NFL unveils new award: Protector of the Year
May 21 - The NFL on Wednesday announced a new end-of-year annual honor that will be awarded to the league's best offensive lineman, called Protector of the Year.
NFL executive Troy Vincent announced the award and credited Buffalo Bills four-time Pro Bowl lineman Dion Dawkins and retired two-time All-Pro Andrew Whitworth for pushing the idea.
"Recognize the big fellas," Vincent said Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings in Eagan, Minn.
The winner will be decided by a panel that includes a number of former greats who played on the offensive line, Vincent said.
--Field Level Media
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Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers seek bounce-back outing vs. Cards
June 7 - The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to see the typical Yoshinobu Yamamoto re-emerge on Saturday when they continue their road series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Yamamoto (6-4, 2.39 ERA) took a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday, snapping his string of 11 starts of five or more innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. He will look to rebound in the middle game of a three-game set. The Cardinals won the opener 5-0 on Friday. Dodgers catcher Will Smith said of Yamamoto's rough outing against the Yankees, "Just a little bit off. Execution wasn't Yoshi-like. Not getting strike one, not putting guys away with two strikes. It happens. And I expect him to come into his next start dialed in like normal." Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts got Yamamoto out of that game so he could hit the reset button. "Wasn't sharp with any of his pitches. Really uncharacteristic," Roberts said postgame. "Right around that 90-pitch mark through four innings. There's just not much benefit to continuing to push him right there. He certainly didn't feel good today. You've just got to wash this one." In his only career start against the Cardinals, Yamamoto tossed five scoreless innings on two hits in March 2024. He struck out five batters and walked none. Yamamoto will confront a St. Louis lineup anchored by first baseman Willson Contreras, who socked a homer Friday night to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He is 9-for-26 (.346) during that stretch with four doubles and eight RBIs. "His desire to win and the intensity he brings, it's a good example to set for the young guys because they see how hard he works, how much he cares and how intense every at-bat is, whether we're up by 10 or down by 10," Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas said. "He's never giving anything away." The Cardinals moved Contreras from catcher to first base in 2025 to keep him healthy and in the everyday lineup. "The goal for this year was to stay healthy and play every day at first base," said Contreras, who played in 59 of the team's first 63 games. "But at first base, my body also hurts and is sore because it's not an easy position. "It takes a lot to be at first base every day. I'm here to play every day and help this team any way I can." The Cardinals will counter Yamamoto with Erick Fedde (3-5, 3.82 ERA), who held the Texas Rangers to two runs on four hits and three walks in six innings on Sunday. He fanned five. Fedde will catch the Dodgers coming off a frustrating offensive game. Los Angeles went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position on Friday. "Man, it's a tough lineup that does a ton of damage, that doesn't swing and miss a ton," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. "They have a lot of versatility in how they can beat you ... "Just a nice job between (catcher Pedro) Pages and our pitching staff today." In his career, Fedde is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Dodgers. --Field Level Media
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
World Crazy Golf Championships 2025 gets underway in Hastings
An estimated 250 players will compete in the individual World Crazy Golf Championships on Saturday and annual tournament, held at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex, will see entrants from at least seven countries, including the USA and New Zealand, winner receives £1,250 in prize money and a further £2,500 is distributed between players placed second to Tompkins, director of Hastings Adventure Golf, said it was "a great source of local pride to host the championships". The individual event has additional junior and novice categories. The team competition took place on play six qualifying rounds - three on Saturday and three on Sunday - before the best-scoring 18 players compete in the different players have won the trophy in the event's 22-year history, according to organisers. Canterbury fencing instructor Marc Chapman is attempting to defend his crown after winning his fourth title in reigning champion said he was "hooked" after he entered the event for the first time, and returns every told the BBC he won his first title at his 10th attempt and "the rest, as they say, is history." US competitor Tom Loftus said he was "absolutely thrilled" to take on the "classic" fifth hole, which requires players to avoid a windmill's spinning blades to make their added: "It was so exciting to have that moment. I just love windmills."Rainey Statum, who travelled to the tournament from Texas, USA, told the BBC he faced a long journey to make it to the tournament, flying to London via said: "Because I don't do trains down in Texas I kinda got lost and it took five hours for me to get here to Hastings through the train and subway system."They misplaced my luggage too, so I was here a day and a half without my luggage."
