Many know Steve Kerr as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors.
Some may not remember that Kerr was a valued role player on the Chicago Bulls and hit key shots on that team that had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman on their roster.
Coached by Phil Jackson, the Bulls were potent.
GET THIS: not only was Steve Kerr a valued shooter, he was also a valued chaperone of Rodman.
Dennis Rodman was one of a kind.
MORE SPECIFICALLY: Rodman was of the best rebounders to ever play in the NBA.
Colorful hair, rockstar lifestyle, painted nails and more, Rodman headlined the Chicago Bulls’ big 3 that included Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan and was coached by Phil Jackson.
While scoring a shade over 7 points during his career, Rodman averaged 13.1 rebounds per game for his career and lived his best life on those late 90s Chicago Bulls teams.
He picked his prey by getting into the heads of Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone. He even got into verbal spars with former Houston Rockets big man, turned TNT analyst, Charles Barkley and the New Jersey Nets’ Jayson Williams who were all league leaders in rebounding.
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: Michael Jordan (L) pats Dennis Rodman (R), both of the Chicago Bulls, after Rodman was called for a technical foul 03 May during the second half of their NBA eastern conference semi-finals game against the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center in Chicago, IL. The Bulls won the game 83-70 to lead the series 1-0. AFP PHOTO/JEFF HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
Rodman began his career in the NBA at the small forward position. He’d later shift to the power forward when he played for the San Antonio Spurs and was famously traded by the Spurs to the Chicago Bulls by current Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.
Rodman’s small forward physique helped him maneuver for position for rebounds on the basketball court with bigger opponents. But his intelligence allowed him to savvily get into their heads.
RODMAN ALWAYS USED HIS BRAIN. In a recent conversation with the Scoop B Radio Podcast, Rodman's former Chicago Bulls teammate, Jason Caffey tells me that The Worm was ahead of his time in marketing and more.
FOR THOSE KEEPING SCORE AT HOME: Caffey, the Chicago Bulls' 20th pick in the 1995 NBA Draft averaged 7.3 points per game during the Bulls' second consecutive championship run in 1996–97.
HE DETAILED WHAT DENNIS RODMAN WAS LIKE AND SAYS THAT STEVE KERR HELPED WITH THAT PROCESS.
CHECK OUT A BRIEF SNIPPET FROM OUR CHAT ON THE SCOOP B RADIO PODCAST BELOW:
BRANDON 'SCOOP B' ROBINSON: What was Steve Kerr like as a teammate on the Chicago Bulls?
Jason Caffey: Steve was a great guy still is one. I stay in communication with him. Hate that things are going down the way they’re in Golden State right now with all the injuries. He used to be one of the guys that would tag along with me, Phil Jackson, go out to watch Dennis on these excuriousions we would go on. You know several nights during the weeks just to party. It would be our job to just sit there and make sure Dennis is okay. Like I said, he’s a very quiet person. A lot of people would consider him weird. He’s not really weird but he just doesn’t communicate that well. So you need a buffer with him whenever he goes somewhere for the most part.
Steve Kerr enjoyed his time with the Bulls and playing alongside Michael Jordan. “Unbelievably competitive," he told NBA scribe, Landon Buford last season.
"Never seen anyone compete the way he did in practice every day. He set a competitive tone that was not for everyone, but he made our team tougher and help prepare us for the playoffs. He helped prepare us for big moments and he raised the bar for us. It wasn’t always easy, but it was effective.”
A name I'm hearing the Lakers are seriously interested in after the Boogie Cousins injury: Dwight Howard.
The Grizzlies haven't bought him out yet, but he's not expected to play in Memphis this season. Javale McGee is the only other center on LA's roster.
-- Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) August 17, 2019
An 8-time NBA All-Star, Howard has averaged 17.4 points and 12.6 rebounds throughout his NBA career.
The first pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, Howard, an Olympic gold medalist made a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals where the Orlando Magic were defeated by the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers.
_Follow theHEAVY ON LAKERS FACEBOOK PAGEfor the latest breaking news, rumors and content!_
-------------------------
DWIGHT HOWARD SPEAKS ON NBA RESUME
Howard, 33, is looking to return to next NBA season injury-free.
"I think I've done an excellent job of playing basketball my whole life," Howard told me in June.
"My resume is something that, you know, I don't really have to speak for. I'm happy that I've had the opportunity to play basketball. So, I think I've done an excellent job of playing."
Howard is a five-time All-Defensive team member, has won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award three times and also took home the NBA Slam Dunk Contest crown.
Last summer, the Washington Wizards signed Howard after he was traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Brooklyn Nets and was eventually being bought out.
When on the floor for the Wizards, Howard was effective this season.
He averaged 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in 25.6 minutes per game.
"I am excited to get back to work next season," Dwight Howard told me in June. "I'm going to continue to get better, continue to smile and continue to enjoy life."
-------------------------
DWIGHT HOWARD'S BATTLE WITH INJURIES
Injuries have been unkind to Dwight Howard.
Could you imagine a healthy Howard in today's traditional center deficient NBA?
"Well, I mean, the game is different," NBA insider, Chris Broussard told me on the Scoop B Radio Podcast.
"It's darn near an entirely different game. You know, the three-point shot was not a big part of teams' offenses. Scoring was much lower, the game was much slower, defense was much tougher. You could hand check, it was a lot more physical. When Jordan or anybody else drove to the lane, you could get hammered."
According to NBATV's Jared Greenberg, a high-ranking Lakers official shared with him that Anthony Davis will not play big minutes at the center position following Cousins' injury.
In the wake of the DeMarcus Cousins news a high ranking member of the Lakers tells me that they do not expect nor do they want Anthony Davis to play "big minutes" at center this season @NBATV
-- Jared Greenberg (@JaredSGreenberg) August 16, 2019
MAKES SENSE.
At his introductory press conference, Davis let that be known.
"I like playing the four," Davis said last month. "I'm not even going to sugar coat it. If it comes down to it, coach, and you need me to play the five, I'll play the five."
The injury to Cousins could not come at a worse time for the Lakers and Boogie. As a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, two seasons ago, Cousins suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon
Boogie posted 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for New Orleans before suffering that setback in January.
The four-time NBA All-Star, who signed a one-year, $5.3 million deal to play for the Golden State Warriors last season, returned to the Warriors' lineup in January and posted an impressive 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals in 30 regular-season games.
"It's a team full of high IQs," Cousins told me in September. "I believe everyone on our team has a very high IQ when it comes to the game of basketball. All of us know how to play the game of basketball."
"We got guys with the same characteristics that- it's like play-doh," he told me. "You can mold them into whatever you want them to be."
Cousins had never appeared in the NBA playoffs until this past season. Despite injuring his quad and missing 14 playoff games, Boogie did return to the Warriors lineup in time for the NBA Finals.
READ NEXT: JARED DUDLEY PRAISES POSSIBLE LAKERS' FREE AGENCY TARGET, ZAZA PACHULIA
The hashtag #LiesofLeavingNeverland was trending Saturday, in response to a self-proclaimed documentary called "Lies of Leaving Neverland" which was published on August 13 and argues for Michael Jackson's full innocence, in the wake of HBO's "Leaving Neverland," which came out earlier this year.
The thirty-minute long video (which can be seen in full below and is available on YouTube) argues for Jackson's full innocence in the wake of the allegations made against the late singer by Wade Robson and James Safechuck in _Leaving Neverland. _Both men allege that Jackson sexually abused them over several years, starting when they were children. Jackson vehemently denied all of the allegations of sexual assault against him throughout his life.
Neither Robson nor Safechuck have responded to the allegations made against them in this video, nor to the allegations made against them by Twitter users across the globe.
Here's what you need to know:
-------------------------
LIES OF LEAVING NEVERLAND INCLUDES APPARENT 2016 DEPOSITION BY ROBSON
The latest documentary _Lies of Leaving Neverland _includes what appears to be a 2016 deposition by Robson. The video was uploaded by an account that was created on the same day of the upload (August 13) and is under the name "Mark Hostetler." The caption for the video redirects to a site under the same name, titled "Leaving Neverland Lies."
Many defenders of the documentary argue there to be inconsistencies between Robson's deposition in 2016 and the story he gave to HBO; it's worth noting that the HBO documentary directly acknowledges, for both Robson and Safechuck, their inconsistent testimonies in the past. What's more, both men explain their reasons for lying about their alleged abuse for many years, with each of them acknowledging how many competing psychological factors contributed to their inability to tell their truth until much later.
In their follow-up interview with Oprah, titled _After Neverland_, the two went into that issue further in depth, with the TV mogul noting that it's common for survivors of sexual assault to change their story repeatedly before coming out with the truth.
Still, many users believe the new "documentary" to be damning. One fan wrote, "#LiesOfLeavingNeverland Wade said that he was 'abused' in New York in 1989 after he preformed st the grammys but the Grammys were in Los Angeles and Michael didn't perform at the grammy in 1989″
Surgeon Eugene Gu tweeted, "The media needs to stick to facts, evidence, and the truth or it becomes a monster. Destroying people’s lives with lies is completely disgusting and exploits the pain of real victims to get more clicks and views. Horrifying. #LiesOfLeavingNeverland"
Still others argued that the hashtag itself, as well as the documentary that inspired it, are both abhorrent. Mike Wise, a sports commentator and journalist, tweeted, "Fact #LiesOfLeavingNeverland is trending shows you what a digital wasteland Twitter truly is. Whether you believe Michael Jackson was a pedophile or not, the possibility that you joined a warped support group of people who shame adult survivors of child sexual abuse is just sick."
_Leaving Neverland _inspired a controversy as soon as it was released. Michael Jackson's family and estate vehemently opposed the documentary, and filed a $100 million lawsuit against HBO following the documentary's release. In January, Michael Jackson's Estate provided the following statement:
“‘Leaving Neverland’ isn’t a documentary, it is the kind of tabloid character assassination Michael Jackson endured in life, and now in death,” Jackson’s estate said in a statement. “The film takes uncorroborated allegations that supposedly happened 20 years ago and treats them as fact. These claims were the basis of lawsuits filed by these two admitted liars which were ultimately dismissed by a judge. The two accusers testified under oath that these events never occurred. They have provided no independent evidence and absolutely no proof in support of their accusations, which means the entire film hinges solely on the word of two perjurers."
As for HBO, attorneys representing the company provided the following statement in August, arguing that the documentary is protected under the First Amendment:
“HBO’s distribution of this documentary–which recounts the personal stories of two individuals who describe in detail how, as young boys, they were sexually abused for years by Michael Jackson, arguably one of the world’s most famous public figures–constitutes protected activity under the First Amendment and California Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16."
There were reports of a possible active shooter at the Kentucky State Fair, which caused locals to quickly exit the area, and post to Facebook and Twitter about hearing gunshots. However, the Kentucky State Troopers said that there was no active shooter, and reassured the public that everyone was safe.
Causing the initial pandemonium and scare in Louisville, a couple juveniles decided to set off fireworks started running and yelled "shooter!" WLKY reporter Carolyn Callahan tweeted, "FOR THOSE ASKING ABOUT THE FAIR: Kentucky State Police troopers tell us a group of kids were running around yelling "shooter" at the fair tonight. This caused a lot of people to worry, but police say there was NO shooter."
FOR THOSE ASKING ABOUT THE FAIR: Kentucky State Police troopers tell us a group of kids were running around yelling "shooter" at the fair tonight. This caused a lot of people to worry, but police say there was NO shooter.
-- Carolyn Callahan (@CarolynWLKY) August 18, 2019
Callahan followed the tweet up with a message that showcased how not funny this type of situation was for those at the Kentucky State Fair saying, "Y'all. I just got a panicked phone call from a mom who ran out of the Kentucky State Fair with her children because she heard there was a shooter. KSP says NO SHOOTER. A group of kids yelled "shooter" but it was not true." Aaron Ellis from Wave3 also confirmed that there was no shooter at the Kentucky State Fair.
The Kentucky State Fair is an annual 10 day event which takes place at the Kentucky Expo Center, a local celebration which includes live music entertainment, cooking demonstrations, and amusement park rides. While locals should be able to to expect nothing but wholesome fun while attending the fair with their family and friends, considering the news of the recent back-to-back shootings in Dayton and El Paso, it's understandable that citizens in crowded places are on edge.
It was only three weeks ago that there was a mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California. On July 31, a shooter, later identified as Santino William Legan, shot and killed three people, including 6-year-old Stephen Romero, and left 15 injured. Gilroy Police killed suspected shooter, and said he was armed with an "SKS AK-47-type assault rifle" that was "purchased legally" by Legan in Nevada. Police Chief Scot Smithee said Sunday night that Legan "used a tool to cut through a fence to gain access" to the festival grounds.
With mass shootings are tragically happening so often, it's an important reminder that falsely yelling "shooter" in a crowded area is unacceptable behavior, and could've caused serious damage and injuries to those attending the Kentucky State Fair on Saturday night.
THE REACTION ONLINE SWITCHED FROM FEAR TO ANGER
While it was a relief to discover no one's life at the Kentucky State Fair was in danger, the mood online quickly shifted for fear turned to anger. Users on Twitter compared this incident to yelling "fire" in a theater, found no part of it remotely funny, and suffice to say, did not appreciate the kids' hoax.
BREAKING: law enforcement sources confirm there was no shooting or active shooter at the Kentucky State Fair, it was a hoax/prank. A group of young people reportedly set off fireworks and then ran yelling "shooter". So not funny. @LEX18News
-- Kylen Mills LEX 18 (@KylenMills) August 18, 2019
Apparently there was a prank at he kentucky state fair involving fireworks and people yelling "Active shooter." Whoever started a prank like that should rot. One of my best friends and numerous people ran afraid for their lives. This kind of shit isn't okay.
-- Loud Music Connoisseur (@kerman_matthew) August 18, 2019
kids that act like the way these kids acted tonight at the kentucky state fair are one of the many reasons people are afraid to go anywhere these days. you all are childish
-- Olivia 🦋 (@imoliviasmith) August 18, 2019
so can we get bag checks at the kentucky state fair ????
-- Izzy Barnes (@Izzygbarnes) August 18, 2019
NBA free agent, Carmelo Anthony should have never left the New York Knicks.
This revelation was revealed this afternoon by retired NBA veteran Charles Oakley.
