DeMarcus Cousins Experiment Comes with No Guarantees in Golden State

Golden State Warriors General Manager Bob Myers, left, holds a jersey with DeMarcus Cousins during a media conference Thursday, July 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Cousins signed a one-year, $5.3M deal with the defending champion Warriors. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Ben Margot/Associated Press

If you were the Golden State Warriors, and the chance to sign DeMarcus Cousins for the mid-level exception fell into your lap, you would have done the same thing.

It’s an imperfect analogy, but imagine you already had a garage full of luxury cars. A stranger shows up to your door and offers to sell you another one at a fraction of what it should cost, but you have to decide in 10 seconds.

You don’t need the stranger’s car. But it’s awfully shiny, and you love a bargain. So you’re saying yes and figuring out the details later.

It’s the definition of a windfall. You don’t question it. You don’t hesitate. You take it.

Except…what if the move (and we’re off cars and back to Cousins now) that sent the league spiraling into despair over the Warriors’ ridiculous good fortune isn’t the boon everyone seems to think it is?

The (Obvious) Achilles Question

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

We’re a couple of months removed from the start of free agency, and the offseason is basically over. That gives us some distance to look afresh at Cousins, his fit and the potential risks that fell by the wayside in the fast-developing process of his signing.

The Achilles injury is the biggest hazard in play for the Warriors, but it’s also the one they’re probably most comfortable with. Cousins’ return date is uncertain. The Achilles is fickle, and Cousins has never been known as a conditioning fanatic. The Warriors also have less incentive to rush him back than any team in the league. Four other All-Stars and three titles have a way of extinguishing regular-season urgency.

Certainty would still be preferable, though, and the Warriors cannot be sure what kind of volume they’ll get from Cousins. If he’s back in February, that’s probably the same to them as a mid-April return for the playoffs. Of course, nobody can be sure what version of Cousins will take the floor.

It would be a miracle if Cousins returned at an All-Star level. Or if his mobility was somehow uncompromised. Or if he was the same unstoppable interior force he was before.

Framed another way, will he be 50 percent of the player he once was? Seventy-five percent? Ninety percent?

There’s no telling. And there’s also no telling when he’ll be available to provide whatever percentage of his game remains after an injury that historically takes big men down a peg or three.

So…Whose Spot Is He Taking?

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 8: Andre Iguodala #9, Klay Thompson #11, Stephen Curry #30, Draymond Green #23, and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors pose with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cleve

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images

Let’s say for the sake of argument that Cousins somehow comes back looking like the player we saw pre-injury in 2017-18. Does he play high-leverage minutes in that circumstance? Remember, the Warriors are at a place in their dynastic trajectory where their only serious concerns surround which players are on the floor (and what they’re doing) in the most important moments. Game 7s against the Houston Rockets, for example.

If the answer is “yes, Cousins is out there,” it probably means something’s gone afoul with Andre Iguodala. Barring disaster, Cousins isn’t slotting into a closing lineup ahead of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant or Draymond Green. Iguodala, being the key to a lineup that has won the Warriors rings, would deserve to play over Cousins if both were fully healthy.

The problem with that scenario is that the Warriors won’t have any idea about Iguodala’s peak level of play until the circumstances require him to reach it. On a team of experienced regular-season coasters, Iguodala may be the best of them. After the All-Star break last year, in Iguodala’s age-34 season, the veteran wing’s numbers spiked across the board—when he started gearing up for the playoffs.

Despite playing fewer minutes, Iguodala’s points, rebounds and assists climbed. His true shooting percentage leapt from 50.4 to 62.5. His usage rate ascended. His on-court offensive rating went up, and his defensive rating dropped (which is good). In the playoffs, Iguodala’s numbers were in line with his second-half performance—and in some cases even better.

Clearly, he flipped a switch.

We should assume he can do the same this season, which means Cousins’ role figures to be limited when the games really matter. And even if it turns out Iguodala is finally washed, there’s still Shaun Livingston to preserve Golden State’s switchy death lineup. Jordan Bell and Kevon Looney would be better small-ball options than Cousins as well, given their athleticism, switchability and low-usage games. Plus, the Warriors know both can survive against the Houstons of the world.

In light of all that, it seems like Cousins might be little more than injury insurance in the event Iguodala and others go down. He’s also a fearsome second-unit weapon—health permitting. If that’s all he winds up providing the Warriors, surely he’s still worth a paltry five million bucks, right?

Maybe, but the other costs of rostering Cousins could change the calculus.

The Potential for Unrest

Joel Auerbach/Associated Press

The Warriors’ winning culture and stable leadership structure allows them to absorb difficult personalities—or at least ones other teams might shy away from. Nick Young has a championship ring with Golden State. JaVale McGee has two.

Cousins, though, is perhaps the league’s most notorious curmudgeon. His track record of on-court blowups, relentless whining toward officials and explosive dealings with the media sets him apart. Is Golden State’s culture that sturdy?

The flip side, as elucidated by Stephen Curry on The Bill Simmons Podcast, is that Cousins adds a new element to a team that could use some freshening up after four straight Finals runs:

It gives us something to look forward to and something to really focus on—how we’re going to implement his skill set to what we do. Obviously, keeping our style of play, playing fast, using the guys that have been around these last three or four years, and figuring that out. But, it gives us something to look forward to.

Suppose Cousins gets frustrated upon returning, perhaps quite healthy, and finding he’s not going to play high-leverage minutes in the playoffs. This is different than situations involving McGee and Young because Cousins, while hunting a ring, is also trying to rehabilitate his market value. He’ll be a free agent after this season, and if he’s not logging major time or occupying a role that showcases his health/skill/whatever, there’s a lot more to lose in terms of future earnings.

Nobody draws more attention than the Warriors, and if executives across the league see Cousins languishing on the bench or filling a limited role, they might not be convinced he’s worth much in free agency.

The Heavy Cost of Light Discord

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 20: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans exchanges words with Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during a game at Smoothie King Center on October 20, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User ex

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Contrary to the way it was initially received, the Cousins signing carries real risk. There’s potential reward there, too. Those second-unit minutes will be important; if Cousins leads the Warriors’ bench in mopping up other teams’ reserves, life gets easier for the starters. That’s a big deal during a regular season that should be spent preserving the health of Golden State’s core.

