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Kickin’ It with Kiz: Russell Wilson’s flop proves Sean Payton is no football mastermind

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

Sean Payton was carried in New Orleans by one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Drew Brees. Same for Bill Belichick by Tom Brady and Mike Shanahan by John Elway. Without a difference-maker at quarterback, the Broncos aren’t going anywhere.M.P.J., football savantKiz: Players win games. Coaches try not to mess it up. During the peak of Brett Favre’s career, I asked Mike Holmgren, then coach in Green Bay and a former quarterback: Is the QB or head coach more essential to the success of an NFL team? Holmgren laughed and replied; “I’ve got to plead the Fifth.” Wilson’s flop with the Broncos reminds us a championship quarterback can make Payton look smart, but for all his alleged genius, Payton can’t make an average NFL quarterback a champion.Kiz, I’ve read you forever and generally agree with your takes, but lately have found your objectivity slipping, with too much anger at the media dissing by Broncos coach Sean Payton. I’m not sure y...

Long Beach police seeking help identifying man believed to be responsible for 2 assaults 

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

The Long Beach Police Department is asking the public for help identifying a suspect connected to two separate assaults in under three hours. According to an LBPD release, the first assault with a deadly weapon occurred on Thursday at 9:47 a.m. near 21st Street and Locust Avenue and involved a woman and a child in a stroller.  Fugitive on the run for 2 years arrested after trying to ram sheriff’s vehicles in Woodland Hills “The unknown male subject struck the victim with an unknown object,” law enforcement officials said. “The child was not injured.” Long Beach police are seeking the public's help identifying a man believed to be responsible for two assaults on Jan. 4, 2024. (LBPD)The second assault with a deadly weapon occurred at 12:27 p.m. near 21st and Pine Avenue, authorities said, just two blocks away from the scene of the first assault.  “Preliminary investigation indicates the victim walked past the unknown suspect when he struck the victim with an unknown object...

Sharks update: Couture could soon take another step toward return

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

SAN JOSE – Logan Couture will not return to the San Jose Sharks’ lineup for today’s game with the Toronto Maple Leafs but he could practice with the team on Sunday before it leaves for a five-game road trip.Sharks coach David Quinn said Saturday afternoon that Couture skated earlier in the day at SAP Center but wasn’t sure how the team’s captain felt afterward.Couture suffered the injury before the start of training camp and later experienced two frustrating setbacks, delaying his return. Couture, though, has been skating regularly for just over a month after, and indications earlier this week were that he needed more practice time before he returned to the active roster.Quinn said Thursday that Couture will join the Sharks on the road trip with the expectation that he would play at some point. The eight-day trip starts Tuesday in Toronto, followed by games in Montreal, Ottawa, Buffalo, and Chicago.The Sharks have lost 10 straight games and entered Saturday i...

49ers’ final moves of regular season include key help for playoffs

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

SANTA CLARA – Ray-Ray McCloud, the 49ers’ return specialist the past two seasons, came off the Injured Reserve list Saturday in a move that could alleviate a concern for the playoffs.In a corresponding roster move, tight end Ross Dwelley went on Injured Reserve, having missed over a month with an ankle injury.McCloud missed the past five games with fractured ribs, and he’s eligible to return for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium.The top-seeded 49ers (12-4) are expected to sit Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey but other regular starters could at least make cameos with McCloud in a game that doesn’t impact the Niners’ playoff positioning.Jauan Jennings (concussion) got downgraded to out for his third straight game, and fellow wide receiver Danny Gray (shoulder) remains out.The two practice-squad players elevated for Sunday’s game: running back Jeremy McNichols and safety Tayler Hawkins.Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (illness) was added to the inju...

Palestinian supporters to press supes for Gaza ceasefire resolution next week in SF

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

(BCN) -- A resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza will come before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for a committee hearing Monday, one day before a potential final vote by the full board.On Dec. 5, hundreds of Palestinian supporters spoke in support of the resolution at its introduction. A public comment period will be open again Monday at a Rules Committee hearing. Alaska Airlines grounding all Boeing 737 MAX-9s after hole blows open in cabin The ceasefire resolution could be brought before the full board at its regular meeting on Tuesday.If approved, San Francisco would join the cities of Oakland and Richmond in publicly condemning the genocidal war on the Palestinian people.\The resolution calls for a sustained ceasefire, an influx of humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages and the condemnation of antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate. Since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in the death of more than 1,200 Israelis, more than 22,500 peop...