Oakley chatted with NBA scribe, Landon Buford this afternoon at the Big 3 in Dallas, Texas.
Carmelo Anthony should have stayed with Knicks, Charles Oakley told me this afternoon in Dallas!
-- Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) August 18, 2019
While appearing on a past episode of tthe Scoop B Radio Podcast, DJ Envy, host of Power 105's The Breakfast Club told me that Melo was the man in NYC!
"I love Melo," DJ Envy told Scoop B Radio.
"I think Melo being in New York, coming to the Knicks is bad. I think the management is bad and I think they really don't know what they are doing. I don't like how they pick players, I don't like how they respect their players, but I am a Knicks fan and I always have been a Knicks fan."
DJ ENVY ALSO THINKS THE KNICKS SHOULD DO RIGHT BY MELO:
"I think that Melo deserves to get his jersey retired.
Carmelo Anthony has not played NBA basketball since November 8 against his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A 10-time NBA All-Star, Anthony has averaged 24.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in his 16-year career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.
"I think next season a team will possibly bring him in," NBA Hall of Famer, Grant Hill told me in March.
In an interview with Taryn Finley of the Huffington Post, Melo suggested that he is at peace with the fact he may not play much longer. "I'm sure [retirement is] coming soon," he said.
"I'd be sitting lying to you if I said it's not coming soon. I think I want it to come soon. I don't think I want to do this forever, but because you love it so much, it's hard to give it up. At the end of the day, at anything you do, when it's your time to go, it's your time to go. But as long as you feel good with that."
While Carmelo Anthony has been away from the game, he's been spending a ton of time going to his son, Kiyan's basketball games.
"He's a great player," New York Knick, Lance Thomas told me in December.
"He's a great teammate, most importantly he's a great human being and he's always been a great advocate for the NBA as a brand. So I just want him to get back on a team and play the sport he loves that's paved a way for him and his family, and he just loves to play basketball, so I really want him back on a team."
Now, the 35-year-old is waiting for the best deal to come around.
While he's been away from the game, he's been spending a ton of time going to his son, Kiyan's basketball games.
The Lakers do have one final roster spot and many believe that Carmelo Anthony still has some game left in the tank to compete against many of the NBA's elite.
The Lakers and Anthony had mutual interests toward the end of last season -- until a mound of LA losses occurred.
The Lakers had quite a busy offseason. Six players returned from last season.
That list includes: LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso.
LAKERS NEWCOMERS INCLUDE: Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Jared Dudley, Quinn Cook, Troy Daniels and rookie Talen Horton-Tucker.
The Lakers also have a new head coach in Frank Vogel and assistant coach in Jason Kidd.
"His first year in the league, he took a 17-win Nuggets team to the Playoffs in the West as a rookie," said Fox Sports' Chris Broussard.
"He is one of the best 300 players in the world that's not playing," TNT's Kenny Smith told me in April.
"You can't say he's not one of the best 300 players."
Anthony has been working out with members of the Brooklyn Nets in Los Angeles.
According to a report by SNY's Ian Begley and Anthony Puccio, Anthony and the Nets have participated in informal workouts.
PER PUCCIO AND BEGLEY: "It is unknown if the Nets are one of the teams that Anthony and his representatives have talked to about a potential signing. The club's interest level in signing Anthony to a contract is also unknown."
Melo to Brooklyn from a basketball standpoint makes sense.
The Nets have a potent roster with names like Caris LeVert, Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie complimenting Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
The Nets will likely be without Durant this season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
"He could be a bench player asset to play and may be a good cheap replacement in a sense for KD this season," Josh Hicks of Chicago's Regal Radio suggested to me this afternoon.
Nonetheless, the Nets have a huge season ahead.
"I'm looking forward to it," Nets center, Jarrett Allen told AM New York's Derrel Jazz Johnson.
"I feel like I had a pretty good season last year. I have a lot to show them. I have a lot of knowledge in my mind that I can share with them."
Shaquille O'Neal likes the new-look Nets because it gives New York something to talk about in hoops other than the New York Knicks.
"Jay-Z gave them a little steam when he said he was the owner," Shaq told Scoop B Radio.
"He's going to be there with KD so they should make a lot of noise. The only unfortunate part for the first time in New York history the Knicks aren't the important team. That's kind of funny to me."
Carmelo Anthony has not played NBA basketball since November 8 against his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
One former NBA player believes that Melo is being blackballed.
Big 3 player, Royce White was interviewed Saturday afternoon during the Big 3 in Dallas and according to folks in attendance, White said that Anthony is being blackballed by the NBA.
You'll see a Video tirade Of Royce White dropping in the next few hours with him airing out Lakers' LeBron James, mental health & him being afraid fly being "straight bullshit." White also said he feels blackballed and that Carmelo Anthony is def being blackballed. Stay tuned.
-- 👑📍Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson (@ScoopB) August 18, 2019
Just spent 15 minutes with Royce White (@Highway_30) talking about mental health issues in the NBA.
LISTEN. I am inspired. Full write-up on this coming soon because whew. That was powerful🙌🏽
-- Mighty, J.D. (@Mighty_LR) August 17, 2019
That's not the first time a former NBA player has suggested that Anthony has been blackballed.
Etan Thomas, the 12th pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2000 NBA Draft suggested something similar to me late last month. "I think the media right now is trying to blackball him," he told Scoop B Radio. "And I"m trying to figure out why."
A 10-time NBA All-Star, Anthony has averaged 24.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in his 16-year career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.
"I think next season a team will possibly bring him in," NBA Hall of Famer, Grant Hill told me in March.
In an interview with Taryn Finley of the Huffington Post, Melo suggested that he is at peace with the fact he may not play much longer. "I'm sure [retirement is] coming soon," he said.
"I'd be sitting lying to you if I said it's not coming soon. I think I want it to come soon. I don't think I want to do this forever, but because you love it so much, it's hard to give it up. At the end of the day, at anything you do, when it's your time to go, it's your time to go. But as long as you feel good with that."
While Carmelo Anthony has been away from the game, he's been spending a ton of time going to his son, Kiyan's basketball games.
"He's a great player," New York Knick, Lance Thomas told me in December.
"He's a great teammate, most importantly he's a great human being and he's always been a great advocate for the NBA as a brand. So I just want him to get back on a team and play the sport he loves that's paved a way for him and his family, and he just loves to play basketball, so I really want him back on a team."
Now, the 35-year-old is waiting for the best deal to come around.
While he's been away from the game, he's been spending a ton of time going to his son, Kiyan's basketball games.
The Lakers do have one final roster spot and many believe that Carmelo Anthony still has some game left in the tank to compete against many of the NBA's elite.
The Lakers and Anthony had mutual interests toward the end of last season -- until a mound of LA losses occurred.
The Lakers had quite a busy offseason. Six players returned from last season.
That list includes: LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso.
LAKERS NEWCOMERS INCLUDE: Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Jared Dudley, Quinn Cook, Troy Daniels and rookie Talen Horton-Tucker.
The Lakers also have a new head coach in Frank Vogel and assistant coach in Jason Kidd.
"His first year in the league, he took a 17-win Nuggets team to the Playoffs in the West as a rookie," said Fox Sports' Chris Broussard.
"He is one of the best 300 players in the world that's not playing," TNT's Kenny Smith told me in April.
"You can't say he's not one of the best 300 players."
Anthony has been working out with members of the Brooklyn Nets in Los Angeles.
According to a report by SNY's Ian Begley and Anthony Puccio, Anthony and the Nets have participated in informal workouts.
PER PUCCIO AND BEGLEY: "It is unknown if the Nets are one of the teams that Anthony and his representatives have talked to about a potential signing. The club's interest level in signing Anthony to a contract is also unknown."
Melo to Brooklyn from a basketball standpoint makes sense.
The Nets have a potent roster with names like Caris LeVert, Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie complimenting Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
The Nets will likely be without Durant this season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
"He could be a bench player asset to play and may be a good cheap replacement in a sense for KD this season," Josh Hicks of Chicago's Regal Radio suggested to me this afternoon.
Nonetheless, the Nets have a huge season ahead.
"I'm looking forward to it," Nets center, Jarrett Allen told AM New York's Derrel Jazz Johnson.
"I feel like I had a pretty good season last year. I have a lot to show them. I have a lot of knowledge in my mind that I can share with them."
Shaquille O'Neal likes the new-look Nets because it gives New York something to talk about in hoops other than the New York Knicks.
"Jay-Z gave them a little steam when he said he was the owner," Shaq told Scoop B Radio.
"He's going to be there with KD so they should make a lot of noise. The only unfortunate part for the first time in New York history the Knicks aren't the important team. That's kind of funny to me."
Trailing by two late in the fourth quarter and backed up inside their own one-yard line, Jarrett Stidham and the New England Patriots offense answered the call.
The rookie quarterback out of Auburn led an 11-play, 99-yard drive spanning seven minutes and ending with a Damoun Patterson touchdown to give the Patriots a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
It really was a tale of two halves for the Patriots, who found it difficult to move the ball on offense in the opening half-hour but were more than able to drive downfield in the second stanza.
Stidham was the main reason behind the comeback, finishing 14 for 19 with 193 yards. He also showed good mobility in extending drives, rushing thrice for 18 yards.
-------------------------
FIRST HALF STRUGGLES
The Patriots did not use many of its starters in the secondary and paid the price against the Titans’ top receiving options. Tight end Delanie Walker, who missed all of last season to injury, opened the scoring on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota, who ran in the ensuing two-point conversion.
But as New England settled in, they established a strong running game behind Damien Harris. The rookie had 41 yards on just seven carries during the opening half, including a 20-yard sprint to set up the Patriots in the red zone.
_Follow theHEAVY ON PATRIOTS FACEBOOK PAGEfor the latest breaking news, rumors, and content!_
Two plays later, it was Brandon Bolden who finished the job with a touchdown. Jakobi Meyers caught the two-point pass for the tie.
But Tennessee would answer with Ryan Tannehill entering the game. The former Miami Dolphins’ quarterback led a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Jeremy McNichols found space in the flat as the Patriots’ defense failed to cover him out of the backfield. It resulted in an easy catch-and-run and an acrobatic flip into the endzone.
While the Titans defense held New England to under 125 yards in the opening half, they were rewarded with a safety after a penalty by Lance Kendricks in the endzone.
-------------------------
SECOND HALF SURGE
Kendricks made up for it with a long catch-and-run himself on the Patriots’ opening drive of the second half to put New England deep in Tennessee territory. He was one of 12 Patriots to record a catch on the night.
The Patriots came out strong in the second half, scoring on the opening drive courtesy of a Nick Brossette one-yard touchdown run.
New England even had a chance to pull ahead, but a holding penalty on Hjalte Froholdt resulted in a longer field goal which Stephen Gostkowski shanked.
Defensively, the Patriots answered the bell. New England limited Tennessee to just 75 yards of total offense in the second half and only three total drives.
-------------------------
OTHER NOTES
*
* STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI missed his second field goal in as many games
* Injuries to defensive ends SHILIQUE CALHOUN and DEREK RIVERS have altered the competition for a roster spot at defensive end. CHASE WINOVICH took advantage of an extended look recording six tackles and two QB Hits and TRENT HARRIS had a trio of tackles as well.
* RYAN ALLEN capped a strong week with a pair of lofty punts, averaging 50.5 yards with a long of 57 yards. JAKE BAILEY punted once for 54 yards and had a free kick after a safety go 67 yards. STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI handled the kickoffs this week but missed another field goal from 40 yards.
* ISAIAH WYNN made his preseason debut at left tackle and saw limited action.
* Penalties were an issue once again for the Patriots, flagged 12 times for 99 yards.
* JAKOBI MEYERS continued to prove he belongs on the final roster, catching six passes on six targets for 82 yards and a two-point conversion.
* DAMIEN HARRIS had a strong night as well, rushing 14 times for 80 yards.
* CALVIN MUNSON was a surprise contributor for New England, recording eight tackles, five solo.
* BYRON COWART recorded an early sack and finished with two tackles.
READ NEXT: HOW THE PATRIOTS’ WIDE RECEIVER DEPTH CHART LOOKS WITH JOSH GORDON
Another day, another Antonio Brown story. The Oakland Raiders wide receiver has been a hot-button topic over the last few weeks and it doesn't look like that's about to change. The first issue was his foot injury, which dominated the headlines for roughly a week. Now that the foot injury appears to be behind him, there's been another controversy following Brown.
When ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Brown had filed a grievance against the NFL because they were not going to allow him to wear his helmet of choice, the rumor flood gates opened. NFL Network's Mike Silver came out with a report that Brown has already started to frustrate his new team. After a media storm hit Oakland, things began to settle down when it was revealed that Brown could wear his helmet of choice if he could find one that was manufactured in the last decade.
Well, Brown found a few of those, but now the NFL is making things even more difficult it seems. According to Pro Football Talk, he might not wind up getting what he wants in the end.
"Brown had found several Schutt AiR Advantage helmets that had been made within the last decade, including an AiR Advantage made in 2014 for film. NOCSAE certified one specific helmet, made in 2010, for use. But then the NFL told the Raiders that the helmet would have to be tested before it could be used.
Brown's representatives recently sent the helmet for testing. Earlier today, Brown was informed that the helmet failed the test."
Just when you thought this issue was dead in the water, it comes right back to the forefront. The Schutt AiR Advantage hasn't been prohibited by the NFL, so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense as to why they've denied him. As PFT noted, it looks like the NFL flip-flopped on Brown. He is definitely not done fighting this and the star wideout already responded on Twitter.
_Follow theHEAVY OAKLAND RAIDERS PAGEfor the latest breaking news, rumors and content!_
-------------------------
ANTONIO BROWN'S RESPONSE
We know Brown is never one to keep quiet, and he issued a quick response on his Twitter page.
"NFL N****s For Life ! Super Prejudice unbelievable!" Brown tweeted, with a link to the PFT article.
It's easy to see in Brown's response that he's not happy with the outcome. Honestly, he shouldn't be. It seems as though the NFL opted not to stick with what was originally believed to be required, although that hasn't been confirmed to be the case.
Something has to give, and because of this decision, the issue will continue on over the coming days and possibly weeks. Obviously, the league cares about player safety and doesn't want Brown to get hurt, but if the helmet was approved by the NOCSAE, then you have to wonder why they didn't do the same?
