Latest news with #Bowler
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Why Jimmy Graham is merely a Hall of Pretty Good-er
Jimmy Graham's NFL career is over. After 13 seasons, 92 touchdowns and one kinda/sorta retirement, the field-stretching tight end is set to close the door on an impressive pro football journey. Graham was a remarkable find by the New Orleans Saints. The 6-foot-7 forward was a key member of the Miami Hurricanes basketball program, starting 40 games in four seasons. That left little time for football, but after closing the door on his hardwood career he turned to the gridiron. He played a single season for a nine-win Hurricane squad in 2009, contributing five touchdowns across 17 receptions. Those aren't the numbers of a hot college prospect, but running a 4.5-second 40 at 260 pounds was. The Saints took a gamble on him in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He was a modest contributor and a part-time starter as a rookie. Then, in year two, he exploded for more than 1,300 receiving yards for an offense that was a capital-P problem in the NFC. So, because it's July and we're still waiting on a bunch of NFL training camps to open, it's time to ask the question. Is Jimmy Graham an NFL Hall of Famer? No. OK, you gotta give us more than that. Fine, because it's July. Graham was certainly very good. He was a matchup nightmare who could get loose up the seam and haul in passes downfield or use his speed as a run-after-catch chain-mover. Announcers loved pointing out his college basketball background so much it became a meme unto itself. He was a fantasy football league-changer and vital to keeping Drew Brees prolific as the star quarterback entered his mid-30s. But Graham wasn't a legend. He was a two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler. Antonio Gates, who similarly made the transition from the court to the gridiron, was a five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler with 3,300 more receiving yards than Graham and still needed to sweat out a couple Hall of Fame ballots before his upcoming induction this summer. Greg Olsen finished his NFL career with two All-Pro nods and more receptions than Graham. While his Hall of Fame case won't be debated until the next round of voting, he seems likely to be stranded as a finalist or semifinalist. Additionally, while Graham thrived as a receiver he wasn't a natural blocker. It wasn't really his job -- he was used more as a big, rangy wideout who could easily slide to the slot or even the sideline -- but he's still the guy who was brought in to block "75 percent of the time" when he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. If you view him through the prism of a mismatch-creating wideout, his 8,545 regular season receiving yards rank 94th in the NFL all-time. That's behind other memorable, very good players like Laveranues Coles, Johnny Morton, Vincent Jackson and former teammate Tyler Lockett. Make no mistake. Peak Jimmy Graham was a monster. From 2011 to 2014, he averaged 89 catches, 1,099 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns per 16-game season. Unfortunately, he only had one season with at least 60 catches in the eight that followed. Thus, Jimmy Graham was a very good player. His transition from basketball to football will be a model for other lightning quick undersized power forwards to follow for years. But he's not a Hall of Famer.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens Pro Bowler mentioned as Baltimore's biggest X-factor
This coming Baltimore Ravens season is about sealing the deal. You won't convince anyone of anything to the contrary. They hosted an AFC Championship two years ago, and they lost. That loss carried over into 2024. This past January, they sought redemption. Again, they were eliminated. This time, they were bounced during the Divisional Round. Many may not want to hear this because their main goal was to raise the Lombardi Trophy, leading them to view the past two seasons as failures. However, there is much to be excited about. This team has many achievements to be proud of, and this season is indeed about sealing the deal. They have positioned themselves well to accomplish that. ESPN names the Ravens' biggest X-factor ESPN recently released a ranking of the NFL's best rosters, using projected starting lineups to inform its creation. Lamar Jackson is named as Baltimore's biggest strength. There's no surprise there, right? The right guard position was labeled their biggest weakness, while Tyler Loop was the non-starter to know. That brings us to X-factors. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley earned himself a mention. "Left tackle Ronnie Stanley. This is all about his health. Stanley didn't miss a game last season, which helped earn him a well-deserved contract, but that doesn't mean the injury risks all went away. When Stanley and Jackson are on the field, the Ravens' offense is awfully hard to beat." Those were the words of Seth Walder. He was one of the contributors to this one. It seems intriguing that no role players or young defenders were mentioned as X-factors or possible breakout stars. Perhaps that angle has been worked enough. Stanley is a two-time Pro Bowler and a former 2019 First-Team All-Pro. Baltimore is loaded. Stanley has fought his way back from past injury concerns. If he can enjoy another healthy run in 2025 (and if this team can figure out their problems along the offensive front), the Ravens may finally achieve the redemption they have been seeking.
