San Francisco 49ers reportedly “considering all options” with regards to quarterback Trey Lance with Sam Darnold to act as back-up to Brock Purdy; Lance was signed by San Francisco less than three years ago but has been hampered by injuries and started just four games
Last Updated: 23/08/23 9:23pm
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance’s future is unclear
Sam Darnold has won the back-up quarterback role for San Francisco 49ers, casting doubt over Trey Lance’s future with the California team.
The 49ers traded three first-round draft picks to acquire Lance less than three years ago but are now reportedly “considering all options” with regards to their next move.
NFL Network first reported that Darnold had beaten out Lance for the back-up job behind No 1 Brock Purdy.
Lance spent his rookie season supporting Jimmy Garoppolo, starting just two games as an injury replacement and being hampered by a finger injury on his throwing hand.
Sam Darnold (left) will be back-up quarterback to Brock Purdy for 49ers this season
The 23-year-old was handed the starting position last season, but that lasted less than five quarters as he broke his ankle early in Week 2 and was sidelined for the rest of the campaign.
Purdy, taken with the last draft pick in 2022, came on late in the season and won his first seven starts to take over the starting slot.
San Francisco signed Darnold in free agency and he did enough in training and preseason games to beat out Lance.
Lance has completed 56 of 102 passes in his brief NFL career for 797 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
If San Francisco can find a trade partner for Lance, his four starts will be the fewest for any quarterback for the team that drafted him in the top five in the common draft era.
Jack Thompson started five games for Cincinnati after being taken third overall in 1979.
Dalvin Cook agrees one-year deal worth up to $8.6m with New York Jets, where he will team up with ex-NFC North rival, quarterback Aaron Rodgers; Ezekiel Elliott’s one-year deal with the New England Patriots reportedly worth up to $6m
Last Updated: 15/08/23 8:24am
Former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook has signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets
Two big-name NFL running backs have new homes, with former Minnesota Vikings star Dalvin Cook signing with the New York Jets and ex-Dallas Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott joining the New England Patriots.
The Jets and Cook have agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $8.6m, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Monday. Cook confirmed the deal by reposting social media posts about the news.
After being released by the Vikings on June 9 following his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, the four-time Pro Bowler will team up with an ex-NFC North rival, Aaron Rodgers, in New York. The Jets’ backfield is currently led by Breece Hall, who averaged 5.8 yards per attempt across seven games as a rookie last season before tearing his ACL.
Cook was slated to earn $11m in 2023 with Minnesota, where he rushed for 5,024 yards and 43 touchdowns the past four seasons.
The 28-year-old is coming into this season off the back of surgery in February, the latest in a series of major shoulder issues that include a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum.
Former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott with wear the No 15 with the New England Patriots
Elliott’s one-year deal with the Patriots is worth up to $6 million, according to sources. He confirmed earlier reports of the agreement when he announced on social media that he will wear No 15 for the Patriots, which had been his number in college at Ohio State.
The 28-year-old was released by the Cowboys in a salary-cutting move in March. He will provide important depth in New England behind starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson.
Elliott, who led the NFL in rushing in 2016 and 2018 and posted four 1,000-yard seasons in Dallas, was slowed in the second half of last season because of a knee injury and posted a career-low 876 yards at 3.9 yards per carry.
He ranks third in Cowboys history in rushing yards (8,262) and rushing touchdowns (68) behind Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
After 60-year-old retiree David Schneider was shot and killed here while trimming a tree in his yard, his neighbor, Toni Bird, said she retreated indoors.
“People aren’t feeling safe out of their house,” she said. “It makes sense that you would want to protect your house then, right? You would barricade it.”
Amid a surge in crime in Oakland, California, police have advised residents to use air horns to alert neighbors to intruders and add security bars to their doors and windows.
Bird, who moved to Oakland 2 1/2 years ago, said she took their advice to heart. She now has three air horns and five security cameras around her home.
“The types of crime that we’re seeing feel much more violent and the consequences feel much more severe,” she said. “And it feels like the people that are being targeted are people who are vulnerable.”
Oakland residents say they are unnerved and considering fleeing the state because of the rise in violent crime that has community activists, including the local NAACP, demanding urgent action from city officials.
In a letter released in late July, NAACP Oakland Branch President Cynthia Adams and Oakland pastor Bishop Bob Jackson demanded action from elected leaders to ensure public safety, especially in predominately Black neighborhoods.
“African Americans are disproportionately hit the hardest by crime in East Oakland and other parts of the city. But residents from all parts of the city report that they do not feel safe,” they said in the letter.
The statement went on to accuse “failed leadership” of creating “a heyday for Oakland criminals.”
“We call on all elected leaders to unite and declare a state of emergency and bring together massive resources to address our public safety crisis,” the letter said.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office refuted the NAACP’s characterization of the city official’s efforts to stop the crime surge.
“We are disappointed that a great African American pastor and a great African American organization would take a false narrative on such an important matter,” the office said in a statement.
While the sides appear to disagree on how the narrative is framed, one truth appears undeniable: Oakland is buckling under a rise in crime.
Although homicides are down 14% in the last year, burglaries have increased by 41% and robberies by more than 20%, according to data from the city’s police department.
Darren Allison, interim chief of the Oakland Police Department, said he’s aware the rise in crime is putting a strain on the quality of life for residents and tourists.
But according to the union representing Oakland police officers, the city needs more officers on the street.
The Oakland Police Department currently has 715 officers on staff, Allison told CNN.
Barry Donelan, president of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association, said the union believes the number of officers in the city should be closer to 1,200, based on the volume of calls and the size of the population.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said she is committed to working with partners in the community to find ways to prevent crimes and hold those who commit them accountable.
“As a City, we’ve worked hard to make it safer,” she said in a statement. But, she conceded, “we know we need to do more.”
The upswing in crime has forced some Oakland residents, including Kristin Cook, to flee to other states. Cook watched with tears in her eyes as a moving pod packed with all her family’s belongings was loaded onto a flatbed truck.
Although she’s lived in Oakland her whole life, Cook said she’s now moving to Texas for the sake of her son.
“I love Oakland. … I can’t take it anymore,” she said. “I got to the point I was too scared to leave my house.”
She said the rise in carjackings has made her scared to take drives at night, a pastime she once enjoyed.
“My son is about to start driving. … I’m terrified my son is gonna be killed at a stop sign because he’s driving an Impala, and I just can’t, I can’t risk it.”
Bird said she chooses to stay because she is optimistic that things will change. She noted the surge in crime has also made her closer to her neighbors.
“This is my home, I’ve made it my home and I don’t want to abandon a home,” she said.
“I’m not looking for the perfect safe place. I’m looking for a place where the elderly, [and] women with children aren’t targeted. Right? I think we can all agree that that needs to change.”
Aaron Rodgers fired back at Sean Payton, saying: “It made me feel bad that someone who’s accomplished a lot is that insecure that they have to take another man down to set themselves up for some sort of easy fall”; Payton had been highly critical of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett
Last Updated: 30/07/23 10:20pm
Aaron Rodgers has responded to a war of words with Sean Patyon. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Aaron Rodgers defended offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett after the latter recently was slated by Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton.