Even if everything plays out along the most negative lines possible, Cousins isn’t going to burn the Warriors to the ground. But he might inflict minor damage. He might inject just a touch of dysfunction or discontent.

That matters.

Because last season, the Warriors snuck by the Rockets in seven games. They probably should have lost that series, and they probably would have if Houston hadn’t gone 0-of-27 from deep during a series-determining stretch. If that doesn’t underscore the fact that even a team as dominant as Golden State still plays a game of inches, in which the smallest margins matter, I’m not sure what does.

For that reason, minor damage to morale, chemistry, rotations or anything else could ultimately make a major difference. It could cost the Warriors a quarter. A game. A series. A ring.

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Voices From Assam: India’s Four Million Unwanted

In the state of Assam, a sliver of India squeezed between Bangladesh and Bhutan, four million people are at risk of becoming stateless.

The local government has put together a draft list of those it considers to be “legitimate” citizens and four million of Assam’s 32.9 million people didn’t make the cut.

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) lists those who can prove that they or their parents were in India before March 1971, when Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan.

Hundreds of thousands fled civil war in Pakistan, many choosing to cross the border into India’s Assam to escape the violence, which led to the formation of Bangladesh.

India’s government says that those who came then or since should go back to Bangladesh. But Bangladesh doesn’t view those missing from the NRC list as Bangladeshi and says it won’t accept them.

“People are scared,” says Sharifa Khatun, who comes from the remote village of Langia where, she says, she is among some 500 people who did not find their names on the list.

“Our names were struck off the list, our family is sad. Many can’t stop their tears,” she says.

“Apparently if your name’s not on the list then you are a foreigner. If you are tagged as a foreigner then you will become a Bangladeshi. They are scared they will be put away in jails.”

Authorities say those who did not make the list will not be arrested or deported immediately but will have time to file for corrections before the final list is published by the end of the year.

Most of those missing from the list say their Indian roots pre-date 1971; they can appeal the decision but many fear that without the proper paperwork, they will become stateless.

An hour’s drive from Langia is the town of Nagoan and, there, another family is worried. Despite having Indian passports, some of the family’s names are not on the list.

“We are from here. This is my village,” says Hasiban Nesa. My father and my grandfather were born here.”

Hasiban says she thinks she is 103 years old and has always lived in Assam. Although her name is not on the list, her son, Mohammed Rehman’s name is and so he is considered Indian.

The ultimate aim is just to reduce the Muslim population.

Mohammed Rehman, Assam resident

“They cannot send me away from this country. How can they chase me away? My family lives here. My grandfather was buried in this land. No one can throw me out.”

More than a third of Assam’s population is Muslim and many feel the list is targeting them.

Without citizenship, people cannot vote, work or go into higher education.

“They’re going to ghettoise the people, it’s simple,” says Mohammed. “This is the ultimate goal [to put people in] a state of asphyxia – they will not be able to breathe economically.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power at both the state and national levels.

Modi – who has been accused of exploiting ethnic and religious divisions in India to shore up his political base – came to power on the promise of expelling so-called “illegal foreigners” and protecting the rights of indigenous groups.

Critics say the Assam list is a way for Modi and the BJP – who face general elections next year – to further boost their support among India’s Hindus.

They have been there for generations but should they be altering the politics of Assam? No. These are not Indian nationals.

Sudhanshu Mittal, NRC spokesman

“All the Muslims here feel this is an extension of the prevailing situation all over India,” says Mohammed. “The ultimate aim is just to reduce the Muslim population … and that can only happen if they make some sort of scheme of this sorts where the Muslim influence or population is curtailed. This is what we believe, that’s what is happening,” he says.

“Any self-respecting nation must identify those who are not nationals of that country,” says Sudhanshu Mittal, a spokesperson for the NRC. “We’ve had a huge amount of infiltration from Bangladesh and it’s time we identify those who are not Indian nationals,” he says.

“Can you allow foreign nationals to influence the polity of a state? No … They have been there for generations but should they be altering the politics of Assam? No. These are not Indian nationals and if they’re not Indian nationals they have no business to be on the voter’s list.”

Al Jazeera travels to Assam to meet the people now facing an uncertain future and to challenge those behind the exercise on why it is so necessary.

Source: Al Jazeera News

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Best fitness trackers: Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple Watch made our list

The easiest way to make working out more fun? A fitness tracker.

Disclosure

Every product here is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our work.

By Leah Stodart2018-09-07 16:50:44 UTC

Exercise, am I right? Whether you’re reading this because you genuinely love working out or because Instagram models and your love for pizza force you to exercise, one thing’s for sure: A fitness tracker that fits your needs is a necessity.

One problem: The wearable fitness market grows by the month. No longer are hardcore athletes the only ones keeping up with their calories and mileage — these babies continue to take over the lives of us regular folk more and more by the year.

And with this surge to the everyday consumer, it seems like not a day goes by without a new wearable fitness tracker hitting the market. Oh, there’s a new Fitbit (again)? There’s a fancy ring that tracks your steps and calories? Because of course, why wouldn’t there be?

We’re not complaining, though.

We all have those days where we need an extra sprinkle of motivation to get up and get going — even the biggest fitness junkies wanna stay on the couch sometimes. Plus, when you can’t tell how much working out or running is actually helping, it’s kind of hard to stay excited about the whole fitness thing.

Good news: Nothing says motivation like the perfect fitness tracker. Fitness trackers can help you slay your personal goals and prove to yourself that your hard work is actually paying off.

Fitness trackers aren’t just for fitness junkies. Tracking your calories, steps, sleep, and heart rate are features that most trackers have, and these are seriously handy when it comes to keeping track of your general health.

Our top pick for the best fitness tracker right now is the Fitbit Charge 2: No, we didn’t just pick it because it’s the name everyone knows — it’s genuinely a top-tier piece of arm candy. While Fitbit has a ton of high quality models, the Charge 2 is absolutely the best bang for your buck. It’s not the cheapest of the lot (priced at $149.95 or $119.95 on sale), but its slim, stylish look, OLED color screen, and personal cardio fitness scores on top of the traditional features make it a steal for the price. There’s a reason it’s Fitbit’s #1 best-seller, y’all.

