Breaking
Wealth World News
Archive

2023

Browsing
Politics

Schumer says ‘good night for American people’ after Senate passes bill averting government shutdown

The Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) late Wednesday night to fund federal agencies into early next year, temporarily averting a government shutdown just before the holiday season.

The bill passed by a vote of 87-11, with 10 Republicans and only one Democrat voting no. GOP Sens. John Cornyn and Tim Scott were absent for the vote. The House of Representatives passed the CR on Tuesday by an overwhelming majority of 336-95.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., described Wednesday as ‘a very, very good night for the American people’ before announcing a government shutdown has been avoided, which he credited to ‘bipartisan cooperation.’

‘Obviously, the Republican-led House needed Democratic votes to avoid a shutdown, and I was pleased to see that the speaker was willing to work with Democrats and resisted the siren song of the hard right in the House,’ Schumer said to reporters Wednesday. ‘And if that continues, we can avoid further shutdowns and finish the work of funding the government.’

In his remarks after the bill’s passing, Schumer was referring to the plan proposed by newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Saturday that was ultimately supported by Republicans and Democrats.

Johnson suggested creating two separate deadlines for funding different parts of the government in an effort to prevent Congress from lumping all 12 spending bills into a massive ‘omnibus’ package.

Bills concerning military construction and Veterans Affairs; Agriculture; Energy and Water; Transportation and Housing and Urban Development must be worked out by Jan. 19 while the remaining eight appropriations bills must be decided upon by Feb. 2.

‘The innovative two-step approach takes Washington’s preferred Christmas omnibus monstrosity off the table, shifts the government funding paradigm moving forward, and enhances [House Republicans’] ability to rein in the Biden administration’s failed policies and government spending,’ Johnson said after the CR passed the House on Tuesday. ‘We also are better positioned in the upcoming supplemental debate to demand Border Security, ensure oversight of Ukraine aid, and support our cherished ally, Israel.’

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who is on the Senate Appropriations Committee, also applauded the bipartisan effort to keep the government from shutting down right before the holiday season.

‘Funding the government is one of the essential parts of this job, and tonight, the Senate came together in a good-faith effort to pass the bipartisan House CR,’ Durbin said. ‘We’re keeping the lights on through the holidays and fulfilling our basic duties to ensure thousands of hardworking Americans and service men and women will not be forced to work without pay during what should be a joyous time of year.’

House and Senate leaders agreed another short-term extension was needed to determine the government’s spending priorities for the 2023 fiscal year in order to meet the deadline of midnight on Friday.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Human rights lawyers says she has never seen ‘such a rise in Jew hatred’ after Hamas attacks in Israel

A leading human rights lawyer who marched at the Stand for Israel rally in Washington, D.C., says she has never seen ‘such a rise in Jew hatred’ across the globe as what has transpired in the days following the devastating Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7. 

Brooke Goldstein, executive director of The Lawfare Project, spoke with Fox News Digital on Tuesday on the National Mall in the nation’s capital, where nearly 300,000 people rallied in support of Israel’s right to exist and in support of the Jewish community around the world who have been subject to antisemitic rhetoric and calls for violence in the weeks following the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.

‘I’ve been doing this my whole life, and I have never seen such a rise in Jew hatred as we have seen after October the seventh,’ she said. ‘Our clients are being treated differently.’

‘I know that some of my clients are feeling completely unsafe, even just to walk on the street. They’re removing their kippahs or they’re hiding their Stars of David necklaces because they do not feel safe in this country,’ she said.

‘And that is completely unacceptable. It is 2023. We are in the age of minority rights movements and the Jewish community is the oldest, most persecuted minority community in human history. The time is now for a Jewish civil rights movement. The time is now to demand an end to Jew hatred,’ Goldstein said. 

The Lawfare Project provides pro bono legal services to protect the civil and human rights of the Jewish people worldwide. Goldstein told Fox News Digital that she believes people in the West who are marching and protesting in support of Hamas are exhibiting ‘a disgusting display of colonialism.’

