Latest news with #Mooney
New York Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Colts' Charvarius Ward opens up on 49ers exit: ‘Mentally, I was somewhere off the grid'
WESTFIELD, Ind. — When Charvarius Ward gets into a groove, his energy and enthusiasm are palpable. In those moments, the ball-hawking cornerback known as 'Mooney' has a sunny disposition that permeates the practice field, even amid the grind of training camp. Such was the case last Friday as Ward, the Indianapolis Colts' prized free-agent signee of the 2025 offseason, leaned back against a chain-link fence bordering the practice field following the team's third workout of the summer and provided an unprompted assessment of his new fit. Advertisement 'The blue looks good on me — obviously,' Ward said while gripping his practice jersey and grinning broadly. Then Ward went ahead and answered the question he knew was coming: 'I'm doing good, man — physically, mentally and emotionally. I'm doing way better than what I was. At first, it was hard to see the light at the end of that tunnel, but I kind of got my joy back, my happiness back, my smile back, and everything like that. I've got a lot of optimism right now.' Ward, a second-team All-Pro in 2023, is coming off a traumatic season that transcended his football-related frustrations. Last October, Ward's daughter, Amani Joy, died shortly before her second birthday. Though Amani was born with Down syndrome and a heart defect that required surgery, her death was sudden and unexpected. Ward, understandably, went into a dark place as he and Amani's mother, Monique Cook, mourned their loss while awaiting the birth of their son (Charvarius Jr.) in December. When he returned to the San Francisco 49ers after missing three games, Ward was a broken man. 'Once I came back,' he said, 'every game after that, I was just like, 'I don't give a f— what happens. I don't care if I win this rep; I don't care if I lose this rep.' I was there physically, but mentally, I was somewhere off the grid, off the globe.' As he tries to move forward, fresh off a three-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Colts last March and his engagement to Cook earlier this month, Ward, 28, is motivated to help the Colts reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020. His current mindset stands in stark contrast to the one he carried into the 2024 campaign. Coming off an overtime defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, the 49ers made a final stab at keeping their collection of high-priced veterans together, ultimately giving out a slew of big-money extensions. Ward, after a career year in which he led the NFL with 23 passes defensed, wanted a raise, too. When 49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear that wouldn't be happening, instead allowing Ward to play out the final year of his contract, he didn't take it well. Advertisement 'Even before everything happened with my baby, I really wasn't super motivated,' Ward admitted. 'Because after the year I had in '23, I wanted a contract extension — because I wanted to stay — and I knew I wasn't getting a contract offer. They came to me and kind of told me what it was, 'cause they had (other) people to pay. So it kind of had me in my feelings a little bit. I just never made it public. 'I was hurt when I realized I wasn't getting a contract extension or even an offer for an extension. So, I wasn't motivated; like, from OTAs all the way through camp, I was kind of pissed off. I knew when the season started it was a wrap for me in the Bay.' Ward, who had core muscle surgery shortly after the Super Bowl, was further perturbed by the fact that running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams all received lucrative extensions after skipping team activities. (McCaffrey stayed away from voluntary OTAs; Aiyuk staged a training camp 'hold in' and didn't practice, citing a back injury; Williams held out until shortly before the start of the regular season.) 'There was a lot going on, bro,' he said. 'Because if you're winning, s—, everybody wants to get paid. Everybody feels it. Everybody feels that when certain guys are not around and certain guys are around but not participating. Like, I was there. I had surgery after the season under the advice of them, and I was rehabbing with them. I had (been) All-Pro, too, and I didn't get paid so I was like, 'What the f—?' Like, people are not showing up and getting paid, and I wasn't. 'So, it definitely made me feel some type of way. That type of stuff, it does take a toll on the whole team.' The 49ers, after three consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances, struggled from the start in 2024, ultimately finishing last in the NFC West with a 6-11 record. During a 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium in late October, Ward began to snap out of his malaise. 'When that Cowboys game came, I was like, 'OK, I'm gonna start back balling, get back in my AP (All-Pro) bag.' I was covering good, playing hard. Then boom, the next day, the personal situation (Amani's death) happened. And that just made it a hundred times worse.' Advertisement Ward never made it personal with Lynch and Shanahan. 'They kept it real all year,' he said. 'They never hid anything from me, so that's why I respect those guys. It's all love.' He remains on good terms with both men, who congratulated him via FaceTime shortly after he signed with the Colts. Though he didn't get the answers he wanted during the 2024 offseason, Ward understood his bosses' perspective. Lynch and Shanahan planned to sign quarterback Brock Purdy to a massive extension after the season. They also prioritized cornerback Deommodore Lenoir over Ward, signing the 25-year-old to a five-year, $92 million extension last November, while Ward was away from the team. 