It's a strange turn of events for an already strange story. All parties have to hope that this matter is resolved soon. The season starts in a few weeks and Brown is now back on the practice field. Based on his words, the retirement rumors were never true, but it'll be interesting to see what he does if he can't wear his preferred helmet.
READ NEXT: Raiders' Jon Gruden Heaps Praise Upon Rookie Clelin Ferrell
Muftia Tlaib is Rashida Tlaib's grandmother. The elderly woman lives in a small town called Beit Ur al-Fauqa, according to _The Washington Post,_ which is 15 miles outside of Jerusalem and located in Israeli-occupied West Bank. She entered the news when Israel announced it would not allow Tlaib and fellow Congresswoman Ilhan Omar into the country for their planned visit.
Muftia, who says she is between 85 and 90 years old, said to _The Washington Post _following the news of her granddaughter's ban, "She's in a big position, and she cannot visit her grandmother. So what good is the position?"
Depending on the publication, Muftia's first name is also written as "Muftiyah" and "Muftiah." Here's what you need to know about Muftia Tlaib, Rashida Tlaib's grandmother:
-------------------------
1. MUFTIA TLAIB SAID OF TRUMP TO REUTERS: 'MAY GOD RUIN HIM'
In an interview with Reuters on August 16, Muftia Tlaib acknowledged the politics in the country where her granddaughter lives, saying of President Donald Trump, "Trump tells me I should be happy Rashida is not coming. May God ruin him."
Muftia was referencing a tweet by Trump that read, "Rep. Tlaib wrote a letter to Israeli officials desperately wanting to visit her grandmother. Permission was quickly granted, whereupon Tlaib obnoxiously turned the approval down, a complete setup. The only real winner here is Tlaib's grandmother. She doesn't have to see her now!"
Muftia noted that she was still optimistic her granddaughter would visit soon. She said, "My heart tells me that she will come."
-------------------------
2. MUFTIA TLAIB IS PALESTINIAN & LIVES ON THE WEST BANK
My grandmother always keeps it real. ⬇️🔥
"When asked about Donald Trump and his repeated attacks on her granddaughter, she brushed off the question. "I don't know him," she said. "I don't care."https://t.co/fW1oZkqRqw
-- Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 16, 2019
Muftia Tlaib, a Palestinian, lives on the West Bank. Specifically, she lives in the village of Beit Ur Al-Fauqa.
Per_The Washington Post, _Muftia lives in a limestone house, and has lived in that same house since she moved to the village in 1974. The Tlaib land extends far and includes olive groves and fig trees, Muftia told _The Post, _but the construction of a major highway across their land has made it difficult to walk across.
Muftia said to the publication, "It's hard for me to reach my land on the other side. I used to cross by walking, but once a woman was hit by a car."
-------------------------
3. ISRAEL GRANTED TLAIB A ONE-DAY VISIT TO HER FAMILY, BUT TLAIB REFUSED
My sity wanted to pick figs w/ me. I broke down reading this & worry every single day after I won for my familys safety. My cousin was texting me which photo of @IlhanMN & I they should put on a welcoming poster when I heard the news. I couldnt tell her.https://t.co/TneIQHwDgO
-- Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 16, 2019
Though Israel did eventually offer Tlaib a one-day visit to see her family, she refused the offer, calling it an insult.
Tlaib gave the following Twitter statement on August 16 (along with a picture of Muftia), explaining why she wouldn't accept the offer for a one day visit. The statement reads,
"When I won, it gave the Palestinian people hope that someone will finally speak the truth about the inhumane conditions. I can't allow the State of Israel to take away that light by humiliating me & use my love for my sity to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies. Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in -- fighting against racism, oppression & injustice."
-------------------------
4. TLAIB'S UNCLE, BASSAM TLAIB, SAYS MUFTIA IS A 'SECOND MOTHER' TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN
This woman right here is my sity. She deserves to live in peace & with human dignity. I am who I am because of her. The decision by Israel to bar her granddaughter, a U.S. Congresswoman, is a sign of weakness b/c the truth of what is happening to Palestinians is frightening. pic.twitter.com/GGcFLiH9N3
-- Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 15, 2019
To Reuters, Bassam Tlaib, Tlaib's uncle, described Muftia as a "second mother" to Tlaib. He explained, "Rashida sees her granny as a second mother, she has always supported her. Rashida says she owes her success to her grandmother."
Bassam further stated that Muftia and Tlaib had not seen one another since 2006. He added, "She was going to slaughter a sheep when Rashida arrived and prepare her favorite food, stuffed vine leave."
Muftia said of her granddaughter to _The Washington Post, _"I am proud of her. Who wouldn't be proud of a granddaughter like that? I love her and am so proud of her."
-------------------------
5. RASHIDA TLAIB OFTEN POSTS ABOUT HER FAMILY TO SOCIAL MEDIA
.@AGvaryahu I was looking forward to it & cant thank you enough for being on the right side of history. As an American who grew up embracing justice & equality, I appreciate your courage & hope that one day my Congressional colleagues are given the opportunity to hear you. https://t.co/wbboQEUHge
-- Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 15, 2019
Tlaib frequently posts about her family on social media, both those living on the West Bank and those in the United States.
In a tweet on August 15, Tlaib wrote, "This woman right here is my sity. She deserves to live in peace & with human dignity. I am who I am because of her. The decision by Israel to bar her granddaughter, a U.S. Congresswoman, is a sign of weakness b/c the truth of what is happening to Palestinians is frightening."
And in an Instagram post to her grandmother, Tlaib wrote, "Habibty sity. I won't stop fighting for you and other Palestinans to live with human dignity and truly be free."
Myles Garrett was among the bevy Cleveland Browns stars who did not play against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Following the game his head coach Freddie Kitchens revealed why.
Kitchens said Garrett -- the Browns former No. 1 overall pick and star defensive end -- was "banged up" during the team's joint practice with the Colts on Thursday.
"It happened on one of the very last plays the other day," Kitchens said. "He'll be fine. But if they're a little banged up, I'm going to make sure they're fine. If we would have played a game, he would have been out there."
#Browns HC Freddie Kitchens said Myles Garrett didn't play today because he got a little banged up in Thursday's joint practice but he'll be fine and would've played today if it were regular season
-- Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) August 17, 2019
Kitchens did not disclose what kind of injury the defensive end was dealing with, but it doesn't sound serious.
Garrett made the Pro Bowl last season, notched 44 total tackles, including 35 solo stops, playing in all 16 games. He also recorded 13.5 sacks, coming up just a half-sack short of the tying Reggie Camp's 35-year-old single-season franchise record.
He expressed his goals for this season during an interview The Athletic's Lindsay Jones.
"I want to be the best player in the league, and that takes consistency and attention to detail," Garrett said. "I have to always make sure that I'm tuned in to the call, and make sure I'm making the most out of each play and not taking any plays off. I think the sky is the limit now, not only for me but for this team. I think we all can come together and do something special."
-------------------------
BROWNS BACKUP QUARTERBACK GARRETT GILBERT IMPRESSES AGAINST COLTS
The Browns wanted to see what Garrett Gilbert could do, and the journeyman QB proved himself in a big way.
Gilbert started the game and in one half of action was 13-of-19 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Gilbert is currently in a competition with veteran Drew Stanton for the backup job to Baker Mayfield.
"My job, my goal really everyday is to simply go out and improve and be the best quarterback I can be for this team," Gilbert told reporters in his post game press conference. "Where I fall on the depth chart, any of that stuff, it doesn't matter to me. It's all about improving every day and from there the chips will fall where they may."
Garrett came over from the now defunct AAF. Previous to that, he was sixth-round pick of the St. Louis Rams back in 2014 and bounced around the league.
One of the few success stories to emerge from the league, Gilbert was 157-of-259 for 2,152 yards with 13 touchdowns with the Orlando Apollos. Gilbert and Mayfield went to the same high school -- Lake Travis in Texas.
-------------------------
BROWNS RB D'ERNEST JOHNSON HAS STRONG OUTING
As Gilbert did, Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson made a case for a backup role with a strong performance against the Colts.
Dontrell Hilliard is currently holding the backup spot to Nick Chubb for the first half of the season, but missed Saturday's game nursing a hamstring injury. With a heavier than expected workload, Johnson made an impact against Indy.
Johnson had 10 carries for 53 yards for a nice 5.3 average, looking explosive on his runs. He also caught a touchdown in the first half to put the Browns up 14-7. He had three grabs in all for 36 yards and looked solid in protection.
READ NEXT: ODELL BECKHAM DEFENDS SEXUALITY AGAIN AFTER NEW UNDERWEAR PHOTO DROPS [LOOK]
Dak Prescott is currently projected by the Fantasy Football Calculator as a mid-to-late round pick in their draft averages. Specifically, the Cowboys quarterback averages out as the 138th overall selection, or the middle of the 12th round.
There are many that are reading the tea leaves within the Dallas organization, as well as Prescott's prior successes under center, that call the 26-year-old wildly underrated. USA Today released their all-sleepers team and placed Prescott at No. 1.
Major upgrade among pass-catchers in his fourth year. Dallas' offensive line improves with healthy return of Travis Frederick.
These additions, outside of Amari Cooper at midseason last year, include Allen Hurns, Randall Cobb and future Hall of Famer Jason Witten at tight end. There are doubts there, as Hurns and Cobb combined for just over 600 yards receiving last year and Witten spent last fall in the Monday Night Football booth.
However, Action Network also points out that over the last three seasons, Prescott "is one of only three quarterbacks to work as a top-10 fantasy football QB" in each year. Logically, he's had less to work with the last three seasons, but has still thrived in terms of fantasy value.
The real boon to his value comes with Cooper, who rejuvenated the Dallas passing attack after his trade from Oakland. According to CBS Sports:
Prescott turned around his Fantasy fortunes in 2018 once the Cowboys acquired Amari Cooper, averaging 21.5 Fantasy points per game including four with more than 22 points over nine outings.
Over the last half of the season, Prescott eclipsed 30 fantasy points three times, including a 41-point outburst in the regular-season finale against the rival Giants. Overall, he recorded a career-high 3,885 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and just eight interceptions last season.
His legs also chip into his point production. He has tallied over 300 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons, as well as six touchdowns in each of the last three.
-------------------------
JERRY JONES SEEMS TO VALUE PRESCOTT MORE THAN EZEKIEL ELLIOTT
One factor to consider is that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems to value Prescott more than star running back Ezekiel Elliott. He made this point crystal clear at the start of training camp when Elliott started his contract holdout.
“Of course, (Hall of Fame back) Emmitt (Smith) had participated in a Super Bowl, being the first rushing champ — this is very important — first time ever a rushing champion was on a Super Bowl-winning team,” Jones told KTVT-TV in Dallas back in July. “The point there is, you don’t have to have a rushing champion to win a Super Bowl.”
Elliott was the NFL rushing champion last season with 1,434 yards. With little work done on the contract front over the last month, Jones seems content to let Prescott wing the ball this season.
Analysts such as Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd agree with Jones' tactic, as Prescott and the Cowboys improved last season due to the infusion of Cooper into the passing game.
“Before they landed Amari Cooper, Dak was 3-4. After, 7-2," Cowherd said. "He completed 62 (percent of his passes) before Amari Cooper. 71 (percent) after. Eight touchdowns, four interceptions before Amari Cooper. 14 touchdowns, four interceptions after.”
There are three pieces to why you should draft Prescott. One, he's performed well over his whole career. Two, he has new bullets in his chamber. Three, he has the trust of management.
This lines up for a 4,000-yard plus season in Dallas, and a successful fantasy starter.
_YOU CAN PURCHASE THE UFC 241 PPV RIGHT HERE. For pricing details and an event preview, read on below. _
-------------------------
Featuring a heavyweight title rematch alongside the return of one of the promotion's most popular stars, UFC 241 is shaping up to be a card you don't want to miss.
The main card starts at 10 p.m. ET and can be bought and watched right here exclusively through ESPN+. There are a couple different pricing options, so here's a rundown on how to buy the UFC 241 PPV and watch a live stream of the fights online:
-------------------------
HOW TO ORDER UFC 241 PPV
You need a subscription to ESPN+ to purchase UFC 241, so your options for ordering are dependent on whether or not you're already an ESPN+ subscriber:
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ESPN+: You can get a special deal that includes a one-year subscription to ESPN+ ($49.99 value) _and_ UFC 241 ($59.99 value) for just $79.98.
You can purchase that bundle right here, and you'll then be able to watch the UFC 241 early prelims (ESPN+) and the main card (ESPN+ PPV).
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ESPN+: You can buy UFC 241 right here for $59.99.
The price may say $79.98 (reflecting the bundle for new subscribers) if you're not already signed into your ESPN+ account, but after selecting "Buy Now," you'll sign in to your account and the price will then change to $59.99.
-------------------------
WHERE TO WATCH UFC 241 LIVE STREAM
Once you're signed up for ESPN+ and you've purchased the PPV, there are a number of different ways you can watch the UFC 241 main card live stream online.
You can watch the fights on your computer via ESPN.com, or you can watch on your phone (Android and iPhone compatible), tablet, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or other compatible streaming device via the ESPN app.
For all of those options, you'll need to sign in with your ESPN+ account to watch.
-------------------------
UFC 241 PREVIEW
The UFC 241 card gets started off with a pair of exciting fights featuring some of the promotion's most exciting up and coming fighters. Ian Heinisch leads off the night facing off with longtime UFC vet Derek Brunson in a middleweight showdown. Similarly in the featherweight division, up and comer Sodiq Yusuff matches up with the established Gabriel Benitez. Both Heinisch and Yusuff are most likely a win away from moving themselves into the upper echelon of the division and seriously contending for a title shot.
241 also features the UFC's pound for pound hardest puncher in Yoel Romero. Romero is tasked with trying to slow down middleweight super prospect Paulo Costa - who sits on an undefeated 12-0 record. Costa has never let a fight go to a decision in his career and his aggressive style paired with Romero's legendary power should make for an extremely exciting showdown. In fact, the fight could possibly serve as a title eliminator at middleweight - raising the stakes even higher.
