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Mike Preston: Lamar Jackson only has himself to blame for breakdown in negotiations with Ravens | COMMENTARY

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Maybe Lamar Jackson has finally figured out he needs an agent to conduct contract negotiations.The star quarterback has been negotiating on his own behalf with the Ravens but has been outmaneuvered throughout the nearly 2 1/2-year process. The team outplayed him when it applied the nonexclusive franchise tag on him Tuesday.While some have said it was risky business for the Ravens to allow Jackson an opportunity to sign with another team, I thought the decision was superb and showed that the team’s front office had thoroughly studied the landscape and his value throughout the league.The emotion over at The Castle might be a little subdued, but there surely has been some high-fiving.Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta could have used the exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, 26, which would cost about $45 million, but instead chose the nonexclusive, which is about $32.4 million.Jackson is free to start negotiations with other teams Monday and the Ravens would have five days to mat...

Saquon Barkley will be part of Giants, but ‘still mapping out’ resolution, says GM Joe Schoen

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Giants GM Joe Schoen said Wednesday that Saquon Barkley is “gonna be a part of this team going forward,” but the franchise tag was always a possibility if a deal didn’t get done by Tuesday, and Barkley knew that.“That’s negotiations,” Schoen said on Zoom. “We had some deals out there. We tried to get a deal done with him and his representatives, and we couldn’t. And I think both parties knew at the end of the day that this was an option.“I think if he’s frustrated I can understand some of that, and we can be frustrated as well that we weren’t able to get a deal done,” the GM added. “But I love Saquon, he’s a good player, he’s gonna be a part of this team going forward. And we’ll see where it goes from here.”Schoen said with Barkley under the tag, “as we build the team and continue with our offseason plan, we’ll do what’s best for the team. And we’re still map...

Suffolk DA drops case against noted NBA skills trainer

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Suffolk prosecutors on Wednesday dropped the case against high profile NBA skills trainer Robert McClanaghan who had been charged with allegedly drugging and raping a woman at a Boston hotel.Suffolk DA Keven Hayden’s office said in a release Wednesday it had filed a Nolle Prosequi with the court, effectively ending the case.“Rob and his family are relieved that this nightmare is over,” said defense attorney Kelli Porges. “He has maintained his innocence from the beginning.”In the filing with the court, Hayden’s office stated “ the Commonwealth has determined that it cannot prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.””Our responsibility in all cases is to follow the evidence wherever it leads,” Hayden’s office said in the announcement. “In some cases that endeavor does not add up to a viable prosecution. We have a duty to recognize that conclusion and to take the appropriate action when it is reached. We have taken that appropriate action today. Out of respect for the pri...

GATORS PODCAST: Whither AR in the NFL, Nick Saban’s hypocrisy and Riley Kugel’s rise (Ep. 156)

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Former Florida QB Anthony Richardson was expected to steal the show at the NFL Scouting Combine, but might have even surpassed expectations. Will Richardon’s record-setting performance seduce an NFL team into the ultimate risk-reward move? Almost as predictable is Alabama coach Nick Saban complaining about something. This time it’s the Crimson Tide’s potential three permanent opponents if the pending 16-team SEC expands the schedule to nine games. Edgar takes a trip down memory lane with the legendary coach who is suffering a bit of amnesia. Meanwhile, don’t forget basketball season, even if it’s over for the Gators, barring an SEC Tournament miracle. Despite an disappointing Year 1, Todd Golden did find a future star in Riley Kugel. Will it be at Florida? Mark and Edgar break it all down during the latest Swamp Things.NFL Scouting Combine: Anthony Richardson (2:00)AR in the Top 5 (8:30)Problematic interview comments (14:30)The question is accuracy (18:...

Biden budget aims to cut deficits nearly $3T over 10 years

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

By JOSH BOAK (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s upcoming budget proposal aims to cut deficits by nearly $3 trillion over the next decade, according to an administration official.That deficit reduction goal is significantly higher than the $2 trillion that Biden had promised in his State of the Union address last month. It also is a sharp contrast with House Republicans, who have called for a path to a balanced budget but have yet to offer a blueprint.The White House has consistently called into question Republicans’ commitment to what it considers a sustainable federal budget. Administration officials have noted that the various tax plans and other policies previously backed by GOP lawmakers would add more than $2.7 trillion to the national debt over 10 years.Biden intends to discuss his budget proposal on Thursday in Philadelphia. The official familiar with Biden’s budget plan was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter before the president’s official a...