‘I don’t think that the marches happening are anywhere near pro-Palestinian,’ she said. ‘If you care about the Palestinian-Muslim community, then you would have an anti-Hamas march. But as the Western people who sit in their place of privilege and support a terrorist group that is terrorizing a local, indigenous community, the Palestinian Arab community – they don’t want Hamas to rule after them. They don’t want Hamas to use them as human shields. They don’t want Hamas to be recruiting their children as suicide, homicide bombers or child soldiers.’.

‘And yet it is those in the West – it’s a disgusting display of colonialism, who are preaching pro-Hamas rhetoric, who are supporting the Hamas terrorists’ occupation of the Palestinian-Muslim people,’ she said. 

Elite universities around the country such as Harvard, Columbia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Virginia have hosted anti-Israel protests since the October attacks that killed over 1,200 Israelis. Some demonstrations featured chants like ‘one solution, intifada’ and ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ – both inherently carrying calls to violence against Jews. 

‘Every day we are being contacted by dozens of Jewish students and professors who are experiencing an alarming amount of anti-Jewish discrimination on campuses, and we are providing them with legal counsel,’ Goldstein said. 

‘My message to students on campuses that are dealing with Jew hatred is that you do not have to tolerate this. You have civil rights. You have every right to stand up for yourself and to be who you are without being targeted because of your cultural, religious or ethnic identity or even your national origin,’ Goldstein said. 

‘I encourage you to stand up for yourself and seek advice and seek counsel. There is no shame in it, and you will not be retaliated against and we will protect you. The community is here to protect you,’ she said.

Goldstein said she is grateful the Biden administration on the whole is ‘standing strong’ with Israel. But she is concerned about lawmakers like Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who are ‘espousing genocidal ideas.’ But Goldstein said she is encouraged by what she believes is the majority of the American people support Israel. 

‘I think it’s so important that the Jewish community continue to protest today and every day after today until the hostages are released and until Hamas is defeated, because we must show the world that this is not right,’ Goldstein said. 

‘We must show the world that it takes courage and it takes effort and it takes stamina to stand on the side of truth and what’s right,’ she said.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Stocks

Soybeans Could be the Next Parabolic Runner

Brazil planted a record soybean crop only to see unusually dry and hot weather create concerns for the harvest. Furthermore, Argentina had an extreme shortfall of soybean meal crops. Meanwhile, the USDA numbers were bearish for corn and soybeans, as U.S. crops came in larger than expected. However, China bought around 3 MMT of soybeans or 110 million bushels from the U.S. last week, a volume that reportedly surprised the market. They added another 7.5 million bushels on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Teucrium Soybean Fund SOYB saw a huge influx of investor money. The monthly chart featured shows prices hovering around all-time highs. In 2012 the high was 28.88. In July this year, SOYB made a new high at 29.43. The sideways consolidation on this monthly chart suggests a move to 34-35 is possible.

The futures chart is also interesting.

This is the January 2024 contract of soybean futures. It is in a bullish phase, well above the 50 and 200-DMAs. 1360 is the closest support level to hold. 1385 is pivotal — above bullish, below more neutral, until beans break below 1320. At that point, give this a big never mind.

Over 1400 and then 1420? This could then run the way of cattle, cocoa, orange juice and most likely sugar — that is to say, UP, way UP.

Naturally, on the heels of the supposed cooler CPI and PPI numbers, some havoc will be wreaked. Most importantly, DBA will fly higher and the deflation talking heads will have well, beans on their face.

This is for educational purposes only. Trading comes with risk.

MarketGauge has rocked it this year. Our blends, models, strategies, tools and education is like no other. If you find it difficult to execute the MarketGauge strategies or would like to explore how we can do it for you, please email Ben Scheibe at Benny@MGAMLLC.com, our Head of Institutional Sales. Cell: 612-518-2482.

