Latest news with #Ex-New
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley named to Madden 26 cover
Ex-New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley named to Madden 26 cover Former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley took the league by storm in 2025. He set a new record for his 2,000-plus yards rushing over the regular season and postseason, and it's the way he got those yards that has everyone's head on a swivel. Barkley'sathleticism, agility, and ability to break tackles and keep going are hard to turn away from. That incredible 2024 season not only helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl, but it has led EA Sports to name Barkley to the cover of Madden NFL 26. The photo depicts Barkley doing his infamous reserve hurdle over a player trying to tackle him -- the most viral play from the 2024 regular season. Now, we have to talk about the Madden Curse. Historically, there have been several instances where the player depicted on the cover of that year's Madden NFL game is severely injured or has a major decline in performance. Michael Vick, Daunte Culpepper, and even Barry Sanders have been affected by this "curse." The curse has been broken over the years but many are still wary. Will Barkley be impacted in 2025?
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-New York Giants captain Jonathan Casillas can see Malik Nabers in leadership role
Ex-New York Giants captain Jonathan Casillas can see Malik Nabers in leadership role New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers may only be 21 years old, but he's showing signs of putting his stamp on the team both on the field and in the locker room. As a rookie, Nabers led the team in receptions and injected life into a team that had been D.O.A. the season before. Off the field, Nabers was vocal regarding his usage, wanting the football more even though he was second in the NFL in targets in 2024. Former Giants linebacker and captain, Jonathan Casillas, recently told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News that he believes Nabers is on his way to becoming a leader on this transitioning roster. 'He's young, and he might have said some things out of pocket last year as a young, diva-like receiver,' Casillas said on the Talkin' Ball with Pat Leonard podcast. 'But Malik Nabers, I think people value the things he says. I think [Brian] Daboll values the things he says. 'I want to highlight him because not just do I think he was a tremendous talent last year, I do think he was trying to step into that leadership role,' Casillas added. 'I think he sensed there was kind of a vacancy there, with the carousel at the quarterback position and QB play that hasn't really been there for a few years. I think he wanted to step up and be that guy.' Last year, Nabers was frustrated with both the team's losing ways and perhaps his game-costing drop in an early-season loss in Washington. He spoke out in the media, which is normally frowned upon when it comes to young players, especially rookies. 'They want me to speak up,' Nabers said of Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll. 'They feel like my energy helps the offense, in a way, to be explosive. So of course I'm going to speak up if something doesn't go my way. That's just how I am. I won't just sit back and let it go down just because I'm a young player. Clout don't mean nothing.' Nabers will surely be the Giants' go-to receiver again this year, no matter who the team plays at quarterback. Veteran Russell Wilson called Nabers a "freak of an athlete" and sees a solid future between them. "This guy, when he touches the ball, he may score every single time. He's been exciting," Wilson said in April. "Got to talk to him along the way. He's fired up and we've had a lot of good conversations so far." First-round pick Jaxson Dart is likely to get some snaps this year and beyond at quarterback. He is also looking forward to playing with Nabers, as are Giant fans.
