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Red Sox Acquire Sandlin from KC

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Kansas City Royals acquired right-handed reliever John Schreiber from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league righty David Sandlin on Saturday.

Also, the Royals placed right-hander Kyle Wright on the 60-day injured list.

Schreiber, who turns 30 on March 5, posted a 2-1 record with one save and a 3.86 ERA in 46 games (two starts) last season with Boston. He struck out 53 batters in 46 2/3 innings.

Schreiber owns an 8-6 record with nine saves and a 3.58 ERA in 139 career games (two starts) with the Detroit Tigers (2019-20) and Red Sox (2021-23).

Sandlin, 22, went 4-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 15 games (all starts) split last season with the Class-A Columbia Fireflies and the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits. He had 90 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings.

Wright, who was acquired from the Atlanta Braves for fellow right-hander Jackson Kowar on Nov. 17, is recovering from surgery to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder. He is expected to miss the 2024 season.

Because of injuries in the 2023 season, Wright appeared in just nine games (seven starts), posting a 1-3 record with a 6.97 ERA in 31 innings.

Wright, 28, led the majors in 2022 in wins when he posted a 21-5 record in 30 starts in his first full season. He had a 3.19 ERA and struck out 174 batters in 180 1/3 innings.

In 60 career games (51 starts) since 2018, Wright is 24-16 with a 4.45 ERA in 281 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

ONE DEAD in KC PARADE SHOOTING

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🚨 BREAKING NEWS REPORT 🚨

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – One person was killed and at least 10 people were injured Wednesday when gun shots were fired at the conclusion of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade and celebration, according to multiple reports.

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There was no official word from the Kansas City Police Department, which said that shots were fired and that “multiple people were struck.”

 

 

Three people were taken into custody, per the media report. Police said “more investigation” was underway.

The reported shooting occurred near a parking garage west of Union Station, where a large crowd had gathered as players and team personnel took the stage to celebrate with fans mostly clad in Chiefs red.

Videos posted to X, formerly Twitter, show Chiefs fans running away from Union Station after the ceremony had ended.

“Anyone nearby needs to leave the area as quickly and safely as possible to facilitate treatment of the shooting victims,” the KC police department posted to X. “Please avoid the Union Station parking garage area to allow first responders through.”

The Chiefs were celebrating their 25-22 Super Bowl LVIII victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Las Vegas. It was the team’s second consecutive championship and third in five seasons. The Chiefs have appeared in four of the past five Super Bowls.

–Field Level Media

Filed Under: NFL

Nets Next Up for Streaking C’s

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BROOKLYN – Shortly after the final buzzer, the Boston Celtics were ready to move on from the intensity of another game with the Miami Heat while appreciating the physicality of Jaylen Brown in an exchange with Duncan Robinson in the fourth quarter on Sunday.

After a pair of close wins that saw their composure tested late, the Celtics attempt to push their winning streak to five games tonight when they visit the Brooklyn Nets.

The Celtics are 15-6 over their past 21 since winning six straight Dec. 20-31 and are attempting to win five straight for the fifth time this season. Boston’s current streak started with a 40-point win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 4, and the Celtics won their next three over the Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and Heat by a combined 18 points.

After surviving Washington’s late comeback in a 133-129 win on Friday, the Celtics kept the streak going with a 110-106 win at Miami on Sunday. Boston held a 15-point lead early in the third and a 12-point edge early in the fourth before holding on.

Shortly after holding a 12-point lead, Brown was called for a flagrant foul when he collided with Robinson. The Celtics were outscored 17-10 until getting two defensive stops in the final 61 seconds.

“I enjoy watching physicality with poise, and I thought our guys did that throughout tonight,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said Sunday. “You obviously need to rise to the occasion, and I thought that it goes back to the expectation.”

Besides the composure down the stretch, the Celtics were aided by an offense that shot 50.6 percent and hit 16 3-pointers. The Celtics improved to 22-1 when shooting at least 50 percent and 30-4 when making at least 16 3s.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 26 and is averaging 28.8 points during the winning streak. Kristaps Porzingis added 25 and is averaging 29 during the winning streak.

Including a four-game sweep in the opening round of the 2022 playoffs, the Celtics are 12-1 in the past 13 meetings with the Nets. Boston is also on a seven-game winning streak in Brooklyn. Tatum scored 32 in Boston’s 124-114 win there on Nov. 4.

