Latest news with #Byard
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears' Kevin Byard sounds off on NFL players playing in Olympics
Bears' Kevin Byard sounds off on NFL players playing in Olympics For the first time in history, NFL players will be allowed to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games for flag football. While much of the conversation will be revolved around the potential risks vs. rewards in the decision to the let NFL players compete in the Olympics, there's been a widespread response around the league, and veterans on the Chicago Bears are also weighing in on the decision. Safety Kevin Byard recently stared his thoughts about the ruling. While he understands the allure of playing for his country in the Olympics, he's not necessarily looking to participate. "I think for any athlete to be able to have the opportunity to go and get a gold medal for our country, I think that's an enormous opportunity and it's a blessing," Byard said. "Would I want to play? Probably not, if you asked me probably five some years ago, I probably would be one of the guys in the front of the line. I did hear something about it, I think it'll be during training camp. I don't want to speak too soon, but I just don't know how that would work." Byard believes Bears quarterback Caleb Williams would be a good fit for flag football, but with teams preparing in training camp, he doesn't see how the timing would make sense for anyone who is involved. "I think we got a lot of guys on our team that probably can do it," Byard said. "I'm not sure he's going to want to do it, but I think Caleb would be an excellent flag football team quarterback. Especially with the broken plays and being able to scramble around, do those type of things. I think it is a blessing for sure." It's going to be interesting to see how the NFL and their top players come together to decide on how they'll play in the 2028 Olympics. While it would be beneficial for the worldwide reach of the league and sport, it also comes with risk of top players being banged up before the regular season. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
New York Post
24-05-2025
- New York Post
‘Doctor death' forensic pathologist reveals the worst ways people can die: ‘Never trust a rooster'
Roger Byard – whose colleagues refer to him as 'Doctor Death' – has investigated some of the most traumatic deaths in Australia. He's also investigated some of the strangest. The forensic pathologist told the latest episode of Gary Jubelin's I Catch Killers podcast about his baptism of fire into the profession, being called out to investigate the infamous 'bodies in barrels' Snowtown murders on his first week on call. 'I was called by the head of Major Crime one night … and I was so green,' he explained. 'I didn't realize that when the head of Major Crime calls you, it's pretty serious.' The Snowtown murders were a series of murders committed by John Justin Bunting, Robert Joe Wagner, and James Spyridon Vlassakis between August 1992 and May 1999, in and around Adelaide. A fourth person, Mark Haydon, was convicted of helping to dispose of the bodies. The trial was one of the longest and most publicized in Australian legal history, with Byard's forensic evidence contributing to the convictions. 3 Roger Byard revealed the most gruesome cases he's worked on. AJ_stock_photos – But while Snowtown may have been one of the most publicized cases Byard has worked on, it wasn't the most bizarre. 'I've been collecting animal deaths,' he told Jubelin. 'Deaths from dogs, snakes, sharks, roosters, mackerel.' You read that right. Mackerel. 'There was a bloke fishing in the Darwin Harbour and sharks were nearby, so this 25 kilogram mackerel jumped out of the water and sideswiped him,' he recalled. 'Wrong place, wrong time,' he continued. 3 One case he worked on involved a fatal cat scratch. pridannikov – But what about the rooster? 'There was a little old lady out the back collecting eggs,' he explains. 'Roosters, I understand, are nasty creatures. It went for her, and she had varicose veins and it just pecked her leg.' Byard explains that he's had a number of deaths come across his desk where people with varicose veins have experienced minor trauma and ended up dying. 'One case was a cat scratch,' he said. 'People don't realize, and this is the reason that I actually publicize this stuff, it's not because it's bizarre and weird, it's to let people know that if you got varicose veins and you get a small hole, you need to lie down and put your finger over it and elevate it and you'll survive. What [people] tend to do is wander around panicking and they bleed to death – completely unnecessary deaths.' 'But yeah,' adds Byard, 'never trust a rooster.' 3 'Roosters, I understand, are nasty creatures. It went for her, and she had varicose veins and it just pecked her leg,' he said. SE Viera Photo – And while the stranger elements of Byard's job might be headline-making, there's a darker trauma that lingers. 'Nobody talks about post-traumatic stress with forensic pathologists, and yet every month of every year we go out to scenes,' he explained sadly. 'We see dismembered bodies, incinerated bodies. We see children that are being starved to death, vehicle accidents, dreadful scenes. And we have to not only immerse ourselves in it, we have to then describe it in great detail, understand it, then we have to present it to a jury and sometimes have our credibility attacked while we're doing it.' He explained that while his trauma has built up with each case he's worked, so too has his understanding that he isn't always going to find the answers. 'When I first started, I thought I was gonna find the causes of all these deaths – I was gung-ho,' he said. 'And then as I got further and further into my career, I realized that, no, I'm not going to find answers all the time. And I'm going to have to sit down with families and say, 'I have no idea'. All I can say to them is, 'it was nothing that you did'. ' And also, a lot of the time they just want to meet the person that looked after their baby between the time when they saw the baby last, and when they saw their baby at the funeral home.'
