Latest news with #Biletnikoff
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff makes stop in Erie to sign autographs, raise funds
A member of the NFL Hall of Fame stopped in Erie for a good cause. Erie native, Fred Biletnikoff, stopped at Bullfrog Bar on Saturday during his return trip to Erie this weekend to sign autographs and raise funds for community programs. Annual picnic held to thank first responders during National EMS Week Fans of the Super Bowl MVP could pay for a picture or autograph, knowing all proceeds would be donated to the Biletnikoff Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Erie. 'It feels good because of the fact we're doing it for kids, you know? The effort everyone is putting in today and what we did a couple of years ago, all the effort is just for the kids to kind of make them, to give them something better. Get a smile on their face and let them know somebody cares about them,' said Biletnikoff. This past Thursday, Biletnikoff received the key to the City of Erie. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Local legend Fred Biletnikoff given key to City of Erie
An NFL Hall of Famer and Erie legend came to town Wednesday night, earning special recognition from the Jefferson Educational Society. Fred Belitnikoff was born and raised in Erie before playing 14 seasons with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League. Millcreek students go shopping with local police mentors This week, Biletnikoff made a return to his hometown and was honored with the Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas Award, which honors Erie natives who have achieved greatness in their fields. The former NFL star said he's excited to be back in Erie and will always carry a part of it with him. From blight to bright — Erie Land Bank showcases newly rehabilitated home 'I've been through so much, and being born and raised here, I learned a lot when I left here from how I was raised, and the people I was raised around.' 'And still to this day, you learn how to treat people no matter who they are,' he said. This Saturday, Biletnikoff will be signing autographs from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Bullfrog Bar on Peach Street. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns' Sanders Earns Support From Elite Receiver
The Cleveland Browns were the protagonists of the 2025 NFL Draft. The fun started early, when the Browns shocked the world and traded out of the second pick (and the rights to draft Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter). Instead, they dropped to No. 5, picked up an incredible haul in the process, and then played spectator as Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders fell. Advertisement Cleveland didn't trade back into Round 1 for a quarterback. It didn't take Sanders in Round 2, either. In Round 3, the Browns took a different quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, a notably lesser prospect. It wasn't until the fifth round that the Browns took Sanders and ended the most famous slide in recent memory. Sanders was met with droves of criticism as fans looked to explain the various reasons why he went from a prospective franchise quarterback to Cleveland's fourth-string passer. Not everybody has soured on Sanders. New York Giants star receiver Malik Nabers backed the Browns quarterback on a recent podcast episode. 'You don't do something like that to somebody like that," Nabers said on '7pm in Brooklyn With Carmelo Anthony.' 'You can't knock his talent. I heard a lot of things about he takes unnecessary sacks. He had a bad o-line. He threw 70 percent (completion) with a bad o-line. Talk about his escaping the pocket. You can pull up plenty of clips of him escaping 3-4 tackles and throwing it down the field. Most of his receivers had 7-8 touchdowns. He played with Travis Hunter, he won the Biletnikoff [Award.] Some things you just can't knock.' Advertisement Sanders ended up in Cleveland after all, but being the second quarterback taken by the team that drafted him doesn't inspire confidence. Instead, it suggests that his leash is short, and that he'll have to earn everything, rather than having a path paved by his draft capital. To some, that looks like hedging a bet on Sanders' character. His personality came into question throughout the process. Sanders is awfully confident, perhaps cocky at times. He's thrown teammates under the bus and may have fumbled the pre-draft process. But he also helped turn Colorado football around, seems to have the support of his Cleveland teammates, and has enough talent to win the starting job. Nabers, too, stood by Sanders. Advertisement "We gotta stop making feelings with how people play linger," he said. "Yeah he might have some things that he might say on camera off the field, that don't have to do with how he plays football. ... Everybody got different personalities. You never gonna meet somebody that's got the same personality anywhere. We all made differently. For them to judge on just the things that he says or how he carries himself. 'How he carries himself is all about how his dad raised him. We all know Deion. They was just doing that to show how they bigger than what he wanted to stand for." Sanders, very publicly, has been humbled. How he reacts to it may define who gets to tell his story. Cleveland's quarterback room should grant him that opportunity. Related: Travis Kelce Sends Strong Message on Browns Drafting Shedeur Sanders Related: Eagles Legend Jason Kelce Offers Brutal Shedeur Sanders Opinion