For more detailed trading information about our blended models, tools and trader education courses, contact Rob Quinn, our Chief Strategy Consultant, to learn more.

Traders World Fintech Awards

Get your copy of Plant Your Money Tree: A Guide to Growing Your Wealth.

Grow your wealth today and plant your money tree!

“I grew my money tree and so can you!” – Mish Schneider

Follow Mish on Twitter @marketminute for stock picks and more. Follow Mish on Instagram (mishschneider) for daily morning videos. To see updated media clips, click here.

Mish in the Media

Mish talks about Tencent Music Entertainment on Business First AM.

Mish talks bonds with Charles Payne in this clip from October 27, recorded live in-studio at Fox Business.

Live in-studio at Yahoo! Finance on October 26, Mish does a chart deep dive with Jared Blikre.

Mish talks 401(k)s at the NYSE in this October 26 video from Cheddar TV.

Mish covers the bond rally and how consumers could save the day in this October 24 video from Business First AM.

Coming Up:

November 16: CNBC Asia & Making Money with Charles Payne, Fox Business

November 17: BNN Bloomberg

November 20: Yahoo! Finance & Real Vision

November 28: Your Daily Five, StockCharts TV

November 30: Live Coaching

December 3-December 13: Money Show Webinar-at-Sea

Weekly: Business First AM, CMC Markets

ETF Summary

S&P 500 (SPY): 450 clears, see 465; Under 450, 435 support.Russell 2000 (IWM): 181 resistance, 174 support.Dow (DIA): 360 resistance, 346 support.Nasdaq (QQQ): 388 must clear and 370 must hold.Regional banks (KRE): 45 big resistance.Semiconductors (SMH): 160-161 now pivotal support.Transportation (IYT): 235 support.Biotechnology (IBB): 120 pivotal.Retail (XRT): 65 resistance and 60 pivotal support.

Mish Schneider

MarketGauge.com

Director of Trading Research and Education

Keep Reading
By
Business

Prices held steady in October as inflation slowed further

Prices for consumers are growing at a slower pace, the U.S. government reported Tuesday morning, as overall prices in October were the same as what consumers paid in September.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says prices in October were unchanged as gasoline prices declined and shelter costs continued to rise. Its Consumer Price Index rose 3.2% compared to a year ago, the latest sign that inflation is slowing down as interest rates rise and the job market gives up some of the strength it has shown in the last few years.

The CPI results were about equal to what experts had expected. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal had projected an 0.1% increase in prices compared to September, and 3.2% from October 2022.

Core prices, which exclude food and energy prices because they can be highly volatile, rose 4% compared to October 2022. The BLS said that was the slowest pace of growth it has recorded since September 2021.

The BLS said that compared to a year ago, food prices climbed 3.3% and shelter costs rose 6.7%. The price of used cars and trucks fell 7.1%, continuing a long decline after those prices had spiked in the early stages of the pandemic.

Gasoline prices were down 5.3% from a year ago, which contributed to an overall drop in energy costs.

‘The usual trouble spots — shelter, motor vehicle insurance, and personal care — still remain,’ wrote Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate. ‘Shelter has accounted for 70% of the increase in core prices over the past year and offset the 5% decline in gasoline prices during October.”

While more apartments are being built, McBride says that’s not showing up in rents right now.

The report will be a major factor in the Federal Reserve’s next decision on interest rates in December. Stocks rose Tuesday morning, as investors concluded that the report makes it more likely that the Fed is done raising interest rates for the time being.

At 9:46 a.m. ET, the benchmark S&P 500 index rose 1.6% and the tech stock-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 2.1%.

Higher interest rates tend to slow down the economy and cut into profits for most businesses, so relatively lower rates are seen as better for stocks. Higher rates on bonds are a more appealing investment relative to stocks because their payments increase when rates do.

The central U.S. bank will meet for the final time this year Dec. 12 and 13. It left rates alone in September and October after a series of steep increases throughout 2022 and early this year.