The co-main event offers the long-awaited return of UFC fan-favorite Nate Diaz. Coming off nearly a three-year hiatus from professional competition following his two-fight war with Conor McGregor, fans have been itching to see more of the younger Diaz brother. While coming into the first McGregor fight on short notice, Diaz submitted the "champ-champ" before losing a hard-fought decision in the second showing. In his return, Diaz gets to face former UFC champion Anthony Pettis - a man he has long had some bad blood with. While Pettis has struggled in recent years, he is coming off one of his best wins since losing his belt after finishing Stephen Thompson.
While the card as a whole is exciting, there are few things better in combat sports than a heavyweight title clash. Former champion Stipe Miocic tries to reclaim his belt from one of the greatest mixed martial artists in the history of the sport - and the man who knocked him out in their last matchup - Daniel Cormier. Cormier's win over Miocic thrust him into the UFC's historic "champ-champ" club and ended Miocic's stellar run at the top of the division. While it once looked like Stipe would challenge for the most title defenses in heavyweight history, he now faces a new challenge in trying to reclaim his belt from one of the best to ever do it.
READ NEXT: HOW TO BUY UFC 241: PPV PRICE & ESPN PLUS BUNDLE DEAL
Tonight Hallmark continues its TV Summer Nights series with _A Summer Romance_, starring Erin Krakow and Ryan Paevey. Read on to learn all about the movie, including the cast, where it was filmed (hint: not in Montana), and see behind-the-scenes photos. THIS ARTICLE WILL HAVE MINOR SPOILERS IN TERMS OF PHOTOS FROM THE MOVIE, BEHIND-THE-SCENES PICTURES, AND FILM LOCATIONS.
-------------------------
HOW TO WATCH 'A SUMMER ROMANCE'
Crown Media
_A SUMMER ROMANCE_ PREMIERES TONIGHT, SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2019 AT 9 P.M. EASTERN/8 P.M. CENTRAL. Encores will air on August 18 at 6 p.m. Eastern, August 21 at 9 p.m., August 24 at 7 p.m., August 25 at 2 p.m., and September 14 at 9 a.m. Eastern.
To find out what channel Hallmark is on for you, click here to go to TV Guide's listings. Then change the "Provider" (right under TV Listings) to your local provider. You'll be able to scroll down to see what channel Hallmark is on for you.
The synopsis for tonight's movie reads: "Samantha's Montana ranch is her family's legacy, so when a developer shows up to buy it, Sam isn't interested. But as he tries to win her trust and her ranch, Sam finds he might also be winning her heart."
-------------------------
'A SUMMER ROMANCE' WAS FILMED IN CANADA, NOT MONTANA
Although the storyline for _A Summer Romance _takes place in Montana, the movie was actually filmed in Vancouver and other parts of Canada, TV Insider shares. The movie was originally called _Dude Ranch_.
Paevey said he did his own horseback riding and even milked his own cow for the movie, Madison.com reported. Here he is in this behind-the-scenes photo from Surrey, British Columbia.
-------------------------
THE CAST FOR 'A SUMMER ROMANCE'
Crown Media
The film stars Erin Krakow as Samantha. She's best known for her role as Elizabeth Thornton on _When Calls the Heart_. Her many other credits include _Army Wives, Guiding Light _(Molly), _Castle, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS, Good Girls Revolt, Chance at Romance, A Cookie Cutter Christmas, _and much more. She also starred in _Marrying Father Christmas_, a Hallmark favorite.
Crown Media
Ryan Paevey stars as Richard. He's starring as Detective Nathan West on _General Hospital_ and played the title role in the 2016 Hallmark movie: _Unleashing Mr. Darcy, _along with starring on _Harvest Love_. He's an outdoors enthusiast when he's not acting. On his days off, he likes to cliff jump and find other adventures. According to his bio "sitting still is not an option." He also loves all things tech and video games and was featured in Christina Aguilera's music video _Your Body. _He recently starred in Hallmark's _From Friend to Fiance._
Ava Grace Cooper played Annie. She is perhaps best known by Hallmark fans for her role as Opal on When Calls the Heart. She's appeared in more than 32 episodes so far. She's made quite a name for herself at a young age and already has many credits to her name. Her credits include _Mingle All the Way_ (another 2018 Christmas movie where she played Riley Fielding), _The Miracle Season, iZombie_ (Ragamuffin), _Beyond_ (Emily), _The Sweetest Christmas, Falling for Vermont, The Perfect Bride, The Edge of Seventeen_, and some short films including _Evil Plans, Cadence_, and _In Hiding_. She also starred in _A Midnight Kiss _in 2018.
Crown MediaSarah Strange, Erin Krakow, Kevin O'Grady, Ava Grace Cooper
Pictured above are Sarah Strange, Erin Krakow, Ava Grace Cooper, and Kevin O'Grady
Sarah Strange played Catherine. Her previous credits include _Snowpiercer_ the TV series, _The Man in the High Castle _(Ledette), _Garage Sale Mysteries _(Dani), _On the Farm, Kindergarten Cop 2 _(Miss Sinclaire), _Level Up, The Triple Eight _(Erica), _Men in Trees _(Theresa), _ReGenesis _(Jill), _Life as We Know It _(Mia), _Madison _(Carol), _Ranma 1/2 _(Ranma), and much more.
Kevin O'Grady played Buck. His credits include _Garage Sale Mysteries _(Detective Lynwood), _Rachel, The Mist, Drone, Every Christmas Has a Story, You Me Her _(Gabe), _Pants on Fire, Supernatural, The Killing, Psych, Arrow, Hiccups, _and much more.
Also starring in the movie are:
* Geoff Gustafson (Todd)
* Lucie Guest (Ashley)
* Liza Huget (Maryann)
* Jesse Arthur Carroll (Lonnie)
* Milo Shandel (Perkins)
* Stellina Rusich (Trish)
* Trevor Lerner (The Driver)
* Billy Wickman (Larry)
Here are some more photos from the movie:
The Philadelphia Eagles lured veteran quarterback Josh McCown out of retirement Saturday and fans have picked up on one crazy thing. McCown bares a striking resemblance to Rocky Balboa’s old nemesis, Ivan Drago.
McCown, who inked a one-year deal with the Eagles, has played for 10 different NFL teams in his 17-year career. He’s enjoyed moderate success in two decades, including great chemistry with receiver Alshon Jeffery. Perhaps his biggest claim to fame is looking like Dolph Ludgren, aka the actor who portrayed Russian boxer Ivan Drago in Rocky III.
The Internet was buzzing with memes and funny comments Saturday following the impromptu signing of McCown. It almost broke the internet. Seriously.
Is it just me or does Josh McCown look like Ivan Drago? I guess we’re Keeping up with the Eagle Celeb Look Alike Challenge.
Also welcome to the team, Josh!
-- Sheel Bhuta (@SheelBhuta) August 17, 2019
The Eagles didn’t comment on the Drago comparisons but they did introduce their new quarterback with an up-close and personal video on social media.
McCown praised the Eagles organization for taking a chance on him, calling out Philly’s close proximity to his hometown Charlotte as a reason for signing with the team. To make room on the roster, the Eagles cut wide receiver Braxton Miller.
“The whole organization in general, just where they’ve been the last few years under Howie (Roseman) and Doug’s (Pederson) leadership, winning a championship and just the standard of excellence that they pursue and to come be a part of that and to have this opportunity this late in my career, to keep it going, I’m just excited to be part of it,” McCown told PhiladelphiaEagles.com. “More than anything, it was the comfort level I had talking with Doug, where they’re trying to take this thing and where they’re trying to get back to and understanding the expectations that they have here.”
McCown was also quick to point to the exciting opportunity to sit behind Carson Wentz and mentor the younger quarterbacks in the locker room. He called the entire decision a “quick sell.”
“I’ve been in a lot of situations throughout my career — where I was helping a young guy or serving as a stopgap kind of guy or being part of a rebuilding situation — so to come to a situation where it was more established, where they’ve got the quarterback (Carson Wentz) and a veteran defense and a lot of good players on the offense, that to me was enticing,” McCown said. “To see how it’s done at a high level and done right, that was the dialogue with Howie and Doug. It was an easy sell, to be quite honest.”
The Dallas Cowboys have their hands full before the start of the regular season.
While the Cowboys don't open up their 2019 regular season schedule until September 8, they have several things to take care of before then. All three of their most pressing issues revolve around the contract matters of Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper, with none bigger than the current situation involving the franchise quarterback.
So what exactly are the roadblocks preventing Prescott and the Cowboys from reaching an agreement on a new deal?
Here's everything you need to know regarding negotiations involving both sides.
_Follow theHEAVY ON COWBOYS FACEBOOK PAGEfor the latest breaking news, rumors and content!_
-------------------------
DAK PRESCOTT REPORTEDLY WANTS $40 MILLION PER SEASON
Prescott has made headlines as of late due to his desire to earn $40 million per season. Yes, you read that right. The 26-year-old quarterback recently turned down the Cowboys' offer of $30 million per season, according to The Athletic's Michael Lombardi, with the reported desire to earn $10 million more per season.
For perspective, just two quarterbacks in the NFL will earn more than $40 million in cash in 2019 -- none other than the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger ($45 million) and the Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan ($44.75 million), according to Spotrac.
For comparison's sake, Roethlisberger is about to enter his 16th season and has won two Super Bowls, appeared in three of them and is a six-time Pro Bowler. In regards to Ryan, he's a former NFL MVP who is entering his 12th season and is a four-time Pro Bowler and a former First-Team All-Pro. Both players have been two of the best quarterbacks in the league over the past decade.
On the other end of that equation is Prescott, who desires to be paid in the same range as the aforementioned two. The fourth-year quarterback is a two-time Pro Bowler who has led the Cowboys to division titles in two of his three years as the starting quarterback. However, although he plays the top position in football -- 12 of the league's top-paid players are quarterbacks -- he's not even the most important player on offense.
That distinction belongs to Elliott and one could even argue that the second-most important skill position player is Cooper, who made a major difference in escalating the offense midway through the 2018 season. The 25-year-old Cooper caught 53 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns in just nine games with the Cowboys.
I think we all know that Prescott's value to the Cowboys is not the same as Roethlisberger's to the Steelers or Ryan's to the Falcons. However, this is a guy who is just entering his prime -- along with the aforementioned Eliott and Cooper -- playing the most important position in all of football.
-------------------------
DAK PRESCOTT'S RESUME IS BETTER THAN CARSON WENTZ
Most importantly, all he does is win. He has yet to have a losing record in three of his seasons as a starter and he has compiled a 32-16 record. By comparison, the Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz has compiled a 23-17 record while being unable to stay healthy. He's had his season end in each of the last two seasons due to injuries and has yet to even appear in a playoff game.
Wentz, a member of the same draft class as Prescott, recently signed a four-year, $128 million contract extension with $107 million guaranteed. In other words, Wentz is earning $32 million per season despite having less success on the field than Prescott.
-------------------------
DAK PRESCOTT IS DUE TO EARN JUST $2 MILLION THIS SEASON
It's understandable why Prescott would command a little more than his market value. In three seasons with the Cowboys, the former fourth-round draft selection has earned just $1.8 million in total earnings.
Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Prescott is due to earn just $2 million. The bottom line is, the Cowboys are getting a lot more out of this deal than Prescott.
The fact that the Mississippi State product was selected with a late-round draft selection, his reputation as a game manager and the widely-accepted notion that Elliott and Cooper are more important pieces to the Cowboys' puzzle undoubtedly hurts Prescott's leverage in contract negotiations.
-------------------------
WILL DAK PRESCOTT SIGN A NEW DEAL WITH THE COWBOYS?
Now that we've covered all of the bases regarding Prescott's contract situation with the Cowboys, what can we expect moving forward with three weeks left to go in the regular season?
The bottom line is this -- Prescott will receive a new deal before the start of the season from the Cowboys. Although he's the third-most important player on offense, he plays the most important position in all of football.
He won't be receiving $40 million per season on his new contract, but that's merely a negotiation tactic. Both the Cowboys and Prescott know that he's not worth that kind of money. However, he should receive a new deal worth more than the $32 million per season that Wentz is currently earning.
Why is that?
Because you know damn well that owner Jerry Jones is going to want to make his franchise quarterback happy. More importantly, he's going to show his appreciation by outdoing the contract offered to the Eagles' Wentz. What better way to show your loyalty than to offer a better contract than one from a division rival?
For the first time since Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irving teamed up to lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowls in the 90's, Dallas has a young trio to build around on offense.
With Dallas shaping up to be an annual Super Bowl contender -- one reminiscent of the dynasty from the 90's -- there's no reason to believe that Prescott won't be signed to a new deal before the start of the regular season.
READ NEXT: NFL DECIDES FATE OF PATRIOTS WR JOSH GORDON
_F__OLLOW D.J. SIDDIQI ON TWITTER @DJSIDDIQI_
The Cleveland Browns moved to 2-0 in the preseason with a 21-18 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.
The Browns pulled off the victory without the majority of their stars, with Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Jarvis Landry all sitting out the contest.
The Browns took the early lead, with Jaelen Strong hauling in a four-yard pass at the end of the first quarter wide open in the corner of the end zone.
D'Ernest Johnson and Derrick Willies also caught touchdown strikes.
It wasn't the prettiest games, especially in the second half. But there was still plenty to take away from the contest as the Browns start honing in on roster cuts and narrowing down the talent. Here are some of the main points of interest following the victory.
-------------------------
GARRETT GILBERT IS MAKING A SOLID CASE TO BE BAKER MAYFIELD'S BACKUP
Cleveland Browns quarterback Garrett Gilbert.
The Browns wanted to see what Garrett Gilbert could do, and the journeyman QB made a case for himself against the Colts for a depth chart promotion.
Gilbert started the game and in one half of action was 13-of-19 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Gilbert is currently in a competition with veteran Drew Stanton for the backup job to Baker Mayfield.
Garrett came over from the now defunct AAF. Previous to that, he was sixth-round pick of the St. Louis Rams back in 2014 and bounced around the league.
One of the few success stories to emerge from the league, Gilbert was 157-of-259 for 2,152 yards with 13 touchdowns with the Orlando Apollos. Interestingly enough, Gilbert and Mayfield went to the same high school -- Lake Travis in Texas.