'Obviously quarterback is way more important than a corner,' Ward said. 'And they got Demo (Lenoir), so … I mean, you know, they drafted him, and he's younger than me. They probably like Demo a little bit better. He's a little more physical and aggressive than me. I can lock anybody down. Kyle and John, they want head-busters. I mean, I'm not mad. He got what he deserved. All-Pros don't grow on trees, though.' When Ward returned to the team following his daughter's death, he clearly wasn't right. He played in five of San Francisco's final six games, all but one of them losses, but quickly regretted his decision to come back. After the mid-December defeat to the Los Angeles Rams that essentially killed the Niners' playoff hopes, Ward told me, 'It's been hard for me personally to go to work every day, every game — even to practice or go to meetings. I almost left a couple of times. S— , I know fans probably hate me (for saying that), but f— it, it's real life.' Nonetheless, Ward stayed, dissuaded by the financial ramifications of possibly losing game checks if he left without the organization's blessing. 'I feel like I shouldn't have come back,' he said. '(Initially) I didn't want to come back. I thought I was going to be able to (return to the field), but once I came back, I tried to leave again. But I wasn't going to get paid. So, I had to make my money.' (A 49ers source said the team remained supportive of Ward throughout the tragic ordeal.) Advertisement 'I just tried to tough it out,' Ward said. 'All those games after I came back, I gave zero f—-, to be honest. I didn't really care about being coached. Anytime I got a coaching point, I was like, 'F— it, I don't care.'' Ward isn't necessarily proud of that; he's just being real about his grief. 'You can say you'd do this and do that,' he said, 'but till you go through a situation like that, you would never understand what it feels to feel like that. It's like, you don't always want to be here. It's like, 'Take me instead of my child.'' As he headed into free agency for the second time — Ward, after four years with the Chiefs, signed a three-year deal with the 49ers in 2022 — the former undrafted free agent sought a fresh start. He wanted to feel wanted. And, of course, he wanted to get paid. The Colts and New Orleans Saints (whose newly hired defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley, was on Shanahan's staff in 2024) both obliged, with each team making a strong push for his services. All the above. — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) June 18, 2025 'Did I really have to watch tape?' Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo asked rhetorically before Friday's training camp practice. 'I did, obviously, but it just confirmed what I already knew. He's a premier corner — a tall guy who can run with length, is smart, and has great ball skills. I'm a huge fan.' Ward is determined to 'go out there and repay' the Colts by playing at a high level — and by helping to set a standard of excellence that his younger, less seasoned teammates can emulate. Indy's financial commitment is especially resonant given what he went through in 2024. 'You want to feel wanted,' he said, referring to the way his 49ers tenure ended. 'You want to feel like those guys want you to play for them like no matter what. Like, 'We'll pay you whatever to keep you around.' It's about the money, but it's not about the money at the same time. It's kind of like a respect thing. 'If you want me to be the best corner in the world, to follow the best receiver around, that's a hard-ass job to do. So obviously I'm gonna want to be compensated. 'Cause I'm gonna be stressed out every f—ing day trying to cover these good-ass receivers.' It's early, but Ward has already made a strong impression. 'I've seen him make a lot of plays and also, I see him being perfect on the (practice) field as far as the technique,' said Colts safety Cam Bynum, another of the team's marquee free-agent signees. 'He's a lockdown corner. His mindset is good. He's focused. But he also has fun. I like playing with those types of guys.' Advertisement Ward's state of mind was buoyed by his engagement to Cook, which occurred after he pulled off an elaborate surprise. After telling Cook that he was planning a party near their Dallas-area home to celebrate the end of the offseason, he staged a conspicuous proposal in front of family and friends with the help of R&B singer Fridayy, who sang two of his songs — 'When It Comes to You' and 'Baddest in the Room' — to punctuate the moment. 'She was totally caught off guard, totally shocked,' Ward said. 'And she hasn't stopped smiling since then. I've been wanting to do it for a while, because this is like the first time in my life where I was ever scared to lose a woman. Like, when I was working out this offseason, I'd tell her, 'Come to the field with me, come run around the track while I'm working out.' I just want her with me all the time. Because we've been through the highs of the highs, and obviously the lowest of the lowest. She stuck by my side and I stuck by her side.' Now, Ward and his fiancée — and 7-month-old Mooney Jr. who, according to his father, is in the 99th percentile in terms of height and weight for his age — will try to come out the other side of their unimaginable heartbreak. Obviously, it's an ongoing process. 'I'm still bouncing back from it, man,' Ward said. Part of the healing process, he hopes, can include a return to the level of play he displayed in 2023. 'I'm in my AP bag,' he insisted, forecasting another All-Pro selection. 'I'm gonna try to speak it into existence.'
