Yes, Rajon Rondo can really help Cavs: Here’s why – Terry Pluto - cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Yes, Rajon Rondo can still play and he’ll help the Cavs.

That’s not just my opinion. Former Cavs coach Mike Fratello believes that is the case. Obviously, Fratello knows the game after being an NBA head coach for 17 seasons with a 667-548 record. He also brings a recent scouting report on Rondo, as Fratello does TV work for the L.A. Clippers.

The Cavs acquired Rondo from the Lakers for Denzel Valentine, who is expected to be waived by L.A.

“I saw Rondo last year with the Clippers, and he really helped them,” said Fratello. “Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were thrilled when they acquired Rondo at mid-season. He could bring the ball up the court, set up the offense and take some of that pressure off them.”

In 18 games for the Clippers last season, Rondo averaged 7.6 points, 5.8 assists and shot .486 from the field (.432 on 3-pointers) in 20 minutes a game. He was acquired during the season in a trade with Atlanta.

The Cavs scrambled to add a veteran point guard after Ricky Rubio suffered a season-ending knee injury on Tuesday.

“Can Rondo go out and get 27 points like Rubio did in his last game? No,” said Fratello. “But he can do a lot of the things Rubio does so well.”

Love this photo of Mike Fratello when he was hired to coach the Cavaliers in 1993.The Plain Dealer

STILL HAS SOME SKILL LEFT

The 35-year-old Rondo has been in the NBA for 16 seasons. His first nine were with Boston, where he was the starting point guard on the 2008 championship team. Overall, the 6-foot-1 Rondo has been with eight teams. Late in his career, he’s the type of smart veteran good teams want as a backup.

“He is a coach on the floor,” said Fratello. “He can distribute the ball. He can bring the ball up the court against pressure. He’s not the same elite defender as before, but he can get steals and deflections.”

Rondo will be important to the Cavs.

“He’s very good on the high pick-and-roll play,” Fratello said. “You know how (Darius) Garland and Rubio could drive around the pick and then put that lob pass for the big guy at the rim? Rondo can do that, too. He also can make a floater if the defense backs off him.”

The Cavs have big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen who are superb on those pick-and-lob plays.

The Cavs are expected to continue to look for guard help. But Rondo was available now. He let the Cavs know he was anxious to join this young team. But don’t expect much offense from Rondo, who never was a very good outside shooter.

“He brings a lot what Rubio brought to the Cavs,” said Fratello. “But they will miss Rubio’s scoring.”

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WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LAKERS?

With the Lakers, Rondo played in 18 games, shooting .324 from the field (.267 on 3-pointers), averaging 3.1 points and 3.7 assists in 17 minutes. Rondo had played with the Lakers before. LeBron James and other veterans there liked him.

But Rondo was lost on the roster that included Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard and James. Veterans Westbrook and James dominate the ball.

“They needed outside shooting,” said Fratello. “That wasn’t Rondo’s game. It wasn’t a good fit for him.”

Rondo is on a one-year, $2.6 million contract. If he plays poorly, it doesn’t cost much to cut him. It’s a no-risk move. The Cavs and Fratello stressed not to expect as much from Rondo as they received from the remarkable Rubio. But he is an upgrade over what they have on the roster behind Garland.

“Is Rondo’s tank as full as it once was? No,” said Fratello. “But he’s got enough in there to help the Cavs.”

RECENT TERRY PLUTO COLUMNS

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Ricky Rubio is injured, now what for the Cavs?

Terry’s Talkin’ podcast: Ben Simmons deal? Baker vs. Pittsburgh? Guardians ownership situation.

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A lousy call and some lousy throws by Mayfield led to the loss in Green Bay.

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Yes, Rajon Rondo can really help Cavs: Here’s why – Terry Pluto - cleveland.com
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Kirk Cousins has COVID-19, out Sunday night - NBC Sports

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Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will miss Sunday night’s game against the Packers.

According to multiple reports, Cousins has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be on the COVID-19 reserve list.

Cousins is unvaccinated, and even though the NFL recently changed its COVID-19 protocols to make it easier for unvaccinated players to return faster, he won’t be able to get back on the field for the Packers game, which is less than 36 hours away.

The Vikings also have backup quarterback Sean Mannion on the COVID-19 reserve list, although it’s possible that Mannion, who went on the list five days ago, could be back by Sunday. If not, rookie Kellen Mond is the next man up, and Kyle Sloter is the other quarterback on the roster in Minnesota.

The 7-8 Vikings are in a fight for their playoff lives, while the 12-3 Packers are trying to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC. This is bad news in Minnesota and welcome news in Green Bay.

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World Junior Championship, a Showcase for Hockey’s Top Prospects, Is Canceled - The New York Times

The World Junior Championship, an annual showcase of the next generation of hockey stars, which was already underway in Canada, was canceled on Wednesday as the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus continued to wreak havoc on the sports world.

The International Ice Hockey Federation, the sport’s global governing body, said it was scrapping the tournament after a player on the Russian national team tested positive for the virus, which would have necessitated the cancellation of the third game in two days, between Russia and Slovakia on Wednesday.

Two previous games — between Switzerland and the United States and between Finland and the Czech Republic — had already been canceled because of positive cases.

The cancellation was an ominous sign for sports leagues, including the N.H.L. and the N.B.A., which have been struggling to maintain schedules amid a steep surge in cases driven by the convergence of the Omicron and Delta variants.

On Tuesday, U.S.A. Hockey said the final two games of the women’s national team’s My Why Tour, which had been set for Jan. 3 and Jan. 6 in Alberta, Canada, had been canceled, less than a month before the team was scheduled to leave for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The World Juniors, which was also being held in Alberta, is a beloved post-Christmas tradition in Canada, transfixing fans in the country, which has historically dominated the event.

The United States won last year’s tournament, which features some of the best men’s hockey players under 20, who train for years to reach the event and are considered top prospects for the N.H.L.

Over the past decade, the tournament’s most valuable players have included the New York Rangers’ first overall pick Alexis Lafreniére (2020), Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators (2014) and John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks (2013).

Luc Tardif, the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, said the organization had begun the tournament “with full confidence” in the protocols that had been put in place, but then had to readjust them as cases surged. The protocols included daily testing and a team quarantine requirement when positive cases were confirmed.

“Unfortunately, this was not enough,” Mr. Tardif said in a statement. “We now have to take some time and focus on getting all players and team staff back home safely.”

John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the United States National Junior Team, said he was proud of the team and would work to ensure they get home safely.

“Our hearts go out to the players and staff of not just our country,” he said in a statement, “but every nation, who have worked so hard, and sacrificed so much, to get to this point.”

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World Junior Championship, a Showcase for Hockey’s Top Prospects, Is Canceled - The New York Times
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Michigan football vs. Georgia in College Football Playoff: TV, time, game info - Detroit Free Press

UCLA Bruins pull out of Holiday Bowl hours before kickoff due to COVID-19 protocols, irking NC State Wolfpack - espn.com

3:48 PM ET

UCLA was forced to pull out of the Holiday Bowl only hours before Tuesday's scheduled game against NC State in San Diego because of COVID-19 problems within the Bruins program.

The school announced its decision around 3:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Bruins and Wolfpack were scheduled to play at Petco Park at 8 p.m. ET.

UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement he was "deeply disappointed" for the Bruins players, but emphasized their health and safety was paramount.

The Wolfpack, who were trying to win 10 games in a season for only the second time in program history, were the fourth ACC team to have their bowl game canceled.

Though UCLA did have multiple players not make the trip to San Diego for COVID-19 reasons, Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said nobody at NC State knew UCLA was dealing with more COVID-19 issues once the Bruins arrived in town to begin preparations for the game. The first he heard about it was when his athletic director, Boo Corrigan, told him the game was off -- only minutes before the news was reported on social media.

Doeren told a small gathering of reporters in San Diego he broke the news at a team meeting in which his players expressed anger, confusion and sadness.

"Felt lied to, to be honest," Doeren said. "We felt like UCLA probably knew something was going on, didn't tell anybody on our side. We had no clue they were up against that. I don't feel like it was very well handled from their university. It would have been great to have had a heads-up so two or three days ago we could have found a Plan B. Disappointing."

Jarmond responded to Doeren in a statement posted on Twitter.

"With today's COVID results, our medical staff deemed it unsafe for us to compete this evening," Jarmond wrote. "While we had isolated COVID challenges, we were still in a position to compete up until today.

"I am truly disappointed for everyone who was involved with the game."

Bowl Season executive director Nick Carparelli, in a text message to ESPN, said the Bruins' cancelation was due to COVID-19 protocols.

"UCLA's statement makes it very clear that their inability to play was due to the protocols in place and not the virus itself," Carparelli said. "I feel bad for both teams as well as the great people at the Holiday Bowl who worked so hard all year long for today. This continues to be a very sad and frustrating situation."

Corrigan said NC State has been in contact with numerous teams about playing a game, but did not say when or where that might be.

"I don't want this to diminish what happened here this year," Doeren said. "This was an unfair thing that happened, and like all other unfair things there's not going to be a rationale that makes it feel good. We're going to have to deal with it and get ready for what's next."

The Holiday Bowl is the fifth bowl game to be canceled because of COVID-19 issues with at least one of the participating teams, joining the Arizona Bowl, Hawai'i Bowl, Fenway Bowl and Military Bowl.

ESPN's Andrea Adelson and Heather Dinich contributed to this report.

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UCLA Bruins pull out of Holiday Bowl hours before kickoff due to COVID-19 protocols, irking NC State Wolfpack - espn.com
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Bedard joins elite company, Canada routs Austria - TSN

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Colts place starting quarterback Carson Wentz on reserve/COVID-19 list - IndyStar

Jaguars coaching search: Just hire Jim Caldwell - Big Cat Country

The Jacksonville Jaguars will begin interviewing candidates for their head coaching vacancy this week and have already been reportedly interested in the likes of Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and former head coaches Doug Pederson and Jim Caldwell. All three seem like obvious candidates to interview for the job, but without even knowing how else the Jaguars are interested, I think the choice is an easy one for what the Jaguars need.

The Jaguars should make the boring, but correct decision, and hire former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell. While someone like Leftwich would be a homerun swing and he comes highly regarded in league circles, Caldwell would be the smart choice for what the Jaguars need in the immediate. That’s not to say if the Jaguars ended up hiring someone like Leftwich it would be a mistake, but at this point the Jaguars need to just get on base, not necessarily a home run.

The Jaguars shouldn’t be going for the Super Bowl win right now. The Jaguars need to be able to pull themselves out of the bottom of the league and find a way to at least be a mediocre franchise with some consistency first. While that sounds ridiculous, at this point that would be an insanely massive improvement over the last decade. The Jaguars need a stabilizing force and that is exactly what Caldwell brings to the table.

Caldwell has had success as a head coach with both the Colts and the Lions, and in both situations ended up in a head scratching firing after one down season. With the Colts, Caldwell finished 14-2 with a Super Bowl loss, 10-6 with a Wild Card loss and then was fired after a 2-14 season, of which Peyton Manning was out for the season and it appeared obvious the Colts were tanking for the spot to land quarterback Andrew Luck.

It seemed the Colts just wanted a full reboot and fired Caldwell along with everyone else.

With the Lions, Caldwell ended up bringing the perennial loser to the NFL playoffs twice, including an 11-5 season his first year with the team. Amazingly Caldwell finished his stint with the Lions with three winning seasons out of four, something we haven’t seen from that franchise in ages. Caldwell was fired after many believed the general manager had wanted to bring over Matt Patricia from the Patriots since he was given the job, but once again despite multiple winning seasons Caldwell was let go to many people’s surprise.

Caldwell feels like the stabilizing force that the Jaguars franchise needs, especially with young quarterback Trevor Lawrence at the helm. As mentioned, Caldwell probably isn’t going to be that Super Bowl winning coach at this point in his career, but he has shown in the past to bring stability to where he is and getting the best out of what he has, something the Jaguars desperately need not only as a team, but as a franchise.

