Latest news with #TampaBayBuccaneers
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bisexual ex-NFL star Ryan Russell explains what it really means to 'go both ways'
In 2019, Ryan 'RK' Russell, an NFL veteran who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, made history when he became the first NFL player to come out as bisexual in an article he wrote for ESPN. Since then, he's been a proponent of bisexual equality and is outspoken about his bisexual nature. In a world where bi erasure is a real thing, it's imperative to have people like him as a spokesperson for the community. In a recent TikTok video, Russell addressed the way people viewed bisexuality and broke down how queer culture mirrors sports.'Today, we're going to be talking about how sports culture is queer culture,' he said at the top of the video. He went on to discuss the way people talk about bisexuality, citing how he often hears the term 'goes both ways.' He said the phrase was first introduced to him in the context of sports and athletics, then compared the question to someone like LeBron James, who, 'at the height of his career, was both a devastating defender and an offensive force to be reckoned with.' He then compared that to 'playing both ends of the floor' or 'going both ways.' Later, he mentioned Travis Hunter, a rookie for the Jacksonville Jaguars who's already earned top 10 status in this year's draft. Russell highlighted Hunter's versatility in the sport, saying his value as a player was upped due to his ability to play both defense and offense. 'Unfortunately, when we talk about bisexual people, we don't see it with that same lens,' he continued. 'As if one day I could be waking up and 'playing offense,' then midplay switch to play defense and ruin my own team.' Outside of sports, he said, 'Or, I could be in a relationship with a man and decide, 'Hey, actually today, I want to be in a relationship with a woman,' which, for some people, that's not an issue.' In both sports and queer culture, he said he wanted the idea of 'going both ways' to be 'seen as a value, as added paint to the diverse canvas that is our society.' He closed the video saying, 'So the next time that you think about a bisexual person 'going both ways,' think about them as the all-star of their team.' Check out the full video below: Sports culture is queer culture. If going both ways is elite on the field, it should be celebrated off it too. Bisexuality is strength, versatility, and heart. 🏳️🌈🏈 We couldn't have said it better ourselves. This article originally appeared on Pride: Bisexual ex-NFL star Ryan Russell explains what it really means to 'go both ways'
New York Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Is Raiders LB Devin White ‘back' to being a difference-maker? Raiders camp takeaways
HENDERSON, Nev. — In 2023, Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White was in a dark place. Ahead of what would end up being his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he couldn't seem to catch a break. He was coming off a productive season, but the team declined to give him the contract extension he wanted. White requested a trade, but the Bucs wouldn't move him. Advertisement Then, during the season, he suffered a foot injury that significantly impacted his play. As much as his injury and lagging play on the field bothered him, he was also still reeling from the death of his father, Carlos Thomas, the year before. Thomas was incarcerated when White was a child, so they didn't have much of a relationship. Although they reconnected later in life, they had another falling out. Shortly after they reconciled a second time, Thomas was incarcerated again and died. 'Growing up, you want to be like your dad. That's your role model. And I didn't have that,' White said Tuesday. 'To get something that you never had, and then to get it taken right back from you, it just makes you not care about nothing. I battled that alone. … I didn't really care about football at the time. … It was just a lot going through my head. I was out of it.' White considered stepping away from football, but then he had a conversation with his mother, Coesha Standokes. She told him how proud he was of his accomplishments — graduating from college, supporting his family, winning a Super Bowl and more — but that he didn't have to keep playing football if he didn't want to. Hearing it verbalized sparked something in White. 'When she said that, that just lit a fire under me. Like, 'Give up? That ain't me. That's never been me,'' White said. 'I don't want to feel sorry for myself. I just want to go out there and get back to having fun.' White turned to prayer and therapy to get his mental health in order. Physically, however, his foot remained an issue. That's why he played just seven games last season between the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans. With the Raiders, though, White has found his joy again. He was a first-string linebacker throughout OTAs. And despite the additions of veterans Germaine Pratt and Jamal Adams, he has remained a starter in training camp. Advertisement 'For whatever reasons that it had to happen like that, it did. I'm thankful,' White said. 'I'm just happy to be back smiling, and I know I've got a greater purpose in life.' White had his best practice as a Raider on Tuesday. Early on, during an 11-on-11 red zone drill, he picked off quarterback Geno Smith with a leaping interception. Later, he was sent on a blitz and registered what would've been a sack on Smith. He has been making plays as a run defender, pass defender and blitzer. 'He's back,' Carroll said Tuesday. 'He was on top of the world a few years ago, and then things just didn't work out for one reason or another, but he's back in action now. He came up to me and said, 'I'm all in now,' and he was dead serious in how he said it. And you can see it.' The work's not done for White. He'll still need to fend off Pratt and Adams in the weeks ahead to start in Week 1, but his confidence is clearly there. 'I feel comfortable, I feel healthy, I feel thankful, and I feel hungry,' White said Tuesday. 'Back? I've still got to prove it to the world. … And I've got to prove it to my team every day I step in the building. … 'I think coach P just sees me having a lot of fun with the game again. There's no pressure on me. I'm just going out there and doing what I've been doing my whole life — just having fun. If me having fun on the field with my guys is me being back, then I'm glad to be back.' Here are some other observations from practice. • The coaches are rotating two players at center. Jackson Powers-Johnson handled most of the starting snaps during practice Monday, while Jordan Meredith did the same on Tuesday, when Powers-Johnson lined up with the second team. Meredith started eight games at guard last year, but he has played center in the past. 