Buffalo winter can't arrive soon enough for 'Punt God'
Arriving in Buffalo for the Bills' rookie minicamp, Matt Araiza was unhappy with the weather. “It’s funny because everyone was telling me how cold it was going to be here, how windy it was going to be here,” Araiza said Friday with a laugh. Araiza noting the near-perfect conditions traces to a desire to get accustomed to the winter chill and swirling winds that make the Bills’ home one of the NFL’s more challenging places for punters.
news.yahoo.comBills cut receiver Cole Beasley day after signing Von Miller
Cole Beasley can forget trying to negotiate a trade out of Buffalo now that he’s a free agent after being cut by the Bills on Thursday. The Bills made the move to cut their top slot receiver to free up salary cap space a day after making a huge splash in free agency by signing two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Von Miller to a six-year contract. Beasley’s tenure in Buffalo was already in question with his release coming two weeks after the Bills granted the 10th-year player permission to negotiate a trade.
news.yahoo.comScottish courts could have ‘unparalleled’ powers to reject Westminster legislation
Two Bills passed unanimously by Holyrood could give Scottish courts “unparalleled” powers to strike down legislation from Westminster, the UK Supreme Court has heard. Lawyers acting for the UK Government said the legislation risked Acts of Parliament being amended or repealed because of clashes with Scots law. They argued this would be a “subversion” of devolution, under which Westminster remains sovereign, with both Bills having “manifold and obvious competence problems”. They were passed by MS
news.yahoo.comColumn: Stop targeting transgender kids in youth sports, says American Academy of Pediatrics. Bravo.
“Several state legislatures have introduced bills that would prohibit gender-affirming care for gender-diverse and transgender youth and forbid transgender youth from participating on sports teams according to their gender identity,” reads the statement, written by AAP President Lee Savio Beers. “These bills are dangerous. If left unchallenged, there will be transgender teens in certain zip codes who will be unable to access basic medical care, and pediatricians in certain zip codes who would be criminalized for providing medical care. And, transgender youth would be denied the ability to participate in sports according to their gender identity.”
chicagotribune.com$1,400 stimulus payments would help keep 20 million adults afloat through July, report shows
As Congress irons out the details of the next coronavirus relief package, a new report from Morning Consult finds that the much-anticipated $1,400 stimulus payments would help keep tens of millions of Americans up-to-date on their bills for the next few months. Using its household survey data, Morning Consult estimates that over 30 million adults were unable to pay their bills in January. Among the adults who could not pay all of their bills in January, three-fourths fell short by less than $300. With that in mind, Morning Consult estimates that an additional $1,400 stimulus payment — coupled with income from a job or unemployment benefits — would enable 22.6 million adults to pay their expenses completely for four and a half months. Wading into the debate on potentially changing the income thresholds for the stimulus payments, Morning Consult notes that low-income households and parents reported spending more of their stimulus checks than higher earners, as of Feb. 4.
cnbc.comChiefs coach Reid's patience in struggling players pays off
It was an enormous mistake in the opening minutes of the AFC championship game on Sunday, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid could have easily given his young wide receiver the cold shoulder. They're going to keep me up, keep me motivated — make sure I don't have my head down,” Hardman said. They have been without Sammy Watkins since Week 16 because of a calf injury, and the veteran wide receiver was a surprise scratch on Sunday, putting pressure on Hardman and fellow wide receiver Byron Pringle to continue to pick up the slack. “We are a group of guys that want to be perfect and strive for that perfection, no matter what we do. I think we're going to take that same mentality into the Super Bowl.”___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
A bonus for NFL fans in Week 16: 4 straight days of games
They do have a sack in an NFL-record 71 straight games and have sacked Philip Rivers 15 times during seven games while he played for the Chargers. Rivers has had two or more TD passes in five straight games. He had career bests of 10 catches for 163 yards last week, and Ridley's seven 100-yard games lead the NFL. The 19 straight seasons without losing both games to a divisional opponent is an NFL record. The Jaguars have allowed at least 24 points in each of those 13 games, an NFL record.
AFC features plenty of star power even without Tom Brady
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)The AFC doesn’t lack for drama or star power even though Tom Brady has taken his talents to Davis Beach. WEST: The Chiefs (8-1) are still the class of the conference despite a hiccup against the resurgent Raiders (5-3), who won 40-32 at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 11. Mahomes became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 100 TD passes, doing it in 40 games, four fewer than Dan Marino. The Broncos (3-5) have been waylaid by injuries and COVID-19 opt-outs, exposures and infections and Drew Lock went 45 drives without a TD pass.
Jets have no positive COVID-19 tests, game with Arizona on
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – All New York Jets players and coaches have tested negative for COVID-19, and Sunday's game against Arizona will be played on time. We look forward to our game this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.”During the summer, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had a similar false positive. By sending everyone home from the facility Friday morning, the Jets took the appropriate steps under the NFL/NFLPA COVID-19 protocols. The league already postponed, then rescheduled the Titans’ game with Pittsburgh from Oct. 4 to Oct. 25 during the outbreak. That would be the sixth NFL game to be rescheduled — all this month.
Risky? Dolphins to allow up to 13,000 fans at home opener
MIAMI The Miami Dolphins will allow up to 13,000 socially distancing fans to attend their home opener against Buffalo on Sept. 20, a decision that divided political leaders and upset Bills coach Sean McDermott. The same plan will be followed for the University of Miami's home opener against UAB at the Dolphins' stadium on Sept. 10. South Florida remains a hot spot for the virus, and not all reaction to the Dolphins' plan was favorable. As of now, the Bills don't plan to allow spectators at their home games. According to the Dolphins' 46-page plan for crowds, fans and stadium employees will be required to wear masks when not eating or drinking.