Stanton has more than a decade of experience in the NFL, making the first start of his career for the Detroit Lions back in 2008 during their 0-16 campaign. Stanton has a 20-24 TD-INT ratio over his career, the highlight of his time in the NFL being a GIF-able celebration during a game he wasn't in. Stanton did not take a snap against the Colts.
-------------------------
D'ERNEST JOHNSON MIGHT BE THE ANSWER FOR THE BROWNS AT RUNNING BACK
With Kareem Hunt being out for the first half of the season serving a suspension, the backup role to Nick Chubb is a major question for the Browns.
Dontrell Hilliard is currently holding that spot on the depth chart, but missed the game against the Colts nursing a hamstring injury. With a heavier than expected workload, D'Ernest Johnson made an impact against Indy.
Johnson had 10 carries for 53 yards for a nice 5.3 average, looking explosive on his runs. He also caught a touchdown in the first half to put the Browns up 14-7. He had three grabs in all for 36 yards and looked solid in protection.
The backup spot to Chubb for the first half of the season became an issue after the Browns decided to deal Duke Johnson Jr. to the Houston Texans for a conditional fourth round pick.
-------------------------
THE 'SCOTTISH HAMMER' JAMIE GILLAN HAS AN APPROPRIATE NICKNAME
Jamie Gillan stole the show early when he punted a 74-yard monster that rolled inside of the Colts 20-yard line.
Gillian is a rookie and is competing with veteran Britton Colquitt for the starting gig. Colquitt has been booting the ball for the Browns since 2016.
Colquitt was born in England and played rugby growing up in Scotland before moving to the United States in his teen years. He earned a scholarship to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which he earned through a Facebook post.
"Britton is going to be the steady Eddie. He is going to give you the 48 yards, 4.8 hang time, outside the numbers," Browns special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. "Jamie is going to wow you. Jamie is the guy that is going to bomb the ball. Unfortunately, the next time he is up there he does not hit one quite as well. He needs to find consistency."
-------------------------
AUSTIN CORBETT IS OFFICIALLY ON THE BUBBLE
The Browns selected Austin Corbett in the second round in 2018, but the interior offensive lineman out of out of Nevada has not lived up to the billing of his draft position.
And things only got worse against the Colts.
Corbett was penciled to slide into the right guard spot this season, but has been firmly beat out by Eric Kush so far, being demoted to second team. He saw some reps at center against the Colts, but struggled snapping the ball, was blown up repeatedly and was called for holding late.
Another TERRIBLE Corbett snap. If he wasn't picked 33 he wouldn't have a job.
-- Jake Burns (@jake_burns18) August 17, 2019
At this point, Corbett is on the bubble unless he can turn things around in a hurry.
-------------------------
-------------------------
OTHER TAKEAWAYS: FROM MACK WILSON TO KAREEM HUNT
GettyCleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt is tackled against the Colts.
* Mack Wilson has continued his impact known. The rookie linebacker out of Alabama was everywhere and just missed out on a big sack of Jacoby Brissett. He had a pair of interceptions in the Browns first preseason game, returning one for a touchdown.
Mack Wilson still playing into the 4th quarter. Youd better believe Freddies watching him closely
-- Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) August 17, 2019
* Cleveland was undisciplined in the contest, racking up almost 100 yards in penalties.
* The Browns need kicking help. Greg Joseph pushed a 53-yard kick wide and Austin Seibert -- a fifth-round pick by Cleveland in this year's draft -- missed from 52.. The game was played indoors.
* Rookie KR/WR Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi was banged up with a rub injury, making his case for a roster spot more of an uphill battle.
* Recently signed TE Rico Gathers had his first two catches with the Browns. The former Baylor basketball player has been lauded for his
* Odell Beckham Jr. can pull off a mean drum solo.READ NEXT: ODELL BECKHAM DEFENDS SEXUALITY AGAIN AFTER NEW UNDERWEAR PHOTO DROPS [LOOK]
With his suspension in the rearview mirror, Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill almost has to be a first-round pick. His gaudy statistical output made him one of the top point producers in 2018, which figures to continue this fall with Patrick Mahomes under center in Kansas City.
Heath Cummings of CBS Sports instantly pegged Hill as the No. 1 receiver in non-PPR fantasy once the league suspension was lifted last month. Hill's versatility, surrounding weapons in the Chiefs offense and scoring production had Cummings project him to fifth overall.
Over his first three seasons in the league, Hill has been one of the most efficient receivers in the league, averaging better than 10 yards per target and scoring once every 13 targets. In 2018, he caught 87 passes for 1,479 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns. He has arguably the most talented quarterback in the league in Patrick Mahomes. He also has Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins to keep defenses honest in coverage.
Scout has Hill just below Houston's DeAndre Hopkins in receiver rankings despite scoring 1.4 points less per game in 2018. Hill eclipsed double-digit points in half of his games last year, including outputs of 28, 32, 25 and 33 against the Chargers, Patriots, Cardinals and Rams, respectively.
Since turning pro in 2016, Hill has generated 3,255 receiving yards and 25 scores, as well as 477 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. The only thing outside of any further information on his domestic violence allegations that can affect his draft stock is on the injury front.
Tyreek Hill was carted off at Chiefs training camp at the end of last month with a bruised quad, reported Adam Teicher of ESPN NFL Nation.
“Tyreek Hill gave the Chiefs a scare when he stayed on the ground after being hit by CB Bashaud Breeland, who was breaking up a pass. Hill eventually got up and hobbled over to the medical tent, where he is being examined,” Teicher also tweeted.
Adam Schefter quickly reported that Hill “is expected to be fine.” Against the Bengals in the preseason opener, he saw a single play on the first series. He didn't make the stat sheet, but is expected to see further action in Saturday's tilt with the Steelers.
Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star confirmed as much from head coach Andy Reid.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he expects the first-teamers to play the first half “or somewhere thereabout.” But if the opener is an indication, the starters won’t make it to halftime…
…Reid said the plan this weekend is for the twos to play the third quarter and the threes the fourth quarter.
Hill's health, plus his return from suspension, has analysts drooling over his and the Chiefs offensive potential for 2019. Fox Sports' Cris Carter talked about it on "First Things First."
“Man, I got bad news for the NFL,” Carter said on the show. “Tyreek Hill is just getting started. Last year was his first year as a full receiver, running cross routes, playing in the slot, playing the Z some, running a bunch of reverses. The overall responsibility that he had as far as the amount of offense he had to know and now Andy Reid can grow that? Oh my goodness. Tyreek Hill, to me, he’s the most dangerous receiver in the NFL."
He'll generate a lot of yards for the Chiefs, as well as a lot of points for fantasy owners worldwide.
Hideki Matsuyama's course record stood for just one day. After the Japanese golfer recorded a 63 on Friday at the BMW Championship in Medinah (Ill.), Justin Thomas beat that by two strokes on Saturday.
The 26-year-old American birdied on each of his first five holes and posted a pair of eagles on the back-9. After entering the day two behind Matsuyama, he now sits atop the leaderboard at an astounding 21-under par entering Sunday.
On Thursday, Thomas tied the course record with a 65, despite a reportedly "terrible warmup." Three days, three course records!
Tony Finau trails by six strokes at 15-under, while Rory Sabbatini and Patrick Cantlay both sit just one stroke behind that. Barring a collapse from Thomas, the three will just be fighting for runner-up status.
Thomas entered the week ranked No. 15 in the FedEx Standings. His 12th-place finish at last week's Northern Trust ensured his spot in the BMW Championship. His dominant Saturday in Illinois essentially guarantees that he'll move onto next week's Tour Championship with a chance to win his first FedEx Playoff title since his 2017 victory.
It's been a "close but no cigar" type of season for the Kentucky native. He has earned five top-10 finishes, including second place at the Genesis Open and a pair of third-place showings at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Along with his previous FedEx title, his biggest accomplishment came with his win at the 2017 PGA Championship. Should we win at Medinah, he would earn a $1,665,000 in prize money. If he carries that onto next week in Atlanta, he could see as much as $15 million more.
Here are some highlights from his outstanding effort on Saturday.
The Oakland Raiders have some rookies that are really going to need to make an impact in 2019 if they're going to make the playoffs. Chief among those rookies is fourth overall pick out of Clemson, Clelin Ferrell. The Raiders had no consistent pass rush threat on the roster in 2018, so Ferrell is going to be relied on heavily to get to the quarterback. Many considered him a reach when the team drafted him, but that shouldn't discount the fact that he was highly productive in his college career. He's already been getting the praise of teammates and head coach Jon Gruden.
-------------------------
JON GRUDEN HEAPS PRAISE UPON ROOKIE CLELIN FERRELL
After Saturday's practice, Gruden had a chance to talk about his rookie defensive end.
"His pursuit, his ability to stop the run, his play recognition, he's going to be a really good power rusher, I think," said Gruden when asked about Ferrell. "We're happy with Ferrell."
Ferrell isn't the freak athlete that a lot of pass rushers are these days, but he's very eager to learn. He's a player with very high character. When Bleacher Report's Matt Miller did his scouting report on Ferrell, he compared him to new Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark. Clark has 32 sacks over the last three seasons, so the Raiders wouldn't be too upset if that's what he develops into.
It's unlikely that Ferrell will develop into the type of sack artists that get 20 sacks a season like J.J. Watt. The comparison to Clark seems pretty accurate. Ferrell will probably hover between 10 and 13 sacks a year. Luckily, that's exactly what the Raiders need. A consistent sack threat that is an all-around player. He may not have the upside of a Josh Allen, but he's an NFL-ready rookie and will be a solid contributor for Oakland.
He's already impressed as a leader and while it's hard to gauge how well his pass-rushing skills are developing, the fact the team slated him as a starter is a good sign. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said Ferrell has been "exactly what we thought he was" as a player that is capable of being an "every-down end."
_Follow theHEAVY OAKLAND RAIDERS PAGEfor the latest breaking news, rumors and content!_
-------------------------
HOW DID FERRELL DO IN HIS FIRST TWO PRESEASON GAMES?
Through the first two preseason games for the Raiders, Ferrell has had a chance to take a good amount of snaps. According to Silver & Black Pride, he saw 30% off the team's defensive snaps against the Los Angeles Rams. He got two tackles and no sacks. He made his way around the field and showed good hustle. He still needs work if he's going to get to the quarterback, but he has time. Ferrell also took 30% of the defensive snaps against the Arizona Cardinals. He only got one tackle on them and still hasn't gotten a sack. That being said, he's looked solid. He definitely needs to start tallying sacks sooner rather than later. It's still just the preseason, so his development will be something to keep an eye on.
READ NEXT: Raiders' Derek Carr Gives Update on Antonio Brown's Status
Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams was electric down the stretch last season following the team’s release of starter Kareem Hunt.
The Chiefs offense desperately needed someone to fill that role vacated by Hunt in the stretch run and postseason, a role which Williams embraced.
Ranked 21st in Matthew Berry’s Top 200 list, Williams could be poised for a breakout campaign as he looks to shed his ‘role player’ label to become a top-10 running back in the NFL. He won the starting job last year, but that doesn’t mean he’ll do the same again this season.
After all, the Kansas City backfield is much deeper this season. Along with Damien Williams, rookie Darwin Thompson has had a strong start to the preseason while veteran Carlos Hyde has proven himself to be a primary back in the past.
So is drafting Damien Williams worth taking the risk?
-------------------------
RELIABILITY
Damien Williams is definitely a dual-threat running back. Not only is he quick out of the backfield, but he provides a significant check-down option for Patrick Mahomes.
During his time with Miami, he was utilized primarily as a receiving back and a reliable one at that. His career catch-percentage is 78 percent, including 95.8 percent last season.
He hasn’t compiled a ton of rushing yards in his career but did average 5.1 yards per carry a year ago. Williams rushed 50 times for 256 yards – both career highs.
It’s a small sample size, yes, but if it’s any indication what he can do in the Chiefs offense and in support of Patrick Mahomes, Williams is definitely one of the most reliable options to have at running back.
-------------------------
INJURY WOES
Prior to this week, Williams was sidelined by a hamstring injury that kept him entirely out of camp. In his absence, it has allowed other Chiefs’ backs to make an impression and a case for the starting job. The injury has hindered him longer than many in the Kansas City organization expected which has created the heavy competition at running back.
In the past, Williams has battled with injuries when he was with the Miami Dolphins. During his lone run as a starter in 2017, he dislocated his shoulder after just four games in an extended role and missed the remainder of that season. In his place, Kenyan Drake earned the starting job.
And in 2016, he began the year on the PUP list which derailed his ability to jettison into a larger role behind Jay Ajayi.
-------------------------
BACKFIELD COMMITTEE
It appears Andy Reid is looking to embrace a ‘running-back-by-committee’ philosophy on offense this season. While this has some overall positive effects in throwing off opposing defenses, it does create a challenge for fantasy owners to judge production.
Hyde, Thompson, and even Darrell Williams have emerged as potential backs for the Chiefs. Now with Damien entering the fold, the next couple weeks of preseason will be telling.
But some fantasy owners don’t have that luxury of waiting.
So given his history of injury and the uncertainty of his overall production, it might be best to pass on Williams. But if you have already drafted him, don’t fret. He will get you good numbers in a flex role and given his versatility it’s a good ace-in-the-hole to have on your bench.
Six NBA World Championships, multiple MVP awards and more, Michael Jordan was the man on the basketball court.
Respectfully, he's still the man today in business, legacy and brand.
On the court, MJ was so good that the Detroit Pistons’ Jordan Rules defensive scheme was used to limit MJ’s effectiveness on offense.
The Bulls combatted that with the Tex Winter’s implemented triangle offense, an offense predicated upon reading defenses and complex passing and cutting patterns.
Chicago struggled with the Pistons from 1988-90 before having a turnaround in 1991.
The Bulls swept Detroit in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals, progressed to the NBA Finals and beat the Magic Johnson-led Los Angeles Lakers.
Jason Caffey played with MJ during the Chicago Bulls during their second three-peat from 96-98.
For those keeping score at home: Caffey was the Bulls' 20th pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.
Caffey averaged 7.3 points per game during the Bulls' second consecutive championship run in 1996–97.
