just the human eye,” said Jonathan Lee, who as senior director of sports technology at Intel helped develop 3DAT and is now chief product officer at London-based sports tech company ai.io, which recently acquired the system from Intel.

    3DAT has been adopted by Exos, a coaching company in Scottsdale, Arizona, that trains college football players for the National Football League’s annual scouting combine, an evaluation ahead of the league’s yearly draft. “Exos uses 3DAT to analyze the 40-yard dash and help players get faster,” Lee said. Digital video cameras, mounted on timing gates incrementally positioned along the course, capture data on how a runner comes off the line, his acceleration and velocity, and his body’s angle of attack.

    The data instantaneously constructs a personalized skeletal model of each player for immediate review. Before a player’s next sprint, a trainer might say, “You need to be more upright or lean forward, and give him tips on how to achieve that,” Lee said.

    The NFL-Amazon digital player and concussion-risk tracking

    The NFL itself is harnessing AI and computer vision to enhance its Digital Athlete program, developed in partnership with Amazon Web Services beginning in 2019. The Digital Athlete provides a complete view of each NFL players’ experience by analyzing data from his training and game activity, which is captured by sensors and tags in equipment and hours of video from cameras in stadiums. Computer vision and machine learning systems track speed, collisions, blocks and tackles. This data is shared with clubs and allows teams to precisely understand what players need to stay healthy, recover quickly and perform at their best.

    “AI and machine learning are the backbone of the program,” said Jennifer Langton, NFL senior vice president of health and safety innovation. “We’re able to analyze a substantial amount of data and automatically generate insights into which players might benefit from altering either training or recovery routines, a process that used to be so manual and cumbersome.”

    The AI was taught to identify trauma by repeated exposure to and digestion of digital video images of helmets from all angles, Langton said, and then to cross-reference visual information from statistical data to determine what player was wearing what helmet. “With enough practice, the AI becomes exponentially faster and more reliable than humans at accurately identifying and classifying head collisions throughout a game and the season,” she said, allowing trainers and coaches to see which players are due to reduce their workloads and which have room for a more intensive workout.

    The Digital Athlete program was rolled out as a pilot with four NFL teams last year and this season is available to all 32 franchises via a dedicated online portal. “The portal provides teams with a daily training load and risk-mitigation information, as well as league-wide injury trends and benchmarks they hadn’t had before,” Langton said, adding that the NFL will assess the data at the end of the season to evaluate tangible results of the program.

    ‘The next big thing’: Twin hearts of elite athletes

    Another AI-enabled technology that’s making its way into elite athlete training is the digital twin, a virtual replica of a physical object, process or system that can be used to simulate, predict and improve real-world scenarios. Tata Consultancy Services, headquartered in Mumbai, recently announced a partnership with French tech developer Dassault Systèmes to produce a digital twin heart, mimicking the flesh-and-blood one of Des Linden, a two-time Olympic marathoner and winner of the 2018 Boston Marathon (sponsored by TCS, along with the races in New York, Chicago and London).

    Des Linden makes her way to the finish line during the 127th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts on April 17, 2023.

    Joseph Prezioso | Afp | Getty Images

    Linden’s avatar organ — created using AI-analyzed data from CT scans and MRIs — can simulate her heart rate, blood flow and oxygen levels, providing instant feedback that can be interpreted to adjust her training and competition. “We want to understand what is a safe zone for Des’ trainer to put her through,” said Dr. Srinivasan Jayaraman, a principal scientist at TCS. Instead of having her run on a treadmill or outdoors, “We can run simulations using her digital twin heart to vary different cardiovascular parameters and fine-tune her training.”

    Linden is no stranger to sports tech, from online message boards back in her high school days for remotely comparing times with other runners to today’s state-of-the-art running shoes that world-class marathoners have broken records wearing. “The digital twin heart is going to be the next big thing,” she said. “Being able to map out [my training] and see the gains and drawbacks ahead of time will allow me to work smarter, not harder.”

    That’s what Linden, aided by her digital twin heart, will be doing to train for the 2024 Olympic marathon trials in February. Qualifying for her third Team USA slot “will be a tough task,” said the 40-year-old runner, “but I’ll take a crack at it.”

    AI and sports training diets

    Although there’s no news yet of a digital twin of the human digestive system, AI is involved in planning Olympic athletes’ diet and nutrition. Alicia Glass, a senior sports dietician for the USOPC, designs meal plans for about 300 athletes with USA Track and Field and USA Swimming, a labor-intensive, hand-written task that’s been simplified with an AI-powered app called Notemeal. “They collected data from 37 dieticians from professional sports teams and organizations and used those data sets to generate individualized meal plans,” she said. “The value-add is that it’s a network of sports dieticians working with the best of the best athletes in the world.”

