Latest news with #VanNess
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Packers' Matt LaFleur reveals intriguing experiment
The post Packers' Matt LaFleur reveals intriguing experiment appeared first on ClutchPoints. Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur just revealed an intriguing experiment his team is participating in. The franchise is coming off another encouraging season, which saw it make the playoffs again. LaFleur has now led Green Bay to the postseason in five out of his six years in charge. Advertisement However, last year ended in somewhat disappointing fashion with a Wild Card round loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers now look forward to a 2025 season in which they aim to take that next championship-level step. And this team is already taking some big swings with certain players. LaFleur recently detailed to Packers Wire editor Zach Kruse what the team is doing with defensive end Lukas Van Ness. Kruse additionally broke down the 23-year-old's background with the franchise and why this bold move should likely pay off. 'Van Ness, a first-round pick from the 2023 draft, got reps inside as a rusher during Tuesday's team periods at OTAs, and coach Matt LaFleur said the Packers could use Van Ness there at specific times during the regular season. Advertisement ''I think, situationally, you can do that (play Van Ness inside),' LaFleur said. 'In known passing situations there's some thought around that. A lot of it is going to be dependent upon everyone else as well. Lukas has shown a lot of growth. I'm excited to see him once we get pads on.' 'According to PFF's tracking data, Van Ness played only 20 snaps as an interior player during the 2024 season and just three as a rookie in 2023. But the former Iowa Hawkeye isn't lacking experience inside—Van Ness was used primarily as an interior rusher during his first collegiate season before moving to the edge in 2022.' A legit interior pass rush can completely blow a game up against any opponent. Van Ness has seven career sacks to his name, but it seems like there is another level to his game. At 6-foot-5, 272 pounds with a 4.58 40-yard dash time, the 2023 No. 13 overall pick could be due for a breakout year in 2025 with a change upfront. Overall, expectations are suitably high for the Packers despite a daunting schedule. Matchups against the nine playoff teams from last season are looming, and there will be plenty of potent offenses to boot. This franchise has been building the right way in the post-Aaron Rodgers era for years now. It's time to take that next step.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawsuit: Ex-Tennessee funeral director continued to exploit grieving immigrant families
The exterior of Saddler Funeral Home in Lebanon, one of two funeral homes at which Reid Van Ness was storing bodies he had promised to send to other countries. (Photo: John Partipilo) A Tennessee funeral director surrendered his license in 2020 after multiple complaints alleging he took money from immigrant families then failed to ship the remains of loved ones overseas for burial. Now, new legal filings in an ongoing federal lawsuit show the state's Department of Commerce and Insurance has received a 'litany of complaints' against Reid Van Ness for failing to deliver on promised funeral services to Spanish-speaking residents of Tennessee and Kentucky in the years after losing his license. Van Ness, the subject of a 2021 Tennessee Lookout investigation, was among a small number of Spanish-speaking funeral directors in Tennessee who offered services to families seeking to ship bodies for burial overseas. A Tennessee funeral director made promises to immigrant families; he didn't deliver The Lookout investigation found that Van Ness had instead left multiple bodies to decay in coolers in Middle Tennessee funeral homes for periods that ranged between two to 11 months while family members frantically pressed him for information about their loved ones' whereabouts. He falsified shipping documents, stopped answering families' calls and left some families waiting for months to bury family members, state records showed. Among the grieving and distraught families were the parents of an 18-month old infant who died in a Nashville hospital and the mother of a 17-year-old boy who died by suicide. At least five families filed suit against Van Ness and four funeral homes that agreed to store bodies for him. A state consumer alert issued in 2021 urged residents to report Van Ness to law enforcement after complaints he was approaching Spanish-speaking residents in Rutherford County to offer funeral services. Murfreesboro mortuary settles suit in corpse 'abuse' case Van Ness is now fighting the state in federal court to be able to continue to provide volunteer funeral service, arguing he has a First Amendment right to serve as a 'community death care advocate.' Van Ness claimed the state's Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers is illegally trying to restrict his freedom of religion by prohibiting him from participating in funeral services. He says he serves as a volunteer – a claim that is contrary to the complaints the board says it has received that Van Ness has accepted payment for his services. Van Ness 'is part of a growing national movement rethinking the practices, customs, and approaches surrounding death,' the lawsuit said. 