Latest news with #Michalek
New York Times
30-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ravens TE Isaiah Likely goes down with ankle injury, marring spirited practice
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely went down with an ankle injury on one of the final plays of Tuesday's session and was carted off the field, which marred an otherwise spirited practice. Likely was hurt while being matched up with safety Sanoussi Kane in a one-on-one portion of practice. He was in visible pain as he limped into the locker room. Advertisement Ravens coach John Harbaugh said after practice that Likely rolled his ankle and would get an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury. 'We'll know more tomorrow,' Harbaugh said. 'It's going to be a few weeks, though. He rolled his ankle — the foot area. So, we'll get an MRI tomorrow and see exactly what needs to be done, but it'll be a few weeks. It's good that it's this early in camp.' It's a difficult start heading into a 'contract year' for Likely, who is considered an ascending player after he caught 42 passes for 477 yards and six touchdowns last season. The Ravens have interest in extending the 2026 free agent, but there have been no indications that a deal is close. With Likely, Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar, the Ravens have arguably the best tight end group in the league. They have the tight ends and wide receivers to compensate for Likely's absence in the short term. However, it would be a significant blow to the team if he were forced to miss a lot of regular-season time. Likely's speed and pass-catching ability create mismatches, and his rapport with quarterback Lamar Jackson has grown yearly. The Ravens made an interesting hire this offseason, bringing in longtime NFL referee Tony Michalek, who retired following the 2024 season after 23 years as an umpire. Michalek has been with the Ravens throughout training camp. Baltimore was among the league leaders in penalties last year, and the coaching staff has prioritized fixing that heading into the upcoming season. The addition of Michalek is part of that focus. He'll help the team out during the season with rules interpretations and penalty explanations, and he'll be a sounding board for players and the coaching staff. Michalek has been keeping a particularly close eye on Baltimore's kicking operation during camp. Advertisement Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott made a similar move last year, bringing in longtime NFL referee John Parry. In one two-play sequence on Tuesday, Ravens rookie outside linebacker Mike Green chased down a running play on the backside and then beat rookie tackle Carson Vinson inside to put pressure on quarterback Cooper Rush. There have been plays in every practice where Green shows why he was widely considered one of the most skilled pass rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft. There are also plays where Green reminds you he's still a rookie with much to learn. On Monday, he was sucked inside on a few plays and knocked to the ground by Vinson on another. 'Mike is earning his stripes,' pass rush coach Chuck Smith said after Tuesday's practice. 'Mike's a rookie, so Mike has to play his position, get in line like any other rookie. But Mike is going out there, competing at a high level. Mike can rush. Mike is strong at the point of attack on the run. What I like most about Mike is he just gives great effort.' Ravens coaches in recent days have been measured about Green, and the reminders that he is still a rookie have come often. However, it's undeniable that he's looked like a different player since the pads came on. 'He's taking his lumps, but he's also giving out his lumps,' Smith said. 'I don't think he was overwhelmed.' • Ravens second-year receiver Devontez Walker continues to look like Baltimore's most improved player since last season. He's followed up a strong offseason by seemingly making a few plays in every practice. His productive Tuesday afternoon included catching a touchdown from Rush over cornerback Nate Wiggins in the back of the end zone, corralling a short touchdown throw from Jackson in a red zone drill and making a difficult sliding catch in front of first-round safety Malaki Starks. Walker, a 2024 fourth-round pick, had just one catch, a 21-yard touchdown against the New York Giants, in his rookie season. The Ravens' top three receivers are pretty much set with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins, but Walker could push for playing time. Have a day @DevontezWalker — Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 29, 2025 • The Ravens and every other NFL team have a non-negotiable rule in training camp: you do not hit the quarterback. Baltimore's defense certainly understands not to make contact with Jackson, as the consequences would be significant. But Starks and Wiggins were probably too cautious around the quarterback on Tuesday, and it cost the defense an 80-yard touchdown run. During a team drill, Starks and Wiggins were in position to make a play on a scrambling Jackson, but they both pulled up so as not to make any contact with the quarterback. Meanwhile, Jackson never stopped running, somersaulting into the end zone to the delight of the crowd. While Andrews and left tackle Ronnie Stanley ran downfield to celebrate with Jackson, several defenders argued with Harbaugh that the play should have been blown dead. Safety Kyle Hamilton was the most vocal dissenter. Harbaugh ultimately walked over to the defensive sideline to provide an explanation. 'We're obviously not going to tackle Lamar,' a smiling Harbaugh said after the workout. 'That's not going to be part of the plan.' .