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What the Texans' upset of Chargers means for Davis Mills' future as starting QB - The Athletic

The drive looked doomed.

First, there was an illegal formation penalty, then a timeout to avoid a delay of game, and finally a false start by tight end Pharaoh Brown right after that timeout, an ugly mistake that made it second-and-14 from the Houston 2. After intercepting a pass just outside their own end zone, the Texans appeared on their way to punting the ball right back to the Chargers to end the second quarter.

So often this season, the Texans’ limited offense has been unable to complement a defense that ranks near the top of the league in takeaways. But this time proved to be different.

This time, the Texans caught a break, then quarterback Davis Mills made some of his own luck, carrying a team that has often seemed to scheme up plays to minimize how much the rookie has had to do.

A holding penalty on the Chargers gave the Texans a first down, and a play later Mills threw 36 yards down the right sideline to Phillip Dorsett. It was one of Mills’ best throws of his rookie year, yet not even his best throw of this drive. Not after he tossed a 41-yard touchdown to Chris Conley just four snaps later.

Conley was supposed to stretch the defense and create space for an underneath route on the play, but Mills saw the safety on the right side of the field roll down to cover that route, so he decided to give Conley a chance to make a play.

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What the Texans' upset of Chargers means for Davis Mills' future as starting QB - The Athletic
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‘It’s time to start winning some games’: After 41-21 loss to Bengals, Ravens are running out of time - Baltimore Sun

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‘It’s time to start winning some games’: After 41-21 loss to Bengals, Ravens are running out of time - Baltimore Sun
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Washington vs. Cowboys LIVE Scoreboard! Join the Conversation & Watch the Game on NBC! - NFL

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Steelers inactives for Week 16 vs. Chiefs - Steelers.com

The Steelers will be without multiple players today due to injuries, all of them inactive after being ruled out ahead of game day.

Tight end Pat Freiermuth didn't practice all week, still in the concussion protocol after being injured against the Tennessee Titans last week.

With Freiermuth out, it will be Zach Gentry who will get the call at tight end.

"I feel confident," said Gentry. "I've got a lot of playing time this year and I feel comfortable in the offense and with my role in the offense."

Defensive lineman Chris Wormley also missed practice all week after suffering a groin injury against the Titans and is out. Without Wormley, Cameron Heyward said they will need guys to step up, including rookie Isaiahh Loudermilk

"I'm looking for him to take the next step," said Heyward. "It's going be a group effort, but Isaiahh, he's going to have to play big for us."

Linebacker Buddy Johnson practiced during the week, limited at times, but was ruled out with a foot injury. The Steelers also have linebackers Devin Bush and Marcus Allen on the Reserve/COVID-19 List, so they find themselves thin there.

In addition, punter Pressley Harvin III is inactive. He was ruled out on Saturday as he deals with a personal issue. With Harvin out, the team signed punter Corliss Waitman to the 53-man roster. Waitman was on the Patriots practice squad. The team also signed punter Cameron Nizialek to the practice squad and elevated him to the Active/Inactive Roster for the game, but he is inactive today with Waitman getting the call.

The team also elevated guard Rashaad Coward, running back Trey Edmunds, and linebacker John Simon to the Active/Inactive Roster from the practice squad as COVID-19 replacements for today's game.

The other inactive for the team is quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

The Steelers will also be missing tackle Zach Banner, defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs and running back Anthony McFarland Jr., all on the Reserve/COVID-19 List.

For the Chiefs, tight end Travis Kelce is inactive today.

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Both Christmas games have major playoff implications - NBC Sports

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The NFL got lucky with the scheduling of its two Christmas games, as both games (Browns-Packers at 4:30 p.m. ET and Colts-Cardinals at 7:15) have major playoff implications.

The 11-3 Packers are currently in the lead to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which comes with a bye week and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. If the Packers win all three of their remaining games they’ll be the No. 1 seed, but a loss to the Browns today would significantly hinder their chances and make the race for the top spot wide open over the final three weeks of the season.

The 7-7 Browns are currently on the outside looking in to the AFC playoff picture, but with an upset today in Green Bay, they would suddenly have a clear path to the playoffs, with games remaining against the division rival Steelers and Bengals. A loss today doesn’t eliminate the Browns from playoff contention, but it does make them extreme long shots.

The 10-4 Cardinals are locked in a tough battle with the Rams for the NFC West title. A win today would keep the Cardinals as the favorites in their division, as they own the division record tiebreaker over the Rams. But a loss today would drop the Cardinals behind the Rams in the division and make Arizona more likely to have to start the playoffs on the road as a wild card.

The 8-6 Colts need a win in Arizona today to stay alive in the AFC South race; if the Colts lose the Titans clinch the division. And with a win today the Colts would stay in first place in the wild card race and make Indianapolis almost certain to make the playoffs.

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Kemba Walker isn't going back to the bench any time soon, and his trade value may be on the rise - CBS Sports

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Kemba Walker has made it clear he was not happy about being planted on the Knicks' bench, and if he continues to play like this, he shouldn't have to worry about going back there any time soon. 

On Thursday night, albeit in a tight loss to the Wizards, Walker went crazy with 44 points, nine rebounds and eight assists on 14-of-27 shooting, including 7-of-14 from 3-point land. He scored 23 points in the second quarter. The 44 is the most a Knicks player has scored this season and Walker's highest output since 2019. 

Walker was banished from the rotation starting on November 30th. Over the next nine games, the Knicks went 2-7 without Walker and their defense got even worse. Less than a week ago, on December 18th, with six Knicks in health and safety protocols and Derrick Rose out with an ankle injury that has since required surgery, Tom Thibodeau was forced to put Walker back into action against the Celtics. 

That night, Walker responded with 29 points, hitting five of his 11 3-pointers as a team-high plus-five in his 37 minutes. Three nights later, Walker scored 21 in a win over the Pistons. Add in Thursday's 44, and Walker is averaging 31.3 points  on 44-percent 3-point shooting. 

