Latest news with #AndrewThomas
USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
New York Giants are one of NFL's best drafting teams since 2020, model shows
New York Giants are one of NFL's best drafting teams since 2020, model shows The New York Giants have not had much success since the new millennium began, winning just 33.9 percent of their games, which is 29th out of 32 teams over that span. Yes, they have won two Super Bowls in this millennium but, overall, they've been bad a lot more times than they've been good. After qualifying for the postseason seven times between 2000-2011, they've only done it twice since. They have lost 10 or more games in nine of their last 11 seasons, including last year's 3-14 showing. As a result, they've been selecting high in the draft. They've had a top-10 pick in eight of the last 11 NFL drafts. That is the only highlight of the last 15 seasons. Their top picks, for the most part, have not panned out. Things are improving, however. Since 2020, the Giants have been one of the better drafting teams in the NFL, based on a model used by Gridiron Gang. The Giants have hit on several first-round picks, most notably Odell Beckham Jr., Saquon Barkley, Dexter Lawrence, Andrew Thomas, and, further back, Jeremy Shockey, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Hakeem Nicks. Since 2020, their first-round picks have been: Andrew Thomas, Kadarius Toney, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Evan Neal, Deonte Banks, Malik Nabers, and Abdul Carter. But it has been their Day 2 and 3 performance that has sunk them. They rarely find gems in the mind and late rounds. They have been notoriously bad at the draft table after Day 1, which explains the lack of depth -- and talent -- in recent years. Since 2020, and more recently since Joe Schoen took over as general manager in 2022, the Giants' draft picks are making the roster and even getting contract extensions.
USA Today
03-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
New York Giants have one of NFL's most-expensive offensive lines
New York Giants have one of NFL's most-expensive offensive lines The New York Giants' offensive line will have a lot to prove during the 2025 season as the current regime enters a make-or-break campaign. With left tackle Andrew Thomas leading the charge, the Giants have one of the most expensive offensive lines in the entire NFL, coming in as the third-most expensive unit at $69.5 million, per Over The Cap. Only the Carolina Panthers ($96.8 million) and Kansas City Chiefs ($86 million) are spending more on the offensive line. Rounding out the top five behind the Giants are the Minnesota Vikings ($69.3 million) and Detroit Lions ($66.5 million). The offensive line continued to struggle for the most part last season, which was only made worse by the Lisfranc injury Thomas suffered during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals. With Thomas holding a cap hit of $21.1 million, that's the second-highest mark on the entire team behind only Dexter Lawrence ($23.7 million). The next two highest cap hits are guard Jon Runyan Jr. ($11.75 million) and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor ($9.2 million). Runyan is under contract through the 2026 season while Eluemunor is going into the final year of his contract. Some big question marks are facing the offensive line coming off a 3-14 campaign and if the Giants are going to make any improvements in 2025, the unit will need to live up to its paycheck.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Eastern WA dust storm causes deadly Hwy 395 semi-truck chain-reaction pileup
One driver is dead and another person was taken to a Tri-Cities hospital after a six-vehicle pileup, including three semi trucks, Saturday evening on Highway 395. A separate crash about two hours earlier near the same location about four miles north of Connell left a Pasco man critically injured. Winds whipped through the Benton and Franklin County region on Saturday afternoon and evening, blowing dust and sand, and in some places wildfire smoke, across roadways, reducing visibility. Wind gusts of up to 45 mph were recorded at the Pasco airport Saturday. Both crashes were near where the highway curves to the northeast, and the Washington State Patrol said vehicles were traveling too fast for conditions. The highway was closed in both directions after the first crash but had reopened when the bigger collision happened. In the six-vehicle pileup, the three trucks and three cars were all heading north about 6:30 p.m. A semi driven by Oleg Kolesnyk, 54, of Auburn, Wash., crashed into a semi driven by Efren Guerrero, 55, of Moxee, according to a WSP report. Then Andrew E. Thomas, 29, of Spokane, crashed his Ford van into the second semi. He died before he could be taken to a hospital. The WSP did not know whether he had been wearing a seat belt. Thomas's van was hit by a GMC Yukon carrying a family of four, including children ages 6 and 8, said the WSP report. A truck driven by Geovanie A. Ramirez, 24, of Bakersfield, Calif., then hit the Yukon. No one in the Yukon, driven by Katelyn Croisetiere of Absarokee, Mont., or any of the truck drivers were hurt seriously enough to be taken to a hospital. However, Croisetiere and a passenger with no age available, plus the driver of the first truck, were listed as suffering some injuries. The sixth vehicle involved was a Chrysler Town and Country driven by Marita J. Little, 83, of Spokane, which crashed into Ramirez's truck, according to the WSP. She was wearing a seat belt and was taken by ambulance to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. Kadlec listed her in satisfactory condition Sunday. In the earlier wreck, a truck driven by Ovidiu Botan of Sandpoint, Idaho, slowed for traffic about 4:20 p.m. near the curve of Highway 395. His truck was hit by a Kia Optima driven by Lawrence Richins, 64, of Pasco, according to the WSP. Both were traveling north. Richins was taken to Kadlec, where he was in critical condition Sunday. Highway 395 was closed in both directions near Connell about 5:15 p.m. Saturday.