'Mr. Van Ness shares his knowledge about end-of-life options with families to help them put their own end-of-life plan in place that is best for them and their loved ones. By engaging in these difficult but important conversation(s), he can give families the practical, emotional, and nontechnical support that funeral directors do not typically provide,' the lawsuit said. Lawsuits pile up against former funeral director An attorney representing Van Ness could not be reached for comment about the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, which oversees the state's funeral board, declined to comment on ongoing litigation. In their legal response, the Department of Commerce and Insurance noted it had received complaints about Van Ness accepting payments for bungled funeral services between 2021 and 2023 after he had surrendered his license. In 2022, the state funeral board warned Van Ness he could not speak to consumers seeking funeral services, medical examiners, or undertake any actions relating to providing funeral, embalming or securing grave plots in Tennessee. But throughout 2022 and 2023 the state's funeral board 'obtained evidence of various instances of Van Ness: accepting payment to arrange, manage, and perform funeral directing services; requesting to embalm and prepare loved ones of the deceased…and holding himself out as a licensed funeral director under another individual's name.' The lawsuit is scheduled for trial in June 2026. Reid Van Ness
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Winners And Losers From The Packers' Memorable Draft Weekend
Green Bay Packers fans had a lot to celebrate during an unforgettable weekend. The Green Bay Packers threw a three-day party in the NFL's smallest city over the weekend. And the good times could carry over to the field in 2025. Green Bay hosted the NFL Draft for the first time ever, and it was a smashing success. On top of it, the Packers appeared to have a highly productive draft, with the wide receiver and offensive line groups benefitting the most. Here are Green Bay's winners and losers from draft weekend. Green Bay's wideouts simply weren't good enough in 2024. According to Pro Football Reference, the Packers had the third-highest number of drops in football last season (33) and the second-highest drop rate (6.9%). 'To be honest with you … we had a ton of drops, and that's an area that we have to clean up,' head coach Matt LaFleur said. So general manager Brian Gutekunst spent a first round draft pick on wideout Matthew Golden and a third rounder of receiver Savion Williams. Golden will almost certainly play immediately, while the Packers will carve out a role for Williams as the season unfolds. In two short days, the talent around Love improved dramatically. Wicks, who's entering his third season in 2025, was an enormous disappointment in 2024. Wicks led the Packers in targets (76), but was just fourth in receptions (39) and fourth in receiving yards (415). His catch rate of 51.3% was the second worst in football among wideouts. With the additions of Golden and Williams, someone in the wide receiver room is going to lose snaps. The best guess is the inconsistent Wicks could fade to black. 'It's going to be really competitive to get on the field and get snaps and get targets and all those things,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said. 'But that's the way you want to want it, right?' Many anticipated the Packers would take a defensive end, or two, early in the draft. Instead, Green Bay didn't address the position until Round 4. That means Van Ness will be given every chance to prove he's not a bust. Van Ness, a first round draft pick in 2023, had four sacks, 10 quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss as a rookie. Many expected Van Ness to take a major jump in 2024, but he finished with three sacks, six quarterback hits and six tackles for loss. In bypassing a defensive end the first three rounds, the Packers largely told Van Ness they believe he can still live up to his first round billing. Now, he must go prove it. 'My expectations are always going to be higher for myself than anybody else and I've naturally always been that way,' Van Ness said. 'I'm hard on myself, but that ultimately is what pushes me and drives me to be a great player. So, my mindset isn't going to change. Green Bay used its second round draft pick on offensive lineman Anthony Belton, who can play both tackle and guard. After the draft, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said they'd like to find out if Belton can play left tackle. 