Don’t worry, newbies — there are fitness trackers for every skill level, most of which are super simple to use without a steep learning curve. Check out our list of what’s on the market and the basics of different trackers, as well as combination fitness trackers and smartwatches.

Affordable • Real-time audio coach • Phenomenal battery life • Range of colors

No GPS • Cheap-looking design • No smartphone notifications

A perfectly low maintenance tracker to ease you into the world of exercising.

The fitness tracking world doesn’t have to be intimidating — the award winning

Moov Now

makes everything chill and easy, which is exactly what you need if you’ve psyched yourself out about exercising. At $59.95, it’s one of the cheaper trackers on our list, but that low price doesn’t make for shitty quality: Aside from the expected step and sleep tracking, it also

acts as a personal fitness coach

, with real-time audio feedback as well as detailed running, cycling, cardio boxing, and super advanced swimming data, all stored in the Moov smartphone app.

Made for training, Moov Now also shows you how to work out in proper intervals for the fastest, safest #gains. The only thing it doesn’t have is GPS — but it is waterproof with a battery life of six months, so we’ll let the GPS slide. Choose from eight colors and get yours for $59.99

here

Move reminders • Automatic workout recognition • Interchangeable bands • Range of colors

A great general purpose tracker with virtually no learning curve.

If you’re set on getting a Fitbit but need an easy way in, the

Fitbit Flex 2

is a good, no-intense place to start. We like to think that the “Flex” in the name means “flexible.” Designed as a more general-purpose tracker, the Flex 2 is thin, light, subtle, and what Fitbit refers to its “most iconic and customizable tracker ever.” This is because the actual tracking piece can be removed to fit into numerous bands, bangles, and necklace pendants, making it

flexible

enough to fit any lifestyle, style preference, and outfit. Really, it’s perfect for anyone and everyone who wants to get more serious about fitness — even if you’ve never worked out a day in your life.

It tracks the usual steps, calories, and sleep, and will remind you to move if you’ve been sitting for too long, but the stand-out feature is that it’s Fitbit’s first swim-proof tracker. (It can also get call and text notifications like a smartwatch would.) Though it does benefit from SmartTrack for automatic workout recognition, it doesn’t have a screen (only uses an app) and is much less advanced than its siblings, making it a perfect first Fitbit or a tracker for kids or people who don’t want to squint to see a small screen. Get the Flex for $76.99

here

Personalized fitness scores • Heart rate monitor • Large OLED touchscreen

The mother of all Fitbits, the Charge 2 combines rare health and fitness features that we usually only see in smart watches.

maybe you’re set on a Fitbit but want to skip the baby steps and get the arm candy with all of the best of all features combined. The

Fitbit Charge 2

affords all of the traditional features you’d want

plus

extras and a color OLED screen (rare for tiny trackers like this one) without the bulk that you’d expect. It has the usual step, calories, and sleep tracking, etc., and is also equipped with PurePulse to monitor your heart rate and get alerts for an abnormalities, guided breathing, as well as a VO2 Max rating to give a personalized cardio fitness score and an idea of your overall cardiovascular health.

For those who have trouble staying motivated, the Charge 2’s personalized fitness score is the perfect way to track your progress and see how much you’re improving without the confusing doctor language. Plus, the battery lasts up to five days on one charge, so you’re set for a week of workouts without worrying about charging. If you want the best of all worlds, get the Charge 2 for $149.95

here

. (The Charge 3 has a few minor upgrades and will officially be released in October 2018 — preorder it

here

All-day stress tracking • Always-on touchscreen • Smartphone notifications and weather updates • Decent price for all it does

No GPS • Could be more user-friendly

If you don’t care about GPS, the Vivosmart 3 offers comforting stress tracking and fitness scores for those who get pysched out easily.

The

Garmin Vivosmart 3

is the thinnest (and best looking IMO) of the brand’s line, but there’s a

lot

packed into this little device that makes it helpful for people who aren’t runners or gym-goers. The Vivosmart 3 isn’t just a fitness tracker, but a stress tracker as well (AKA it will be ace to wear at work or while traveling). The heart rate monitor measures your heart rate while it’s resting to give you a stress score, with a guided breathing feature designed to lower stress when the score is too high.

The Vivosmart 3 also gives a VO2 max fitness score, your fitness “age,” monitors strength training by tracking sets, reps, and rest times that can be reviewed on the app — a feature that many trackers don’t have. The Vivosmart 3 automatically syncs to your phone and uses Move IQ to know when you’ve started a workout, making the process pretty seamless. You’ll see all of that on a gorgeous color touch screen, which is always a bonus. Get the Vivosport 3 for $79

here

or wait a few weeks and get the classy Vivosmart 4

here

. (For runners really itching for that built-in GPS, you can snag the Vivosmart HR+ for $95.99

here

Phone-free music • GPS • Impressive battery life • Comes with waterproof headphones

Limited color options • No smartphone notifications

Built-in music, GPS, and stellar battery life let you leave your phone at home and exercise in peace.

There are two types of people in this world: Those whose smartphones are a third limb, and those who take days to text back and leave their phone untouched whenever possible. If you’re part of the latter group, the

TomTom Spark 3 Cardio+Music

could be the tracker for you. Not only does it have built-in GPS (for new route exploration and, uh, not getting lost) but also has a built-in music player — AKA you don’t need to awkwardly carry your phone while running. Finding a fitness tracker with built-in music is rare —

Garmin has one

, but it’s pricey (like over $400 pricey). Anti-phone people no longer have to choose between necessary workout jams and keeping both hands free. This puppy has an impressive battery life of three weeks if you turn GPS off — but we’re guessing you don’t want to do that. Even with it on, the device is said to last 11 hours on one charge, which is still stellar compared to competitors.

Music can be stored locally on the tracker or paired via Bluetooth if you do bring your phone — except you can also set up smartphone notifications on your TomTom, so a phone is seriously not necessary. Aside from the cool built-in stuff, the TomTom Spark 3 tracks your distance, speed, calories, sleep, swimming, and can differentiate between indoor and outdoor workouts. The bundle also comes with a pair of Bluetooth headphones, because TomTom is nice like that. Get it for $234.99

here

Unique fitted ring design • Multi-day battery life • Stores data without phone syncing • Works with Alexa

Not Android compatible • Only two colors

Complete with Alexa compatibility, the Motiv Ring is the fitness tracker for people who hate wearing fitness trackers.