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish NFL star Jamie Gillan on New York, rugby and black pudding
Rugby rather than American football had been Gillan's game growing up in the Highlands and then Edinburgh until his dad was redeployed with the RAF and the entire family – including a 16-year-old Gillan – decanted to Maryland. How different Gillan's life would have been had he stayed in Scotland – he may have realised his early ambition of becoming a professional rugby player – but the enforced switch to the United States has undoubtedly been life-changing in many ways, the punter penning a three-year $10million contract extension with the Giants earlier this year. With his long flowing hair, he remains one of the most recognisable figures in the NFL and is still happy to keep flying the flag for Scotland while doing so. 'Yeah, the Scottish Hammer, that's still what I get called,' he confirms. 'It's funny and it's cool. And I definitely represent Scotland when I'm out there. It's been pretty cool, the whole journey to where I'm at now. 'It was phenomenal to get the new contract done. My wife was very happy, my family was very happy, and I was very happy. First of all, to be back with the New York Giants. I really enjoy my time here and like the people that are in the building. My teammates, Casey (Kreiter) and Graham (Gano) are like family. 'But I wouldn't say I can just relax now because the NFL is a revolving door and it just doesn't work like that. You've got to stay primed all the time. I'm just very thankful and excited for another opportunity to play a few more years here and do my job well. 'I remember in Cleveland being around Britton Colquitt who was in year nine at the time and I'm getting close to that now. You get to understand the game a bit better and what works right for you, your body, your mentality, everything. It's great, it really is.' Gillan seems surprised to learn that it's been more than a decade since he and the family left Scotland, a lot of water passing under numerous bridges in the intervening years. Now married and with a young son, Archie, in tow, New York is now Gillan's base but Scotland will always be home. 'Time has flown by, I'll tell you that,' he confirms. 'But I still remember loads of things from Scotland. I had some real good pals. And there are a lot of things I miss. I actually really miss club sports in Scotland, either watching others playing or playing yourself. 'Even just the smell of walking around Edinburgh. I don't know if it's from the distilleries or something. I miss some of the food as well - black pudding in a roll with egg and bacon, come on! And I miss seeing some of my extended family. They're a lot of fun to be around.' A trip home is on the to-do list, although Gillan jokes he might wait until two-year-old Archie has passed the wriggling toddler stage before attempting the cross-Atlantic flights. 'I was back three years ago, took my wife out there for the first time and we had some fun,' he recalls. 'Since then we've had Archie, plus the whole NICU thing [Archie spent time in intensive care as a baby] and all that - everything's just been very fast. 'And with the little man, I wouldn't want to put anybody through a seven-hour flight with his little butt on there going crazy! But we're talking about getting out there next year when he's a little bit older to see all the family.' Rugby remains Gillan's true passion. He caught up with Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend and the squad during their North American tour last summer and still follows their matches on TV. 'I love watching the Six Nations with a few of my buds from Cleveland who are rugby players,' he reveals. 'It's not always easy to find all of the matches but the Six Nations is streamed every year on TV. So usually we'll have a big breakfast and start with the first match which is usually around 9am our time. "I love watching rugby, love watching the guys. Scotland, the team looks great. I absolutely love watching the boys play so I'm excited for next year as well.' So, could the likes of Finn Russell or Blair Kinghorn make a similar switch to become NFL kickers? Gillan doesn't dismiss it out of hand. 'I think with the right coaching or if they spent enough time practising then they definitely could. When you kick footballs out of hand with no rushers or anybody timing your get-off time, you can go well. But it's good for someone in that situation to actually feel what it's like to have a snap come at you from 14 yards and guys rushing you before you kick. 'I actually met up with the Scottish rugby team last summer in Washington DC so I got to meet Gregor Townsend and the boys. Adam Hastings had a go as a spiral punter. He was spiralling really well. I said they better not show that tape to the Giants or they might want a different Scotsman!' The NFL regularly takes matches across Europe and Gillan reckons they should be considering adding Murrayfield to the venue roster, too. 'I'd love that because I really enjoyed the game in London two years ago playing at the Tottenham Stadium. That's a beautiful stadium and the locals were unbelievable. I can't see why it wouldn't be feasible to have an NFL game at Murrayfield when 67,000 people can sit there. 'You're right in the centre of Edinburgh. It's a good spot. People drive six hours to go and watch a game here. When you put it like that, Murrayfield is not a hard place to get to, to go and watch a game. It would be a lot of fun.'