'These guys are battling for their playing time,' Carroll said. '(Meredith) played really efficiently last year. His numbers and his consistency really showed up, even though you didn't see him as a regular all the time. He opened our eyes in the offseason studies, so we're giving him a shot. JPJ's working his tail off. Both those guys are battling.' Advertisement The rest of the O-line has remained static with Kolton Miller at left tackle, Dylan Parham at left guard, Alex Cappa at right guard and DJ Glaze at right tackle. Powers-Johnson was perceived to be the unquestioned starter at center, so his having to compete is surprising. But the coaching staff genuinely wants to see what Meredith can do at the position. 'He's a really good communicator,' Carroll said of Meredith. 'He's a little bit of a smaller guy, and the position is more adaptable for him; he doesn't line up on the big three-techniques all the time. He can do it. He did it last year. But his power that he generates and then the quickness and the smarts, that combination is what really gives him a chance to compete for this thing.' • The Raiders don't use three-linebacker formations often, but Tommy Eichenberg has gotten first-team reps when they do. The most frequent grouping is Eichenberg, White and Elandon Roberts. Pratt and Adams are both still being brought along slowly. • White's cousin, cornerback Decamerion Richardson, has been the most impressive player at his position this week. He had an interception on Monday and held up well in practice Tuesday. 'He's a dog,' White said. 'I'm very pleased with him. It's in the blood, but I'm not going to let him take any shortcuts. I'm on him all the time. … I know I can push him a little harder because he is family and he knows at the end of the day that it's real love.' • During training camp, the rotation for reps at starting outside cornerback has largely consisted of Richardson, Eric Stokes and Darien Porter. Stokes has been on the field the most, while Porter and Richardson have been rotating frequently. Jakorian Bennett has been the fourth cornerback. Richardson struggled as a rookie but looks a lot more comfortable this year. 'The thing about (Richardson), he works really hard,' defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said Sunday. 'He corrects his mistakes. He has all the tools. He's long, he's fast, he's physical. … I'm just really pleased with the progress he's made from his rookie year to now.' Advertisement • Adam Butler and Jonah Laulu served as the starting defensive tackle tandem. Laulu was a rotational player last year, but the second-year man has an opportunity to carve out a larger role following the release of Christian Wilkins. It has been a quiet couple of days in pads for Laulu, but he feels he's progressing. 'One thing that has changed is my confidence in myself,' Laulu said Tuesday. 'It's happened sometimes where at practice I'll get into a mode where you just feel like nobody can block you. That's something that you can't really coach. That comes from experience. … It's about that feeling of knowing you're about to go whoop this person in front of you.' • Running back Raheem Mostert wasn't at practice Tuesday because his wife is having a baby. That gave Sincere McCormick more reps as the No. 2 back behind Ashton Jeanty. • The offense and defense have been evenly matched throughout training camp, and that hasn't changed since the pads came on. The coaching staff and players view that as a positive. 'It's a battle every day,' Laulu said. 'And then being able to talk about it like, 'Oh, what was that play? What did y'all just do?' … Now, I know how that feels, so I know how to play it better. And they'll ask some things, and I'll tell them what gives it away. Those relationships and building that brotherhood and then also getting each other better is so important.'
USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee Titans training camp: Position battle to watch for Day 5
Will James Williams be a starter on the #Titans defense this year?He snagged a nice pick off Cam Ward today 🔥 #TitanUp(🎥 @Titans on IG) Day 5 of the Tennessee Titans' 2025 training camp will transpire on Tuesday at the Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park, and the competition will continue to heat up as jobs are on the line. With the pads going on for the first time, the battle for the starting inside linebacker position next to Cody Barton could kick into high gear. Early on during practice in shells, second-year linebacker James Williams flashed and has created some buzz. A former college safety, Williams has opened some eyes with his athleticism and ability in coverage, an area that the Titans must improve in 2025. Veteran Otis Reese was widely considered the front-runner to land the starting role opposite Barton, and while he has been steady, he hasn't flashed the big-play potential Williams has displayed in the early stages of camp. Head coach Brian Callahan even spoke on Williams' development during one of the initial media sessions. Asked #Titans Head coach Brian Callahan about James Williams' development at linebacker.... "He's done a really nice job,' Titans coach Brian Callahan said. 'He's matured from his first year to his second. He's starting to understand at the linebacker position, with your eyes and your reads and how quickly you have to diagnose and react, those things have improved leaps and bounds from his first year to his second year. Combine that kind of mental improvement with his maturity, and he's put himself in a really nice position.' While Williams has been a name rising during the initial days of training camp, there is still a long way to go in this competition, and things can change once the physical practices in pads begin. With those practices kicking off on Tuesday, Reese, Cedric Gray, Anfernee Orji, and Curtis Jacobs will receive every chance to compete and stake their claim to that starting role. There is a long way to go in training camp, and with joint practice sessions with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons on the horizon, there will be plenty of opportunities for one of these linebackers to carve out a role in the Titans' defense.
