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49ers’ Three Big Things: Evaluating Nick Bosa, what to do with Brandon Aiyuk, and a repeat of 1994?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

With the 49ers facing a short week ahead of Thursday Night Football, but with plenty to discuss following an impressive, if disjointed, win over the rival Rams on Sunday, it feels prudent to round up some big topics facing the red and gold.So let’s get it all out there before the Giants come to town for the Niners’ 2023 home opener:Corrupted spreadsheetsThe football analytics website Pro Football Focus assigns grades in various categories to every player, every week.Want to quickly guess who had the best grade on the 49ers’ defense in Week 2?If you guessed Fred Warner (eight tackles, sack), Javon Hargrave (five hurries), or Dre Greenlaw (nine tackles, two assisted), you’d be wrong.No, PFF’s top-graded defensive player in Week 2 was Nick Bosa, scoring a 93.0 rating — the Niners’ best score by eons.Did the grader watch the same game as us?Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | The 49ers’ toughest opponent isn’t the Eagles or Co...

Ex-Oakland police chief Armstrong says he is 'vindicated,' deserves job back

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

(KRON) -- Oakland's ex-police chief, LeRonne Armstrong, held a news conference with reporters on Monday to speak out about his termination as the city's top cop. Armstrong was fired by Mayor Sheng Thao in February. Thao said she fired Armstrong "without cause" because he allegedly failed to discipline officers who committed misconduct.Armstrong said a new report by a state independent arbitrator reviewed his administrative appeal and had a "favorable outcome." The new report called for discussions between the city and Armstrong to consider his reinstatement, according to the ex-chief's spokesperson.On Monday Armstrong said, "I was not guilty of any of these allegations. Today is that vindication. I did not engage in policy violations. This concludes the fact that I did not do anything wrong.""Long story short, the chief has been vindicated," the ex-chief's attorney said. "The hearing officers issued a 55-page detailed report. The chief never should have been disciplined. The critici...

New Spain women’s coach calls up World Cup-winning players but they don’t plan to end their boycott

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s players don’t plan to end their boycott of the national team despite being called up for the squad by new coach Montse Tomé on Monday. The players said they were caught by surprise by the call-up after they had made clear their decision not to play for the national team until their demands for change at the Spanish soccer federation were met.Tomé selected nearly half of the 39 players who had signed a statement refusing to play for the national team — including 15 World Cup-winners — after former federation president Luis Rubiales refused to resign for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney last month. Rubiales eventually stepped down and coach Jorge Vilda was fired, but the players said their demands for deep reforms and new leadership had not been met yet.Tomé said she decided not to call up Hermoso “to protect her” after the player was caught in the middle of the controv...

New Whitman-Walker Max Robinson Center opens with more health care resources in DC’s Ward 8

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

Part of a massive economic redevelopment project is expanding the reach of health care to D.C.’s Anacostia neighborhood in a state-of-the-art facility.At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning, Mayor Muriel Bowser said the opening of the new Whitman-Walker Max Robinson Center is a critical part of the development of the St. Elizabeth’s East campus, where a new hospital is scheduled to open in 2025.Beneath a rainbow arch made of brightly colored balloons, Bowser told the crowd gathered for the center’s ribbon-cutting that the opening of the new center is part of a larger $900 million investment in the Anacostia neighborhood.The aim, she said, “is that we have a healthier, more equitable and more prosperous Washington, D.C. and that the people across all eight wards can benefit from it.”The expansion of the Whitman-Walker Max Robinson Center will be able to provide dental, primary and HIV care to residents.Ward 8 Council member Trayon White said Whitman...

Business Highlights: Fed poised to leave rates unchanged; Auto workers threaten to escalate strike

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

___Federal Reserve is poised to leave rates unchanged as it tracks progress toward a ‘soft landing’WASHINGTON (AP) — Since Federal Reserve officials last met in July, the economy has moved in the direction they hoped to see: Inflation continues to ease, if more slowly than most Americans would like, while growth remains solid and the job market cools. When they meet again this week, the policymakers are likely to decide they can afford to wait and see if the progress continues. As a result, they’re almost sure to leave their key interest rate unchanged when their meeting ends Wednesday. The cooling of inflation suggests that the Fed is edging toward a peak in the series of rate hikes it unleashed in March of last year — action that made borrowing much costlier for consumers and businesses.___Carmakers and the United Auto Workers are talking. No signs of a breakthrough to end the strikeThe auto workers’ strike against Detroit’s Big Three is now in its fourth day. There were no signs ...

