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SMU stud defensive end Isaiah Smith was quite the problem for offensive lines around the ACC during the 2024 season. Smith made a habit of generating pressure on the opposing quarterback and finished the season with 6.5 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss as the Mustangs earned a trip to the ACC Championship game in their first season in the league. Take a look at every sack Isaiah Smith recorded during his uber-impressive 2024 regular season here.
More must-reads:
- Shaquille O'Neal makes peace with longtime enemy — mostly
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- The '2024 NFL rushing TD leaders' quiz
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Packers HC bothered by rookie's 'unacceptable' behavior during preseason game
Green Bay Packers right tackle Anthony Belton had a forgettable first half against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday when he committed five penalties in the first half. The rookie was called for a false start, two illegal formation penalties, a face mask and unnecessary roughness. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was peeved by the unnecessary roughness penalty, which the second-round pick was called for when he pushed Colts cornerback Johnathan Edwards from behind after the play. Per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, LaFleur "let Belton have it" at halftime. Following the game, LaFleur explained to the media why that behavior bothers him — it hurts the team. “That’s the one that really bothers me because that is — I mean, they all bother me — but you can’t be getting personal fouls because that really hurts the team, puts you in a really tough position,” LaFleur said. “That is completely unacceptable in my mind. I appreciate the effort that he plays with and I thought he did a really nice job…I love the effort. It’s just, you got to be smart in those situations.” Belton's penalties were costly for the Packers. One of the illegal formation flags took away what would have been a touchdown pass from quarterback Taylor Elgersma to tight end Ben Sims. The 15-yard penalty on the unnecessary roughness call turned a manageable 3rd-and-5 into a 3rd-and-20. Saturday's preseason game is a learning experience for the 2023 third-team All-ACC offensive lineman. The Packers can't have Belton on the field if he's going to commit that many penalties, and the unnecessary roughness mistake would have been easy to avoid.
Giants have firm stance on possible Jameis Winston trade
The New York Giants have one of the deepest quarterback rooms in the NFL, and there has been speculation that Jameis Winston could be the odd man out when the regular season begins. It does not sound like Winston is going anywhere, however. Russell Wilson is expected to be the Giants' starting quarterback in Week 1. The big question is whether Jaxson Dart or Winston will enter the year as Wilson's primary backup. Dart has played well through two preseason games, and Brian Daboll and his coaching staff have raved about the former Ole Miss star. Some have wondered if the Giants could entertain trade offers for Winston should they decide they view Dart as their No. 2 quarterback. Assistant general manager Brandon Brown was asked about that on Tuesday, and he all but ruled it out. "I appreciate people that are interested, but Jameis is a New York Giant. The way that he's gone about his business from day one, he's made it very intentional of the fact that he wants to be here and he wants to be here for the long haul," Brown said. "Teammates love him. His preparation process, whether it's the off-field things that he does in terms of community relations, Bible studies, things in the locker room, galvanizing the group together — not just the quarterback room, but the offense as a whole. "He's been comic relief, but he's also been a really good example of how to be a pro and handle your business in terms of prehab, rehab and postgame care. So, I'm happy he's here, and he's gonna continue to do those things. He hasn't wavered, and he hasn't been shaken by any distractions at all." Winston signed a two-year, $8M contract with the Giants in free agency this offseason. The deal could climb as high as $16M with incentives, but he would need to play quite a bit to hit those. The Giants value Winston's extensive experience, just as they value Dart's upside. There is a reason they signed both Wilson and Winston and traded up to draft Dart. They believe in all three players, and they likely will not be inclined to trade Winston unless they receive an excellent offer.
