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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka Using Vets' Experience To Hone His Craft
Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka Using Vets' Experience To Hone His Craft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. We don't often like to use the word perfect around here, but sometimes it is appropriate, and when it comes to a young rookie receiver landing in a perfect spot, we think Emeka Egbuka has landed in such a place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Advertisement Entering an offense that has Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Baker Mayfield, Egbuka has three quality Pro Bowl players to learn from, something that other receivers from his draft class don't have. Yes, he might be a little down the pecking order right now, but Emeka is using what is available to him to learn and grow as a player. When appearing on NFL Network's The Insiders, Egbuka detailed how much help he's gotten from Tampa Bay's veterans. "Considering the room that I'm in, with such established vets and pros and with Baker at the helm of the offense, I'm just taking bits and pieces every single day learning from them," Egbuka said on the Insiders. "There's really not a scenario throughout the day where I don't learn from them. So I'm just trying to use every experience here to be able to learn, grow, and establish a routine here so I can be the most successful I can be." Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Talk about fast-tracking your development. Advertisement Some were confused as to why the Buccaneers selected Emeka in the first round of the NFL Draft, considering the defensive needs, but maybe the Ohio State stud is seen as Evans' replacement in a year or two. So learning as much as he can now, not only from Mike, but Godwin, Cade Otton, and Mayfield, will set him up well for the future. The best trait a rookie can have is to be a sponge and soak up any information they can get, and for Egbuka, he's doing just that in the hopes of hitting the ground running in his first season. Related: Buccaneers New Coach Passing First Test in Unique Role Related: Buccaneers Offense Trying To Match High Expectations in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
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ESPN FPI Gives Deion Sanders, Colorado No Chance To Win CFP National Championship
ESPN FPI Gives Deion Sanders, Colorado No Chance To Win CFP National Championship originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In his first two seasons as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, Deion Sanders has done a solid job, going 4-8 in 2023 and then an astounding 9-4 in 2024, which marked their first winning season since 2016 (excluding 2020). Advertisement Even throughout the offseason, his impact is felt, as the Buffaloes have landed a total of 30 players in the transfer portal, per On3. However, even as the program continues to improve and a handful of talented players join the roster, their ability to compete for the ultimate prize remains limited and in ESPN's FPI, a predictive rating system, it gives Colorado a 0% chance to win the national championship. Of course, for as much success as they've had bringing players in from the portal, they've also felt the negative effects from it, which includes losing a total of 37 players, which as of now is tied for the third-most of any Big 12 program. Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion J. Downing-Imagn Images There's no doubt they're also going to be feeling the effects of having several players make the leap to the NFL, including quarterback Shedeur Sanders, two-way star Travis Hunter and wide receivers Jimmy Horn Jr. and LaJohntay Wester. Advertisement They also have several unanswered questions, with one of the biggest being trying to figure out Sanders' successor, as a two-way battle has been brewing between freshman Julian Lewis and Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. Even despite having the fifth easiest remaining strength of schedule in the Big 12, they still go up against some of the conference's biggest juggernauts, including BYU (Sept. 27), Arizona State (Nov. 22) and Kansas State (Nov. 29), where they will be truly tested if still in college football playoff contention. In order to even be close to that, though, Sanders and the Buffaloes need to start the season off on a good note, which may be tough in a Week 1 matchup against Georgia Tech, where ESPN BET has Colorado at 3.5-point underdogs. Related: Elite 5-Star Prospect Makes Feelings Clear After Official Visit to Miami This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
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North Carolina Reacts to Retirement of Former Patriots Super Bowl Champion
North Carolina Reacts to Retirement of Former Patriots Super Bowl Champion originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's no doubt that under head coach Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots formed one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history, winning a total of six Super Bowls. Advertisement Of course, with that much success, the team had several talented players suit up, and a big contributor to their dominance has officially announced his retirement. On Monday, center David Andrews called it a career after 10 years. It's certainly a big loss for the Patriots and even drew the attention of Belichick's new team, the North Carolina Tar Heels, who tweeted, "Congratulations David on your retirement after a great career!" via an X post. What's interesting is that despite earning recognition from North Carolina, Andrews played his collegiate career with the Georgia Bulldogs (2011-2014) before landing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent. Advertisement However, he had a deep connection with Belichick, as the two spent nine seasons together in New England, where the center helped the team win two of those Super Bowls. "Coach Belichick, thank you for giving me the opportunity I so desperately wanted in this league," Andrews said during his Monday press conference. "I learned more about this game from you than anyone has ever taught me... You always demanded our best and challenged us each and every week. The details were important and mattered, and that is something I'll carry the rest of my life." New England Patriots center David Andrews (60).Eric Canha-Imagn Images Of course, hearing a former player praise Belichick to this level is exactly the kind of thing North Carolina would love to hear, as he will be trying to turn the program around after going just 6-7 in 2024. Advertisement Related: ESPN FPI Gives Deion Sanders, Colorado No Chance To Win CFP National Championship This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Business Journals
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Journals
Houston scores millions in multibillion-dollar sports tourism industry
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 8: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate after defeating the Washington Huskies 34-13 in the CFP National Championship game at NRG Stadium on January 8, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo)
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
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'Old friends will meet again Week 3': What to know about Bengals-Vikings matchup
Among the most awaited games on the Cincinnati Bengals' 2025 schedule is a Week 3 matchup with the Vikings in Minnesota. The game, scheduled for Sunday, September 21 at 1 p.m. Eastern, is set to feature a college reunion of former LSU Tigers' teammates: the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, and the Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson. Advertisement All three starred for the 2019 Tigers, a team that finished the season 15-0 and won the CFP National Championship. "Old friends will meet again Week 3," the NFL on CBS tweeted. Former LSU teammates Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings What to know about the Bengals-Vikings game: The Bengals won two previous Chase vs. Jefferson meetings, both in overtime. The Bengals and Vikings have squared off twice since 2020, the year Burrow was Cincinnati's first-round pick (first overall) and Jefferson was Minnesota's first-round pick (22nd overall). The Bengals have won both games, both by the same 27-24 result. Both games were played in Cincinnati; Burrow played in the first meeting but missed the second. The first regular-season game of Chase's NFL career came against the Vikings. In his NFL debut Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati, Chase had five catches for 101 receiving yards with a touchdown. Advertisement It was also Burrow's first game back after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2020. He had 261 passing yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson had five catches in that game, for 71 yards. Weeks later, Chase broke Jefferson's NFL rookie record for receiving yards in a season. The Bengals and Vikings met again in December 2023. Jefferson, who wore a "Bayou Trio" sweatshirt with himself, Chase and Burrow on it during pregame warmups, had seven receptions for 84 yards. Chase had four catches for 64 yards. Burrow didn't play, having suffered a season-ending injury against Baltimore four weeks earlier. Advertisement Tee Higgins made one of the most impressive catches of his career, on a pass by Jake Browning. The Vikings will have their third starting quarterback in three meetings with the Bengals. Kirk Cousins was Minnesota's quarterback for the game in 2021. Nick Mullens was the Vikings' QB when the two teams met in 2023. JJ McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury. He'll likely be the Vikings' QB in Week 3, and could match up against former Michigan teammates Dax Hill, DJ Turner and Kris Jenkins. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals-Vikings Week 3: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase vs Justin Jefferson