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Report: DJ Chark recently visited with Bears
Receiver DJ Chark may be closer to finding a new team. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Chark recently visited with the Bears. Chark, 28, spent last season with the Chargers, but appeared in just seven games for the team due to injury. He finished the season with just four catches for 31 yards with a touchdown, playing a total of 105 offensive snaps. In 2023, Chark caught 35 passes for 525 yards with five touchdowns for the Panthers. In a recent interview with Kyle Odegard of Chark noted that he's weighing his options for his NFL career. 'It will have to be something that makes sense, from a family perspective and also from an Xs and Os perspective,' Chark said. 'Getting up and going to any team just for the excitement – I'll always love the game, but at this point, putting myself and my family in a great position is what's ideal for me.' A one-time Pro Bowler, Chark eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2019 for the Jaguars. In 76 games with 51 starts, Chark has 216 career receptions for 3,100 yards with 24 TDs. The Bears currently have DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Maurice Alexander, Myles Boykin, Devin Duvernay, John Jackson, JP Richardson, Tyler Scott, Samori Toure, and Olamide Zaccheaus on their roster at receiver.
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
10 Stars With Hall-of-Fame Talent Whose Careers Were Stunted by Injuries
Most of the best players to compete in a particular sport end up in their respective league's Hall of Fame — but not all of them. Some haven't been given a bust due to lack of playoff success, while others haven't been given a bust due to injuries limiting their games played. Every sport has a grouping of great players who fall into the latter category: Here are 10 players whose career and talent had them in a HOF discussion, but injuries derailed that dream. Note: Players are mentioned in alphabetical order, by sport. NFL QB Andrew Luck Where were you on August 25, 2019, when Luck called it a career at just 29 years old? The first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Luck helped the Indianapolis Colts transition away from Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who Indy cut after a 2011 season that Manning missed due to a neck injury. On the field, it was difficult for the Colts to ask for anything more than what they got from Luck. A four-time Pro Bowler, Luck could make every throw, threw with conviction, totaled an NFL-high 40 passing touchdowns in 2014 and led the Colts to the playoffs four times. Among the playoff highlights were Luck leading the Colts to the 2014 AFC Championship Game and helping them mount a 28-point second-half comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2013 AFC wild card round. Shoulder injuries limited Luck to seven games in 2015 and kept him off the field for all of 2017. Luck was named the 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He then dealt with an offseason calf injury and ultimately stunned the NFL world by announcing that he was retiring just two weeks before the 2019 season, making the unplayed part of his career one of the biggest what-ifs in league history. RB Clinton Portis On a cool fall Sunday in the early 2000s, the Portis was nothing to joke about. In his 2002 rookie season with the Denver Broncos, Portis rushed for 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns on 5.5 yards per carry, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors. Then, after just his second season, Denver sent Portis to Washington for future Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey and a 2004 second-round draft pick (RB Tatum Bell). Portis picked up where he left off in Denver, rushing for 1,200-plus yards in four of his first five seasons in Washington. The 5-foot-11 Portis was a quick and powerful force. He was among the best running backs of his generation and a respectable pass-catching back. However, injuries stymied Portis, as he was limited to eight games in 2006 due to a shoulder injury and played in a combined 13 games from 2009-10 due to head and groin injuries. Portis, who rushed for 1,200-plus yards in six seasons and double-digit touchdowns in four seasons, was seemingly on the path to Canton, but three injury-riddled seasons in a nine-year career keep him out of the Hall of Fame. QB Tony Romo There are arguably two ways to contextualize Romo's NFL career: he was a ring-less Eli Manning, or he was an injury-prone Philip Rivers. Signed as an undrafted free agent, Romo joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2006 and, barring injury, was their starting quarterback for the next decade. Romo was precise, efficient and had Dallas in position to make the playoffs more often than not. Dallas was a combined 78-49 with Romo as its starter and made the playoffs four times. Of course, the Cowboys went 2-4 in those postseason games. Injuries became a persistent issue for Romo in 2010, with him playing in just six games due to a broken collarbone and then just four games in 2015 due to a collarbone fracture. He then suffered an injury to his vertebrae in the 2016 preseason and lost his starting job to Dak Prescott. Romo last appeared in an NFL game in