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 22: A Chicago Blackhawks jersey is seen on the statue of former Chicago Bull and Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan prior to the Blackhawks hosting the Boston Bruins in Game Five of the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Final at United Center on June 22, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
On the Scoop B Radio Podcast, Caffey and I discussed that Bulls locker room and just how great His Airness was.
CHECK OUT OUR Q&A BELOW:
BRANDON 'SCOOP B' ROBINSON: You won two championships with the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Tell me a little bit about that experience. What was it like stepping into the gym with Michael and Scottie?
JASON CAFFEY: It was a great experience first and foremost. I came out of the University of Alabama a very athletic kid. When I stepped on the floor with those gentlemen it felt like I couldn’t jump anymore or I didn’t have my speed. They were so much more athletic at the time because they’ve already came into their grown man strength and I hadn’t. So it humbled me. A very humbling experience.
BRANDON 'SCOOP B' ROBINSON: You talked about the Chicago Bulls and playing with Michael Jordan. You played with Dennis Rodman as well. In your estimation because you won two championships together, what about Michael made him special? What about his competitive drive makes him special?
JASON CAFFEY: Michael was not afraid to take on anyone. Any players in today’s game, you find it hard because a lot of players like to lead by example. Michael not only led by example, but he was willing to voice out his opinion. Opinionated players sometimes get the raw end of the deal. Terrell Owens is another Alabama boy, great player, but maybe too hard on his teammates. However, if he would’ve been winning championships like Michael:_ does he go down as retiring or go down for one of the greatest leaders in football history? _ So it’s a unique line that you have to walk when looking at what Michael did and he just wasn’t afraid to do it.
BRANDON 'SCOOP B' ROBINSON: The Bulls two three peats one with Horace Grant, the other with Dennis Rodman. Horace told me on Scoop B Radio that Michael during practice was the devil. For you, what was he like in practice?
JASON CAFFEY: He was like a marine general to me. He took no trash, each practice was harder than every game. Michae; believed that if you practice every practice at game speed the game will just rollover to you. It naturally did to us. I loved it, he pushed me to places I never would’ve been pushed before and he’s one of the real reasons why I’m surviving today because of the things I learned from Michael Jordan.
Clashing protests happened in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, August 17. These included protests from anti-Antifa and far-right groups called "End Domestic Terrorism" and counter-protests from groups supporting Antifa or protesting the far-right presence. Police worked hard to keep the groups separated but were not always successful. See photos from the protests today below, along with videos and information that we know so far about people who were arrested in the second section of this article. You can watch more videos in Heavy's story here.
-------------------------
PRO-ANTIFA, FAR-RIGHT, & ANTI-ANTIFA EVENTS TOOK PLACE AT THE SAME TIME
Getty
The End Domestic Terrorism Rally began at 11 a.m. Pacific (2 p.m. Eastern) at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Then at Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park, a Love Conquers Hate rally happened from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Pacific.
A Poop Bloc event happened in the same location as the End Domestic Terrorism rally, starting one hour later at 12 p.m. Pacific.
GettyJoe Biggs (C), leader of the alt-right group, Proud Boys, and Enrique Tarrio (L), Chairman of the Proud Boys, speak to their followers during the End Domestic Terrorism rally.
This rally was organized by Joe Biggs, formerly with InfoWars, and Enrique Tarrio, a chairman of Proud Boys. Both are pictured above.
Joey Gibson, leader of the Patriot Prayer, leads a group of alt-right demonstrators on August 17, 2019.
The Facebook page for the event was later taken down.
GettyCounter-protesters debate with alt-right groups.
Patriot Prayer came out in support of the event, according to posts on their Facebook page today. In the morning they wrote: "Good morning Patriots. Good morning Portland. Your President is paying attention. Let's show them who we are, and let the other side show themselves for who they are. The world is watching."
Getty
Rose City Antifa, a local pro-Antifa group in Portland, planned a counterprotest in the same location. They posted a call to action on their website and wrote: "We call on the community to defend itself, as it has countless times before. We must tell these far-Right and neo-Nazi groups that they are not welcome in Portland, and their search for victims on our streets will not be tolerated! Join us on August 17 at Waterfront Park to defend Portland against far-Right attack!"
Getty
Rose City Antifa had an event page for their counterprotest, but like the End Domestic Terrorism event page, it appears to have been taken down.
Drakken Saer (left) from Portland, OR. hugs another supporter. She is out here to support first amendment rights.
Oath Keepers decided to NOT attend the event. They wrote, in part:
I wish I didn't have to do this, but it must be done. I must make it clear that Oath Keepers will not be participating in the "End Domestic Terrorism" rally scheduled for this Saturday, August 17, 2019, which is being organized by Joe Biggs and the Proud Boys.
I must also make it clear that Oath Keepers is NOT an organizer of this event, as has been erroneously reported by some media outlets. This event is being organized by Joe Biggs and the Proud Boys, not Oath Keepers. Oath Keepers was invited to attend, but we will not be attending.
We fully support free speech, and we fully agree that Antifa is a domestic terrorist organization… We have not seen adequate steps taken by the organizers to exclude known or suspected white nationalists from attending this event.
Here are more photos:
Getty
GettyPortland police fire pepper spray rounds into a crowd of counter-protesters during an alt-right rally on August 17, 2019 in Portland, Oregon.
Getty
GettyA person dressed as a unicorn dances in front of police officers.
GettyPolice clear a path for a car carrying Joey Gibson.
GettyAn alt-right demonstrator is covered in mayonnaise after being chased by a group of counter-protesters.
-------------------------
AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED SO FAR
Meanwhile, the Portland Police worked hard to keep the disparate groups separated in order to cut down on violence. For the most part they were successful, although the groups did end up mingling on some occasions. Early reports indicated that three people were arrested but now that number is up to at least 13 arrests.
Video Update 4 - Police continue efforts to try to keep opposing groups separate.
Watch this Twitter feed for video updates & the latest official news as the day develops. #PPBAlert Transcript: https://t.co/wjL7ouiGu4pic.twitter.com/gRvI3OvPnV
-- Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 17, 2019
Unfortunately, some people tried to use updates on Twitter to find opposing groups so they could try to start confrontations.
We believe demonstrators are using info posted by media & observers to find opposing groups. In an effort to keep the various groups apart and maintain everyones safety, we respectfully ask reporters & others to avoid posting specific locations of protest groups. #ppbalert
-- Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 17, 2019
The groups also were told to stay off the streets so roads weren't blocked, which can sometimes escalate tensions and the likelihood of violent confrontations. Groups didn't always listen, but police tried to keep the protests under control.
Large group blocking the street in the area of SW 2nd and Oak. Police advising group to get out of the street or be subject to arrest. Street is open to vehicular traffic. #ppbalert
-- Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 17, 2019
The Portland Police noted on Twitter that some weapons were confiscated from protesters.
At least 13 people were arrested in incidents related to the demonstrations, the Portland Police reported.
Portland demonstrations lead to at least 13 arrests as Portland Police attempt to keep groups separate and people safe. Watch this Twitter feed for video updates & the latest official news. #ppbalert
-- Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 17, 2019
The video below shows a woman being taken down by police from her bicycle. It's not clear if she was one of the 13 arrested.
In a different incident, police arrested a woman who was revving her motorcycle engine at protesters. You can see that video below.
Police arrest a motorcyclist who was repeatedly revving her engine amidst a group of protesters. pic.twitter.com/6eWkdCqi3F
-- The Oregonian (@Oregonian) August 17, 2019
In the photo below, you can someone identified as a counter-protestor being arrested.
GettyA counter-protester is detained by Portland police during an alt-right rally on August 17, 2019 in Portland.
Here is the same person, photographer earlier before his arrest.
Getty
Julio Rosas of the Washington Examiner tweeted that the man who was arrested had threatened him earlier.
A pepper ball is used by police as they make an arrest, the guy who was threatening me earlier. pic.twitter.com/wEdqWJCdhD
-- Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) August 17, 2019
Police also helped a right-wing protester onto his bicycle and away from the crowd, Cole Miller of KOIN reported.
Police appear to have just helped a right-wing protester reach his motorcycle and drive off. The crowd was not a fan, saying officers are giving them special protection #KOIN6Newspic.twitter.com/5wxiQsqKJZ
-- Cole Miller (@ColeKOIN) August 17, 2019
Police also arrested someone who wouldn't move when they were told to leave, The Oregonian noted in the tweet below.
Police have arrested one person who reportedly stayed in the street after being told to move. pic.twitter.com/R5e5uzoSlR
-- The Oregonian (@Oregonian) August 17, 2019
Some arrests might still be made. In the video in the second tweet below, you can see someone else whose face is disguised being arrested. This video was shared by The New York Times.
Another tense clash between Antifa and police on the east side of the river. One person arrested. An officer threatened to shoot him if he didnt get on his knees. pic.twitter.com/ekQy8TjaeA
-- Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) August 17, 2019
This video shared by Andy Ngo below, who was attacked at the June protests, shows a man on the ground, possibly beaten during the protests, but it's not clear how they were injured. Police have said all injuries were considered minor.
Middle-age man was maced and beaten by an antifa mob. He was knocked unconscious to the ground. His partner or spouse was trying to protect him as mob still surrounded them. No police. #PortlandProtestspic.twitter.com/eAhrMSEKU1
-- Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 17, 2019
One person who was injured was taken to a nearby hospital. It's not known if this is the person in the video above or someone else.
At approximately 1:40 pm, law enforcement officers came upon an injured individual at SW Harvey Milk and SW Naito. They, along with @PDXFire medics, rendered assistance. The individual was transported to an area hospital. No further information at this time. #ppbalert
-- Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 17, 2019
Portland Police have said that all the injuries they have encountered so far were minor.
PPB is aware of 4 individuals who have been evaluated by @PDXFire. This includes an individual who ofcs came upon at Naito/Harvey Milk; and who was taken to a hospital. This person was injured prior to officers arriving. Medics report that all known injuries are considered minor.
-- Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 17, 2019
Although police tried to keep the groups separated, they were not always successful. One gathering was delcared a civil disturbance and people were told to leav.e
Police are calling the gathering at SW Taylor and Park a civil disturbance now. They're telling everyone to leave the area and move north. #PortlandProtestpic.twitter.com/R2cjT7gUVn
-- Christine Pitawanich (@CPitawanichKGW) August 17, 2019
Video Update 6 - The demonstration in downtown Portland has now been declared a civil disturbance. Individuals gathered in the SW Park and Morrison area must now leave the area immediately. Transcript: https://t.co/avlUi2YZ7x#PPBAlertpic.twitter.com/tuqX2O3peq
-- Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 17, 2019
It's not yet known which groups all the people who were arrested were affiliated with, but at least one of the arrested appeared to be a counter-protestor according to reports from people at the scene.
READ NEXT: WATCH: MAN WITH TV ON HEAD LEAVES CRT TVS ON PORCHES IN VIRGINIA
Odell Beckham Jr. did not play against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, but the Cleveland Browns star wide receiver still provided a solo highlight of sorts wearing a bucket hat rather than a helmet.
As the Browns made their way out of the tunnel for the preseason tilt, Beckham jumped on the drums for a quick solo. Even the Colts fan was starstruck by the Beckham's presence, looking shocked and yelling "OBJ!" It sounded pretty good, too.
Beckham has missed both preseason games for the Browns, dealing with what has been described as a hip injury.
-------------------------
ODELL BECKHAM PROVIDES HIGHLIGHT REEL CATCH IN WARMUP
If Odell Beckham Jr. is in the building, expect there to be some one-handed craziness. That was the case as he and Baker Mayfield got in some warm-up work.
OBJ snagged a ball in the corner of the end zone with one hand, tapping both feet in bounds and smiling from ear to ear as he ran back to the line of scrimmage. The Browns official Twitter provided the video.
Neither Beckham or Mayfield saw a snap against the Colts.
The Browns don't seem too worried about their second-year QB getting in too much work in the preseason. In just 13 starts last year, Mayfield passed for a rookie record 27 touchdowns last season. He also collected 3,725 passing yards and helped the Browns finish 7-8-1, winning five of their final seven games.
Beckham has been banged up the last two seasons, missing a combined 16 games. However, he's still carries the reputation of being among the NFL's best. During his five seasons with the Giants, Beckham hauled in 390 passes for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns in 59 games. He made the Pro Bowl three-times and has designs to catch Jerry Rice on the all-time receiving yards list.
-------------------------
BAKER MAYFIELD, ODELL BECKHAM NOT WORRIED ABOUT CHEMISTRY
Jason Miller/Getty ImagesBaker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns take on the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday in the second week of the NFL preseason.
The injury to Beckham is somewhat concerning considering his recent injury history, but by all accounts the move to rest the star pass-catcher is precautionary.
"I feel good. Feel great," he told reporters Thursday. "It's just preseason, there's no point in trying to push anything right now. We play Sept. 8, so that's all you really get ready for."
Beckham and Baker have yet to get any live reps in against players other than their teammates, but neither seem too worried about it. They're working on their chemistry away from the field and know it will come on it.
"We talk every day," Beckham said. "We talk football. We talk about just the little ins and outs of football. Even when I'm watching him make other throws, I'm still coming to ask him what is it that you're seeing.
"So it's not something I'm worried about. It's two competitive, fiery people, just the way that he is, I don't want to let him down. So I'm going to do everything in my power to be exactly where I need to be when I need to be there and, as I've seen already, he's going to deliver that ball."
The Browns continue their preseason next week against Buccaneers on Aug. 23. The third game of the exhibition slate is usually seen as a dress rehearsal, so maybe Beckham will get his first taste of action.
The Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams will meet at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, for a preseason matchup on Saturday.
The game starts at 10 p.m. ET. For in-market viewers, it will be televised on various local channels (CBS in both Dallas and Los Angeles). For out-of-market viewers, it will be on NFL Network. If you don't have cable, you can watch a live stream of the game on your computer, phone or streaming device via one of the following live-TV streaming services:
AMAZON PRIME
If the game is on CBS in your area (as it is in Dallas, Los Angeles and Austin), and you don't need any other channels, Amazon Prime's CBS channel is a great option.
If you have Amazon Prime or want to start a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, you can watch all live and on-demand CBS content via the CBS All-Access Amazon Channel, which comes with a 7-day free trial.
Once you're signed up for both Amazon Prime and the CBS channel, you can then watch a live stream of the Cowboys vs Rams on your computer via the Amazon website, or you can watch on your phone (Android and iPhone compatible), tablet, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 or other streaming device via the Amazon Video app.