Officials including Fed Chair Jerome Powell have suggested that the central bank is comfortable with the progress it has made in reducing inflation so far. U.S. inflation peaked at 9.1% annually in June 2022, so it has slowed significantly even though it remains well above the 2% rate the Fed says it wants to achieve.

In September, overall prices rose 0.2% from August, and CPI was up 3.7% over the previous 12 months.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Week 11 fantasy football rankings: PPR ranks, injury news, sleepers

Quarterback injury news — both good and bad — is the big story this week with the expected return of Justin Fields and Matthew Stafford, and the season-ending surgery for Deshaun Watson.

ON BYE: Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints

Fantasy football rankings for Week 11 are based on the point-per-reception (PPR) scoring used in most seasonal and daily fantasy football formats. One point is awarded for every 10 rushing and receiving yards and one point for every 20 passing yards. Six points are awarded for touchdowns scored, four points for passing TDs and one point for receptions.

Rankings are compiled by Daniel Dobish, TheHuddle.com. 

(*-check status before kickoff)

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Fantasy football quarterback rankings for Week 11

The Browns announced Wednesday Deshaun Watson will need surgery on his throwing shoulder and miss the rest of the season. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will take over as the starter in a major downgrade for the Browns offense.Justin Fields‘ thumb seems to be sufficiently healed to allow him to start on Sunday at Detroit. His performances prior to the injury can give fantasy managers confidence to roll with him as well.Sleeper pick: Joshua Dobbs has led the Vikings to a pair of victories since arriving in a trade. His scrambling ability (rushing TDs in four consecutive games) makes him a sneaky good start vs. Denver, especially if star WR Justin Jefferson is activated from injured reserve.

Fantasy football running back rankings for Week 11

The Dolphins opened the practice window for big-play rookie De’Von Achane this week. He has RB2 potential right away if he’s activated to face the Raiders.Khalil Herbert (ankle) could return from IR this week after the Bears’ extended time off following their Thursday night game. However, D’Onta Foreman has run well in Herbert’s place.Sleeper pick: Ty Chandler could get the feature back treatment this week if starter Alexander Mattison (concussion) is out.

Fantasy football wide receiver rankings for Week 11

After his monster game in Week 10 (11 catches, 175 yards, 2 TD), Keenan Allen is listed as day-to-day with a shoulder injury.The expected return of quarterback Matthew Stafford (thumb) after the Rams’ bye week should be good news for wideouts Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell.Tee Higgins (hamstring) has yet to return to practice, putting his status in considerable jeopardy with the Bengals playing Thursday night in Baltimore.Sleeper pick: Courtland Sutton doesn’t seem to get the respect he deserves. With a spectacular TD catch on Monday night, he’s scored in each of his last four games.

Fantasy football tight end rankings for Week 11

Fantasy football kicker rankings for Week 11

Fantasy football defense/special teams rankings for Week 11

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Texas, Georgia lead playoff ranking winners and losers

For two weeks, the College Football Playoff selection committee had ranked Ohio State No. 1 on the back of the Buckeyes’ two wins against Notre Dame and Penn State.

That was enough to keep Ohio State ahead of Georgia despite some closer-than-expected games in Big Ten play and a dip in offensive production. That decline was more than offset by the tangible growth of the Buckeyes’ defense, which ranks among the best in the Bowl Subdivision.

Eventually, though, the committee had to make the switch. There are two reasons: one, Georgia has added SEC wins to match and exceed Ohio State’s résumé, and two, the Bulldogs are starting to look like a team capable of winning an historic third national championship in a row.

Ohio State’s blowout on Saturday of three-win Michigan State did nothing to move the needle with the committee. But the group was definitely paying attention to Georgia’s 52-17 win against Mississippi, which saw the return of star tight end Brock Bowers and saw the Bulldogs take apart a team ranked No. 9 a week ago.

