Ayia Napa: Mother of convicted Briton backs Cyprus boycott

The mother of a woman convicted of lying about being raped says she believes Ayia Napa is unsafe.

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Palau is first country to ban 'reef toxic' sun cream

The move is designed to protect marine life around the Pacific island state.

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New Year’s Eve 2020: Pictures From Around the World

By SARAH ECKINGER from NYT World https://ift.tt/2QfbD7q

North Korea Is No Longer Bound by Nuclear Test Moratorium, Kim Says

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World https://ift.tt/2tmNkvG

2nd Senate Republican Questions Impartiality of Impeachment Trial

By EMILY COCHRANE from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2QGlLFE

An Officer Admitted Making a Racist Threat. He Still Has a Job.

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The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat

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Inside China’s Push to Turn Muslim Minorities Into an Army of Workers

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The Legacy of Destructive Austerity

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Racism Dispute Roils Romance Writers Group

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New on Sports Illustrated: Sam Ehlinger Leads Texas's Alamo Bowl Romp Over No. 12 Utah

Sam Ehlinger passed for three touchdowns and ran for another as Texas dominated No. 12 Utah 38-10 in the Alamo Bowl on Tuesday night.

SAN ANTONIO — Sam Ehlinger passed for three touchdowns and ran for another, and Texas excised the frustrations of a disappointing regular season with a dominant 38-10 win over No. 12 Utah in the Alamo Bowl on Tuesday night.

After a 10-win season in 2018 set up a Top 10 ranking to start 2019, Texas underwhelmed in a season the Longhorns expected to contend for the Big 12 title. Instead, they ended the year with both the offensive and defensive coordinators getting replaced.

For one game at least, Texas (8-5) wiped all that away with a bruising and convincing win over a Utah team that only a month ago was on the verge of making the College Football Playoff.

The Utes (11-3) didn't get there after they were swamped in the Pac-12 title game by Oregon and perhaps struggled to shake off the heartbreak of what could have been.

Texas physically handled the Utes at the line of scrimmage. Longhorns linebacker Joseph Ossai had three sacks of quarterback Tyler Huntley and six total tackles for a loss.

Texas also pounded out 231 yards rushing against the nation's No. 1 defense against the run, which had held 10 opponents under 70 yards. Texas' biggest run came on a 31-yard burst by Ehlinger on third down on the drive that led to his 6-yard touchdown that made it 24-3 late in the third quarter. Keaontay Ingram later added a 49-yard TD burst on the sideline late in the fourth.

Ehlinger finished with 201 yards passing. His first touchdown went to Collin Johnson, who missed six games this season with a nagging hamstring injury. His last was to Devin Duvernay, who caught three passes for 92 yards.

THE TAKEAWAY

Utah: The Utes delivered a dud after a season that was so good until December. Coach Kyle Whittingham had talked about what a boost getting a 12th win would be, particularly against a name program like Texas. Now the Utes head into 2020 needing to replace nine senior starters, six on a defense that was among the best in the nation much of the season.

Texas: For the second straight year, Texas used a bowl win to pummel a team that just missed the national playoff. What it means for 2020, there's no way to tell. Texas will have new offensive (Mike Yurcich) and defensive (Chris Ash) coordinators in what will be a pivotal year for coach Tom Herman. The Longhorns expect to return 15 starters.

UP NEXT

Utah plays BYU in Salt Lake City on Sept. 5.

Texas hosts South Florida on Sept. 5.

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Zion Williamson Could Make Season Debut in January

Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson had surgery on a torn meniscus in October and has yet to make his regular season debut.

Zion Williamson may be getting closer to making his NBA regular season debut.

Williamson is reportedly expected to join the Pelicans in practice on Wednesday. Both New Orleans and the rookie are "hopeful" he will return to the court in January after recovering from surgery on a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee, 

according to Stadium's Shams Charania.

"Williamson is expected to return to his first practice shortly after the New Year on Wednesday and I'm told both sides are hopeful of a January season debut for Williamson," Charania said. 

Williamson underwent surgery on Oct. 21 before ever playing a regular season game once it was confirmed he tore his meniscus.

The Pelicans have been very cautious with Williamson during his recovery process. Last week, ESPN's Jorge Sedano reported that his rehab process from surgery has entailed more than just the standard recovery procedure. The team is reportedly teaching Williamson how to walk and run differently to work "on the kinetic chain of his body."

Sedano added that before Williamson makes his debut, the Pelicans would reportedly like him to complete two or three practices with the team.

New Orleans has struggled without Williamson. The team is 11–23 and sits in 14th place in the Western Conference.

North Korea threatens to resume nuclear and ICBM testing

Kim Jong-un says his country is developing a new 'strategic weapon', but leaves room for US talks.

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Australia fires: More than 200 homes burn down on coast

Australia's fires have killed at least three people in recent days and left hundreds homeless.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/39DEnia

What year is it?

While lots of people are celebrating the start of 2020, it's a different year altogether for some.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2FcfLPi

The story of the aeroplane house in Nigeria's capital Abuja

Said Jammal has spent 20 years building the family's unusual home in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/36qn6qo

Are your friends bad for your health?

We tend to copy the way our friends and family behave, potentially leading us to put on weight or even divorce.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2MIDkDu

Why mature dating apps are coming of age

An increasing number of older people are turning to dating apps for mature people, in a quest for love.

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What does it mean to be a black traveller?

Four millennials on being the first black person some people meet, and other issues for black tourists.

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The region which legislates who you can love

LGBT activists are mounting legal battles against the Caribbean's colonial-era homophobic laws.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2sBFJcu

New on Sports Illustrated: Wyoming Rolls Over Georgia State in Arizona Bowl

Wyoming built a 14-point lead by halftime and racked up 524 total yards to beat Georgia State 38-17 in the Arizona Bowl on Saturday.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Xazavian Valladay ran for 204 yards and scored two touchdowns, quarterback Levi Williams accounted for four scores and Wyoming rolled over Georgia State 38-17 in the Arizona Bowl on Saturday.

Wyoming (8-5) started slow before scoring two quick touchdowns late in the first quarter and early in the second. G after being left out of the postseason last year.

Williams made his first career start after Tyler Vander Waal entered the transfer portal but remained with the team for bowl practices. The freshman was poised under the bowl spotlight, throwing for three touchdowns and running for another.

Valladay had three catches for 91 yards and a touchdowns.

Georgia State (7-6) jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter but had a hard time stopping the big-play Cowboys. The Panthers twice turned the ball over on downs deep in Wyoming's end in the second half.

Dan Ellington, who played with a torn right ACL, threw for 156 yards and a TD, adding 70 yards and a score rushing.

The Panthers got off to a fast start, marching quickly for Ellington's 4-yard TD run and going up 10-0 after a field goal.

The Cowboys took over from there, scoring two touchdowns in less than two minutes. Williams threw an 18-yard TD to Austin Conway and, following an interception thrown by Ellington, he found Valladay on an 8-yard score to put Wyoming up 17-7.

Early in the second quarter, Williams had an interception deep in Georgia State's end on an ill-advised back-foot throw. He made a similar throw just before halftime, but that one turned into a 51-yard touchdown when Ayden Eberhardt broke two tackles, weaved through Georgia State's secondary and broke another tackle diving into the end zone.

The Cowboys led 24-10 at halftime.

Williams and Valladay connected on a 63-yard pass to open the second half and Valladay scored on a 1-yard run the next play.

Georgia State responded quickly, pulling within 31-17 when Ellington hit Cornelius McCoy on a 44-yard TD.

Wyoming kept gouging the Panthers' defense, though. Valladay broke two tackles on a 62-yard run, setting up Williams' 6-yard TD run around the right end.

THE TAKEAWAY

Ellington put in a valiant effort while playing injured, but Georgia State's defense gave up too many big-chunk plays.

Wyoming had a huge offensive day to cap a disappointing finish - 1-3 over its final four regular season games.

UP NEXT

Wyoming loses four starters to graduation on offense and five on defense. Williams is a freshman and Valladay is a sophomore, giving the Cowboys two key skill players coming back.

Georgia State loses just two starters on offense and one on defense, so the Panthers should be in good shape to possibly set another school record for wins.