Week 17 of the 2016 regular season. A four-time Pro Bowler, Romo is first in Cowboys history in passing yards (34,183) and passing touchdowns (248) in 156 games and posted a career 97.1 passer rating. This is a franchise that has won five Super Bowls. With better health and perhaps more wins in January, Romo, who was a finalist for the 2014 NFL MVP, would be bandied about for the Hall of Fame. DE Osi Umenyiora Umenyiora was one of the most lethal pass-rushers of his generation. Two seasons after recording 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2005 — and one year after missing five games due to a torn hip flexor — Umenyiora logged 13.0 sacks and five forced fumbles in a 2007 season that saw the New York Giants win Super Bowl XLII. Coming off that championship campaign, Umenyiora missed the 2008 season due to a torn meniscus. Following a respectable 2009, he posted 11.5 sacks and an NFL-high 10 forced fumbles in 2010, a season that was followed by the Giants winning Super Bowl XLVI. Granted, Umenyiora was limited to nine regular-season games due to injury. He played with the Giants through 2012 and spent the final two years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons (2013-14). Already a star, Umenyiora was on the cusp of being arguably the game's best pass-rusher before the aforementioned knee injury got in the way. At that moment, he was playing in the shadow of Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. Then, when Umenyiora returned, he was still in the same position group as two-time Pro Bowler Justin Tuck and later Jason Pierre-Paul, who posted 16.5 sacks in 2011; his star power became a secondary talking point. Umenyiora's NFL career had its highs and lows, but he's one of the best pass rushers in the history of a franchise known for getting to the quarterback. If not for 2008, would Umenyiora have a bust next to Strahan in Canton? MLB 1B Ryan Howard In the late 2000s, there was no National League player more intimidating in the batter's box than Howard. Holding down first base, Howard had overwhelming power from the left side of the plate for the Philadelphia Phillies. He led MLB with 58 home runs in both 2006, a season which saw him win NL MVP, and 2008, and he led the NL in RBIs three times (2006, 2008 and 2009). Howard, a three-time All-Star, was an integral part of Philadelphia's 2008 World Series championship team. Then, the 2011 playoffs happened. In Game 5 of Philadelphia's wild-card round matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals, Howard tore his Achilles tendon on what was the final play of the season for the Phillies. He returned in July of the ensuing year, but played in just 80 games in 2013. While Howard, who's second in Phillies history with 382 home runs over 13 seasons, remained Philadelphia's first baseman through 2016 and was a fine enough hitter, the elite version of the former star never returned. OF Andruw Jones If you were to make a starting lineup of the best players not in Cooperstown, Jones should be starting in center field. Jones, a five-time All-Star, earned 10 consecutive Gold Gloves playing center from 1998-2007 with the Atlanta Braves. He was an electric hitter from the right side, hitting for both power and contact, swiping bags early in his career and consistently serving as a star player for Atlanta. In 2005, Jones led the league with 51 home runs and the NL with 128 RBIs. Jones, who's first in Braves history with a 26.6 defensive WAR, was one of the elite outfielders in baseball for a decade. Then, he left the Braves for the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2007 season and was limited to 75 games in 2008 due to a persistent knee injury. Changing teams three more times in the following years, Jones kept suffering injury mishaps, became a rotation outfielder and never recovered his Atlanta form. Jones was a Hall of Fame talent, and if he had even two more seasons of elite play, he would likely be in the Hall of Fame in recognition of that. LHP Cliff Lee "Marty, I'm scared" is what teams would murmur among themselves when it was announced that Lee would be the starting pitcher of the opposing team — and with good reason. After a rocky first four years as an MLB starter – including a 6.29 ERA in 2007 – Lee became as unhittable as any pitcher in the sport. In 2008, Lee won the American League Cy Young Award in Cleveland, posting a 2.54 ERA and winning 22 games. Lee was traded in back-to-back seasons, going from Cleveland to Philadelphia in 2009 and from the Seattle Mariners to the Texas Rangers in 2010 before signing back with the Phillies for the 2011 season. Through that entire stretch, Lee made hitters look silly with his off-speed arsenal, inducing weak contact and pitching deep into games. Across 11 career postseason starts, Lee posted a 2.52 ERA, an 0.93 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 82 innings pitched, which included three complete games. After two more high-quality seasons with the Phillies, the four-time All-Star suffered an elbow injury in 2014 that ultimately ended his career. Another case of apparent Hall of Fame talent, but the innings pitched just weren't there. RHP Stephen Strasburg Selected by Washington with the first overall pick in 2009, Strasburg overcame injuries and lived up to the hype. Strasburg set an