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Fox News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
'It's A Real Brotherhood': At Pass Rush Retreat, Top D-Linemen Put Egos Aside
Tempe, Ariz. – My walk from my rideshare service through the parking lot and to the side entrance of the Verde Dickey dome at Arizona State is miserable. It's 115 degrees. I finally push through the pressurized revolving doors to enter an inflatable indoor practice facility, the length of a football field, with bright green turf and stark white lines for the yard markers inside. A gold pitchfork is emblazoned on the field, denoting this is Sun Devil country. But the players littering the field in front of me aren't college kids. I scan from left to right, noticing trainers from the Sports Academy clad in black workout clothes, manual therapists with their tables set up in a row, players wearing all sorts of team-issued gear and B.T. Jordan, milling around and greeting those in attendance like the old friends they are. Jordan's sixth annual Pass Rush Retreat, held at ASU's campus, has become a go-to event for many of the league's top defensive linemen, so much so that they're willing to make the trip to the Valley of the Sun and deal with its sweltering summer heat in order to attend. It has grown since its first year in 2019. Back then, it was just a bunch of nose tackles, the guys in the middle of the defensive line, getting together to go over the nuances of the position no one else understood. "But then Rashan Gary and a couple other defensive ends showed up, anyway," Jordan laughed. Jordan has been a pass rush consultant employed by multiple NFL teams at this stage of his career, including the Seattle Seahawks and, this past season, the Denver Broncos. The Broncos, who had the highest sack rate in the NFL in 2024 and a league-best -105.2 passing EPA. The same team that had the best quarterback pressure rate with a four-man rush last season. Yeah, those Denver Broncos. Jordan has a track record that keeps players like Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark of the Green Bay Packers, Jonathan Greenard of the Minnesota Vikings and L.J. Collier of the Arizona Cardinals coming to the annual Pass Rush Retreat, which also welcomed first-round rookies Mason Graham of the Cleveland Browns and Walter Nolen of the Cardinals this year. It's why the event has grown from 15 nose tackles to over 60 defensive linemen. It's why so many are giving up their precious vacation time to get better and invest in themselves. These events aren't unique to defensive linemen. O-Line Masterminds, hosted by Duke Manyweather in Dallas, is in its eighth year (Our own Ben Arthur was on the scene there). Tight End University, hosted by Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Greg Olsen, just put on its fifth annual event. But there's less fanfare here at the Pass Rush Retreat. It's all about the work. Jordan and I are huddled over in the corner on various pads used in drills. The first part of the day, in which Jordan and his team of trainers led players in individual pass rush drills, is over. There were scattered groups working simultaneously - some tethered to their workout partners with workout band, while others perfecting individual pass rush moves with standup drill dummies, expertly weaving in and out on each repetition. It's easy to look around at the various team logos and get caught up in the fact that on the field, these guys are opponents. They're in a room full of their competition. In a position like defensive end or outside linebacker, those responsible most often for getting to the quarterback, the limelight shines a bit brighter. Individual success means you contributed to your team in the most direct way possible. It's something each of these players' egos crave, even when they say they don't have one. But on a deeper level, lining up on the line of scrimmage as a defender is a shared experience. It's a fraternity. It's something each of these men, who play the position at the highest level, uniquely understands better than anyone else in the world. It's their job to be their best selves, and it's also their responsibility to make each other better and leave the game better than they found it. "It's a real brotherhood," Jordan said. "They want to see each other grow and see each other get paid, see each other dominate. And that's what it's all about. It's just keep pushing each other, giving each other knowledge, and just making it better; helping the position grow." It wasn't just on-field drills that players were signing up for, either. There was a conditioning element, where players worked out together in Arizona State's football weight room. Snacks littered a back counter, looking more reminiscent of a youth summer camp than something for professional athletes. But if you've ever been around an NFL facility, you'd know that none of these guys are far from an Uncrustable or squeezable applesauce. A couple of floors up from the weight room in ASU Football's facility was the team meeting room, which is where players filed in now. It's about 2 p.m. They've been going since