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Patriots Pro Bowl WR feels he has 'something to prove' every training camp
The Patriots wide receiver corps could look a lot different in 2024.
New England signed K.J. Osborn in free agency, drafted Ja'Lynn Polk (No. 37) and Javon Baker (No. 110) in the 2024 NFL Draft and lost DeVante Parker, who announced his retirement this offseason,
The influx of young talent has left Pro Bowl wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster's future with the team up in the air, but he revealed that's not a new feeling.
"I feel like every training camp I have something to prove," Smith-Schuster said via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. "That's part of my nature, part of my game."
It doesn't help that the 27-year-old is coming off a disappointing season in which he registered just 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games.
That's not the production the Patriots were likely hoping to see after signing him to a three-year, $25.5 million contract last offseason.
Smith-Schuster knows that and is ready to prove himself again as a reliable pass catcher in the league.
"It's always been in me, that dog, that competitiveness," Smith-Schuster added. "I've been in a lot of situations where I've been making those hard catches and being able to convert and move the sticks. For sure, got that dog in me, for sure."
New England also has a new regime taking over, led by head coach Jerod Mayo. A shift in leadership often results in a lot of change, and Smith-Schuster hopes he's not a part of that in a crowded wide receiver room.
"I would say that the competition level is very, very high," Smith-Schuster finished. "I feel like for myself, it's something that coming out here and got to prove to compete with these guys."
Smith-Schuster has a $7 million guaranteed salary in 2024, so if the battle is close, the Patriots may opt to give him another chance, but if it isn't, they may cut their losses with him.
The former second-round pick (No. 62) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017 has 430 catches for 5,048 yards and 30 touchdowns in his seven-year NFL career.
More must-reads:
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Steelers’ Coaching Staff Can't Hide The Fact Anymore That They Truly Feel They’ve Hit A Home Run With Their Rookie
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave up 299 rushing yards to their arch-nemesis, the Baltimore Ravens, in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 playoffs. Slowing down Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson was never going to be easy, but Pittsburgh’s defense was gashed from start to finish. It was an embarrassing showing that made it clear major changes were needed. The Steelers immediately began planning how to fix the issue heading into the offseason. With the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, a physical and explosive presence up front. Harmon was brought in to restore toughness, speed, and discipline to the heart of Pittsburgh’s defense. Since his arrival, he has quickly impressed the coaching staff throughout training camp and other offseason activities, showing signs that he could be exactly what the Steelers need. Steelers insider reports have added even more excitement around the rookie. During an appearance on WDVE 102.5 on Wednesday morning, one insider named Gerry Dulac spoke about how impactful Harmon has been, both on the field and in the locker room. The Steelers were humiliated in their playoff loss to Baltimore, but with Harmon in the fold, they believe they’re on track to make sure it doesn’t happen again. "I'll tell you who's buzzing about it quietly and internally, are those coaches," Dulac said. "They love this guy. [From] what they have seen, they're thinking this pick is a home run. Now, we'll see how it plays out, but [from] what they've seen so far, they think he's terrific, and gonna be terrific." It’s not just coaches who are noticing Harmon’s impact either. Teammates have been raving about the way he’s carrying himself, especially for a rookie walking into a veteran-heavy locker room. He’s been described as humble, but intense. Quiet, but physical. It’s that mix of work ethic and natural ability that has people around the team believing the Steelers might’ve nailed this pick. Harmon’s explosiveness off the line has stood out in nearly every practice session. He’s consistently disrupting plays in the backfield, and he’s already shown he can hold his own against the Steelers’ top offensive linemen. Harmon is going to be called on as a rookie to be a starter right away. It's not an easy task for any rookie but the Steelers are just that confident in his skills. What’s also impressive is how fast he’s picked up the playbook. For a position that demands a lot of mental processing, especially in the Steelers’ complex scheme, Harmon hasn’t looked overwhelmed. In fact, he’s been praised for asking the right questions, staying late in meetings, and learning from guys like Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton. He’s clearly not just relying on his physical tools. Of course, it’s still early, and everything changes when the pads come on in real games. But if training camp is any indication, the Steelers’ front office may have landed a game-changer in Harmon. And after that nightmare in Baltimore, they’ll take all the help they can get. Steelers’ Defense Expected To Be Elite The Steelers defense is expected to be one of the NFL’s best in 2025. But if they want to be the best, Harmon’s impact will be key. Lining up next to Benton and Heyward, he could help anchor a dominant front. For that to happen, Harmon will need to play at a high level as a rookie. That’s a big task, but the coaching staff believes he’s more than capable. He’s shown the strength, quickness, and awareness they were hoping for. The Steelers didn’t draft him to sit. They want him to contribute now. If Harmon does that, this defense should be in very good hands for the 2025 season.
