Latest news with #Westfield
New York Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Colts' Charvarius Ward opens up on 49ers exit: ‘Mentally, I was somewhere off the grid'
WESTFIELD, Ind. — When Charvarius Ward gets into a groove, his energy and enthusiasm are palpable. In those moments, the ball-hawking cornerback known as 'Mooney' has a sunny disposition that permeates the practice field, even amid the grind of training camp. Such was the case last Friday as Ward, the Indianapolis Colts' prized free-agent signee of the 2025 offseason, leaned back against a chain-link fence bordering the practice field following the team's third workout of the summer and provided an unprompted assessment of his new fit. Advertisement 'The blue looks good on me — obviously,' Ward said while gripping his practice jersey and grinning broadly. Then Ward went ahead and answered the question he knew was coming: 'I'm doing good, man — physically, mentally and emotionally. I'm doing way better than what I was. At first, it was hard to see the light at the end of that tunnel, but I kind of got my joy back, my happiness back, my smile back, and everything like that. I've got a lot of optimism right now.' Ward, a second-team All-Pro in 2023, is coming off a traumatic season that transcended his football-related frustrations. Last October, Ward's daughter, Amani Joy, died shortly before her second birthday. Though Amani was born with Down syndrome and a heart defect that required surgery, her death was sudden and unexpected. Ward, understandably, went into a dark place as he and Amani's mother, Monique Cook, mourned their loss while awaiting the birth of their son (Charvarius Jr.) in December. When he returned to the San Francisco 49ers after missing three games, Ward was a broken man. 'Once I came back,' he said, 'every game after that, I was just like, 'I don't give a f— what happens. I don't care if I win this rep; I don't care if I lose this rep.' I was there physically, but mentally, I was somewhere off the grid, off the globe.' As he tries to move forward, fresh off a three-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Colts last March and his engagement to Cook earlier this month, Ward, 28, is motivated to help the Colts reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020. His current mindset stands in stark contrast to the one he carried into the 2024 campaign. Coming off an overtime defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, the 49ers made a final stab at keeping their collection of high-priced veterans together, ultimately giving out a slew of big-money extensions. Ward, after a career year in which he led the NFL with 23 passes defensed, wanted a raise, too. When 49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear that wouldn't be happening, instead allowing Ward to play out the final year of his contract, he didn't take it well. Advertisement 'Even before everything happened with my baby, I really wasn't super motivated,' Ward admitted. 'Because after the year I had in '23, I wanted a contract extension — because I wanted to stay — and I knew I wasn't getting a contract offer. They came to me and kind of told me what it was, 'cause they had (other) people to pay. So it kind of had me in my feelings a little bit. I just never made it public. 'I was hurt when I realized I wasn't getting a contract extension or even an offer for an extension. So, I wasn't motivated; like, from OTAs all the way through camp, I was kind of pissed off. I knew when the season started it was a wrap for me in the Bay.' Ward, who had core muscle surgery shortly after the Super Bowl, was further perturbed by the fact that running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams all received lucrative extensions after skipping team activities. (McCaffrey stayed away from voluntary OTAs; Aiyuk staged a training camp 'hold in' and didn't practice, citing a back injury; Williams held out until shortly before the start of the regular season.) 'There was a lot going on, bro,' he said. 'Because if you're winning, s—, everybody wants to get paid. Everybody feels it. Everybody feels that when certain guys are not around and certain guys are around but not participating. Like, I was there. I had surgery after the season under the advice of them, and I was rehabbing with them. I had (been) All-Pro, too, and I didn't get paid so I was like, 'What the f—?' Like, people are not showing up and getting paid, and I wasn't. 'So, it definitely made me feel some type of way. That type of stuff, it does take a toll on the whole team.' The 49ers, after three consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances, struggled from the start in 2024, ultimately finishing last in the NFC West with a 6-11 record. During a 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium in late October, Ward began to snap out of his malaise. 'When that Cowboys game came, I was like, 'OK, I'm gonna start back balling, get back in my AP (All-Pro) bag.' I was covering good, playing hard. Then boom, the next day, the personal situation (Amani's death) happened. And that just made it a hundred times worse.' Advertisement Ward never made it personal with Lynch and Shanahan. 