The Nets are playing their second game with new acquisition Dennis Schroder and hoping to get rolling after earning a 123-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

The Nets are 6-11 in a 17-game stretch in which they have played 12 home games. They play 14 of their next 20 on the road after Tuesday.

On Saturday, Schroder made a successful debut for his new team with 15 points and 12 assists in 27 minutes, highlighting his effort with a lob that led to a Nic Claxton alley-oop dunk at the end of the third quarter.

“Just be aggressive, try to find my open teammates, push it in transition, play defense,” Schroder said. “They made it easy for me, but … I’m glad that we won the game.”

Cam Thomas led the Nets with 25 points after following up a 40-point showing by shooting 29 percent (16 of 55) in Brooklyn’s three-game skid to Cleveland, Dallas and Golden State.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Brooklyn was Ben Simmons continuing his ramp-up after missing 38 games with a back injury. Simmons added 13 in 22 minutes and was constantly showing aggressiveness in a game where Brooklyn matched a season best by shooting 56.3 percent.

–Field Level Media

SUPER LVIII: Most Watched in History

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LAS VEGAS – (Wire Service Report) – The Kansas City Chiefs’ overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday was the most-watched television program in U.S. history, according to preliminary data released by Nielsen and CBS on Monday.

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According to CBS, which broadcast the game, the Super Bowl averaged 123.4 million viewers across all platforms, breaking the mark of 115.1 million set during last year’s Super Bowl between the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

CBS added that 202.4 million viewers watched at least part of the game, breaking the record of 184 million (also set last Super Bowl).

Though Nielsen’s final data will be released Tuesday, Monday’s figures made it clear the game was smash hit for CBS and the NFL. The 120 million viewers who watched the game on CBS was a single-network record. The Paramount+ audience made it the most-streamed Super Bowl, as well, CBS claimed.

The total of 123.4 million also includes viewers of simulcasts on Nickelodeon, Univision, Paramount+, NFL+ and other NFL digital properties.

While the game going to overtime played a role in audience retention, several storylines had much of the country buzzing long before kickoff.

The win was the Chiefs’ third in five seasons, placing quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid among rare NFL royalty. Mahomes joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only players with at least three Super Bowl MVPs, and Reid became the fifth coach with at least three Super Bowl wins as a head coach.

Las Vegas hosted the Super Bowl for the first time, with Usher performing at halftime. And the game marked the season’s culmination of the Taylor Swift-NFL juggernaut, as the superstar was in attendance to watch her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, catch nine passes for 93 yards for his third Super Bowl win.

Up next is Super Bowl LIX, scheduled for Feb. 9, 2025, at the Superdome in New Orleans. Fox will broadcast that game.

–Field Level Media

SUPER BOWL LVIII – SUPER TWOs-DAY

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LAS VEGAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Patrick Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman with three seconds left in overtime to give the Kansas City Chiefs a 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.

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Mahomes guided the Chiefs on a 13-play, 75-yard drive after the 49ers had settled for a field goal on their overtime possession. The victory made Kansas City the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the New England Patriots in the 2002-03 seasons.

Mahomes was 34-of-46 passing for 333 yards, two touchdowns and one interception as the Chiefs won their third Super Bowl in the past five seasons. Two of their victories have come against the 49ers.

Travis Kelce caught nine passes for 93 yards and Marquez Valdes-Scantling also caught a touchdown pass for Kansas City. Harrison Butker tied a Super Bowl record with four field goals, including a record 57-yarder just one quarter after San Francisco’s Jake Moody set the mark with a 55-yard kick.

Brock Purdy completed 23 of 38 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown for the 49ers. Christian McCaffrey had 160 scrimmage yards (80 rushing, 80 receiving) to go with a touchdown catch while Jauan Jennings threw a touchdown pass and caught another for San Francisco, which last won a Super Bowl in the 1994 season.

Moody kicked a 27-yard field goal with 7:22 left in overtime to give the 49ers a three-point lead.

Moody also booted a 53-yard field goal with 1:53 remaining in regulation to give the 49ers a 19-16 advantage. The Chiefs rallied to force overtime on Butker’s 29-yarder with three seconds left.

Steve Christie of the Buffalo Bills set the former long mark with a 54-yarder against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII on Jan. 30, 1994.