New on Sports Illustrated: Trick Play, Field Goal Lift No. 21 Navy Over Kansas State in Liberty Bowl

Bijan Nichols kicked a 23-yard field goal with two seconds remaining and No. 21 Navy capitalized on a fourth-down gamble in the final minute to beat Kansas State 20-17 in the Liberty Bowl.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Bijan Nichols kicked a 23-yard field goal with two seconds remaining and No. 21 Navy capitalized on a fourth-down gamble in the final minute to beat Kansas State 20-17 in the Liberty Bowl on Tuesday.

A Navy team with the nation's top-ranked rushing attack set up the winning score by completing a halfback option pass with less than 30 seconds left. The Midshipmen snapped the ball on fourth-and-3 from the Kansas State 46. Quarterback Malcolm Perry pitched to C.J. Williams, and he threw downfield to a wide-open Chance Warren for a 41-yard gain.

Perry, who rushed for 213 yards, spiked the ball with 5 seconds left to set up Nichols' field goal. Nichols had missed a 38-yarder earlier in the fourth quarter.

The victory enabled Navy (11-2) to tie a program record for wins and ensured the Midshipmen will finish a season in the AP Top 25 for just the third time in the last 56 years. Navy finished 18th in 2015 - when it also won 11 games - and was 24th in 2004.

Navy went 3-10 last year and matched the second-biggest season-to-season improvement in win-loss record of any team in Football Bowl Subdivision history. Hawaii owns the record by going 9-4 in 1999 after finishing 0-12 in 1998.

The Mids made that dramatic turnaround thanks largely to Perry, who capped a brilliant senior season with 28 carries and a touchdown pass.

Perry ran for 2,017 yards this season to set a Football Bowl Subdivision record for yards rushing by quarterback. The record had been owned by Jordan Lynch, who ran for 1,920 yards for Northern Illinois in 2013.

Navy dominated much of the game but wasted a couple of opportunities to put it away. The Mids led 17-10 late in the third quarter when a holding penalty on Billy Honaker wiped out a 31-yard run by Perry that would have given them first-and-goal at the 2. Navy ended up punting.

Nichols then sent a 38-yard field goal attempt wide left with 8:26 left in the game. At that point, Navy was outgaining Kansas State 351-83 but only led 17-10.

Kansas State finally got its offense going at that point, as Skylar Thompson connected with Wykeen Gill on a 15-yard completion and a 42-yard pass on back-to-back plays. Those long gains set up Thompson's 1-yard sneak that tied the game with 5:14 left.

THE TAKEAWAY

Navy: A vastly improved defense sparked Navy's turnaround and held Kansas State in check for much of the day. Kansas State's offense didn't reach the end zone for the first 54 1/2 minutes of the game. The Wildcats' first touchdown came on a 66-yard punt return by Phillip Brooks, who also dropped a potential TD pass on the opening series.

Kansas State: The Wildcats ranked fourth nationally in time of possession during the regular season but couldn't keep their offense on the field Tuesday as Perry and the Mids controlled the clock. Kansas State still has reason to feel good about itself. Picked before the season to finish ninth out of 10 teams in the Big 12, the Wildcats instead won eight games and stunned eventual Big 12 champion Oklahoma in coach Chris Klieman's debut season.

UP NEXT

Navy will head overseas to open the 2020 season Aug. 29 by facing Notre Dame at Dublin, Ireland. The Mids will have a tough time matching the quarterback production of Perry, who ended his college career Tuesday. Freshman Perry Olsen backed up Perry this season.

Kansas State opens its 2020 season Sept. 5 by hosting Buffalo. The Wildcats return Thompson and first-team all-Big 12 defensive end Wyatt Hubert but must replace graduate transfer running backs James Gilbert and Jordon Brown as well as their entire starting offensive line.

New on Sports Illustrated: Arizona State Defeats Florida State in Sun Bowl

Willie Harts returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to lead Arizona State to a 20-14 victory against Florida State in the Sun Bowl.

EL Paso, Texas — Willie Harts returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to lead Arizona State to a 20-14 victory against Florida State on Tuesday in the Sun Bowl.

Harts, a freshman cornerback, halted a 14-0 surge by Florida State (6-7) and helped the Sun Devils (8-5) hang on for their fourth Sun Bowl victory, despite not scoring an offensive touchdown.

James Blackman threw a 91-yard touchdown pass, the longest pass play in Sun Bowl history, to Tamorrion Terry to give Florida State its first lead, 14-9, in the third quarter. The Seminoles trailed 9-0 at halftime.

Cristian Zendejas kicked a Sun Bowl record-tying four field goals for Arizona State, including a 34-yarder in the fourth quarter to cut the FSU lead to 14-12.

Then Blackman's fourth interception of the game was returned by Harts to put the Sun Devils ahead for good with 10:06 left in the fourth.

Jayden Daniels was 12-for-28 passing for 198 yards to lead the Sun Devils. He also ran 36 yards and a 2-point conversion.

The first half was a comedy of errors for both offenses as the defenses stepped up in the absence of the teams' star rushers. Eno Benjamin of ASU and Cam Akers of FSU both sat out to protect their NFL draft stock.

Florida State turned the ball over three times (two interceptions and a fumble) and had a field goal blocked, while Arizona State lost two fumbles.

Cornerback Stanford Samuels also sat out for the Seminoles.

Florida State played redshirt freshman Deonte Sheffield at running back, who finished with 87 yards on 18 carries. Arizona State had freshman Demetrious Flowers and sophomore A.J. Carter handle rushing duties.

Blackman finished 14 of 26 for 244 yards, with one TD. Terry had nine catches for 165 yards.

By the end of the game, Arizona State was down three defensive starters - safety Cam Phillips didn't dress, while cornerbacks Jack Jones and Chase Lucas suffered injuries during the game. Sun Devils defensive lineman Jermayne Lole also missed a chunk of second half.

THE TAKEAWAY

Florida State: Posted consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1973-76, which was Bobby Bowden's first year as Seminoles coach. Florida State now transitions to coach Mike Norvell. Willie Taggart was fired in November and Odell Haggins held things down as interim coach.

Arizona State: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk chose not to play. Aiyuk finished eighth in the nation in receiving yards.

UP NEXT:

Florida State: The Seminoles play their first game under Norvell against West Virginia in Atlanta on Sept. 5.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils start next season against Northern Arizona.

New on Sports Illustrated: Lamical Perine Leads No. 6 Florida Past Virginia in Orange Bowl

Lamical Perine totaled 181 yards rushing and receiving with three touchdowns Monday to help No. 6 Florida beat Virginia 36-28 in the Orange Bowl.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Lamical Perine scored on a 61-yard run in the opening minute and didn't stop after that, totaling 181 yards rushing and receiving with three touchdowns Monday to help No. 6 Florida beat Virginia 36-28 in the Orange Bowl.

Perine carried 13 times for a career-high 138 yards rushing at the end of a so-so senior season. He came into the game with only 538 yards rushing this year in the Gators' pass-oriented offense.

But Perine was too quick and speedy for the Cavaliers, as his dash through their secondary on the first series showed. He also scored on a 10-yard run, caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Trask and was chosen the game's most valuable player.

The win means Florida (11-2), led by second-year coach Dan Mullen, will likely finish in the Top Ten in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2008-09. The Cavaliers (9-5) lost their final two games but still posted their highest win total since 2007.

Trask capped a storybook junior season by throwing for 305 yards. He was lightly recruited and in late September became a starter for the first time since ninth grade.

Florida totaled 549 yards, including a season-high 244 rushing, and didn't punt until midway through the third quarter. The Gators exposed the weaknesses in a Virginia defense that allowed more than 23 points per game and gave up 62 to Clemson in an Atlantic Coast Conference title game loss.

The Cavaliers' offense tried valiantly to keep up. Bryce Perkins threw for 323 yards and four scores.

CLOSING IT OUT

Tanner Cowley's 52-yard catch-and-run led to a Cavaliers touchdown that cut their deficit to 27-21 early in the fourth quarter. The Gators answered with a touchdown set up by Perine's 23-yard run to the 1.

Virginia drove 75 yards for a touchdown with 38 seconds left, but Florida recovered the ensuing onside kick.