If you

really

can’t stand the look and feel of bracelet fitness trackers (no matter how sleek or inconspicuous they are) that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck or have to clip something nerdy9your shirt. The

Motiv Ring

is a tiny metal band

you’ll actually want to wear

. It tracks activity, sleep, and heart rate, and it can be worn 24/7 — even in the shower or while swimming. Motiv’s battery can last up to three days on a single charge, can store your data for up to five days without being synced to a phone, and uses a super nice-looking smartphone app to tell you about your progress. (The Android version used to only be beta, but now it’s official.) And, if you download the Motiv skill on your

Echo device

you can ask Alexa

about your progress, data from previous days, and can even help you find your lost phone.

We’re really not kidding about the 24/7 thing, by the way. Aside from being waterproof, you can pretty much ensure that your ring won’t fall off or slip and slide around during high movement activities. Before you receive your actual ring, Motiv will send you a sizing set to find your size, allowing you to choose the finger that would be most comfortable for your ring to sit on. It is slightly larger than a traditional ring, but if you’re used to wearing a ring every day anyway, you probably won’t even notice that it’s there — and it’s certainly less noticeable than an arm band fitness tracker. Get your Motiv Ring for $199.99

here

Fitness trackers that double as actual smart watches

Looking for something a little more all-encompassing? These smartwatches have all of the fitness tracking features you’re looking for, plus all of the connected capabilities of smart tech, such as phone and social media notifications.

Indoor and outdoor settings • GPS and GLONASS mapping • Intense focus on running

Pricey • Occasional confusing app navigation

Garmin has truly outdone themselves with the new-and-improved 235, featuring ultra-accurate GPS and four running settings.

If running is your thing (or the thing of the person you’re gifting to) the

Garmin Forerunner 235

is a beast of a device made for those who take running very seriously. I mean, there’s a reason “runner” is in the name: With Garmin Connect, runners can choose from four running settings (including indoor and outdoor running) and customize their workouts and goals to match their skill level. And don’t worry, Garmin’s impressively fast GPS and GLONASS mapping is able to keep up. For indoor treadmill running, the built-in accelerometer comes in handy to keep track of distance and pace without the need of an extra device on your whoe. Garmin’s Elevate heart rate technology is also notable to track workout intensity, with a colorful gauge that lets you know your rate in real time to let you know if anything wonky is up.

Aside from running settings, this Amazon’s Choice tracker acts like a traditional activity tracker by counting calories, steps, and sleep, and also reminds you to move if it senses that you’ve been sitting for over an hour. Get the Forerunner 235 for $249.99

here

(Hardcore runners who are easily bothered by extra accessories on their arms should check out the

Milestone Pod

: A tracker that hangs onto your shoelace and

helps to improve running performance

through tracking cadence, stride length, ground contact, foot strike, rate of impact, leg swing, and total shoe mileage in addition to the more traditional wearable metrics like pace, steps, and calories burned.)

Super lightweight • Spotify built in • Tracks calories eaten and burned • Personal fitness coach

Limited color options • Crappy for iPhone users • No LTE like the S3

Enjoy fitness tracking and diet tracking features as well as Spotify playback, control of smart devices, and more.

If you’re looking for something more than a fitness tracker but less intense than an Apple watch, the new

Samsung Gear Sport

may be for you. It features water resistance up to 50 meters, built-in GPS, automatic workout recognition, stretch reminders, activity and calorie tracking (eaten

and

burned) and acts as a personal fitness coach on your wrist. If you’re stubborn when it comes to healthy eating (raises hand), have trouble committing to a diet, or are on a wonky sleep schedule, the Gear Sport wants to act as your motivation to keep up with your goals.

The powerful device also falls into the smartwatch category: Enjoy receiving and responding to calls and texts, Spotify playback, real-time control of compatible smart devices like appliances, locks, and lights, and access to all of your favorite apps like Twitter or the Pear personal coaching app. This is all compiled into a compact device that actually looks like a classic round watch, and it weighs next to nothing. Get it for $249.99

here

Guided runs and in-ear coaching • LTE support • Calling and texting

Extremely pricey • Limited color options • Paid LTE gets expensive

Apples blows the competition out of the water thanks to calling, texting, in-ear coaching, and more. We’d expect nothing less from Apple.

The new

Apple Watch Series 3 with Nike+

is pretty much the

ultimate combo

of smartwatch and fitness tracker. It sports a sleek, rectangle design and looks less like a traditional round watch, with smartwatch features like LTE support, calls and texts, music streaming, and phone notifications. As a fitness tracker, the Series 3 has a super accurate heart rate monitor and alerts you of any abnormalities. (There’s also an FDA-approved

Apple Watch band

that can run legit EKGs without going to the doctor.) Nike+ takes running to the next level with guided runs, motivational notifications, and in-ear coaching — perfect for newbies or people who need an extra push to get up and going.

Though the Apple Watch does not automatically recognize that you’ve started an exercise, you can simply launch the workout app (or any other third-party app). The expected GPS, water resistance, and distance tracking are also present, and there’s actually a slightly less expensive version of this Apple Watch Series 3 that is GPS only (no LTE)

starting at $329

. Get the Apple Watch with Nike+ for $429

here

Listen, the fact that you’re even reading this is a step in the right direction to a healthy lifestyle. These trackers won’t do the work for you, but they can at least take the “I can’t even tell if it’s working,” doubts that a lot of us having about our progress. When you can see your results paying off in the numbers and how you’re improving week to week, you’ll be more inspired than ever to crush the hell out of your fitness goals.

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Cleveland’s LeBron James Mural to Be Replaced by ‘Guardian of Traffic’ Collage

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 3: Workers remove the Nike LeBron James banner from the Sherwin-Williams building near Quicken Loans Arena on July 3, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Jason Miller/Getty Images

With LeBron James now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, there is a building in downtown Cleveland in need of a new look—and it’s getting one.

According to WKYC, the city of Cleveland Planning Commission released its designs for a new banner that will pay tribute to The Land:

WKYC Channel 3 News @wkyc

City of Cleveland unveils replacement design for LeBron James banner https://t.co/RTarYMVsmi https://t.co/JmHMGV93Xp

As Cleveland Magazine‘s Erick Trickey detailed in July 2009, the “guardian of traffic” is symbolic of Cleveland’s Lorain-Carnegie Bridge.