The New York Jets quarterback responded to the critical comments Denver Broncos’ head coach Payton recently made about Hackett.
On Thursday Payton told USA Today that Hackett’s 15-game stint with the Broncos last season “was one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL”.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers works with Nathaniel Hackett
The Broncos were 4-11 when they fired Hackett and finished 5-12.
Payton also said there were “20 dirty hands” around Russell Wilson’s career-worst season, and directed some pointed remarks at the Jets – Hackett’s new team where he and Rodgers are reunited after enjoying success together at Green Bay.
Payton subsequently apologized for his comments on Friday. However Rodgers didn’t let it end there.
“It made me feel bad that someone who has accomplished a lot in the league is that insecure that they have to take another man down to set themselves up for some sort of easy fall if it doesn’t go well for that team this year,” Rodgers told NFL Network.
“I think it was way out of line, inappropriate, and I think he needs to keep my coaches’ names out of his mouth.”
Rodgers, acquired by New York in April from Green Bay, said Hackett is “arguably my favourite coach I’ve ever had in the NFL”.
They worked together for two of Rodgers’ four NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021 with the Packers.
Payton also criticized the Jets for being the latest NFL team “trying to win the offseason” – something he said the Broncos tried to do under Hackett and were “embarrassed”.
On Thursday Jets coach Robert Saleh said: “Hackett’s doing a phenomenal job here.”
He added: “There’s a lot of people that are hating on us and a lot of people looking for us to fail.”
Rodgers said Hackett is “arguably my favourite coach I’ve ever had in the NFL”
Payton on Friday said he regretted the remarks in which he disparaged Hackett, and said he would reach out to him and Saleh “at the right time”.
“Listen, I had one of those moments where I still had my Fox hat on and not my coaching hat,” said Payton, who’s returning to the sideline this season after a year’s sabbatical during which he worked as a studio football analyst for Fox Sports following a 15-year stint with the New Orleans Saints.
Rodgers told NFL Network he thought Payton’s initial comments “were very surprising, for a coach to do that to another coach”.
Meanwhile, the back-and-forth makes the Jets’ matchup in Denver in Week 5 on October 8 a bit spicier.
Payton acknowledged it “certainly will bring more interest to the game when we play them, but that seems like years from now”.
The Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines is expected to need surgery after the incident, which would keep him out of the whole 2023 NFL season; another rider collided with the 26-year-old while he was sitting on a jet ski, according to reports
Last Updated: 24/07/23 8:40pm
Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines (20) celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown on a kick return
Nyheim Hines will miss the whole 2023 NFL season after suffering a serious knee injury in a jet ski accident.
Another rider collided with the Buffalo Bills running back while he was sitting on a jet ski, according to reports.
The 26-year-old was expected to be the Bills’ primary kick returner and a back-up running back used primarily on third downs.
Hines will need surgery and will be out for the whole season
Hines was sitting on a stationary jet ski when he was struck, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.
It is thought Hines will require surgery after suffering a significant injury to his ACL in the incident.
It was not immediately known when he was hurt or where the accident took place.
Hines joined the Bills in a trade with Indianapolis last November and appeared in a combined 16 games and started five. He caught 30 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown and ran 24 times for 33 yards and a TD.
NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder to a group led by Josh Harris and including Magic Johnson for a record $6.05 billion I All 32 team owners voted for the sale, which is the highest price paid for a professional sports team
Last Updated: 20/07/23 10:33pm
NFL owners unanimously approve the sale of the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder to a group led by Josh Harris and including Magic Johnson for a record $6.05 bn
NFL owners have unanimously approved the $6.05 billion sale of the Washington Commanders franchise to a group to a group led by Josh Harris and including Magic Johnson.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed though reports in April said the agreement was for an NFL-record price of $6.05bn.
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The group led by Harris, who is a managing general partner at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), includes Maryland businessman Mitchell Rales and Magic Johnson, who won five NBA titles during a Hall of Fame career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Congratulations to Josh Harris and his impressive group of partners,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
“Josh will be a great addition to the NFL. He has a remarkable record in business, sports, and in his communities. The diverse group that Josh has put together is outstanding for its business acumen and strong Washington ties and we welcome them to the NFL as well.”
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones beamed as he walked off an escalator and headed toward the meeting room, granting a brief interview with reporters about the impending sale of his team’s division rival.
“It’s a hallmark day,” Jones said. “I’m excited about the prospects of going into Washington and giving them some capital punishment.”
Separately, the NFL also released the findings of the independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and financial improprieties made by former employees of the Commanders.
Due to the findings, outgoing owner Dan Snyder will pay $60m to the league “in resolution of the findings and all outstanding matters.”
A photo of Fenix Marine Services rail terminal on June 8, 2023, taken by a trucker.
The “slow and go” pace of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union workforce at West Coast ports has slowed ground port productivity to a crawl. As a result, supply chain intelligence company MarineTraffic data shows what it is calling a “significant surge” in the average number of containers waiting outside of port limits.
At the Port of Oakland, during the week of June 5, the average TEUs (ton equivalent units) waiting off port limits rose to 35,153 from 25,266, according to MarineTraffic. At the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, the average TEUs waiting off port limits rose to 51,228 from 21,297 the previous week, said a MarineTraffic spokeswoman.
The value of the combined 86,381 containers floating off the ports of Oakland, Los Angeles, and Long Beach reached $5.2 billion, based on a $61,000 value per container, and customs data.
According to data exclusively pulled for CNBC by Vizion, which tracks container shipments, the seven-day rate for a container cleared through the Port of Oakland is operating at 58%; at Port of Long Beach it is 64%; and at Port of Los Angeles it is 62%.
“Our data shows that vessels will continue arriving at West Coast ports in the coming days with significant amounts of cargo to unload,” said Kyle Henderson, CEO of Vizion. There are no indications at this time that ocean carriers have plans to cancel any sailings to these ports, he said, but he added, “If these labor disputes continue to affect port efficiency, we could see backlogs similar to those experienced during the pandemic. Obviously, that’s the last thing that any shipper wants as we turn the corner into the back half of the year and peak season.”
Logistics managers with knowledge of the way the union rank-and-file displeased with unresolved issues in negotiations with port management are influencing work shifts tell CNBC the slowdown can be attributed to skilled labor not showing up for work. CNBC has also learned that at select port terminals, requests for additional work made through official work orders are not being placed on the wall of the union hall for fulfillment. The Pacific Maritime Association, which negotiates on behalf of the ports, is not allowed in the union hall to see if the terminal orders are indeed being requested. CNBC has been told that if the additional job postings were being put up the data would show they are not being filled. Only original labor ordered from the PMA is being filled.
The PMA said in a statement on Friday afternoon that between June 2 and June 7, the ILWU at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach refused to dispatch lashers who secure cargo for trans-Pacific voyages and unfasten cargo after ships arrive. “Without this vital function, ships sit idle and cannot be loaded or unloaded, leaving American exports sitting at the docks unable to reach their destination,” the statement read. “The ILWU’s refusal to dispatch lashers had been part of a broader effort to withhold necessary labor from the docks.”