UP NEXT

The Gators open Sept. 5 against Eastern Washington. They'll have to replace four senior wide receivers, plus their top cornerback and pass rushers.

The Cavaliers' opener will be Monday, Sept. 7 against Georgia in Atlanta. ''As many of these games as we can play, and we've earned the right to play in on the stage that we're currently in, the faster the program accelerates,'' coach Bronco Mendenhall said.

Australia bushfire emergency: 'We were all terrified for our lives'

David Jeffrey was among thousands who fled to the beach in Mallacoota as fires approached the town.

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In Indonesia, Outlaw Gold Miners Poison Themselves to Survive

By RICHARD C. PADDOCK and ADAM DEAN from NYT World https://ift.tt/2MFmZzA

Make 2020 the Year of Less Sugar

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Biden Rebounds, Warren Slows, Sanders Rolls: The Latest on the 2020 Money Race

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Dax Shepard Is Listening

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How Big Companies Won New Tax Breaks From the Trump Administration

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Carlos Ghosn, Fallen Nissan Boss, Flees Japan to Escape ‘Political Persecution’

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'I feel complete' in Uganda - George the Poet

London-born spoken word artist and podcaster George the Poet reflects on belonging, diaspora and his Ugandan heritage before his first gig in the country.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2ZDsWCf

New on Sports Illustrated: Sources: President Trump Called Coach Orgeron Following LSU's Playoff Semifinal Win

Donald Trump phoned LSU coach Ed Orgeron Monday, several sources told Sports Illustrated, presumably to congratulate him on his team’s 63–28 victory over the Sooners in the Peach Bowl.

Ed Orgeron is used to receiving congratulatory messages and calls after any big win. That was the case again following LSU’s rout of Oklahoma in the CFP semifinal Saturday. However, one call stood out from the rest—it came from the president of the United States.

Donald Trump phoned the Tigers third-year coach Monday, several sources told Sports Illustrated, presumably to congratulate him on his team’s

63–28 victory over the Sooners in the Peach Bowl. The win propelled No. 1 seed LSU (14–0) to the national championship game against No. 3 Clemson (14–0) on Jan. 13 in New Orleans. It is not clear if the president plans to attend the game. He appeared at the 2017 national championship game, when Alabama stormed back to beat Georgia in overtime.

Details of the conversation between Orgeron and Trump remain private. Messages left with both White House and LSU spokespeople were not returned.

Trump, LSU and Louisiana have been interconnected in a variety of ways. He attended an LSU game already this season, watching the Tigers upset Alabama in November from a midfield suite at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. During a radio interview, he commented on LSU’s Heisman Trophy–winning quarterback, Joe Burrow. Louisiana is a strong base for the president. He won 58% of the vote in the 2016 presidential election, receiving more individual votes than any previous candidate on a Louisiana ballot. He’s remained popular in the state amid his re-election campaign and despite the impeachment.

He’s embraced Louisiana in such a way that the state’s largest newspaper, The Advocate in Baton Rouge, published a story in November under the headline “Donald Trump loves Louisiana; many Louisiana leaders love him back.” Trump has taken six trips to the Pelican State in the last year, according to the outlet, using various complimentary words to describe Louisiana. “I love the state. I love the people. I love the whole thing,” he said at one function. Trump has taken a liking to Louisiana's Republican leaders, too, befriending most of all House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, even calling him “My Steve” at times.

Trump’s call comes at an interesting time politically. Orgeron shares a close relationship with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, who won re-election this fall over a Trump-backed Republican, Eddie Rispone. Sports Illustrated detailed the connection between Orgeron and Edwards in a story published in October, a pair of Louisiana natives who have bonded for both personal and political benefits. Edwards has attended multiple LSU games this season, including the semifinal win over Oklahoma. The governor posted on his Twitter a photo of Orgeron and him shaking hands during the postgame celebration. 

Orgeron is registered in Louisiana as an Independent.

New on Sports Illustrated: Matt Rhule’s Most Likely NFL Landing Spot, Josh McDaniels’s Coaching Plan, More Black Monday Notes

Plus, the turning point for Carson Wentz and the Eagles’ offense, a quick preview of Patriots-Titans and an early top-10 mock draft!

If you stick around through our nuggets, I’ll give you guys a very, VERY early mock draft. Deal? Deal. Let’s go …

• I mentioned this on Twitter: the Giants have received feedback that some coaches would be lukewarm on the job based on what’s perceived as an old-school structure gone stale. The thinking there is that too many people have been in their jobs for 10, 20 or even 30 years, and that the organization needs a bit of a reset.

My understanding is that Baylor coach Matt Rhule is among those who feel that way. If he’s going to land back where he was assistant offensive line coach in 2012, there’ll have to be some changes in how things are set up.

• As we mentioned this morning, expect Rhule to be interviewed by least three places (New York, Dallas, Carolina), and expect that he’ll be very measured in his approach after what he went through last year. There’s no way he’s going to a place that isn’t aligned with him philosophically or tries to impose staff on him. He’s a natural fit in New York, and my feeling is they would be the most likely to land him.

• The Browns’ head coaching search could be similar to the Giants’—the way the franchise is set up could look different after the team hires a new coach. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has long been a favorite of the Haslams. He didn’t even get an interview last year in large part because GM John Dorsey led much of the search—and there was a belief that Dorsey was leery about hiring a head coach coming from a place where the coach is king (especially after his experience with Andy Reid in Kansas City, and what happened with McDaniels and Dorsey’s close friend, Chris Ballard, in Indianapolis). So if the Haslams choose McDaniels? It’s fair to say Dorsey would become a figure to watch.

• If you don’t believe McDaniels is ready for a head coaching job, look no further than the detailed plan he has for staffing. Redskins offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell is on his plan, along with Colts secondary coach Jonathan Gannon, who coached in Indianapolis the last two years because he was on McDaniels’s Ohio-heavy Colts staff list. To get the Cleveland native Gannon this time around, McDaniels would, presumably, have to make him defensive coordinator.

I think McDaniels would take either the Cleveland job or the Carolina job, if things are structured right.

• O’Connell has become an interesting figure. Incoming coach Ron Rivera could keep him in D.C.—he’s under contract and has a great rapport with 22-year-old quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Or he could wind up on McDaniels’ staff (sources say he’s on the Patriots OC’s staff list). The 34-year-old O’Connell is regarded as a future head coach, with great potential as a developer of quarterbacks and as a play-caller. McDaniels coached O’Connell as a player in 2008, his rookie year in New England.

• Dolphins offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea was let go, and I’m told that part of it was Brian Flores’s desire to move away from his Patriot roots on that side of the ball. Why does that make sense? My theory is that since Miami’s going to be really young the next couple years, running a scheme with the complexity of New England’s might be tough on the players developmentally. Which is why it wouldn’t surprise me if we see some more college ideas infused into what Miami is doing.

• A leftover from my conversation with Carson Wentz on Sunday night—I asked if the obvious turning point for the offense, halftime of the Week 14 game against the Giants in the rain, was the actual turning point. His answer: 

“Everyone's asked that, and it's hard to kind of put your finger on one thing. I think the tempo offense helped, I think Coach [Doug Pederson] was dialed in with play calls. But at the same time, we just weren't executing in the first half. We knew we were just missing a lot of things and if we could just execute them at a higher level we'd be in good shape. And guys kept answering the bell and for me, it was just now or never to just, ‘Hey, trust whoever it is out there to make a play,’ and guys responded well and it's been fun.”

Like I said before, I believe Wentz’s ability to lift guys like Greg Ward up, which is in part due to the trust he’s referencing, is the Eagles QB taking the next step in his development. Which is huge for the whole franchise.

• The Titans are an interesting matchup for the Patriots, as New England prepares for its first wild-card game in a decade. There’s Mike Vrabel there, of course, who played for Bill Belichick from 2001-08. There’s defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who was Belichick’s defensive coordinator from 2006-09, and was a part of a Baltimore staff that won in Foxboro in the playoffs. There’s quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who was in the division for seven years. There’s former Patriots Logan Ryan, Dion Lewis and Malcolm Butler (though Butler’s on IR). And there’s GM Jon Robinson, who was Belichick’s college scouting director for eight years. Add that to the fact that Vrabel’s Titans blew up the Patriots 34-10 in Nashville last year, and Saturday night should be compelling.