FUBOTV
CBS, NBC, Fox, CW (all live in select markets; view channels in your area) and NFL Network are among the 95-plus live TV channels included in the main FuboTV bundle, which is largely tailored towards sports.
You can start a free seven-day trial of FuboTV right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Cowboys vs Rams on your computer via the FuboTV website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or other supported device via the FuboTV app.
If you can't watch live, FuboTV comes with 30 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as a 72-hour look-back feature, which allows you to watch the game on-demand within three days of its conclusion, even if you don't record it.
PLAYSTATION VUE
PS Vue -- which DOESN'T REQUIRE an actual PlayStation console to sign up or watch -- offers four different live-TV channel packages. All include CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC and MyTV (all live in select markets; view channels in your area), while NFL Network is in the upper three bundles.
You can start a free five-day trial of PS Vue right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Cowboys vs Rams on your computer via the PS Vue website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation (3 or 4), or other supported device via the PS Vue app.
If you can't watch live, PS Vue comes with cloud DVR.
HULU WITH LIVE TV
In addition to a Netflix-like on-demand streaming library, Hulu also offers a bundle of 60-plus live TV channels, including CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox & CW (all live in select markets; view channels in your area). NFL Network is not included, so this is an option for in-market viewers only.
You can sign up for "Hulu with Live TV" right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Cowboys vs Rams on your computer via the Hulu website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Echo Show, or other streaming device via the Hulu app.
If you can't watch live, Hulu With Live TV comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as the option to upgrade to "Enhanced Cloud DVR," which gives you 200 hours of space and the ability to fast-forward through commercials.
IF YOU'RE IN CANADA: DAZN
Viewers in Canada can watch every preseason, regular season and postseason NFL game live online via DAZN, a digital streaming service that also includes NFL Network, NFL RedZone, Premier League soccer, Champions League soccer, boxing and other live sports for $20 per month or $150 per year.
You can sign up for a free one-month trial of DAZN right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Cowboys vs Rams and every other NFL game on your computer via DAZN.com, or on your phone, tablet, smart TV, Roku, Xbox One, or other streaming device via the DAZN app.
-------------------------
COWBOYS VS RAMS PREVIEW
In the Cowboys' preseason opener, a 17-9 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, starting quarterback Dak Prescott helmed a field goal drive on Dallas' first offensive possession, going 4-of-4 for 23 yards.
Prescott then gave way to Cooper Rush, who signed with the team in 2017 after going undrafted. The 25-year-old played the remained of the first half and the first drive of the second, completing 16 of 26 pass attempts for 142 yards and orchestrating a pair of drives that resulted in field goals.
Mike White, Rush's competition for the backup role, closed out the game and struggled. The 2018 fifth-rounder went 9-of-20 for 87 yards and lost a fumble.
"Mike White probably had the roughest outing of the group," Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said, according to DallasCowboys.com. "The ball was on the ground a couple of times, some decision making probably not as clean as it needed to be, some technique stuff. But again, a great learning experience for him, too. He hasn't played a lot of football.
"That is what these games are all about, you come back and you look at it, why were you going there, what were you doing here, you process that, you learn from it and you put it behind you."
It's been a travel-heavy preseason for the Rams. Before their trip to Hawaii, they opened training camp in Irvine, California, then visited the Los Angeles Chargers at Costa Mesa, California, for joint practices, then practiced with the Oakland Raiders in Napa, California, before falling to the Raiders 14-3 in their preseason opener.
On Sunday, Rams head coach Sean McVay said the team's travel schedule is helping them prepare for the regular season.
"Well, if there is one thing I would say, (it) is, I think our guys do a great job of just seamlessly handling, some different circumstances and situations," McVay said, according to TheRams.com. "If anything, last year is a great representation of that with all the different things that kind of just come up. Guys really just aren't affected by, you know, whether its traveling or change of schedules, and that's something that's necessary to be able to handle in football, and I think our guys have done that."
He added: "We're going to make the most of these opportunities, and I think our guys If anything, have handled it incredibly well. They don't ever really complain about anything. They just kind of go about their business in a professional manner, and that's what you love about these guys."
The Houston Texans will host the Detroit Lions in preseason action at NRG Stadium on Saturday.
Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET. Here's a rundown of how to watch the Lions vs Texans online without cable, with the live streaming options being dependent on where you reside:
IF THE GAME IS IN YOUR MARKET
First, you'll want to know what channel the game is on. It's on FOX IN DETROIT and ABC IN HOUSTON, and it will be on either ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW or MyTV in other cities.
Then, if you don't have cable, you can watch a live stream of one, some or all of these channels (in select markets) on your computer, phone, Roku, Fire TV or other streaming device via one of the following live-TV streaming services:
FANS IN NEW YORK & OTHER SELECT MARKETS: PLAYSTATION VUE
PS Vue -- which DOESN'T REQUIRE an actual PlayStation console to sign up or watch -- offers four different live-TV channel packages, all of which include Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC and MyTV (all live in select markets; view channels in your area).
You can start a free five-day trial of PS Vue right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Lions vs Texans on your computer via the PS Vue website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation (3 or 4), or other supported device via the PS Vue app.
If you can't watch live, PS Vue comes with cloud DVR.
FANS IN DETROIT, HOUSTON & OTHER SELECT MARKETS: HULU WITH LIVE TV
In addition to a Netflix-like on-demand streaming library, Hulu also offers a bundle of 60-plus live TV channels, including ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS & CW (all live in select markets; view channels in your area).
You can sign up for "Hulu with Live TV" right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Lions vs Texans on your computer via the Hulu website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Echo Show, or other streaming device via the Hulu app.
If you can't watch live, Hulu With Live TV comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as the option to upgrade to "Enhanced Cloud DVR," which gives you 200 hours of space and the ability to fast-forward through commercials.
FANS IN DETROIT & OTHER SELECT MARKETS: FUBOTV
Fox, CBS, NBC and CW (all live in select markets; view channels in your area) are among the 95-plus live TV channels included in the main FuboTV bundle, which is largely tailored towards sports. ABC isn't included with FuboTV, so fans in Houston will want to use a different option.
You can start a free seven-day trial of FuboTV right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Lions vs Texans on your computer via the FuboTV website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or other supported device via the FuboTV app.
If you can't watch live, FuboTV comes with 30 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as a 72-hour look-back feature, which allows you to watch the game on-demand within three days of its conclusion, even if you don't record it.
-------------------------
IF THE GAME IS OUT OF YOUR MARKET
You can watch every out-of-market preseason NFL game online via NFL Game Pass, which costs $99.99 for the season (or you can pay four installments of $29.99).
You can start a free trial of NFL Game Pass right here, and then if the game is outside of your market, you can watch the Lions vs Texans on your computer via the Game Pass website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the NFL app.
-------------------------
IF YOU'RE IN CANADA: DAZN
Viewers in Canada can watch every preseason, regular season and postseason NFL game live online via DAZN, a digital streaming service that also includes NFL Network, NFL RedZone, Premier League soccer, Champions League soccer, boxing and other live sports for $20 per month or $150 per year.
You can sign up for a free one-month trial of DAZN right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Lions vs Texans and every other NFL game on your computer via DAZN.com, or on your phone, tablet, smart TV, Roku, Xbox One, or other streaming device via the DAZN app.
-------------------------
LIONS VS TEXANS PREVIEW
The Texans dropped their preseason opener to the Green Bay Packers 28-26 on Thursday. The team held starting quarterback Deshaun Watson out of the contest in the interest of preserving him for the regular season and fellow signal-caller AJ McCarron sat with an injured thumb, leaving every offensive snap to Joe Webb III, the only other quarterback on the roster.
The 32-year-old went 25-of-40 for 286 yards, a touchdown, and a pair of interceptions. He also rushed for a team-high 47 yards on six carries.
"Joe competed hard," O'Brien said, according to HoustonTexans.com. "Joe is really what we are looking for in a Houston Texan. He's a smart, tough, dependable guy. He doesn't get a whole lot of reps at quarterback. He went in there and competed hard. Like everybody, he had his share of plays he wishes he could have back. We wouldn't have been in the game without Joe Webb. He competed all the way through. He's a great guy."
The Texans trailed 28-10 heading into the fourth quarter, when Davis guided the team to a trio of scoring drives.
"Obviously, no turnovers. It's hard to come back when you turn the ball over, things like that," Webb said, per HoustonTexans.com. "Continue to execute. Go back to practice and get better. Go back and watch film. You'll most definitely know when you watch film, get aggressive on your coaching, and you'll know exactly what you need to improve on."
The Lions got pummeled by the New England Patriots 31-3 in their preseason debut on Thursday, amassing just 93 yards of offense to the Patriots' 459.
Lions starting quarterback Matthew Stafford and Patriots starter Tom Brady didn't participate.
"Obviously, you saw a set of competition last week and those players are unique to who they are," head coach Matt Patricia said ahead of a slate of join practices with Houston, according to DetroitLions.com. "We'll get an entirely different set of players this week to compete against. So, if you look at it from a standpoint of competing against ourselves, competing against the Patriots, competing against Houston, you really get three good sets of evaluation with different types of players."
Patricia noted his interest in seeing how his squad fares against one of the league's best dual-threat quarterbacks in Watson.
"The part I'm really obviously intrigued for, knowing Coach (Bill) O'Brien and everything he does, is just the difference with the quarterback," Patricia said, per DetroitLions.com.
"I think it just makes a whole difference of how you have to do everything defensively, whether it's the pass rush, the run game, just basic defensive fundamental and assignments."
Dennis Rodman was one of a kind.
MORE SPECIFICALLY: Rodman was of the best rebounders to ever play in the NBA.
Colorful hair, rockstar lifestyle, painted nails and more, Rodman headlined the Chicago Bulls’ big 3 that included Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan and was coached by Phil Jackson.
While scoring a shade over 7 points during his career, Rodman averaged 13.1 rebounds per game for his career and lived his best life on those late 90s Chicago Bulls teams.
He picked his prey by getting into the heads of Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone. He even got into verbal spars with former Houston Rockets big man, turned TNT analyst, Charles Barkley and the New Jersey Nets’ Jayson Williams who were all league leaders in rebounding.
SPRINGFIELD, MA - AUGUST 12: Dennis Rodman (L) reacts as Phil Jackson looks on during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Rodman began his career in the NBA at the small forward position. He’d later shift to the power forward when he played for the San Antonio Spurs and was famously traded by the Spurs to the Chicago Bulls by current Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.
Rodman’s small forward physique helped him maneuver for position for rebounds on the basketball court with bigger opponents. But his intelligence allowed him to savvily get into their heads.
RODMAN ALWAYS USED HIS BRAIN. In a recent conversation with the Scoop B Radio Podcast, Rodman's former Chicago Bulls teammate, Jason Caffey tells me that The Worm was ahead of his time in marketing and more.
FOR THOSE KEEPING SCORE AT HOME: Caffey, the Chicago Bulls' 20th pick in the 1995 NBA Draft averaged 7.3 points per game during the Bulls' second consecutive championship run in 1996–97.
HE DETAILED WHAT DENNIS RODMAN WAS LIKE.
CHECK OUT A BRIEF SNIPPET FROM OUR CHAT ON THE SCOOP B RADIO PODCAST BELOW:
Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson: What could you tell us about Dennis that a normal person wouldn’t know?
JASON CAFFEY: He was just different. I can’t go into analyzing him psychologically because I’m not a doctor but what you and I spoke on yesterday. I told you some things that could be possibly true because I suffer from some of it. Speaking for myself you know back then in the league [NBA] if you had a mental illness nobody really cared or had enough knowledge to know what was going on. Nobody cared you were straight or crazy. Dennis was always considered crazy by so many people just because of the image he gives. He’s a very smart man. In no way shape or form was he crazy but he has his own ways to do things.
Jason Caffey is not the only Bulls player to have fond memories of playing with Rodman.
RETIRED NBA LEGEND JOHN SALLEY played in the NBA for 11 years suiting up for the Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.
During that time, the Brooklyn, NY native who became the first player in NBA history to play on three different championship-winning franchises has graced the court with talented folks including Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal and future HOF’er Kobe Bryant.
Salley, who holds the distinction of being the first player in NBA history to win a championship in three different decades actually won a championship with Rodman in with the ‘89 Detroit Pistons. He won another with The Worm in ‘96 as a member of the Chicago Bulls.
Salley thinks the world of Rodman.
“In Detroit even though he was older than me, Dennis was the youngest guy on the squad because he didn’t have more life experiences than me,” John Salley told me on Scoop B Radio.
“But in Chicago, he was open.”
To Salley, Rodman’s transformation was like night and day.“It was like he had eaten an apple that made him see what life was like,” he said.
“Our work preparation in Detroit was always, we were coming from behind because we were the underdogs. But in Chicago, he had come into his own and realized that no one can do what he can do. Nobody was as strong, nobody was built like him, nobody was as determined, nobody could do the things that he could and he realized that and he played along with it and decided to become Jimi Hendrix and Jim Larsen, at the same time while playing basketball. So he was just a different cat.”
Salley like Caffey thinks Rodman was a genius.
“Dennis thought all the way through,” said Salley.
“And he’d figure out that if he studied everything that a guy did on offense and figured out what to not let them do before you get to a certain point, Dennis would stop you at the first point and not let you get to your flow.”
Salley believes that by Phil Jackson giving Rodman the freedom to be himself in the Bulls locker room, it translated onto the basketball court where it allowed the eccentric player to give it his all. “In Chicago, while Phil [Jackson] was talking, he would take a shower and go get dressed,” said Salley.
“Next thing you know, he was on the court; ready to go and at the end of the game, he [Dennis Rodman] would be on his bike doing cardio.”
“Phil wouldn’t say anything. He would just let him flow. With anybody else, it would be like: ‘you get in here with everybody else.’ But Phil knew that he was in his world and when he is in his world he turns out to be this unbelievable thing. And believe it or not, running the triangle offense for some people is hard. When Dennis picked it up, he was unstoppable because he was still able to get his rebounds one-on-one because when he’s in the triangle, if he’s in the lane with just one or two other people in there with him, they weren’t going to beat him for the rebound.”