In the seven-point loss to the Wizards, Walker was a plus-four in 43 minutes. Do the math, and the Knicks lost the five non-Walker minutes by 11. Their defense got sliced apart, and Walker wasn't any help in this regard. Kyle Kuzma hit two monster 3-pointers in crunch time for Washington. Julius Randle was 0-for-5 from 3 while Alec Burks and Evan Fournier combined to shoot 8-for-29. Walker didn't get enough help.

With Rose now out at least eight weeks, Walker is certain to at least remain in the Knicks' rotation. Whether he will continue to start when Immanuel Quickley returns from his COVID absence remains to be seen (Thibs could go with a Quickley-Alec Burks starting backcourt and bring Walker off the bench in the Rose role), but either way, Walker is not going to be riding the pine any time soon. 

Beyond that, might this past week of performances have raised Walker's trade value across the league? It's certainly plausible. It's not to suggest Walker isn't still a flawed player; his defense is a huge problem, and that might not be a road Thibodeau wants to go down any longer than he has to. Teams are still going to look at the whole picture. 

But Walker can still score. He's shooting 42 percent from 3 for the season, and he remains a legit pull-up threat. Per Synergy Sports tracking, Walker entered Thursday in the 80th percentile or higher as a pick-and-roll, isolation and dribble-handoff scorer, and his 1.05 points per shot off the dribble registers as elite as well. 

How might he fit as a supporting player on a better team rather than having control of the offense? Small samples notwithstanding, he ranks in the 93rd percentile as a spot-up shooter with better than a 61 adjusted field goal percentage, per Synergy, and the 99th percentile with a 75 aFG on catch-and-shoots. If the Knicks continue to struggle, we'll see how much stock a potential trade partner puts in those numbers. 

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Vince Carter previews the NBA Christmas Day slate | First Take - ESPN

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Five Cowboys Named To 2021 Pro Bowl Roster - DallasCowboys.com

FRISCO, Texas – After getting shut out of the proceedings last year, the Dallas Cowboys are back on the Pro Bowl roster in a big way in 2021.

The NFL announced its initial rosters for the annual all-star game, and the Cowboys were represented with five selections: Trevon Diggs, Micah Parsons, Zack Martin, Tyron Smith and Bryan Anger.

It's not terribly surprising to see a bounce back this season. After all, the Cowboys are 10-4, sitting on the cusp of an NFC East championship and are currently tied for the NFL's second-best record, as only the Green Bay Packers have more wins.

What is new, though, is the makeup of their Pro Bowl lineup.

For much of the past decade, the Cowboys' Pro Bowlers have mainly been offensive players, due to the strength of their offensive line and skill positions.

This year, however, they boast two of the most impressive defensive playmakers in the NFL, as Diggs and Parsons have both been named to their first Pro Bowl after breakout seasons.

Diggs currently leads the league in interceptions, and his 10 picks on the season have helped the Cowboys to 31 total takeaways – tied for best in the NFL.

Parsons' 12 sacks this season has him ranked seventh in the league in that category, despite playing far fewer snaps as a pass rusher than any of his counterparts.

He is also just the 12th rookie in Cowboys history to be named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, joining illustrious company like Mel Renfro, Bob Hayes, Emmitt Smith, Zack Martin and Ezekiel Elliott, to name a few.

"It would be an extreme honor," said Parsons when asked about the possibility of being named to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday. "One of those things where it's not an expectation; it's something that you earn."

Anger's inclusion is also a bit of a departure from recent years. He is the first Cowboys punter named to the Pro Bowl since Mat McBriar, who accomplished the feat in 2006 and 2010. He is also just the third Cowboys specialist selected to the Pro Bowl in the past decade, as L.P. Ladouceur was selected as a long snapper in 2014 and Dan Bailey made it in 2015.

Of course, some things stayed the same in 2021. After missing the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career last year, Zack Martin is back for a seventh appearance. Martin missed the season opener with COVID-19, but he has played every other game, consistently meeting his own standard as one of the best guards in football.

Smith is also making his eighth appearance in the Pro Bowl after missing most of last season due to injury. The 11th-year veteran has missed four games in the second half of the season with a lingering ankle injury, but he has remained one of the most dominant tackles in the league when he has been available.

Of the five, Smith is the only Cowboy player who is not a starter in the Pro Bowl lineup.

The hope is obviously that none of them will be available to play in it, as there are loftier aspirations in mind. But as the Cowboys approach the end of a memorable season, it's a well-earned honor for all five.

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Fantasy Football Week 16 tight end rankings: Travis Kelce's absence looms large - CBS Sports

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There was some talk last week around Fantasy Football circles about Travis Kelce no longer being the No. 1 tight end, so he went out and put together the sixth-best tight end performance in a single game since 2000, with 41.1 PPR points. Of course, it's not like Mark Andrews, the consensus No. 1 last week, was much worse – he had the 17th-best performance, with 35.6 points. And it's worth pausing here, as the Fantasy playoffs move to the semi-finals, to note just how big of an edge those elite tight ends have still been able to give you this season.

Of the 30-best tight end performances in a single game since 2000, six have happened this season: 

• No. 5: Mark Andrews in Week 5 – 41.7 PPR points
• No. 6: Travis Kelce in Week 15 – 41.1
• No. 9: George Kittle in Week 13 – 39.6
• No. 17: Mark Andrews in Week 15 – 35.6
• No. 30: George Kittle in Week 14 – 34.1 

Talk about coming up big at the right time. Overall, this position remains incredibly weak, with just six or maybe seven players I feel good about starting right now, with a clear drop after No. 4, Rob Gronkowski. The elites at the position still remain arguably the biggest consistent edge you can find in Fantasy – though, unfortunately, Kelce's status for Week 16 is very much in doubt after he tested positive for COVID, shrinking the already shallow pool of reliable options at the worst time. 

Here are my tight end rankings for Week 16. To see the rankings of Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath Cummings, make sure you head here. 