Hudson-Odoi scores on Nottingham Forest debut to help salvage 1-1 draw against Burnley

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — Callum Hudson-Odoi marked his first Premier League appearance in 18 months with a goal to help Nottingham Forest rally for a 1-1 draw Monday at home against Burnley, which earned its first point of the campaign.The 22-year-old former Chelsea player spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen but served up a reminder of what he can do as he was Forest’s biggest attacking threat on his debut for his new team following a deadline-day move from Stamford Bridge. He brought his side level with a curling effort in the second half after Zeki Amdouni had put Burnley ahead.It was Burnley’s first point after three successive losses, but the visitors were denied a late winner by VAR and finished the game with 10 men after Lyle Foster was sent off for elbowing Ryan Yates.Having once been considered one of the brightest prospects in English soccer, with Bayern Munich among the teams reportedly interested in signing him, Hudson-Odoi is now looking to revive...

Saban denies suggestion from Ole Miss’ Kiffin that Alabama has new defensive play-caller

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

Alabama coach Nick Saban says defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is still calling the plays. Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin isn’t so sure.Kiffin stirred some controversy ahead of 15th-ranked Ole Miss’ visit Saturday to the 13th-ranked Crimson Tide, suggesting that cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson appeared to be calling the plays for Alabama’s defense in a 17-3 win over South Florida.Not so, says Saban. He brought up the speculation unprompted on Monday, citing reports that had been “floating around out there.”“Kevin Steele is the defensive coordinator. He has all the defensive coordinator responsibilities,” Saban said. “The only thing that we tried to improve on from an administrative standpoint was game day administration of getting the signals in quicker. That’s the only thing that we worked on together as a staff. The whole staff made a contribution to it, and I think it was a lot better in this game than it was in the Texas game.”Kiffin told reporters on Sund...

Royals rally with 4 runs in the eighth to beat the Guardians 6-4

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals could have long ago given up on the season. Would have been easy to give up on Monday’s game against Cleveland, too.Yet despite trailing by two heading into the eighth inning, the Royals kept on fighting. And the club trying desperately to avoid finishing with the worst record in franchise history managed to come all the way back, with Drew Waters capping a two-out rally with a two-run double that sent Kansas City to a 6-4 victory over the Guardians.“It shows we’re capable of beating really good teams,” Waters said, “and finishing the season on a high note.”The Royals (49-102) trailed 4-2 when Kyle Isbel drew a leadoff walk in the eighth against Trevor Stephan. The reliever retired the next two batters before walking MJ Melendez and hitting Nelson Velázquez, which loaded the bases for Michael Massey, whose own walk off Stephan (6-7) scored a run to trim the Guardians’ advantage in half.Cleveland manager Terry Francona ...

Texans offense improves, but defense struggles in loss to Colts

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — C.J Stroud and Houston’s offense took a step forward against the Colts on Sunday.Unfortunately, the defense took a step back in the 31-20 loss that dropped the Texans to 0-2.“We can’t have the back and forth,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We have to be consistent, and that’s the one thing. Be consistent and don’t have self-inflicted wounds.”The Texans allowed quarterback Anthony Richardson to run for two touchdowns in the first quarter Sunday and couldn’t slow down Indy’s offense after he left with a concussion and was replaced by Gardner Minshew.The backup led the Colts to two more touchdowns in the first half to leave Houston in a 28-10 hole by halftime.“Defensively, we weren’t good enough,” said Ryans a former linebacker on the team. “If we want to be a good defense, it all starts up front — stopping the run. We did not stop the run. We did not tackle well. Fundamental football wasn’t good enough. If you want to win games in this league, we’ve got to play better.”The ...

CSU coach: D-back who hit CU receiver has gotten death threats

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:09:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A day and a half after the Colorado Buffaloes beat the Colorado State Rams in overtime, CSU staff said one of its players has been receiving death threats.The CSU Athletic Department said defensive back Henry Blackburn and his family have been the target of threats on social media. Additionally, their phone numbers and addresses were published online before the game was over. Buffs’ Travis Hunter suffered lacerated liver during Rocky Mountain Showdown “CSUPD is aware of death threats against CSU football player Henry Blackburn, and the investigation is ongoing. The police department will continue to monitor the situation, and the university is actively supporting the player and his family," the university said in a statement emailed to FOX31.Blackburn delivered the hit on Colorado's Travis Hunter, a two-way player who was in as wide receiver when the hit occurred.Hunter had been thrown the ball by CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders, but the ball was overthrown and Hun...