Latest news with #Buckner
Evening Standard
2 days ago
- Sport
- Evening Standard
London Olympic stadium goes solar-powered after £4.3m scheme puts panels on roof
Mr Buckner said: 'We're incredibly proud that the Novuna London Athletics Meet is not only the biggest one-day athletics event in the world, but now also one of the most sustainable.
Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Most essential Colts No. 5: DeForest Buckner is too often a one-man band on the D-Line
In a salary-cap league like the NFL, finding building blocks is essential. As teams churn and burn the roster through the draft and bargain signings in free agency, it helps to find the players who are either a cut above the rest or can perform a task few others can. They relieve the pressure on everyone. Over the next few weeks, we'll be ranking the 15 most essential players to the Colts' success entering the 2025 season. It's a subjective process, weighing factors such as ability, positional value within a scheme, age, leadership and durability. To make it simpler, we're asking the following two questions about these players: 1. How difficult would he be to replace for more than a month? 2. What does the Colts' ceiling become in 2025 and beyond if this player hits his? Unlike in recent seasons, the pressure appears to be ramping up on what this year's Colts team needs to accomplish. Anthony Richardson enters a critical third season with plenty to prove. The team is under new ownership with Jim Irsay's passing and the transition to his three daughters. And the Colts have now not made the playoffs for four seasons, with no playoff wins in six and no AFC South titles in 10. Thus, these rankings will skew a little more toward 2025 importance than they have in recent seasons. Here's the list so far: 6. Michael Pittman Jr., wide receiver 7. Charvarius Ward, cornerback 8. Camryn Bynum, safety 9. Quenton Nelson, guard 10. Tyler Warren, tight end 11. Laiatu Latu, defensive end 12. Daniel Jones, quarterback 13. Kenny Moore II, cornerback 14. Zaire Franklin, linebacker 15. Alec Pierce, wide receiver Up next is No. 5, DeForest Buckner. Age: 31 Experience: 10th season Last year's ranking: No. 6 2024 stats: 61 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits with 11 starts in 12 games Why he's here: DeForest Buckner has become such a consistent force despite his position and despite the double teams that even in the year where he finally goes on injured reserve, he still finds a way to get to 6.5 sacks. That marks seven straight seasons he's hit that mark, the most among all interior defenders. And in those past seven seasons, Buckner has built one of the strongest profiles in the league, averaging 8.5 sacks per season with three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro nods. He is, pound for pound, the best player the Colts have on defense. Unfortunately, last season, that didn't save the Colts defense from falling apart at times as they went in and out of disastrous stretches against the run and the pass. Although Buckner is always affecting the game from inside the face of the quarterback, teams had just enough avenues to run around him or throw quick against a porous secondary. And so, although it's unfair to cast Buckner as a non-premium player when he racks up sacks and affects game plans the way he does, the potential impact is still less than it would be if it lived on the edge or at cornerback. It works beautifully in tandem with a superstar at a different level, such as when Shaquille Leonard roamed behind him, but it hasn't felt quite as problematic without that. But for a 3-technique, Buckner is still about as versatile as they come. At 6-foot-7 and 295 pounds, he can rush through the B gap and the A gap, depending on how much help he has on the edge. He can also bounce to the edge to get a 1-on-1 pass rushing opportunity and still hold up athletically enough to beat solid tackles. And although he is the most double-teamed interior defender in the game, he still finds a way to re-route run games and make more than 60 tackles almost every season. As one of the longest-tenured Colts, he's also become a leader as a team captain and as last year's winner of the Pro Football Writers of America's Good Guy Award. At 31, and coming off of his first season with a trip to injured reserve, it's worth at least wondering how many years Buckner has left. After arriving in Indianapolis fresh off the Super Bowl in 2020, he has played just one playoff game as a Colts player. He's made himself the foundation of the defense, even amid a shift to a new coordinator in Lou Anarumo. The time is here for the Colts to supply better help on the edge, in the secondary and in tackling in the middle of the field to let one of the game's most underrated stars shine some more.