PMA cited a failure on Wednesday morning to fill 260 of the 900 jobs ordered at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and in total, 559 registered longshore workers who came to the dispatch hall were denied work opportunities by the union, PMA asserted in its statement.
“Each shift without lashers working resulted in more ships sitting idle, occupying berths and causing a backup of incoming vessels,” it stated.
However, the PMA said ILWU’s decision to stop withholding labor has allowed terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to avert, for now, “the domino effect that would have resulted in backups not seen since last year’s supply chain meltdown.”
The PMA cited “generally improved” operations at the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland, but at the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, a continuation of “significant slowdowns.”
The ILWU has declined to comment, citing a media blackout during ongoing labor talks.
The average truck turns to go in and out of the West Coast ports are up.
A trucker waiting for a container at LA’s Fenix Marine Services terminal shared photos from their truck with CNBC showing congestion on both rail and the road where truckers wait to pick up their containers.
Shippers are becoming increasingly concerned about the potential need to find alternative supply chain options.
A spokesperson for Long Beach, California-based Cargomatic, which focuses on drayage and short-haul trucking logistics, said it isn’t yet seeing trade diversions, but added, “As a national drayage partner, we have contingency plans built in with capacity ready to service our customers anywhere in the U.S. We know that shippers are very nervous and it’s only a matter of time before they pivot if this situation becomes prolonged.”
The PMA said in its statement that even though some port operations have improved, “the ILWU’s repeated disruptive work actions at strategic ports along the West Coast are increasingly causing companies to divert cargo to more customer-friendly and reliable locations along the Gulf and East Coasts.”
West Coast ports, which had lost significant volume to East Coast ports over the past year due to volatility in the labor contract talks, had in recent months begun to gain back volume.
A photo of a truck build up at Fenix Marine Services terminal at the Port of Los Angeles waiting to pick up containers taken by a trucker.
Ocean freight intelligence company Xeneta says its data shows that container spot freight rates jumped 15% in the first days of June as a result of several simultaneous disruptions. Recent Panama Canal low water levels limited cargo throughput, and soon after that, large parts of U.S. West Coast ports stopped handling inbound and outbound container trade.
“Shippers in search of more reliable and resilient supply chains now consider their options,” said Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta. “The longer this drags on, the more severe the consequences will be for shippers and terminals,” he said.
During Covid, the supply chain breakdowns saw the pileup of vessels waiting off the West Coast influence trade to move to the Gulf and East Coast Ports. If vessels do start diverting again, there are extra costs tacked onto the goods being transferred, which the shipper will be charged. If the vessels divert and go to the Gulf or East Coast ports, they have to either use the Panama Canal, where extra charges on top of the normal additional charges are levied because the Panama Canal is in a critical situation with lower water levels due to drought.
Routes for monthly long-term 'tramp sailings' from Asia to the Americas
— Core trade route --- Alternate route
The Panama Canal's water issues exacerbate costs that would be incurred in any trade re-routing. It has instituted weight requirements for vessels — they need to be lighter to move through. If the vessel is at or under that weight requirement, shippers will be paying additional charges. In addition to the canal fees, some ocean carriers like Hapag Lloyd have instituted a $260 container fee for traveling through the canal. CMA CGM is charging $300 a container. If vessels are heavier than the current requirement, they would be forced to traverse the Pacific Ocean and go around the horn of South America, which would add weeks of travel time and travel costs.
"Vessel diversions are some of the most difficult activities that shippers and our clients deal with during a crisis," said Paul Brashier, vice president of drayage and intermodal at ITS Logistics. During the pandemic and its aftermath, containers destined for Los Angeles or Long Beach would show up unannounced in Houston or Savannah with little to no notice, he said. "We have visibility applications that alert us prior to the container arriving so we can reassign trucking capacity at the new port. But if you don't have this visibility, if you are not able to track the containers like that in real time, you could face thousands of dollars more in shipping and D&D costs per container to accommodate those changes. That inflationary pressure adversely not only affects the shipper but the consumer of those goods," he added.
Supply chain costs have come down considerably on a global basis, according to the Federal Reserve's data, though they have been mentioned by Fed Chair Jerome Powell as one inflationary trigger the central bank has no control over. In a report by Georgetown economist Jonathan Ostry, the spike in shipping costs increased inflation by more than two percentage points in 2022.
"These slowdowns leave little options for shippers who have containers already en route to the West Coast," said Adil Ashiq, head of North America for MarineTraffic, who told CNBC earlier this week that the maritime supply chain issues were "breaking normal."
"They could skip a port and go to another West Coast port, but they are all experiencing levels of congestion," he said on Friday. "So do they wait or divert and go to Houston as the next closest port to discharge cargo?"
If vessels do decide to reroute, it will add days to their journey, which would delay the arrival of the product even more.
For example, if a vessel inbound from Asia decided to reroute to Houston, it would add another 7 to 11 day journey to the Panama Canal. If a vessel is approved to transit through the canal, that adds 8-10 hours of transit time. "You then have to add travel time once out of the canal to the port. So we're looking at conservatively, a 12 to 18 day additional delay if a vessel decides to go to Houston directly from the Canal. Even more, if you have to travel around South America," he said.
Key sectors of the U.S. economy have been pleading with the Biden administration to step in and broker a labor agreement, including trade groups for the retail and manufacturing sectors. On Friday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce added its voice to this effort, expressing its concerns about a "serious work stoppage" at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach which would likely cost the U.S. economy nearly half a billion dollars a day. It estimates a more widespread strike along the West Coast could cost approximately $1 billion per day.
"The best outcome is an agreement reached voluntarily by the negotiating parties. But we are concerned the current sticking point – an impasse over wages and benefits – will not be resolved," U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark wrote in a letter to President Biden.
West Coast ports are shutting down as union workers “no show” after a breakdown in negotiations with port management.
The Port of Oakland was shut down Friday morning due to insufficient labor for terminal operations, a stoppage that is expected to last at least through Saturday. A source close to the situation told CNBC the port shutdowns are expected to spread across the West Coast as a result of lack of sufficient labor as workers protest over wage negotiations in contract talks with port management.
Two of the Oakland port marine terminals — SSA, its largest, and TraPac — were closed as of the morning shift on Friday, said Robert Bernardo, spokesman for the Port of Oakland. The majority of imports and exports are processed through those terminals, he said.
While the actions taken by workers are not a formal strike, the source told CNBC to expect stoppages at other West Coast ports as union workers refuse to report for assignments, with operations also reportedly stopping at the port hub of Los Angeles, including Fenix Marine, the APL terminal, and Port of Hueneme, which processes automobiles and perishables — bananas the largest import in that category. The situation remains fluid, with truck drivers being turned away at Los Angeles sites.
In an ILWU press release, International President Willie Adams said talks have “not broken down” and added “we aren’t going to settle for an economic package that doesn’t recognize the heroic efforts and personal sacrifices of the ILWU workforce that lifted the shipping industry to record profits.”
The stoppages come at a time when activity at West Coast ports had picked up again after losing volume to the East Coast ports due to concerns about the volatile labor situation.