about 9 a.m. But they spread out methodically, almost on autopilot from their countless meetings during the season, and settle in to watch film. And there I was, back row, dead center, a literal fly on the wall, surrounded by the NFL's elite speaking a language I was conversational in, at best, but that they all spoke. Jonathan Greenard was first up. A game against the San Francisco 49ers popped up on the giant screen at the front of the room. Before Jordan himself can say anything, Greenard chimes in, narrating his thought process, play in and play out. They weren't all highlight-worthy, either. There were self-critiques coming from Greenard, almost more than any sort of rationalization or even bravado. Players around the room called out from time to time, asking questions, making comments and offering advice. This continued for the Broncos' Jonathan Franklin-Myers and the Browns' Maliek Collins. They oscillated between sage advice and sheepish explanations of mistakes. Any time there was a particularly good play, though, the entire room erupted in hoots and hollers. "Ok, JG!" "God damn!" "I see you, 'Liek!" It was like all that ego I saw on the field just fell out of the room. "Having an event like this where you have other Pro Bowlers, you have other guys with the experience we got in the league, we have a lot of young guys, first-round picks, a lot of good potential," Rashan Gary told me. "You get to learn and pick everybody's brain, but the main part is really coming together, camaraderie. [Some of us] see each other this year on the field. So, yeah, you pop in a little 'ish' here, and then you see them perform on the field. It's like, man, it pays off." The art of the pass rush is a holistic thing. It isn't just about mechanics, or talent, or intelligence or physics, for that matter. It's all of those things together, executed to perfection, with fractions of seconds to read and react. "Pass rushing is really an art," Jordan said. "That's what I kind of figured out. It's a true art, and breaking it down, and taking the guys' weaknesses and trying to make them strengths, taking a strength and making it more of a strength. That's basically all it is. Most coaches, they don't have time to focus on one detail with one player. They have to work on the scheme and everything like that. So me, being a consultant, I'm able to focus on specific details of pass rushing and if you can rush the passer, you get paid in the NFL." You didn't think it was completely altruistic, did you? Events like the Pass Rush Retreat are win-win situations for players looking to get better, and get paid. So while we think of them as competitors, and while they act like it even on a practice field in the middle of the summer by chirping back and forth, at the end of the day, they're more than that. They're brothers. "I love the camaraderie with it," said Gary, one of the biggest talkers on the field of the event. "At the end of the day, it gets us all better. Because if I'm talking at a high level, that means everything I do have to be at a high level. And if not, then the microscope is on me, which I want it to be, because, like I told them, I'm not gonna tell you to do nothing that I won't do myself. And that's what I tell my teammates. So I try to lead by example." Consider the rest of the league, and especially the league's offensive linemen, on notice. Carmen Vitali is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. Carmen had previous stops with The Draft Network and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She spent six seasons with the Bucs, including 2020, which added the title of Super Bowl Champion (and boat-parade participant) to her résumé. You can follow Carmen on Twitter at @CarmieV. 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!
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
QUBT Surges 175% in 3 Months: What's Next as Quantum Race Heats Up?
Quantum Computing Inc. QUBT has emerged as one of 2025's most electrifying deep-tech stories. Shares have skyrocketed 175.7% in the past three months, driven by a mix of operational milestones, bullish investor sentiment on the quantum sector and an aggressive strategic initiative toward commercialization. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Quantum Computing's first-quarter 2025 was also a turning point as the company shifted leadership and moved ahead with key strategic plans. Interim CEO Dr. Yuping Huang took over after Dr. Bill McGann's retirement and reaffirmed QCi's goal of providing practical, low-power, room-temperature photonic quantum machines for real-world use. Huang's appointment ensures steady progress as the company works to expand the market reach of its quantum technology. In Q1, QUBT completed its Quantum Photonic Chip Foundry in Tempe, enabling in-house production of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) circuits for AI, telecom, and quantum applications. With its fifth customer order secured and discussions underway for a second fab, QCi expects revenue acceleration in 2026 as demand continues to grow. What's Next? Quantum Computing plans to focus on scaling up its