Latest news with #CharlesGrant
USA Today
11-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Raiders rookie OT Charles Grant isn't ready and that's okay
The Las Vegas Raiders selected offensive tackle Charles Grant with the No. 99 overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft. A small-school product out of William & Mary, Grant is an athletic specimen who needs to continue refining his game. That much was evident during the Raiders' Week 1 preseason tie with the Seattle Seahawks. Grant played a hefty 43 snaps against the Seahawks. The former Tribe standout looked ill-equipped to be playing professional football at this time. Even The Athletic NFL analyst Ted Nguyen noticed how raw Grant looked in his official NFL debut. Grant allowed four total quarterback pressures (three hurries, one hit), according to Pro Football Focus. He was assigned a lackluster pass-blocking grade of 40.7. Grant was also whistled for one penalty, and struggled as a run blocker too. The Raiders drafted Grant as a depth player and potential future solution at offensive tackle. He'll be a reserve throughout his rookie season behind starters Kolton Miller and DJ Glaze. With Miller recently signing an extension, the LT spot isn't changing hands anytime soon. The Raiders knew Grant was raw when they drafted him. His preseason Week 1 debut confirmed the obvious. The Raiders will continue trying to develop Grant behind the scenes.
Boston Globe
07-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Europe's dilemma: Build a military industry or keep relying on the US
Patriot missile-defense systems are also imported from the United States, as are rocket launchers, sophisticated drones, long-range artillery guided by satellite, integrated command and control systems, electronic and cyber warfare capabilities — along with most of the software required to run them. Advertisement And because many European nations have already invested in American weapons, they want new purchases to remain compatible. The pledged investments have created tension. Should European nations build their own military industry? Does the war in Ukraine and the threat of a militarized Russia allow that much lead time? Or should they continue to invest, at least in part, in America's already available, cutting-edge technology? European officials debating how to answer those questions are embracing a middle strategy. Officials have placed limits on how much to spend on American equipment from certain tranches of money, including the flagship EU defense funding program — a 150 billion euro ($173 billion) loan facility to push joint procurement. But individual countries will do most of the purchasing and are free to allocate their resources as they see fit. Advertisement The spending debate has become more urgent as the United States shrinks its support for Ukraine. The Trump administration announced in recent days that it was pausing weapons shipments there, leaving European allies to step up. European countries agreed at last week's NATO summit to spend 3.5 percent of each country's annual national income on hardcore military investments, with an additional 1.5 percent on militarily relevant projects. The allies' pledges met a demand from President Trump to shoulder more responsibility for their defense. There are essentially two schools of thought as Europe embarks on a military spending binge, said Charles Grant, director of the Center for European Reform, a think tank focused on the European Union. One view, strongly held by French officials and the EU institutions, is to restrict the use of Europe's funds for the longer-term priority of building its defense industry. That is especially important so that Europeans are not overly dependent on an American ally that some feel they can no longer trust. The other view, shared by the Nordic and Baltic nations and Poland, is that Europe needs capabilities now to help Ukraine and should spend in a less protectionist way. 'They believe that we can't be idealists but need to act now and spend now for Ukraine,' Grant said. Officials in Poland argue that the approaches are compatible. Poland is one of Europe's biggest defense spenders as a share of national income and buys its sophisticated weapons mostly from the United States. Because European nations will spend so much more than they have been, they can buy specialized products from the United States while also investing in local industries, the officials said. Advertisement 'From our national budgets, most European countries will continue to buy, with the possible exception of France, a huge proportion of their weapons from the United States,' Radoslaw Sikorski, the minister of foreign affairs in Poland, told reporters last month in Warsaw, Poland. But if Europe needs to be able to stand up to Russia on its own, as US officials have pushed, he said, Europe also needs an 'enhanced defense industry' with more capacity. 'We cannot import everything from the United States,' Sikorski said. A mixed approach means Europe is likely to remain dependent on key American technologies. Some officials worry that Washington may someday withhold critical software updates, a concern amplified by Trump's intermittent questioning of NATO commitments and periodically softer tone toward Russia. Take the F-35. Buying the $80 million jets means committing to a long-term relationship with their manufacturer for updates. Given the recent wobbling of the trans-Atlantic alliance, officials in nations including Portugal, Canada, and Denmark have questioned future purchases of the jet. That's where European nations run into reality. They have no equivalent alternative to this fifth-generation fighter, which many countries already use, and Washington plans to develop a sixth generation. That dilemma partly explains the view, led by Nordic and German officials, that Europe must keep good relations with US defense companies even if communication with Trump is strained, said Claudia Major, a security expert with the German Marshall Fund. She said such relationships will last and that American companies 'fear being excluded from the European defense cake, which is growing.' 