At the Port of Oakland, total container volume increased for two consecutive months, with port officials optimistic about the upswing. It is the eighth-largest port in the country, importing a wide range of items, from Australian wine and meat, to aluminum from South Korea,and clothing, electronics andfurniture from China.
“Given the increase we’ve seen in business over the last couple of months, we are optimistic about a stronger second half of 2023 for the amount of cargo moving through Oakland,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. “We also anticipate increasing the number of ocean carrier services offered at the Port of Oakland in the coming months.”
“Oakland is a big port for U.S. ag exporters,” said Peter Friedmann, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC). “Fridays are a big day for Ag exports.”
Webcams showing no truck activity at Port of Oakland where lack of workers closed terminal operations
The ports and unions have been involved in contract negotiations over the past year, adding tension to port operations.
On April 20, the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents the ports, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, announced they reached a tentative agreement on certain key issues, though they did not disclose more.
People familiar with the negotiation process told CNBC at the time that it represented “major progress.” Prior agreements included maintenance of health benefits. But known issues that still needed to be worked out included wages, as well as safety, automation and pension benefits.
PMA, which represents port management, in a statement on Twitter called the events Friday “concerted and disruptive work actions” by the ILWU.
The ILWU released a statement on Friday saying that rank-and-file workers had taken it upon themselves to “voice their displeasure” amid the ongoing “arduous fight” with port management. ILWU said cargo workers at ports “remain on the job,” but the port source told CNBC there is an insufficient number of workers overall for port operations to continue. The ILWU statement did not call out wages specifically, but cited “basic requests,” including health and safety, and the $500 billion in profits made by ocean carriers and terminal operators during the past two years.
The last work stoppage at the Oakland port came in early November, when hundreds of clerks walked off the job over a pay dispute.
Any port closure creates backups that impact both the pickup and drop off of products by truck drivers.
Truckers also had a work stoppage related to the AB 5 legislation in California covering classification of truckers as employees, a stoppage which lasted for five days, but took two months to clear up. ILWU did not cross that picket line.
At the Port of Oakland, over 2,100 trucks go through the terminals each day, but none are expected through Saturday with insufficient labor to serve the trucks.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were awarded marketing rights to Ireland and Northern Ireland this week as part of the NFL’s International Home Marketing Areas initiative; the Steelers have a long-term relationship with Ireland courtesy of the Rooney family.
Last Updated: 25/05/23 10:23pm
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a welcome return to Croke Park. Pictured is Steelers director of business development & strategy Daniel Rooney
The Pittsburgh Steelers have long-term plans to play a regular season NFL game in Ireland, the team said Thursday during a visit to celebrate its long-standing ties with the Emerald Isle.
The Steelers touched down in Dublin days after the NFL awarded the team marketing rights for Ireland and Northern Ireland, all part of the league’s push to expand its audience internationally.
“Our aspirations long term are to play a game in Ireland,” said Daniel Rooney, the team’s director of business development and strategy. “As we move through the process, we’ll be evaluating all options.”
Ireland has never hosted a regular season NFL game, but the Steelers beat the Chicago Bears 30-17 in a preseason matchup at Croke Park in 1997.
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Croke Park, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association, holds 82,300 and would almost certainly be the site of any future Steelers game.
GAA president Larry McCarthy joined Rooney at a news conference at Croke Park and said the organisation is “delighted to be associated with [the Rooneys] and such a famous name and brand in the Steelers.”
Brett Gosper, NFL head of UK and Europe, was also on hand and called the Steelers and Ireland a “perfect fit.”
“There are so many connections, obviously the family’s heritage [and] the Steelers organising that first and only game – so far – in Ireland,” he said.
The late Daniel M. Rooney was U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009-12.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, who play in London every year, were also awarded marketing rights to Ireland.
The programme was designed to help individual teams build their brands abroad through commercial activity and fan engagement similar to what they do in their home markets. Rights are granted by the league for at least a five-year term.
History was made earlier this year when Oakland, California, Mayor Sheng Thao was sworn into office, becoming the first Hmong American to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city.
Her swearing-in ceremony was something she could never have imagined.
“Hmong people flew in from all over the country to join me,” Thao said. “It was a journey that I took with the whole Hmong community.”
Thao’s parents fled Laos in 1975.
“My parents are refugees. And all I knew was that we were poor and it was hard and I felt like government has failed us,” she said.
Before graduating from UC Berkeley, Thao escaped an abusive relationship and lived in a car with her young son. On many occasions, she had to stand in line for free food.
“You always hear about starving students, but what do people actually do about it?” she said.
Her solution was to run for city council.
“You can’t do this work without feeling empathy,” she told CBS News. “And you shouldn’t do this work if you don’t have that empathy.”
The 37-year-old now leads a large and troubled city. Her mission is to make it better for the next generation, including her son, Ben.
Now 16, Ben played cello at his mother’s inauguration.
Thao said that the message people should take from her story is that “hope is everything.”
San Francisco Bay Area to host Super Bowl for third time after being confirmed as venue for 2026; Levi’s Stadium to stage Super Bowl LX; game also played in Bay Area in 1985 and 2016
Last Updated: 22/05/23 11:30pm
Super Bowl 50 was held at Levi’s Stadium in 2016, with the event to return to the venue in 2026
Super Bowl LX will head to the San Francisco Bay Area with Levi’s Stadium confirmed as the host venue in 2026.
The stadium, home of the San Franciso 49ers, last held the showpiece match in 2016 when Denver Broncos beat Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50.
The Bay Area will stage its third Super Bowl, with the game also taking place at Stanford Stadium in 1985.
On that occasion, the 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement on Monday: “The Bay Area was an incredible host for Super Bowl 50, and we are thrilled to bring the Super Bowl back.
“We look forward to working with the 49ers and the Bay Area Host Committee to create an impactful Super Bowl LX in 2026 that showcases all the great things the region has to offer.”
49ers president Al Guido said: “We are honored to host the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium once again, and to be stewards of one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
“Since hosting Super Bowl 50 in 2016, Levi’s Stadium has cemented its reputation as a world-class venue. I’m confident Super Bowl LX will be a terrific event that benefits the entire community.”
Super Bowl LVIII will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 11 2024, with the Ceasars Superdome in New Orleans to stage Super Bowl LIX on February 9 2025.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Unified School District and striking teachers have reached an agreement on four “common good” provisions that had been sticking points during the walkout that is now in its second week.
“We are still on strike, but momentum is on our side,” the Oakland Education Association said on Twitter Saturday night.
The union representing 3,000 educators, counselors and other workers has maintained the district has failed to bargain in good faith on a new three-year contract that also makes more traditional demands like higher salaries. The striking workers want their contract to also include provisions that address racial equity, homelessness and environmental justice for students.
On Saturday night, four of those demands had been agreed upon, relating to: housing and transportation, the community schools grant, the Black thriving community schools initiative, and school closures, the Bay Area News Group reported.
It was not immediately clear Sunday morning how close the two sides were on reaching a deal on the demands still left on the table, particularly related to increased compensation.
Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell said in a message to parents last week that the district, the state’s 11th largest, is offering raises of as much as 22% for some teachers.
Teachers have maintained that adding support beyond the classroom would improve learning conditions and retain educators. Other common-good demands include providing more mental health support, fixing deteriorating schools, and offering subsidized transportation for low-income students.
The strike comes at the end of the school year, which wraps up May 25. But the district’s 80 schools have remained open to the district’s 34,000 students, with meals being offered and office staff educating and supervising. Only about 1,200 students have shown up to school since the strike started May 4, district spokesperson John Sasaki said last week.
JJ Watt: “I believe in what [chairman] Alan (Pace) is doing at Burnley and what Vincent (Kompany) is building. It’s just a matter of coming in at the right time. We really enjoyed our time in Burnley and we’re looking forward to coming back”
Last Updated: 01/05/23 6:55pm
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Former NFL star JJ Watt and wife and soccer player Kealia Watt spoke of what they hope to achieve at Burnley after announcing their investment into the club
Former NFL star JJ Watt and wife and soccer player Kealia Watt spoke of what they hope to achieve at Burnley after announcing their investment into the club
Former NFL star JJ Watt and his wife Kealia Watt, a former USA international, have announced their investment in Burnley Football Club.
JJ is a three-time defensive player of the year winner. The 34-year-old retired from the game at the end of the 2022 season after 12 seasons with the Houston Texans (2011-20 and Arizona Cardinals (2021-22).
Kealia enjoyed a successful club career with Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars, representing the US national team on three occasions in 2016. She retains the record for scoring the fastest goal of any debutant for the women’s national team, netting 48 seconds into her international debut.
Three-time NFL defensive player of the year JJ Watt retired from the sport at the end of the 2022 season
The couple have always had an interest in English football, with JJ having been a fan of Chelsea and Kealia of Arsenal, she told Sky Sports News, but their loyalties lie firmly with Burnley now after announcing their investment into the club.
“We went to Burnley, visited the town and we just fell in love,” Kealia said. “It’s such an incredible place.
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Burnley’s celebrations begin after their victory against Blackburn to seal the Championship title!
Burnley’s celebrations begin after their victory against Blackburn to seal the Championship title!
“What Vincent (Kompany) has done with this team is unbelievable. We cannot wait to watch this [next] season.
“We’re so excited. It’s going to be so cool – we’ll be there on opening day. We’re counting down the days, we cannot wait.”
JJ added: “It’s all about the opportunity to have an impact in the club.
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Burnley manager Vincent Kompany says there is no better way to win after beating their biggest rivals Blackburn to secure the Championship title
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany says there is no better way to win after beating their biggest rivals Blackburn to secure the Championship title
“Chelsea is obviously an unbelievable club and they’ve built something incredible there, but I believe in what [chairman] Alan (Pace) is doing at Burnley and what Vincent is building.
“It’s just a matter of coming in at the right time. We really enjoyed our time in Burnley and we’re looking forward to coming back.”
The Watts spent time at the club and within the local community earlier in the season, when they attended the Clarets’ 3-0 victory over Wigan at Turf Moor. They are also due to be in attendance for Burnley’s final home fixture of the season against Cardiff City on Monday, May 8.
The pair also spoke of how following Wrexham’s story since the club’s takeover by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney proved to be an inspiration.
Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds celebrate with the National League trophy after their promotion to the fourth tier
Kealia said: “We watched the documentary a few months ago and it was so cool to see what they’ve done.
“That’s kind of what we’re modelling this after. They’re just incredible and Wrexham are such a fun team – we’ve followed that and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do here.”
JJ added: “I’ve spoken to Rob about his experience and I’ve tried to gain some insight into what he’s done, and I’ve spoke to Ryan too to try to get his ideas on what has worked and what hasn’t.
“Obviously they’re in a different league and a different situation, with what Wrexham are doing, but they’ve done an incredible job.
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Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has made an ambitious bid to get Gareth Bale out of retirement and sign for his team
Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has made an ambitious bid to get Gareth Bale out of retirement and sign for his team
“Our goal is to come in and get involved with the community. With the [Burnley] supporters, we want to earn their trust, we understand that we can’t come in and expect them to trust us right away.
“And then we want to help tell their story to America and beyond. We want people to know about the Clarets.”
Alan Pace, Burnley chairman, said of the Watts’ investment in a statement: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome JJ and Kealia into the Clarets family.
“This is a conversation that has been happening for some time and over the course of this season we’ve been hugely impressed by their passion and interest in both the club and the Burnley community. I am very much looking forward to working with them.”
The Oakland A’s have signed an agreement to purchase land in Las Vegas, where they plan to build a new stadium, team president Dave Kaval said. The A’s are hoping to make the move by 2027.
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Roughly 1 in 7 (14.4%) of Miami homes are worth at least $1 million.
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Million-dollar-plus homes are making up a smaller portion of the housing pie than they did in the spring according to a recent survey. Just over 7% of homes in the U.S. are worth $1 million or more. The share has dropped from June 2022’s all-time high of 8.6% and remains essentially unchanged from a year earlier–but it’s up from 4.2% just before the pandemic began.
The report found that the free fall is an illustration of the cooling market. Home values and prices have dropped from record highs as 6.5%-plus mortgage rates dampen home buying demand. That has pushed a certain portion of homes that would have been worth seven figures at the peak of the pandemic home buying frenzy below the million-dollar threshold.
Some of the decline from the June peak is due to seasonality, as home prices typically decline in the second half of the year, but the June-to-January drop noted in this report is much bigger than usual.
“Home values are coming down from their peak and fewer sellers could fetch seven figures–but that doesn’t mean buyers are getting a break,” said Chen Zhao, Redfin’s economics research lead. “The typical home buyer’s monthly mortgage payment is even higher than it was when home values peaked in the spring because rates are so much higher and although home prices have come down, they certainly haven’t crashed. Now isn’t the time for buyers who need to take out a loan to get a good deal. Buying an $800,000 home today would cost more per month than buying a million-dollar home a year ago.”
With today’s 6.6% mortgage rates, a buyer who made a 20% down payment would pay $5,241 for an $800,000 home. With the 3.5% rates common in early 2022, that same buyer would pay $5,034 per month for a $1 million home.
The portion of homes worth seven figures has nearly doubled since before the pandemic, and the typical home is worth significantly more. That’s due mostly to home prices soaring as demand skyrocketed during the pandemic and partly to the general uptick in home values over time.
The San Francisco Bay Area has seen drops in home prices for million-dollar homes.
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Bay Area, Seattle and New York are losing million-dollar homes the fastest
The share of homes valued at seven figures is falling quickest in the Bay Area and other expensive coastal areas. Just over 80% of San Francisco homes are worth at least $1 million–the biggest share of the 99 most populous U.S. metros, but down from 86.3% a year ago.
Oakland, California, where 44.8% of homes are worth $1 million or more, down from 50% a year ago, experienced the next-biggest decline. It’s followed by Seattle (27.5%, down from 30.9%), New York (29.5%, down from 32.5%) and San Jose, California (79.2%, down from 81.7%).