foundry operations, with meaningful revenues expected in 2026 as testing and onboarding give way to larger orders. Commercial growth will depend on converting interest from industrial sectors like automotive and aerospace into sales, while expanding the team to support global go-to-market efforts. Plans for a second fab (Fab 2) are underway, aimed at boosting capacity to meet rising demand across AI, telecom, and quantum markets. With sector momentum rising, fueled by NVIDIA's NVDA bullish quantum outlook, QUBT is well-positioned. However, execution, dilution risk and peer competition remain key watchpoints. Yet, Competitive Pressure Intensifies D-Wave Quantum QBTS: The company is gaining strong commercial momentum, reporting a 509% year-over-year revenue increase, positioning it as one of the top-performing quantum stocks this year. Its cloud-accessible Advantage2 system, equipped with over 4,400 qubits, reinforces its leadership in quantum annealing. The company is also expanding into gate-model computing and has secured $400 million to fuel growth and strategic acquisitions. With major partners like Mastercard and Ford, along with a growing patent portfolio, D-Wave is emerging as a formidable competitor in real-world quantum optimization. IonQ IONQ: It is accelerating its leadership in trapped-ion quantum computing through strategic moves, including the acquisition of Lightsynq to boost photonic interconnects and a $1.075 billion deal to acquire Oxford Ionics to advance modular, high-fidelity systems. Backed by the Texas Quantum Initiative and expanding cloud integrations, IonQ is positioning itself for fault-tolerant computing and quantum networking, directly challenging QUBT as both companies scale in photonics and communication technologies. Average Target Price for QUBT Suggests Limited Upside Based on short-term price targets, Quantum Computing is currently trading 2.3% above its average Zacks price target. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) : Free Stock Analysis Report IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
Disturbing theory after dancer, 22, found tortured to death with bleach poured down neck ‘confirms' family's worst fear
A MAN charged with armed robbery in a case involving dancer Mercedes Vega is now being linked to her murder - two years after she was found inside a burning car. In April 2023, Vega's remains were found inside the vehicle and her face had been covered in bleach after being kidnapped. 4 4 The dancer had planned to meet her friend having left her Tempe, Arizona, flat but never arrived. In 2020, Vega was ambushed by a masked gunman who ordered her to hand over her possessions. The gunman allegedly threatened to kill the Phoenix dancer after she was shoved to the ground. Cudjoe Young was charged with armed robbery and Vega named him as the suspect, as reported by NBC News. She was supposed to take the stand at court on the day she was found dead. Now Maricopa County cops believe Young should be charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Vega's mom, Erika Pillsbury, has since welcomed the verdict. 'We've been thrown a life preserver,' she said. She told how her family had been 'drowning' in what she described as a 'sea of despair.' Young tried to hack into Vega's phone after snatching her device. Mercedes Vega's family break silence with desperate plea months after body of woman, 22, found in a burning car But, he couldn't get into it as she didn't have facial recognition enabled. Vega named Cudjoe after identifying him in the line-up. Pillsbury told how the ordeal left Vega distraught. She ended up moving to a new apartment. Cudjoe pleaded not guilty over the armed robbery charges. Meanwhile, two other men have been charged in connection with Vega's death. Jared Gray, who is holed up in a Georgia jail, faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges. Another suspect, Sencere Hayes has also been charged with her murder. Hayes pleaded not guilty. Hayes told cops he knew Gray. But, Gray denied knowing the two other men. Vega, a former strip club dancer, vanished after leaving her apartment on April 16, 2023. But, she was found inside a burning car - around 60 miles from her Phoenix home. The vehicle was a different one than Vega's car that was abandoned. Cops discovered blood on the front passenger seat. Investigators suspected she had been assaulted before being kidnapped as reported by Arizona Republic. A purse was also found and underneath it was a grocery store bag covered in blood. CHILLING TEXT Cops also made more chilling discoveries when they searched inside the car. A pair of gloves and some bleach were found, and there was lighter fluid in the back. On the day Vega was last seen, she messaged her friend, Jelena Gamboa, who she was planning to meet. In the text message, she included a crying emoji. 'Uber is $60,' Vega wrote. She then told Gamboa the cost seemed a sign she shouldn't go out. Hayes risks facing the death penalty if he's convicted of Vega's murder. 4
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cierra Ortega controversy: Why did Cierra get kicked off 'Love Island'?