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Ex-New York Times editor reportedly gives emotional apology to Sarah Palin in libel retrial
Ex-New York Times editor reportedly gives emotional apology to Sarah Palin in libel retrial The former New York Times editor said he was under pressure when he added the language linking Palin's political action committee to a 2011 shooting in Arizona, Reuters reported. Show Caption Hide Caption Georgia poll workers speak out about Rudy Giuliani's defamation A jury determined Rudy Giuliani must pay $148 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss. Scripps News A former New York Times opinion editor got emotional in court at a retrial in Sarah Palin's libel lawsuit against the paper, multiple outlets reported. Palin, the former Republican vice presidential nominee, sued the NY Times over a 2017 editorial that she alleges damaged her reputation. A jury rejected Palin's claim in 2022, and a judge moved to dismiss the lawsuit. But Reuters reported the case headed to a retrial on April 15 after an appeal. James Bennet, the editor who wrote parts of the piece at the center of the lawsuit, testified on April 17 and got emotional while apologizing to Palin, according to the Associated Press. 'I blew it, you know,' Bennet said, per the New York Times. 'I made a mistake.' More: Supreme Court turns away casino mogul Steve Wynn's challenge to defamation law NYT editorial linked Palin to 2011 Arizona shooting that injured Gabby Giffords Palin's lawsuit alleges the NY Times defamed her when an editorial piece falsely stated her political rhetoric contributed to a 2011 shooting in Arizona that killed six and injured former Rep. Gabby Giffords. Bennet said he was under deadline pressure when he added language claiming there was a link between the shooting and a map from Palin's political action committee, Reuters reported. The NY Times issued a correction that said it 'incorrectly stated that a link existed between political rhetoric and the 2011 shooting." When the case was first tried in 2022, the judge said Palin's legal team did not demonstrate that the NY Times published the error out of "actual malice," a requirement in libel lawsuits involving public figures. But Reuters reported the appeals court ruled the previous verdict was tainted, sending it to a retrial. The judge in the case said Bennet's apology was "heartfelt," but Palin shrugged it off, according to the AP. Contributing: Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY; Reuters Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley recalls his 'Welcome to the NFL' moment
Ex-New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley recalls his 'Welcome to the NFL' moment Former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley went on a tear in 2024, leading an extension with the Philadelphia Eagles that makes him the highest-paid NFL running back in history. He set a new single-season record (including the playoffs) for most rushing yards with 2,054 on the way to leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory. Everything about Barkley seemed superhuman last season, but when he sat down with Sean Evans on the show "Hot Ones," Barkley proved he is, indeed, human. One of the ways they proved he is human is with the increasingly spicy hot wings Barkley ate as Evans asked him questions. Two kinds of wings in particular had Barkley needing reprieve: "Da Bomb" wings, Scoville level of 136,000, and "The Last Dab Xperience" wings that have a Scoville level of 2,693,000. The second thing they found that can stop Barkley is one he revealed during the interview. He recalled his "Welcome to the NFL" moment in 2018, when he engaged with Hall of Fame linebacker Julius Peppers. Peppers was in his final season with the Carolina Panthers, Year 17, and he had Barkley by the shoulder pads after a play. Barkley had earned the nickname "SaQuads" for his squatting ability, but the rookie could not break free of Peppers' grasp. "That's when I realized that there's a difference between, like, grown men strength and, like, being strong in the weight room," he said, via FOX Sports. "Yeah, that was probably, like, my most humbling moment of my life. Not just on the football field, but as a man, too. Because in that moment, I definitely needed help. I'm strong, but he's like, super strong." Every rookie in the NFL has a moment like this. They've spent their entire lives being told they're the best at what they do, that they're going to go far in football, and that no one can take them down. But when they get to the NFL, they join a league of grown men who were raised the same way. Rookies become the low men on the totem pole, and every single one of them has a moment that humbles them and brings them back to the ground. For Saquon Barkley, that moment came at the hands of Julius Peppers.
USA Today
12-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock signing with San Francisco 49ers
Ex-New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock signing with San Francisco 49ers S Jason Pinnock is signing with 49ers on a 1-year deal, he confirmed to ESPN. He was claimed by the Giants off waivers from the Jets. Worked himself into the lineup and started 32 games the last two seasons. Pinnock had 85 tackles and 3.0 sacks last season for Giants. — Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) March 12, 2025 The New York Giants have been extremely active over the NFL's "legal tampering" period, re-signing several in-house free agents while also bringing in a multitude of new faces. Interestingly, outside of wide receiver Darius Slayton, who ultimately re-signed with the Giants, precious few of their own free agents have generated much of a buzz. And that remained true until late on Tuesday when safety Jason Pinnock agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers. Pinnock is the first Giants free agent to land with a new team this offseason. A fifth-round pick of the New York Jets in the 2021 NFL draft, Pinnock was claimed by the Giants off waivers in August of 2022. He took over the starting job in Week 12 of that year and did not relinquish the role throughout the remainder of his time in East Rutherford. In 58 career games (39 starts), the 25-year-old Pinnock has recorded 227 tackles (153 solo, 12 for a loss), five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 11 QB hits, 6.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed, two interceptions, and one defensive touchdown. In each of the past two seasons, Pinnock has taken 95 percent of the Giants' defensive snaps. He also saw significant action on special teams over his first three years in the league but his snap share reduced to just six percent in 2024. The Giants agreed to terms with safety Jevon Holland, Pinnock's replacement, on Tuesday.