Mahomes connected with a wide-open Valdes-Scantling to give Kansas City its first lead of the contest at 13-10 with 2:28 left in the third quarter.

San Francisco recovered to take a 16-13 lead on Purdy’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Jennings with 11:22 remaining in the game. But Moody’s extra point was blocked by Kansas City’s Leo Chenal.

The missed point was magnified when Butker kicked a 24-yard field goal to tie the score with 5:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Moody broke the record with a 55-yard field goal 12 seconds into the second quarter for the points of the game.

San Francisco stretched the lead to 10 when Purdy threw a lateral to his left to Jennings, who then threw a toss all the way back to the other side of the field. McCaffrey caught it and easily sped ahead to score the game’s first touchdown with 4:23 left in the half.

Kansas City finally got on the board on Butker’s 28-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the half. His record-setting boot in the third quarter cut the Chiefs’ deficit to 10-6.

–Field Level Media

Super Bowl LVIII Notebook

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LAS VEGAS – (Wire Service Report) – After the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII last year, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn’t ready to crown his team as NFL royalty.

“I’m not gonna say dynasty yet. We’re not done,” Mahomes said. “So, I’m not gonna say dynasty yet.”

Well, he can now.

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The Chiefs edged the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, taking home their second straight Lombardi Trophy and third in five years. It was a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, which Kansas City also won, 31-20, back in 2020.

San Francisco was just minutes away from matching the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl victories in league history (six), going up 19-16 with 1:53 left in regulation when Jake Moody made good on a 53-yard field goal.

But Harrison Butker’s 29-yarder with three seconds remaining tied things at 19-all, and the Niners had to settle for another field goal from Moody — this one from 27 yards out — on the first possession of the extra session.

Mahomes then guided the Chiefs 75 yards in 13 plays, ending the game with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman with three seconds to go.

–Mahomes completed 34 of 46 passes for 333 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, also leading Kansas City in rushing with 66 yards on nine carries. He was named Super Bowl MVP for the third time in his career, joining Joe Montana as a three-time winner. They only trail Tom Brady, who won the award five times.

“To me, it’s always gonna be tough because Brady beat me in the Super Bowl. That’s the only thing he’ll always have on my head,” Mahomes told NFL Network, referring to the comparisons he has drawn to Brady. “It gives me something to strive for every single day — it’s chasing greatness.”

–Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce hauled in nine receptions for 93 yards with girlfriend Taylor Swift in attendance. Kansas City was 10-3 this season (including playoffs) when Swift came to cheer the team on.

–Brock Purdy threw for 255 yards and a TD on 23-for-38 passing for the Niners, who got 160 yards from scrimmage (80 rushing, 80 receiving) from Christian McCaffrey.

“It starts with (my) coach (Kyle Shanahan), that’s who I hurt for and for all the other guys, our whole team,” Purdy said. “What we’ve been through the last year hasn’t been easy. For it to go like that where it’s close at the end and it’s tough, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it.”

–San Francisco wide receiver Jauan Jennings threw a touchdown pass and caught another, becoming the second player to accomplish the feat in the same Super Bowl. Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller Nick Foles was the other, doing so in Super Bowl LII.

–The 49ers’ Jake Moody opened the scoring 12 seconds into the second quarter, kicking the longest field goal in Super Bowl history — a 55-yarder. However, Harrison Butker shattered that mark with a 57-yard field goal in the third that pulled Kansas City within 10-6. Steve Christie of the Buffalo Bills had the original record, booting a 54-yarder in Super Bowl XXVIII.

–For the third straight game, the Chiefs were underdogs. Oddsmakers favored the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.

“Just know that the Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs,” Mahomes said. “Just know that.”

–Field Level Media

TL’s Super Sunday Notes | Feb 11

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Let’s have a Super Day. First and foremost, let’s hope for a great NFL championship game between the San Francisco 49ers (representing the National Football Conference) and the Kansas City Chiefs (representing the American Football Conference). Let’s hope for game played at the highest level, a game that is close to the final minutes and one that goes from kickoff to the final seconds without any player being seriously injured.

After that? We can get a little greedy in the things we’d like to see.

Back on September 3, 2023, I went with the favorites and predicted a San Fran vs KC Super Bowl with the Niners winning and RB Christian McCaffrey taking home the Most Valuable Player award. Aside from just about every pundit predicting a Kansas City victory and a Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes MVP performance, I see no reason to change my preseason prediction.

