Latest news with #Northeasterners
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Stefon Diggs controversy shouldn't come as a surprise to Patriots or their fans
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Leave it to Northeasterners to get carried away with their pearl clutching. New England is astonished at a celebrity conducting himself like … a celebrity. Yes, New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs went viral last week after a series of videos appeared on social media showing him partying on his girlfriend Cardi B's yacht. In the initial leak of videos, she was nowhere to be seen. One video showed Diggs surrounded by a group of women that he eventually handed an unidentified pink substance. Not long after, Cardi B posted photos and videos that indicated she was a part of the party, after all. That quieted criticism about Diggs' behavior with the other women. But, of course, that pink substance has been much discussed. What is it? We may never be sure. I don't condone Diggs' actions. I'm just not surprised that he has created issues off the field. Nor do I think the Patriots should be. Certainly, new head coach Mike Vrabel's response didn't surprise me. "It's something that we're aware of," Vrabel said when asked about the video of Diggs with the pink substance. "Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field. … Any conversations that I've had with Stefon will remain between him, I and the club." Diggs clearly made mistakes over the course of the party on the yacht. One of them was letting the passengers keep their phones. You'd think Cardi B and Diggs might've had a "no phones" rule like many other celebrities in the spotlight. And this made it abundantly clear that Diggs is in the spotlight. He was once one of the best receivers in the NFL. He was also engaged in the fashion world. And since he started dating Cardi B, Diggs isn't just a football player anymore, just like Travis Kelce is much more than a Pro Bowl tight end. By dating two queens of pop music, they've ascended into a celebrity status that makes them interesting to people outside the NFL sphere. That means increased scrutiny. That also means increased speculation, including that the Patriots might release Diggs over this incident. After all, he doesn't have financial security because he hasn't passed his physical yet, which means the Patriots could slip free from his contract. But according to reports, that's not happening. RELATED: Patriots reportedly don't intend to cut Stefon Diggs amid video controversy The Patriots have bought into Diggs, with all his baggage. And he's got plenty of baggage. He's the master of the cryptic tweet, sending out confusing messages that occasionally cast doubt about his future with just about every team for which he's played. That's when he's passive-aggressive. But he's been more overtly critical, too. He was upset with Josh Allen on the sidelines during the Buffalo Bills' playoffs after the 2022 season. Then he left the locker room after the game before the assistant coaches made it down from the box. Diggs later missed practices during Buffalo's mandatory minicamp, which led coach Sean McDermott to say he was "very concerned" about the receiver. When the Patriots signed Diggs, they had to know they were getting a hassle. They signed on anyway, mainly because he was the only hassle who would have them. Over the past few years, New England has tried to cultivate young receiver talent. When that didn't work, the Patriots tried to trade for Brandon Aiyuk and attempted to sign Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins. Star receivers — even declining or mercurial ones — have avoided New England because of its offensive decline and uncertainty. That's why they turned to Diggs, a 31-year-old wideout who seemed to be in decline even before he tore his ACL last October. Diggs had nowhere else to go. The Patriots had no one else to turn to. This isn't to say that Diggs is without virtue. To this point in his career, it's true he's been a hassle, but he's not a cancer — not even in Buffalo, where Allen and Diggs said constantly that they had a close relationship. Diggs is an enormously hard worker. He was present for practice on Monday and participated in everything except for full-speed competitive drills, an impressive showing for a guy just seven months removed from ACL surgery. He took part in some half-speed walkthroughs and ran routes. He led the