'They want to stay in the European game,' she said. Advertisement But as the European Union tries to balance two priorities — growing its domestic defense industrial base while retaining important American tech — it is limiting how much it spends on US weapons in a key joint procurement push. When it was unveiled in March, the 150 billion euro loan program for military procurement was meant to limit full participation to EU nations and close partners, such as Norway and Ukraine. Britain, Australia, and Canada, have been working toward joining as full participants by signing a security and defense partnership with the bloc, a prerequisite for inclusion. But there will be a cap on how much military equipment can be bought from companies in countries that are not members under the plan, including American firms: just 35 percent. For those casting a wary eye toward America, the question is whether such joint initiatives will be enough to push European industry up the technology chain. The risk is that the coming wave of spending will perpetuate the existing system, in which Europe churns out a varied heap of howitzers and ammunition while relying on the United States for advanced capabilities.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 94
Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 94 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Thursday marks 94 days before the New Orleans Saints begin their 59th NFL season with a regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Advertisement There have been just six players to wear the number 94 during a regular season game for the Saints. Two of them are in the Saints Hall of Fame, while a third also had a standout career in New Orleans. The best of all of them, DE Cameron Jordan, is one of the greatest players in franchise history and wearing number 94 into his 15th season with the team. Jordan has set an elite standard for a number that already had a high bar before his arrival. Here's a look at all who donned the number 94 in New Orleans Saints history. Saints History of 94 New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images • Jim Wilks, DE/DT (1981-93) • Joe Johnson, DE (1994-2001) Advertisement • Charles Grant, DE (2002-09) • Kawicka Mitchell, LB (2010) • K.C. Asiodu, LB (2010) • Cameron Jordan, DE (2011-present) Jan 13, 1988; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints defensive end Jim Wilks (94) tackles Minnesota Vikings running back Darrin Nelson (20). Mandatory Credit: MPS-Imagn Images Wilks was the first to wear 94 for the Saints and did so with tremendous success. A 12th round choice in the 1981 NFL Draft, Wilks would go onto play 183 games over the next 13 seasons with the Saints. After starting his career as a defensive end, Wilks would often play inside at defensive tackle later in his career. He did both with tremendous success for one of the league's better defenses through his tenure. Wilks 49 sacks over his 13 years, still ninth on the franchise's all-time leader list. He also forced 7 fumbles in a career that saw him miss only one game over his first 11 seasons. Wilks was named to the Saints 45th Anniversary team and inducted into the Saints franchise Hall of Fame in 2001, just the fourth defensive lineman to receive the honor at that time. New Orleans Saints defensive end Joe Johnson (94) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Credit: When Wilks retired and Rickey Jackson left after the 1993 season, the Saints looked to fill their void in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft. They did so by drafting Louisville defensive end Joe Johnson with the 13th overall choice. Advertisement Johnson would go on to be one of the few legitimate stars for a rebuilding Saints team over the next few years. He'd start 106 of a possible 112 games over a seven-year career in New Orleans, missing the 1999 campaign with injury. Johnson returned in 2000 to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award on perhaps the finest defensive line in franchise history. Over seven seasons in New Orleans, Johnson had 50.5 sacks and forced 13 fumbles, also recovering 7 fumbles and returning one for a score. He ranks 7th in team history for career sacks. Johnson was a unanimous selection to the Saints 45th Anniversary team and in 2007 was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame. Jan. 13, 2007; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback (7) Jeff Garcia is sacked by New Orleans Saints (94) Charles Grant. Mandatory Credit: Matt Stamey-Imagn Images © 2006 Matt Stamey Johnson and fellow star lineman La'Roi Glover both left New Orleans after the 2001 season. The Saints against looked to the draft for help, and found it in the first round with 25th overall choice Charles Grant out of Georgia. In a seamless transition, Grant instantly became the next great 94 for New Orleans. Advertisement Grant would play all of his eight NFL seasons for the Saints. In that time, he had 47 sacks with 66 tackles for loss. He also intercepted one pass, tipped 31 throws, and forced 17 fumbles while turning one recovery into a touchdown. Between 2006 and his final year in 2009, Grant had 48 QB hits and started every game in the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship season. Upon Grant's departure after the 2009 season, K.C. Asiodu and Kawicka Mitchell both wore No. 94 in 2010. Each played only one game for New Orleans, combining for 1 sack (Mitchell) and 3 total tackles. Nov 10, 2024; New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) leaps over a blocker to sack Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images The Saints would get their star No. 94 back in Round 1 of the 2011 NFL Draft when they selected a Cal DE named Cameron Jordan with the 24th overall choice. Jordan went on to not only be the best 94 in team history, no small task, but would go on to become one of the greatest players in New Orleans franchise history. Advertisement Over his 13 NFL seasons, Jordan had six years of double-digit sack totals and five more with at least 7.5 sacks. His 233 QB hits and 160 tackles for loss are both tops in team history. Jordan's standout run defense allowed him to be on the field and a force in every situation. Despite an annual high