The Bay Area has seen outsized drops because home prices there have dropped more than in other places. San Francisco’s median sale price fell 9.4% year over year in January and Oakland’s fell 7.8%, two of the three largest declines in the U.S. Rising mortgage rates have hit expensive markets particularly hard because homes there are so expensive, with even a small bump in rates translating to a big increase in monthly mortgage payments.
Using a variation of the example above, even a nearly 10% drop in San Francisco’s prices doesn’t cancel out the impact of today’s high mortgage rates. The typical San Francisco home buyer would pay $8,372 for today’s median-priced ($1,278,000) home with a 6.6% rate. A year ago, a buyer would have paid $1,410,000 for the typical home–but their monthly payment would have been much lower, around $7,100 with a 3.5% rate.
The prevalence of tech workers is another reason for falling prices in those places. There isn’t as much demand for homes there as there once was because of the popularity of remote work, and stumbling stocks and the surge of layoffs in the industry means fewer people can afford to buy.
Still, the vast majority of homes in the Bay Area are worth at least a million dollars, and more than a quarter of homes in Seattle and New York hit that mark.
Florida is home to more million-dollar homes than a year ago
Roughly 1 in 7 (14.4%) of Miami homes are worth at least $1 million, up from 11.5% a year ago, the biggest increase of the metros in this analysis. The next-biggest upticks are in North Port, Florida (11.3%, up from 9.1%), Anaheim (54.2%, up from 52.2%), Nashville (8.4%, up from 6.4%) and West Palm Beach, Florida (12.8%, up from 11.1%).
Million-dollar homes are making up a larger chunk of Florida’s housing stock because many parts of the Sunshine State are still seeing substantial upticks in home values and prices. Florida was home to six of the 10 metros with the biggest home-value increases last year, and Miami, North Port and West Palm Beach all saw 5%-plus annual price increases in January.
Florida homes are holding their value because there’s still healthy demand from buyers, especially out-of-town remote workers moving in from more expensive parts of the country. Five of the nation’s 10 most popular migration destinations are in Florida, despite its status as the most hurricane-prone state in the country. Redfin agents report that home buyers typically move in for the state’s relatively affordable homes, beaches, warm weather and lack of a state income tax.
All in all, the portion of homes worth at least a million dollars is up from a year earlier in 70 of the 99 most populous metros. It’s unchanged in 11 and down in the remaining 18.
The oldest Black church in California’s East Bay was devastated by a massive fire Sunday night that the church’s pastor said gutted its interior structure.
Video showed heavy smoke and flames shooting from the roof of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Oakland, where the fire erupted shortly before midnight, according to a tweet from the Oakland Fire Department. It quickly escalated to a three-alarm fire, the department said, with about 60 firefighters working to quell the blaze.
A fire investigator has been able to determine the “area of origin,” per the department, but the cause remains undetermined.
No injuries have been reported.
“We don’t know why, we don’t know who, but it’s burning down,” the pastor, the Rev. Rodney Smith, said in a video shared on the congregation’s Facebook page, adding the church’s interior structure had been lost and only the outer walls were still standing. “But I promise you this, we will rise again.”
Per the Online Archive of California, it stood as the only African American church in Oakland for more than three decades. It was also the first school for people of color at a time when only White children could attend public schools – a history Smith highlighted in his video, shot at the scene of the fire.
“First AME Church Oakland was educating Black people 20 years before we were able to get public education,” he said. “The church feeds the community, serves the community in every way.”
“I’m completely devastated, completely at a loss for words,” he said.
California’s Bay Area Rapid Transit system says it is running a “limited service” to the Oakland International Airport because of a power outage in Alameda County.
“Oakland Airport Connector service is running limited service due to a power outage. Shuttles will depart every 18 minutes,” BART said in a 2:38 p.m. PST update.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian tweeted that a “large outage” was impacting approximately 50,000 Oakland customers. “We are currently investigating the details and will provide more information on the timing of restoration as soon as we can,” Sarkissian said.
A transformer fire at a substation caused the outage, Pacific Gas and Electric told CNN in an email Sunday evening.
“The cause of the outage is a transformer fire within the substation, and we are working closely with fire officials to make the situation safe. We will provide more information on the timing of restoration once we have those details,” spokesperson JD Guidi said.
The outage impacted the Oakland International Airport for more than an hour Sunday afternoon, according to airport spokesperson Robert Bernardo.
The power at the airport went down at approximately 1 p.m. PST and was restored at 2:50 p.m. PST, Bernardo told CNN.
A petition created for Travis and Jason Kelce’s mum Donna to do the ceremonial coin toss before Super Bowl LVII on Sunday has already gained over 170,000 signatures and is still rising; Donna: “I would [do it], if the two of you say I would not be a distraction”
Last Updated: 07/02/23 6:19pm
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Donna Kelce stops by to give her sons Travis and Jason some cookies during their interview on Opening Night of Super Bowl LVII.
Donna Kelce stops by to give her sons Travis and Jason some cookies during their interview on Opening Night of Super Bowl LVII.
Travis and Jason Kelce will become the first brothers to play against each other in Super Bowl history when the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles face off in Arizona on Sunday – and their mum has become a minor celebrity as a result.
On ‘Opening Night’ of Super Bowl week, Donna Kelce delivered cookies for her boys on stage while they spoke to the media, decked out in a half Chiefs, half Eagles jersey.
There has also been a petition created for Donna to do the ceremonial coin toss before Sunday’s game, which has already gained over 170,000 signatures and is still rising.
“‘Here’s the thing,’ Donna began saying. When asked about the possibility on her son’s New Heights podcast, she said: “There are so many legends and people that have their blood, sweat and tears on that field… I don’t think that’s the right place for me to be.
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“Would I be a distraction out there for you guys? That’s what I would worry about.
“I would [do it] if the two of you say I would not be a distraction… and you’ll be focussing on the game plans.”
Travis then responded, saying, “You’re in,” before jokingly adding: “I’ll tell [NFL commissioner] Roger [Goodell].”
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The Super Bowl LVII countdown is on in Arizona ahead of Sunday’s game between Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
The Super Bowl LVII countdown is on in Arizona ahead of Sunday’s game between Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
The two brothers have each won a Super Bowl previously, with Jason’s Eagles triumphant five years ago, beating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII, while Travis and the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV – their first of three Super Bowl visits in four years.
‘I would sure love to get this one over his head’
When asked about the matchup at Opening Night, Jason said: “We’re always rooting for each other.
“I always want him to do well, but I would sure love to get this one over his head and have at least something over top of Trav.”
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Travis and Jason Kelce, who will face each other in Super Bowl LVII, discussed on MNF when they had their last ‘fist fight’ when growing up.
Travis and Jason Kelce, who will face each other in Super Bowl LVII, discussed on MNF when they had their last ‘fist fight’ when growing up.
Travis, meanwhile, said of what it was like growing up and competing against his older brother: “What he did do is he gave me a cool perspective on how to beat somebody that’s better than you.
“I kind of got to learn the mind games at a different level as a younger kid, so he’s helped me get to where I’m at without a doubt.
“But he got the majority of the wins for sure.”
Watch Super Bowl LVII – Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles – live on Sky Sports NFL and Main Event from 10pm on Sunday, February 12, with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Christian Wilkins and Efe Obada among the guests joining Neil Reynolds and Hannah Wilkes for 90 minutes of build-up to the big game.
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A look at the journey the Kansas City Chiefs have taken to reach Super Bowl LVII
A look at the journey the Kansas City Chiefs have taken to reach Super Bowl LVII
The Kansas City Chiefs are back in another Super Bowl – their third in the last four years – but how did they get there?
With the retirement of record seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady still fresh in the memory, the man who looks to be the greatest challenger to his throne as the ‘GOAT’, Patrick Mahomes, gets the chance to add a second ring to his collection at Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arizona on Sunday.
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That said, not only are the Eagles a fearsome opponent standing in their way, but there are injury concerns over the Kansas City star QB heading into the big game.
Here, we take a look back on the Chiefs’ road to Super Bowl LVII…
What went right?
The Chiefs once again proved themselves to be the elite of the NFL, particularly on offense, owning the No 1 unit in points per game (29.2), yards per game (413.6) and passing yards per game (297.8).
Kansas City’s 14-3 regular-season record not only wrapped up a seventh-straight AFC West divisional title, but it also secured them the No 1 seed in the conference for the third time in their dominant present-day stretch.
Kansas City Chiefs 2022 season (14-3)
Week
Opposition
Result
1
@ Cardinals
W 44-21
2
vs Chargers
W 27-24
3
@ Colts
L 17-20
4
@ Buccaneers
W 44-31
5
vs Radiers
W 30-29
6
vs Bills
L 20-24
7
@ 49ers
W 44-23
8
BYE
9
vs Titans
W 20-17 (OT)
10
vs Jaguars
W 27-17
11
@ Chargers
W 30-27
12
vs Rams
W 26-10
13
@ Bengals
L 24-27
14
@ Broncos
W 34-28
15
@ Texans
W 30-24 (OT)
16
vs Seahawks
W 24-10
17
vs Broncos
W 27-24
18
@ Raiders
W 31-13
Highlights from the year include a 44-21 thumping of the Cardinals, in Arizona, on the opening day of the season to signal their intent, while they edged out Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 in a thriller a week later.
Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were comfortably put away 41-31 in Week Four, as were the San Francisco 49ers 44-23 in Week Seven – both huge road victories against major NFC contenders.
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Highlights of the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers from Week Seven of the NFL season
Highlights of the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers from Week Seven of the NFL season
The victory over the 49ers would kickstart a run of 10 wins across 11 games to close out the season, with only a defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals sandwiched in between.
But the Chiefs would ultimately have the last laugh, with star quarterback Mahomes gaining revenge for that defeat, and for his three total losses in three career games to Joe Burrow and the Bengals, with their 23-20 victory in the AFC Championship game over the same opponents to book their Super Bowl spot.
Kansas City Chiefs 2022 regular season rankings
Offense
Defense
1st
Total
11th
1st
Passing
18th
10th
Rushing
8th
1st
Scoring
16th
1st
DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average)
17th
1st
EPA/play (Expected points added)
15th
What went wrong?
As usual, not a great deal. Although there was the odd hiccup along the way, none more bizarre and unaccounted for than the 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week Three – a team which would ultimately end the season a dreadful 4-12-1.
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Highlights of the Kansas City Chiefs against the Indianapolis Colts in Week Three of the NFL season
Highlights of the Kansas City Chiefs against the Indianapolis Colts in Week Three of the NFL season
Also, a 24-20 loss at home to the Buffalo Bills in Week Six that dropped the Chiefs to 4-2 on the year would hint towards a possible changing of the guard in the AFC, with Buffalo earning a second-straight regular-season win at Arrowhead (and after having pushed Kansas City all the way in an incredible overtime finish to their divisional round match-up in the playoffs the previous year).
But, while the Bills and the Bengals – who would themselves defeat the Chiefs in Week 13 – threatened to steal Kansas City’s throne, neither were able to deliver the decisive blow, with Buffalo bested by Cincinnati in the divisional round this time, before they themselves were undone in the AFC title game by Mahomes and co.
And a banged up Mahomes and Chiefs offense, at that. One of the biggest concerns going into Super Bowl LVII this Sunday is certainly the health of Kansas City’s star quarterback, who picked up a high ankle sprain in their divisional round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Watch the moment Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes picked up an ankle injury in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Watch the moment Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes picked up an ankle injury in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars
He has not looked the same since, limping his way through the subsequent one-and-a-half outings, only serving to make his sensational match-winning performances in those wins over the Jags and the Bengals all the more impressive.
Wideout Mecole Hardman has already been ruled out of the Super Bowl due to injury, while JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kadarius Toney were also banged up against the Bengals, weakening Mahomes’ receiving corps, with progress to be monitored this week.
Star names
Starting with the most obvious selection of them all, Mahomes, of course. The 27-year-old is favourite to win a second league MVP title this season in just his fifth year as a starter in the NFL.
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A look at some of the best plays from Mahomes this season, in his bid to grab his second league MVP award
A look at some of the best plays from Mahomes this season, in his bid to grab his second league MVP award
Mahomes set a new record for the most offensive yards (5,614) in NFL history this season – breaking down as 5,250 passing yards, 358 rush yards and six receiving. He also led the league in passing TDs during the regular season, with 41, six greater than Josh Allen (Bills) and Burrow (Bengals) tied for second on 35. And Mahomes did it all despite the team trading away his best receiver too, with Tyreek Hill moving to the Miami Dolphins in the offseason.
Mahomes has at least retained the comfort blanket Travis Kelce on offense, with the superstar tight end notching his seventh-straight 1,000-yard season, finishing 2022 with 1,338 yards along with a career-high 12 TDs.
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A look at the best plays this season from the most impressive tight end in the NFL, Travis Kelce
A look at the best plays this season from the most impressive tight end in the NFL, Travis Kelce
Also, following on from last week’s AFC Championship game, only one quarterback and receiver duo have connected for more postseason touchdowns than Mahomes and Kelce’s 13 (Brady and Rob Gronkowski with 15).
Also, look out for seventh-round rookie Isaiah Pacheco, who has added a real spark to this Kansas City offense since his introduction midway through the season, averaging over five yards per carry, while defensive tackle Chris Jones is the standout from an underrated defense, having equalled his career high of 15.5 sacks this season.
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Highlights of the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs
Highlights of the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs
Kansas City are 5-0 in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs with Mahomes at quarterback. Though, having said that, this particular victory against the Jaguars to open their playoff run almost came without their star QB at the helm.
Mahomes missed most of the second quarter due to the injury he sustained to his right ankle, but ultimately returned to finish 22 of 30 passing for 195 yards and two touchdowns, while back-up quarterback Chad Henne also threw a scoring pass in his absence.
Kelce’s 14 receptions (for 98 yards), meanwhile, tied for the third most in NFL postseason history, with Marquez Valdes-Scantling also adding a touchdown catch for Kansas City.
