Latest news with #Baldinger
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Brian Baldinger loved watching Willie Lampkin dominate the Cowboys: 'He destroyed them'
Baldinger had so much fun watching Lampkin serve up pancakes and 'destroy' the Cowboys Willie Lampkin put himself on the map as a promising young player last week in his preseason debut, standing out in the Los Angeles Rams' win over the Dallas Cowboys. He was the Rams' highest-graded player at PFF, dominating at center from the second he stepped on the field. NFL Network's Brian Baldinger highlighted Lampkin's performance on social media in one of his 'Baldy's Breakdowns' segments, raving about the way the rookie played in his debut. 'He just put the Cowboys in an octagon and he destroyed them all game long,' Baldinger said. 'He just takes the Cowboys and he just disses them the entire time. It didn't matter who was there. Like, pancakes are being served.' Part of the reason Lampkin generated so much buzz last week is that he's only 5-foot-10, 270 pounds – or at least that's what he weighed in at during the Senior Bowl. He's tiny by NFL standards, but he plays much bigger than that. He naturally has great leverage as a shorter player, similar to the way Aaron Donald did at defensive tackle. And with a wrestling background, he knows how to take guys to the ground and erase them from the play. 'It's one play after another,' Baldinger said. 'Give me Dana White right here because he's going to flat-back this rookie right here, he's got him on his back, then he's got the knee to the head. Is that legal in MMA? I'm not sure. Ask Dana.' Baldinger had a blast watching all the pancake blocks Lampkin had, planting defenders on their backs. 'It just kept going on and on and it was fun to watch. Down he goes. It's just a pancake and a finish. Throw some butter on it, whip it with syrup, serve it for breakfast, serve it for lunch, serve it for dinner. I'm not supposed to do this rookie lineman, but it was so much fun to watch, like, the Cowboys never want to see this guy again. He literally threw them all out of the octagon.' Lampkin is competing to make the Rams' 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie out of North Carolina. He still has work to do but he's off to a great start and looks like he could have the makings of a gem for Los Angeles.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Brian Baldinger has done film study on Cardinals rookie Will Johnson
Will Johnson is being endorsed by the reputable even as a rookie. NFL Analysis and NFL Network expert Brian Baldinger decided to comb through Arizona Cardinals rookie Will Johnson's game film from the team's preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs last week. Baldinger provided a small evaluation, giving the rookie accolades for his impressive technique. Baldinger admonished Johnson, saying that Johnson's wingspan and physicality will potentially help him be effective defending some of the league's greats at wide receiver. Baldinger also pinpointed, harping in on Johnson's tendency to be handsy, and that he must watch for holding and illegal contact penalties which are called more frequently at the NFL level. Johnson's outing was rather uneventful, however. Through a short stint, Johnson was able to get a few reps and assess his ability to cover different route trees, although he isn't expected to see more action in the Cardinals' second preseason game on Saturday against the Denver Broncos. Ultimately, Baldinger believes that Johnson has all the intangibles to be successful in the NFL. Particularly, Baldinger believes that Johnson's ability to cover in the red zone can be pivotal as defensive coordinator Nick Rallis figures out how to develop a more inhibiting front seven and the team's pass rush. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger wowed by Texans rookie OT Aireontae Ersery's debut vs. Vikings
How impressive was Houston Texans rookie offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery's debut? One NFL analyst can't stop gushing over his performance against the Minnesota Vikings. NFL Network's Brian Baldinger recently broke down Ersery's drive against the Vikings in pass protection during his famous "Baldy Breakdown" videos on Tuesday morning. It didn't take long for the longtime offensive line analyst to point out how mature, steady and set Ersery was in his breaks, pad level and latch-on capability to win nearly every one-on-one battle during pass protection sets. "He's got tremendous length. He knows how to use his arms, too. Like, just keep running right around the arc," Baldinger said while watching a rep against former first-round pick Dallas Turner. "Let Davis Mills make the throw." On another snap, Ersery made a veteran move by allowing the pass-rusher to work inside, thus giving him the edge to win his one-on-one and create an even larger running lane for the tailback to pick up a first down. Pro Football Focus also came away impressed with Ersery's pass-blocking skills. His 77.7 pass-blocking rating was the highest among all players on either line. The Minnesota product also didn't allow a single pressure to Mills. "He only played 10 snaps, but I thought he played well in those 10 snaps," Baldinger said. "He looked comfortable playing left tackle." The plan right now is for Ersery to start at right tackle this season while veteran Cam Robinson handles the left side as Laremy Tunsil's immediate replacement. That's only for one season. Long-term Ersery should shift over to the left side and become a staple blindside protector for C.J. Stroud. Perhaps the future has arrived early? Like say, Week 1 in Los Angeles?