snap count, he's missed only three of a possible 239 starts in his remarkable career. Jordan's 121.5 career sacks are more than Dome Patrol icon and NFL Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson (the 'official' NFL total). He is second among active players and is 27th in NFL history. His spot in the Saints Hall of Fame is assured. Cam Jordan should also wind up with a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the conclusion of his legendary Saints career. Related: Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 95 Related: Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 96 Related: Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 97 Related: Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 98 Related: Saints Countdown To Kickoff With History Of Number 99 Related: Trevor Penning May Have A New Home On Saints Offensive Line Related: Saints Visit With Free Agent Veteran Defensive Lineman Related: Pro Football Focus Snubs Saints In Under-25 Rankings This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Farmers set to see lower trading costs from closer EU-UK ties
The European Union and the UK announced an agreement on Monday to strengthen cooperation, the first such deal reached since the UK left the bloc in 2020. As well as outlining new arrangements linked to travel, defence and fishing, the 'reset' focuses on farming, an industry heavily impacted by Brexit. Under the terms of the new deal, British animal and plant products are expected to face fewer checks when exported to the EU. For example, the UK could once again be allowed to export raw sausages and burgers to the EU for the first time since Brexit — thanks to the proposed SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) agreement. However, the implementation details are still pending. In order to remove trade barriers, the UK must align its agri-food standards with EU rules, overseen by the European Court of Justice. Standards are already similar, although the British government said there would still be a 'short list of limited exceptions to dynamic alignment'. In an analysis published earlier this year, the OBR estimated that the UK's exports and imports would be around 15% lower in the long run as a result of Brexit. In terms of food products, exports to the EU fell by around 34% between 2019 and 2024, according to the UK's Food & Drink Federation. 'British exporters have been seriously hit by the bureaucracy they face trying to get food and plants and animals across the frontier into the EU,' Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, told Euronews. 'So I think the deal on plant animal health is actually quite important. Not macroeconomically significant, but important for one sector of the British economy.' An SPS agreement between the EU and the UK could raise UK agri-food exports to the bloc by 22.5% and imports from the EU by 5.6%, according to a paper published by Aston University last year. That would raise total UK trade in goods and services by 0.3%, researchers from the CER added, which would only provide a very small lift to GDP. 'An SPS deal is also important in another way,' said Grant. 'The British will have to agree to follow EU rules as they change on SPS. If you do it in that instance, you could do it in other areas too, like energy, for example, or chemicals or pharmaceuticals.' Concerning goods coming from the EU to the UK, exporters don't yet face full checks, although Monday's agreement is set to ease future restrictions. Related Brits will soon be able to dodge passport control queues by using e-gates at more European airports First EU-UK summit starts with deals on fishing and defence following overnight talks Monday's announcement doesn't mean the UK is back in the customs union, where no duties are charged when goods are transported from one EU country to another. 'You're not completely out of the woods as you would be if we rejoined the single market and the customs union, but that's something the government said the UK wouldn't do,' Jill Rutter, senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe and KCL, told Euronews. 'You'll still have to have people to do your customs for you and you'll need VAT representatives in EU countries and things like that.' While Rutter said the deal could particularly help SMEs with cumbersome bureaucracy, she added that businesses will be waiting for more details. 'The document calls it a renewed agenda. But it is rather a massive agenda for a welter of future negotiations, because not very much has actually been really agreed… we'll have to see how those discussions go.' President of the UK's National Farmers Union, Tom Bradshaw, echoed those reservations in the group's press statement. 'The government's ambition to make it easier for the sector to trade with our largest overseas partner is welcome. Of course, as always in trade agreements, the detail is king and we will be scrutinising the specifics of this deal as they become available in the coming weeks, and as talks continue between the UK Government and the EU.' In the face of Russian aggression and a more unreliable US administration, closer EU-UK ties feed into a wider geopolitical strategy, Guntram Wolff, senior fellow at Bruegel, told Euronews. 'The economic significance of fisheries and other economic cooperation is relatively minor. …A more important economic question at this point is how deeply the defence industrial base will be integrated across the Channel.' On Monday, the two sides signed a defence and security partnership, meaning they will coordinate on sanctions and some security policies. It could also allow the UK to access a €150bn fund of loans for defence projects, backed by the EU budget. However, whether the UK can fully access this will depend on the terms of the partnership, which remain under negotiation. 'The direct economic impacts of today's agreements will be modest, but positive,' said Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at KCL. 'While food, fishing and youth mobility have dominated the headlines, closer cooperation on energy and defence procurement are much more important and will benefit both sides — although there's lots of detail to be worked out.'