Tony Romo isn't sweating the contractual stalemates currently gripping Big D, and he passed along a message for those who are: Don't.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, the retired ex-Cowboys quarterback-turned-top CBS NFL analyst expressed confidence that Dallas will sign holdout running back Ezekiel Elliott and record-seeking quarterback Dak Prescott to contract extensions.
“These deals are gonna get done,” Romo said. “It’s a good problem for them to have. It means they’ve drafted well. It means they’re in a position where there’s young talent you want to have on the team. I think that everyone thinks it’s a negative. It just means you have a lot of good players. They’ll find a way to get this all done.”
Romo made over $127 million in career earnings across 14 seasons with the Cowboys. He's intimately familiar with owner/general manager Jerry Jones, CEO Stephen Jones and the brain trust's thinking, having inked three extensions in 2006, 2007 and 2013 — the latter being a six-year, $108 million pact that included $40 million guaranteed.
He also knows something or two about playing quarterback, and he's a fan of Prescott, who's reportedly demanding a contract with an annual salary of $40 million, going where no professional football player has ever gone.
Romo balked on whether he, personally, believes Prescott is worth the highest-paid title, deferring to the two-time Pro Bowler's resume.
“Dak’s gonna get paid a lot of money,” he said. “He’s been productive his entire career.”
Prescott, a 2016 fourth-round draft pick, has thrown for 10,876 yards, 67 touchdowns and 25 interceptions through his first three seasons, adding 944 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.
He's expected to play roughly one quarter in Dallas' preseason game Saturday night against the Los Angeles Rams in Hawaii.
-------------------------
ANOTHER PRESCOTT SUPPORTER
Speaking of the Rams, their own star QB, Jared Goff, who could soon face a similar financial dilemma, was asked about Prescott's lofty price tag, which skyrocketed following his supposed rejection of a $30 million-per-year deal the Cowboys reportedly offered.
“It’s great,” Goff said, via USA Today. “I hope Dak gets as much as he can and good for him. I’m a friend of Dak’s and wish him nothing but the best.”
Goff and Prescott hail from the same draft class, and their career arcs will forever be compared. In a roundabout way, though, the latter may set a baseline for the former when it's his turn up to the negotiating table.
“I’ve got nothing to say about that," Goff said Wednesday, via USA Today. "That’s Dak’s situation and I wish him the best."
-------------------------
LATEST ON ZEKE
As previously reported, Elliott was spotted Saturday morning on a plane bound for Dallas-Fort Worth, with his Cabo-based holdout appearing to end. WFAA’s Mike Leslie tweeted that the sides "remain optimistic [a deal] will get done soon."
Elliott's camp has maintained the reigning rushing champion won't play without a new contract. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Elliott trimmed his weight to the low 220s while training in Cabo, ready to hit the ground running — figuratively and literally — upon putting pen to paper.
-------------------------
READ NEXT: TONY ROMO MAKES STUNNING PREDICTION FOR NFL TEAM
-------------------------
_FOLLOW ZACK KELBERMAN ON TWITTER @KELBERMANNFL_
-------------------------
Dennis Rodman was one of a kind.
MORE SPECIFICALLY: Rodman was of the best rebounders to ever play in the NBA.
Colorful hair, rockstar lifestyle, painted nails and more, Rodman headlined the Chicago Bulls' big 3 that included Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan and was coached by Phil Jackson.
While scoring a shade over 7.0 points during his career, Rodman averaged 13.1 rebounds per game for his career and lived his best life on those late 90s Chicago Bulls teams.
He picked his prey by getting into the heads of Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone. He even got into verbal spars with former Houston Rockets big man, turned TNT analyst, Charles Barkley and the New Jersey Nets' Jayson Williams who were all league leaders in rebounding.
_Follow theHEAVY ON NBA FACEBOOK PAGEfor all the latest stories, rumors and viral content!_
Rodman began his career in the NBA at the small forward position. He'd later shift to the power forward when he played for the San Antonio Spurs and was famously traded by the Spurs to the Chicago Bulls by current Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.
Rodman's small forward physique helped him maneuver for position for rebounds on the basketball court with bigger opponents. But his intelligence allowed him to savvily get into their heads.
RODMAN ALWAYS USED HIS BRAIN. In a recent conversation with the Scoop B Radio Podcast, Rodman's former Chicago Bulls teammate, Jason Caffey tells me that The Worm was ahead of his time in marketing and more.
For those keeping score at home: Caffey, the Chicago Bulls' 20th pick in the 1995 NBA Draft averaged 7.3 points per game during the Bulls' second consecutive championship run in 1996-97.
Caffey shares with me that all of those jerseys that Dennis Rodman gave to fans after Bulls games were included in his contract and that The Worm never came out of his pocket to replace them.
-------------------------
CAFFEY SAYS RODMAN TOOK IT FROM MADONNA
GettySinger Madonna performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Caffey also shared with me what it was like to party with Dennis.
CHECK OUT OUR Q&A BELOW:
BRANDON 'SCOOP B' ROBINSON: What is it like to be around Dennis Rodman? I'm intrigued, everybody knows about Michael and Scottie but what made Dennis special? What made him tick?
JASON CAFFEY: Dennis is fun, very fun to be around. You're not going to get five words out of him it's just going to be all partying. I used to hang with Dennis a lot at this place called Crowbar. When we go into this place, Dennis is going to order about thirty shots of Tequila. We're going to sit there and slam. Being as young as I was back then, in practice sucked but he [Dennis] gets to practice one hour earlier, he runs on the elliptical for an hour before practice. Then he'll do the duration of practice and then do the run machine after practice. The man had like one percent body fat, and one of the greatest athletes I have ever seen in my life.
BRANDON 'SCOOP B' ROBINSON: I remember Dennis throwing his jerseys to fans after games. If I'm not mistaken you'll get two home and away jerseys. Am I right?
JASON CAFFEY: Right.
BRANDON 'SCOOP B' ROBINSON: How much do you think Dennis actually spent giving the fans if you could guess.
JASON CAFFEY: I don't think Dennis spent anything. I think Dennis knew how to market himself long before he got to Chicago. I think Madonna helped a lot with that. He had that in his contract to have those jerseys.
BRANDON 'SCOOP B' ROBINSON: Really?
JASON CAFFEY: Yes. He was smart about it.
READ NEXT: ROCKETS ROSTER & STARTING LINEUP AFTER RUSSELL WESTBROOK TRADE
The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Kansas City Chiefs at Heinz Field for a preseason matchup on Saturday.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET. For in-market viewers, it will be televised on various local channels (CBS in both Kansas City and Pittsburgh). For out-of-market viewers, it will be on NFL Network. If you don't have cable, you can watch a live stream of the game on your computer, phone or streaming device via one of the following live-TV streaming services:
AMAZON PRIME
If the game is on CBS in your area (as it is in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Topeka, Wichita, Altoona and Harrisburg), and you don't need any other channels, Amazon Prime's CBS channel is a great option.
If you have Amazon Prime or want to start a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, you can watch all live and on-demand CBS content via the CBS All-Access Amazon Channel, which comes with a seven-day free trial.
Once you're signed up for both Amazon Prime and the CBS channel, you can then watch a live stream of the Chiefs vs Steelers on your computer via the Amazon website, or you can watch on your phone (Android and iPhone compatible), tablet, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 or other streaming device via the Amazon Video app.
FUBOTV
CBS, NBC, Fox, CW (all live in select markets; view channels in your area) and NFL Network are among the 95-plus live TV channels included in the main FuboTV bundle, which is largely tailored towards sports.
You can start a free seven-day trial of FuboTV right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Chiefs vs Steelers on your computer via the FuboTV website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or other supported device via the FuboTV app.
If you can't watch live, FuboTV comes with 30 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as a 72-hour look-back feature, which allows you to watch the game on-demand within three days of its conclusion, even if you don't record it.
PLAYSTATION VUE
PS Vue -- which DOESN'T REQUIRE an actual PlayStation console to sign up or watch -- offers four different live-TV channel packages. All include CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC and MyTV (all live in select markets; view channels in your area), while NFL Network is in the upper three bundles.
You can start a free five-day trial of PS Vue right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Chiefs vs Steelers on your computer via the PS Vue website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation (3 or 4), or other supported device via the PS Vue app.
If you can't watch live, PS Vue comes with cloud DVR.
HULU WITH LIVE TV
In addition to a Netflix-like on-demand streaming library, Hulu also offers a bundle of 60-plus live TV channels, including CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox & CW (all live in select markets; view channels in your area). NFL Network is not included, so this is an option for in-market viewers only.
You can sign up for "Hulu with Live TV" right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Chiefs vs Steelers on your computer via the Hulu website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Echo Show, or other streaming device via the Hulu app.
If you can't watch live, Hulu With Live TV comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as the option to upgrade to "Enhanced Cloud DVR," which gives you 200 hours of space and the ability to fast-forward through commercials.
IF YOU'RE IN CANADA: DAZN
Viewers in Canada can watch every preseason, regular season and postseason NFL game live online via DAZN, a digital streaming service that also includes NFL Network, NFL RedZone, Premier League soccer, Champions League soccer, boxing and other live sports for $20 per month or $150 per year.
You can sign up for a free one-month trial of DAZN right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the Chiefs vs Steelers and every other NFL game on your computer via DAZN.com, or on your phone, tablet, smart TV, Roku, Xbox One, or other streaming device via the DAZN app.
-------------------------
CHIEFS VS STEELERS PREVIEW
Kansas City thumped the Cincinnati Bengals 38-17 in their preseason opener on Saturday.
Fresh off his MVP campaign, quarterback Patrick Mahomes went 4-of-4 for 66 yards on the offense's opening drive, which resulted in a one-yard touchdown run by Carlos Hyde. Mahomes then gave way to veteran backup Chad Henne, who gave way to undrafted rookie Kyle Shurmur, who gave way to 2018 undrafted free agent Chase Litton.
"I thought there were some good things in the game and I think we came out with plenty of things to work on," head coach Andy Reid said, according to Chiefs.com. "It was good to get the young guys in and to give them that much time -- I just think that's important right now -- while also giving the [first team] at least an opportunity to get their juices going and play a little bit."
Kansas City dominated the ground game on both sides of the ball, amassing 115 yards on 24 carries while limiting Cincinnati to 21 yards on 12 carries.
Undrafted rookie Josh Caldwell busted a 47-yard touchdown run and carried four times for 59 yards, and sixth-round pick Darwin Thompson added 22 yards on five carries.
In their preseason debut on Friday, the Steelers bested the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-28.
Two days later, wide receivers coach Darryl Drake passed away at age 62. Before joining Pittsburgh, Drake served in the same capacity for the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals.
"We're all devastated by [Drake's passing]. I really can't think of any other appropriate words," head coach Mike Tomlin said, according to Steelers.com. "Our time and attention in the recent days has been spent in support of the Drake family. Miss Sheila and Darryl's daughters and extended family -- many of us have had an opportunity to spend time with them through this. They've been amazing. In making arrangements and adjusting, we've tried to be as supportive organizationally to them as we can in what is a very difficult time.
"Professionally the loss is significant, but personally it's even bigger. Those of us who knew and had personal relationships with Coach Drake all feel that way. We realize we don't have a lot of answers, and with that being said we brought in some professional grief counselors to assist us through this tough time. It is said that counseling is not for the weak but for the wise, so we seek people who have expertise in helping others deal with such circumstances."
Baker Mayfield flipped the typical preseason script for a starting quarterback. Most wait until the second game to hit the field, but last year's breakout star in the AFC actually started last week versus the Redskins. He sat Saturday against the Colts, ceding time to backup Garrett Gilbert.
The 28-year-old journeyman completed 13-of-19 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in a half of action. This was continued growth from his preseason opener versus Washington, which saw him connect on 14-of-22 throws for 135 yards in the 30-10 victory.
He left the game with a 14-7 lead. Combine his two appearances, and Gilbert has posted a very solid statline of 27-of-41 passing for 286 yards and two scores. He finally seems to be finding a solid footing in the pros after wandering in the woods for about a decade.
Gilbert arrived at Texas as a five-star freshman set to replace Colt McCoy after a year of seasoning. He ended up thrust to the field in the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, playing admirably but fading late in the 37-21 loss. Almost as if he lost his mojo after that, he struggled to just 2,744 yards, 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2010.
He eventually transferred to Southern Methodist for the 2012 season to salvage his chance at the NFL. As a fifth-year senior, he amassed 3,528 yards and 21 scores while limiting himself to just seven picks. This earned him a sixth-round selection to the Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft.
He didn't record a statistic until last year with the Panthers. He chipped in with 40 yards on 2-of-3 passing in mop-up duty against the Saints last December. However, he really bolstered his reputation during his time in the now defunct AAF.
-------------------------
GARRETT GILBERT'S AAF STATS WITH THE ORLANDO APOLLOS
The Garrett Gilbert to Charles Johnson connection is on track early! 🔥
A 48 yard reception and the Apollos take a 3-0 lead in the first quarter #ORLvsMEMpic.twitter.com/oVoFuw9kvJ
-- PFF_AAF (@PFF_AAF) March 30, 2019
Under the mentorship of Steve Spurrier, Gilbert led the Orlando Apollos to the best record in the AAF before the league shuttered last spring. Unofficially, he completed over 60 percent of his throws for 2,152 yards, 13 touchdowns and just three picks in eight games. He added 79 yards on the ground with a score.
His best performances came in his pair of 300-yard plus efforts versus San Antonio in Week Two and Memphis in the final game. He recorded 393 yards and two scores versus the Commanders in the second game, setting the tone for a dominant offensive season.
His excellence led to a 2-year, $1.38 million contract with Cleveland. As recently as Aug. 6, he was considered the third-stringer by head coach Freddie Kitchens. That may change with his recent efforts in live action.
“We like Garrett," he said to the Browns website when asked if Gilbert is third on the depth chart. "I like Garrett on what he has done up to this point. We have not even started playing preseason yet. I do not know about the final [roster]. I do not want to crown him just yet.”
Career backup Drew Stanton is technically No. 2 behind Mayfield. In the first preseason game against the Redskins, he sputtered to just 3-of-8 passing for 63 yards. With Gilbert rising over the last year, he may push Stanton into a glorified QB assistant role.