This decision must come as a tough blow for Cleveland Browns receiver Jarvis Landry, whose brother was looking into getting a banner of the Pro Bowler put up in James’ place, per ESPN.com’s Elizabeth Merrill.

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POLITICO Playbook PM: Trump, Obama split screen

REUTERS’ JEFF MASON (@jeffmason1): “.@realDonaldTrump tells reporters he wants Attorney General Sessions to investigate who wrote @nytimes op-ed.”

— WHAT EXACTLY would the attorney general investigate?

— NYT’S MIKE GRYNBAUM (@grynbaum): “Trump also threatened to pull NBC’s license, strengthen libel laws, and sue Michael Wolff’s publisher. Common thread: none of that happened.”

ISAAC DOVERE in Champaign, Illinois: “Obama delivers full-throated rebuttal to Trump’s presidency”: “Barack Obama launched his midterm campaigning Friday at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, arguing that President Donald Trump poses such a threat to America that it forced him to speak out in an unprecedented way for a former president.” POLITICO

— “THIS IS NOT NORMAL,” Obama said, noting that people inside the administration can’t stop the president from making decisions.

WHAT IS MAKING REPUBLICANS GROAN TODAY …

BLOOMBERG’S JENNIFER JACOBS (@JenniferJJacobs): “BREAKING: Trump says tariffs on another $267 billion in China goods are ready to go, on short notice. This is in addition to the tariffs on $200 billion on China goods the admin is preparing now, he says on AF1.”

— MORE … “Chances Fade for U.S.-China Trade Deal,” by WSJ’s Bob Davis and Lingling Wei: “Relaxing trade tensions with Mexico and Canada, plus a preliminary trade agreement with the European Union, have made it easier to forge a multilateral front to oppose Chinese trade practices. The U.S., EU and Japan have already held meetings on such a strategy. …

“Chinese officials have tried to reassure markets by stressing that the two sides have continued to talk since the end of last month’s unsuccessful trade negotiations in Washington. On the other hand, few in Beijing expect much improvement before the U.S. midterms.” WSJ

WHAT IS MAKING REPUBLICANS SMILE TODAY …

— JOBS REPORT: “Tightening job market delivers wage boost,” by Ian Kullgren: “The tightening job market in August delivered workers the largest single-month wage boost in nearly a decade as the economy added 201,000 jobs, the government reported Friday.

“Average hourly earnings rose 2.9 percent over the previous year — up from July’s 2.7 percent and the biggest jump since June 2009. The unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, unchanged from July. The numbers paint an improving portrait of the economy two months ahead of the midterm elections.” POLITICO

— OBAMACARE FILES: “Modest premium hikes as ‘Obamacare’ stabilizes,” by AP’s Meghan Hoyer and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar: “The Associated Press and the consulting firm Avalere Health crunched available state data and found that ‘Obamacare’s’ health insurance marketplaces seem to be stabilizing after two years of sharp premium hikes. And the exodus of insurers from the program has halted, even reversed somewhat, with more consumer choices for 2019.

“The analysis found a 3.6 percent average increase in proposed or approved premiums across 47 states and Washington, D.C., for next year. This year the average increase nationally was about 30 percent.” AP

MEANWHILE … WHAT’S ON THE PRESIDENT’S MIND — @realDonaldTrump at 6:56 a.m. Eastern (4:56 a.m. in Montana): “What was Nike thinking?”

… at 7:32 a.m.: “The Woodward book is a scam. I don’t talk the way I am quoted. If I did I would not have been elected President. These quotes were made up. The author uses every trick in the book to demean and belittle. I wish the people could see the real facts — and our country is doing GREAT!”

… at 12:35 p.m.: “Under our horrible immigration laws, the Government is frequently blocked from deporting criminal aliens with violent felony convictions. House GOP just passed a bill to increase our ability to deport violent felons (Crazy Dems opposed). Need to get this bill to my desk fast!”

Happy Friday afternoon. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — ERIC SCHULTZ, president of the Schultz Group and also a senior adviser to former President Barack Obama, has signed on as the political consultant for Netflix’s reboot of “Designated Survivor.” He will be helping writers and advise on set design and what life is like inside the White House. Netflix announced Thursday that it’s bringing back the show after ABC had killed it in May. Season three will debut next year (THR has more on the show).

FOR YOUR RADAR … WSJ: “Verizon’s Internet Boss Tim Armstrong in Talks to Leave”

— ALSO LEAVING VERIZON … NATALIE RAVITZ and Vanessa Wittman. Ravitz is a former chief of staff to Barbara Boxer, and worked as a top adviser to Rupert Murdoch and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Wittman was CFO who came from Dropbox.

THE KAVANAUGH HEARING — JOHN BRESNAHAN, “Watergate figure John Dean calls Kavanaugh nomination ‘troubling’”: “‘If Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, I submit we will have the most pro-presidential powers Supreme Court in the modern era,’ said Dean, who served as White House counsel for nearly three years. …

“But Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Republicans on the Judiciary Committee will counter with several high-profile legal figures of their own, including Ted Olson and Paul Clement, both former solicitor generals.” POLITICO

— “Booker to McConnell on ethics charges: ‘Bring it!’” by Burgess Everett: POLITICO

SPOTTED: Michael Caputo having lunch on Wednesday with ABC’s Ali Dukakis at the Four Seasons … Anderson Cooper on the 9 a.m. Delta shuttle to New York.

INTERESTING … FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: AMY MCGRATH has been the subject of lots of chatter in political circles of late. She’s a Democrat running against Kentucky GOP Rep. Andy Barr in a district anchored in Lexington and its surroundings. It’s a strong district but McGrath, with the help of Mark Putnam’s viral ads, raised a ton of dough and seemed to have Barr on the ropes, a bit.