BOWL PROJECTIONS: Is chaos around corner for the SEC, Pac-12?

So it’s Georgia No. 1, Ohio State No. 2. If both teams win out, that seems likely to last to the postseason.

These two teams lead the winners and losers from Tuesday night’s rankings:

Winners

Texas and the Big 12

The No. 7 Longhorns stayed ahead of Alabama as the committee continues, rightfully so, to place value on the head-to-head win back in September. There’s another positive sign from Tuesday’s release: Texas is one of five teams from the Big 12 in the rankings after No. 23 Oklahoma State and No. 25 Kansas hung around despite suffering their third losses on the season. Joining this threesome are No. 14 Oklahoma and No. 21 Kansas State. The league is getting the benefit of the doubt from the committee, and that’s something to highlight given the chance that Texas could be competing for the final spot in the playoff field with one or more contenders with one loss.

Missouri

Missouri rose to No. 9 after a 36-7 win against Tennessee, moving ahead of one-loss Louisville amid one of the program’s most successful seasons in almost a decade. There’s plenty to like about the Tigers’ postseason résumé, which includes four SEC wins and a pair of very impressive non-conference victories against Kansas State and Memphis. But the committee is also drawn to a physical style of play that helped Missouri really battle Georgia earlier this month and nearly pull off the upset. At this spot in the rankings and with winnable games against Florida and Arkansas to end the year, the Tigers are in wonderful position to lock down an appearance in the New Year’s Six.

Penn State

Penn State dropped just two spots to No. 12 after losing 24-15 to Michigan, staying within the cut line for a New Year’s Six bowl despite losses to the only legitimate contenders on this year’s schedule. But that’s the reason for the slight drop: Penn State has pretty much torn through every team except the Buckeyes and Wolverines, and suffered single-digit losses despite being held in check in both games. The Nittany Lions close with Rutgers and Michigan State and should get into the New Year’s Six with a sweep of these last two games, depending on how things shake out at the top of the conference.

Losers

Washington

It’s not that the committee doesn’t like No. 5 Washington. They just don’t love the Huskies, that’s all, and that may end up being a problem down the line should they lose once this month but still capture the Pac-12 championship. The Huskies remain behind No. 4 Florida State and even No. 3 Michigan despite owning the best win in the FBS, per the committee, against No. 6 Oregon. They also have wins against No. 17 Arizona and No. 22 Utah and eight victories overall against the Power Five when adding in Michigan State in non-conference action. What the committee has mentioned already is the Huskies’ lack of game control, which admittedly does stand out. But Washington has the résumé to be in the top four and as high as No. 3.

Liberty

With James Madison currently ineligible for the postseason the playoff rankings, Liberty is the only unbeaten team in the Group of Five. Despite the unblemished record, the unranked Flames are as of today only a borderline New Year’s Six bowl contender because they lack anything close to the résumé needed to reach a major bowl, with only three wins against teams with a winning record (Bowling Green, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State) and zero games against Power Five competition. With games against Massachusetts, Texas-El Paso and a rematch with New Mexico State to end the year, Liberty is also unlikely to put together the victories needed to rise ahead of the American champion, whether that’s No. 24 Tulane, SMU, Memphis or even Texas-San Antonio.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Crumbling contender? Bills’ drastic move may not be enough to save season

What exactly is the condition of the Buffalo Bills’ proverbial championship window?

It became a trending question Tuesday, the day after the three-time defending AFC East champions lost at home in prime time to the decidedly average Denver Broncos … in spectacular fashion … as time expired … with quarterback Josh Allen struggling yet again … and following the latest round of drama surrounding Pro Bowl wideout Stefon Diggs … not to mention the consequential the firing of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey.

(Brief detour here, but what is a “championship window”? Are you supposed to go through one? Because that seems dangerous given the generally precarious placement of windows. Maybe that’s why the Bills have never done it since coming into the NFL in 1970, including those epic Buffalo teams that appeared in a record four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s. Maybe they’d stampede to glory if they had to go through a “championship door” or cross a “championship threshold”? I personally like that last one. Sorry, I’ll stop digressing, Mafia members.)