MLB record with 14 strikeouts across seven innings in his first MLB start and continued to dazzle before needing Tommy John surgery later in his 2010 debut season. The right-hander returned to the hill in September 2011 and went on to be one of the best starting pitchers of the decade. Posting strikeouts at a high rate, pitching deep into games and finding success with his four-seamer and curveball, Strasburg posted a combined 3.21 ERA and 1.09 WHIP from 2012-19. In the final year of that span, Strasburg helped Washington win the 2019 World Series, earning World Series MVP honors. Over his career, Strasburg was sensational in the postseason, recording a 1.46 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 55.1 innings pitched over nine career postseason appearances/eight starts. Unfortunately for him, his body broke down after signing a seven-year, $245 million contract with Washington following the 2019 World Series. Strasburg suffered hand and shoulder injuries in the following years, making just eight starts from 2020-22 before officially retiring in 2024. Furthermore, the three-time All-Star made 30 starts in just three seasons, making for one of the most bizarre careers for an elite player in MLB history. NBA G Brandon Roy After a solid four-year college career at Washington, Roy was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth-overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, and he hit the ground running, earning 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year honors. Roy became a balanced, high-level scorer, averaging a combined 22.1 points per game from the 2008-09 season to the 2009-10 season. Moreover, Roy was an All-Star in each of the three seasons following his rookie campaign. He was one of the best guards in the NBA and a burgeoning star, if not one already. In the 2009 postseason, Roy averaged 26.7 points per game, while shooting 45.9/47.1/87.0. Then, Roy suffered a torn meniscus late in the 2009-10 season but returned and played with the injury in the playoffs. The following season (2010-11), Roy was limited to 47 games due to more knee issues. It became so critical that Roy retired after the season. He attempted an NBA return in the 2012-13 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Roy only played in five games due to his knee. F/C Amar'e Stoudemire Stoudemire was Blake Griffin before Blake Griffin was Blake Griffin. Selected straight out of high school by the Phoenix Suns with the ninth-overall pick in 2002, Stoudemire won NBA Rookie of the Year honors and quickly became a force to be reckoned with. The 6-foot-10 Stoudemire flew up and down the floor, finished at the rim over any and everybody and developed a reliable mid-range jumper. In just his third season, Stoudemire averaged 26.0 points per game. He got sidetracked the following season with a knee injury that kept the big man off the floor for all but three games. Stoudemire returned to form, though, in the 2006-07 season, reverting to the formidable scorer he was pre-injury. Outside a 2009 eye injury that cut his season short after 53 games, Stoudemire stayed healthy through the end of his time with the Suns (2009-10) and helped the New York Knicks make the playoffs in the 2010-11 season. However, Stoudemire suffered a back injury in the 2010-11 postseason and missed time with another the ensuing season. What's more, he appeared in just 29 games in the 2012-13 season due to a knee injury and was moved to the bench. He was able to play the bulk of the next three seasons, but mostly as a reserve. Stoudemire was a five-time All-NBA honoree and one of the best big men of his generation. If only he had a few more All-Star seasons. 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! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
France 24
a day ago
- Sport
- France 24
Siraj expects Bumrah to feature for India in fourth Test
Bumrah, the world's top-ranked Test bowler, is only slated to play three of the five matches against England as he battles a back injury. He has already featured in India's defeats at Headingley and Lord's, leaving the tourists 2-1 down in the series. With doubts over the availability of India seam bowler Akash Deep due to a groin injury, Siraj believes Bumrah will feature in Manchester on Wednesday rather than hold him back for next week's final Test at The Oval. "So far, we only know that Jassi (Bumrah) will play," Siraj said on Monday. India must make at least one change as Nitish Kumar Reddy will miss the last two Tests because of a knee injury. India are also sweating on the fitness of wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who suffered a finger injury last week. Siraj was last man out as India fell to an agonising 22-run defeat in the third Test at Lord's. The pace bowler played Shoaib Bashir's delivery on to his stumps before slumping to his knees in frustration. Siraj took heart from India's lower-order fight as he lasted 30 balls and Reddy and Bumrah more than 50, with Ravindra Jadeja contributing an unbeaten 61. "It took a long time to get over. That match felt like we could've won. I'm very emotional," he said. "We fought hard. Jadeja did great and even Bumrah batted 54 balls. Still, we lost. But I told myself, it's 2-1 now, not over yet. That gave me motivation to do better. © 2025 AFP