'They kept it real all year,' he said. 'They never hid anything from me, so that's why I respect those guys. It's all love.' He remains on good terms with both men, who congratulated him via FaceTime shortly after he signed with the Colts. Though he didn't get the answers he wanted during the 2024 offseason, Ward understood his bosses' perspective. Lynch and Shanahan planned to sign quarterback Brock Purdy to a massive extension after the season. They also prioritized cornerback Deommodore Lenoir over Ward, signing the 25-year-old to a five-year, $92 million extension last November, while Ward was away from the team. 'Obviously quarterback is way more important than a corner,' Ward said. 'And they got Demo (Lenoir), so … I mean, you know, they drafted him, and he's younger than me. They probably like Demo a little bit better. He's a little more physical and aggressive than me. I can lock anybody down. Kyle and John, they want head-busters. I mean, I'm not mad. He got what he deserved. All-Pros don't grow on trees, though.' When Ward returned to the team following his daughter's death, he clearly wasn't right. He played in five of San Francisco's final six games, all but one of them losses, but quickly regretted his decision to come back. After the mid-December defeat to the Los Angeles Rams that essentially killed the Niners' playoff hopes, Ward told me, 'It's been hard for me personally to go to work every day, every game — even to practice or go to meetings. I almost left a couple of times. S— , I know fans probably hate me (for saying that), but f— it, it's real life.' Nonetheless, Ward stayed, dissuaded by the financial ramifications of possibly losing game checks if he left without the organization's blessing. 'I feel like I shouldn't have come back,' he said. '(Initially) I didn't want to come back. I thought I was going to be able to (return to the field), but once I came back, I tried to leave again. But I wasn't going to get paid. So, I had to make my money.' (A 49ers source said the team remained supportive of Ward throughout the tragic ordeal.) Advertisement 'I just tried to tough it out,' Ward said. 'All those games after I came back, I gave zero f—-, to be honest. I didn't really care about being coached. Anytime I got a coaching point, I was like, 'F— it, I don't care.'' Ward isn't necessarily proud of that; he's just being real about his grief. 'You can say you'd do this and do that,' he said, 'but till you go through a situation like that, you would never understand what it feels to feel like that. It's like, you don't always want to be here. It's like, 'Take me instead of my child.'' As he headed into free agency for the second time — Ward, after four years with the Chiefs, signed a three-year deal with the 49ers in 2022 — the former undrafted free agent sought a fresh start. He wanted to feel wanted. And, of course, he wanted to get paid. The Colts and New Orleans Saints (whose newly hired defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley, was on Shanahan's staff in 2024) both obliged, with each team making a strong push for his services. All the above. — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) June 18, 2025 'Did I really have to watch tape?' Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo asked rhetorically before Friday's training camp practice. 'I did, obviously, but it just confirmed what I already knew. He's a premier corner — a tall guy who can run with length, is smart, and has great ball skills. I'm a huge fan.' Ward is determined to 'go out there and repay' the Colts by playing at a high level — and by helping to set a standard of excellence that his younger, less seasoned teammates can emulate. Indy's financial commitment is especially resonant given what he went through in 2024. 'You want to feel wanted,' he said, referring to the way his 49ers tenure ended. 'You want to feel like those guys want you to play for them like no matter what. Like, 'We'll pay you whatever to keep you around.' It's about the money, but it's not about the money at the same time. It's kind of like a respect thing. 'If you want me to be the best corner in the world, to follow the best receiver around, that's a hard-ass job to do. So obviously I'm gonna want to be compensated. 'Cause I'm gonna be stressed out every f—ing day trying to cover these good-ass receivers.' It's early, but Ward has already made a strong impression. 'I've seen him make a lot of plays and also, I see him being perfect on the (practice) field as far as the technique,' said Colts safety Cam Bynum, another of the team's marquee free-agent signees. 'He's a lockdown corner. His mindset is good. He's focused. But he also has fun. I like playing with those types of guys.' Advertisement Ward's state of mind was buoyed by his engagement to Cook, which occurred after he pulled off an elaborate surprise. After telling Cook that he was planning a party near their Dallas-area home to celebrate the end of the offseason, he staged a conspicuous proposal in front of family and friends with the help of R&B singer Fridayy, who sang two of his songs — 'When It Comes to You' and 'Baddest in the Room' — to punctuate the moment. 