    Glass still relies on her professional skills to understand the events each athlete competes in, their training regimens and goals, as well as their genetics, lean body mass and metabolic rate. Even athletes who train and compete in the same events require totally individualized meal plans, she said. “Notemeal makes that process a lot easier,” she said.

    The athletes access Notemeal with a smartphone app. “I hit a toggle on my phone, and they get a text saying a meal has been created for you,” Glass said, adding that the app also applies AI to design personalized shopping lists and recipes.

    Glass won’t claim that high-tech dietary planning will win medals next summer in Paris, but “many athletes would admit it helps improve their lifestyle because they’re more aware” of their personal fueling needs.

    Linden says there is no turning back from the increasing role of technology in the lives of elite athletes. “Let’s just personalize the heck out of training and make sure we’re getting the maximum gains without setbacks from overworking,” she said.

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  • Travis Kelce’s new business venture isn’t a touchdown with Chiefs fans

    Travis Kelce’s new business venture isn’t a touchdown with Chiefs fans

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    By and large, Travis Kelce has something of the Midas touch. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has carved out an impressive career on the National Football League (NFL) gridiron. Away from Arrowhead Stadium, he co-hosts a successful podcast, has appeared on Saturday Night Live and, thanks to Taylor Swift, is pushing further into mainstream popular culture.

    However, that doesn’t mean that everything he touches automatically turns to gold. And a relatively new business venture is an example of that reality.

    Kelce has released a line of refrigerated barbeque entrees and, as you might expect, that hasn’t gone over well with Chiefs fans who know their high-quality meats. In fact, No. 87 has been getting raked over the coals online.

    Let’s check it out.

    Travis Kelce talks to the media during a press conference on Friday in Frankfurt, Germany. The tight end’s prepackaged meals earned a cold reception from Chiefs fans.
    Alex Grimm/Getty Images

    Kelce’s Refrigerated Meals Receive a Cold Reception

    When it comes to modern Kansas City Chiefs, Kelce is one of the most popular men around. That doesn’t give him a blank check, though.

    As reported by local news station Fox4 KC, the tight end “is making his way into the barbeque industry with a new assortment of refrigerated entrees.” Those products, which are exclusively sold at Walmart under the “Travis Kelce’s Kitchen” brand, range from burnt ends with mac & cheese to sausage and meatball marinara with peppers and onions.

    Given that Kansas City is known for its barbeque, though, those are the options that caught the attention of most Chiefs fans. And, for the most part, the reactions weren’t pretty.

    “‘Walmart BBQ’…. I think you’ve already answered your own question, my friend,” Reddit user NoisePollutioner wrote Wednesday in a post on the Chiefs subreddit asking if anyone had tried the product.

    “He maybe a great TE but im not trying frozen BBQ. I dont even trust the Gordon Ramsey frozen stuff hes now selling. Kinda shocked with as many shows and restaurants he owns he would sign off on selling crappy frozen food,” u/13mizzou added.

    Elsewhere in the replies, user vVv-ThirdEye-vVv summed up much of the general sentiment, simply writing, “I love Travis, but I won’t do this.”

    There were, however, some responses that viewed things through a wider lens.

    “It’s not for us, Reddit user thegreatgiroux explained. “It’s for people to try ‘KC’ BBQ around the country. Might not be bad for them but it’s not really for KC natives lol.” For what it’s worth, that comment kicked off a discussion about misrepresenting Kansas City barbeque and KC Masterpiece sauce.

    One user, siloxanesavior, even claimed to have tried the product, albeit not out of a Walmart refrigerator. “I had his Kelce’s Kitchen BBQ straight from the buffet table at the Kelce Car Jam VIP room and it was decent but nothing that competes with local bbq staples,” they wrote. “So even before it’s frozen and packaged and sold at Walmart it’s nothing to talk about.”

    Newsweek reached out to Walmart for comment through their “Contact Media Relations” page.

    Kelce’s Branding Effort Does Make Sense

    While it’s easy to feel like Kelce’s packaged meals are a cynical attempt to cash in on his popularity, the move is rather logical. Ever since he’s been linked to Swift, the tight end’s stock has gone through the roof.

    At the tail end of September, sales of Kelce’s jersey experienced a nearly 400 percent boost, CNN reported. There was also an increase in bets placed on the tight end, and NFL broadcasts couldn’t help making a variety of Swift-related puns whenever he stepped into the spotlight.

    With that extra attention, bulking out your personal brand and selling pre-made meals seems like a savvy move. Kelce is becoming a household name; Kansas City is associated with barbeque. Combine those two, and you’ve got a recipe (pun not intended) to catch the eye of a curious consumer.

    And, given the fact that he’s underpaid by NFL standards, who could blame him for trying to make a few more bucks?