But since we’re stuck with the championship window metaphor, let’s cite Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s impregnable take on it. ‘The window is my whole career,’ Burrow said earlier this year. ‘Things are going to change year-to-year, but our window is always open.’

It should be no different in Western New York as it pertains to Allen, a two-time Pro Bowler and an upgraded version – at least in certain regards – of former league MVP Cam Newton. But Allen seems to need guidance, stability and help – and those aren’t insignificant issues for a player who appears to take on too much of the offensive load and/or is overly burdened with it.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

That was weirdly evident Monday in Dorsey’s final game. Allen threw two more interceptions – one clearly his fault while forcing the ball on a bad read, another off a deflected pass Bills receiver Gabe Davis should have caught in the first place – pushing Allen’s 2023 total to a league-worst 11. (Conversely, Allen threw for a TD against Denver and ran for one – meaning his 26 combined pass/rush scores also pace the NFL.)

Yet Dorsey was showing a healthier commitment to the run, producing a season-high 192 yards on the ground – only 13 from Allen – with running back James Cook carrying five consecutive times for 69 yards before Allen finished off Buffalo’s final drive with a 6-yard TD run, one that seemed like a game-clincher, inside of two minutes. It felt like a possession that would certainly salvage the evening and maybe even the season … until the Bills defense and special teams cracked with a pair of bad penalties that allowed the Broncos to hit their game-winning field goal on kicker Wil Lutz’s second attempt.

Where do the Bills (5-5), who are currently in 10th place overall in the AFC and a half-game behind the Houston Texans for the final wild-card spot, go from here? Very unclear.

Like most NFL teams heading into Week 11 of a given season, they’ve got few options in the short run aside from making things work as best as possible. The trade deadline already passed. Injured defenders Matt Milano, Tre’Davious White and DaQuan Jones won’t return to bolster a unit that’s been in steady decline amid its personnel setbacks and hasn’t gotten a boost from Von Miller following his comeback from last season’s torn ACL.

Offensively? Brian Daboll, the coordinator Allen clearly vibed with best when this group was at its peak in 2020 and 2021, isn’t coming back, either, pending a loan from his duties coaching the rudderless 2023 New York Giants. Maybe a new voice in Allen’s head will help at this point … and firing Dorsey seems like the path of least resistance for a .500 team grasping for answers given providing Allen a week off to clear his head or rest a throwing shoulder that’s clearly been a problem for weeks isn’t viable.

Head coach Sean McDermott largely absolved his decimated defense Monday night, crediting the unit for keeping Buffalo in a game when the Bills turned the ball over four times. He had yet to fire Dorsey at that point but didn’t have any better answers for the offense than “gotta figure that out” or “it needs to be better.”

For now, 34-year-old interim OC Joe Brady – a William & Mary product like McDermott – gets to try and crack that nut. Brady (no relation to Tom) saw his coaching trajectory skyrocket while calling plays for LSU’s already legendary 2019 national champions, yet saw it plummet just as fast after failing to make it through two seasons as offensive coordinator for Matt Rhule’s Carolina Panthers. For starters, Brady probably needs to build off the momentum the run game generated Monday. Yet he also surely needs to get more imaginative with a playbook that seems stagnant.

And then there’s the Diggs issue.

He was only targeted five times Monday (3 catches for 34 yards), yet that hasn’t been an issue for the balance of the season – Diggs pacing the NFL with 102 targets and tied for the league lead with 73 receptions.

Yet it seems like there’s always been smoke emanating from him in some capacity, whether during his time at the University of Maryland, with the Minnesota Vikings or – in the past six months for sure – on the shores of Lake Erie. Whatever embers were already smoldering got stoked after Monday’s loss. That’s when Diggs’ brother, injured Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs, tweeted, “Man 14 Gotta get up outta there,” a reference to Stefon Diggs’ jersey number.

Right.

Only problem? Stefon Diggs’ four-year, $96 million contract extension takes effect in 2024. And while he doesn’t have any of his salaries guaranteed beyond this season for now – though his $18.5 million 2024 payout locks in next March – getting rid of him next year would mean Buffalo incurs more than $31 million in dead money. Untenable, especially for a non-quarterback. It would also qualify as self-sabotage to jettison your second-best player and one who’s been so intrinsic to Allen’s success – another matter Trevon Diggs (fairly) alluded to during his social media musings. Volatile as Stefon Diggs is − and even aside from the salary-cap implications – it’s highly unlikely Buffalo could even get fair-market value for a player who turns 30 later this month and comes with the amount of baggage he’s accrued. Probably, for at least another year, an arranged marriage.

So where does that leave the Bills?

They’ve got a temporary patch schematically and/or philosophically on the offense but are at least a few months from a reset if that’s what McDermott decides to do. They’re past the point of being able to acquire much help aside from street free agents who aren’t likely to make much of a ripple at this point. As for Diggs? Not sure how this club would realistically pivot from a cornerstone player – whatever his current level of dissatisfaction (and, it must be noted, Diggs didn’t speak to reporters Monday night) – given an extension he signed roughly 18 months ago is a major reason his team is already $29+ million out of compliance on the 2024 cap.

That championship window remains in place for a highly talented, if currently flawed club awash with topflight players, ample fan support and one of the league’s top five quarterbacks when Allen is right.

But that window may be jammed exactly where it is for the foreseeable future – no matter the amount of WD-40 McDermott applies to a squad that’s only advanced beyond the divisional playoff round once (2020) during his seven-season tenure. And that could be the primary obstacle in a conference ruled by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs but with an ever-growing contingent of quality challengers joining the stuck-in-neutral Bills.

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Pacers center exits with head injury, taken to hospital for evaluation

Indiana Pacers center Jalen Smith was hospitalized after taking a blow to the head in Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

During the second quarter of the game in Philadelphia, Smith was elbowed by Sixers forward Marcus Morris Sr., fell to the court and then had trouble standing up as time was called.

The Pacers issued a statement at halftime revealing the initial diagnosis of a head injury, adding: ‘Out of an abundance of caution, Smith will be transported to a local hospital for additional testing and evaluation. Smith will not return to tonight’s game and additional updates will be provided as appropriate.’

After the game, a 132-126 Pacers win, coach Rick Carlisle said he had no update on Smith’s condition.

The former Maryland star was taken with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. He came into the game averaging 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds on the season.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Brewers announce Craig Counsell’s replacement as manager

After four decades in the coaching game, Pat Murphy is getting his first true shot at managing in the major leagues.

On Wednesday morning, the Milwaukee Brewers officially announced the 64-year-old as the 20th manager in franchise history.

Murphy, who replaces the departed Craig Counsell, signed a three-year contract. The Brewers will introduce Murphy at a news conference at 11 a.m. CT Thursday.

“Pat Murphy brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion for the game of baseball as well as a familiarity with the Brewers organization, players, staff and culture,” general manager Matt Arnold said in a news release. “Pat has been a significant contributor in the run of recent seasons of unprecedented success in franchise history. We are pleased to have Pat remain in the Brewers family and excited to name him manager today.”

Also officially joining Murphy’s staff is former Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks, who has been named associate manager.

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

Weeks, 41, was Milwaukee’s first-round pick in 2003 and played 11 years for the Brewers. He rejoined the organization in 2022 in a player-development role.

“Rickie was a hard-nosed, homegrown player for the Brewers for many years and is now a valued member of our coaching staff,” Arnold said in the release. “We look forward to him bringing many of the attributes that he possessed as a player into the dugout in his new role.”

Joining Murphy and Weeks will be the entirety of the 2023 coaching staff, with several title changes included among the eight returnees.

Walker McKinven, entering his fifth season with Milwaukee, is now the team’s run prevention coordinator; Jim Henderson, entering his third season, has been named assistant pitching coach; and Nestor Corredor, entering his second season, becomes major-league field coordinator.

Also returning are pitching coach Chris Hook (sixth season), third-base coach Jason Lane (ninth season), first-base coach Quintin Berry (fourth season) and hitting coaches Ozzie Timmons and Connor Dawson (third seasons).

Murphy, meanwhile, ascends to the top spot in the dugout after spending the previous eight seasons as Counsell’s bench coach. He was named to that position on Nov. 2, 2015, replacing Jerry Narron.

Aside from filling in for Counsell for a pair of games with the Brewers in 2021 and 2023, Murphy’s only other previous managerial experience came in the 2015 season with the San Diego Padres, when he replaced the fired Bud Black on an interim basis on June 16.

He went 42-54 the rest of the way.

Murphy also managed in San Diego’s minor-league system, with stints at Class A Eugene (2011-2012), Class AAA Tucson (2013) and Class AAA El Paso (2014-2015), compiling a 273-230 record.

He joined the Padres organization in 2010 as special assistant to baseball operations.

Before joining the professional ranks, Murphy coached Maryville College (1983), Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (1986-1987), the University of Notre Dame (1988-1994) and Arizona State University (1995-2009). He was an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University in 1984 and 1985.

All told, Murphy compiled a 1,000-457-4 record as a college coach.

At Arizona State, Murphy went 629-284-1. He was named national coach of the year in 1998 after leading the Sun Devils to a national runner-up finish. He was also named Pac-10 coach of the year in 2000, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

At Notre Dame – where Murphy coached Counsell from 1989-1992 – he posted a 318-116-1 record while being named the Midwest Collegiate Conference’s coach of the year three times in 1989, 1990 and 1992.

A native of Syracuse, New York, and resident of Mesa, Arizona, Murphy has a daughter, Keli, and three sons, Kai, Austin and Jaxon.

Kai, is an outfielder in the Padres organization. Murphy is also the father-in-law of former major-leaguer Pedro Álvarez, who works for the Brewers in baseball operations and player development.

Murphy turns 65 on Nov. 28.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

What is ESPN Bet? Here’s what to know about new sportsbook

ESPN and Penn Entertainment have partnered to launch ESPN Bet, a new sports gambling service with the branding and logo of the sports media giant.

ESPN Bet, now available in 17 states, was first announced in August, when Penn Entertainment signed a deal worth $1.5 billion with ESPN, allowing Penn to use the sports media giant’s name to promote its sportsbook.

Under the agreement, Penn Entertainment will operate the betting service while ESPN will promote it across its platforms. The agreement grants Penn Entertainment the right to operate ESPN Bet for a decade, with the option to extend for another ten years.

“Our primary focus is always to serve sports fans and we know they want both betting content and the ability to place bets with less friction from within our products,” said Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN Chairman, in an August press release announcing the deal. “The strategy here is simple: to give fans what they’ve been requesting and expecting from ESPN. PENN Entertainment is the perfect partner to build an unmatched user experience for sports betting with ESPN BET.”

ESPN Bet is a revamped version of the sports-betting app Barstool Sportsbook.

Which states have ESPN Bet?

ESPN Bet only accepts wagers within licensed state borders, as of Nov. 14.

ESPN Bet is currently live in 17 states including Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

ESPN Bet promo code

You can use promo code USALOCAL to receive bonus bets worth $250 and a deposit match of up to $1,000. Read more here.

ESPN Bet app

The ESPN Bet app can be downloaded on all Android’s through Google Play Store or the App Store for iOS devices.

Fans can also access it via the web at ESPNBet.com and must be at least 21 years old and in select states to place a wager.

ESPN Bet Users will also need to create an account to access and place a wager through the ESPN Bet sportsbook.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By