Fox News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Giants star angry NFL owners let Shedeur Sanders drop until fifth round: 'You can't knock his talent'
Shedeur Sanders' NFL Draft position has been a topic of heavy debate, and New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers explained why he's mad at how far the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback slipped down draft boards. Watching Sanders not only fall past day one, but also day two of the draft rubbed Nabers the wrong way, and the second-year receiver told the "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast why. "You don't do that to somebody like that," Nabers told New York Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony and The Kid Mero. "You can't knock his talent." Nabers, the sixth overall pick by the Giants in 2024, went further with his analysis on Sanders' play. "I heard a lot of things about he takes unnecessary sacks. He had a bad O-line. You know, he threw for a 70% [completion rate] with a bad O-line. Talk about his escaping the pocket. You can pull up plenty of clips of him escaping three or four tackles and throwing it down the field. "Most of his receivers had seven to eight touchdowns. He played with Travis Hunter. He won the Biletnikoff. There's just some things you can't knock." Reports surfaced during Sanders' slide that said the quarterback prospect, once believed to be a sure-fire first-round selection, had bad interviews with multiple teams, prompting them to to pass on him. His personality off the field and his different passions and ventures may have deterred teams. "We gotta stop making feelings with how people play linger," Nabers argued. "Yeah, he might have some things that he might say on camera, off the field. Whatever's dealing with that, that don't have to do with how he plays football. "Everybody's got different personalities. You're never going to meet somebody that's got the same personality anywhere. We're all made different. So, for them to judge him on just the things that he says or how he carries himself. How he carries himself is all about how his dad raised him, and we all know Deion, bro. C'mon. We all know Deion." The elder Sanders, the Hall of Fame, two-sport star who has coached Shedeur since his freshman year at Jackson State, is also someone people have pointed fingers at after watching his son fall down the draft board. "They were just doing that to show how they were bigger than what he wanted to stand for," Nabers added. "I understand that, but you don't do that. Not to a kid like that that has been working their whole life and been told that Deion's kids are never going to be as good as him." The Browns eventually pulled the trigger on Sanders, making him their fourth quarterback added to the depth chart this offseason. Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, who many had lower in rankings than Sanders, was taken in the third round of the draft by the Browns. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fox News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds: Ward, Jeanty favored
Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft was filled with surprises. And now, oddsmakers are ready to start cooking on the 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds. It should come as no surprise that the draft's No. 1 overall pick, Miami QB Cam Ward, is a top contender to take home the award. However, Ward was just one of many offensive studs selected Thursday night, with running back Ashton Jeanty neck-and-neck on the oddsboard with Ward. Two-way star Travis Hunter and receiver Tetairoa McMillan are in the running as well. Let's get into the 2025 OROY odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of April 25. 2025-26 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds Cam Ward, Titans: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)Ashton Jeanty, Raiders: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)Travis Hunter, Jaguars: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)Omarion Hampton, Chargers: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Matthew Golden, Packers: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total) As mentioned, the Titans selected Ward with the first overall pick, which everyone saw coming. Last season, he set the Division I record for passing touchdowns (156) and, as of Friday afternoon, sits atop the OROY oddsboard. Right behind Ward is Jeanty, the Boise State running back whose 2,601 rushing yards last season were the second-most in a single season in college football history (Barry Sanders rushed for 2,628 in 1988). Jeanty went sixth to the Las Vegas Raiders. Hunter, the second pick in the draft, is third on the oddsboard, even though it's unclear if he will play receiver or cornerback in the NFL — if not both. Last season, the Heisman-winning Hunter also won both the Biletnikoff (most outstanding college receiver) and Benarik (most outstanding college defender) awards. He had 96 receptions, 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns for the Colorado Buffaloes. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