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Week 16 TE Rankings

1. Mark Andrews vs. GB
2. George Kittle vs. ATL
3. Rob Gronkowski vs. NO
4. Kyle Pitts @SF
5. Mike Gesicki vs. NYJ
6. Dallas Goedert vs. WAS
7. Ricky Seals-Jones @PHI
8. Dawson Knox vs. CAR
9. Dalton Schultz @NYG
10. Tyler Conklin @CHI
11. Zach Ertz @DET
12. Foster Moreau @CLE
13. Pat Freiermuth vs. TEN
14. Gerald Everett @LAR
15. Cole Kmet vs. MIN
16. James O'Shaughnessy vs. HOU
17. David Njoku vs. LV
18. Noah Fant vs. CIN
19. Evan Engram vs. DAL
20. Albert Okwuegbunam vs. CIN
21. C.J. Uzomah @DEN
22. Geoff Swaim @PIT

So who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 15 rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that has out-performed experts big-time.

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Watch: Referees miss blatant pass interference in Rams-Seahawks game - USA TODAY

Tom Brady on hit that cost Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin rest of season: 'Ought to take out of the game' - USA TODAY

Cleveland Browns fall to last place in AFC North with heartbreaking loss to Las Vegas Raiders - USA TODAY

Jonathan Taylor's 67-yard, fourth-quarter TD run halts Patriots' comeback: 'We're not going to let up' - NFL.com

The Colts left the door open for a Patriots comeback on Saturday night. But that was until Jonathan Taylor closed the show.

Needing a first down or two with a three-point lead and a little over two minutes to play, Taylor instead ripped off a 67-yard touchdown run to help put the game out of reach and secure a 27-17 victory over the Patriots.

"I think it just says that we're a team that's gonna come in, wherever we're at -- home or away -- we're going to play 60 minutes, four quarters of hard-nosed football," Taylor said in the postgame interview on NFL Network. "And we're not going to let up, we're going to continue pressing until the clock strikes zero."

Taylor's final run of the night concluded a 170-yard rushing night for the stellar second-year back, who averaged 5.9 yards per carry off 29 attempts.

The late-inning home run also kept Indianapolis in the AFC South chase with the Tennessee Titans and moved the Colts up one spot within the playoff picture, where they currently sit at the No. 5 seed.

The Colts put it on the Patriots in the first half, going into the locker room with a 20-0 lead having dominated on defense and scoring a TD on a blocked punt. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones made several miscues early on but rallied back in the second half thanks to mistakes by his contemporary Carson Wentz, who's second half interception helped spur a comeback.

Wentz completed just 5 of 12 pass attempts for 57 yards (TD, INT) on the night, but the scare of what would've been a harrowing letdown was quickly forgotten by virtue of Taylor's 67-yard scamper.

Said Taylor: "It was just an all-out effort -- offense, defense, special teams -- being able to come together and play a complete game."

Taylor leads the league with 1,518 rushing yards and 18 total TDs (16 rushing, two receiving), and is closer to achieving Colts history with three games remaining. Taylor now needs just 192 rushing yards to eclipse the single-season franchise record of 1,709 yards set by Edgerrin James, who applied that mark in his second season (2000).

Chants of "MVP" resonated in Lucas Oil Stadium as Taylor walked off the field. But all the 22-year-old could really think of was getting the Colts into the playoffs as they approach the final three-game stretch that begins in Arizona on Christmas Day.

"It's just a blessing that people feel as though my name should be in that conversation," Taylor said. "The only thing that's on my mind is to continuously be available for my team each and every single week. Because it's going to take our best every week in order to win these games."

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UFC Vegas 45 predictions - MMA Fighting

The last UFC card of the year could have major title implications for several divisions heading into 2022.

In the UFC Vegas 45 main event, the stakes are obvious: Derrick Lewis has been holding on to a top 5 spot for years and Chris Daukaus wants to take it. The odds favor Daukaus too and why shouldn’t they? All the fast-rising contender has done since debuting in the UFC last year is rack up knockouts and performance bonuses. Lewis is fresh off of a one-sided loss to Ciryl Gane and he seems ripe for the picking.

A win over Lewis puts Daukaus on the short list of potential challengers for whoever emerges victorious from Francis Ngannou and Gane’s heavyweight championship unification bout next month.

Two more names that can put themselves into position to compete for gold soon are co-headliner Stephen Thompson and fearsome strawweight Amanda Lemos. “Wonderboy” has said multiple times that welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is running out of fresh challengers and he’d be happy to take that call, while Lemos has looked like the real deal at 115 pounds with first-round finishes in three of her past four appearances. Either Thompson or Lemos will be more than worthy of a title opportunity with an impressive performance on Saturday.

In other main card action, Raphael Assuncao looks to stop a career-worst losing skid when he fights Ricky Simon, Diego Ferreira takes on former two-division KSW champion Mateusz Gamrot, and Cub Swanson and Darren Elkins collide in a battle of featherweight veterans.

What: UFC Vegas 45

Where: UFC APEX in Las Vegas

When: Saturday, Dec. 18. The eight-fight preliminary card begins on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET, followed by a six-fight main card on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.

---

(Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in MMA Fighting Global Rankings)

Derrick Lewis (4) vs. Chris Daukaus (8)

Derrick Lewis typically thrives in these situations. Meaning that when a relatively fresh contender tries to take his number, “The Black Beast” sends them packing.

Look at Lewis’ past four losses: Ciryl Gane, Junior dos Santos, Daniel Cormier, and Mark Hunt. That’s three UFC champions and, well, Mark Hunt. He rarely loses to anyone that’s not in the top tier at heavyweight and the jury is still out on Chris Daukaus. Wins over veterans Shamil Abdurakhimov and Aleksei Oleinik bolster Daukaus’ case, but he’s yet to take on an opponent with the one-shot stopping power of Lewis.

This is a tricky one for me as I’m on board with the notion that Daukaus is a shoo-in to someday fight for UFC gold, I’m just not sure if Lewis is the contender he leapfrogs to get there. Say what you want about Lewis supposedly being unable to win the big one, he wins just about everything else.

