The Chargers’ Derius Davis (12) returns a punt for a touchdown against the Jets last season. (Seth Wenig / Associated Press) Most people look at the player who initiates the new NFL kickoffs as the kicker. Not Derius Davis. “That guy looks like a steak dinner to me,” said Davis, slated to return kicks for the Chargers. That’s because if …
Read More »Monthly Archives: September 2024
Baltimore Sun high school football preview: Storylines, players to watch and top 15 teams heading into 2024 season
Here’s what you need to know for the 2024 high school football season in the Baltimore area: Storylines to watch Can anybody beat two-time defending champion Archbishop Spalding in the MIAA A Conference? With star quarterback Malik Washington and plenty of talented, well-prepared returnees on both sides of the ball, the No. 1 Cavaliers are poised for continued success, having …
Read More »Rams wide-eyed over new kicker Joshua Karty, instead of wide left/wide right
Ford Field in Detroit, site of the Rams’ NFC wild-card playoff loss to the Lions last season, would not rank as the friendliest place for an opposing team’s rookie kicker to make his NFL debut. The Rams’ Joshua Karty embraces the challenge. The sixth-round draft pick from Stanford is looking forward to the Sept. 8 opener against the Lions. “Why …
Read More »Oklahoma State football stock report: Who is rising, falling after Cowboys’ Week 1 win?
STILLWATER — After Oklahoma State’s 44-20 win over South Dakota State on Saturday, coach Mike Gundy regularly pointed to two bothersome factors of his team’s performance. Mediocre rushing production and big plays allowed by the defense. The first concern makes sense — the Cowboys averaged 3.8 yards per carry — but it seems likely that reigning Doak Walker Award winner …
Read More »Turf Wars: NFL Is Finally Tackling Its Playing Surface Problem
This is the first story in Sportico’s Turf Wars series, examining the business decisions behind choosing natural grass or artificial turf for an NFL stadium. The NFL built the world’s most valuable sports league largely via forced uniformity. Teams share most revenue evenly, they sell all their media rights as a single entity, and every franchise adheres to the same …
Read More »ACC power rankings: Miami up as Florida State falls – again – after Week 1
The ACC began the 2024 college football season looking to fortify its bona fides on the gridiron one year after its undefeated champion was left out of the College Football Playoff and as its two best programs over the past 20 years are actively suing the conference. That quest is off to a less-than-ideal start. Florida State, the league’s lone …
Read More »Tyreek Hill: This is best Dolphins team since I’ve been here
The Dolphins have not won a playoff game since acquiring wide receiver Tyreek Hill in a 2022 trade with the Chiefs, but they made it clear this offseason that they like the trajectory the team is on. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and head coach Mike McDaniel all signed contract extensions while Hill’s deal was tweaked to add …
Read More »Kentucky football tickets vs South Carolina: Best prices for remaining available seats
Kentucky football, after beginning its season with a 31-0 win over Southern Miss in a game cut short following multiple weather delays, will return to Kroger Field this Saturday to begin SEC play against South Carolina. Kentucky is 7-4 against the Gamecocks under head coach Mark Stoops. South Carolina leads the series, 20-14-1. Here’s how much it will cost you …
Read More »Jaren Hall joins Seahawks practice squad
The Seahawks have found their third quarterback. Seattle announced on Monday that the club has signed Jaren Hall to its practice squad. Hall, 26, was recently waived by the Vikings. Minnesota selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. He appeared in three games for the club with two starts last year, completing 13-of-20 passes for 168 yards …
Read More »Louisville football tickets vs Jacksonville State: Best prices for available seats
Louisville football will face Jacksonville State on Saturday at L&N Stadium. The Cardinals are coming off a 62-0 win over Austin Peay. They recorded more than 500 yards of total offense, forced two interceptions and sacked Austin Peay’s quarterback seven times in the victory. Jacksonville State is coming off a 55-27 loss to Coastal Carolina, in which it allowed the …
Read More »NFL Power Rankings: Champion Chiefs enter season No. 1 as they eye super rare three-peat; Packers top NFC team
On paper, the Kansas City Chiefs are the best team in the NFL. They have the game’s best player in Patrick Mahomes, who is on his way to being the best player ever, and they have a great coach in Andy Reid to go with a talented roster. That, coupled with my usual tradition of starting the previous year’s Super …
Read More »Jaylen Warren practices Monday, expects to play against Falcons
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has been dealing with a hamstring injury, but he’s moving in the right direction as the team heads into the first week of the regular season. Video from the team’s practice on Monday shows Warren going through individual drills and having no trouble as he runs and cuts at full speed. Warren said, via Brooke …
Read More »Rutgers football tickets vs Akron: Best prices for best remaining available seats
The Rutgers football team will host Akron on Saturday at SHI Stadium for its second game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for noon. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 44-7 win over Howard, while the Zips on Saturday fell to No. 2 Ohio State 52-6 in Columbus. Here’s how you can get tickets to see Rutgers and Akron …
Read More »Kirk Cousins is a first-year Falcons captain
Kirk Cousins will be Captain Kirk again. As expected. In his first season with the Falcons, the former Vikings quarterback has been elected one of four team captains. The other are tackle Jake Matthews, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, and safety Jessie Bates III. Four captains are the fewest we’ve seen for 2024. The Steelers also have four. For Cousins, he’s …
Read More »Purdue football names you didn’t know, but now you do after Boilermakers’ Week 1 victory
WEST LAFAYETTE — Leland Smith was on Purdue football’s radar but ended up a late addition to the 2024 signing class. Head coach Ryan Walters was impressed by receiver’s 6-foot-4 frame and blazing speed. “He is one of probably the top-five fastest guys on the team,” Walters said. Smith, who had 655 yards receiving and nine touchdowns in nine games …
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