'She was totally caught off guard, totally shocked,' Ward said. 'And she hasn't stopped smiling since then. I've been wanting to do it for a while, because this is like the first time in my life where I was ever scared to lose a woman. Like, when I was working out this offseason, I'd tell her, 'Come to the field with me, come run around the track while I'm working out.' I just want her with me all the time. Because we've been through the highs of the highs, and obviously the lowest of the lowest. She stuck by my side and I stuck by her side.' Now, Ward and his fiancée — and 7-month-old Mooney Jr. who, according to his father, is in the 99th percentile in terms of height and weight for his age — will try to come out the other side of their unimaginable heartbreak. Obviously, it's an ongoing process. 'I'm still bouncing back from it, man,' Ward said. Part of the healing process, he hopes, can include a return to the level of play he displayed in 2023. 'I'm in my AP bag,' he insisted, forecasting another All-Pro selection. 'I'm gonna try to speak it into existence.'
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Dangerous and predatory': 62yo followed group of young girls through Bondi for 3 days
A 62-year-old man had a ' clear modus operandi' when he stalked a group of 12-year-old girls for three days after sitting next to them at Westfield Bondi Junction McDonald's, court documents have revealed. Mark Coker, a stranger to the young girls, was sentenced to a community corrections order of 12 months and fined $220 in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday after he was found to have followed the girls through Bondi earlier this year. A community corrections order is a term of imprisonment served in the community. Court documents obtained by revealed how police argued against Coker's bail, which was granted, calling him a 'repeat offender' and labelling his actions 'dangerous and predatory'. 'Police hold extreme concern that the accused will continue to reoffend and target further children,' the documents state. 'The accused committed these acts over a span of three days with a clear modus operandi.' The police facts detailed how on January 24, Coker sat next to the girls as they ate at Bondi Westfield McDonald's and 'giggled along' as they spoke to each other. Court documents state that Coker 'left the dining area and waved at the victims' and yelled out: 'Bye guys'. He then followed the group through Westfield, making the girls 'uncomfortable' with the group quickly rushing down an escalator into a store. On January 25 at 6pm, Coker blocked the girls from walking across a pedestrian crossing with his car at North Bondi. Court documents state Coker yelled out: 'Hey girls. You don't remember me, do you? I'm the guy from McDonald's' before laughing and driving away. Two days later – on January 27 in the afternoon – the girls were swimming at the north end of Bondi Beach when they spotted Coker on the sand. 'From the water, the victims saw the accused start to take off his shirt as though he were going to enter the water,' the documents state. 'The victims were concerned that he would swim towards them, so they went back to the shore and left the beach.' They matter was reported to the police, with the young girls fearing Coker would cause them 'physical harm'. 'The frequency of the interactions made the victims feel that the accused was intentionally following them,' the court documents stated. Following a police investigation, Coker was arrested on January 30. He was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with four counts of stalking or intimidation and one count of stopping on or near a pedestrian crossing. Magistrate Michael Barko handed down a 12-month community correction order for the stalking charges and a $220 fine for the driving charges. As part of his order, he cannot commit any offence and must comply with any mental health counselling or rehab directed by his case manager.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Why rabies is making a comeback this summer — and what you should know
Cases of rabies, a viral and potentially fatal disease that primarily spreads through the bites or scratches of infected animals, have recently been reported around the Northeast. This week, officials in the town of Westfield, New Jersey, issued a public health alert after two reports of bites associated with a raccoon that may be infected with rabies, put the surrounding communities on high alert. Last week, New York's Nassau County Department of Health declared an imminent public health threat in response to the ongoing spread of rabies among wild and feral-domesticated animals in the county. 'The resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving public health concern,' Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said in a release. 'This declaration allows us to respond to prevent further spread and protect the health and safety of Nassau County residents.' The resurgence comes after the county had successfully eradicated the virus since 2016. Over the last year, the department has confirmed 25 rabid animals, including raccoons and feral cats. The department noted that surveillance data shows that the virus is circulating in the area. "Let me be clear, there is no cause for alarm, as we have not yet received any reports of human transmission,' Gelman said, according People. 