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Highlights of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game
Highlights of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game
The Chiefs had never before hosted a single Conference Championship game in franchise history, but are now coming into the Super Bowl off the back of hosting a fifth in a row, with Mahomes and co this time getting the better of the Bengals in a repeat of last year’s AFC title game which they lost.
Despite being hampered by his injured ankle, Mahomes threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns in the contest and the Chiefs’ star QB also helped set up the game-winning field goal on a crucial five-yard scramble for a first down with 12 seconds left.
As he crossed the sideline, Mahomes was shoved when already out of bounds by Cincinnati defender Joseph Ossai, resulting in a 15-yard penalty to further aid Harrison Butker’s game-winning kick to break a 20-20 tie after another epic battle with the Bengals.
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The Kansas City Chiefs are presented with the AFC Championship as Kelce sounds off on their opponents, the Cincinnati Bengals
The Kansas City Chiefs are presented with the AFC Championship as Kelce sounds off on their opponents, the Cincinnati Bengals
Super Bowl pedigree
Despite their dominance over the past five seasons – appearing in five-straight AFC Championships – since Mahomes became the starter at QB in Kansas City, it has thus far translated into just one Super Bowl title over that span.
They lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy on their first visit to the Super Bowl in 50 years when they beat the 49ers to cap the 2018 season, with Mahomes named MVP after engineering a comeback from 20-10 down midway through the fourth quarter.
Mahomes and the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV to wrap the 2019 season
They have made it all the way to the Super Bowl on four occasions in total, losing to the Green Bay Packers in the first-ever Super Bowl to be played, back in the 1966 season, before triumphing over the Minnesota Vikings three years later.
After their Super Bowl LIV win over the Niners to break the drought, the Chiefs missed the chance to go back-to-back as they were beaten by Brady and the Bucs in the big game following the Covid-disrupted 2020 season.
Tom Brady got the better of Mahomes in Super Bowl LV, preventing the Kansas City Chiefs from claiming back-to-back titles
The concern for the Chiefs would be that, much like he is heading into this game, Mahomes was hobbled by injury in that game, making it easier for Tampa Bay’s ferocious pass rush to get after him and limit his explosive Chiefs offense to only nine points.
With the Philadelphia Eagles, and their own hugely-intimidating defensive line full of monsters, awaiting in Super Bowl LVII, Mahomes’ ability to still deliver enough magic moments despite his ankle injury will prove key to deciding the outcome of the game.
Watch Super Bowl LVII – Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles – live on Sky Sports NFL and Main Event from 10pm on Sunday, February 12
San Francisco’s win over Dallas was their 12th-straight this season, the 49ers booking a third NFC Conference Championship appearance in four years, while also knocking the Cowboys out of the playoffs for a second year in a row; watch Championship Sunday live on Sky Sports NFL
Last Updated: 23/01/23 3:49am
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey celebrates with quarterback Brock Purdy after scoring his crucial go-ahead touchdown
Christian McCaffrey ran in the go-ahead touchdown as the San Francisco 49ers eked out a 19-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys in a hugely absorbing divisional round clash, booking a third NFC Championship appearance in four years.
Story of the game
Robbie Gould also kicked four field goals for the 49ers, while rookie seventh-round QB Brock Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 214 yards as the 49ers book their trip to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in next Sunday’s title game.
George Kittle also had five catches for 95 yards – including an incredible one-handed circus grab off his helmet to help set up McCaffrey’s crucial score – as San Francisco won a staggering 12th-straight game this season.
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San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle made an astonishing one-handed catch that bounced off his helmet!
San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle made an astonishing one-handed catch that bounced off his helmet!
Dak Prescott was 23-of-37 passing for 206 yards, one touchdown and two first-half interceptions for the Cowboys, who were knocked out of the playoffs for the second year in a row by the 49ers.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws a second interception of the first half against the San Francisco 49ers.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws a second interception of the first half against the San Francisco 49ers.
Prescott tied for the regular-season lead with 15 interceptions, though his first half picks didn’t prove as costly as they perhaps could have, with the 49ers failing to find the end zone and building only a 9-6 advantage at the break.
Scoring summary
FIRST QUARTER
Cowboys 0-3 49ers
Robbie Gould 26-yard field goal
SECOND QUARTER
Cowboys 6-3 49ers
Dak Prescott four-yard TD pass to Dalton Schultz (failed extra point)
Cowboys 6-6 49ers
Robbie Gould 47-yard field goal
Cowboys 6-9 49ers
Robbie Gould 50-yard field goal
THIRD QUARTER
Cowboys 9-9 49ers
Brett Maher 25-yard field goal
FOURTH QUARTER
Cowboys 9-16 49ers
Christian McCaffrey two-yard rushing TD (extra point)
Cowboys 12-16 49ers
Brett Maher 43-yard field goal
Cowboys 12-19 49ers
Robbie Gould 28-yard field goal
Of greater concern to Dallas was the injury to running back Tony Pollard, who was carted off the field and wouldn’t return after picking up a high ankle strain late in the first half.
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The Dallas Cowboys took the lead after a Dalton Schultz TD grab, but Brett Maher then missed with another extra point attempt.
The Dallas Cowboys took the lead after a Dalton Schultz TD grab, but Brett Maher then missed with another extra point attempt.
Dallas head earlier taken a 6-3 lead on a Prescott four-yard TD toss to tight end Dalton Schultz with nine and a half minutes remaining in the second quarter. On the ensuing extra point attempt, San Francisco’s Samson Ebukam used his left hand to block Brett Maher’s kick, his fifth such miss this postseason.
Maher was, however, successful with two second-half field goals, one to tie the game up in the third quarter after Ray-Ray McCloud fumbled a punt return to set Dallas up with superb field position deep inside the San Francisco half.
The 49ers again regained the lead on the very first play of the fourth quarter, courtesy of McCaffrey’s two-yard TD run to cap a 10-play, 91-yard drive.
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Christian McCaffrey ran in what proved to be the game-winning touchdown for the San Francisco 49ers against the Dallas Cowboys.
Christian McCaffrey ran in what proved to be the game-winning touchdown for the San Francisco 49ers against the Dallas Cowboys.
Maher’s second FG from 43 yards moved the Cowboys back to within four of their hosts, but another lengthy 49ers drive, this one capped with Gould’s fourth field goal of the game, restored their one-score advantage with only three minutes left and Dallas failed to threaten to find the end zone in the final exchanges.
Stats leaders
Cowboys
Passing: Dak Prescott, 23/37, 206 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing: Ezekiel Elliott, 10 carries, 26 yards
Receiving: CeeDee Lamb, 10 catches, 117 yards
Dalton Schultz, five catches, 27 yards, 1 TD
49ers
Passing: Brock Purdy, 19/29, 214 yards
Rushing: Elijah Mitchell, 14 carries, 51 yards
Christian McCaffrey, 10 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: George Kittle, five catches, 95 yards
What’s next?
We have our final four for the Conference Championship games next Sunday, live on Sky Sports NFL.
Firstly, the 49ers travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the NFC title game (Kick-off, 8pm), while the Kansas City Chiefs then host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC (Kick-off, 11.30pm), with the winners progressing through to Super Bowl LVII in Arizona on February 12.
Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!