It will be fun to see if Daukaus breaks out his jiu-jitsu to teach “Mr. Just Stand Up” a lesson and such a tactic could change the whole complexion of the fight. If this one stays standing though, I think Lewis’ nose for the knockout gets him the W.

Pick: Lewis

Stephen Thompson (5) vs. Belal Muhammad (13)

Constant pressure and endless cardio are the name of the game for Belal Muhammad. The problem is that neither of those qualities have ever presented much of a problem for “Wonderboy.”

Stephen Thompson thrives on picking apart opponents that are technically inferior to him in the striking department. Unless you can threaten with some serious power, he’s not going to divert from his game plan, which involves masterful range striking, accurate counters, and sudden bursts of offense. I just don’t see what Muhammad has to offer that’s going to put Thompson in any significant danger.

Unless Muhammad is willing to take some big risks to close the distance and hunt for a knockout, this will be a long three rounds for him.

Thompson by decision.

Pick: Thompson

Amanda Lemos (12) vs. Angela Hill (13)

Amanda Lemos has been an absolute buzzsaw during her current win streak, so credit to Angela Hill for rushing headfirst into it. That said, she may come to regret this decision.

Similar to what I just wrote about Muhammad, Hill is a volume striker that often relies on outworking her opponents as much as “outskilling” them. She uses her reach well and can also be nasty with her kickboxing in close. Add in her experience edge and there’s potential for a major upset here.

Lemos has faced good competition in the UFC, including Livinha Souza and Mizuki Inoue, but Hill is a notch above the best that Lemos has beaten so far. If Lemos is serious about fighting for a title in 2022, she has to not only win tonight, she has to win by finish or a dominant decision. Fortunately for her, she has the skills to do either.

With the greatest respect to the always-game Hill, Lemos is ready for the spotlight and in her first UFC main card appearance I fully expect her to hurt Hill early and then score a submission victory.

Pick: Lemos

Raphael Assuncao vs. Ricky Simon

I didn’t mention him in the opening blurb, but Ricky Simon is another fighter that could vault themselves into the title picture with a win on Saturday. Bantamweight is the most frenzied of shark tanks right now and Simon could rise above those infested waters by knocking Raphael Assuncao off and extending his current win streak to four.

You hate to pick on a guy for his age, but Assuncao is slumping and it’s no coincidence that he’s doing so seven months shy of his 40th birthday. In a division that is thriving with talent, the slightest dulling of the edge can cost you and Assuncao hasn’t exactly been a Hattori Hanzo blade lately.

Unfortunately for Assuncao, Simon is very much in the mold of the kinds of fighters that have plagued him in recent years. Simon is fast, he hits hard, and he can mix in wrestling when he needs it. Assuncao’s fundamentals and grappling remain his strong points, but with his athleticism declining, how effective can he still be?

I have Simon outlasting Assuncao and finding a finish late in the second or early in the third.

Pick: Ricky Simon

Diego Ferreira (11) vs. Mateusz Gamrot

With his weight problems under control (at least for now), look for Diego Ferreira to get back on track.

Ferreira is one of the most well-rounded lightweights and he’s shown improved striking as his UFC career has progressed. You have to be concerned about his gas tank and the possibility of Mateusz Gamrot going all-out for takedowns in the early going to wear Ferreira down. Wrestling has made a fool out of many jiu-jitsu black belts, especially those with a tendency burn all of their energy in the first round.

Still, Ferreira has shown that he can bounce back from adversity — in this case losing back-to-back fights to Gregor Gillespie and Beneil Dariush — and he’ll be determined to avoid an 0-3 campaign. His game plan should revolved around forcing Gamrot to fight at his pace rather than inviting a brawl. As fun as it is to go bonus hunting, Ferreira needs to focus on winning by any means at this point and I think he gets it done on the scorecards.

Pick: Ferreira

Cub Swanson vs. Darren Elkins

Don’t expect Cub Swanson to be tripped up by the Darren Elkins trap.

Elkins has a unique gift for falling behind in fights and then storming back to take advantage of his opponent’s diminished gas tank. He’ll give you the first round, but after that he’s all about dragging you into deep waters. Look for Elkins to test Swanson’s takedown defense and grappling early.

Swanson, who heads into his 40th pro bout, is vulnerable fighting off of his back, but he also has an active guard that could give Elkins problems. On the feet, Swanson has the clear edge, so long as he doesn’t try to match Elkins haymaker for haymaker. His jab is a weapon he should establish to set up his heavier hooks later on.

This one will go the distance and could see some wild swings in live betting odds by the time Swanson and Elkins are through. I’m confident Swanson gets the better of the exchanges though and also does more, ahem, damage by the end of the fight. Swanson wins it on the scorecards.

Pick: Swanson

Preliminaries

Gerald Meerschaert def. Dustin Stoltzfus

Raoni Barcelos def. Victor Henry

Harry Hunsucker def. Justin Tafa

Sijara Eubanks (14) def. Melissa Gatto

Andre Ewell def. Charles Jourdain

Raquel Pennington def. Macy Chiasson

Josh Parisian def. Don’Tale Mayes

Jordan Leavitt def. Matt Sayles

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Tiger Woods describes 'awesome' day at PNC Championship with his son | Golf Central | Golf Channel - Golf Channel

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Paul vs. Woodley II: Official Weigh-In Live Stream | MMA Fighting - MMAFightingonSBN

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Lakers Rumors: Isaiah Thomas to Sign 10-Day Contract After 42-Point Debut in G League - Bleacher Report

Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images

Veteran point guard Isaiah Thomas had 42 points in his G League debut on Wednesday, and that performance reportedly was enough to impress the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Thomas signed a 10-day contract with Los Angeles on Thursday.

The Athletic @TheAthletic

JUST IN — Isaiah Thomas is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a>. <br><br>He will join the team on a 10-day contract under the hardship exemption. <a href="https://t.co/AiCHTObuQg">pic.twitter.com/AiCHTObuQg</a>

Thomas was last in the NBA near the end of last season, playing three games for the New Orleans Pelicans in the month of April. After he was unable to land with another team through the first two months of this season, Thomas signed a G League deal with the Grand Rapids Gold, the affiliate of the Denver Nuggets.

