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Fox Sports
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Texans' C.J. Stroud poised to take ‘full ownership' of offense, become elite QB
Two days after the Texans' 2024 season ended in a divisional-round loss to the Chiefs, C.J. Stroud showed humility and self-awareness. When a reporter asked him what he had learned about himself in the past year, he admitted that it was "a lot." Anointed as an immediate superstar in 2023, when he put together one of the best rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history, Stroud saw his numbers regress across the board as a second-year pro. "In this league, being comfortable will get you got," he said in January. "And for me, I wouldn't say that I was comfortable, but I definitely had a feeling like I knew I was going to do well — and even that's dangerous. "It's cliché, but control what you can control," he added. "Control the controllables. If you can't control it, then you can't let it stress you. It's easier said than done." It was a reflective, wise response from Stroud, who's just 23. And it's why I believe we'll see a different version of Stroud in 2025, getting back on track to becoming truly elite. Here we see a young, talented franchise quarterback — with a clutch gene and an ability to throw with timing, accuracy and anticipation that is hard to teach — who has been humbled. The challenges of last season, including terrible pass protection and a big uptick in turnovers (16 in 2024, tied for fourth-most in the league, compared to nine as a rookie), could be what drives him to reach new heights in 2025. It's hard not to notice that Stroud has been much quieter this offseason in the public sphere. Perhaps that's by design. Last offseason, he traveled to China, Japan, Morocco and France for various commitments. He was at Radio Row ahead of the Super Bowl. He played in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. He attended Michael Rubin's exclusive White Party for celebrities. He went on several podcasts. By contrast, maybe his most notable public appearance since the 2024 season ended was attending the Rockets-Warriors first-round NBA playoff series — in Houston. "He's had a great offseason. He's been here, really, since February," Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on the "Up & Adams Show" in April. "I think he's got the right mindset. He understands that we can all improve, and we can all get better, and this is what the offseason is for." A better version of Stroud in 2025 doesn't fall solely on Stroud, of course. The Texans must be better around him offensively, too. To that end, they've revamped their offensive line, though perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil is among those out of the picture, traded to the Commanders in March for a package of draft picks. The Texans also have a new offensive coordinator in former Los Angeles Rams assistant Nick Caley, a first-time playcaller, and a new offensive line coach in Chris Strausser, the assistant for the unit last season. "I will be able to put my swag on it, have fun with it," Stroud said of Caley's offense. "He is all about me taking full ownership, running the show, and that's what I want." The wide receiver room has also undergone a makeover. With Tank Dell's status for 2025 uncertain due to a serious knee injury sustained in December, the Texans will have to lean heavily on star Nico Collins and rookie draft picks Jayden Higgins (second round) and Jaylin Noel (third round). But if Houston can keep Stroud upright, the passing attack has a chance to get back to the explosiveness we saw in 2023. Collins has veteran help at wideout in Christian Kirk, who was a dependable target in both Arizona and Jacksonville when healthy. Higgins and Noel both registered 1,000-yard seasons at Iowa State in 2024. "You talk about playmaking ability, Jaylin's ability to stretch the field, in the deep end part of the field. And then you have Jayden, just a big target, very similar," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after the draft. "I know a lot of people said [he's] very similar to Nico in what he's able to do, but you get a receiver of his stature and with his catch radius, it just opens up a lot of things for us offensively that I know all of our guys are excited about." It should be genuine for Stroud. Considering the experience he has now, he should be confident in his ability to take the next step in the 2025 season. "You've got to be able to adapt and change and upgrade," Stroud said. "Every year, the iPhone upgrades. You've got to be able to upgrade like that. So, that's something that I think we'll do. Personally, a goal of mine is to get better in things that I need to get better in. "Being a quarterback in the NFL is something that no one can teach you about. You got to experience it. Got to make mistakes, you got to fail. You have to do good, and you have to do bad. I plan to use those experiences to help others, and be a servant to one another." In that process, C.J. Stroud's ascension should be inevitable. Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Chris Brown makes bail after UK arrest as world tour looms
Chris Brown makes bail after UK arrest as world tour looms Show Caption Hide Caption Chris Brown arrested over 2023 incident in London Metropolitan Police arrested Chris Brown in Manchester, England, on May 15 for an incident that took place in London on Feb. 19, 2023. LONDON — Chris Brown was granted bail by a London court after being charged with assault earlier this month. Brown, a hip-hop singer with a long and complicated legal history, was arrested and charged May 15 with inflicting grievous bodily harm in what prosecutors said was an "unprovoked attack" in a London nightclub in 2023. The singer, 36, has not yet been asked to enter a plea. He was not present at the U.K. courthouse when Judge Tony Baumgartner granted him bail on May 21. The bail may prove incredibly important as criminal proceedings could conflict with Brown's upcoming tour. The singer's Breezy Bowl XX World Tour is set to begin June 8 in Amsterdam with support from fellow R&B singer Bryson Tiller. Chris Brown says he was disinvited from NBA All-Star Celebrity Game due to controversies Police confirmed that the arrest was related to an alleged 2023 assault, as described in a lawsuit previously filed by music producer Amadou "Abe" Diaw. In October 2023, Diaw sued Brown for allegedly "beating him over the head" with a tequila bottle at a nightclub in London, according to a Los Angeles lawsuit reviewed by USA TODAY. Early on Feb. 19, 2023, "while traveling for his 2023 'Under the Influence' Tour ... (Brown) brutally assaulted (Diaw) at TAPE nightclub in London. Wielding a large bottle of Don Julio 1942 Tequila as his weapon, Brown inflicted severe and lasting injuries on (Diaw) when beating him over the head with crushing blows," the lawsuit alleged. "As (Diaw) lay unconscious on the