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Watch Benjamin Morrison looking fully healthy for the Buccaneers with a camp pick
Many teams passed up the opportunity to pick Notre Dame star cornerback Benjamin Morrison, as he was finally selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 53 pick of the second round of the NFL draft. While the hip injury ended his final season with the Irish early, it should not have made him drop that far, but it's becoming much clearer that Morrison is healthy and ready to contribute this coming season. It's looking like many of the teams that passed him over will regret that choice. The NFL has already started camp, and on Monday the Bucs shared an interception that he made during a portion of practice. It was a vintage play from the former All-American, as he had the wide receiver in his hip pocket, looked back to find the ball and showed great hands to make the pick. Morrison does look a bit weird wearing the No. 21 jersey, but that doesn't change the fact that he can be a lock-down corner in the NFL. Morrison has all the talent to be one of the best at the highest level, and he should continue to make plays like the one we saw on Monday as he starts his professional career. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Shane Tamura's NYC shooting highlights growing pattern of violence among football players
Shane Tamura, once a promising NFL prospect, met a tragic and violent end this week. Identified as the gunman in Monday's fatal Midtown Manhattan shooting , Tamura died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the 33rd floor of 345 Park Avenue - a building that houses several corporate offices, including NFL headquarters. A native of Las Vegas, Tamura had shown early promise as a football talent, starring at Golden Valley High School before continuing his career at Granada Hills Charter High School in California. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Degree healthcare others Others Data Analytics Finance Cybersecurity Public Policy MBA Artificial Intelligence Management Project Management Digital Marketing MCA CXO Healthcare PGDM Technology Design Thinking Leadership Operations Management Product Management Data Science Data Science Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details ALSO READ: Who was the NYPD officer killed in the Midtown shooting? Tamura's death adds to a troubling pattern of violence involving current and former football players. In recent years, multiple NFL players have been connected to separate shooting incidents, raising alarms within the league and among fans. ALSO READ: Shane Tamura used AR-15 in NYC shooting, America's most deadly gun involved in 10 of the deadliest US massacres since 2012 Live Events From civil lawsuits to criminal charges, these events have intensified scrutiny around player conduct and mental health, especially as the pressures of high-level competition take their toll. Here are some of the most notable criminal incidents involving NFL players: Antonio Brown (Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver) Former NFL star Antonio Brown has been charged with second-degree attempted murder following a shooting outside an amateur boxing event on May 16, 2025 in Miami. According to an arrest warrant, the 36-year-old allegedly took a handgun from a security guard and fired two shots at Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, a man he had fought with earlier. One bullet reportedly grazed the victim's neck. Brown, a former All-Pro receiver, last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. L'Jarius Sneed (Tennessee Titans cornerback) Tennessee Titans defensive back L'Jarius Sneed is facing a $1 million lawsuit from Christian Nshimiyimana, a Texas man who alleges Sneed or his personal assistant fired gunshots at him while he was sitting in a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon on a dealership lot in Carrollton, Texas, on December 6, 2024. Nshimiyimana, who owns an exotic car rental business, was researching vehicles when shots were allegedly fired from a passing Lamborghini Urus. No one was injured in the incident. The lawsuit accuses Sneed of involvement in the shooting, though no criminal charges have been filed. The NFL and Titans are monitoring the situation. Phillip Adams (Former Atlanta Falcons cornerback) On April 7, 2021, former NFL player Phillip Adams fatally shot six people in South Carolina before taking his own life during a standoff with police the following day. He was 32. A post-mortem examination revealed Adams suffered from severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition linked to repeated head trauma and believed to have contributed to his actions. Adams played 78 NFL games over five seasons for six teams. Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round in 2010, he also played for the Patriots, Seahawks, Raiders, Jets, and ended his career with the Falcons in 2015. Aaron Hernandez (Former New England Patriots tight end) Aaron Hernandez, a former New England Patriots tight end, was drafted in the fourth round in 2010 and played three seasons before his career unraveled. In 2013, he was arrested and charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd, a semipro football player and friend who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée. Hernandez was convicted in 2015 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He was also charged in a 2012 double homicide outside a Boston nightclub but was acquitted days before his death. On April 19, 2017, Hernandez was found dead in his prison cell, ruled a suicide. Anthony Wayne Smith (Former Oakland Raiders defensive end) Anthony Wayne Smith, a former first-round NFL draft pick by the Raiders in 1990, played seven seasons with the team in Los Angeles and Oakland. In November 2015, a Los Angeles County jury convicted him of three counts of murder with special circumstances, including torture, kidnapping, and multiple murders. The convictions stemmed from the 1999 abduction and fatal shooting of brothers Kevin and Ricky Nettles, and the 2001 beating and stabbing death of Dennis Henderson. Jurors couldn't reach a verdict on a fourth murder case involving Smith's friend Maurilio Ponce. In January 2016, Smith was sentenced to three life terms without parole.