Thomas has played for eight teams during his 11-year career. This will be his second run with the Lakers after he was traded to Los Angeles midway through the 2017-18 season. Thomas was limited to 17 games during his first stint with the team because of hip surgery.

Thomas is best known for his time with the Boston Celtics, when he was a two-time All-Star in three seasons with the team. After averaging a career-high 28.9 points in 2016-17, Thomas earned second-team All-NBA honors. 

The 32-year-old has dealt with hip issues throughout his career, playing in just 87 NBA games since the 2017-18 season. Thomas has said he is healthy now, and he certainly looked that way on Wednesday.

The Lakers have a 16-13 record following Wednesday night's overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks, which was their third consecutive victory.

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How will rain affect Saturday’s BYU-UAB matchup in Independence Bowl? - Deseret News

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — BYU football players and coaches have been enjoying unseasonably warm weather, sunshine and plenty of Cajun cuisine such as bacon-wrapped alligator and other delicacies here in the Ratchet City this week.

One of those elements that has made their participation in the Independence Bowl changes on Saturday, however.

Weather forecasts call for a 90% chance of rain in the Shreveport-Bossier City area when the No. 13 Cougars face UAB at 1:30 p.m. MST at Independence Stadium. Daytime high temperatures will drop from the mid-70s to low-60s, meteorologists say.

‘That’s all we have been talking about, is being ready to play. Bowl games have distractions; You have a pretty long period of time between your last game and bowl game and usually the team that is most ready to play wins.” — BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick.

That’s not great news for a BYU offense that struggled a bit in the rare times it played in the rain this season. The Cougars lost 26-17 to Boise State on a semi-rainy day in Provo and defeated Washington State 21-19 in Pullman when it rained on and off throughout the game.

Those were 10-2 BYU’s two lowest-scoring games of the year.

“Throughout the week, we have practiced getting ready for a wet ball, over-emphasizing ball security, making sure we take care of it,” BYU running back Lopini Katoa said Thursday before practice at the Loyola College Prep school’s Flyer Field. “That’s (definitely) an issue for us in this game.”

Linebacker Ben Bywater said that attitude carries over to the defensive side as well.

“We are preparing for rain, so ball security is going to be huge,” Bywater said. “Punching the ball out on defense is going to be big, as well as fundamentals like stopping the run. We know with tougher weather they are gonna run it. Stopping it is going to be a big goal of ours.”

Assistant head coach Ed Lamb said coaches have been walking around practice and squirting the players’ hands and feet with water to get them ready for Saturday’s expected downpour. They’ve also made quarterbacks Jaren Hall, Baylor Romney and Jacob Conover throw a wet football.

“You just try to simulate that heavy, slippery ball,” Lamb said. “Really, it is about awareness. As coaches, you get what you emphasize. We are emphasizing the ball security phase of the game.”

Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said everything about the bowl has been top-shelf so far, and the team that best handles the weather and is most excited about playing will probably prevail.

‘That’s all we have been talking about, is being ready to play,” Roderick said. “Bowl games have distractions; You have a pretty long period of time between your last game and bowl game and usually the team that is most ready to play wins.

“The other thing is being excited to play,” Roderick continued. “I think that’s a big factor in bowl games, is the team that is most excited to be there usually is the one that has a better chance to win.”

No matter the weather, or how good the food is.

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Los Angeles Lakers rookie Austin Reaves 'lost for words' after overtime heroics vs. Mavericks - ESPN

1:47 AM ET

DALLAS -- The odds of Los Angeles Lakers rookie Austin Reaves even being in an NBA uniform on Wednesday night, let alone on the court in overtime and trusted to hit the game-winning 3 to beat the Mavericks 107-104, were astronomical.

All 30 teams passed on him on draft night, and the two-way contract he signed with L.A. was only converted to a full-fledged roster spot after the Lakers suffered injuries during training camp.

And while he'd earned coach Frank Vogel's trust up to this point in the season, the main reason Reaves was logging 9½ minutes in the fourth quarter on Wednesday plus the entire five minutes of overtime was because L.A. had little other choice. Over the past 48 hours, the team was depleted from a string of players and staff members entering into the league's health and safety protocols.

When Reaves received the pass from Russell Westbrook and let it fly from the right wing with 1.0 second left in the extra session, however, the context was inconsequential. He was a basketball player doing what he has done for as long as he has played the game.

"I mean, it's basically been the story of my life," Reaves said afterward. "I've always been underrated. Didn't go to a big high school, so didn't get recruited much, but at the end of the day, you got to produce on the basketball court and for me to hit that shot, for my teammates to have the trust in me to take that shot is very, very special."

The shot gave Reaves 15 points for the game, setting a new career high in scoring, and was his fifth made 3-pointer in six attempts. It prompted his teammates, future Hall of Famers and All-Stars among them, to mob the 23-year-old from Arkansas near midcourt after Dallas' Reggie Bullock couldn't get his desperation 3 off before the final buzzer.

Anthony Davis put Reaves in a headlock. Westbrook tussled his hair. When the group made it back to the locker room, LeBron James presented him with the game ball, and DeAndre Jordan snuck up behind Reaves to dump a bucket of ice water on the rookie to celebrate.

"Just the genuine nature of the guys," Reaves said when asked what stuck out about the moment. "You don't see that much, especially with the type of guys that we have on this team -- six Hall of Famers and then all the guys that have been in the league for 10-12 years. So, really just the genuineness of it is just special.

"I'm lost for words. I mean, I've grown up watching all of these guys play, so for them to ... for me to even just be teammates with them is special."

It was an outright exhibit of exuberance for a Lakers team that hasn't had much to feel great about this season. The rash of positive COVID-19 tests that hit the team this week -- making Dwight Howard, Talen Horton-Tucker and Malik Monk, as well as assistant coach Phil Handy and play-by-play broadcaster Bill Macdonald unavailable -- only seemed to fit that trend.