— THE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND — the House GOP super PAC — is the leading spender in the district. They’ve dropped $1 million on TV already. They say after she won the primary, her fav/unfav was 55-16, and she led Barr 51-38 — a scary lead against a GOP incumbent in a red district. After a set of ads painting McGrath as a liberal, CLF says a new poll has Barr up 49-45, and 66 percent see McGrath as a liberal — which is up 27 percentage points from June. Memo and polling info from CLF

2018 WATCH … “Conservative activists: Trump was ‘tricked’ into Calif. endorsement,” by Carla Marinucci in Cupertino, California: “President Donald Trump’s surprise move to issue an endorsement in California’s only Republican-on-Republican House race has stunned GOP grassroots activists …

“Trump took to Twitter this week to endorse incumbent GOP Rep. Paul Cook … over former Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, a Tea Party favorite and co-founder of the California Minutemen, an anti-illegal immigration border watch group. … Donnelly insisted Trump is being [misled] by Deep Staters and ‘Swamp’ insiders determined to undermine him and control his agenda.” POLITICO

— REMEMBER WHO IS CLOSE TO TRUMP and is from California: Kevin McCarthy.

NYT’s SABRINA TAVERNISE in Fayetteville, Arkansas: “The Future of Abortion Under a New Supreme Court? Look to Arkansas”: “[M]any legal experts say the more likely outcome of the change on the court, at least in the near term, will be less sweeping: States like Arkansas will get their way with smaller cases that reduce — but not eliminate — the right to an abortion. … Arkansas is in the heart of a broad band through the country’s middle and south where abortion access in most states is already down to a few clinics. …

“[T]he number of clinics is back up to three. But many other barriers remain: a ban on abortions after 20 weeks; a 48-hour waiting period, which requires women to make two or three trips to the clinic; parental consent for minors; doctors unable to dispense medication abortion pills remotely by video. … A ruling against the clinics would effectively ban medication abortion in the state and leave Arkansas again with only one clinic.” NYT

THE INVESTIGATIONS … FUN VIDEO — @ABCPolitics: “‘How did I ever the hell get involved in this mess?’ past Roger Stone associate Randy Credico says to @ajdukakis upon arriving to testify before a federal grand jury in the Mueller probe. ‘What’s a nice guy like me doing in a place like this?’” 1-min. video

WAPO’s DAVID NAKAMURA: “‘There’s a new sheriff in town’: Trump uses official events to wage campaign against press”: “Trump routinely rails against the press corps on Twitter and at his campaign rallies. But he has begun eliciting cheers of support during more-official settings and from audiences once thought to be more immune to naked partisanship.” WaPo

ON THE WORLD STAGE — “Iran Defies U.S. Bid to Curb Its Middle East Influence,” by WSJ’s Sune Engel Rasmussen in Beirut and Michael R. Gordon: “Iran is signaling that it will buck U.S. efforts to roll back its military presence in the Middle East, moving to cement foreign alliances and continuing to project power abroad despite sanctions that have helped put intense pressure on its economy.

“Tehran signed a long-term security pact with Syria in August, and has kept up the flow of arms and financial support to proxy forces around the region … U.S. officials acknowledge Iran hasn’t stepped back from its assertive posture and say Iranian shipments of missiles and some advanced arms around the region have even accelerated. But they also note that the toughest sanctions are yet to come.” WSJ

— “As talks with U.S. stall, North Korea preps military parade,” by AP’s Eric Talmadge: “[T]wo big questions remain: Who will attend? And will leader Kim Jong Un use the occasion to thumb his nose at Washington by displaying missiles North Korea claims are capable of striking the American heartland?

“The parade will kick off a series of extravagant celebrations scheduled to mark Sunday’s [70th] anniversary … Although North Korea’s military parades have in recent years culminated in displays of the country’s missiles, the North keeps them under wraps until the day they are rolled out for the parades. … It is possible — even likely — that the upcoming parade will be toned down to reflect Kim’s less provocative posturing.” AP

WAR REPORT — REUTERS’ IDREES ALI in Kabul: “Mattis, in Afghanistan, tries fostering reconciliation as security worsens”

THE L.A. TIMES ROARS BACK … “How eight elite San Francisco families funded Gavin Newsom’s political ascent,” by the Seema Mehta, Ryan Menezes and Maloy Moore: “Gavin Newsom wasn’t born rich, but he was born connected — and those alliances have paid handsome dividends throughout his career. … A Times review of campaign finance records identified eight of San Francisco’s best-known families as being among Newsom’s most loyal and long-term contributors. Among those patrons are the Gettys, the Pritzkers and the Fishers … Now the families appear poised to see their investments pay off.” LAT

AFTERNOON READ — “‘I’m Tired of America Wasting Our Blood and Treasure’: The Strange Ascent of Betsy DeVos and Erik Prince,” by Sam Tanenhaus in October’s Vanity Fair: “Trump was a useful vehicle for advancing nationally the revolution the DeVoses had already enacted in Michigan. There was, for instance, Betsy DeVos’s campaign to undo the state’s public-education system and replace it with for-profit and charter schools … There was also the campaign she and her husband had waged to weaken Michigan’s unions. And there was the DeVos-family-funded gentrification of Grand Rapids …

“Other lessons can be found in the pulp-fiction career of Betsy DeVos’s younger brother, Erik Prince, the former navy SEAL who started Blackwater—the mammoth security company, some of whose ‘civilian soldiers’ had gone rogue in Iraq. … Behind all this is the story of a family dynasty that has been a driving force on the far right—the Michigan Medicis of Donald Trump’s America.” Vanity Fair

TV TONIGHT … Guest host Pete Williams sits down with CNN’s Joan Biskupic, CBS’ Ed O’Keefe and NBC’s Kristen Welker on PBS’ “Washington Week” at 8 p.m. Moderator Bob Costa joins remotely from Indiana.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION JOB MOVES … IN: Teresa Davis will be special assistant to the assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs. She was previously communications director for Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.). … Will Levi has started as special assistant to the president for domestic policy. He previously was an associate attorney at Sidley Austin and chief counsel for Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). … Judd Deere has been named special assistant to the president and director of media affairs. He previously was director of state communications at the White House. Other administration job moves

— OUT: Hari Sastry will be senior vice chancellor and chief financial officer at the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources at the State Department.