@Lj_era8's TD run was so good even Jaire celebrated 😂😂 — Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 29, 2025 • In pads for a second straight day, several Ravens defenders did hit teammates. Kane dropped a shoulder into running back Marcus Major just as the rookie was heading out of bounds. Major crashed into the temporary fence set up next to the field. Safety Beau Brade also delivered a hard hit on running back Keaton Mitchell, who has been the recipient of a few physical tackles since the pads came on. • With middle linebacker Roquan Smith blitzing through the A gap, Jackson took a step to his right and lofted a throw in the direction of a well-covered Hopkins. Hopkins made a one-handed snag. It didn't produce many yards, but it was fun to watch nonetheless. • Roquan Smith was all over the field early in the practice. He came in untouched on a few plays, knocked Derrick Henry down on one blitz and blew up a screen pass to Justice Hill. Smith said he focused on taking care of his body and getting into better shape this offseason. It's been noticeable in training camp. Advertisement • It was John Hoyland's day to kick with Tyler Loop getting the day off. The rookie out of Wyoming went 5-of-6 on field goal attempts, with his long coming from 48 yards and his miss coming from 51. • Bateman (illness) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee drained) returned to practice after missing Monday's session. Jackson tested Alexander, his ex-Louisville teammate, on the first play of full-team work. Alexander forced an incompletion while matched up against Walker. The only Ravens on the active roster not practicing were wide receiver Keith Kirkwood and cornerbacks Bilhal Kone (shoulder) and Jalyn Armour-Davis. Armour-Davis was injured early in Monday's practice and had an MRI, but Harbaugh wasn't aware of the results when he spoke to reporters following Tuesday's workout.
USA Today
29-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens hire NFL referee Tony Michalek to work with the team on rules interpretations
The Ravens have hired longtime NFL referee/umpire Tony Michalek to work with the team and help out with rules interpretations/penalty explanations, and prevention, Jeff Zrebiec reports. Baltimore was one of the most penalized teams in the NFL last season, and with John Harbaugh looking to be more efficient, the Ravens have hired longtime NFL referee/umpire Tony Michalek to work with the team and help out with rules interpretations/penalty explanations, and prevention, Jeff Zrebiec reports. Michalek has been with the team throughout training camp. According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Ravens finished the 2024 season ranking fourth in penalties per game average. Baltimore's per-game average declined in the second half of the season, and hiring Michalek could be a part of the carryover from the improvement. The move is similar to what the Buffalo Bills did in hiring John Parry last year. According to Football Zebras, Michalek retired from the NFL back in April after 23 seasons as an umpire. He wore number 115 his entire career, serving on crews led by Gerry Austin, Bill Carollo, Bill Vinovich, John Parry, Gene Steratore, Ron Winter, Jerome Boger, John Hussey, Brad Rogers, and Tra Blake. During his career, he worked 12 playoff games – three wild card games, six divisional playoffs, two conference championship games, and Super Bowl XLII.
American Military News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
8 people set on fire in ‘targeted act of violence' on Colorado mall
Eight people marching in support of Israeli hostages held in Gaza were burned Sunday by a man wielding what authorities called a 'makeshift flamethrower' and an incendiary device. The attack happened at 1:26 p.m. on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall, during a weekly walk organized by the city's chapter of Run for Their Lives, which calls for the release of hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas. Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI's Denver field office, characterized the incident as a 'targeted act of violence' and said in a Sunday evening news briefing that it's under investigation as terrorism, echoing a statement from FBI Director Kash Patel earlier in the day. Police arrested Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, of El Paso County, after bystanders pointed him out to police officers outside the Boulder County Courthouse, Michalek said. Soliman used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd gathered outside the courthouse to harm them, Michalek said, adding that the suspect yelled 'Free Palestine' during the attack. Videos showed people rushing to pour water on one victim while others lay collapsed nearby. 'It's almost like it was a gun of fire,' said Lynn Segal, who witnessed the attack. 'It's like a line of fire.' Police and the FBI initially said six people were injured in the attack, but law enforcement officials increased that tally to eight late Sunday night. The victims include four women and four men between the ages of 52 and 88, according to Boulder police and the FBI. Authorities initially said four people were taken to the Boulder Community Health hospital, and two others were airlifted to UCHealth University of Colorado's burn unit in Aurora with more severe injuries. Police arrested a shirtless man at the scene, who was shown in videos posted to social media holding glass bottles and shouting 'Free Palestine' and calling to 'end Zionists.' Asked about Soliman's affiliations with any other groups, Boulder police Chief Stephen Redfearn said the investigation – which includes the FBI – was ongoing, though he said authorities were almost certain that the suspect acted alone. Soliman was taken to a local hospital to be medically evaluated, then was booked into the Boulder County Jail on 'multiple charges.' The jail's booking log does not show what charges Soliman faces, and police did not say. Few details were available about Soliman late Sunday night. He does not appear to have any presence on social media — an Egypt-based fashion influencer with the same name does not match the person caught on video by witnesses — and he does not have a criminal record in Colorado, court records show. A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could not be reached for comment on Soliman's immigration status. FBI Denver officials announced on social media Sunday night that agents were in El Paso County 'conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity' that was related to the investigation. 