National Post
09-07-2025
- National Post
13-year-old dies in a house fire two weeks after beating cancer
A teenager who died in a house fire in Missouri two weeks after beating cancer has left the family and local fire authorities 'heartbroken.' Article content The incident took place in the early hours of July 4 and, investigation suggests, appears to be related to fireworks. 'Division of Fire Safety is currently investigating five fires in which fireworks are suspected and in which three people have died,' the authorities said, confirming 'a 13-year-old girl died in the fire' in Buckner, Jackson County. Article content Article content Article content 'A second person later succumbed to his injuries. At least one other remains hospitalized,' the statement reads. Article content Article content Multiple news outlets in the U.S. identified the 13-year-old victim as Jerilynn Brown. The teen had been battling osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, for two years and was reportedly discharged from Children's Mercy Hospital late last month. Article content 'She just rang the bell,' Jerilynn's father Jerry Brown told KMBC. 'And a month later, here we are, and I'm talking about my baby girl.' Jerilynn's mother, Liz Stephens, is in the hospital and fighting for her life due to injuries sustained in the house fire, Jerilynn's stepfather Stephen Miller said. Article content 'Jerrilynn was a bright, brave, and beautiful soul who had just overcome a long battle with cancer only two weeks prior,' reads a GoFundMe set up for the family. 'Her strength and spirit touched everyone who knew her. To have her taken so suddenly after all she had endured is beyond heartbreaking.' The campaign, with a goal of US$11,000, aims to raise funds for the family to cover funeral and medical expenses. Article content Article content 'To see a young girl who just beat cancer to have to have it end like this. I'm speaking on all of our folks our heart goes out and we are all very upset about this as well,' Independence Fire Chief Jimmy Walker told Fox 4. Article content Article content Authorities said the fire originated on the covered back deck at the residence. Walker also said the smoke alarms inside the home weren't working. 'While they don't extinguish fires they do alert you in early stages of fires to let you get out and stay out and they do save lives,' Walker said, Fox 4 reports. Article content
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Missouri girl, 13, beat bone cancer...then weeks later, a freak accident struck
A 13-year-old Missouri girl, who had just beaten bone cancer, was tragically killed after a freak fireworks incident set her home ablaze. Jerilynn Brown had beaten bone cancer just weeks before the horrific fire that claimed her young life in the early hours of July 4. 'She just rang the bell, and a month later, here we are, and I'm talking about my baby girl,' her father, Jerry Brown, told KMBC. 'She just got me to church. I quit drinking, 17 months. All that is because of her.' Her stepfather, Stephen Miller, agreed that Jerilynn had a strong spirit, and told the outlet: 'Unfortunately, today, she's no longer with us. She's free.' At about 5am, the Independence Fire Department responded to the home near Buckner following reports of a house fire. According to the Department of Fire Safety and IFD, an investigation showed the fire started on the home's back deck due to embers of 'consumer-grade' spent fireworks from the night before. The smoke alarm in the home wasn't working at the time, with three others in the property suffering injuries. 'To see a young girl who just beat cancer to have it end like this. I'm speaking on all of our folks, our heart goes out and we are all very upset about this as well,' IFD Chief Jimmy Walker told Fox 4. According to the Department of Fire Safety and IFD, an investigation showed the fire started on the home's back deck due to embers of 'consumer-grade' spent fireworks from the night before Crews reported that, as they arrived, the fire was strongly developed and they had to begin 'aggressive attack' operations, the outlet reported. 'Hours can elapse while a fire smolders, this can happen at any time, lightning strikes, we always have to worry about smoldering fires and the fact that they can go undiscovered for a number of hours and eventually become out of hand very quickly,' Walker said. Two others were hospitalized in the fire. One of the victims in hospital reportedly succumbed to their injuries on Sunday, according to family. Liz Stephens was identified as the victim currently recovering in hospital in a GoFundMe created to aid Jerilynn's family rebuild their home and lay their daughter to rest. 'Jerilynn was a bright, brave, and beautiful soul who had just overcome a long battle with cancer only two weeks prior,' the fundraiser said. 'Her strength and spirit touched everyone who knew her. To have her taken so suddenly after all she had endured is beyond heartbreaking.' Jerrilynn had gone to the doctor in October last year with a suspected broken arm. As an active young girl, she and her family never suspected it had been broken due to a tumor. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that typically attacks the bones in arms and legs and typically develops in children and young adults. 'She just rang the bell, and a month later, here we are, and I'm talking about my baby girl,' her father Jerry Brown said Jerilynn had heartbreakingly only overcome her cancer just two weeks before the fire after enduring weeks of chemotherapy. She was described by her family as a 'very active 13-year-old' who loved softball, basketball and her church youth group. 'Jerilynn loves helping others and is always making sure everyone is ok,' her family said while fundraising to help battle her cancer. 'It's hard for her to now be the one receiving all the attention when she is such a giver to others. She always has a smile on her face and loves hanging out with her friends.'
USA Today
29-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL analyst proposes trade sending Falcons TE Kyle Pitts to AFC contender
Bleacher Report proposes Falcons trade Kyle Pitts for All-Pro defensive tackle in three-team deal The Atlanta Falcons made a few necessary changes to their defense, but it may take some time for the new pieces to come together. Veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett is in Chicago after spending the first decade of his career in Atlanta. While the Falcons made a few modest signings in free agency, Jarrett is still a big loss for this defensive line. However, Bleacher Report proposed a solution in a hypothetical trade involving the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals. The proposed three-team deal would see the Falcons send tight end Kyle Pitts to the Bengals while acquiring All-Pro defensive lineman DeForest Buckner from the Colts. Indianapolis would get Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson in return. "Indianapolis can ship Buckner to the Atlanta Falcons, who have looked to drastically reset their defensive front this offseason," wrote Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski. "The nine-year veteran can serve as the anchor to a group that will now feature first-rounders Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. flying off the edges. Buckner's ability to defend the run and collapse the pocket should be highly beneficial for those rookies." Buckner, 31, is a former first-round pick and three-time Pro Bowler. At 6-foot-7, 295 pounds, he's a tough matchup for any offensive lineman. Buckner has racked up 605 tackles (356 solo) and 67.5 sacks over nine NFL seasons. The veteran would also give Atlanta more versatility up front. The Falcons would in turn send Pitts to Cincinnati where he would join an elite offense. The Bengals already have an explosive unit led by Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Pitts would have a chance to get his career back on track before he enters free agency. "Pitts working in the same offense as Chase and Higgins to open up the middle of the field with Burrow throwing to him can be downright deadly, thus making the Bengals even more potent," explained Sobleski. While Pitts may benefit from a fresh start, there may not be a long-term fit for him in Cincinnati. The Bengals have a ton of cap space invested in Burrow, Higgins and Chase and aren't exactly known for their willingness to pay players. Even though they have cap space, the Bengals haven't been eager to pay Hendrickson, despite his impressive production. Aside from the long-term uncertainty, you could also argue that Pitts would find himself in the same situation in Cincinnati. He would essentially be playing on a team where he's the third or fourth option. The Falcons have received calls on Pitts' availability but haven't been willing to part with him just yet. Perhaps second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. can bring out the best in the former top-five pick this season.