BONUS BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Stuart Holliday, president and CEO of Meridian International Center. How he got his start: “Interning for Sen. Scoop Jackson in 1982 during his re-election campaign. Through Scoop, I first met Sen. John McCain and later worked with him while I was running the veterans and national security coalition during President H.W. Bush’s re-election campaign. After Bush lost the ’92 election – and after proposing to my wife Gwen M. Holliday that night – I went on to become director of Middle East and North Africa for IRI while McCain served as chairman.” Q&A

Anna Palmer @apalmerdc
Jake Sherman @JakeSherman
Daniel Lippman @dlippman
Eli Okun @eliokun

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Former Cowboys RB Joseph Randle Arrested on Rape Charges

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2013, file photo, Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle (21) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans. Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has been put on six months of probation for stealing $123 worth of cologne and underwear from a Texas mall. Collin County jail records reviewed Friday, July 24, 2015, show that Randle pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft in a plea deal involving his Oct. 13 arrest. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

Dave Martin/Associated Press

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle was arrested on rape charges early Friday morning, according to TMZ Sports.

He is being held at a Kansas detention center without bond.

This is just the latest run-in with the law for the 26-year-old.

TMZ Sports detailed in March 2016 that Randle was arrested six times over a 17-month stretch, having been accused of stealing underwear and cologne at a department store, marijuana possession and attempting to run people over with his car, among other things.

Randle faced 10 years in prison after he hit multiple people with his car after being kicked out of a party in 2016. Per TMZ, he was sentenced to five years of probation and assessed a $3,000 fine after being found guilty of aggravated battery, criminal threats and aggravated burglary in June.

Following the initial arrest, he spent time in jail and mental health facilities before he was declared mentally fit for his punishment.

A fifth-round pick in 2013, Randle spent over two years with Dallas before being released midway through the 2015 season as a result of his off-field issues. He ran for 822 yards and nine touchdowns in 35 career games.

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As Idlib offensive looms, residents fear chemical attacks

Antakya, Turkey – For Ahmad, a father of two in Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, there is not much he can do to protect his young family.

Like many others across the northwestern province, the 29-year-old is fearful of a chemical weapons attack in the event of a large-scale Syrian government offensive.

“The people here are afraid that chemical weapons would be used to put pressure on the armed groups and to facilitate the advance [of government forces],” said Ahmad, who is from the village of Sararif and asked for his real name not be used in this article.

The growing fear has led locals to start taking precautionary measures, added Ahmad.

“Some people bought face masks, others [bought] heavy-duty gas masks that can protect against poisonous gases.”

But Ahmad possesses just one gas mask he bought for $40 a while back. The only other thing he has been able to do to provide at least some protection to his family was to seal off the bathroom of their house and transform it into an improvised shelter.

More than 60 percent of the people in his village, in the south of the province, have already fled to the areas near the border with Turkey, fearing the imminent offensive, says Ahmad.

A makeshift shelter in an underground cave in Idlib [Khalil Ashawi/Reuters]

Growing concerns

The United States has warned the Syrian government against the use of chemical weapons and has threatened another military response – in April, Washington and its allies responded to the Syrian government’s alleged use of chemical weapons against rebels in the town of Douma with missile strikes.

On Thursday, Jim Jeffrey, special adviser on Syria to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said the US government has “lots of evidence” that the Syrian government is preparing a chemical attack on Idlib.

“I am very sure that we have very, very good grounds to be making these warnings,” he said.

But Russian officials have rejected the US claims, maintaining that the Syrian government no longer has any chemical weapons. In 2013, after mounting international pressure following a chemical attack in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, Assad government’s surrendered what it claimed were all the chemical weapons it possessed.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has repeatedly suggested that Syrian rebels are preparing to “stage” a chemical attack in Idlib in order to provoke Western intervention.

“We have warned our Western partners not to play with fire,” Lavrov said during a press conference last week.

According to Marwan Kabalan, director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, the statements by the Russian officials may indicate that the Syrian government forces plan to use chemical agents in the looming battle for Idlib.

Damascus is unable to amass enough troops to capture the province, which hosts at least 60,000 rebel fighters, he told Al Jazeera, adding that urban areas are particularly difficult to penetrate because of the networks of underground tunnels built by the rebel groups.

“The only way they manage to smoke people out of the tunnels is by using chemical weapons. Why did [Assad] use chemical weapons in Ghouta – because that was his only way to win,” Kabalan said.

Protests and arrests in Idlib

On Friday, Russian and Syrian fighter jets continued to bomb various areas of southern Idlib province, activists said.

According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, some of the air raids targeted local headquarters of rebel groups, including members of former al-Qaeda affiliate Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra) and moderate opposition formation al-Jabha al-Wataniya lil-Tahrir (the National Liberation Front).

At least four people were killed and seven wounded in the air raids, local activists and rescue workers said.

Earlier on Friday, as the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey met in Tehran, thousands of people took to the streets of major cities across Idlib province to protest against the possible offensive and Russian pressure on the opposition to accept a reconciliation deal with the Syrian government.

Ahmad joined the protests in Jisr al-Shoghour, a town close to his village, which was pounded by air raids on Wednesday.

“I am worried about the talk of a forced reconciliation and the Russians and the regime entering [Idlib]. Today we protested against [this possibility]” says Ahmad. “There are two possibilities: it is either the Russians [entering], which would mean I lose my land and my house forever, or the Turks take control which means stability and a return back to normal.”

Ahmad fears that the armed opposition could be cornered and forced into surrender, similar to what happened in Eastern Ghouta in the spring and in Deraa and Quneitra provinces in July.

To preclude support for a reconciliation deal from taking root in Idlib, local armed factions have resorted to arresting people suspected of supporting, sources on the ground say.

According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, hundreds have been arrested so far by the two dominant armed groups in Idlib – HTS and al-Jabha al-Wataniya lil-Tahrir.

One Syrian media activist, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, told Al Jazeera that he knows personally at least eight people who were arrested by the HTS in the past week. The activist says the accusations are often false and HTS is using the arrests to extort money from the families of the detainees.

According to Kabalan, the idea of reconciliation is not very popular in Idlib and it is unlikely that local people will accept such a deal. More than half of Idlib’s three million population are internally displaced people, with most having either fled the advance of the government forces elsewhere or decided to leave the areas under Assad’s control, he said.

“They came from [all over the country] because they didn’t want to accept such a situation [reconciliation],” added Kabalan.

idlib who controls what map infographic

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Watergate figure John Dean calls Kavanaugh nomination ‘troubling’

Judge Brett Kavanaugh is pictured. — Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh will sit Friday for his fourth and final day of confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

John Dean — Richard Nixon’s counsel who helped topple his presidency during the Watergate scandal — warned the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s could tilt the high court in President Donald Trump’s favor.