'Boulder is not immune to tragedy, sadly,' Redfearn said. 'I know a lot of people are scared right now, a lot of people are upset and questioning how this happened and why. All I know (is) Boulder has recovered before from acts of violence, and we will again recover.' Johanna Schmidt, whose parents regularly participated in the Boulder walks held by the organization, said she was on the way to the event with her children when her mother called and told her that someone had thrown a Molotov cocktail at the group and that Schmidt's father had been burned. Molotov cocktails are typically bottles filled with gasoline or alcohol that are then ignited and thrown. Schmidt said the scene was 'chaotic,' 'absolutely horrific and shocking.' Her father sustained a second-degree burn and was released from the hospital Sunday evening. Videos posted to social media show a woman lying on the ground while people pour water on her, as smoke and screams erupt from the area. Another video shows the shirtless man holding the bottles and shouting. In the background, bystanders can be seen huddled over someone on the ground. 'He's right there, he's throwing Molotov cocktails right there,' one person can be heard saying to police in one video. Police then handcuffed the man near the fountain in front of Boulder's courthouse. Later, a Reddit user posted photos and videos of a woman with a burned leg sitting on the lawn with paramedics, another person being loaded onto a stretcher, and people gathered in front of the building, now blocked with crime tape. In a statement, Run for Their Lives said its 'greatest concern at this moment is the well-being of the members of our group, most especially those who have been hospitalized.' 'We are dedicated to our mission that this is an international humanitarian crisis and that no one should ever be taken hostage and kept underground in tunnels without basic humanitarian needs and aid,' the group wrote. 'Broader wave of hate' In a statement Sunday, Gov. Jared Polis, who lives in Boulder, called the attack a 'heinous act of terror.' National Jewish organizations condemned the attack and linked it to other recent violence that's unfolded in the United States in response to the war in Gaza, including the killing of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., and the fire that tore through the residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish. World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder said in a statement that the Boulder attack was part of a 'broader wave of hate.' 'It is not just the Jewish community that suffers,' Lauder wrote. 'This violence tears at the very fabric of our societies. We call on law enforcement and government leaders — at every level, in every state, in every country — to act decisively.' Israel's campaign in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others. The group still holds 58 hostages — which Sunday's walk was meant to protest. Around a third of the hostages are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's military campaign has killed over 54,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The offensive has destroyed vast areas, displaced around 90% of the population and left people almost completely reliant on international aid. Horrified and enraged Xale Chartier was heading to a downtown parking structure when he saw first responders lining 13th Street on Sunday afternoon. His first thought was that there was some kind of mass-casualty incident. By the time Chartier got to the courthouse, a few people were still being treated by paramedics and he could see an oily residue on the ground, along with flags and shoes scattered nearby, he said. 'It was a very grim and unsettling scene,' Chartier said. 'I grew up in Boulder and I've never experienced anything quite like that.' Alexandra Posnack, 19, was at her Boulder home about five minutes away from Pearl Street when friends at the scene started texting her that someone had thrown a Molotov cocktail at the group holding the weekly demonstration calling for the release of Israeli hostages. 'I'm horrified and I'm also enraged, and I will be back here next week to protest with my big-ass Israeli flag,' she said. Brandon Hoover, 28, said the attack doesn't seem real. He and his girlfriend were walking down Pearl Street when suddenly there were flames and 'the smell of flesh,' he said. 'I thought, 'Holy crap, that could have been any one of us on Pearl Street,'' Hoover said. '…Once you see something that traumatic, it's going to stick with you.' Hours later, the scene was still being swept by hazmat, canine and bomb disposal teams, Redfearn, the Boulder police chief, said. Parts of Pearl Street, including the 1200 through 1500 blocks, had been evacuated. The order remained in effect along the Pearl Street corridor from Broadway to 15th Street and from Lawry Lane to Spruce Street as of 8:11 p.m. That section of the mall remained closed to the public as police cleared the area and investigated a 'vehicle of interest,' Redfearn said. Boulder resident Henry Bonn-Elchones, 18, was downtown getting lunch with friends when he saw smoke and burn marks and an Israeli flag on the ground by the courthouse. He never heard an explosion. But he said first responders and law enforcement swarmed the area and later watched as two older women were loaded into ambulances. 'Hate-filled acts' Local political leaders condemned the attack on Sunday. 'Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable,' Polis said in a statement on social media. 'While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation.' U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, who represents Boulder in Congress, called for Americans to stop the spread of antisemitism. 'Tonight, as many prepare to mark the Shavuot holiday, our Jewish community has been subjected to yet another brutal and horrific act of violence,' said the congressman, whose district includes Boulder. 'We stand with the Jewish community — today and always — and will be united in supporting the victims and their families, and to redoubling our efforts to stop antisemitism.' Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser wrote in a statement that the attack appears to be a hate crime and that he had offered his office's support to Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty. 'People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer to settling differences,' he wrote. '… We all have the right to peaceably assemble and the freedom to speak our views. But these violent acts — which are becoming more frequent, brazen, and closer to home — must stop and those who commit these horrific acts must be fully held to account.' ___ © 2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Colorado Attack Suspect's Family Taken Into ICE Custody