'With his size and length, you certainly want to see if he can do tackle, and he has all the athletic ability to do that,' Gutekunst said. Earlier this offseason, Gutekunst said Jordan Morgan — Green Bay's 2024 first round draft pick — would battle for the left tackle job in training camp. So where does that leave Walker, who has been Green Bay's left tackle the last two years? Walker will certainly get the chance to fight for his job during training camp. But Walker becomes a free agent after this season, and the Packers' recent moves suggest they're unlikely to give him a second contract. Many expected the Packers would draft a cornerback in the early rounds to upgrade a solid, but far from spectacular group. Instead, Green Bay didn't draft a corner until it took Micah Robinson in Round 7. So for now anyhow, the Packers are all in on the trio of Nixon, Hobbs and Valentine. 'We feel pretty good about our group right now,' Gutekunst said. 'The guys that we have in that room, they've got some pelts on the wall, so to speak, as far as what they've been able to do in the National Football League.' The city of Green Bay shined as it hosted the NFL Draft for the first time ever. And the NFL should have been ecstatic with how things unfolded in one of football's meccas. Approximately 600,000 people attended the draft over the three days — and that included a rain-soaked afternoon on Friday. The first round on Thursday drew a reported 205,000. Friday's second day drew 175,000, and on a sun-splashed Saturday, the crowd was estimated at a three-day high of 220,000. Fans capped off the weekend with a concert by country star Brad Paisley. 'What an atmosphere, having the draft here,' Gutekunst said. 'There's so many cool things that happened that quite frankly I didn't expect. Yeah, I thought it might just be a nuisance but it was such a cool environment, such a cool thing.' Detroit set the attendance record of 775,000 last year. Green Bay's total of 600,000 fans tied Nashville, Tenn. (2019) for the second-largest total ever. Traffic in the NFL's smallest city wasn't an issue. Crowds were festive — but peaceful. And the three-day party couldn't have gone much better. Green Bay showed it could handle an enormous like the draft, and deserves consideration to host again one day. 'I thought as far as the operation, I can't imagine any NFL draft being better than the one we hosted here,' LaFleur said. 'What a great experience. Some really cool moments.'
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Healthy, Healed Van Ness Hoping For Breakout Season With Packers
Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness (90) celebrates after sacking Tennessee's Will Levis ... More last season. Lukas Van Ness isn't into excuses. Only realities. And the cold hard truth is Van Ness — the Green Bay Packers' first round draft pick in 2023 — was severely hampered by the broken right thumb he played with last season. Many expected Van Ness to take a major jump in 2024. Instead, the defensive end had three sacks, six quarterback hits and six tackles for loss in Year 2 after posting four sacks, 10 quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss as a rookie. That mediocre production has led many to speculate that Van Ness is on the 'Hot Seat' in 2025. Time will tell there. What the 23-year-old Van Ness knows is that he's healthy today. He didn't need offseason surgery. Just rest and physical therapy. And now that Van Ness is fully recovered, he's giddy about what awaits. 'Physically I feel fantastic,' Van Ness said Wednesday during the Packers' annual Tailgate Tour across Wisconsin. 'I was dealing with the thumb a lot last year, so I was able to get that back in the offseason and I'm feeling great. I can't wait for this season.' To protect his broken thumb last year, Van Ness lined up almost exclusively on the right side. That meant Van Ness worked against strictly left tackles, who are typically the best pass blockers on the offensive line. This season, Van Ness should be able to flip-flop spots with fellow defensive end Rashan Gary throughout a game and could draw more favorable matchups. 'I was really limited last year,' said Van Ness, the 13th overall pick in 2023. 'I could only play on the right side for the most part, due to this broken thumb. Now I can flip back and play on both sides of the defensive line, which I'm really excited about.' There remains a lot to be excited about when it comes to Van Ness, a physical marvel nicknamed 'Hercules.' Van Ness ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds coming out of Iowa at the 2023 NFL Combine. He had the largest hands (11 inches) in the defensive line group that year. His arms are an impressive 34 inches long. And he won't turn 24 until later this summer. Things have been challenging in Green Bay, though. Van Ness was a standup outside linebacker as a rookie in 2023, after playing with his hand on the ground at Iowa. The Packers switched from a 3-4 front to a 4-3 base last year, though, meaning Van Ness went back to playing as a traditional defensive end. Then, the thumb injury added a new set of challenges. There's no doubt, though, that the Packers needed more from Van Ness in 2024, meaning 2025 becomes a critical year in his development. 'It's important for all our guys, including Lukas,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at this year's NFL Combine. 