• Seattle staffers spoke exceedingly highly of rookie linebacker Cody Barton in the spring and summer. I even had one compare his weekend at rookie minicamp to Russell Wilson’s in 2012, as far as having a young guy jump out right away. Well, now we get to see it. With veteran Mychal Kendricks down, Barton becomes the Seahawks’ strongside linebacker and will start for them against the Vikings on Sunday.

• Now, with the top 20 picks of the NFL draft set, something to get you ready for draft season …

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

3. Detroit Lions: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

4. New York Giants: Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

5. Miami Dolphins: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

7. Carolina Panthers: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

8. Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

10. Cleveland Browns: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

2019 in news: The alternative end-of-the-year awards

From the ridiculous to the more ridiculous, the weird stories that caught the eye this year.

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Citizenship Act protests: Why fear has gripped Muslims in this Indian state

The Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh is living in fear after a new citizenship law came into effect.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/36bjZ5V

China internet: Top talking points of 2019 and how they evaded the censors

From rebellious numbers to state-backed trends, China's internet was a noisy place in 2019.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2QyXMbi

Africa's year in pictures 2019

A selection of the best photos from across Africa this year.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2SHG1ZY

Tech 2019: Our biggest technology stories

Social media scandals dominate the list of the most-read news stories by the Tech desk this year.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/359u169

'Man on the Moon' moment - the year's big breakthroughs

The year of treating the untreatable: 2019 breakthroughs that could transform medicine.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/35dMvSS

Huawei: 'Survival will be our priority' in 2020

The firm admits life will be "difficult" after the Trump administration banned the firm in the US.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2SBkm5L

UK and US considered Nigeria naval blockade over Saro-Wiwa execution

The UK and US considered an oil embargo after activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged, document reveals.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2tfGc3Z

The digital links of 2019's global protests

Protests in Hong Kong, Chile and the Middle East all shared an online presence which helped connect the movements.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/37oZNO1

New on Sports Illustrated: Chase Garbers's Big Day Leads Cal Past Illinois in Redbox Bowl

Chase Garbers threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score, leading California to a 35-20 win over Illinois on Monday in the Redbox Bowl.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Chase Garbers threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score, leading California to a 35-20 win over Illinois on Monday in the Redbox Bowl.

Christopher Brown Jr. ran for 120 yards on 20 carries, and Makai Polk caught five passes for a season-high 105 yards as Cal (8-5) won its first bowl game since 2015.

Brandon Peters passed for 273 yards and one touchdown for Illinois (6-7) in his return after sitting out the regular-season finale with a concussion. Peters, who was shaken up again after diving out of bounds following a scramble late in the fourth quarter, completed 22 of 37 passes and added a team-high 68 rushing yards.

Garbers, who had been in and out of the lineup all season because of a shoulder injury, got going after being sacked on the first play from scrimmage and throwing an incomplete pass on the second. The offensive MVP of the game, Garbers completed 22 of 31 passes for 272 yards with TD passes of 4, 3, 2 and 6 yards. He also scored on quarterback sneak from the 1 early in the second quarter while helping the Bears set a season-high for scoring.

The strong showing by Garbers offset an uneven day by California's defense.

The Bears allowed a field goal and touchdown on the Fighting Illini's first two drives, then surrendered a late field goal before halftime.

Illinois' offense was mostly stagnant after that, while California pulled away.

The Bears had lost three of their previous four bowl games.

California led 14-10 late in the second quarter before the two teams combined for 10 points in the final 25 seconds.

After Bears coach Justin Wilcox made the decision to go for it on a 4th-and-goal, Garbers threw a short swing pass to Brown who stiff-armed Illinois linebacker Tolson Khalan before reaching the end zone.

Peters helped the Illini answer quickly. He completed three consecutive passes for 58 yards, setting up a 30-yard field goal by James McCourt.

THE TAKEAWAY

California: The Bears put a nice ending on their roller-coaster season with their third consecutive win. Linebacker Evan Weaver was stopped short in his bid to set the NCAA single-season record for tackles, but that was one of the few things that didn't go Cal's way. Garbers might have needed this game as much as anybody and it bodes well for the entire offense heading into next year.

Illinois: There was never much consistency to the offense and the secondary was repeatedly beaten for big gains, a bad combination on a day when California's quarterback had a career game. Lovie Smith acknowledged before the game that he felt the Illini were already a year ahead of schedule, so in a way, they were playing with house money. But with three consecutive losses to end the year, much of that progress will be overshadowed.

UP NEXT

California: The Bears will lose Weaver to graduation but return 18 other starters on offense and defense. They open the 2020 season against UNLV at Allegiant Stadium, the future home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.

Illinois: With almost the entire starting unit on both sides of the ball expected back next season, Smith's team has high expectations heading into 2020. The Illini will host Illinois State in the season opener on Sept. 4.

New on Sports Illustrated: Louisville Beats Mississippi State in Music City Bowl

The Cardinals rallied from a 14-point deficit by scoring 31 straight to beat the Bulldogs, 38-28.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Micale Cunningham threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 81 more, and Louisville capped coach Scott Satterfield's debut season by beating Mississippi State 38-28 Monday in the Music City Bowl.

The Cardinals (8-5) rallied from a 14-point deficit by scoring 31 straight to finish their big turnaround from 2-10 last season. Louisville also finally beat Mississippi State on the field for the first time in six tries, though the series now is tied 3-3 thanks to a pair of forfeits by the Bulldogs in the 1970s.

Mississippi State (6-7) had been trying to finish the season with a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2013 and only the third time since the end of World War II. Instead, the Bulldogs go home having lost a bowl game in each of coach Joe Moorhead's two seasons.

The Cardinals had four sacks and recovered two fumbles, one returned 31 yards for a TD by safety Khane Pass.

Javian Hawkins led Louisville with 105 yards rushing, and he ran for a TD late. The Cardinals outgained Mississippi State 510-366.

Louisville was poised to take control on its opening drive, going from the Cardinals 3 down the field. Cunningham hit Dez Fitzpatrick on a 19-yard pass only to be stripped of the ball by linebacker Willie Gay Jr., with linebacker Tim Washington recovering for the Bulldogs just short of the end zone.

Tommy Stevens led Mississippi State on a 99-yard drive, and he put the Bulldogs up 7-0 with a 3-yard TD run. Mississippi State added an 80-yard drive and went up 14-0 on a 3-yard TD run by Nick Gibson with 10:19 left in the second quarter.

Louisville finally got on the board with a bit of trickery. Micale Cunningham lateraled left to wide receiver Tutu Atwell, who threw back across the field to a wide-open Marshon Ford, who then ran in for a 33-yard TD midway through the second. Ryan Chalifoux added a 31-yard field goal as the first half expired to pull Louisville within 14-10.

Cunningham put Louisville ahead to stay with a 24-yard TD pass to Devante Peete with 5:01 left in the third. Pass scored when he recovered the ball after Gary McCrae chopped it out of Stevens' arms. Cunningham added an 8-yard TD pass to Ford early in the fourth for a 31-14 lead.

THE TAKEAWAYS

Mississippi State: Junior running back Kylin Hill, the Southeastern Conference's leading rusher with 1,347 yards, stuck around for this bowl despite his plans to enter the NFL draft. Hill came in needing 45 yards to break the Bulldogs' single-season rushing record held by Anthony Dixon, but he finished with 3 yards on seven carries.

Louisville: The Cardinals lost their starting middle linebacker Dorian Etheridge early in the second quarter. The linebacker's left leg was under Bulldogs tight end Geor'quarius Spivey, and Etheridge tried to jerk his leg free and then kicked at Spivey trying to get free. It didn't matter, not with an offense filled with so many playmakers. Atwell caught nine passes for 147 yards, setting the single-season record with 1,276 yards receiving.

UP NEXT

Mississippi State: Moorhead does have quarterback Garrett Shrader for next season after an upper-body injury kept the freshman out of this game.

Louisville: The future is very bright for Satterfield's second season with much of his starting offense back led by Cunningham, Hawkins and Atwell.

New on Sports Illustrated: Ranking the Current NFL Head Coach Job Openings

If you were a potential NFL head coach looking for your next place of employment, how would you pick between the situations that are currently vacant?