wideouts through their receiver drills. "I know he's staying up on the information and the material," Patriots OC Josh McDaniels said of Diggs. "There's so many things and opportunities for us to teach all of our guys going forward, between the rest of the practices here in the spring and then going into the summer and the many days we have before we actually kick the ball off in September. I'm not concerned about Stef in that regard." I get that there's more to the world than football. Kids look up to Diggs, and he let those kids down. We can all acknowledge that a mistake is a mistake. But since we're being honest, celebrities don't often make great role models. It's a waste of energy to act disappointed or even surprised that Diggs is causing a stir. Let go of those pearls, folks. You're holding on too tight. Before joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna . 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
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Love ain't cheap: Here's where Americans splurge — and skimp —on first dates
Romance is in the air — and it's charging by the minute. A new survey has exposed the price tag on first impressions, revealing just how much Americans are shelling out for that all-important first date. And let's just say: folks in the Northeast are dropping dollar bills faster than hearts in a rom-com, as reported by Newsweek. Single people in the Northeast are the biggest spenders, topping the list at $138.40, followed by the West at $133 — while Midwesterners are keeping things humble at $118.50. Nationwide, the average amount people say they'd cough up for a first date is a whopping $125.60 — with regional wallets telling very different love stories. 3 According to the survey and map, Northeasterners came in first at $138.40, then came the West at $133. Midwesterners, however, were more modest at $118.50. U.S. Census Bureau 2021 boundaries And while 34% of Americans opt for the relatively reasonable $51–$100 range, 10% of Northeasterners are willing to dish out $151 to $200, with another 4% fine to blow past $300. But don't confuse spending with sentiment, warns relationship therapist Aly Bullock. How much people spend on a first date '…could also be influenced by the types of activities and restaurants available in your area…' Bullock told Newsweek in a recent interview. Still, that first-date fever comes with financial consequences. 3 Dating isn't cheap — especially in this economy. Syda Productions – The average American has gone on $3,025.12 worth of dates over the past year, according to a 2023 survey conducted by OnePoll in partnership with LELO — with each romantic rendezvous ringing in at around $189. And good luck splitting the check. While 27% of daters alternate tabs, men still overwhelmingly foot the bill (54%) compared to just 12% of women. That gap adds up — especially for Gen Zers, who are leading the love economy with $194 per date and nearly 14 outings per year, according to a February 2025 study by BMO Real Financial Progress Index. This totals a heart-thumping $2,676 annually. Even so, younger singles aren't all-in on pricey meetups — 46% say they feel pressured to plan expensive dates. Bullock warns that breaking the bank too soon could blow up in your face. 'Spending too much can look like love-bombing and set you up for unrealistic expectations in the relationship, and spending nothing can indicate that you're not super excited about making a great impression,' she said to Newsweek. Translation: Don't bring steakhouse energy to a situationship. Singles might be spending less per date than couples, but committed millennial men are the real high-rollers — dropping an average $252 per outing. But as inflation tightens purse strings, many are scaling back — 37% say they'll go on fewer dates this year and 60% are budgeting for love. 3 With prices up and wallets down, romance is on a budget — 37% plan to date less this year, and 60% are putting their love lives on a spending diet. Adobe Stock Luka Matutinovic, chief marketing officer at LELO, says it's time for a reality check. 'In the dynamic landscape of modern relationships, where 'infla-dating' is reshaping connection costs, we encourage couples to redefine their approach to love's expenses,' Matutinovic said in an interview with SWNS. 'Stretch your budget wisely, opting for meaningful moments over extravagant expenses, and watch your relationship thrive without financial strain.'