But with the flick of the wrist, Reaves kept some momentum alive for the Lakers, who have now won six of their past eight games.

"It hasn't gone as everyone else has hoped it would," James said of the Lakers' season, now 16-13 and No. 6 in the West. "It's gone as how it's gone. You go out and you play the game and you want to be better. You want to be better every single day. We want to continue to work our habits, continue do what we got to do to be great every night. So, we are who we are as a team. We got a lot of injuries, a lot of mixed lineups. Obviously guys in protocols and false protocols, things of that nature.

"So, we are what we are as a team right now and we like where we're at."

James' answer took on the same matter-of-fact tone that Reaves' did when asked about James lighting into him in a timeout when the Mavs hit a 3 shortly before his big-time shot.

"The discussion was that I messed up on defense," Reaves said of the intense conversation. "I didn't get to the shooter, or whatever. He made the shot. But, I mean, it's basketball. The other team is trying to achieve something, too. So, things go wrong, things go right, but I don't think so. I try to just stay level-headed throughout everything regardless of who I'm playing or what teammate I'm playing with. I think it's kind of just my nature and my mentality is just even-keeled. Never too high, never too low."

If there has been one high point to this Lakers season so far though, it has been their performance in crunch time. Reaves shot pushed their record in overtime to 5-1.

"Throughout the year, there will be ups and downs, but ultimately, when the game's on the line, we have guys in the locker room that can make plays at the end of the game," said Westbrook. "It's a good feeling to know that, looking to the left and looking to the right, that guys can close and finish games when we need to."

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Travis Hunter to Jackson State: In all-time stunner, Deion Sanders steals No. 1 prospect from Florida State - CBS Sports

Travis Hunter, the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2022, pulled an all-time stunner Wednesday during the first day of the early signing period when he flipped from his Florida State commitment to sign with Jackson State, led by Seminoles legend Deion Sanders. Jackson State is an HBCU that competes in the SWAC at the FCS level, and Hunter's decision to spurn a longstanding commitment to an FBS power in order to sign with JSU will reverberate throughout college football and sports world as a whole.

"This is the biggest signing day moment in the history of college football," said Steve Wiltfong, director of national recruiting for 247Sports, who first reported that Hunter's flip was possible.

Hunter committed to Florida State in March 2020 and remained steadfast in his commitment to the 'Noles over more than a year and a half, even as the program has struggled to gain traction under coach Mike Norvell. But Hunter's flip amounts to a last-second gutting of the best thing Norvell had going for him.

Hunter, who is projected to play cornerback in college, is regarded as a generational talent and was viewed as a potential building block for an FSU team that is just 8-13 over Norvell's first two seasons as coach.

On the flip side, his move is a boost of historic proportions for HBCU football. Sanders has breathed life into the Jackson State program, leading it to an 11-1 record this season and an appearance in Saturday's Celebration Bowl. The Tigers finished 4-8 in 2019, the season before Sanders arrived.

The fact that Sanders poached Hunter from FSU's class is even more stunning considering that Sanders starred at Florida State and remained heavily connected to the university throughout his career.

Hunter is a talented corner, but much like Sanders did during his playing career, he could see action both ways at the next level. Hunter helped Collins Hill High School from Suwanee, Georgia, to a state title victory this month by catching 10 passes for 148 yards and forcing a fumble in a 24-8 win.

Coach Prime called his shot

Sanders is a bit of a showman known to talk a big game. So, perhaps that's why his remarks Tuesday on a Barstool Sports show went somewhat overlooked. In retrospect, his statement was a clear omen of this possibility. It seems "Coach Prime" called his shot.

"Signing day is tomorrow," Sanders said. "I'm going on record to tell you guys we're going to shock the country. I'm telling you right now. You've heard it from me. We're going to shock the country."

Sanders takes out his alma mater

Sanders didn't just play for Florida State; he was a three-time All-American in Tallahassee, Florida, and is one of the program's most iconic players. He helped transform the Noles into a national power under legendary coach Bobby Bowden in the late 1980s. His uniform was retired by the school, and he also played baseball for FSU before going on to a storied pro career in both sports.

Pulling a prospect of this magnitude from the school where he played is a fascinating dynamic. To what extent will it imperil his relationship with Florida State, if at all? Or will the fury of the fanbase merely be directed to Norvell and his staff for failing to finish the job with Hunter?

Time will tell. For now, it's easy to see how Sanders connected with Hunter. Much like Sanders was in his heyday, Hunter is a dynamic athlete capable of playing on both sides of the football. Given that Sanders excelled as a great NFL defensive back, he'll presumably receive a great deal of insight into the position under Sanders at JSU.

Florida State's concerning trajectory

Amid Florida State's struggles during Norvell's first two seasons, the signing of Hunter emerged as a source of hope for the program. He was the lynchpin of a class ranked No. 12 nationally and second in the ACC. Those rankings will fall following his defection and could put Norvell's rocky tenure in even more peril. Following the unsuccessful tenure of Willie Taggart and the unceremonious ending to the Jimbo Fisher era, the Noles needed a player of his caliber to reverse the program's fortunes. It appeared that Norvell had locked in Hunter. Now that he doesn't, where does FSU go from here?

HBCU recruiting could get a major boost

Hunter's pledge to Jackson State unquestionably serves as the most important signing by an HBCU in the modern recruiting era. As such, it could drastically change how HBCUs and FCS programs see themselves in the landscape of the sport. If snagging the No. 1 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite is possible for Jackson State, why can't Tennessee State sign two top 100 players? Why can't HBCU football get the attention and television rights deals it has long deserved?

If Hunter lives up to the hype, he could become the first Jackson State player to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft since Rashard Anderson and Sylvester Morris in 2000. There were no players from HBCU's taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. If Sanders can make Jackson State -- as well as the SWAC and HBCU football -- a destination for high-caliber prospects, he could shift the power dynamics within the sport considerably.

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