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons WR Darnell Mooney to miss time due to shoulder injury, per report
Mooney went down during Atlanta's first camp practice and did not return. According to a report from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney is set to miss a few weeks due to a shoulder injury. Mooney went down during the team's first training camp practice on Thursday and did not return. The former Bears wideout had a stellar 2024 season in Atlanta, recording 992 receiving yards as the team's No. 2 option to Drake London. We'll have to wait and see if Mooney is given an injury designation by head coach Raheem Morris before Saturday's practice. The team is also expected to sign veteran DJ Chark Jr., according to a report from NFL Network. Chark could take Mooney's place for as long as he's out. The 28-year-old last played for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. In 2019, Chark topped 1,000 receiving yards for the Jaguars, leading to his first and only Pro Bowl appearance. He should be an adequate replacement for the time being.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons to sign veteran WR DJ Chark, per report
DJ Chark expected to sign with Falcons, per NFL Network report The Atlanta Falcons are expected to sign veteran wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., according to a report from Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The former second-round pick spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, appearing in seven games and recording four catches for 31 receiving yards and one touchdown. The Falcons have yet to provide an update on wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who exited Thursday's practice after suffering an injury. This signing could be an indication that Mooney will miss time. Chark, 28, has recorded 216 catches for 3,100 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns since entering the league in 2018. The former LSU Tiger had a career season in 2019 when he topped 1,000 receiving yards and made the Pro Bowl as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. After spending his first four NFL seasons in Jacksonville, Chark spent one season with the Detroit Lions in 2022. In 2023, Chark signed with the Carolina Panthers, recording 525 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. If the Falcons are to be without Mooney for an extended period of time, Chark isn't a bad replacement. Atlanta also released veteran defensive back Kevin King and placed three players on the non-football injury list on Thursday. Check out the team's updated 90-man training camp roster following these recent transactions.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Margarine comment provokes response
In pointing out the gap in price between butter and margarine, a Southland MP has reminded people that dairy alternatives are a cheaper option. In response, a head baker at a Gore bakery said there was no comparison, while a Southern farmer said in a cost-of-living crisis, he understood the public's need to diversify. Southland MP Joseph Mooney posted a photo on social media this week showing the $5 difference between a tub of margarine and a more expensive block of butter. "Interesting to compare the current price of 500 grams of margarine vs butter," he said. "I've always preferred butter myself, but great to have choices." Margarine was not an appropriate alternative for Oven Fresh Bakery head baker Ella O'Brien, who said it did not taste the same. For the bakery's baked goods, "nothing" beat butter, which got its flavour and "salt factor" from its milk solids, she said. Federated Farmers Southland dairy chairman Bart Luijten said he understood the MP's statement, and that the price of dairy products was outside of farmers' control. "It's a shame that the butter is the price that it is, but that's just a reflection of the international prices," he said. This follows Minister of Finance Nicola Willis saying, after a talk with Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell on Tuesday, the price of butter was due to its global demand. Ms O'Brien said even in the past week, she had noticed the cost of her essential ingredients had increased, following another significant price hike two months ago. Because of that, the selling price of the bakery's baked goods had gone up, which both she and her customers were unhappy with. "It sucks," she said. "Because we know just as much as everybody else that the cost of living is horrific at the moment." It made about 80kg of pastry a day and for that it had to use a butter alternative, otherwise the cost would be too high, Ms O'Brien said. "In a perfect world, [butter] would be the best option." But for one style of pastry alone, the bakery would be using more than 12kg of butter. "It would be ridiculous, pies would probably be $15 each." She had a supplier who had offered a "butter alternative" which cost, per kg, less than about 450g of butter and tasted "all right" — but not the same. The Southland MP's comments were a bit "let them eat cake", Ms O'Brien said. "It's easy for them to say. "They can afford all the butter in the world." Mr Mooney said Southland was lucky as it produced dairy products that were in high demand globally, which fed back into the local economy. "Our regional economy is stronger than some other parts of New Zealand due to the strength of the dairy sector." The down side was that the price of butter, for the average consumer, was high. "Our dairy's in demand, which is helping hold up our economy ... including our local economy, which is hugely important for us," Mr Mooney said.