Cierra Ortega has suddenly left the "Love Island USA" villa a week before the finale. The Arizona bombshell entered Season 7 on Day 2 and was coupled up with Nicolas "Nic" Vansteenberghe, a 24-year-old registered nurse and model from Jacksonville, Florida. Cierra and Nic were the first and only couple on the Island, at the time of Episode 25, to have become closed off. Nic is now "officially single" after Cierra was abruptly removed from the show due to "a personal situation." Here's what happened to Cierra on "Love Island USA," why Cierra was sent home and what Cierra said. During "Love Island USA" Season 7 Episode 30, narrator Iain Stirling announced that "Cierra has left the villa due to a personal situation." Cierra was abruptly removed from "Love Island USA" due to "a personal situation." The marketing professional from Phoenix was recently getting a lot of backlash due to Instagram stories and posts with racial slurs that had resurfaced. Similar to former Islander Yulissa, Cierra may have been removed due to racial slurs she used against East Asian people. When describing her Botox on her social media, Cierra said she loved how it made her eyes look and used a derogatory racial slur aimed at Asian people. She used that same slur in a 2015 Instagram post of herself at the top of "A" Mountain in Tempe. The word Cierra used originated in the 19th century as a racial slur against people of Chinese descent. It was intended to insult someone's appearance, particularly their eyes. It's now more broadly used against people of Asian descent. Cierra's family commented on the situation on Cierra's Instagram account. "We're not here to justify or ignore what's surfaced," the Instagram story from her account @ on July 6 states. "We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters. But what's happening online right now has gone far beyond that." They went on to say that the threats, cruel messages and attacks on her family, friends and supporters are heartbreaking and uncalled for, no matter the mistake. "While Cierra is not in the villa anymore, she is still away," the story said. "She hasn't had the chance to process any of this or speak for herself. But we know our daughter. We know her heart. And when she returns, we believe she'll face this with honesty, growth, and grace." Former Islander Belle-A shared a story on Sunday, July 6, as well. "As a proud Asian American woman, I'm deeply appreciative of the Love Island USA producers for taking a stand and making it clear that racism of any kind is not tolerated," Belle-A wrote. "When I first saw what my fellow Islander said on their social media pages, I was incredibly heartbroken. But I wanted to wait until they left the villa and were able to address the situation, genuinely apologize and commit to learning from the experience before deciding how our relationship would look moving forward." But as more screenshots surfaced, she wrote, she could no longer support this person and unfollowed them. And she said she hoped the situation would help shed light on the issue of anti-Asian hate. Cierra is 25 years old. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2021 with a degree in Care, Health, Society, a minor in Business Administration and in Fashion and Retail Consumer Sciences. When does 'Love Island USA' end: When is the 'Love Island USA' finale 2025? You can stream "Love Island USA" 2025 exclusively on Peacock. A premium monthly plan on Peacock costs $7.99, or there is a deal for a premium annual plan at $24.99 for one year. The premium plus plan, which is ad-free, costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 a year. Reach the reporter at Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Bluesky @ Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What did Cierra from 'Love Island' say? Why she left the villa
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Police arrest a Grubhub driver then finish a pizza delivery for him
This food delivery gets five stars after police stepped in to finish up after they arrested the delivery driver. "The order was Hot-N-Ready, and the suspect was Caught-N-Steady," the police department said in a post on X. "We're committed to serving our community 24/7—whether it's safety or pizza delivery!" Bodycam footage shows police from the Tempe Police Department in Arizona arrest the driver, who was delivering what appears to be Little Caesars Pizza while driving for Grubhub, according to Storyful. They then delivered the pizza to its very surprised recipient." "I really appreciate the pizza," the recipient said when police showed up at her door. More news: Chipotle brings back viral avocado-inspired lip stain: Here's how to buy it Bodycam footage shows police arresting the driver, checking his phone, which had the map displayed, then two officers delivering the food to its waiting recipient. "Your Grubhub guy got arrested, so still delivered your pizza," one of the officers stated. The other officer said the pizza "still should be warm." The driver was arrested during a routine traffic stop during the Fourth of July weekend, according to Storyful. Police did not state why the driver was arrested in their post. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police finish pizza delivery after Grubhub driver arrested: Video