'Again, we talked a little bit about we need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players, and Lukas is a big part of that. He does everything he can. He's everything you want in a professional as far as his work ethic and what he puts into it, and I expect him to take a big jump this year.' Green Bay holds the 23rd pick in the first round of this year's draft. And the Packers could certainly take another defensive lineman, a position where they lack depth. No matter what happens, Van Ness believes he's ready for bigger and better things. As seven current and former Packer players spoke to a group college students at Waukesha County Technical College as part of their annual tour Wednesday, team president Mark Murphy talked about the toughness Van Ness has displayed and called him a 'great player.' Van Ness is excited to try proving Murphy right this upcoming season. And if that happens, Green Bay's defense — which ranked sixth overall and sixth in points allowed last season — could take another step forward. 'My expectations are always going to be higher for myself than anybody else and I've naturally always been that way,' Van Ness said. 'I'm hard on myself, but that ultimately is what pushes me and drives me to be a great player. So, my mindset isn't going to change. I've still got to come to work, compete for my job, compete for a starting spot and I'm excited to do that this upcoming year.'
New York Times
04-04-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Most Wearables Prompt You to Move More. This One Helps You Avoid Overdoing It.
The signature symptom of long COVID and ME/CFS is post-exertional malaise—a worsening of symptoms following overexertion. Post-exertional malaise is under-recognized and poorly understood among medical experts, but a few key clues indicate what is happening. One way researchers study post-exertional malaise is by using a two-day cardiopulmonary-exercise test, in which patients exercise to exhaustion twice in two days. During the second day of exercise testing, by which point a patient's post-exertional malaise has likely been triggered, the patient reaches their anaerobic threshold, which is when the body is unable to efficiently produce energy, sooner (while doing less work than on the first day). 'It's very difficult to recover from periods of time that are spent above the anaerobic threshold,' says Mark Van Ness, a professor of health and exercise sciences at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, who studies post-exertional malaise but is not associated with Visible. Patients with post-exertional malaise can exceed their anaerobic threshold while doing seemingly basic tasks, such as cooking dinner or showering. 'If you're doing that throughout the day, that wears you down,' Van Ness says. In practical terms, this means that the more patients push themselves, the worse their conditions can get. Although pacing hasn't been widely studied, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommend it as a primary tool for managing the symptoms of ME/CFS, while patient surveys report it to be one of the more effective treatment strategies. The goal is for a person to stay within their personal energy limits in order to avoid crashes. 'It's amazing how much higher my quality of life can be when I stay on the right side of the line,' says Julia Moore Vogel, a researcher at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, who developed long COVID after an infection in 2020. Moore Vogel, who now studies the use of wearable tech in managing chronic illnesses, is not associated with Visible. (She manages her symptoms with the help of fitness trackers from Fitbit and Garmin.) Synced to a heart-rate monitor worn around the arm, the Visible app offers continuous heart monitoring, with personalized alerts to help prevent overexertion. Heart rate is divided into three zones: rest, activity, and exertion. The app estimates total energy expenditure using the company's proprietary PacePoints system. Visible Health Visible users who have had a two-day cardiopulmonary-exercise test can customize their heart-rate limits in the app. For those who haven't, the app recommends a starting heart-rate limit based on factors such as resting heart rate and manually recorded symptom severity. The app is programmed to alert you when your heart rate goes above your set limit. It also tracks resting heart rate and heart-rate variability, which it measures in the morning (just after you wake up) and uses to calculate a 'morning stability score.' In a 2024 study involving 4,244 Visible users, a team of researchers at Visible, New York University, Yale University, and the University of Oxford, among other institutions, found that increases in resting heart rate and decreases in heart-rate variability are associated with flare-ups in symptoms. The team published these results in a preprint and plans to submit the work for peer review. This pacing system has some limitations. To help account for other factors that can contribute to overexertion, the app offers a manual-tracking option for cognitive and emotional exertion, as well as for other symptom tracking.