US investigates Tesla for steering wheels that can fall off

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

By TOM KRISHER and MICHELLE CHAPMAN (AP Auto Writer)DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla’s Model Y SUV after getting two complaints that the steering wheels can come off while being driven.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the probe covers an estimated 120,000 vehicles from the 2023 model year.The agency says in both cases the Model Ys were delivered to customers with a missing bolt that holds the wheel to the steering column. A friction fit held the steering wheels on, but they separated when force was exerted while the SUVs were being driven.The agency says in documents posted on its website Wednesday that both incidents happened while the SUVs had low mileage on them.In one complaint filed with NHTSA, an owner said he was driving with his family on Route 1 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, when the steering wheel suddenly came off on Jan. 29, five days after the vehicle was purchased. The owner wrote that there were no ...

Slap fighting: The next big thing, or unsporting stupidity?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

By MARK ANDERSON | AP Sports WriterLAS VEGAS — The competitors stand rigidly upright with their hands behind their backs, waiting to absorb a brutal slap to the face.When the open-handed blow is delivered, there’s a sharp report — and the reaction can be dramatic. Some fighters barely move, while others stumble backward or fall to the floor. Some are knocked out.UFC President Dana White is selling slap fighting as the next big thing in combat sports, putting his money and the resources of one of the world’s foremost mixed martial arts organizations behind the Power Slap League. The Nevada Athletic Commission has sanctioned the league for competitions in Las Vegas.Azael Rodriguez slaps Jesus Gaspar at a Power Slap event in Rio De Janiero, Brazil on Nov. 30, 2022. (Mike Roach/Sciaffo LLC via AP)“It’s a home run,” said White, who is among several UFC officials involved in the league.Some slap-fighting beatdowns have gone viral, including a video from eastern Europe showing a man who co...

After Breonna Taylor shooting, feds find pattern of violations

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

By DYLAN LOVAN (Associated Press)LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has found Louisville police have engaged in a pattern of violating constitutional rights following an investigation prompted by the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor.The announcement was made Wednesday by Attorney General Merrick Garland. A Justice Department report found the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government and Louisville Metro Police Department “engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the Constitution and federal law.”The report said the Louisville police department “discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities,” uses excessive force and conducts searches based on invalid warrants. It also said the department violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech, like the street protests in the city in the summer of 2020.“This conduct is unacceptable, it is heartbreaking,” Garland said.The sweeping probe announc...

Chris Perkins: These are the free agents the Dolphins should re-sign

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Decision time begins next week for the Miami Dolphins when it comes to re-signing their own free agents.It won’t be easy.From my perspective, this Dolphins locker room was among the most entertaining and media-friendly groups I’ve covered in more than 20 years of pro sports. They were absolutely great. So from a personal working standpoint, I’d be happy to see almost all of them return.But obviously you can’t expect significant improvement when you return a ton of players from a crew that went 9-8.Tough choices must be made, but here are my top choices of free agents that should be brought back.I’d like to see quarterback Teddy Bridgewater return to the Dolphins.I’d also like to see linebacker Elandon Roberts back as well as offensive tackle Brandon Shell and cornerback Nik Needham.That foursome of Bridgewater, Roberts, Shell and Needham are the top four free agents that I think the Dolphins should re-sign.After that there’s running back Jef...

Jimmy Butler uses day off between Heat games to jet to L.A. for Pau Gasol jersey retirement

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Amid what already is a hectic schedule for the Miami Heat, forward Jimmy Butler finds himself in the midst of a three-games-in-three-days stretch, after a crosscourt side trip on Tuesday.In the wake of going for 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Monday night’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Miami-Dade Arena, Butler traveled to Los Angeles to be a Crypto.com Arena for Tuesday night’s Lakers’ retirement of Pau Gasol’s jersey. Butler and Gasol spent two seasons as teammates with the Chicago Bulls.Butler then jetted back to South Florida for Wednesday night’s game against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, the start of a run of three games in four nights for the Heat, who host the Cavaliers again Friday night before playing Saturday night on the road against the Orlando Magic.Holding up a Gasol Lakers jersey, Butler was asked by the NBA’s promotional wing about the appearance.“What’s this guy’s name? Pau?” Butler s...