For the third time since 2016, Giants owner John Mara has stepped to the lectern and answered questions about the future of the franchise at a major decision point.

The team’s divorce with Tom Coughlin was followed by the

in-season dismissal of Ben McAdoo and long-time general manager Jerry Reese. Then came Monday, when Mara announced that he would be letting head coach Pat Shurmur go and retaining general manager Dave Gettleman.

It has been a turbulent finale to a decade that began with such promise (and a stunning victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI that seemed to breathe new life into the Coughlin regime). At each turn, there seems to be a special kind of animus reserved for Mara, as if he has willed the team to this moment. On Monday especially, he continued to combat the negative effects of his notorious loyalty to the bones of the staff he inherited years ago.

But after taking a quick look around the NFL at the other job openings, it’s hard not to wonder if we’re all not suffering from a lack of perspective. Assuming that Dallas tests the coaching market, joining Washington, Carolina, the Giants and Cleveland, how many situations actually seem better than what the Giants have to offer right now?

How bad—again, in perspective—is Mara’s desire to keep the franchise somewhat tethered to its glory years compared to the pitfalls that accompany the other openings?

Here’s an unofficial ranking of the best jobs of 2019, including Dallas. We’ll update the list should any surprise vacancies surface. The goal is to explore what a coach interviewing for a job might be thinking and how they might compare one landscape to the next…

GM Dave Gettleman will stay in New York even after Pat Shurmur was let go.

1. N.Y. Giants

A coach’s biggest issue with coming to the Giants will be working with a general manager that seems proudly dated in his thinking, who isn’t necessarily fleet of foot on draft day and who allows some aged scouting tropes to impact his decision-making in free agency.

The counter to that? The Giants have typically been a forward-thinking franchise despite the dusty perception. While Tom Coughlin had the reputation as a temperamental old boomer, the Giants were one of the first teams publicly tied with the analytics produced by Pro Fotball Focus in the early 2010s. Coughlin was one of the first coaches to test GPS monitoring at practice. The team revamped their diet, nutrition and exercise programs several times in that span. All of those people did not disappear organizationally and could potentially counterweight Gettleman’s instinctual style.

I also wonder whether a coach could make something of the roster in their first season and, given that Gettleman will soon turn 69, slowly earn a slice of the pie in terms of the roster building process. Mara said on Monday that he was open to various non-traditional power structures depending on the coach (which, again, he may have to promise at the outset anyway). Adam Schefter also reported Monday that if a new head coach was that passionate about front office changes, they don’t seem entirely out of the realm of possibility.

Here are the pros: A stable franchise with a young, ascending player at quarterback. A star at running back. A few cost-controlled assets that can produce at skill positions on offense. And … about $70 million to spend in free agency next year.

2. Carolina

The obvious detractor to taking this job is uncertainty at the quarterback position and a very, very competitive division with three other established head coaches. Will Cam Newton be back and healthy? Otherwise, Carolina returns a decent supporting cast and will have a navigable amount of cap space (while it’s in the bottom third of the league, it’s theoretically enough to chase one or two free agents that could be central to a coach’s scheme).

The benefits? A new owner who wants to empower and legitimize his first hire, which tends to lead to more patience. The Carolina market isn’t daunting for a first-time football coach and an in-house push for a more fundamental understanding and implementation of analytics will only help the kind of coach who is willing to delegate.

3. Dallas

I’m slightly less bullish on this job than others but could be talked into moving them up a spot. Here’s the fear: if Jerry Jones is this smitten with Jason Garrett, will that impact the lens with which he views his next head coach? It could go one of two ways: Either Jones’s compassion for Garrett is a draw, signaling that the Cowboys simply treat all of their coaches this way … or it’s akin to being the dreaded rebound prospect for someone who just got out of a very serious long-term relationship.

From a roster standpoint, the Cowboys were built to win in 2019. A new head coach might find that the Ezekiel Elliott contract becomes more difficult to grapple with by the season. A resurgent Robert Quinn, Amari Cooper, Sean Lee and Byron Jones will all hit the open market and, theoretically, most of the team’s cap space will either be tied up on the franchise tag with Dak Prescott or a long-term deal to secure the quarterback.

With that in mind, there is immediate pressure on a new coach to win for an owner who will grow increasingly impatient with each season that passes.

4. Cleveland

They would be in last place in almost any other circumstance, though the one thing saving the Browns is a less-recent example of ownership meddling in draft decisions.

Cleveland has not had a coach for longer than two-and-a-half seasons since the Haslam family arrived in 2012. They have a top-heavy roster full of in-prime veterans who carry with them the expectation of winning right away (or, they’ll make it known their preference to play elsewhere). The offensive line needs serious repair. The success or failure of the franchise quarterback going into his pivotal third year will have a serious impact on job security.

I’ll be careful here not to label Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry with a broad brush, but this is a nucleolus of extremely talented people who will require someone with cachet and the ability to have immediate success. Someone who can get them the ball. Someone who can wrangle them during difficult times in a way that Tom Coughlin, Adam Gase, Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur and Hue Jackson were not in the past.

There have also been reported instances of opinion clashes between the team’s director of strategy and director of personnel as to the direction of the franchise. The job will be unattractive until someone makes it as much, which could be a draw for a big-name head coach with Super Bowl credentials who believes they can spearhead a legendary turnaround.

5. Washington

While all indications are that Daniel Snyder is doing the right things this time around, there is no track record of sustained harmony that he can point to. He was reportedly involved in the drafting of Dwayne Haskins. He recently told him not to play after an injury. Any candidate is going to need to possess a certain amount of trust that Snyder will ultimately recede into the owner’s box and let he or she run the team as they see fit.

But again, there is really no sustained track record of this.

Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

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New on Sports Illustrated: 49ers Claim NFC's No. 1 Seed After Stopping Seahawks in Wild Finish

The NFC's No. 1 seed came down to the final seconds of the regular season and also a few inches.

Vince Lombardi's famous words about football being a "game of inches" proved to be right on Sunday night. The NFC West and No. 1 seed in the NFC came down to not only the final seconds of Sunday Night Football, but also a few inches.

With just seconds to play in the game, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson hit tight end Jacob Hollister near the goal line on fourth-and-goal. But Hollister was held inches short of a game-winning touchdown by San Francisco’s Dre Greenlaw, giving the 49ers a 26-21 victory.

Wilson orchestrated a final drive to get Seattle near the goal line, but he needed to finish with 234 passing yards on the night, instead of 233, to give his team a victory. 

As a result of the wild finish, the 49ers (13-3) clinched the division title and locked up the NFC’s No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Seattle (11-5) is the NFC’s No. 5 seed and will travel to Philadelphia for a wild-card game next weekend.

Jimmy Garoppolo finished with 285 yards passing in the victory, missing only four of his 22 pass attempts. He was aided by 128 rushing yards from San Francisco's deep backfield, the majority of which came from Raheem Mostert.

New on Sports Illustrated: NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend: Game Schedule, TV Channels, Start Times

Find out the schedule for wild-card weekend action in the 2019 NFL postseason.

The first weekend of the NFL postseason is officially set as eight teams will head into the wild-card round looking to start their Super Bowl run. 

New England failed to get a bye for the first time in a decade but will still host a playoff game next Saturday when it plays the Tennessee Titans. Those two teams are joined by the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings.

Below is the schedule for next weekend's action:

Saturday:

No. 5 Buffalo at No. 4 Houston, 4:35 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN)

No. 6 Tennessee at  No. 3 New England, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS)

Sunday:

No. 6 Minnesota at No. 3 New Orleans, 1:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

No. 5 Seattle at No. 4 Philadelphia, 4:40 p.m. ET (NBC)

New on Sports Illustrated: Eagles Finally Rise Up to Win Floundering NFC East—But Do They Have a Chance in the Playoffs?

It came down to the final week of the season, and not in an exciting way, but the NFC East finally has a champion. As Philadelphia marches into January, where do the remainder of the teams stand?

Boston Scott (35) was activated off the Eagles’ practice squad when Corey Clement was placed on injured reserve in October.

Hey, somebody finally won the NFC East!

