Tag: dailytrendshunter

Megan Rapinoe, USA Beat Spain, Advance to 2019 Women’s World Cup Quarter-Final

United States' forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates after scoring a goal during the France 2019 Women's World Cup round of sixteen football match between Spain and USA, on June 24, 2019, at the Auguste-Delaune stadium in Reims, northern France. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)

LIONEL BONAVENTURE/Getty Images

Two Megan Rapinoe penalties saw the United States secure their place in the quarter-finals of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Monday after a 2-1 win over Spain.  

The holders got off to the perfect start by taking the lead after just seven minutes. Rapinoe struck the opener from the spot after Tobin Heath was brought down in the penalty area.

Yet Spain hit back within three minutes of going behind after some poor defensive play by the United States. Lucia Garcia took advantage and teed up Jennifer Hermoso to chip the ball over goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

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The United States went on to have more of the play throughout the game but were not at their best and needed a second spot-kick with 15 minutes left to play to end Spain’s resistance.

Rose Lavelle went down under minimal contact from Virginia Torrecilla, allowing Rapinoe to bag her second of the match and secure a hard-fought win.

USA manager Jill Ellis opted to replace Lindsey Horan with Julie Ertz in midfield, while Spain brought in Vicky Losada and Alexia Putellas for the last-16 clash:

FIFA Women’s World Cup @FIFAWWC

📢 15 MINUTE WARNING! 📢

TV listings 👉 https://t.co/t64sDOmQGs
Live Blog 👉 https://t.co/bACKnpbycY

#ESPUSA 🇪🇸🇺🇸 https://t.co/Dvsr8qervS

There was plenty of drama right from kick-off, as Spain midfielder Patricia Guijarro tried her luck with a shot that hit Becky Sauerbrunn flush in the face.

The United States then won a spot-kick with just five minutes on the clock after Heath was clipped by Maria Pilar Leon as she cut inside the penalty area.

Captain Rapinoe made no mistake with her penalty, sending goalkeeper Sandra Panos the wrong way with a fierce low shot that flew into the corner.

Yet the holders’ lead was short-lived, as Spain hit back quickly:

OptaJoe @OptaJoe

169 – There were just 169 seconds between Megan Rapinoe’s opener for @USWNT and Jenni Hermoso’s equaliser for Spain. Response. #FIFAWWC https://t.co/imOBz9tyVZ

Sauerbrunn was robbed by Lucia Garcia after a poor pass from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Garcia fed Hermoso, who curled a brilliant finish past the goalkeeper:

Squawka Football @Squawka

Jennifer Hermoso is the first player to score against the #USA at the 2019 #FIFAWWC

It was well worth the wait. 🎯 https://t.co/isQiUTh0Xa

Rapinoe came close to restoring USA’s lead within minutes of the equaliser. Lavelle picked out the captain with a superb pass, but Rapinoe’s low shot was tipped around the post by a diving Panos.

The holders began to dominate the first half, while Spain suffered a blow when Losada was forced off just after the half-hour mark following a blow to the face:

BBC Sport @BBCSport

#ESP’s Vicky Losada has picked up quite a shiner.

📺 Watch on @BBCTwo & online now 👉 https://t.co/g9LErSc4se

#USA #FIFAWWC #ChangeTheGame https://t.co/J23nHH79Ob

Spain brought on Nahikari Garcia in her place, and the change seemed to help La Roja. Although the United States saw more of the ball, Spain looked a threat on the break.

Grant Wahl at Sports Illustrated offered a neat summary of the first half:

Grant Wahl @GrantWahl

HT #USA 1:1 #ESP. US in a dogfight it might not have expected. Haven’t built on early goal, not sharp enough in attacking end. Decision to sit Horan looking sketchy. Questions about Naeher in goal will only continue. Spain’s best game of the tournament so far.

Heath and Lavelle both went close with shots that flew narrowly over the bar at the start of the second half, while Guijarro saw an effort trickle just past the far post for Spain.

The holders toiled but were awarded a contentious penalty when Lavelle went down under slight contact from Torrecilla.

The decision was allowed to stand after a VAR check, but it still divided opinion:

Muhammad Butt @muhammadbutt

that is never EVER a penalty. what????? #FIFAWWC

Jason Longshore @Longshoe

It’s a kick to the knee, it’s a penalty. It’s a little unlucky, defender missed the ball and got Lavelle. #USA with a bit of a gift. Correct call.

Eniola Aluko @EniAlu

Looks to me Lavelle goes to ground after the contact not as a result of it… For me, no pen but I am not a video assistant referee😂🤷🏾‍♀️…. As a striker not loving these time delays to wait to take a penalty though!

Spain made their protests felt, and Rapinoe was also forced to move the ball back onto the spot before she took her kick, but she kept her composure to fire home the winning goal for the holders.

It was hardly a convincing win by the United States, who did just enough to edge Spain, but they will need to sharpen up in defense and attack if they are to retain their title in France.

What’s Next?

USA progress to face tournament hosts France in the quarter-finals on Friday at Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes stadium.

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UN rights boss urges states to repatriate ISIL fighters’ families

Thousands of relatives of suspected ISIL fighters should be taken back by their countries of origin, the United Nations human rights chief has said.

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council as it opened its annual summer session in Geneva, Michelle Bachelet said on Monday that children in particular had suffered “grievous violations” of their rights.

“Foreign family members should be repatriated, unless they are to be prosecuted for crimes in accordance with international standards,” she said.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that there are 29,000 children of foreign fighters in Syria, of which 20,000 are from Iraq.

In total, more than 55,000 suspected ISIL fighters and their families have been detained in Syria and Iraq following the armed group’s collapse. Most of them are citizens of these two countries, but overall the suspected ISIL fighters come from nearly 50 countries, Bachelet said.

Wives and children of ISIL fighters return home from al-Hol camp

More than 11,000 of their relatives are being held at the Al Hol camp in northeastern Syria alone, she added, noting that many there lived in “deeply sub-standard” conditions.

Bachelet appealed to the relevant countries to uphold their responsibilities under international law – even with regard to members of an armed group infamous for beheadings and other grave violence. 

“Regarding the alleged fighters, well over 150 men and women have been sentenced to death in Iraq under the anti-terrorism law, following trials which have not afforded adequate due process guarantees,” Bachelet said.

Putting European fighters on trial in their home countries is considered problematic, as little evidence that would survive judicial scrutiny directly links them to crimes in Syria and Iraq.

The US has been urging European countries to bring back their nationals and put them on trial – but most EU countries have refused. Russia and Kazakhstan have been most active at repatriating foreign fighters and their families.

Earlier on Monday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said eight children of two slain ISIL fighters had been removed from Syria to an unspecified location before planned repatriation to Australia. It would mark the country’s first organised repatriation from the area.

Groups of French children were returned to France earlier this month, along with at least three adults who were immediately detained for questioning. A dozen French people have been sentenced to death in Iraq.

There has been a recent push for an international tribunal to try former ISIL fighters, but it has yet to gain tangible backing.

In her wide-ranging speech, Bachelet also expressed “regret” at Saudi Arabia’s “dismissal” of a report last week by an independent UN human rights expert criticising the kingdom over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Separately, she commended a “sound decision” by Hong Kong authorities to delay a bill on extradition that fanned mass protests.

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These 3 lawmakers know the secrets in Mueller’s report


Val Demings

Reps. Val Demings (shown), Eric Swalwell and John Ratcliffe sit on both the Intelligence and Judiciary committees, and so they have access to evidence that underpins both volumes of Mueller’s report | Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images

congress

They’ve got special access because they sit on both the Intelligence and Judiciary committees.

The fate of Donald Trump’s presidency may hinge on Congress’ handling of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report — yet just three rank-and-file members of the House are allowed to view Mueller’s confidential files.

Reps. Val Demings (D-Fla.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) are the only members of the 435-member House that sit on both the Intelligence and Judiciary committees, and so they have access to evidence that underpins both volumes of Mueller’s report — the one on contacts between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign that the Intelligence panel is reviewing, and the one on Trump’s efforts to interfere with the investigation that Judiciary panel is exploring.

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As lawmakers deal with the fallout of one of the most consequential investigations in a generation, these three lawmakers remain the highest-ranking elected officials with access to both sets of evidence — a result of complex and confrontational negotiations between Democrats and the Trump administration — which could help determine whether lawmakers move forward with an impeachment inquiry against Trump. (Like all other lawmakers, they are unable to view grand-jury evidence, which by law cannot be disclosed.)

“We started off wanting every member of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, to be able to review the Mueller report and all supporting materials,” Demings said in an interview. “That’s what we wanted because we have to make some critical decisions moving forward, whether it’s to begin an impeachment inquiry or just continue the investigations. We are not able to do that as of yet.”

For Democrats, the limited access is a far cry from their demands that all 535 members of Congress receive access to Mueller’s complete report and underlying evidence. But it’s an arrangement that House leaders have reluctantly agreed to as they wrestle with a growing faction of Democrats — almost one-third of the caucus — demanding impeachment proceedings against Trump.

Demings and Swalwell both support an impeachment inquiry; Ratcliffe opposes impeachment, like all Republicans except Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.).

But all three have been granted a unique level of access as the Intelligence and Judiciary panels remain locked in grueling negotiations with the Justice Department over access to Mueller’s underlying evidence.

After several rounds of brinkmanship and false starts, both committees reached tentative agreements with the Justice Department to begin reviewing slices of Mueller’s files — so long as the lawmakers promise to keep a tight lid on what they see. The rules are so strict that members of the Intelligence Committee are prohibited from discussing what they see with members of the Judiciary Committee, and vice-versa.

The Justice Department recently wrote in a court filing that lawmakers and aides are to “strictly maintain the confidentiality of any information contained in the report and to use that information only for committee purposes.”

Those limits also create a difficult personal dynamic for the three lawmakers involved, who must self-censor their conversations with colleagues on each of the committees.

“It does come with the added burden of being extraordinarily responsible with the information,” Swalwell acknowledged.

“There’s just a weird way of how your brain compartmentalizes it,” Swalwell continued. “It’s not an accident that the Intel Committee is three floors under the Capitol. When you come upstairs — I don’t necessarily think about what I heard down there until I go back down there again. It’s just a physical, out of sight, out of mind. I don’t cross the two.”

The Intelligence Committee has begun to review confidential counterintelligence information about Russia’s effort to interfere in the 2016 election, as well as contacts between Russian operatives and members of the Trump campaign. The Judiciary Committee, meanwhile, has started to receive access to evidence that Trump attempted to interfere in the Russia investigation. That evidence includes contemporaneous notes and FBI witness interview notes.

Ratcliffe, a former U.S. attorney, says he’s been eager to review as much information as the Justice Department is willing to show him. “I’ve seen everything I can as quickly as they’ll let me,” he said. And he added that he wishes more colleagues on both sides of the aisle could have the same vantage point.

“I’m grateful that I’m one of the few that have had the opportunity,” Ratcliffe said. “I’m trying to take advantage of that for the benefit of educating not just Republican members of Congress but members of the public within the confines of not divulging information that I can’t for national security reasons.”

Ratcliffe noted that he’s similarly well-positioned to inform his colleagues and the public because he sat inside the room last year when the Republican-led Judiciary and Oversight Committees investigated the origins of the Trump-Russia probe. In those sessions, a handful of lawmakers directly interviewed many of the figures who played central roles in Mueller’s investigation, including James Comey, Andrew McCabe and Peter Strzok.

Ratcliffe noted that even though he wishes more lawmakers could see the information he’s reviewing, many who already have access to portions of the report have declined to view them. Some of those members have declined on principle since all lawmakers can’t review the materials.

“I do think it would be helpful if more members had access, but I also think it’d be helpful if more members took advantage of the access that they had,” Ratcliffe said. “Frankly, on both sides there are folks that have the opportunity to look at information and they haven’t availed themselves of that opportunity yet, but it allows for a more informed discussion all the way around.”

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World Cup Live: USWNT vs. Spain

  1. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  2. via FiveThirtyEight

  3. via Twitter

  4. via Twitter

  6. BBC Sport @BBCSport

    It’s been a lively first 20 minutes!

    There was just 169 seconds between #USA and #ESP’s goals.

    This is how close Jenni Hermoso was to being offside.

    📺 Watch on @BBCTwo & online now 👉 https://t.co/g9LErSc4se

    #FIFAWWC #ChangeTheGame https://t.co/JPUD6mAEFx

  7. Caitlin Murray @caitlinmurr

  8. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  9. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  10. via the Guardian

  13. via Bleacher Report

  14. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  15. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  16. Backline Soccer @BacklineSoccer

  18. via Pro Soccer USA

  19. FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer

    The @USWNT is in the building!

    https://t.co/wu4dgC6rih

  20. U.S. Soccer WNT @USWNT

    For the Red, White and Blue ✊
    Coming at you from Reims, your #USWNT Starting XI.

    Lineup Notes: https://t.co/9EdebfMDwU

    #OneNationOneTeam https://t.co/2sJm5gnz02

  21. B/R Football @brfootball

  22. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  24. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  25. Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol @SeFutbolFem

    🚨 ¡YA TENEMOS EL ONCE CON EL QUE ENCARAREMOS EL PARTIDO MÁS IMPORTANTE DE NUESTRA HISTORIA Y CONTRA LAS MEJORES DE LA HISTORIA! 🚨

    🇪🇸–🇺🇸 #ESPUSA @FIFAWWC 1/8 de final ▶
    ⏰18:00h

    #JugarLucharYGanar https://t.co/GvaPEz8zz3

  26. via Bleacher Report

  27. via Eight by Eight

  28. OptaJoe @OptaJoe

  30. Caitlin Murray @caitlinmurr

  31. Charles Boehm @cboehm

  32. U.S. Soccer WNT @USWNT

  33. FIFA Women’s World Cup @FIFAWWC

  34. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  36. FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer

  37. Steven Goff @SoccerInsider

  38. Ben Hayward @bghayward

  39. Joe Prince-Wright @JPW_NBCSports

  40. Thomas Floyd @thomasfloyd10

  42. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  43. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  44. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  45. Jamie Goldberg @Jamiebgoldberg

  46. Caitlin Murray @caitlinmurr

  48. Planet Fútbol @si_soccer

  49. Backline Soccer @BacklineSoccer

  50. Portland Thorns FC @ThornsFC

  51. Thomas Floyd @thomasfloyd10

  52. Alexi Lalas @AlexiLalas

  54. U.S. Soccer WNT @USWNT

  55. Steven Goff @SoccerInsider

  56. The Spanish Football Podcast @tsf_podcast

  57. Jamie Goldberg @Jamiebgoldberg

  58. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  60. FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer

  61. Seth Vertelney @svertelney

  62. FIFA Women’s World Cup @FIFAWWC

  63. Erin Fish, FIFA @FIFAWWC_USA

  64. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  66. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  67. NC Courage @TheNCCourage

  68. FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer

  69. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  70. Joe Prince-Wright @JPW_NBCSports

  72. The Equalizer @EqualizerSoccer

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World Cup Live: USWNT vs. Spain

  1. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  2. via FiveThirtyEight

  3. via Twitter

  4. via Twitter

  6. BBC Sport @BBCSport

    It’s been a lively first 20 minutes!

    There was just 169 seconds between #USA and #ESP’s goals.

    This is how close Jenni Hermoso was to being offside.

    📺 Watch on @BBCTwo & online now 👉 https://t.co/g9LErSc4se

    #FIFAWWC #ChangeTheGame https://t.co/JPUD6mAEFx

  7. Caitlin Murray @caitlinmurr

  8. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  9. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  10. via the Guardian

  13. via Bleacher Report

  14. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  15. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  16. Backline Soccer @BacklineSoccer

  18. via Pro Soccer USA

  19. FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer

    The @USWNT is in the building!

    https://t.co/wu4dgC6rih

  20. U.S. Soccer WNT @USWNT

    For the Red, White and Blue ✊
    Coming at you from Reims, your #USWNT Starting XI.

    Lineup Notes: https://t.co/9EdebfMDwU

    #OneNationOneTeam https://t.co/2sJm5gnz02

  21. B/R Football @brfootball

  22. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  24. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  25. Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol @SeFutbolFem

    🚨 ¡YA TENEMOS EL ONCE CON EL QUE ENCARAREMOS EL PARTIDO MÁS IMPORTANTE DE NUESTRA HISTORIA Y CONTRA LAS MEJORES DE LA HISTORIA! 🚨

    🇪🇸–🇺🇸 #ESPUSA @FIFAWWC 1/8 de final ▶
    ⏰18:00h

    #JugarLucharYGanar https://t.co/GvaPEz8zz3

  26. via Bleacher Report

  27. via Eight by Eight

  28. OptaJoe @OptaJoe

  30. Caitlin Murray @caitlinmurr

  31. Charles Boehm @cboehm

  32. U.S. Soccer WNT @USWNT

  33. FIFA Women’s World Cup @FIFAWWC

  34. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  36. FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer

  37. Steven Goff @SoccerInsider

  38. Ben Hayward @bghayward

  39. Joe Prince-Wright @JPW_NBCSports

  40. Thomas Floyd @thomasfloyd10

  42. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  43. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  44. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  45. Jamie Goldberg @Jamiebgoldberg

  46. Caitlin Murray @caitlinmurr

  48. Planet Fútbol @si_soccer

  49. Backline Soccer @BacklineSoccer

  50. Portland Thorns FC @ThornsFC

  51. Thomas Floyd @thomasfloyd10

  52. Alexi Lalas @AlexiLalas

  54. U.S. Soccer WNT @USWNT

  55. Steven Goff @SoccerInsider

  56. The Spanish Football Podcast @tsf_podcast

  57. Jamie Goldberg @Jamiebgoldberg

  58. Michael Lewis @Soccerwriter

  60. FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer

  61. Seth Vertelney @svertelney

  62. FIFA Women’s World Cup @FIFAWWC

  63. Erin Fish, FIFA @FIFAWWC_USA

  64. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  66. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  67. NC Courage @TheNCCourage

  68. FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer

  69. RJ Allen @TheSoccerCritic

  70. Joe Prince-Wright @JPW_NBCSports

  72. The Equalizer @EqualizerSoccer

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KD, Kyrie ‘Met Twice’ to Discuss Teaming Up; Kawhi Still Has NBA Guessing

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 5: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics speaks with Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors after the game on March 5, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Noah Graham/Getty Images

The bond between two players who have a history of relationships gone awry—Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving—could well determine the biggest winners and losers in this year’s All-Star-rich free-agent market.

At the crux of the rising drama and uncertainty surrounding where some of the league’s top names will ply their trade next season are signals that Irving is as set on playing for the Brooklyn Nets as Durant is bound for the New York Knicks. Which wouldn’t create any problems if not for the fact that Durant and Irving have been plotting for weeks, if not months, to continue their careers on the same team.

So which scenario will prevail? Good question.

It hardly helps that both Durant and Irving have a history of being temperamental and, at times, enigmatic. Irving abruptly went from a preseason pledge to stay with the Boston Celtics to bluntly stating he didn’t “owe anybody s–t” when asked again about his intentions in February. No specific reason has been given for his change of heart, although a source close to Irving points to a tiff with team president Danny Ainge about how Irving was attempting to lead the club. Irving also, at one point, pretended to sincerely argue the earth was flat. It’s not exactly the kind of track record that engenders confidence when you’re about to make him your highest-paid player and team leader.

Durant’s reputation for being forthright, meanwhile, has never completely recovered from the discovery that he had a secret social media account through which he commented on his reasons for leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder as if he were a fan with inside knowledge—knowledge that Durant had previously publicly denied.

“Whatever Kevin is planning to do,” says one league executive who has known Durant since he entered the NBA, “he is going to change his mind at least 25 times before he actually does it.”

All of which makes it a challenge to handicap who will end up where. All that is fairly certain is that, eight days from now, more than a half-dozen NBA teams will scrap with one another for the right to hand out maximum-salary contracts to as many as nine players.

While Kawhi Leonard is the most highly sought free agent after winning his second Finals MVP with the Toronto Raptors and Durant is likely to miss all of next season recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, whether or not Durant and Irving make their vision of playing together a reality is expected to be the most important, if not first, domino to fall.

Weeks after he helped the Raptors win their first championship, Kawhi Leonard still has much of the NBA uncertain as to where he will land in free agency.

Weeks after he helped the Raptors win their first championship, Kawhi Leonard still has much of the NBA uncertain as to where he will land in free agency.Ben Margot/Associated Press/Associated Press

Let’s sort through what we know as of now…

• Durant and Irving, league sources say, have met twice in recent weeks to discuss their desire to continue their careers on the same team, an idea forged while playing together on the U.S. national team. The first meeting took place in the Bay Area while Durant nursed a strained right calf; the second occurred in New York shortly after Durant had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

• Questions that linger over whether the strained calf led to the Achilles injury, and if the Golden State Warriors made him aware of that possibility, remain unanswered. But the indication from several league sources is that Durant is not happy with the team, and the presumption is that it stems from whatever role Warriors officials played in his decision to suit up. Coach Steve Kerr says he was told Durant could not further injure himself by playing, which obviously proved not to be true. If Durant was told the same, it would give credence to the notion that, as one league executive claims, “He’s really pissed off at the Warriors.”

• Ever since Durant signed a two-year deal with an opt-out clause after one season last summer, speculation has run rampant, both inside and outside the Warriors organization, that he intended to leave the Bay Area, with team and league sources pointing to the Knicks as his intended destination. In an overtime loss against the Los Angeles Clippers in November, Durant and Draymond Green argued over an end-of-game decision by Green not to give Durant the ball. Green, later that same night, reportedly questioned Durant’s commitment to the team. Although both players later insisted the dispute was overblown and quickly resolved, sources familiar with Durant’s off-court business say Durant has since purchased a new home in New York and moved his belongings there.

Durant already has multiple ties to the Knicks. General manager Scott Perry was an assistant GM with the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise when the team drafted him. Durant is the godfather to a daughter of Royal Ivey (Lyric Ella), a fellow University of Texas alum, former Thunder teammate and now a Knicks assistant coach. DeAndre Jordan, who played for the Knicks this past season and is also a free agent, is another Durant confidant. Rich Kleiman, Durant’s agent and business manager, is also a New Yorker and a Knicks fan who allegedly has long dreamed of being part of the organization.

• Irving, meanwhile, also recently purchased a new home in South Orange, New Jersey, but league sources say he is pressing Durant to join him with the Nets and is trying to recruit Jordan as well. Durant did have his Achilles repaired by a Nets team physician, Dr. Martin O’Malley, but the New York Post‘s Mark Fischer quoted one of O’Malley’s medical colleagues warning not to read too much into that.

• While sources close to Durant and the teams involved say neither the Knicks nor Nets are concerned about signing him to a maximum four-year deal even if he’s unavailable most of next season, his injury has shrunk the number of teams interested overall. One league executive said the Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers, who were both at one point interested, have backed off their pursuit because they are focused on building off their playoff success this past season.

• Though Durant is the one who’s injured, Irving enters free agency as damaged goods as well. The chemistry issues that undermined his current team, the Celtics, has executives throughout the league as concerned about his leadership skills as they are enthralled with his talent. Signing him as a package deal with Durant is far more appealing than doing so as a lone addition, where he would be the best player on the team, recreating the dynamic that failed so miserably in Boston.

The chemistry issues that plagued the Celtics this season have some NBA executives wary of making Kyrie Irving the leader of their franchise.

The chemistry issues that plagued the Celtics this season have some NBA executives wary of making Kyrie Irving the leader of their franchise.Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

• While the consensus is that neither Durant nor Irving intend to return to their current teams, the picture is less clear among league executives about where Leonard will end up.

While the odds-on favorites are the Clippers—fulfilling Leonard’s supposed interest in playing where he grew up—one Eastern Conference vice president says the Raptors still have a “fighting chance” to re-sign him, while a Western Conference VP says the Lakers are operating as if “they think they have a strong shot” at adding Leonard after acquiring New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis to play alongside their incumbent star, LeBron James, in a deal that can’t be officially consummated until next month.

To offer Leonard a max salary, however, the Lakers would have to push back the timing of their proposed deal for Davis to late July—which multiple reports state will not happen—or move additional players to open salary-cap room, which would then require a number of veterans to take league-minimum salaries to fill out the Lakers roster.

The Knicks, sources familiar with the team’s thinking say, also believe they will get a chance to pitch Leonard on joining Durant in New York if Irving and the Nets strike a deal without Durant as part of it.

• The list of former or current All-Stars on the market grew with the report that Celtics center Al Horford is opting out of his contract and, as with Irving, not planning to return. The other key guys are Khris Middleton, Leonard, Durant, Irving, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker and Klay Thompson, although Thompson never expressed an interest in leaving the Warriors and is even less likely to do so after tearing his ACL in Game 6 of the Finals. 

Speculation is that Horford has been made aware that a team is willing to give him a much more lucrative deal than the Celtics are, prompting his change of heart. The Pelicans, Clippers and Dallas Mavericks have all been mentioned as teams willing to make that promise, league sources say.

• More than a few of the players listed above, along with 76ers free-agent forward Tobias Harris, could land maximum-salary contracts—or terms close to one—in part because of their appeal in landing or keeping another bona fide max-salary player, several league executives say.

Tobias Harris may secure a max contract this summer partly based on his ability to lure another star to play alongside him.

Tobias Harris may secure a max contract this summer partly based on his ability to lure another star to play alongside him.Chris Szagola/Associated Press

The Knicks, for example, are not likely to offer Walker anything close to a max-salary deal unless A) they strike out on Leonard and Irving, and B) acquiring him is the link to signing Durant. Butler and Harris appear to be in the same pool: players who could command bigger contracts if signing them is a prerequisite for landing Durant or Leonard or keeping James happy. Similarly, the Bucks are expected to offer Middleton a max-salary contract to maintain their chance of keeping resident superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo when he enters free agency following the 2020-21 season. Thompson is almost certain to receive a max-salary offer, with the Warriors looking to persuade their fanbase the team will be (eventually) worth paying top dollar for tickets in its new San Francisco arena.

Which brings it all back to KD, who also developed a kinship with Butler on the national team and supposedly expressed a desire that they play together. Just as he supposedly told Thompson they had unfinished business after they suffered their respective injuries. Will these envisioned alliances or intentions become a reality? Which ones? In light of all the aspirations of players and teams alike, there’s only one certainty:

Someone is not going to get what they had hoped for.

Ric Bucher covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @RicBucher.

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Watch Cardi B Get Down To ‘Old Town Road’ At The BET Awards



Kevin Winter/Getty Images)/Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)

The 2019 BET Awards on Sunday night (June 23) was a massive time capsule of this musical moment, with performances and awards spanning the genres that comprise hip-hop culture. Cardi B opened the spectacle with a performance of “Press” to kick things off, and artists like DaBaby, Migos, Kirk Franklin, and more took the stage afterward.

One of the most spectacular was Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus‘s cinematic performance of the “Old Town Road” remix that got the crowd to its feet. Out of everyone enjoying the country anthem, it was Cardi’s beaming reaction that stole the show.

The joint performance began with a slow horse trot to the stage, from on the street by the Staples Center to a makeshift saloon filled with cowboys exchanging sneaky looks. Once they got acclimated to the stage and the saloon’s attendees, the fun began as Cyrus grabbed the microphone for a live version of the chorus. Then, Lil Nas X burst in with his baritone singing, galloping around the stage like a valiant steed.

The crowd of attendants involved some of music’s most popular figures who were all deeply invested in the show. Franklin nodded his head fiercely, while rising Texas rapper Asian Da Brat rolled her body in excitement. Cardi, slightly breathless, smiled wider than anyone else as she rocked to the song, clearly excited by the moment. Her fingers couldn’t stay still at she echoed Lil Nas X’s admission that can’t nobody tell him nothing.

Cardi was rightfully winded after her performance of “Press” to open the show. In addition to intricate choreography for the aggressive tune, she also gave Offset, her husband, a high-energy lap dance to kick the show off with a bang. Cardi later won the awards for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Album of the Year thanks to her 2018 debut, Invasion Of Privacy.

Watch Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus perform “Old Town Road” up above.

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The Biggest Standout of Every NFL Team’s Offseason so Far

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    Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

    The National Football League is in the midst of its dreaded dead zone. Most training camps aren’t slated to start until late July—though some teams will have rookies report in mid-July—so there isn’t a lot of meaningful action going on, even on the practice field.

    Of course, this offseason lull provides a perfect opportunity to take stock of how players have performed in the early offseason. While some players have struggled to provide a spark, others have stood out in a more positive way.

    We’re going to focus on the latter group here—you know, that offseason optimism and all. While a lot is likely to change once the pads go on and the intensity of training camp rises, these are the players who have stood out the most in the 2019 offseason so far.

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    Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

    The fact that Kyler Murray has been the top standout for the Arizona Cardinals this offseason shouldn’t come as a shock. The former Oklahoma star was the most dynamic quarterback in the 2019 draft and is now the most important player on Arizona’s roster.

    Through organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps, Murray has flashed his unique physical talents and high football IQ.

    “Everything that I heard, he’s lives up to,” offensive lineman Justin Pugh said, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. “And I’ve heard a lot of good things, so it’s been great so far.”

    What should really excite Cardinals fans is the fact that Murray appears on track to start in Week 1.

    “The first thing that pops out to you, how intelligent he is,” wideout Larry Fitzgerald said, via the team’s official website. “He knows the system better than we do.”

    Murray has been one of the biggest standouts of any team this offseason.

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    Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

    The Atlanta Falcons have arguably the best wide receiver in the league in Julio Jones. If 2018 first-round pick Calvin Ridley is able to build off his impressive rookie season (821 yards, 10 touchdowns), the Falcons could also have the top wideout duo.

    Fortunately for the Falcons, Ridley has been hard at work to improve heading into his second campaign. His strong work ethic has drawn the attention of the coaching staff.

    “He’s somebody that always does the hard things,” head coach Dan Quinn said during OTAs, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He’s always down to compete. He’s always down to fight to get better.”

    Ridley’s hard work has him in the spotlight now, and it should have him in the spotlight often during the regular season.

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    Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

    Safety Earl Thomas has typically been a standout player during his NFL career. Given the fact that he’s coming off a broken leg and is new to the Baltimore Ravens, though, there was never a guarantee that he’d immediately be an offseason standout.

    Fortunately for Baltimore, he has.

    “He has looked determined,” head coach John Harbaugh said, per Todd Karpovich of Forbes.com. “He looks like he understands the defense. … He looks crisp and sharp. He has been moving really well. He looks really good to me. I’m really excited about him.”

    Thomas was one of the biggest offseason acquisitions for any team this offseason, and he appears poised to make an immediate impact for the Ravens.

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    Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated Press

    The Buffalo Bills are hoping to see an improved Josh Allen under center in 2019. Though Allen showed plenty of physical potential as a rookie—both running and passing the ball—he did struggle with accuracy and with some of the nuances of the pro game.

    Allen, of course, wasn’t expected to be pro-ready immediately.

    The good news is that Allen is using his second offseason to make strides as a professional quarterback. Those strides have stood out in Buffalo.

    “Josh has been great,” quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey said, via the team’s official website. “Obviously, he’s got all of those physical tools that everybody talks about. But the thing I’ve been really impressed with is just the intelligence—how smart he is. Very intelligent-hard worker, studies the game, puts in a lot of time. And a great leader.”

    It appears that the Bills will indeed see an improved Allen in 2019.

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    Butch Dill/Associated Press

    Wideout Curtis Samuel finally began to emerge as a legitimate threat for the Carolina Panthers last season—he finished with 494 yards and five touchdowns. He’s shown even more improvement this offseason, which has stood out to star running back Christian McCaffrey.

    “He’s obviously a heck of a physical talent,” McCaffrey said, per Steven Taranto of 247Sports. “Seeing him develop, learning where to sit in certain zones, getting in and out of cuts, catching the football—the sky’s the limit for him.”

    The Panthers, who parted with Devin Funchess in the offseason, need Samuel to emerge as one of their top receiving options in 2019. Based on the early offseason, he’s poised to do exactly that. 

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    Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

    With guys like Allen Robinson II, Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton on the roster, the Chicago Bears aren’t exactly hurting for weapons in the passing game. This doesn’t mean, however, that they don’t have room for a young player to emerge.

    This is good because emerging is exactly what second-year receiver Javon Wims is doing this offseason.

    “This game is about opportunities, and he’s got a great opportunity in front of him,” head coach Matt Nagy said, per The Athletic’s Adam Jahns. “Javon is a guy who knows all of our positions. He’s smart. He’s got great hands, and you saw last year at the end of that Minnesota Vikings game, he made some big catches.”

    Don’t be surprised if an improved Wims adds another element to the Chicago passing attack in 2019.

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    Uncredited/Associated Press

    The Cincinnati Bengals were relatively quiet during free agency this offseason. However, one under-the-radar addition could prove to be a valuable piece.

    Based on the early offseason, cornerback B.W. Webb is looking like he’ll be a regular contributor to Cincinnati’s defense.

    “He sets a great example, sets a good standard for the other guys on the other side of the ball and this is what it should look like, this is what we want,” head coach Zac Taylor said, per Fletcher Page of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Happy with the way he’s playing right now.” 

    The signing of Webb was one of the quieter moves of the offseason, but it could be a huge one.

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    Ron Schwane/Associated Press

    Given Duke Johnson’s ongoing desire to be traded and the fact that Kareem Hunt will be suspended for eight games, the Cleveland Browns could need a back to complement Nick Chubb this season.

    The good news is that second-year man Dontrell Hilliard is looking like he can be that back.

    “I think what he has to understand is that he has to believe in himself as much as we believe in him,” head coach Freddie Kitchens said, via the team’s official website. “Now, he’s getting an opportunity. This is huge for him, and he’s having one heck of a spring training camp.”

    A lot has been made about Cleveland’s new-look receiving corps this offseason, but if Hilliard is as good as he’s been in the offseason, the Browns are just as loaded at running back.

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    Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

    The Dallas Cowboys already have a No. 1 receiver in Amari Cooper. They added Randall Cobb in the offseason to be their No. 2. Based on the early offseason, that decision is looking like a smart one.

    “I don’t think he’s lost a step,” wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal said, per Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News. “[Cobb] has a chip on his shoulder cuz people think he’s washed up. Those are his words. So, he did great all offseason.”

    Cobb had just 38 receptions and 383 yards for the Green Bay Packers in 2018, but he could be much more productive as the Cowboys’ second option this coming season.

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    David Zalubowski/Associated Press

    Denver Broncos edge-rusher Bradley Chubb was fantastic as a rookie. Though it’s fair to say he was helped by playing opposite Von Miller, Chubb’s 12.0 sacks were impressive. Based on the early offseason, he could be even more dangerous in his second year.

    Miller has lauded the way Chubb has been working this offseason.

    “He’s worked extremely hard this offseason,” Miller said, via the team’s official website. “His moves, I don’t want to give away his secrets and what he’s got coming this season. He’s been working on some particular moves and they’re going to do a lot for him this year.”

    If new quarterback Joe Flacco and the Denver offense regularly produce points this year, Miller and Chubb should both have opportunities to improve upon their 2018 sack totals.

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    Duane Burleson/Associated Press

    The Detroit Lions’ selection of former Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai in the second round of the draft turned plenty of heads. He wasn’t widely considered one of the top linebacker prospects in the draft, but now we’re beginning to get an idea of why Detroit was higher on him than most.

    Tavai is a big, physical and versatile linebacker, which is something head coach Matt Patricia loves to have in his defenses. Because of his versatility, Tavai has stood out in the early offseason.

    “Sure enough, Tavai was used all over the box to bring the heat during OTAs and minicamp,” Kyle Meinke of MLive wrote. “I don’t have a great feel yet for exactly what we’ll see from Tavai in the fall. But from what I saw during spring practices, he’ll be used in a variety of ways, perhaps immediately.”

    With Tavai and offseason acquisition Trey Flowers now in the fold, Patricia should be able to implement the kind of playoff-caliber defense he was known for with the New England Patriots.

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    Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

    Wideout Jake Kumerow was one of the stars of the Packers’ 2018 preseason, but he was placed on injured reserve before the start of the regular season. He did return late in the year to catch eight passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.

    This offseason, Kumerow is standing out, earning the trust of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and potentially working his way into a significant offensive role.

    “Just little things that he does—I think almost innately—that separates him from a guy you might not trust as much because you know the guy is going to do it right,” Rodgers said, per Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. “He’s always going to be in the right spot.”

    If Rodgers is learning to trust Kumerow, fans can probably trust that he’ll be a reliable piece of the passing attack in 2019.

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    David J. Phillip/Associated Press

    Houston Texans running back D’Onta Foreman didn’t play a significant role in 2018 because he began the season on the PUP list with a torn Achilles. However, he’s now back to 100 percent and has been standing out in the offseason.

    “I think he’s been doing a great job,” fellow running back Lamar Miller said, per Mark Lane of Texans Wire. “He came back in great shape. He got leaner. He came with a different approach this year. Missing all of last year, so now heading into his third year, he’s very comfortable with the offense.”

    Expect the Texans to utilize both Miller and Foreman on the ground this season in an effort to take some pressure off quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was sacked 62 times in 2018.

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    Michael Hickey/Getty Images

    The Indianapolis Colts selected former Ohio State wideout Parris Campbell in the second round of April’s draft. The shifty speedster should add another explosive element to Indianapolis’ passing attack, but for him to do so as a rookie will require a quick transition to the pro game.

    While Campbell hasn’t gotten a taste of game action yet, he’s managed to stand out by quickly absorbing everything the Colts have thrown at him in the offseason.

    “Parris is picking it up very quickly and he’s picking up the techniques that we are asking him to do quickly,” offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni said, per Kevin Hickey of Colts Wire. “He is having a good OTA, minicamp session.”

    Alongside fellow deep threat T.Y. Hilton, Campbell should help give Indianapolis one of the most explosive deep-passing attacks in the league this season.

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    John Raoux/Associated Press

    The Jacksonville Jaguars added quarterback Nick Foles this offseason in an effort to spark their passing attack. Foles, the Super Bowl LII MVP, will make an impact. It’s looking like fellow offseason acquisition Chris Conley will help him do so.

    Conley has stood out as a big receiving threat in early offseason workouts.

    “Chris Conley always seems to find the open areas in the defensive coverage. He’s had a strong week catching the football,” John Reid of the Florida Times-Union wrote in May.

    Conley was often overshadowed in the Kansas City Chiefs offense, but he’ll have the opportunity to break out in Jacksonville.

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    Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

    The Kansas City Chiefs are transitioning to a 4-3-based defense under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo this year. Thanks to the offseason efforts of linebacker Anthony Hitchens, the transition may go relatively smoothly.

    “Hitchens is unbelievable,” head coach Andy Reid said, per Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride. “Hitchens kind of keeps everybody intact. You like to have that guy, just like we were talking about with Austin [Reiter], he’s your transmitter from the back end to the front end. Those guys become important.”

    Hitchens, who played in a 4-3 base with the Cowboys, is proving to be a player the defense can lean on during the learning process. He’ll likely be a player the defense leans on early and often once the regular season finally arrives as well.

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    David Richard/Associated Press

    Cornerback Trevor Williams started 22 games for the Los Angeles Chargers over the last two seasons. However, he only made nine appearances in 2018 before landing on injured reserve with a knee injury.

    Fortunately, Williams is again healthy and has been standing out in the offseason.

    “I have to tell you, Trevor looks outstanding,” head coach Anthony Lynn said, via the team’s official website. “His confidence is back. He’s playing like it in practice. His change-of-direction is night and day.”

    As long as Williams continues to get healthier and continues to improve on the practice field, he’ll likely pick up where he left off as one of L.A.’s starting corners.

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    Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

    The Los Angeles Rams didn’t heavily utilize their tight ends last season, due in large part to the talent they had at wide receiver. However, Gerald Everett, who had 320 yards and three touchdowns in 2018, could force the Rams to look to the tight end more this year.

    Everett has shown improvement this offseason and is standing out because of it.

    “I think the game’s slowing down for him,” head coach Sean McVay said, via the team’s official website. “I think with some of the routes that entail some of the decision-making things are slowing down for him. He’s playing with some patience.”

    If Everett can emerge as a quality receiving option this season, the Rams passing attack is going to be that much tougher to defend.

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    Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

    Wide receiver DeVante Parker has struggled to live up to his first-round-pick status with the Miami Dolphins. Could this year finally be the year in which he puts everything together?

    If the early offseason is any indication, it just might be.

    “He’s done a nice job,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said of Parker, per Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald. “Attention to detail. He does a good job tracking the ball, has a nice catching radius. He’s a big, physical guy, and he has been impressive thus far.”

    The Dolphins need Parker to continue improving throughout training camp because he’s their best chance of having a No. 1 receiver this season.

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    Jim Mone/Associated Press

    The Minnesota Vikings have arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. What they’ve lacked over the past couple seasons is a reliable third receiver. However, that could be changing thanks to the offseason emergence of wideout Chad Bebee.

    “[Beebe] has probably had as good an offseason as any player that I know on our side of the ball,” assistant head coach Gary Kubiak said, per Andre Krammer of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “He’s got a chance to be a really good player for us. It gives us good flexibility to be able to bounce around personnel-wise.”

    Beebe was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Northern Illinois last offseason. Though he only had four receptions as a rookie, he could be in line for much, much more production in his sophomore campaign.

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    Steven Senne/Associated Press

    The Patriots traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Browns in 2016. At the time, it felt like New England no longer had a place for him on its defense, but the Patriots brought Collins back this offseason.

    As things stand, it’s looking like Collins won’t just have a place on the defense; he’ll be a key piece of it.

    ESPN’s Mike Reiss described Collins as “active and looking like a key cog” during minicamp.

    Collins is educated on what it takes to be a critical member of the Patriots defense. This has allowed him to stand out even after only recently rejoining the team, and it should allow him to regularly be in the spotlight once meaningful games are underway.

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    Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

    The New Orleans Saints lost center Max Unger to retirement this offseason, which left a big hole along the offensive line. New Orleans added Nick Easton to help replace him, but rookie second-round pick Erik McCoy may already be passing the veteran on the depth chart.

    McCoy has stood out to this point.

    “He’s exceptionally smart. He picks things up well. He’s a strong player,” head coach Sean Payton said, via the team’s official website.

    At the very least, McCoy appears poised to provide strong competition at the center position in training camp. While he likely won’t be as good as Unger, a three-time Pro Bowler, right out of the gate, he could be the Saints’ long-term solution at center.

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    Adam Hunger/Associated Press

    The New York Giants are going to miss having the playmaking ability of a top-tier receiver like Odell Beckham Jr. this season. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t still field a quality receiving corps. With Sterling Shepard and offseason acquisition Golden Tate on the roster, the Giants should have plenty of options in the passing game.

    Rookie wideout Darius Slayton appears in line to be one of those options. The speedy receiver out of Auburn has steadily improved throughout the offseason and has worked his way into opportunities with the first-team offense.

    “Darius has done a really good job,” head coach Pat Shurmur said, per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. “I think he is the most improved in my eyes.”

    If he continues improving through training camp, Slayton should be a notable piece of New York’s passing attack in 2019.

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    Julio Cortez/Associated Press

    Not every player on this list has stood out because of what they’ve physically done during the offseason. New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, for example, has been a standout because of the mental maturity he’s flashed during workouts, as SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano explained:

    “What’s impressed [head coach Adam] Gase is how much Darnold has learned from last year—mistakes he made in the past that he doesn’t make now, or things that he suddenly knows he needs to do. Darnold has also impressed his coach with how fast he’s picked up a new playbook and scheme. It can’t be easy for a young quarterback to learn his second NFL scheme in his second NFL year.”

    Darnold showed plenty of potential as a rookie, but he also had a habit of making bad decisions and turning the ball over (15 interceptions, 5 fumbles). Simply correcting these mistakes should have him on his way to being a legitimate franchise quarterback.

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    Ed Zurga/Associated Press

    The Oakland Raiders lost Pro Bowl tight end Jared Cook in free agency. However, they may not miss him, if the early offseason is any indication. Darren Waller, who had just six receptions last season, has impressed teammates and appears ready to pick up where Cook left off.

    “Darren has the skill set, he has the want-to, he has the aggression to do it, now he just has to go do it,” quarterback Derek Carr said, per Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I’m really excited about him. Darren Waller is super, super fast, if I’m being real, and he works his tail off.”

    Waller spent four years with the Ravens before landing in Oakland last year, and he has just 18 career receptions. Given the defensive attention that Antonio Brown and Ty Williams will draw this season, though, he could top that total within the first few weeks.

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    Matt Slocum/Associated Press

    Zach Ertz is an offensive standout for the Philadelphia Eagles and one of the best tight ends in the NFL. However, teams focusing heavily on stopping him in 2019 could get burned by second-year tight end Dallas Goedert.

    Goedert showed plenty of playmaking potential as a rookie, catching 33 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns. If the early offseason is any indication, however, he’s going to be even more dangerous in his second season.

    “Dallas impressed me,” safety Trey Sullivan said, per The Athletic’s Bo Wulf. “I mean, we already knew he was a good player, good red-zone target, but, you know, he’s just opening his game as an overall tight end.”

    With improvements from Goedert and the addition of receivers DeSean Jackson and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, the Eagles could end up with one of the best receiving corps in all of football this season.

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    Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

    The Pittsburgh Steelers moved up in the first round to select former Michigan linebacker Devin Bush. They did so for two primary reasons. For one, they wanted get in front of the Bengals to ensure Cincinnati couldn’t land Bush. Secondly, they believe that Bush, who racked up 79 tackles and 5.0 sacks last season, can replace Ryan Shazier in the middle of their defense.

    This offseason, Bush has been as good as advertised.

    “He showed really quickly he’s going to be able to fit in well with the defense with that group of guys,” tight end Vance McDonald said, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. “When you look at him, you don’t expect him to be as quick or as agile as he is.”

    The Steelers missed the speed and sideline-to-sideline ability of Shazier in a big way last season. It’s looking like Bush will indeed fill the enormous void at inside linebacker sooner than later.

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    Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

    San Francisco 49ers wideout Trent Taylor was impressive as a rookie in 2017, catching 43 passes for 430 yards and a touchdown. However, he was limited last season while recovering from back surgery, and he finished with just 215 yards and a score.

    Now fully healthy, Taylor is working his way back to rookie form and has stood out in the early offseason.

    “It’s awesome for Trent to be healthy. It’s been a grind for him to get back, so super happy and proud for him,” quarterback Nick Mullens said, per Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. “He’s definitely let people know Trent’s back this year during camp.”

    If Taylor continues to improve this offseason, San Francisco could have quite an intriguing young receiver group on its hands. Dante Pettis showed flashes as a rookie last season, and the 49ers added Jalen Hurd and Deebo Samuel during the draft.

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    Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

    Rookie third-round pick Cody Barton has gotten some opportunities with the Seattle Seahawks first-team defense this offseason with Bobby Wagner out. He’s used those opportunities to stand out, as ESPN’s Brady Henderson noted.

    “He was everywhere in team drills yesterday,” Henderson wrote on Twitter in May. “Was watching next to Brock Huard and his well-trained eyes saw the same. Barton is in a perfect spot w/ Bobby Wagner there but not practicing. Gets to take first-team reps while soaking up info from an All-Pro.”

    While Barton may only be a depth player to start his Seahawks career, he’s looking like a guy who will contribute sooner than later.

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    Chris O’Meara/Associated Press

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used the fifth overall pick in the draft on former LSU inside linebacker Devin White. That’s traditionally been high for an off-ball linebacker. However, in today’s NFL, linebackers who can cover and tackle from sideline to sideline are coveted.

    This is exactly the kind of defender the Buccaneers hope to have in White, and it’s the kind of defender White has appeared to be during the offseason. His talent and potential have been a big highlight, as Carmen Vitali of the team’s official website noted.

    “White snared an interception in the very first OTA and then seemingly got his hands on at least one pass every day that week,” Vitali wrote. “It was a very fast and very encouraging start for a young player the Buccaneers are going to count on immediately to produce big plays.”

    Defense was a major issue for the Buccaneers in 2018, as the team allowed 383.4 yards per game (27th). White should provide an immediate boost on that side of the ball, similar to the sort of impact linebackers Darius Leonard and Leighton Vander Esch had last season for the Colts and Cowboys, respectively.

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    Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

    The Tennessee Titans are hoping to get more out of quarterback Marcus Mariota this season. That’s one of the reasons they added Adam Humphries and A.J. Brown in the offseason. The potential of third-year receiver Tajae Sharpe shouldn’t be overlooked as the Titans try to provide Mariota with weapons.

    According to Jim Wyatt of the team’s official website, Sharpe has regularly stood out during early offseason practices.

    “Sharpe has looked good in several OTAs this offseason,” Wyatt wrote.

    Sharpe provided just 838 yards and four touchdowns in his first two seasons, but he could emerge as more of a regular contributor this season.

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    Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press

    Plenty has been made this offseason about the Washington Redskins and their underwhelming receiving corps. Josh Doctson led all wideouts with just 532 yards receiving last season, and Washington did little to upgrade its receiver room outside of drafting Terry McLaurin in the third round.

    This could make things tough on rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins if he is given the starting nod in 2019. However, things may not be as dire as they appear on the surface. Based on the early offseason, Washington could have a rising receiver on its hands in the form of second-year wideout Trey Quinn.

    “Trey Quinn has taken over the inside slot role,” head coach Jay Gruden said during minicamp, per JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington. 
”He’s confident, he’s quick, he’s got strong hands, he’s physical, [and] he’s tough.”

    Quinn had just nine receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown as a rookie, but he should be in line for a much larger role in his sophomore campaign.

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Turkey’s opposition sees turning point in Istanbul mayoral win

Opposition supporters and the few media outlets that back them are calling Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Ekrem Imamoglu’s win in the Istanbul mayoral rerun vote a win for democracy.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been dealt an awkward blow, with his personal campaign efforts for the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) candidate Binali Yildirim backfiring.

Imamoglu won with close to a 10 percent margin. He had originally won the first vote on March 31st by less than 14,000 votes, but the election was invalidated and held again on Sunday.

The state-supported newspapers in Turkey, namely Milliyet, Yeni Safak, Turkgun and Star, seemingly could not come to terms with the AK Party’s loss, printing identical headlines on Monday that said: ‘Istanbul makes its choice’ or ‘Istanbul had its election”.

Turkey

Monday’s state-supported newspapers ran the same headline: ‘Istanbul had its election’ ignoring the opposition win  [screengrabs via Twitter]

 International markets appeared to approve the city’s choice for mayor. In the wake of Imamoglu’s win, the Turkish lira was up nearly two percent sitting at 5.717 lira against the dollar on Monday.

Any economic upturn is good news as Turkey recently entered into recession for the first time in a decade. The lira lost around a third of its value against the dollar last year.

In final election results released by state-run Anadolu Agency, Imamoglu received 54.21 percent of the 10.5 million votes cast, while Yildirim took 44.99 percent.

End of AK Party rule

Nearly 85 percent of Istanbul’s population voted.

The win for the opposition draws to a close the nearly two-decade long rule by the AK Party in Turkey’s largest metropolis.

Erdogan, who launched his political career as Istanbul’s mayor in the 1990s, took to Twitter after Yildirim conceded defeat, congratulating Imamoglu on his win.

“The national will has been manifested once again today. I congratulate Ekrem Imamoğlu who won the election according to informal results,” Erdogan wrote.

Tugay Tasci, a 23-year-old theology student and AK Party supporter, told Al Jazeera Erdogan’s intervention in AK Party’s campaign in Istanbul wasn’t appropriate.

“I don’t think they needed to contribute to Yildirim’s campaign, because the more they intervened in Yildirim’s campaign, the more he lost support,” Tasci said.

Imamoglu campaigned for the eradication of poverty, equal distribution of wealth, stood up for minorities, and declared his love for every single person of Istanbul.

He promised to make the municipality transparent again, improve transportation, ease the financial burden of mothers and students, increase employment and also make Istanbul a safe place to live.

Now after winning “the love of the children, the enthusiasm of the young [and] the prayers of the mother,” as he wrote on Twitter, Imamoglu has a massive job on his hands.

Tasci said Imamoglu is not as qualified to be mayor as his opponent, former Prime Minister Yildirim.

“People just voted for the promises … because they appeal to them… but I don’t think they’ll be able to get what they want from Imamoglu,” Tasci said.

He also said Erdogan will be able to influence what Imamoglu will be able to accomplish as mayor.

“Erdogan can decide the way Imamoglu operates in the future because most projects will eventually require him to get Erdogan’s signature.”

Imamoglu addressed Erdogan during a news conference after his win on Sunday night saying: “I am ready to work with you in harmony.”

“I put myself up for that, and I announce this in front of all of Istanbul’s people.”

‘Erdogan vs Imamoglu’

Turkey is a centralised state, and local government relies on central government for much of its revenue.

“[Erdogan] can cut funding and limit mayoral powers of Imamoglu, but ironically this will only strengthen Imamoglu’s brand as the ‘new Erdogan’,” Soner Cagaptay, an analyst at The Washington Institute for Near East Studies told Al Jazeera.

“I think the most exciting story of Turkish politics for the next four years is going to be Erdogan vs Imamoglu.”

Two hours after polling booths closed on Sunday, fireworks lit up the sky, and the streets in Turkey’s biggest city were jammed with Imamoglu’s supporters waving national flags, hanging out of car windows with horns blaring.

Footpaths were flooded as people chanted: “Everything is going to be very beautiful again,” echoing the victor’s campaign slogan

Spontaneous street parties lasted into the early hours of Monday morning, largely in areas of traditional opposition support such as Kadıköy and Besiktas.

Imamoglu merchandise was on sale seemingly everywhere and elated voters danced in the streets ignoring traffic lights, to the concern of local police.

Istanbul sees a turning point for Turkey in opposition win

Along with Imamoglu being a ‘great person, with a great personality,’ Ozlem Maden (left) said she voted for him because he stands up for young people in Istanbul. [Tessa Fox/Al Jazeera]

Ozlem Maden, 30, sported an Imamoglu headband and said she was celebrating a win for Turkish democracy.

“My friends and I are so happy … we are very very happy,” Maden exclaimed.

“It’s not just an Istanbul election for us, it’s the end of the Erdogan situation in fact, with this election … we think it is the beginning of CHP [all over Turkey].”

Ali, 56, who asked for his last name to be withheld, moved to London six months ago, and flew back to Istanbul just to vote in the mayoral rerun election.

“It was very important for me to be here, to prove that Erdogan can’t just take what he wants. He cancelled the first election so we had to make a point that he can’t get his way all the time,” Ali said while waving a Turkish flag.

Voters elected Imamoglu mayor nearly three months ago by a razor-slim margin, before the Supreme Electoral Council bent to lobbying by Erdogan’s ruling party and cancelled the vote.

Berkey Yavuz*, 55, told Al Jazeera Turkish people want democracy and this election proved that.

“I didn’t just vote for CHP, I voted for democracy in Turkey,” Turan said, his voice barely heard above the sounds of celebration.

“Istanbul is the starting point for democracy, and now it will trickle to all of Turkey. The dictator is finished, and democracy wins.”

Cagaptay, director of the think-tank’s Turkish research programme, said the election result marks the decline of Erdogan’s long-held ‘brand,’ which represented Turkey’s dispossessed and those marginalized by the system.

“He represented the pious conservative and working class masses that felt othered and marginalized by Turkey’s 21st century secularist political system,” Cagaptay said.

“But of course in the last two decades, Erdogan has become the establishment.

“It’s now Imamoglu’s supporters who look dispossessed and marginalized by the system, and I think that really boosted his margin of victory.”

*Name has been changed for security reasons

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