Sophie Cunningham, Sparks HC react to third incident of object tossed onto court
Over the past couple of years, the WNBA has seen a major uptick in ratings and overall fan engagement. Unfortunately, that has also come with negative attention. It may have reached a new low, as there have now been three separate incidents in which a fan has thrown a sex toy on the court. This time, it nearly hit Indiana Fever veteran Sophie Cunningham during a matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. Cunningham had already joked about it on social media, and given her outspoken nature and reputation as a bit of an instigator, she didn't shy away from it: She also laughed it up on her Instagram story: Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, however, didn't think it was a laughing matter. Following the game, she put the fans on blast for their "stupid" behavior. "It's ridiculous. It's dumb. It's stupid," Roberts said, per Yahoo Sports. "It's also dangerous, and you know, player safety is No. 1, respecting the game, all those things. I think it's really stupid." There's no place for any of this in sports, much less in women's sports. The league needs to crack down on this and take the necessary measures to prevent it from happening ever again. The WNBA is finally thriving after years of surviving, and while the fans will eventually grow to respect the product, not all publicity is good publicity.
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Why Red Sox may regret extending rookie Roman Anthony
To say that the Boston Red Sox are keeping MLB fans and analysts on their toes this season is an understatement. Almost two months after trading the face of their franchise, Boston signed MLB’s No. 1 prospect, Roman Anthony, to an eight-year, $130 million extension. Between trading Rafael Devers and locking Anthony up through 2034, the Red Sox have been the boldest MLB team this season by far. But will this move pay off? Fans expected Sox owner John Henry to spend money on the team during the offseason, but no one anticipated a massive mid-year pact with a rookie would occur. Anthony has only played 46 MLB games, during which he has slashed .283/.400/.428 with 19 RBIs and two home runs. While his rapid ascent through the minor league and hot start to his professional baseball career are beyond what fans could’ve asked for, Anthony’s extension is still premature from a financial perspective. With a $16.25 million AAV on his contract, the Sox have piled high expectations onto a player who recently turned 21 years old. For Anthony’s sizable and long-term commitment to be worth the investment, he should produce an annual 2.0 WAR at least and earn at least three or four All-Star, Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Awards by the end of his contract. For reference, Marcell Ozuna and Kyle Tucker received contracts within $250,000 AAV of Anthony’s contract AAV, according to Spotrac. All three achieved this criterion before they were rewarded with lucrative agreements. Weighing these standards against Anthony’s newness to MLB, it’s nearly impossible to say Boston’s decision-making was backed by more than just impulse. Somehow, Anthony isn’t the first rookie the Red Sox extended this year. With five games of baseball under his belt, Boston closed an eight-year, $60 million deal with Kristian Campbell, who was MLB’s No. 6 prospect at the time. While Campbell’s $7.5 million AAV is drastically different from Anthony’s, the Sox’s strategy to hoard young players before they’ve had enough time to prove themselves isn’t logical. Keeping Anthony off the free-agent market for the next decade may be the best risk the Sox have ever taken, or it may be one of the most expensive decisions made. Anthony must deliver the high-performance projections his contract sets for his early extension to pay off, but odds are, Boston is putting the cart before the horse.
Fever's Sophie Cunningham fined by WNBA for her podcast comments
Sophie Cunningham has once again run afoul of the WNBA, this time with comments she made on her new podcast. The second episode of Cunningham’s “Show Me Something” podcast was released Tuesday, and in it, the Indiana Fever guard admitted she had been fined for comments she made about the referees during the first episode. “The WNBA fined me $1,500. I’m like, this is just the beginning. You’re kidding,” Cunningham said. “They email our GM, and she pulls me aside and goes ‘come here Soph, I have to talk to you.’ This was in front of everybody, and I was like, ‘what did I do now?’ She just smiles and goes ‘hey, they’re going to fine you again.’ “I even told (the referees) that their job was hard. I said that I would not be good at it. Look at the whole picture. What are we doing?” Cunningham made headlines in the first episode for comments she made about teammate Caitlin Clark. However, that is not what she was fined over. At this point, Cunningham is pretty used to WNBA discipline. She was even fined for a joking comment she made about some referees in a recent TikTok video. The added attention comes from Cunningham taking it upon herself to act as Clark’s enforcer, which has led to her popularity soaring. Apparently, that also comes with some added scrutiny from the league office.
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