floor, Brown continued to ruthlessly stomp on the defenseless (Diaw) for approximately 30 seconds. (Diaw) ended up in the hospital with lacerations on his head and torn ligaments in his leg." Chris Brown arrest, charge follows documentary legal drama Brown's arrest in the U.K. comes months after the singer took legal action following the release of a documentary that explored his alleged history of violence. In January, the singer-songwriter sued Warner Bros. Discovery and several others for their role in the production of "Chris Brown: A History of Violence," a documentary film chronicling Brown's alleged pattern of abuse. He is seeking $500 million in damages, alleging libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Chris Brown sues Warner Bros. for $500M over 'A History of Violence' documentary Brown's star was heavily tarnished in 2009 when fans learned that he had assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna on the night of the Grammy Awards. Photos showing Rihanna bloodied and bruised after the attack were leaked to the public at the time, forever altering Brown's reputation and kicking off more than a decade of legal troubles. In 2017, a restraining order was granted to ex-girlfriend and "Claws" actress Karrueche Tran, mandating that Brown stay away from her after she alleged that he was abusive toward her. Then, the following year, an anonymous accuser represented by women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred sued Brown, alleging he had trapped her in his home and forced her to perform sex acts for his friends. In 2019, the singer was accused of raping a woman in Paris, but released without charges. This was followed by a July 2024 lawsuit, which alleged Brown and members of his crew severely assaulted four men after a concert in Texas. Contributing: Sam Tobin, Reuters; Jay Stahl, Anna Kaufman, Edward Segarra, KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
Elle
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Emma Watson Kicks Off Her Return to Cannes in a Chic Sheer Airport Look
Emma Watson is stepping back into the spotlight during the Cannes Film Festival. The British actress was photographed arriving at Nice Airport today, wearing a black cardigan with a white floral lace skirt. She finished the look off with black ballet flats. Watson is a Cannes Film Festival veteran, having first attended in 2013 for The Bling Ring: But her arrival today marks a rare appearance from the star, who has been pursuing a master's degree at Oxford University. Watson was last seen at a 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on February 14 in Oakland, California. She was there supporting her friend, musician Tucker Halpern. A source told People that Watson was 'very low-key' and looked 'excited to be there.' In December 2023, Watson spoke to British Vogue about taking time away from acting. 'Going into my 30s, I was in this moment of real change and [thinking] 'What is going on?'' she said. 'And it was someone else who said to me, 'Oh, this is normal. You're going through your Saturn return.' [I was] like, 'What is that and why has no one warned me?!' I've spoken to so many women and so many of my friends who said, 'Oh, yeah, between 28 and, like, 30, 31, 32, that kind of age, everything shifted.' ' Watson decided to go back to school. She acknowledged the cost of that in Hollywood, saying, 'Because I'm in a career that moves very quickly, the decision to take time to do these things felt like a very big decision. [Choosing] to go back and write and study and get behind the camera was terrifying for me because I'd never done it before. I had always been in front of the camera; I'd always been an actor.' But she's happy with her choice: 'I'm just so glad that I did [step away from acting] because I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty in some way that I don't think I did before—more autonomy,' she said. 'I'm so glad that I allowed things to be messy for a minute and to really allow myself to not know [what's next], because the knowing that I've come to, I wouldn't trade that for anything.'
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-NFL player picks Rams WR Puka Nacua for hypothetical 2-on-2 basketball game
Ex-NFL player picks Rams WR Puka Nacua for hypothetical 2-on-2 basketball game Puka Nacua's basketball reputation is growing. Former NFL linebacker and current NFL Network analyst Manti Te'o said he would pick Nacua as his partner in a hypothetical 2-on-2 basketball game versus Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and NBA legend Allen Iverson. "This guy did score a lot of points in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game," Te'o said. "If you've ever watched Puka Nacua play basketball, the uso can ball." (For reference, "uso" is a Samoan word meaning "brother." Te'o and Nacua are Samoan). The Los Angeles Rams receiver is a big basketball fan. Nacua put up 16 points, four rebounds and four assists in the Celebrity Game, as Te'o mentioned. Nacua also said he'd play basketball overseas when he retires from the NFL. So, if Te'o really needed a partner, he could pick worse players than Nacua.
Express Tribune
15-02-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
NBA All-Star Weekend 2025 kicks off in Bay Area with star-studded events
The highly anticipated 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend has arrived, bringing an exciting slate of events to the Bay Area. Hosted by the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center and Oakland Arena, this marks the first time since 2000 that the region has hosted the festivities. The weekend kicked off with the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, where Team Bonds, led by streamer Kai Cenat and rapper 2 Chainz, secured a 66-55 victory over Team Rice, captained by comedian Druski and social media star Khabi Lame. Friday also featured the Rising Stars Game, showcasing the league's top young talent. Saturday will see the highly anticipated skills challenge, three-point contest, and slam dunk contest. The grand finale, the 74th NBA All-Star Game, takes place Sunday with a revamped format featuring four teams: Team Chuck, Team Shaq, Team Kenny, and Team Candace. The tournament-style competition will see players competing for a cash prize, with each member of the winning team taking home $125,000. In addition to the on-court action, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2025 finalists. Headlining the list are NBA legends Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, along with WNBA icons Sue Bird and Maya Moore. The 2008 U.S. Olympic "Redeem Team" was also nominated for its dominant gold-medal performance. Other nominees include coaches Billy Donovan and Mark Few, as well as longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford. The final Hall of Fame class will be announced on April 5 during the NCAA Men's Final Four, with the enshrinement ceremony scheduled for September 5-6.