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Heavy rains in forecast threaten flash flooding across large swath of US
Heavy rains in forecast threaten flash flooding across large swath of US Show Caption Hide Caption Severe storms across the country due to 'omega block' The U.S. is experiencing an 'omega block," which locks in unsettled conditions in some areas while others have extended dry and warm conditions. Widespread heavy rainfall across much of the eastern and southern United States brings the threat of scattered flash flooding and some thunderstorms to close out the week. Nearly 4 million people in the Northeast were under a flood watch from the National Weather Service early on May 8 across parts of New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Flood warnings and advisories are also in place along full streams and rivers after heavy rains in April and early May in states including Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Showers and thunderstorms are expected across a large swath of the country from New England, southwestward through the Ohio Valley, and southeastward along the Gulf Coast all the way into Texas, which has been hammered by repeated rounds of severe storms and flooding, the weather service said. Thunderstorms, hail expected in Southeast Thunderstorms, strong wind gusts and hail over 2 inches in diameter are expected in parts of the Appalachians, Tennessee Valley and Southeast. A "cluster of organized thunderstorms" should develop the afternoon of May 8 over parts of western and central Kentucky, middle Tennessee and the southern Appalachians, the Storm Prediction Center said. It will then move into Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas later in the day. Isolated thunderstorms could also appear in northern Florida, while large hail and damaging wind gusts are forecast across much of Texas throughout the afternoon. Slow-moving rain system to hit south, Gulf Coast states Northeasterners enduring days of rain and flooding threats will see relief by Mother's Day, as a storm system makes its way out through New England and Canada, AccuWeather reported. But there are still days ahead of rain and flood risks coming to the southern United States into next week. The same slow-moving weather system that has brought heavy rains in the central and southern parts of the country in recent days will impact the Gulf Coast states, according to AccuWeather. The rain is expected to drench northern Florida, Alabama, Georgia and parts of the Carolinas over four to five days. See the national forecast map
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Northeast: Burst of warmth to be enjoyed early week, then springtime chill briefly returns
As the second full week of April commences, residents in the Great Lakes region and mid-Atlantic states may be wondering when nicer weather will return to their area. The topsy-turvy pattern typical of the spring months, featuring the winterlike chill balanced with the occasional pleasant day, has been cause for disappointment for some. AccuWeather forecasters note that while some in the Northeast will briefly cash in on some nicer weather, another cold wave will swiftly impact the region. At the start of the new workweek, temperatures will follow an upward trend across portions of the Ohio Valley and Northeast. Widespread afternoon temperatures in the 60s are expected to expand from the major metros of Chicago and Detroit to New York City and Boston. Some locations may even climb upwards of 70 degrees Fahrenheit at the start of the week. "Following a rather cool and dreary week, Northeasterners will be thrilled with the forecast for the early part of the new week, when high pressure will bring a return of sunshine and a nice warming trend," explained AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger. Temperatures on Monday will range between 5 to 15 degrees higher than the tail end of the weekend, reaching a few degrees above typical mid-April values. The pattern that will usher in the warmer weather will also usher in wet conditions for some, forecasters warn. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to arrive later Sunday night into Monday night from the Great Lakes to areas of New England, some of which can even be capable of turning severe. Locations particularly from southern Indiana and northern Kentucky into western Pennsylvania and West Virginia will face some risk of intense storms. Hazards ranging from hailstones and localized damaging wind gusts to even an isolated spin-up can all be on the table from Monday afternoon to Monday evening. Any residents in this corridor, seeing the higher temperatures in the forecast and considering getting outside to tackle some spring yardwork, should stay weather-aware and be mindful of when storms can enter their area. Behind this push of moisture, cooler conditions will follow, briefly bringing an end to the burst of warmth. "Unfortunately, the nicer weather some will experience to start the week will prove to be fleeting, as another cold front will move through in time for midweek. This will knock temperatures back below historical averages in the run-up to Easter weekend," added Deger. From early to midweek, as the front passes through the Ohio Valley and to the Northeast coast, daytime temperatures will dip back into the 40s and the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+ Some spots in the higher terrain are projected to have daytime highs in the 30s during this pattern flip. Overnight temperatures in the lower 30s can pose a risk for any outdoor vegetation and early blooms. As the week progresses, many locations across the Northeast will observe temperatures returning to the 50s and 60s. A separate storm later in the week, into the start of the upcoming weekend, could produce wet conditions for some. Depending on the exact path and speed of the storm, the weather for the upcoming Easter holiday could potentially be mainly dry for some mid-Atlantic and Northeast residents as a zone of high pressure moves in behind the storm. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