The state of the division has turned into something of a joke around the NFL this season, with no teams willing to rise up and take a commanding lead in the division. But heading into the final week of the season, the division was the Eagles’ to lose as they faced the Giants, with the Cowboys still having an outside chance to back into the postseason.

As expected from the this division’s teams, it took until the second half for Philadelphia to turn a corner. Giants QB Daniel Jones bobbled a low snap as Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins blitzed and punched out the wet ball as DE Fletcher Cox followed the ball and recovered it at the one-yard line. On the next play, Philadelphia RB Boston Scott easily walked into the end zone to extend the lead, 27-17. The 9-7 Eagles ultimately beat the 4-12 Giants, 34-17, claiming the division title and the No. 4 seed in the NFC.

Scott—Philadelphia’s leading receiver (84 yards) and rusher (54 yards, three touchdowns) against the Giants—represents the identity of this Eagles team, which is making the most of players who haven’t had much opportunity in the NFL. Scott, who was drafted by the Saints in the sixth round of the 2018 draft, was signed by the Eagles off the New Orleans practice squad last December, and he was activated in October when Eagles running back Corey Clement was placed on injured reserve. Scott took on a larger role in this game when rookie running back Miles Sanders was injured in the first quarter.

Injuries have been the story of this Eagles season. DeSean Jackson was lost to an abdominal injury in Week 2, Alshon Jeffery played on and off in ten games before landing on IR, Nelson Agholor has missed the last four games, Jordan Howard hasn’t played since Week 9 and Zach Ertz was ruled out of this game with a lacerated kidney.

If you followed along on Twitter during this game, you’d find hundreds of tweets from fans asking who the hell these Eagles receivers are. Head coach Doug Pederson has been forced to reinvent his offense with a rotating cast of anonymous pass catchers: tight end Josh Perkins; receivers Deontay Burnett, Greg Ward Jr. and Robert Davis; and of course, Scott.

Burnett, an undrafted player out of USC in 2018, was on the Eagles’ practice squad less than a week ago; today, with the game tied 17-17 in the third quarter, he made an impressive 41-yard catch that put the Eagles in field goal range to seize the lead.

Philadelphia will host the winner of the 49ers-Seahawks game in next week's wild-card round, and they’ll hope to have Ertz, Howard and Sanders back for that game. If the Eagles make it one more week to the divisional round,

there’s hope they could get Jackson back. Until then, QB Carson Wentz will keep finding ways to use the unknown pass-catchers he has available.

The NFC East was far and away the worst division in the league this season and there will be changes to reflect the disappointing year for three of the four teams. The Washington football team fired head coach Jay Gruden after an 0-5 start, and there’s a chance that the Cowboys and Giants may also make coaching changes of their own.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been mostly noncommittal about head coach Jason Garrett’s future in Dallas. In his post-game press conference after the team was eliminated from the playoffs in Week 17, Jones told reporters, “There’s no doors shut here tonight. None.”

But then Jones also told reporters, “I can see myself making a lot of changes in a lot of areas. The times call for that.”

In his nine-and-a-half seasons as Cowboys head coach, Garrett led Dallas to the playoffs just three times—the worst decade of football in franchise history when ranked based on playoff berths. Garrett has a 85-67 overall mark, three playoff appearances, three division titles and four 8-8 finishes.

Over in Washington, the team, which fired Jay Gruden back in October, is moving quickly with its coaching search. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that ex-Panthers coach Ron Rivera is set to interview with the team tomorrow. Interim head coach Bill Callahan expressed his interest in being the team’s head coach, but it’s unlikely the team will keep him on in that role.

Whatever the Washington team does with it’s coaching decision, it should keep the development of rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins in mind. It would be smart to retain offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, who has worked closely with Haskins and helped him make progress this season. Haskins has only one season of starting experience in college, so stability and consistency with his coaching will be crucial for his growth into Washington’s franchise quarterback.

NBC Sports Washington reported that team president Bruce Allen will no longer have responsibilities with the team's football operations, and his future with the organization remains unsettled. Allen’s removal will likely have a ripple effect within the front office.

In Allen’s ten years as president, the team has more than 100 losses and zero playoff wins, and has fired two head coaches—Gruden and Mike Shanahan. Off the field, Allen presided over several controversial situations: The firing of former GM Scot McCloughan, the strange case of Su’a Cravens, and Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams’s holdout following a health issue that he claims the team mishandled.

In two seasons as the Giants’ head coach, Pat Shurmur has not had it easy. He was tasked with handling the delicate transition from Eli Manning to Daniel Jones. Jones has shown potential, but the Giants offensive line has struggled, Saquon Barkley missed much of the season with injury and the defense lacks premium talent. If Shurmur, who is 9–23 in two years as the head coach, is fired, he will be the second straight head coach for the Giants to last less than three seasons.

When Barkley tied the game 17-17 with a 68-yard touchdown run, Shurmur pulled the RB in for a big hug on the sideline. It looked like the type of desperate, emotional hug from a coach who knows his job is on the line.

Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch will also have to evaluate general manager Dave Gettleman, who was hired along with Shurmur in 2018. Will New York stay the course or upheave it all? 

Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

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New on Sports Illustrated: NFL Coaching Rumors: Jerry Jones Declines to Comment on Jason Garrett's Status After Cowboys' Win

Check out the latest coaching news and rumors around the NFL.

Dak Prescott

told reporters Sunday that he'd never been disappointed after a win before, but that he felt that way after the Cowboys' 47-16 victory over the Redskins. Dallas did what it had to do on Sunday but still missed the playoffs, leading to questions about Jason Garrett's job. 

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined to comment on Garrett's status after the game. "I have all the respect in the world for him," Jones did say, adding that he doesn't have a shareable timetable about a Garrett update.

With the NFL regular season almost entirely complete, the coaching carousel is starting to heat up. 

Check out the latest coaching news and rumors around the NFL: 

• There's been momentum related to Ron Rivera and the Redskins' job for nearly a week, and it appears the two sides are planning to move quickly after the season. Rivera is reportedly meeting with Washington on Monday for its vacant head coach job. (Albert Breer, MMQB), (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)  
• The Panthers plan on interviewing Baylor coach Matt Rhule for their head coaching job. They have already interviewed former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. (David Newton, ESPN)
• Pat Shurmur discussed his job status after New York's loss on Sunday, saying that, "If I’m back, I’m looking forward to coaching this young talent. If I’m not, whoever coaches this team has got a great group of young players." (Ralph Vacchiano, SNY)
• The Browns fired Freddie Kitchens on Sunday night, but the Cowboys and Giants are "not expected to be far behind." (Adam Schefter, ESPN)

New on Sports Illustrated: Freddie Kitchens Fired by the Browns After One Frustrating Season

After an active offseason, notably landing WR Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland came into the 2019 season with sky-high expectations. But the team’s 6–10 season, marred by unrest on and off the field, led the team to end Kitchens’s tenure.

Freddie Kitchens went 6-10 as the Browns’ head coach.

After being promoted from running backs coach to interim offensive coordinator to head coach over the course of a year,

Freddie Kitchens has been fired by the Browns. The team closed out their disappointing 6–10 season with a loss to the Bengals, the worst team in the NFL this season. 

Kitchens was hired to coach the running backs at the beginning of 2018, and was then elevated to offensive coordinator, his first-ever coordinator gig, just a few months later when the team fired former head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. 

After those coaching changes in 2018, Cleveland finished the season 5-3, and with Kitchens calling the plays in the latter half of the season, rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield made significant progress. In Mayfield’s first six games of the season with Haley calling the plays (starting five of those six), the QB completed 58.3% of his passes for 1,471 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions. In the last eight games with Kitchens calling the shots, Mayfield completed 68.4% of his passes for 2,254 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Despite his lack of play calling experience, Kitchens’s connection with Mayfield gave him an advantage over other coaching candidates. GM John Dorsey took a risk on hiring the inexperienced coordinator, but the strategy made sense. He hired the coach who had already proven he could get the most out of Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 draft, and the team’s most important player in determining Cleveland’s future success.

But Dorsey also admitted that Kitchens was not on any of his lists of head coaching candidates that he brought with him when he took the GM job in Cleveland in December 2017. Kitchens acknowledged the criticism that he was too inexperienced to land a head-coaching gig and that he was not the popular choice among more established candidates. 

“Am I ready or not? I do not know,” Kitchens said, after being named head coach. “I mean, were you ready to be a parent? I know this, they had confidence enough in me that I would figure it out and I would get the job done.”

But after a disappointing 2019 season of questionable play calling and a lack of control over his players, it looks like Kitchens wasn’t quite ready for that jump.

When Dorsey traded for Odell Beckham Jr., the expectations for Kitchens and this Browns team grew exponentially. And one of the biggest critiques of Kitchens is that he failed to maximize the most talented roster that Cleveland has seen in years, with the frustration between the star players and their coach visible throughout the season in public spats between some of the star players and the head coach. 

Receiver Jarvis Landry was caught arguing with Kitchens on the sideline during a loss at Arizona. Landry explained that he was asking Kitchens to get him the ball, because he’d only caught two catches for two yards at halftime.

A few weeks ago, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that Beckham is unhappy in Cleveland and has been going up to opposing coaches and players before games saying, ‘Come get me.’ Beckham later refuted that report, but he’s also had a strangely quiet season on the field, his worst season statistically.

In Kitchens’s first outing as head coach, an embarrassing 43-13 home loss to the Titans, his team committed 20 penalties. Those penalties continued to add up as the season wore on, peaking with the infamous meleé on Thursday Night Football when Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ripped off Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph’s helmet and then swung it as Rudolph’s head and hit him with it. The team ended the season with the third-most penalties in the league.

A few weeks after that brawl, Kitchens was photographed wearing a t-shirt that says, ‘Pittsburgh Started It.’ Sure, it’s just a t-shirt, and there are plenty of other choices Kitchens made to seal his fate. But the head coach of a team wearing that shirt in public (and allowing a picture to be taken!) embodies the complete lack of discipline that became the identity of Kitchens’s leadership. And it reflected even worse on Kitchens when compared to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, the coach on the other side of that fight, who refused to answer press conference questions about it. The Kitchens experiment lasted only one season, and that shirt will be his legacy.

On the morning of the Browns game at Arizona team in Week 15, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that, “barring a horrific collapse or circumstance to end the season, it appears the Browns will be moving forward with Kitchens.”

But in the final three games of the season, Cleveland lost 38-24 to Arizona, 31-15 to Baltimore and 33-23 to Cincinnati. The final loss was particularly humiliating, against a one-win Bengals team, as Mayfield threw three interceptions to finish the season with 20 interceptions and 20 touchdown passes. Yep—that certainly checks the box for an end-of-season collapse. 

Since owner Jimmy Haslam bought the Browns in 2012, he has hired four different full-time head coaches (not counting Gregg Williams as the interim coach last season). Four coaches in eight seasons. 

Consistency would probably do the Browns some good, but Kitchens joins Rob Chudzinksi as the second one-and-done Browns coach in Haslam's tenure. One season isn’t nearly long enough for a head coach to prove himself, but the Kitchens era is over. With a quarterback on a rookie contract and expensive, talented pieces around him, the Browns don’t have any time to waste. 

Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

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New on Sports Illustrated: NFL Playoff Picture: How We Got Here, Early Analysis of Upcoming Matchups

After plenty of action in Week 17, both expected (an Eagles win) and unexpected (a Dolphins win?!), the NFL playoff slate is one game away from being set. How did this all unfold?

An NFL season is hard to predict, but whether it is 2019 or ’29, one constant will hold true: Any given year hinges on the wild vacillations of Ryan Fitzpatrick. He is the gatekeeper, a niche component of the chaos theory, creating a perpetual state of disorder.

The Patriots found that out the hard way, losing a

27-24 stunner at home to the going-nowhere Dolphins thanks to a late touchdown drive from the freewheeling, lushly bearded quarterback. This momentary blip, combined with Chiefs’ 31-21 win over the Chargers, cost New England a first-round bye and the No. 2 seed. It will be the first time in a decade that the Patriots will be forced to pluck their way through the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.

Elsewhere, the playoff field took shape close to the way we thought it would. The Eagles gutted out an ugly, rain-soaked victory over the Giants with a handful of practice squad players, due to injuries. Philadelphia enters the playoffs the way they have grown accustomed to: On the heels of a thrilling, underdog narrative that their fans will never fully appreciate as they gear themselves up to rip members of the roster whom they have only learned about a week ago.

The Titans clung to the final spot thanks, in part, to some gutsy throws by Ryan Tannehill and some incredible receiver play by A.J. Brown, an emerging star worth keeping an eye on in the playoffs (going against the Texans’ second stringers helps, too). Derrick Henry—who has had 100-yard games in five of his last six weeks, including a 188-yard game against the Chiefs, a 159-yard game against the Jaguars and a 149-yard game against the Colts—went for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns, securing the 2019 rushing title in the process. In a playoff field lacking a bit in marquee running back names (Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Aaron Jones and Mark Ingram notwithstanding), he could be one of the biggest singular forces to be reckoned with.

All of a sudden, a Patriots team that failed to defeat one former Bill Belichick disciple at season’s end, now faces another in Mike Vrabel in the wild-card round. The Titans have earned a reputation as aggressively middling over the last few years, but who is signing up to face them right now in the playoffs?

Here’s a look at the playoff slate as it stands right now. We’ll update directly following a consequential 49ers-Seahawks tilt on Sunday Night Football…

AFC

1. Baltimore Ravens (BYE)

2. Kansas City Chiefs (BYE)

3. New England Patriots vs. 6. Tennessee Titans

4. Houston Texans vs. 5. Buffalo Bills

NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers (BYE)

2. Green Bay Packers (BYE)

3. New Orleans Saints vs. 6. Minnesota Vikings

4. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks

Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

New on Sports Illustrated: 2020 NFL Draft Order: Bengals On the Clock With No. 1 Pick

Here's the 2020 NFL draft order for the first 20 picks of this year's event.

The NFL's regular season wrapped up on Sunday, meaning that the top 20 picks of the 2020 draft have been set. The order of the remaining 12 picks of the first round will be slotted based on playoff performance.

Cincinnati entered Week 17 having already clinched the No. 1 pick in the draft, but a number of changes occurred on Sunday. 

Here's the NFL draft order prior to the postseason results:

1. Cincinnati (2-14)
2. Washington (3-13)
3. Detroit (3-12-1)
4. NY Giants (4-12)
5. Miami (5-11)
6. LA Chargers (5-11)
7. Carolina (5-11)
8. Arizona (5-10-1)
9. Jacksonville (6-10)
10. Cleveland (6-10)
11. NY Jets (7-9)
12. Oakland (7-9)
13. Indianapolis (7-9)
14. Tampa Bay (7-9)
15. Denver (7-9)
16. Atlanta (7-9)
17. Cowboys (8-8)
18. Pittsburgh (to Miami) (8-8)
19. Chicago (to Oakland) (8-8)
20. LA Rams (to Jacksonville (9-7)

 

New on Sports Illustrated: Browns Fire Freddie Kitchens After Disappointing Season

The Browns entered the 2019 season considered to be potential Super Bowl contenders, but will instead be looking for a new head coach after Freddie Kitchens' dismissal.

The Browns entered the 2019 season considered to be

among potential Super Bowl contenders. But after a 6-10 season, littered with inconsistent play and plenty of bad press, head coach Freddie Kitchens has been fired, the team announced Sunday.

"I would like to thank Freddie for his dedication and efforts this past season," general manager John Dorsey said in a statement. "We are disappointed in our results and feel a change is necessary. Freddie is a good man and good football coach. We wish he and his family nothing but success." 

Kitchens was in his first full season as the Browns' head coach after being promoted this past offseason.

On the field this year, the Browns' offense was in the bottom third of the league  and second-year QB Baker Mayfield failed to develop the way that many expected. 

Kitchens and his team also found themselves in the news throughout the year, for all the wrong reasons. Under the rookie head coach's watch, DE Myles Garrett was suspended indefinitely for striking Steelers QB Mason Rudolph with Rudolph's helmet. The coach was later spotted wearing a "Pittsburgh Started It" in the weeks following the incident. Safety Tahir Whitehead was released after directing death threats at fans on Twitter following a loss, reports surfaced that Odell Beckham Jr. was dealing with a "painful sports hernia injury since training camp and  Mayfield got into a spat with a local reporter, among other notable moments.