Up and down: Inter title hopes rise as midfielder’s shorts are pulled down during win

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

ROME (AP) — It’s only the season’s midpoint and Inter Milan may already have its lasting image of what is looking more and more like a Serie A title run.The moment came on Saturday when Davide Frattesi leaped on top of a yellow fence lining the San Siro and erupted in celebration toward the crowd as his teammates mobbed him so wildly that they pulled down his shorts and exposed his black underwear.Frattesi’s stoppage-time winner proved decisive in a frenetic finish, Lautaro Martinez marked his return from injury with his league-leading 16th goal, and Inter beat relegation-threatened Hellas Verona 2-1 to secure the midseason lead in Serie A.“I would have done much worse but I didn’t want to get another yellow card for celebrating,” said Frattesi, who came on 10 minutes before he scored.The game wasn’t won, though, until a penalty kick 10 minutes into added time from Verona striker Thomas Henry hit the post.Then it was back to celebrating as Inter moved five points clear o...

Dickinson’s late shot gives No. 2 Kansas 83-81 win over TCU

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

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored with 3.4 seconds left to lift No. 2 Kansas past TCU 83-81 on Saturday.Dickinson, who led Kansas with 30 points, hit a pair of free throws after a flagrant foul on TCU’s Ernest Udeh Jr. with less than a minute remaining to tie the game. Dickinson then followed Dajuan Harris Jr.’s miss in the final seconds.Kansas (13-1, 1-0 Big 12) also got 18 points from KJ Adams Jr. Kevin McCullar Jr. had 16 points and Harris scored 10.TCU (11-3, 0-1) was led by Trevian Tennyson with 24 points. He was joined in double figures by Emanuel Miller with 20 points and Micah Peavy and Jameer Nelson Jr. with 10 points each.Kansas did not have a field goal from anyone outside of Dickinson, McCullar or Adams until Harris hit a layup with 16:04 left in the second half.The Jayhawks couldn’t shake the Horned Frogs in the first half. Their largest lead was just six points (30-24). Each time Kansas tried to pull away, TCU responded. The Horned Frogs took two late...

Prince William Co. man pleads guilty to kicking kitten to death and starting apartment fires

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

A Woodbridge, Virginia, man pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty and another count of arson on Thursday.Frederick Pierce, 18, faced both charges after investigators found a 3-month-old kitten dead inside of a home at the Stone Pointe apartment community in May, when Prince William County police officers responded to a report of a domestic dispute.Police said Pierce also set a pair of fires in his apartment less than three weeks later.Pierce admitted to kicking a 3-month-old kitten named “Misty” on May 26, leading to the kitten’s death, according to The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.A female caller told officers that when she left for work earlier that morning, “her 3-month-old male Siamese/Maine Coon kitten named ‘Misty’ was in her room.”But when she returned home later that night, “she observed her bedroom door open and the kitten laying on her bedroom floor with its legs barely moving,” according to The O...

Right-hander Zach Plesac and Los Angeles Angels finalize $1 million, 1-year contract

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

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Right-hander Zach Plesac and the Los Angeles Angels finalized a $1 million, one-year contract on Saturday.The 28-year-old was 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA in five starts for Cleveland last season, then was designated for assignment on June 4 and assigned outright to Triple-A Columbus a week later. He went 5-6 with a 6.08 ERA in 18 starts and one relief appearance for the Clippers.Plesac, a nephew of former big league pitcher Dan Plesac, was 26-27 with a 4.20 ERA in 83 starts and one relief appearance for Cleveland from 2019-23.To open a roster spot, the Angels assigned left-hander Adam Kolarek outright to Triple-A Salt Lake.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Dolphins activate LB Jerome Baker from IR, place Bradley Chubb on season-ending IR with ACL tear

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

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins activated starting linebacker Jerome Baker from injured reserve on Saturday and placed edge rusher Bradley Chubb on season-ending IR with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.Baker missed the past four games because of a knee injury, but his activation clears the way for him to return for Sunday night’s matchup against Buffalo that will decide the AFC East. He was limited in practice all week and is questionable entering the game.Chubb got hurt in the final minutes of a 56-19 blowout loss at Baltimore in Week 17. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that Chubb has had surgery and has a “long road” ahead of him.Also Saturday, Miami elevated cornerback Ethan Bonner and linebacker Melvin Ingram to the active roster for Sunday’s game. Veteran cornerback Xavien Howard has already been ruled out.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLSource