Sports News

Former NFL receiver Braylon Edwards was praised for saving a life during a YMCA attack

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A Detroit-area police chief on Monday praised former NFL player Braylon Edwards for helping save the life of an 80-year-old man who was allegedly attacked in a YMCA locker room.

The incident, which occurred Friday morning in Farmington Hills, Michigan, led to the arrest of a 20-year-old man who is believed to have fled the YMCA following Edwards' intervention. The man, identified as local resident Malik Ali Smith, was charged Monday with assault with intent to murder.

In an interview with Detroit station WDIV on Friday, Edwards said that when he entered the locker room, he “heard some noise four rows behind me where there was an argument about music, someone was playing music too loud.” The 41-year-old former Wide receiver said he initially paid little attention to the apparent altercation until it became increasingly violent.

“The noise escalates, and then you hear some pushing and shoving – you know what fighting sounds like – you hear some scuffling, you hear some fists,” Edwards said.

“But when I heard a thud, that was the reason I got up. That’s what made me turn back.”

Edwards told the station he saw the alleged attacker “grab the back of the victim's head by the hair and was about to slam him onto the counter.” The former University of Michigan star said he then moved in and “subdued” the younger man.

Police said Monday that the alleged victim, who police have not identified, was in critical but stable condition at a hospital.

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“Based on the significant injuries inflicted on the victim, it is clear that Mr. Braylon Edwards’ intervention played a critical role in saving the victim’s life,” Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King said in a statement. “This is a terrible incident, but Mr. Edwards’ selfless efforts embody the best in our society.”

The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office said Smith was arraigned Saturday and remained in the county jail Monday after bail was set at $250,000. Police said a plea of ​​innocence was filed on his behalf. If convicted of the felony charge, he could face life in prison.

An attorney for Smith told the Detroit News, “My client is reported to be a violent person, and that is simply not the case. He is a young man and has a history of mental health issues.”

“This was a vicious, senseless attack,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement. “I commend the witness who intervened and we will seek justice for this victim.”

A Farmington police news release Friday, which did not name Edwards, described him as a “good Samaritan” who took action to “stop the suspect in the midst of a brutal attack.”

Edwards is Michigan's all-time leader in catches (252), receiving yards (3,541) and receiving yards (39) and was selected third overall in the 2005 draft by the Cleveland Browns. He moved to the Jets midway through the 2009 season and helped New York to two consecutive AFC Championship games.

Edwards signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011 and played with the Seattle Seahawks the following season before briefly returning to the Jets to finish his NFL career. The 2007 Pro Bowl selection finished with 359 catches for 5,522 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Edwards is a Detroit native and is retiring as a resident of West Bloomfield Township. Referring to the procedure, which has been hailed as a life-saving procedure, he said on Friday: “That's what you do.”

“At the end of the day,” Edwards said Monday on X: “I simply did the right thing, just like many other good people in this world.”

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The Blue Jays are still eluding to victory

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The Toronto Blue Jays' preseason plan continued with another loss on Sunday.

This time the Queen City Club lost 3-1 to the Boston Red Sox. This is the seventh loss in nine games since training camp began in Florida.

In today's matchup, singles by Nathan Hickey and Dalton Guthrie in the eighth inning allowed the Red Sox to score two runs and secure the win. Jays shooter Andrew Bash was on duty at the time. He allowed two earned runs on three hits in two innings of work.

The only point for the Canadian team was the work of Alejandro Kirk, who threw the ball out of bounds in the sixth inning. It was his second preseason home run.

During the same period, a single by Masataka Yoshida allowed Jamie Westbrook to step to the plate and tie the score.

The Blue Jays will look to experience the joy of victory on Monday when they face the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Blue Jays are still eluding to victory

Getty Images via AFP

A more difficult day for Julien

For the Minnesota Twins, Édouard Julien had a more difficult day at the plate in their 4-4 draw against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Quebec native was hit three times in as many appearances on the field, including two strikeouts. He has now collected six hits, hit a home run and scored five runs in 13 at-bats since the start of the preseason calendar.

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Five-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey kills and disembowels a moose that became entangled with his dog team

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A veteran musher had to kill a moose after it injured his dog shortly after the start of this year's Iditarod, race officials said Monday.

Dallas Seavey told Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officials early Monday morning that he was forced to shoot the moose with a pistol in self-defense.

This happened “after the moose became entangled with the dogs and the musher,” the race said in a statement.

Seavey, who has the most Iditarod wins ever with five, said he urged officials to get the moose off the trail.

“It fell on my sled and was sprawled out on the trail,” Seavey told an Iditarod Insider television crew. “I gutted it as best I could, but it was ugly.”

Seavey, who turned 37 on Monday, is not the first musher to have to kill a moose during an Iditarod. In 1985, the late Susan Butcher was leading the race when she used her ax and a parka to fend off a moose, but it killed two of her dogs and injured 13 others. Another musher came by and killed the moose.

Butcher was forced to abandon the race but won four Iditarods. She died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 51.

This year's race started Sunday afternoon in Willow, about 75 miles (121 kilometers) north of Anchorage. Seavey encountered the moose just before 2 a.m. Monday, 14 miles (22 kilometers) outside the race checkpoint in Skwentna, on the way to the next checkpoint 50 miles (80 kilometers) away in Finger Lake.

Seavey arrived in Finger Lake later Monday, where he dropped off a dog that had been injured in the encounter with the moose. The dog was flown to Anchorage where he was examined by a veterinarian.

Alaska State Troopers were notified of the dead elk and race officials said every effort would be made to save the meat.

Race rules state that if a large game animal such as a moose, caribou or buffalo is killed to protect life or property, the musher must gut the animal and report it to race officials at the nearest checkpoint. Mushers who comply must, if possible, help gut the animal, the rules say.

New race director Warren Palfrey said he would continue to gather information about the meet in light of the rules, according to the Iditarod statement.

Musher Paige Drobny confirmed to race officials that the moose was dead and in the middle of the course when she arrived in Finger Lake on Monday.

“Yeah, like my team went over it like it was 'middle of the road,'” she said.

Seavey wasn't the first musher to encounter a moose on this leg of the race.

Race director Jessie Holmes, a member of National Geographic's reality TV show “Life Below Zero” about life in rural Alaska, had an encounter between these two checkpoints, but it is not clear whether it was the same moose.

“I had to punch a moose in the nose out there,” he told a camera crew, but gave no further details.

The 1,000-mile (1,609 kilometers) race across Alaska will end sometime next week when the winning musher leaves the ice of the Bering Sea and crosses the dimpled finish line in Nome.

___

This story has been corrected to show the checkpoint is in Skwentna.

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Phillip Danault scores a hat trick

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Phillip Danault scored a hat trick and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena.

It was the 12th, 13th and 14th successes for the Quebecer, but the first time he had found the net at home this season. This is also his second hat trick in his National League career.

Danault equalized in the first third. The former Montreal Canadiens accepted a very long season from Kevin Fiala and presented himself alone in front of Nico Daws, whom he slowed down with a sharp shot.

The Victoriaville native did it again in the second third. He took advantage of Matt Roy's quick thinking and a poor move from the opposing goalkeeper to set the wheels in motion.

Thanks to a sixth runner, Danault finally completed his hat trick in an abandoned cage.

The Kings' other goals came from the sticks of Fiala and Alex Laferriere. Pierre-Luc Dubois also provided an assist, ending a series of failures. In his last five appearances he had not blacked out the top scorer list.

Timo Meier scored the Devils' only goal in the 15th second of the game. Nico Hischier scored an assist, his 25th of the season. This is the fifth time in his seven seasons in the National League that he has reached that mark.

In front of the victorious cage, Cam Talbot made 30 saves. Daws was removed from the game after allowing four goals on 13 shots. He was replaced by Akira Schmid, who was perfect on eight shots.

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There are growing signs of Kirk Cousins ​​​​possible move to Atlanta

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Vikings fans who would like to forget the 1998 NFC Championship might have another reason to think about it.

The team that beat the Vikings on this day in January 1999 could be poised to steal quarterback Kirk Cousins.

We can't go into the details at the moment. But we get very credible hints that Cousins ​​is seriously considering moving his family to Atlanta. Which of course would mean he would sign with the Falcons.

The Falcons have always been the top alternative to the Vikings for Cousins, who becomes an unrestricted free agent next Wednesday. And for a good reason. His wife, Julie, grew up in nearby Alpharetta, Georgia. Her parents still live there.

Apparently the Vikings have decided they want to keep Cousins, but only at a cost. They seem to think he won't get a better deal elsewhere. When he does, they seem content to let him go.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell told PFT Live on Tuesday (video attached) that he desperately wants Cousins ​​back. And we believe him. Do others in the organization, from GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to owners Mark and Zygi Wilf, feel the same way?

The counter would probably be that Cousins ​​is 35 years old and recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Additionally, in six years with the Vikings, the team only made the playoffs twice. (If not for his injury, they probably would have made it in 2023.)

The appeal for Cousins, beyond the contract, would be a plethora of players with excellent skill sets — and the fact that the NFC South is currently weaker than the NFC North.

The Vikings still have exclusive negotiating rights with Cousins ​​for six days. If they want to keep him, they could make him an offer he won't refuse.

Of course, it might be too late for that. If the Falcons had given Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, enough indications last week about what they were willing to do, Cousins ​​might have already decided to leave. And he might not be interested now in the Vikings doing what they could have done before the Falcons caught his attention.

The Falcons had previously been linked to a trade with the Bears for quarterback Justin Fields. Ultimately, this may have just been misdirection designed to potentially give them a chance to snag Cousins ​​while the Vikings assumed no one else would make him a better offer than what the Vikings made .

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Snowboard cross: the seventh podium finish in a row for the two-time Olympic champion from Beauceron

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Snowboarder Eliot Grondin's dream season continued on Sunday at the Sierra Nevada Snowboard Cross World Cup in Spain as he won a seventh medal in as many races, further extending his lead at the top of the standings.

The Beauceron has been a gold medalist four times since the start of the season and this time he left the top step of the podium to his French friend Merlin Surget, who achieved his first victory of the year, but his silver medal satisfied him. He had also won silver at the same place 24 hours earlier.

“Of course I would have liked to win, but he drove really well and blocked me in the last corner,” he said. He was the strongest and there wasn't much I could have done about this descent. I came second to a really good friend who had a difficult start to the season. I haven't missed a single podium this season. I can’t be disappointed.”

“Sometimes I pinch myself and don’t realize what’s happening to me later,” the 22-year-old snowboarder added. Since the races follow each other at a good pace, I don't have time to express my emotions. After my second place on Saturday I had to forget everything and start from scratch.”

The crystal ball at home

With five races to go, including the final two held at Mont-Sainte-Anne on March 23 and 24 to close the season, Grondin sits at the top of the standings with a comfortable lead of 301 points over his nearest rival. The Austrian Alessandro Hämmerle had a difficult weekend with a 15th and a 9th place.

Is Grondin thinking about his coronation, which could take place at home in front of his family and friends? “I race for myself and don’t think about the crystal ball,” he said. I know that if I do my best, I can compete with him. With five races on the calendar I should be fine, although some things could change, but I don't want to just think about the Globe.

An unprecedented consistency

Although he finished the 2023 season strongly, notably winning a stage in Mont-Sainte-Anne that allowed him to finish second in the rankings, Grondin had a difficult start.

This year it is as regular as a Swiss watch. “Because there are so many things you can’t control, it’s hard to always do your best,” he said. That's why I'm really happy to have been performing so consistently since the start of the season. Today I was tired and had less energy. I wanted to have fun, ride a nice course and enjoy the nice temperature. I wasn’t thinking about winning.”

His problems last season were not in vain. “I learned a lot,” said the double medalist from the Beijing Olympics. As a career progresses, one is bound to experience more difficult moments. My opponents, all of whom are ten years older than me, have all experienced this situation before. I arrived better prepared. When I finished 2023 strong, I was on fire in training.”

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Ruff was fired as Devils coach and replaced by Green

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The Devils had a hard time finding consistency in defense and goaltending. They rank 26th in the NHL in goals conceded per game (3.49) and 17th in the penalty kill (79.2 percent). New Jersey ranks 31st in team save percentage (.882), ahead of only the Ottawa Senators (.880).