After the team's Week 16 loss to the Ravens which eliminated Cleveland from playoff contention, Kitchens insisted that the Browns were on their way to becoming consistent winners. 

"We’re really close, and sometimes that gets lost in the shuffle," he said. "But we know how close we are. Our players understand how close we are. Our players understand how they could do better. Coaches understand how they could do better, and whenever we get those things flipped, it will change."

But that change will not occur under Kitchens' watch. 

After falling 33-23 to the Bengals in Week 17, the Browns will now look to hire their eighth full-time coach since 2008.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Redskins Remove Bruce Allen From Head of Football Operations Role

Washington has more than 100 losses and no playoff victories since Bruce Allen was hired as GM in 2009.

Bruce Allen was hired as the Redskins' GM during the 2009 season. After 10 years, enough is apparently enough.

Allen will no longer be running the team's football operations, according to JP Finlay of

NBC Sports. ESPN's John Keim later confirmed the news. According to ESPN, however, it is possible Allen will continue as the Redskins' president and help owner Dan Snyder try to get a new stadium built. His future role is not official yet and remains "somewhat unsettled."

In the 10 years since Allen was hired, Washington has more than 100 losses and no playoff victories. The team has fired two head coaches during his tenure and has started more than 10 different quarterbacks. 

When Allen joined the team, he was the first person hired by owner Dan Snyder to hold the GM title, a notable milestone after a decade of various front office arrangements that usually center around Snyder and Snyder's friend, Vinny Cerrato. He has been the primary decision maker in Washington's football decisions since the firing of Mike Shanahan in 2013.

The team will now look for a new person to head up the organization's football operations.

Despite rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins showing positive flashes at times, the 2019 season was largely one full of struggles for Washington. Jay Gruden was relieved in early October after the team's 0-5 start, its worst open to a season since 2001. And the team will again be last in the NFC East, finishing with a losing record for the third straight season.

The 3-12 Redskins finish their season on Sunday when it looks to end the Cowboys' year as well. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET. 

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New on Sports Illustrated: Clemson WR Tee Higgins Returns In Second Half After Suffering Apparent Head Injury

Clemson star WR Tee Higgins has returned to Fiesta Bowl after suffering an apparent head injury.

Clemson WR Tee Higgins exited the Fiesta Bowl in the first half after suffering an apparent head injury early in the first quarter of the Tigers' matchup with the the Buckeyes. Initially, ESPN's broadcast said that Higgins would miss the remainder of the game, but the star WR returned in the second half

Clemson officials told ESPN's Maria Taylor at halftime that he had never officially been ruled out. 

"We saw Tee Higgins going into the tent and when he came back to the bench he no longer had his helmet," ESPN sideline reporter Maria Taylor said during the broadcast. "He looked dejected, and a lot of his teammates were coming over to shake his hand. And they just took him to the locker room for further evaluation."

The injury occurred in the first quarter as Higgins' helmet came off during a catch attempt along the sidelines. He visited the medical tent on the sideline before heading to the team's locker room with a towel over his head. 

In the second quarter, Taylor also reported that fellow star wideout Justyn Ross was dealing with a neck injury of his own. 

Entering Saturday, Higgins had 52 catches for 1082 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. 

He had one reception for 21 yards before leaving the game in the first half.

Clemson trailed 16-14 at halftime.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Marvin Jones Jr. Announces Death of Youngest Child

Marlo, the youngest of Marvin Jones Jr.'s five children, died on Friday.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. took to social media to announce his youngest child, Marlo, died on Friday. Marlo was

six months old. 

Jones wrote a tribute to his son "Marlito" in an Instagram post on Saturday.

"Yesterday the Lord called home a piece of my family’s heart, Marlo," Jones wrote. "It is hard to believe that our little angel, our fighter from day one, our son “Marlito” has unfortunately passed away and is no longer here with us."

The Lions also showed support for Jones and his wife, Jazmyn, in a statement.

Marlo was the youngest of Jones's five children. The wide receiver started his family two weeks after his freshman-year Cal bowl game, when Marvin Jones III, now 10 years old, was born. After Marlo was introduced to the world earlier this year, Jones tweeted that the “Jones Starting 5 is complete!”

Jones, who is on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury earlier this month, concluded his announcement about Marlo with a message for his late son.

"We didn’t get to see you run with your brothers and sister, you ran with them with your eyes everyday," Jones said. "We know that everything that We do from here on out will be with you. Every step we take, you will be with us. Whenever we have a bad day, We will think of your smile. We miss you already buddy and will forever love you. Rest peacefully our sweet baby boy. You have gained your wings."

New on Sports Illustrated: Ed Orgeron Gives OC Steve Ensminger Peach Bowl Game Ball Hours After Daughter-In-Law's Death

Ed Orgeron applauded Steve Ensminger's play-calling on Saturday, coaching hours after the death of his daughter-in-law, Carley McCord.

Hours

after the death of his daughter-in-law Carley McCord, LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger was seen in the press box coaching the No. 1 Tigers' 63–28 Peach Bowl rout over Oklahoma. For coaching through what Orgeron said was a "distraught" feeling, the LSU head coach said he was giving Ensminger a game ball.

"What a tremendous, tremendous LSU Tiger," Orgeron told ESPN's Holly Rowe after the game. "He called a great game tonight."

McCord, a Louisiana sports reporter who has worked for Cox Sports Television, ESPN3, WDSU New Orleans and more, died in a plane crash in Lafayette, La., on Saturday.

A small eight-passenger plane crashed into a U.S. Post Office parking lot in Lafayette on Saturday morning, killing five people and injuring at least two, officials told NBC News. The plane, which was headed to Atlanta, was carrying six people when it took off from Lafayette Regional Airport.

Lafayette Fire Department spokesperson Alton Trahan confirmed to NBC News that the plane struck a car when it crashed. The driver of the vehicle was injured and taken to the hospital.

A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson said the cause of the crash was still unknown as of early Saturday afternoon, according to NBC News.

Ensminger is in his second full season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Tigers. He joined LSU's coaching staff in 2010 and played quarterback for the university from 1976–79.

On Saturday night, he helped Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow break a number of records in College Football Playoff, LSU and bowl game history.

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New on Sports Illustrated: USC Fires DC Clancy Pendergast, Special Teams Coordinator John Baxter

Clay Helton's staff saw a shakeup one day after the Trojans' Holiday Bowl defeat.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast and special teams coordinator John Baxter will not return to coach Clay Helton’s staff at Southern California.

Helton announced the dismissals Saturday, one day after the No. 22 Trojans (8-5)

lost 49-24 to Iowa in the Holiday Bowl.

The changes were widely anticipated after new USC athletic director Mike Bohn elected to retain Helton earlier this month. Helton and Bohn promised to make unspecified changes to accompany Helton’s return, which is widely unpopular among a large portion of USC’s fan base.

“In evaluating our team’s performance this year and after consulting with AD Mike Bohn, it is evident that these changes are necessary,” Helton said in a statement. “Although we did fight through adversity all season and we showed improvement over the previous year, my coaching staff and I fell short of fielding a championship team. We are taking immediate steps to improve our competitiveness and meet the winning expectations of our student-athletes and fans.”

Pendergast has been USC’s defensive coordinator for the past four seasons under Helton, returning to the school in 2016 after serving as defensive coordinator for a single season in 2013.

While Pendergast’s defenses have largely performed well during his tenure, his current unit is ranked 77th in the nation this season in total defense, yielding 408.7 yards per game.

USC has been plagued by special teams mistakes in recent years under Baxter, who also returned to the school in 2016 along with Pendergast after a previous stint with the Trojans on Lane Kiffin’s staff.

USC gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown in the Holiday Bowl.

Baxter also was the Trojans’ tight ends coach this season.

First-year offensive coordinator Graham Harrell recently got a multiyear contract extension after the offense’s marked improvement this season.

USC fans are still widely unhappy with the return of Helton after his Trojans lost 12 games in the last two seasons. The former interim head coach hasn’t restored USC to national title contention in four years with the full-time job, but Bohn praised Helton’s professionalism and program-building work when he decided to keep the coach in charge.