'However, the time for prevention is now." The declaration comes as health authorities in nearby Suffolk County reported two cases of rabies — the first since 2009. But, whether or not an uptick in new cases indicate that rabies is becoming more prevalent in the region is unclear right now. The summer season has something to do with it, Stony Brook Children's Hospital Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division Dr. Sharon Nachman told News 12 Long Island. "It is a question of where you are and what the season is, and certainly the summertime is always associated with more bites and more worries about rabies," she said. A large number of cases has also been reported in Queens. Around 4,000 animal rabies cases are reported each year. The animals most frequently found with rabies in the U.S. are bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Outside of the Northeast, there has been a rise in cases linked to bats, resulting in three rabies deaths in a period of just five weeks a couple of years ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, five Americans died of rabies, the largest number in a decade. Human-caused climate change has resulted in the expansion of vampire bats' habitat, and increased the risk of rabies in domestic animals, according to scientists. This week, Denver Animal Protection warned that the public should be cautious after two bats tested positive for the rabies virus, 9 News reported. Still, fewer than 10 people in the U.S. die from rabies each year. That's thanks to post-exposure care and the rabies vaccine. Nearly 100,000 people are vaccinated following a possible exposure each year. Treatment is nearly 100 percent effective if you get it after an exposure. Initial rabies symptoms are similar to the flu, including fever, headache, and muscle aches. They can progress to neurological and physical symptoms, such as delirium, a fear of water, and seizures. To prevent the risk of infection, there are several steps people can take. Make sure pets are up to date with their vaccines, stay away from wildlife, call animal control to remove stray animals from the neighborhoods, and wash any bites or scratches immediately with soap and water after possible exposures before seeking medical attention. 'Rabies is preventable through vaccination and pet owners should remember that the best protection is to vaccinate for rabies and license all pets with the town,' Westfield officials said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rabies is making a comeback: here's what you need to know
Cases of rabies, a viral and potentially fatal disease that primarily spreads through the bites or scratches of infected animals, have recently been reported around the Northeast. This week, officials in the town of Westfield, New Jersey, issued a public health alert after two reports of bites associated with a raccoon that may be infected with rabies, put the surrounding communities on high alert. Last week, New York's Nassau County Department of Health declared an imminent public health threat in response to the ongoing spread of rabies among wild and feral-domesticated animals in the county. 'The resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving public health concern,' Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said in a release. 'This declaration allows us to respond to prevent further spread and protect the health and safety of Nassau County residents.' The resurgence comes after the county had successfully eradicated the virus since 2016. Over the last year, the department has confirmed 25 rabid animals, including raccoons and feral cats. The department noted that surveillance data shows that the virus is circulating in the area. "Let me be clear, there is no cause for alarm, as we have not yet received any reports of human transmission,' Gelman said, according People. 'However, the time for prevention is now." The declaration comes as health authorities in nearby Suffolk County reported two cases of rabies — the first since 2009. But, whether or not an uptick in new cases indicate that rabies is becoming more prevalent in the region is unclear right now. The summer season has something to do with it, Stony Brook Children's Hospital Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division Dr. Sharon Nachman told News 12 Long Island. "It is a question of where you are and what the season is, and certainly the summertime is always associated with more bites and more worries about rabies," she said. A large number of cases has also been reported in Queens. Around 4,000 animal rabies cases are reported each year. The animals most frequently found with rabies in the U.S. are bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Outside of the Northeast, there has been a rise in cases linked to bats, resulting in three rabies deaths in a period of just five weeks a couple of years ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, five Americans died of rabies, the largest number in a decade. Human-caused