Throughout this week’s game analysis, much of the focus on the Niners’ success was placed upon the shoulders of young Brock Purdy, the third team quarterback now starting and proving he belongs amongst the elite QBs in the NFL. Remember, Purdy suffered torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in January 2023 but rehabbed after an “InternalBrace” surgery was performed, saving him the lengthy rehab after undergoing a more involved “Tommy John” surgery needed by so many MLB pitchers.

The successful surgery allowed the 2022 seventh round draft choice (No. 262) out of Iowa State to return to action. Keep in mind, the 49ers were 7-1 with Purdy before his injury occurred and they went 12-5 this season, good enough for the NFC West division title and victories in the two NFC playoff games, thus earning this trip to Las Vegas and Super Bowl LVIII. By the way, that Roman numeral stands for 58, not Las Vegas 3.

Combining McCaffrey, Purdy, an elite receiving corp, a Pro Bowl Tight End (George Kittle) and one of the NFL’s best defensive units (top three in holding opponents in rushing yards and points, but middle of the pack vs the pass), should be enough to outlast the Chiefs, although KC can boast much of the same.

Yes, QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Isiah Pacheco and all everything TE Travis Kelce provide the power numbers in passing rushing and receiving, but the KC defense ranks slightly ahead of SF in most categories.

Here are some fun facts to consider as you watch the Super Bowl Sunday night:

  • The two teams are a combined 5-0 at Allegiant Stadium since it opened in 2020.
  • It’s tough to pick against KC QB Patrick Mahomes as the 28 year old will become the youngest QB in NFL history to start a fourth Super Bowl. Previously, at age 30, New England’s Tom Brady held the honor. With a win, Mahomes would join Brady and Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboys QB Troy Aikman as the only quarterbacks to win three Super Bowl rings prior to their 30th birthdays.
  • KC TE Travis Kelce is likely to work the middle of the field vs. the 49ers as Kelce led all NFL tight ends in yards receiving (393) when the closest defender is a linebacker.
  • Since head coach Andy Reid was hired by Kansas City on January 7, 2013, (11 seasons), the Chiefs have not experienced a losing season. No other NFL team can say they have more than five consecutive winning seasons. KC has been to the Super Bowl in four of the last five years. That impressive mark comes after the Chiefs went 49 years without a trip to the Super Bowl.
  • There is some (unfounded) speculation that Reid might “go out on top” and retire if KC is victorious. Further logic would place – now head coaching free agent – Bill Belichick as a possible replacement for KC to consider.
  • As previously noted, SF QB Brock Purdy entered the NFL as the final choice of the 2022 NFL Draft which “just happened to be held” in Las Vegas. Since his draft day, Purdy has an .808 winning percentage as a starter, is passing at 9.2 yards per attempt, and owns an 111.2 pass rating – all top marks for NFL quarterbacks with a minimum of 20 starts.
  • Niners RB Christian McCaffrey (yes, the son of former Denver Broncos’ receiver Ed) has joined Hall of Famer and Denver RB Terrell Davis as the only players in league history to average 110 scrimmage yards per game in both the regular season and postseason.
  • To tie a bow on the stats and factoids/nuggets section of your Super Notebook, this year’s game features the best defensive matchup in Super Bowl history. During the regular season, Kansas City allowed 17.3 points per game while San Francisco allowed 17.5 ppg. Only Baltimore, at 16.5 ppg, had a better “D” and you saw what KC did to them.

HONOR ROLL: This week, the National Football League recognized its award-winning players in the annual NFL HONORS ceremony, traditionally held the Thursday evening before Super Bowl Sunday. Here are a few of the top honorees:

  • Most Valuable Player: Lamar Jackson (Baltimore)
  • Coach of the Year: Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland)
  • Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco)
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett (Cleveland)
  • Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Flacco (Cleveland)
  • Offensive Rookie of the Year: C. J. Stroud (Houston)
  • Defensive Rookie of the Year: Will Anderson (Houston)
  • Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year: Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh)
  • Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: Bobby Wagner (Seattle)
  • Deacon Jones (Sack Leader): T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh)
  • Jim Brown Award: Christian McCaffrey (SF 49ers)

WALTER PAYTON MAN of the YEAR: Here’s an award that deserves further ,mention, as it is named for one of the greatest players in NFL history. In the late Walter Payton, running back for the Chicago Bears, the NFL honors “a player who excels on the field but demonstrates a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game.” … Pittsburgh defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, the 2023-24 honoree, has played 13 seasons in the NFL and is known as a leading voice in the Steelers’ locker room. Heyward’s 78.5 career sacks are the most for a Pittsburgh defensive lineman since 1982. Heyward is a six-time Pro Bowl player, a three-time first team All Pro. Heyward’s contributions off the field are far too numerous to list in this column. Suffice to say, he’s done it all in the Pittsburgh community. He’s helped fun libraries, school systems, worked and donated to food banks and works to assist the patients and families of those suffering from brain tumors and cancer. This year was the sixth time he was nominated as the Pittsburgh Steelers contender for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

SALUTE TO SERVICE AWARD: Believe it or not, there’s a New England connection to Super Bowl LVIII. The NFL and sponsor USAA named Joe Cardona, the long snapper for the New England Patriots as recipient of the Salute to Service Award. It is presented annually to a member of the NFL for “exceptional efforts to honor and support the military community.” Cardona graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served the United States when stationed at the Naval Academy Prep School in Rhode Island. He has dedicated his time and support to the military serving on the Korean Peninsula.

THE WWYI SUPER BOWL MENU – With the weather unsettled – up and down, meaning NO GRILLING – we went for the sure fire specialties which are all set and ready to go. Here’s the Super Sunday menu:

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: While we must applaud New England’s Joe Cardona for his award, I always thought a long snapper was something caught off the Florida coast. … All indication thus far has Las Vegas as the all-time greatest site for the Super Bowl. By contrast, the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend was duly noted as the worst All-Star event since the league went to a full weekend of activities (1984). Why?

IT WAS 60 YEARS AGO: This week, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of The Beatles landing at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport and their subsequent appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (two days after thier Pan American Flight 101 from London). The good folks of Pan American public relations staff pulled off – possibly – the greatest PR Photo Op of all-time, complete with backdrop and product placement – the Pan Am Boeing 707 Clipper Ship. … Everyone seems to agree, Rock ‘n Roll was never the same after the lads played “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on the Ed Sullivan Show.

CLIPPED: Just when you thought it was safe to re-enter the sports docuseries waters after “Winning Time” was rightfully cancelled, the general public learned about a new documentary series today, entitled, CLIPPED.

The press release goes something like this: “If you pay even the slightest attention to professional basketball, you’ve heard about former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling — and the scandal that led to his lifetime ban from the NBA.

In 2014, during the Clippers’ playoff run, Sterling was caught on tape spewing racist remarks. The news blew open his marriage, drew attention to his personal assistant V. Stiviano, and revealed deep problems within the Clippers organization. In 2019, the scandal became the subject of an ESPN 30 for 30 podcast titled The Sterling Affairs, reported and hosted by Ramona Shelburne. This summer, 10 years after the tapes were released, The Sterling Affairs gets the small screen treatment, coming to FX on Hulu as the six-episode miniseries Clipped. … Ramona Shelburne is a fabulous reporter and has contributed mightily to the world of sports journalism, BUT, why on Earth do we need to revisit Donald Sterling and the Clippers debacle of 2014? … Give us a mini-series on the life of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his new impact as a gifted writer. Give us a mini-series on Elgin Baylor and Julius Erving, two of the greatest skywalkers who ever touched a basketball. Remember, if there were no Elgin and Doc, there’s no chance we would’ve had Michael and Kobe.

Caps’ and Wizards’ Move Met with Resistance from Virginia Reps

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ALEXANDRIA – (Wire Service Report) – A Virginia state senator does not want Washington Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis to use taxpayer money to build a new entertainment district in the suburb of Alexandria, Va.

Sen. Louise Lucas, a Democrat who is the chairwoman of Virginia’s senate finance committee, told reporters Monday a bill that would pave the way to move the NBA and NHL franchises from Washington to Alexandria is dead in her eyes.

“I will not allow a billionaire to build his company’s wealth on a taxpayer’s dime,” Lucas said, saying Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s “refusal to negotiate” left her to block the bill.

While Lucas declared the Senate bill dead after rejecting discussion of it at a meeting Monday, there is also a version of the legislation in the House of Delegates that passed through the house appropriations committee last week.

In December, Youngkin and Leonsis announced an agreement to move the Wizards and Capitals to a new $2 billion sports complex in Alexandria by 2028. The teams currently play in downtown Washington at Capital One Arena.

Underpinning the proposed move is legislation that would issue more than $1 billion in moral obligation bonds to build the complex. Virginia taxpayers would be on the hook if the site did not meet its revenue projections.

A spokeswoman for Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the Wizards’ and Capitals’ parent company, told reporters Monday that moving the teams to Virginia remains their “only” plan even after the District of Columbia offered $500 million for renovations at Capital One Arena.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a Washington Post op-ed Sunday that D.C. plans to require the Wizards and Capitals to play at the arena through 2047, per the terms of their lease. December’s announcement was also met with outrage from local sports fans who want the teams to stay put.

–Field Level Media

Boston College Intros Coaching Staff

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CHESTNUT HILL – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston College Director of Athletics Blake James introduced Bill O’Brien as the (Gregory P. Barber ’69 and Family) Head Coach of the BC football program. O’Brien was met by the school community and held his introductory news conference inside the Yawkey Athletics Center.

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Boston College head football coach Bill O’Brien announced his complete coaching staff for the 2024 season. O’Brien, who was hired Feb. 9, and the Eagles start spring ball Monday, March 11 following Boston College’s spring break.

O’Brien’s first staff at Boston College features two coaches he has spent significant time with throughout his career, including the Eagles’ new strength and conditioning coach. O’Brien also retained four assistant coaches from BC’s 2023 coaching staff and promoted one more from within the program. Additionally, the staff has one BC grad and another assistant in his second stint on the Heights.

Returning to lead the offensive line for a fourth season is Matt Applebaum. He held that same position from 2020-21 and after a one-year stint in the NFL, found his way back to the Heights as offensive line coach for an improved unit in 2023. The BC o-line paved the way for the second-ranked rushing attack in the ACC in 2023 at 198.8 yards per game, while allowing just 1.46 sacks per game. During his time at BC, Applebaum has overseen the development of first-round pick and All-American Zion Johnson, top-prospect Christian Mahogany in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft and All-American Alec Lindstrom. Between stretches with the Eagles, he was the offensive line coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2022. Applebaum graduated from Connecticut in 2007 and was a two-year starter on the offensive-line for the Huskies.

Secondary coach Ray Brown comes to Boston College from Washington State, where he was the cornerbacks coach 2022-23. Washington State’s 2022 defense ranked third in the Pac-12 at 22.9 points per game and contributed to a seven-win regular season. Prior to WSU, Brown served as the cornerbacks coach at Utah State (2021) and Troy (2019-20). He was also the defensive backs coach at Abilene Christian (2016-18) following graduate assistant posts in the Pac-12 at Arizona State (2014-15) and Washington State (2013). He is a 2009 graduate of East Central (Okla.) University, where he played cornerback from 2006-08 and began his coaching career as running backs coach from 2010-11.

Beginning a second stint on the Heights is defensive line coach Jeff Comissiong, who previously worked at BC from 2007-12 in the same role. He joined Cornell in 2021 and served three seasons as the linebackers coach for the Big Red. Comissiong spent one season at Hampton University following a seven-year run at Old Dominion from 2013-19. At ODU, he worked with a defense that led Conference USA in regular season sacks in 2018 and coached Oshane Ximines, the most decorated player in school history. Ximines, a 2019 third-round pick of the New York Giants, twice earned All-Conference first-team honors and was ODU’s first-ever invitee to the Senior Bowl. In his first spell with the Eagles, Comissiong tutored three All-ACC picks, including first-round pick B.J. Raji and second-rounder Ron Brace. He is a 1997 graduate of Maine, where he played for the Black Bears from 1991-94.

Local product Jonathan DiBiaso was promoted by O’Brien to quarterbacks coach after spending the 2023 season as an offensive analyst, working closely with the BC quarterbacks, including 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher Thomas Castellanos. DiBiaso got his start in coaching at BC as a graduate assistant from 2018-20. He then moved on to Vanderbilt (2021) as an offensive analyst and worked one season at Pittsburgh (2022) in a graduate assistant role. DiBiaso, who played high school football at Everett for his father John DiBiaso, played two seasons at Dartmouth (2013-14) and two seasons at Tufts (2015-16), earning his degree from Tufts in 2018.

Running backs coach Savon Huggins returns for his third season in that role and fourth overall at Boston College. The Eagles rushed for 2,584 yards in 2023 with BC running backs averaging 4.71 yards per carry. Kye Robichaux ranked seventh in the league at 70.9 yards per game; totaling 780 yards, eight touchdowns and a 4.79 yards per carry average. Huggins arrived at BC in 2021 as a recruiting advisor, while also working directly with the Eagles’ running backs, including All-ACC second-team selection and 1,000-yard rusher Pat Garwo III. HUggins got his start in coaching at Somerville (N.J.) High School, gained experience as an intern with the Miami Dolphins and broke into the college ranks at Buffalo in 2020. He played running back at Rutgers and graduated in 2015.

Will Lawing joins BC as the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach after a season as the New England Patriots tight end coach in 2023. Lawing and O’Brien have coached together since 2013 beginning when Lawing was a graduate assistant at Penn State in 2013 during the second year of O’Brien’s two-year stint as head coach of the Nittany Lions. The two continued to work together with the Houston Texans, where Lawing served in roles of defensive quality control (2014-16), offensive assistant (2017-18) and tight ends coach (2019-20). Lawing returned to the college game as an offensive analyst at Alabama from 2021-22. As a player, he was a walk-on at North Carolina and a member of the Tar Heels squad from 2004-07.

Defensive coordinator Tim Lewis arrives at Boston College with 34 years of coaching experience and seven years as a NFL defensive coordinator. Lewis, a first-round pick as a cornerback at Pittsburgh, has spent 25 years in professional football. He was the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator from 1995-1999, which included an AFC Championship, and New York Giants defensive coordinator from 2004-06 under former BC head coach Tom Coughlin; twice reaching the playoffs with the Giants. Most recently, he was the co-defensive coordinator of the Arlington Renegades in the United Football League. As a coordinator or secondary coach, he coached six players to All-Pro status in the NFL, including Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan and two-time All-Pro selection Carnell Lake. As a player, Lewis spent four years with the Green Bay Packers from 1983-86.

Boston College graduate Dan O’Brien ’05 returns to his alma mater as the Eagles’ linebackers coach. The son of former BC head coach Tom O’Brien, he was a student assistant as an undergraduate. O’Brien most recently coached for three seasons at Southern Miss, beginning as the safeties coach from 2021-22 before assuming the defensive coordinator role in 2023. He spent the two previous seasons at Georgia (2019-20) in defensive quality control after working five years at Navy (2014-18). Upon graduation from BC, O’Brien got his start as a scouting assistant intern for Bill Belichick’s staff in New England in 2005 and later worked as a defensive analyst and graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama.

Matt Thurin was retained as Boston College’s special teams coordinator and will be the longest tenured member of the staff heading into his fifth year at BC. He has coached special teams and safeties in his time with the Eagles. His special teams unit blocked two kicks in 2023 and did not allow a blocked kick or punt on the season. He oversaw the development of kicker Liam Connor, who ascended to placekicker in 2023 after serving as the kickoff specialist as a freshman in 2022. Connor went 11-for-14 on field goals, including three makes of 45 yards. Thurin previously spent five seasons at Ohio State (2015-19) in defensive quality control.

Assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt returns for a third season with the Eagles. He oversaw the evolution of All-ACC, All-American and first-round pick Zay Flowers in his first season on the Heights in 2022 and has led the development of Lewis Bond. In 2023, Bond was one of just six receivers in the ACC to catch 50 or more passes for over 600 yards and seven touchdowns. Wyatt spent his four previous seasons at UCF (2018-21) as the wide receivers coach and worked with future Eagle Ryan O’Keefe, who set the Knights’ record for receptions in a season at 84. Overall, Wyatt has 34 years of coaching experience, including stints as the offensive coordinator at Kansas (2000 and 2010) and Texas (2013). He transferred to Kansas State, where he played two seasons and earned his degree in 1989.