Jeff Teague Says Warriors' Dynasty Run Would Not Happen Without Kevin Durant
The Warriors historically won three championships in five straight visits to the NBA Finals between 2015 to 2019. After the Cavaliers pulled off a historic upset in 2016, the Warriors added Kevin Durant to their roster. Jeff Teague, the former NBA champion, now claims that the Cavaliers essentially forced the Warriors to add more firepower to their team just because the Cavaliers were much better constructed as a roster than the Warriors. On the latest episode of the Club 520 podcast, Jeff Teague spoke his mind on the Warriors and Cavaliers' historic rivalry. He started by giving the Warriors their flowers with Kevin Durant. “They are probably the greatest team of all time. They got two bona fide Hall of Famers, top 20 on everybody's list, probably in basketball history. Arguably one of the greatest scorers." "Got the best three-point shooter and then the second greatest three-point shooter on some people's list in Klay Thompson. Then you got an all-defensive world player in Draymond Green. Probably make the Top 10 in defensive players of all time.” “Then you got a top 25 defender in Andre Iguodala. Yeah. Then you got a top 50 sixth man of the year in Sean Livingston. He ain't never won sixth man of the year, but you know what I mean…. That KD team was crazy.” Teague's co-hosts followed up to claim that the Warriors were forced to make the move for Kevin Durant after they realized that they could not beat the Cavaliers again without him. 2016's NBA Finals were essentially a glimpse of what the team could have accomplished if not for Kevin Durant. “Yeah, but n****s don't understand the Cavs team was better than the Warriors team. Yeah. Without KD, they're better, bro. Think about it. You got two No. 1 picks on your team [Kyrie Irving and LeBron James]. Steph and Klay, they’re nobody y'all Bron and Kyrie were supposed to be this. Steph and Klay weren't supposed to be this," said Teague. The former NBA champion then goes on to explain how the Cavaliers had a lot more talent on their first team in 2016. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James were both No. 1 picks. Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson were both top-five picks in their respective drafts. J.R. Smith was a high-level first-round pick as well. I do not concur with this analysis, as the Warriors were coming off a historic 2016 season where they recorded the most wins by any team in a single regular season (73-9). Therefore, they were not desperate to add more talent to their team. It was just a brainchild of Jerry West and Stephen Curry, who wanted to capitalize on Durant becoming a free agent after the 2016 season. Even without Durant, the Finals series might not have become as one-sided as it did eventually, as the Warriors would still have a fighting chance. Let's not forget, the Warriors took a 3-1 lead in the 2016 Finals with their old roster. One more win would have completely changed the narrative and history of this team.
Veteran QB not a 'lock' to make the Patriots roster
It’s been assumed that Joshua Dobbs would serve as Drake Maye‘s primary backup in 2025, but the veteran quarterback may not have a roster spot secure. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, Dobbs is not a “lock” to make the Patriots roster. As Volin notes, Dobbs has struggled during training camp and the preseason. He completed only five of his 12 pass attempts in the preseason opener, and he followed that up with two pick-sixes during joint practices with the Vikings. Those performances prompted coach Mike Vrabel to admit that the veteran “has to be more consistent.” Further, Dobbs doesn’t have any prior experience to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, so it’s not like the veteran can help Maye with installing the new system. Plus, the backup is attached to only a $1.7M salary for the 2025 campaign, so there aren’t any financial hurdles that would accompany his release. Of course, there are also a handful of things working in Dobbs’ favor. For starters, the rest of the team’s depth consists of UDFA Ben Wooldridge. Dobbs brings more experience than many backup QBs, as the 30-year-old has garnered 15 starts across seven years in the NFL (including one last year with the 49ers). He also looked much better in the team’s second preseason game, completing 11 of 16 passes for 106 yards and a score. More notes out of New England… While rookie Jared Wilson once seemed prime to open the season as the Patriots left guard, that may no longer be the case. Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald notes that Ben Brown has seemed to pass his rookie teammate at the position, and the veteran garnered the starting spot during the team’s second preseason contest. Brown struggled in 10 starts at center for the Patriots in 2024, but the team’s lack of OL depth may mean they don’t have a better choice. Much has been made of the tough decisions the Patriots will face at the wide receiver position, and an unexpected name has quickly inserted themselves into the picture. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, UDFA Efton Chism has likely played his way on to the 53-man roster. The Eastern Washington product has been a standout this preseason, hauling in 12 catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Chism making the roster would seemingly push Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker off the squad.
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