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Man tried to catch wife cheating - but inadvertently filmed himself killing her
Stephen Mooney, 52, brutally killed his wife with a knife and the mother of his two children after he suspected she had been having an affair, with horrifying audio recording the murder A man who set up a camera in a bid to catch his wife cheating inadvertently filmed himself murdering her. Stephen Mooney, 52, was sentenced to life behind bars following at Ireland's Central Criminal Court, in Dublin, on Monday. Mooney murdered his 43-year-old wife Anna and at a hearing he apologised to his wife's family as well as their two children. He pleaded guilty to her murder earlier this year after Gardaí (Irish police) hacked into his pone and discovered video footage of the build-up to the murder as well as an audio recording of the murder itself. Detective Sergeant Basil Grimes told prosecutor Desmond Dockery SC that Mooney alerted emergency services at about 1:09am on June 15, 2023. He reported a person had been stabbed at his home in Kilbarrack Road, Kilbarrack, in Dublin, and when he was asked who did it, he replied: "I did." A fire brigade officer was first on the scene and found Mooney kneeling over his wife's lifeless body, speaking to emergency services. A knife still lodged in her chest. Mooney told a paramedic: "I've killed my wife. This has been going on for years. I'm really sorry, she's been having an affair." A Garda who arrived a short time later took a note of Mooney saying: "She's having an affair, it got out of control, I tried to save her, everyone's lives are ruined." He added: "It's awful, I'm sorry to put you through this. I saw something on her phone about sex and everything else and freaked out." He later said: "There is no suspect. I am the guilty one. There's nothing worth this." Detective Garda Jeanette O'Neill carried out a technical exam of the home found blood pooled on a couch as well as blood spatter on the wall just behind it. Ms Mooney was on her back in the kitchen floor when paramedics arrived. Pathologist Dr Sallyanne Collins said the stab wound pierced the heart, diaphragm and abdominal cavity. The knife that had been lodged in her chest had a 16cm single-edged blade and a wooden handle, the Irish Mirror reporter. Gardaí assessed his phone for the first time using updated software that allowed phones to be hacked, even when they are protected by a password or pincode. Analysis of the phone uncovered a 90-minute video clip that included footage of the murder. Mooney could be seen leaving the room where the killing happened and returning with the murder weapon. The moment Anna was murdered happened off-camera, but audio did record "all events leading to her death." Detective grimes said the video then went quiet before Mooney could be seen returning to the kitchen where he drank three glasses of water before running water over his hands while making the 999 call. The detective confirmed that Mooney has worked as an estate agent and has no previous convictions. Mooney agreed with defence counsel Michael Bowman SC that Anna moved to Ireland from Ukraine in 2004 and that they married in 2005. The couple has two children together. An investigation found Anna had a relationship with a man in Germany. Neither of the children were in court, but Anna's brother Anton Shuplikova listened to proceedings from Ukraine using a video-link and interpreter. Following the detective's evidence, Mooney took the stand to apologise to his wife's family. "I am truly sorry for what happened that night," he said. "It is the burden I go to bed with every night and wake up with every day. I loved Anna. I want to say sorry to Anton and his extended family." He finished by saying: "I wish to apologise to my kids for the terrible suffering I have caused everybody. I hope one day everybody will be able to forgive me." Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a mandatory life sentence. He added he has no discretion in sentencing and that Mooney's future will be determined by a parole board.