Flowers on police barricades outside the Boulder County Courthouse in Boulder, Colorado, on June 2, 2025. Credit - Chet Strange—Getty Images The family of Mohamed Soliman, the suspect charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at people in Boulder, Colo., advocating for the release of Israeli hostages, has been taken into ICE custody, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday. Soliman, an undocumented immigrant, has been charged with first-degree attempted murder and a federal hate crime in connection with the Sunday attack. Twelve victims, including a Holocaust survivor, were injured, at least two of whom remained hospitalized as of Monday afternoon. 'We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it,' Noem wrote in a post on X. 'I am continuing to pray for the victims of this attack and their families.' DHS did not respond to TIME's request for more information. A DHS official told CBS News that six people, including Soliman's spouse and children, are now in ICE custody. The official said the family would now be deported under expedited removal, which allows immigration officials to remove noncitizens without appearing before a judge. FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said during a Monday afternoon press conference that investigators believed that the suspect acted alone. 'If we uncover evidence that others knew of this attack or supported the subject in this attack, rest assured that we will aggressively move to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' Michalek added. He said the family was 'cooperative' when officials carried out a search warrant Sunday night. Read more: What We Know About the Boulder, Colorado Attack Soliman, of El Paso County, is an Egyptian national who entered the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa that expired in February 2023, according to DHS. The 45-year-old suspect filed for asylum in September 2022. Soliman currently faces 16 counts of attempted murder in the first-degree, two counts of use of an incendiary device, and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device on the state level, along with a federal hate crime charge. The state charges alone carry a possible maximum sentence of more than 350 years in prison. He told authorities that he had been planning the attack for a year and wanted to kill all Zionists, according to an affidavit filed on Monday. Michalek said Soliman yelled 'Free Palestine' while he threw a Molotov cocktail towards the crowd of demonstrators. He is being held on a $10 million bond. He is next set to appear in court on Thursday. Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
03-06-2025
- General
- Time Magazine
Colorado Attack Suspect's Family Taken Into ICE Custody
The family of Mohamed Soliman, the suspect charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at people in Boulder, Colo., advocating for the release of Israeli hostages, has been taken into ICE custody, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday. Soliman, an undocumented immigrant, has been charged with first-degree attempted murder and a federal hate crime in connection with the Sunday attack. Twelve victims, including a Holocaust survivor, were injured, at least two of whom remained hospitalized as of Monday afternoon. 'We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it,' Noem wrote in a post on X. 'I am continuing to pray for the victims of this attack and their families.' DHS did not respond to TIME's request for more information. A DHS official told CBS News that six people, including Soliman's spouse and children, are now in ICE custody. The official said the family would now be deported under expedited removal, which allows immigration officials to remove noncitizens without appearing before a judge. FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said during a Monday afternoon press conference that investigators believed that the suspect acted alone. 'If we uncover evidence that others knew of this attack or supported the subject in this attack, rest assured that we will aggressively move to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' Michalek added. He said the family was 'cooperative' when officials carried out a search warrant Sunday night. Soliman, of El Paso County, is an Egyptian national who entered the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa that expired in February 2023, according to DHS. The 45-year-old suspect filed for asylum in September 2022. Soliman currently faces 16 counts of attempted murder in the first-degree, two counts of use of an incendiary device, and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device on the state level, along with a federal hate crime charge. The state charges alone carry a possible maximum sentence of more than 350 years in prison. He told authorities that he had been planning the attack for a year and wanted to kill all Zionists, according to an affidavit filed on Monday. Michalek said Soliman yelled 'Free Palestine' while he threw a Molotov cocktail towards the crowd of demonstrators. He is being held on a $10 million bond. He is next set to appear in court on Thursday.