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL draft preview: Where do Chicago Bears stand at safety?
2025 NFL draft preview: Where do Chicago Bears stand at safety? The Chicago Bears are in the middle of an important offseason, where they're looking to develop into a contender under new head coach Ben Johnson. Following a busy free agency that included some big-name additions, including offensive linemen Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman, as well as defensive linemen Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo, the Bears are shifting their focus toward the 2025 NFL draft. Chicago has seven draft picks, even after their two trades, including four in the Top 75 -- 10th overall, a pair of high second rounders and a third-round selection. Here at Bears Wire, we're going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2025 NFL draft. Finishing up the defense is safety, a group that looks solidified for now, but has no one under contract beyond the 2025 season. Who's on the roster? Jaquan Brisker Kevin Byard Elijah Hicks Jonathan Owens Tarvarius Moore The entire Bears safety position group is back for the 2025 season, beginning with starters Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard. Brisker is finally healthy after missing the majority of the 2024 season with a concussion. Before he went out, the versatile safety was playing some of the best football of his career. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Brisker faces a pivotal season that will determine his future with the team. Byard, meanwhile, was brought in last offseason as a steady veteran and proved to be a shrewd signing. He led the team in tackles and instantly made an impact as a team captain. Behind those two are veterans Jonathan Owens and Elijah Hicks. Owens, like Byard, signed a two-year contract as a core special teams player but saw more playing time in the secondary due to Brisker's injury. The same goes for Hicks, who took a significant step in Year 3 while filling in. Hicks started seven games, while Owens started five. Tarvarius Moore re-signed as a depth player this offseason. Who departed this offseason? Adrian Colbert The Bears' lone departure only played a handful of games for them in 2024. Veteran Adrian Colbert, one of the breakout stars from "Hard Knocks" last summer, just missed making the active roster prior to the start of the season but was brought back due to injuries. He played in five games and remains a free agent. Positional need: Moderate If everyone is healthy, the Bears current safety group can get the job done in 2025. The problem is it's difficult to count on Brisker's health at the moment, and every safety is slated to hit free agency next offseason. Despite Brisker's talent, his future is up in the air due to injury concerns. He has suffered multiple concussions in the NFL, and missing the final 12 games of the year due to one is cause for alarm. It's a similar situation that Teven Jenkins found himself in last year, and he wound up leaving in free agency. Byard's in his early 30s, and while he's extremely durable, his best football is behind him. The Bears would be wise to target a safety in the middle rounds to develop for the future because this group won't be around for too long. Top draft prospects Malaki Starks, Georgia Xavier Watts, Notre Dame Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State Andrew Mukuba, Texas With their first-round pick, the Bears have several options, but they are unlikely to prioritize safety. Georgia's Malaki Starks is at the top of many draft boards thanks to his versatility and ability to disrupt deep passing patterns in the SEC. Notre Dame's Xavier Watts is another name that could go relatively early. The Fighting Irish have churned out some impressive defensive backs in recent years, and Watts shined throughout the College Football Playoff. The Bears could also look to Brisker's alma mater, Penn State, for a couple of options. Kevin Winston Jr. is an intriguing Day 2 possibility and would fit Dennis Allen's system, while Jaylen Reed might be available when the Bears select on Day 3.
Associated Press
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
TJ Weeks, Tank Byard rally Rider to 61-59 victory over Siena
The AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (AP) — TJ Weeks Jr. scored 23 points and Tank Byard grab a rebound and scored at the buzzer to rally Rider to a 61-59 victory over Siena on Saturday. Brendan Coyle's layup with 20 seconds left pulled Siena even before Byard grabbed an errant shot by Flash Burton and scored the winner. Weeks added seven rebounds for the Broncs (9-15, 5-8 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Aasim Burton had 15 points and Byard scored 10 on 5-for-7 shooting. Gavin Doty led the way for the Saints (11-13, 6-7) with 15 points and eight rebounds. Justice Shoats added 13 points and two steals. Major Freeman scored 12 points. ___