Craig Fitzgerlad worked with O’Brien at both Penn State and with the Houston Texans. He takes over as the Eagles’ director of football performance. A tight end and 1996 graduate of Maryland as a player, he has been a head strength coach across collegiate and professional football every year since 2005, beginning with five years at Harvard (2005-09). Fitzgerald left South Carolina (2009-11) to work with O’Brien at Penn State (2023-13) and continued the partnership with the Texans (2014-17). He then moved on to Tennessee (2018-19) before accepting the head strength and conditioning job with the New York Giants (2020-23). He was recently hired as the director of football performance at Florida in December, but arrived on the Heights immediately following the announcement of O’Brien’s appointment.

BC also brought in Berj Najarian as chief of staff. Najarian spent the last 24 seasons in Foxborough as the director of football/head coach administration with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. He was a part of six Super Bowl Championships during his time in New England.

2024 Boston College Football Coaching Staff
Bill O’Brien, Head Coach
Matt Applebaum*, Offensive Line
Ray Brown, Secondary
Jeff Comissiong, Defensive Line
Jonathan DiBiaso*^, Quarterbacks
Savon Huggins*, Running Backs
Will Lawing, Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Tim Lewis, Defensive Coordinator
Dan O’Brien, Linebackers
Matt Thurin*, Special Teams Coordinator
Darrell Wyatt*, Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers
Craig Fitzgerald, Director of Football Performance
Berj Najarian, Chief of Staff
*-Returned from 2023 Staff
*^-Returned from 2023 Staff in a New Role

 

SB LVIII: Niners Struck Gold

by

LAS VEGAS — As Mr. Irrelevant, he had a parade, a prodigious haul of swag and a few massive believers.

As an NFL quarterback in his second season, Brock Purdy started two NFC Championship Games and is playing Sunday for a Lombardi Trophy and a little bit more national attention.

“I would say he’s doing a pretty good job of getting it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday at Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night.

It’s been quite a roller coaster to get back to Las Vegas, where Purdy brings a 21-5 record as a starter to the Strip and a Super Bowl LVIII matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The third-youngest QB starter in Super Bowl history, Purdy is embracing everything about his next game and the opportunity to spark another parade.

“I got drafted last,” Purdy said Monday with a wry smile. “Staying grounded and more than anything, just staying grateful. Not what I didn’t do or where I didn’t go. But, ‘Hey, I get to go play for the 49ers.’ I want to be a part of this, I want to be a part of it forever. Even though I was overlooked two years ago in the draft, I’ve got an opportunity to go win a Super Bowl with the 49ers.”

When Purdy’s NFL journey began down the street at Caesars Palace, the 49ers turned in the card for the 262nd and final pick in the 2022 draft to little fanfare. He was the ninth of nine quarterbacks selected.

San Francisco hardly kicked the door down to reel in Purdy. Niners general manager John Lynch had many chances to select him sooner with five picks on the third and final day of the draft (Nos. 134, 172, 187, 220 and 221) before the draft-capper was announced.

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Mr. Irrelevant no more, Purdy stood out to coach Kyle Shanahan very early in his rookie training camp. That’s not revisionist history.

“We had a fourth-round grade on him,” Shanahan said Monday. “You always go through and predict where guys are going to get drafted. We had a lot of holes at the time. Quarterback wasn’t really one of them.

“We knew his measurables and stuff were smaller (than the prototype quarterback). The first day of rookie minicamp he walks out and I told our coaches, ‘OK, he’s going to be fine.’ We called him Baby Bosa. He had these shortie shorts on and big, thick legs kind of like (San Francisco edge rusher Nick) Bosa.”

Team owner Jed York confessed this week Shanahan told him in August 2022 he was pretty sure the “third-sting quarterback is our best quarterback,” which turned the stomach of the CEO who invested massive draft capital and salary for the 49ers to acquire the No. 3 pick in 2021 and select Trey Lance.

San Francisco traded three first-round picks to go up from No. 12 to No. 3 and select Lance, a relative neophyte out of North Dakota State. Shanahan said now with the benefit of hindsight it was “definitely a mistake.” After two seasons and four total starts, Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in August after the 49ers were fully comfortable that Purdy’s surgically repaired right elbow was fully healthy.

Two years later, Shanahan isn’t just willing to put Purdy among the best quarterbacks he’s ever coached.

“Better. He’s better,” Shanahan said.

The numbers prove his point. Among quarterbacks with at least 20 starts (regular season and postseason combined) the past two seasons, Purdy leads the NFL during his starts with an .808 winning percentage, 9.2 yards per attempt, a 3.36-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio (47-14) and a 111.2 passer rating.

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media