Business Times
10-08-2025
- Business
- Business Times
UBS joins exodus from climate banking alliance
[LONDON] Swiss lender UBS will leave the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), following the departure of major British banks Barclays and HSBC, as part of an annual review of its sustainability and climate-related memberships. The departure raises questions about the future of NZBA, an initiative established in 2021 to help banks align with global climate goals, including funding environmentally friendly activities and setting emission reduction targets. UBS said that although the alliance had provided valuable frameworks for initial target-setting, the bank has advanced its own capabilities and decided to leave. Global peers including JPMorgan, Citi, Morgan Stanley, Macquarie and Bank of Montreal have all exited the group this year as the US increases its scrutiny of financial institutions deemed to be supporting pro-climate policies. The group was formed in 2021 to help align the sector with the world's goal of limiting global warming, including by mobilising more money for environmentally friendly activities and setting targets for members to reduce emissions linked to their business activities. Barclays said last week it had quit the group because the departure of several global lenders has left the NZBA no longer fit to support the bank's green transition. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up UBS said the group had played a valuable role in helping banks establish initial target-setting frameworks in the early days but had decided to leave now that the work had advanced, and the Swiss lender had bulked up its in-house capabilities. 'NZBA's strength lies in the commitment of its member banks to lead the net zero transition,' an NZBA spokesperson said. 'This long-term work requires courage, consistency and true leadership to stay on track, even when faced with barriers to action.' Earlier this year, NZBA ditched some of its more stringent membership rules in a bid to keep members. The group said the move was a reflection of the slow pace of change in the real economy and to help appeal to emerging market lenders. Last month, UBS announced it was replacing its head of sustainability Michael Baldinger, who was in the role of chief sustainability officer (CSO) until July 2025. Baldinger was replaced by Christian Leitz, who adds the CSO title to his current role as head of corporate responsibility and corporate historian. UBS Group's sustainability strategy and impact is overseen by Beatriz Martin Jimenez, who also sits on the bank's board which includes the bank's philanthropy work. REUTERS
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Three NFL teams 'very interested' in former Bills pass rusher Von Miller
Former Buffalo Bills pass rusher Von Miller might not be finished in the NFL. While it might need to be taken with a grain of salt as it comes from his representation, Miller's agent told NFL Network's Brian Baldinger that three NFL teams are "very interested" in adding Miller this offseason. Baldinger revealed that during an appearance on the DNVR Broncos podcast. While that trio of teams was not revealed, Baldinger suggested the Baltimore Ravens as a landing spot. "I thought it's a natural [fit] for Von to end up in Baltimore. He didn't -- when I threw that out at [Miller's agent] -- he didn't say anything," Baldinger told DNVR. "He goes, 'We've got three very interested teams.' But he didn't tell me the teams, so I didn't pry; I wasn't trying to be a reporter there. "But I think Von feels like there's a pretty good chance he's going to sign some point either before camp or -- I mean, I don't think Von's too crazy about going to training camp, most guys that age aren't, they know what they need to do. He looks in great shape. So I would say he's gonna get signed here [relatively soon]." Miller, 36, is a two-time Super Bowl champion but failed to reach that accomplishment in Buffalo. Prior to last season, Miller took a pay cut to remain with Buffalo for the 2024 season after originally signing before the 2022 year. While Baldinger did suggest the Ravens, the Bills could still be one of those three teams. Miller was originally released earlier this offseason in a salary cap move but at the time it was reported that both Buffalo's front office and Miller were "open" to a return in the future. Bills Wire will continue to provide updates during the 2025 offseason.