“If Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, I submit we will have the most pro-presidential powers Supreme Court in the modern era,” said Dean, who served as White House counsel for nearly three years.

Story Continued Below

“With Judge Kavanaugh on the court, we should anticipate a majority that will find it increasingly difficult to discover any presidential actions which they do not approve.”

Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, strongly opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination as well. Richmond offered blistering criticism of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, calling some of them “bigoted.”

“Mr. Kavanaugh’s confirmation would fortify a generation of destructive conservative ideology at a time when several historically significant legal challenges will come before the high court,” Richmond said. “As members of the CBC, we cannot overstate what is at stake for African-Americans and communities of color across the nation. Judge Kavanaugh … possesses a conservative judicial record that leads us to believe that voting rights, education, and criminal law outcomes will be endangered in coming years.”

Richmond asserted that Kavanaugh’s legal writings demonstrate “sparse commitment to equal protection under the law.”

But Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Republicans on the Judiciary Committee countered with several high-profile legal figures of their own, including Ted Olson and Paul Clement, both former solicitor generals.

“I have known Judge Kavanaugh for three decades,” Olson testified. “He is thoughtful, courageous, open-minded, respected by his peers, and widely praised by the lawyers who have clerked for him … He is the kind of person that we expect and deserve on the Supreme Court.”

The first three days of Kavanaugh hearings have been by marked by intense partisan warfare, leaked documents, and dozens of arrests of anti-Kavanaugh protesters.

Yet despite some tense moments for Kavanaugh during more than 30 hours of back-and-forth with senators, especially over abortion, there has been little indication that the hearings have disrupted his path to confirmation, which would mark a huge victory for President Donald Trump, Grassley and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Grassley has scheduled a Judiciary Committee vote on the Kavanaugh nomination for next week, but Democrats will be able to delay that under committee rules.

The level of drama at Friday’s session was far lower than it had been the first three days, which saw dozens of protesters dragging from the hearing room for trying to disrupt the proceedings. While three protesters were removed during the first 90 minutes, that was far less than the dozens who had been removed during the previous days.

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Watch Kanye West And Lil Pump Basically Become Lego People In ‘I Love It’ Video

YouTube/Warner Bros.

It’s been a big week for Kanye West. After tweeting an apology to Drake for letting their relationship sour, he served as the creative director for the inaugural Pornhub Awards Thursday night (September 6).

In this role, ‘Ye apparently assisted with the particular design of the trophies for the ceremony, and NSFW merch bearing the likenesses of night’s winners is currently available for purchase at the Yeezy online store. But Kanye didn’t stop there; he also dropped a brand-new song with Lil Pump called “I Love It,” the video for which is an absolute trip.

The song itself only spans about two minutes, but the accompanying visual (directed by Kanye and Amanda Adelson) squeezes every moment of lunacy from those 130 seconds. It doesn’t amount to much more than Kanye and Pump warped and shrunk into what might be best described as Lego block people, waddling along and delivering the song’s hook: “You’re such a fucking ho / I love it.” But that’s plenty.

Kanye and Pump rock comically overlarge footwear; Kaney’s is an exaggerated version of the sandals he was ridiculed for wearing to 2 Chainz’s wedding in late August. Comedian Adele Givens gets a featured credit here, too, for a bit of her standup that bookends the song.

It’s notable that apart from a verse that’s mostly Kanye repeating, “I’m a sick fuck, I like a quick fuck,” his contributions to the song come from winking ad-libs, including one particularly knowing “scoop!” halfway through the song. The whole thing is wild, and you can watch it, in its fairly NSFW glory, above.

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Ian Rapoport: Le’Veon Bell Expected to Arrive by Saturday, Sources Guess

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) plays in an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)

Don Wright/Associated Press

Le’Veon Bell angered some within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization when he didn’t sign his franchise tender earlier this week, but there is still some belief he will rejoin the team prior to Sunday’s season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Thursday that people involved in the situation “guess” Bell will end his standoff Saturday:

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet

As the world waits for #Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell, there is no indication when he’ll show up. A Saturday arrival would allow him to receive his game check, but there is no clear evidence that he’s made plans to do that. https://t.co/1ohfkRMgjJ

Bell is not currently under contract and has no obligation to show up until he signs his franchise tender, which would pay him $14.45 million in 2018. League rules prevent the two sides from working out a long-term extension at this point in the year.

This marks the second consecutive year Pittsburgh placed the franchise tag on Bell, and it is the second straight year he missed offseason workouts and the preseason. In 2017, he let it be known he would report to the team Sept. 1, nine days before kickoff. He did indeed report on the date and played in the Steelers’ Week 1 contest.

This year, though, Bell has not given any indication as to when he might show up. He did, however, hint back in May that he would be on the field for the season opener:

Le’Veon Bell @LeVeonBell

9-9-18…I can’t wait! #JustBePatient https://t.co/p2vpWQnCVy

Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert expressed his disappointment in a statement on the team’s official website as Bell remained unsigned Monday. He would not be the only Steeler to speak up.

Offensive lineman Ramon Foster made headlines earlier this week when he called out the player he blocks for.

“What do you do? Here’s a guy who doesn’t give a damn, I guess, so we’ll treat it as such,” Foster said Wednesday, per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I just hate it came to this. … He’s making seven times what I make, twice as much as Al [Villanueva] is making, and we’re the guys who do it for him.”

Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey called Bell’s actions “a little selfish,” per Tim Benz of the Tribune-Review: “I’m kinda pissed right now. It sucks that he’s not here. we’ll move on as a team. It doesn’t look like he’ll be in the game plan at this point. [James] Conner looks great. We’ll worry about him in Week 2.”

“Why play hide and seek? Why let your agent say this?” Pouncey added, per NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala. “Just man up and tell us what you’re going to do.”

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin avoided speculation, via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler:

Jeremy Fowler @JFowlerESPN

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he’s not speculating over why Le’Veon Bell is not here: “We’re not riding that wave.” https://t.co/uZtdBqHxsv

If and when Bell reports, the Steelers should be confident the three-time Pro Bowler will be able to pick up where he left off. He had 1,291 rushing yards, 655 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns last year despite not participating in offseason activities.

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