USA Today
31-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does New York Giants' Andrew Thomas rank among NFL's top 32 tackles?
Where does New York Giants' Andrew Thomas rank among NFL's top 32 tackles? In 2022, former New York Giants first-round pick Andrew Thomas had a breakout season and became one of the NFL's premier left tackles and was named a second-team All-Pro. As a result, Thomas was ranked at the top of the heap at his position. The Giants rewarded the former Georgia standout with a five-year, $117.5 million contract extension. Thomas' high ranking was a distinction that did not last very long. In 2023, Thomas missed the first half of the season with a hamstring strain. Last year, the injury bug would strike again as Thomas was felled by the dreaded Lisfranc injury, ending his season after six games. In Pro Football Focus' rankings of the top 32 offensive tackles ahead of the 2025 NFL season, Thomas came in at No. 15. Thomas would likely rank significantly higher if he were able to stay healthy. However, the Georgia product has logged fewer than 1,000 combined snaps over the past two seasons. Thirty-two NFL offensive tackles played more than 1,000 snaps in 2024 alone. After ranking third among offensive tackles with a 90.3 PFF overall grade in his last full season in 2022, Thomas has failed to break into the top 15 in each of his past two short seasons. Thomas is currently being brought along slowly this offseason, per head coach Brian Daboll. In February, general manager Joe Schoen was optimistic about Thomas making a timely and successful return this summer. "He looks phenomenal," Schoen said. "No boot on the foot or anything. He's moving well. He looks humongous right now. He's been in [the weight room]." The Giants have also added veteran depth at tackle this offseason in James Hudson III and Stone Forsythe. Rookie Marcus Mbow can also be used at tackle.
The Province
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
Gavin Matts spends nights in New York comedy clubs and days auditioning for acting roles
Gavin Matts has gone from Vancouver open mics to a Bill Burr-produced special to a recurring role on the hit series Hacks. Comedian and actor Gavin Matts, who grew up in Langley but now calls New York home, spent a great deal of his early standup days honing his jokes on the stage of the now-defunct Comedy Mix in Vancouver. Photo by Andrew Thomas / Andrew Thomas Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Vancouver native Gavin Matts feels right at home in New York. 'I just like the walking and the city life. In terms of being a comedian, it kind of feels the same as it did when I was starting out in Vancouver, when I was going to the Comedy Mix every night and just trying to get up as much as possible,' said the 30-year-old who has called N.Y. home for seven years. Now Matts, who was named to Vulture Magazine's list of 'Comedians You Should and Will Know' in 2024, frequents Big Apple comedy clubs like the Comedy Cellar and Standup NY. 'I'm out every night. So that's pretty much my life,' said Matts, who has been doing standup for 12 years. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. 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Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors When he isn't onstage in a club, Matts is busy auditioning for acting roles. He has been in a few short films and shown up in the TV series Ramy and the feature film Easter Sunday. His most notable turn as of late has been as Elliot, one of the writers in the writer's room for Deborah Vance's (Jean Smart) new late-night talk show on the popular HBO (Crave in Canada) series Hacks, which wraps its fourth season on May 29. 'A lot of comedians that I talked to had taped auditions for it,' said Matts about the Hacks' role. 'It's kind of nice to be on the receiving end of, 'Oh, you got that,' because it's happened to me so many times. I've done hundreds of auditions and this is definitely the longest I've been on a show. It's nice that it's a show about comedy on TV.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the HBO sitcom Hacks, Gavin Matts, centre, sitting on the backwards chair, plays Elliot, one of the writers in the writing room for Deborah Vance's (Jean Smart) new late-night talkshow. Photo by Courtesy of Crave / Courtesy of Crave A show about relationships, Hacks is focused on Vance, an iconic Las Vegas-based standup comedian who is looking to reinvent herself into a relevant voice of the times. To help her freshen her act, she hires Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a Gen Z comedy writer. The two slowly bond and butt heads. This current season has the two at odds as Daniels runs the writing room for Vance's new show. The show is a darling of the critics and has won multiple Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. 