climate change has resulted in the expansion of vampire bats' habitat, and increased the risk of rabies in domestic animals, according to scientists. This week, Denver Animal Protection warned that the public should be cautious after two bats tested positive for the rabies virus, 9 News reported. Still, fewer than 10 people in the U.S. die from rabies each year. That's thanks to post-exposure care and the rabies vaccine. Nearly 100,000 people are vaccinated following a possible exposure each year. Treatment is nearly 100 percent effective if you get it after an exposure. Initial rabies symptoms are similar to the flu, including fever, headache, and muscle aches. They can progress to neurological and physical symptoms, such as delirium, a fear of water, and seizures. To prevent the risk of infection, there are several steps people can take. Make sure pets are up to date with their vaccines, stay away from wildlife, call animal control to remove stray animals from the neighborhoods, and wash any bites or scratches immediately with soap and water after possible exposures before seeking medical attention. 'Rabies is preventable through vaccination and pet owners should remember that the best protection is to vaccinate for rabies and license all pets with the town,' Westfield officials said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rabies is making a comeback: here's what you need to know
Cases of rabies, a viral and potentially fatal disease that primarily spreads through the bites or scratches of infected animals, have recently been reported around the Northeast. This week, officials in the town of Westfield, New Jersey, issued a public health alert after two reports of bites associated with a raccoon that may be infected with rabies, put the surrounding communities on high alert. Last week, New York's Nassau County Department of Health declared an imminent public health threat in response to the ongoing spread of rabies among wild and feral-domesticated animals in the county. 'The resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving public health concern,' Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said in a release. 'This declaration allows us to respond to prevent further spread and protect the health and safety of Nassau County residents.' The resurgence comes after the county had successfully eradicated the virus since 2016. Over the last year, the department has confirmed 25 rabid animals, including raccoons and feral cats. The department noted that surveillance data shows that the virus is circulating in the area. "Let me be clear, there is no cause for alarm, as we have not yet received any reports of human transmission,' Gelman said, according People. 'However, the time for prevention is now." The declaration comes as health authorities in nearby Suffolk County reported two cases of rabies — the first since 2009. But, whether or not an uptick in new cases indicate that rabies is becoming more prevalent in the region is unclear right now. The summer season has something to do with it, Stony Brook Children's Hospital Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division Dr. Sharon Nachman told News 12 Long Island. "It is a question of where you are and what the season is, and certainly the summertime is always associated with more bites and more worries about rabies," she said. A large number of cases has also been reported in Queens. Around 4,000 animal rabies cases are reported each year. The animals most frequently found with rabies in the U.S. are bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Outside of the Northeast, there has been a rise in cases linked to bats, resulting in three rabies deaths in a period of just five weeks a couple of years ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, five Americans died of rabies, the largest number in a decade. Human-caused climate change has resulted in the expansion of vampire bats' habitat, and increased the risk of rabies in domestic animals, according to scientists. This week, Denver Animal Protection warned that the public should be cautious after two bats tested positive for the rabies virus, 9 News reported. Still, fewer than 10 people in the U.S. die from rabies each year. That's thanks to post-exposure care and the rabies vaccine. Nearly 100,000 people are vaccinated following a possible exposure each year. Treatment is nearly 100 percent effective if you get it after an exposure. Initial rabies symptoms are similar to the flu, including fever, headache, and muscle aches. They can progress to neurological and physical symptoms, such as delirium, a fear of water, and seizures. To prevent the risk of infection, there are several steps people can take. Make sure pets are up to date with their vaccines, stay away from wildlife, call animal control to remove stray animals from the neighborhoods, and wash any bites or scratches immediately with soap and water after possible exposures before seeking medical attention. 'Rabies is preventable through vaccination and pet owners should remember that the best protection is to vaccinate for rabies and license all pets with the town,' Westfield officials said. Solve the daily Crossword