Euronews
20-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Farmers set to see lower trading costs from closer EU-UK ties
The European Union and the UK announced an agreement on Monday to strengthen cooperation, the first such deal reached since the UK left the bloc in 2020. As well as outlining new arrangements linked to travel, defence and fishing, the 'reset' focuses on farming, an industry heavily impacted by Brexit. Under the terms of the new deal, British animal and plant products are expected to face fewer checks when exported to the EU. For example, the UK could once again be allowed to export raw sausages and burgers to the EU for the first time since Brexit — thanks to the proposed SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) agreement. However, the implementation details are still pending. In order to remove trade barriers, the UK must align its agri-food standards with EU rules, overseen by the European Court of Justice. Standards are already similar, although the British government said there would still be a 'short list of limited exceptions to dynamic alignment'. In an analysis published earlier this year, the OBR estimated that the UK's exports and imports would be around 15% lower in the long run as a result of Brexit. In terms of food products, exports to the EU fell by around 34% between 2019 and 2024, according to the UK's Food & Drink Federation. 'British exporters have been seriously hit by the bureaucracy they face trying to get food and plants and animals across the frontier into the EU,' Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, told Euronews. 'So I think the deal on plant animal health is actually quite important. Not macroeconomically significant, but important for one sector of the British economy.' An SPS agreement between the EU and the UK could raise UK agri-food exports to the bloc by 22.5% and imports from the EU by 5.6%, according to a paper published by Aston University last year. That would raise total UK trade in goods and services by 0.3%, researchers from the CER added, which would only provide a very small lift to GDP. 'An SPS deal is also important in another way,' said Grant. 'The British will have to agree to follow EU rules as they change on SPS. If you do it in that instance, you could do it in other areas too, like energy, for example, or chemicals or pharmaceuticals.' Concerning goods coming from the EU to the UK, exporters don't yet face full checks, although Monday's agreement is set to ease future restrictions. Monday's announcement doesn't mean the UK is back in the customs union, where no duties are charged when goods are transported from one EU country to another. 'You're not completely out of the woods as you would be if we rejoined the single market and the customs union, but that's something the government said the UK wouldn't do,' Jill Rutter, senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe and KCL, told Euronews. 'You'll still have to have people to do your customs for you and you'll need VAT representatives in EU countries and things like that.' While Rutter said the deal could particularly help SMEs with cumbersome bureaucracy, she added that businesses will be waiting for more details. 'The document calls it a renewed agenda. But it is rather a massive agenda for a welter of future negotiations, because not very much has actually been really agreed… we'll have to see how those discussions go.' President of the UK's National Farmers Union, Tom Bradshaw, echoed those reservations in the group's press statement. 'The government's ambition to make it easier for the sector to trade with our largest overseas partner is welcome. Of course, as always in trade agreements, the detail is king and we will be scrutinising the specifics of this deal as they become available in the coming weeks, and as talks continue between the UK Government and the EU.' In the face of Russian aggression and a more unreliable US administration, closer EU-UK ties feed into a wider geopolitical strategy, Guntram Wolff, senior fellow at Bruegel, told Euronews. 'The economic significance of fisheries and other economic cooperation is relatively minor. …A more important economic question at this point is how deeply the defence industrial base will be integrated across the Channel.' On Monday, the two sides signed a defence and security partnership, meaning they will coordinate on sanctions and some security policies. It could also allow the UK to access a €150bn fund of loans for defence projects, backed by the EU budget. However, whether the UK can fully access this will depend on the terms of the partnership, which remain under negotiation. 'The direct economic impacts of today's agreements will be modest, but positive,' said Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at KCL. 'While food, fishing and youth mobility have dominated the headlines, closer cooperation on energy and defence procurement are much more important and will benefit both sides — although there's lots of detail to be worked out.'
