Latest news with #DefensivePlayeroftheYear
NBC Sports
13 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Lynx's Collier worth bets to win MVP and DPOY
Drew Dinsick and Vaughn Dalzell break down current odds for this year's Defensive Player of the Year race between Napheesa Collier, reigning MVP A'ja Wilson, and Seattle's Gabby Williams.
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Texans legend J.J. Watts crushes the 9-9-9 challenge with ease during Brewers game
Have you ever tried to accomplish the 9-9-9 challenge at a baseball game? Have you beaten the record before the seventh-inning stretch? You know what, it doesn't matter since J.J. Watt just put everyone besides Joey Chesnut to shame during a visit to the Milwaukee Brewers game over the weekend. For those unfamiliar with the challenge, baseball fans attempt a simple but disgusting battle that usually ends with a long evening in the bathroom. Over nine innings, one must finish nine hot dogs and nine beers. And what's at stake? Honestly, nothing besides a bet between buddies and a few bucks. But Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and future Hall of Famer for the Houston Texans, literally made mere mortals shiver as he crushed nine glizzies and nine brews through six innings, posting his progress on social media, including the end result. The future Canton-bound defender who used to crush quarterbacks crushed seven beers and seven hot dogs through three games as the Brewers fell to the Miami Marlins. After that, Watt proclaimed he hit "cruise control" sending a post with the final video eating his late hot dog before the final out in the sixth. While Texans fans would love to see Watt punish passers in Year 3 under DeMeco Ryans, it's clear with how much fun he's having that his playing days are officially in the past. Most active players probably aren't spending training camp at the ballpark washing down meat with a Miller Light within 90 minutes. Houston won't miss Watt for long since it's expected he'll be on the call for at least one game after joining Ian Eagle as an in-game analyst for CBS. Maybe while in the broadcast booth, he takes on the "4-4-4 challenge" of four pounds of brisket and four Shiner Bocks in four quarters?
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN: Which Bills player is under the most pressure in 2025?
The Buffalo Bills signed Joey Bosa to a one-year, $12 million contract this spring. Bosa was Buffalo's marquee signing for the defense this offseason. The hope is that Bosa can make a major impact on the defensive line in 202, helping elevate the defense and finally bring the Bills back to the Super Bowl for the first time in over three decades. The Bills are taking a calculated risk with signing Bosa. The veteran pass rusher has played in only 28 games total over the past three seasons. He has missed time due to groin, foot, and hip injuries during this time. Still, the allure of bringing a pass rush specialist was too much to overlook for Buffalo. A healthy Bosa could catapult Buffalo's defense into the elite range in the NFL. With all of this in mind, Bosa has been named a player who has "a ton riding on the next six months" by ESPN's Bill Barnwell. Barnwell highlights Bosa's current situation with the Bills: For Bosa, the time to prove he can still wreck opposing quarterbacks is right now. Having turned 30 this month, he is at a career crossroads. After missing significant time over his final three seasons in Los Angeles, he was forced to take a pay cut to stay on the roster in 2024 before being cut this spring. With the Bills still looking for a special pass rusher to get them over the hump, he essentially replaced Miller on the roster by signing a one-year deal for $12 million, with incentives that could add up to $3 million more if he stays healthy and racks up 12 sacks. Bosa has reached double-digit sacks in four seasons. Bosa has completed a full slate of games three times in his NFL career; in each season, he exceeded the 10-sack total. Bosa has earned five Pro Bowl nods, and he was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. Bosa slots in as the top right defensive end on Buffalo's depth chart. His presence should help the defense as a whole. Greg Rousseau, who will play the edge position opposite Bosa, should see an uptick in his production, as offensive lines will need to adjust for multiple promising pass rushers. Furthermore, the Bills should be able to get pressure from four defensive linemen, opening up options for Buffalo's pass defense. This, of course, can only happen if Bosa is on the field. The Joey Bosa era in Buffalo has started ominously, as he suffered a calf injury on the second day of OTAs. Bosa has returned to health and participated in all of the Bills training camp sessions thus far. Buffalo will undoubtedly monitor Bosa's reps during training camp, doing everything in the team's power to keep him on the field. Bosa has a lot to gain this year, if he can put together a healthy and productive 2025 campaign. Barnwell adds, "If Bosa can stay healthy and make a significant dent on opposing quarterbacks during a deep Buffalo playoff run, he would be in position to sign one more deal with a significant multiyear guarantee. If not, he's probably going to be looking at more one-year pacts."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Marcus Smart on what JJ Redick told him upon signing with Lakers
It is predicted by plenty of people that Marcus Smart will have a significant impact on the Los Angeles Lakers this coming season. Smart has long been one of the NBA's best and peskiest perimeter defenders, as he was named to the All-Defensive first team three times and won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award, and perimeter defense happens to be something the Lakers have been lacking. At age 31, Smart may not be the same player he was three years ago, and he has had trouble staying healthy over the last couple of years. But he said he is highly motivated going into the 2025-26 season, and he relayed that Lakers coach JJ Redick wants him to get back to the player he was with the Boston Celtics before they traded him in 2023. 'JJ just wants me to be me. The person that I was in Boston, the person that he played against and had me chasing around when he was on the court playing. So that's all he asked me and I think I could do that to the best of my ability with the best of them because like I said I have a chip on my shoulder and I'm ready to go.' In his first nine seasons, all of which came with the Celtics, Smart was a big glue guy, as he not only was a defensive menace but was also a terrific secondary facilitator and ball handler, as well as someone who was very resourceful. He can effectively guard at least three positions on the court, and his experience in appearing in the Eastern Conference finals five times and the NBA Finals once will help a Lakers team that has had trouble becoming an elite team again. Smart has career averages of 10.6 points, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals a game. He isn't a reliable 3-point shooter, but after signing a two-year, $10.5 million contract with L.A., he should provide the squad with good, if not great, value.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Broncos star rocks amazing Jordan cleats at training camp
Pat Surtain's shoes>>> Pat Surtain is officially an ambassador of the Jordan brand. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton is the only coach in the NFL with an endorsement deal with Michael Jordan, and after Surtain won the Defensive Player of the Year award last season, Payton told his star cornerback it was time to get PS2 a Jordan deal of his own. Surtain officially joined the brand last month, just in time to rock some amazing cleats at training camp: 'I'm pretty excited," Surtain said Tuesday when asked about becoming a Jordan athlete. "It was a cool experience meeting 'M.J.' himself. It was pretty dope. I feel like that whole brand, what they have in order, is a very close group and the brand [has] a family-first aspect. I'm glad to be a part of the Jordan brand. I'm looking forward to it.' The cornerback still hasn't quite caught up to his coach's level yet. 'We're going to be competing on the field, even though I know he has the exclusive [Eddie] Jones [sneakers] already," Surtain quipped. "I still have some catching up to do.' Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