Goalie Vitek Vanecek, out since Feb. 10 with a lower-body injury, has a 17-9-3 record in 32 games (29 starts) with a 3.18 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. Nico Daws is 8-10-0 with a 3.47 GAA and .887 save percentage in 18 games. Akira Schmid is 5-8-1 with a 3.09 GAA and a .897 save percentage in 18 games (14 starts).

Green was hired on June 22 to coach the forwards and direct the power play after Andrew Brunette was named coach of the Nashville Predators on May 31. The 53-year-old previously coached the Vancouver Canucks from 2017 to 2021 (133-147). 34) and helped them advance to the second round of the Western Conference in 2020. He was released on December 6, 2021 after 25 games (8-15-2).

New Jersey finished 26th or worse in five of the last seven seasons and won the NHL Draft Lottery twice, selecting center Nico Hischier No. 1 in 2017 and center Jack Hughes No. 1 in 2019. It selected forward Alexander Holtz with the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, defenseman Luke Hughes with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and defenseman Simon Nemec with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

The Devils lost veteran defensemen Damon Severson (via trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 27) and Ryan Graves (via free agency to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1), but signed key free agents who made significant contributions in the offseason have accomplished.

Timo Meier signed an eight-year contract on June 28th. The 27-year-old forward could have become a restricted free agent, but he bought out of the Devils and everything they had to offer after being acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on February 26. Before signing Meier, the Devils signed forward Jesper Bratt to an eight-year contract on June 15 and forward Erik Haula to a three-year contract eight days later.

New Jersey signed forward Tyler Toffoli from the Calgary Flames on June 27 and defenseman Colin Miller from the Dallas Stars on July 1. Toffoli has one season left on a four-year contract. Miller has one season left on a two-year contract.

Striker Tomas Nosek signed a one-year contract on July 19 and defender Kevin Bahl received a two-year contract on July 31.

The core group of forwards, which includes Jack Hughes, Hischier and Ondrej Palat, as well as defenders Dougie Hamilton, John Marino and Jonas Siegenthaler, all previously had long-term contracts. Hamilton is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a torn left pectoral muscle on December 1st.

Injuries have limited Jack Hughes and Hischier to 45 and 50 games, respectively.

Ruff replaced Alain Nasreddine, who had a 19-16-8 record with New Jersey before the NHL season was suspended on March 12, 2020 due to coronavirus concerns. Nasreddine was appointed coach when John Hynes was fired on December 3, 2019.

Ruff coached in the NHL for 23 seasons, including 15 with the Buffalo Sabers and four with the Dallas Stars. He was also hired by the Rangers as an assistant on July 10, 2017. He is fourth in NHL history in wins (864) and games coached (1,774).

The Sabers reached the 1999 Stanley Cup Final, losing six games to the Stars in Ruff's second season. He won the Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach of the Year in 2005-06 and finished second to Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks in 2006-07. As an assistant to Doug MacLean, Ruff helped the Florida Panthers reach the Cup Final in 1996 when they were defeated by the Colorado Avalanche.

Ruff is the seventh NHL coach to be fired this season, joining Todd McLellan (Los Angeles Kings), Lane Lambert (New York Islanders), DJ Smith (Ottawa Senators), Jay Woodcroft (Edmonton Oilers), Dean Evason (Minnesota Wild). will be Craig Berube (St. Louis Blues).

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NFL: Good news for poolers betting on Joe Burrow

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow wants to resume football activities in May, when his organization will hold preseason sessions in the spring.

That's what he told the ESPN network this weekend.

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The 2023 season ended for the 27-year-old in his tenth game when he injured his right wrist in a duel against the Baltimore Ravens. The pivot also missed most of training camp due to a right calf injury.

“I think the doctors will clear me for contact and participation in team activities in mid-May,” Burrow said.

“I can lift weights normally at the moment,” he added. It's a really good thing. In the next few months I’ll be able to basically do what I’ve done the last two offseasons.”

The player, who was selected with the first pick of the 2020 draft, completed 66.8% of the passes he attempted for 2,309 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. The Bengals finished last in the North Division of the American NFL Association despite a winning record of 9-8.

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