'The show is very funny. (It's) the only show that I'm actually straight-up laughing at that is a narrative TV comedy,' said Matts. 'Just being a part of something that is actually funny is rare … I don't have to lie and be like, 'I like the show,' because I genuinely do.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Matts said while shooting the show and watching Smart, whose performance in the series has earned her a pair of Golden Globes and an Emmy, he had to remind himself he was an actor in the series not an audience member with a great seat. 'I was like, 'Oh yeah, I am having to listen to her as an actor,' ' said Matts. 'She's coming off an Emmy. She had just done SNL, like, two nights before, and she's delivering this monologue perfectly. I had to be like, 'OK, active listening. I'm acting right now, and I'm not just mouth agape,' because I caught myself with my mouth a little open, being like, 'Oh, damn, I get to be a part of this,' which is awesome.' Matts had an early go at film school. But only a few months in, he discovered open mic nights at Goldies Pizza in downtown Vancouver, and he was hooked. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Not long after his first open mic, Matts won a radio station contest and got to perform at Pemberton Music Festival opening for the Trailer Park Boys. 'That was three months in, and so I was like, 'That's a sign,' ' said Matts. 'It did move fast. I started getting a lot of spots at the Comedy Mix. That place pretty much changed my life.' Matts went on to become the youngest winner of Canada's SiriusXM Top Comic Competition in 2017 at age 22. He used the prize money to get a visa to work in the U.S. Once south of the border, he was getting gigs, including a spot on Conan. He also landed on the radar of comedy heavyweight Bill Burr. 'I had done a set for Comedy Central when I first moved to the States in 2018, and he was doing a show with them (The Ringers),' said Matts. 'He picked me for that show, and then that's how I kind of started having a working relationship with him. I talk to him here and there. He's always very generous with his time and advice.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Burr and his company, All Things Comedy, produced Matts's debut special, Progression, released in October 2023 and available to watch on YouTube. Matts has also made his own films, including the short film Slice of Life, which is dedicated to the Vancouver gallery of the same name. He is in the 2024 Ethan Godel-directed short film Sleep Talking, which won the Best Short Film Award at the 2025 Canadian Film Festival. In April, Matts was a guest on WTF with Marc Maron, an OG podcaster and very successful standup and actor. Maron can be seen in the Vancouver-shot and Owen Wilson-starring Apple TV+ series Stick, which premiers June 4. 'I look up to him a lot,' said Matts. 'It's such a rare thing to get older and still be current and with it. I think he's one of the few that does a good job at that. I think it's because he's introspective and has empathy for others. I have a lot of respect for him.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Matts is currently busy working on a new hour of comedy, auditioning for more acting roles and pitching his own half-hour comedy show. When asked if he will be coming back to Vancouver to perform any time soon, he said an emphatic no and explained that the current U.S. immigration situation isn't something he wants to mess with. 'My green card has been processing, so I'm just not coming until that is done,' said Matts, who was last here a year-and-a-half ago. Matts, whose comedy leans into the darker corners of existence, says the often-bewildering state of the American reality is sometimes tough to crack wise about. 'I've been thinking about this a lot, and actually had a conversation about it this morning with a friend,' said Matts when asked if troubling times are good for comedy. 'I think that it's bad for me, personally, because I do carry a lot of anxiety around everything going on … It is funny to be like, experiencing what you feel like is a complete economic collapse and total collapse, and then have to be going out every night and being like, 'Haha.' 'I think everybody is kind of feeling the same way as me.' Dgee@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Local News Vancouver Canucks Local News Local News
