Breaking
Wealth World News
Archive

2024

Browsing
Sports

Mariners had no choice but to fire manager as woes deepen

The Seattle Mariners simply had no choice.

They already fired their hitting coordinator and bench coach.

They dumped underachieving hitters.

They traded for hitters at the deadline.

Now, they decided to fire their manager.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

The Mariners, watching their pitching staff’s glorious performance this season being squandered, fired manager Scott Servais on Thursday and replaced him with longtime catcher Dan Wilson, the team announced.

The decision was made during the Mariners’ 1-8 road trip, the official said. The Mariners have turned what was once a 10-game lead into a five-game deficit in the AL West, the official said. The Mariners privately gave Servais, who was in his ninth year as manager, the road trip to turn around the team but the Mariners’ woes only deepened.

The Mariners informed Servais of the decision Thursday morning after president Jerry Dipoto told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on Wednesday that Servais’ job security would be discussed. The Athletic first reported Thursday that Servais was expected to be dismissed.

“Coming into the season, we all thought this was the most talented group that we’ve had,” Dipoto told The Athletic. “We’re looking at everything. There is no stone unturned. We’ve talked about getting back to grassroots with what our hitting philosophy is and what we are about, the way we message it to our players. Or, are we overcomplicating it with the information we provide and the strategies we employ?

“I can say this, me, our coaches, our staff, none of us is blameless. We have really struggled to play offense this year. And it’s not just on our players for not doing that. That would be a cop-out.”

The Mariners, who have made the playoffs just once in the last 22 years, were 44-31 with a 10-game lead over the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers on June 18.

Today, they are just 64-64 after losing 18 of their 30 games since the All-Star break, trailing the Astros by five games in the AL West and 7 ½ games out in the wild-card race.

Now, the Mariners will see if a different voice can make a difference.

Wilson, the Mariners’ former All-Star catcher who’s in their Hall of Fame, has never managed except for a one-week stint at Triple-A Tacoma in 2022. He has been a special assistant for the Mariners while also occasionally broadcasting Mariners games.

The biggest challenge will be fixing an offense that’s been abysmal.

The Mariners rank last or next-to-last in the major leagues in batting average, hits, doubles, total bases and slugging percentage, hitting just .216.

Meanwhile, their pitching staff is the best in baseball, yielding a major-league leading 3.53 ERA with 13 shutouts.

The Mariners have 34 games remaining to quickly turn their season around, or spend their entire winter wondering what could have happened if they just made the playoffs, with their dynamic pitching staff perhaps leading them to their first World Series appearance.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Chiefs make Creed Humphrey highest-paid center in NFL

The Kansas City Chiefs made sure center Creed Humphrey will be snapping footballs to Patrick Mahomes for a long time.

The Chiefs and Humphrey agreed to a lucrative four-year, $72 million extension, a person close to the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to discuss the deal. The deal includes $50 million guaranteed. The total value of Humphrey’s contract makes him the highest-paid center in the NFL. He’s signed in Kansas City through the 2028 season.

“In the last 24 to 48 hours we had a lot of good dialogue. I’m sure we’ll put pen to paper soon,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said during the team’s third preseason game against the Bears on NFL Network. “But needless to say, we are extremely excited to continue Creed’s career here. He’s been great of our organization.”

Humphrey’s been one of the best centers in football since the Chiefs drafted him in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. He’s started 51 consecutive regular-season games since entering the league, the third-most consecutive games started in Chiefs history to start a career. He’s a linchpin along the team’s offensive line and has a great rapport with Mahomes.

Humphrey allowed just four sacks the past two seasons. Pro Football Focus gave Humphrey the highest pass blocking grade among centers in 2023.

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

The 25-year-old center is a two-time Pro Bowler and was named a second-team All-Pro in 2022.

The starting center was a key part to the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl titles — and he’ll have a chance for more rings in Kansas City with a new four-year extension.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to endorse Trump for president, court filing shows

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a Friday court filing that he will endorse former President Donald Trump, The Associated Press reports.

The Kennedy campaign asked Pennsylvania to remove him from the ballot in the court filing, according to the AP. The filing didn’t say explicitly if he would be suspending his campaign.

The former Democrat is making an announcement in Phoenix a couple of hours before Trump was scheduled to hold a campaign event in nearby Glendale, Arizona. The Trump campaign on Thursday advertised that the former president would be joined by a ‘special guest,’ which further sparked speculation of a Kennedy endorsement of the Republican 2024 presidential nominee.

The announcement is expected to end the presidential run by the longtime environmental activist and high-profile vaccine skeptic, who is the scion of the nation’s most storied political dynasty.

Kennedy launched his long-shot campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in April of last year, but last October the 70-year-old candidate switched to an independent run for the White House.

While Kennedy had long identified as a Democrat and repeatedly invoked his late father Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and his uncle President John F. Kennedy, who were both assassinated in the 1960s, Kennedy in recent years built relationships with far-right leaders.

President Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee for months repeatedly slammed Kennedy as a potential spoiler whose supporters could hand Trump a presidential election victory in November.

And the DNC battled Kennedy and his supporters at nearly every step as he worked to place his name on the ballot in all 50 states.

 

But Kennedy remained a thorn in Biden’s side from last year through the president’s announcement last month that he was ending his re-election bid and endorsing Harris.

The Trump campaign, which had cheered on Kennedy when he was running against Biden as a Democrat, also started taking aim at him after he switched to an independent run, labeling him a member of the ‘radical left,’ and criticizing him for his environmental activism.

But the relationship between Kennedy and Trump started warming earlier this year, and the two spoke last month after the assassination attempt against Trump and met in person the following day. 

Earlier this week, Kennedy running mate Nicole Shanahan sparked headlines by saying in a podcast interview that the campaign was considering whether to ‘join forces’ with Trump to prevent the possibility of Vice President Kamala Harris winning the 2024 election.

‘If he endorsed me, I would be honored by it. I would be very honored by it. He really has his heart in the right place,’ Trump said on Thursday in an interview on ‘Fox & Friends.’

And the former president’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, said Wednesday in an interview on ‘Fox & Friends’ that he hoped Kennedy ‘endorses the president, gets on the team, because this is about saving the country.’

Kennedy’s departure from the race comes as his campaign was cratering.

The last public event put on by his campaign came on July 9, in Freeport, Maine. But even before that, his poll numbers – which once stood in the teens – had faded.

The most recent Fox News national poll, conducted August 9-12, indicated Kennedy at 6% support. 

His fundraising was also in a free fall, with campaign finance reports indicating he had just $3.9 million cash on hand as of the start of July, with nearly $3.5 million in debt.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Stocks

Is Peloton Stock the Next Big Turnaround? What You Need to Know Before It’s Too Late

Peloton’s (PTON) stock soared over 38% on Thursday after the company posted positive free cash flow for the second quarter in a row—a first since 2021. Is the turnaround working? Maybe. But investors aren’t waiting around—they’re hopping on.

Peloton came to my attention while reviewing the Market Movers panel on the StockCharts dashboard on Thursday. Simply put, it’s an easy way to find extraordinary market moves.

We all remember Peloton’s pandemic glory days. But as the world reopened, Peloton’s stock took a nosedive—and the weekly chart below tells the story.

CHART 1. WEEKLY CHART OF PELOTON STOCK. The picture of this massive 97% plunge tells the entire story.

Under new leadership, Peloton crafted a turnaround strategy in 2022. Now, the results are finally rolling in, and the latest earnings hint that the company could be pedaling back into profitability.

Zoom in to a daily chart covering the last nine months, and you’ll see Thursday’s dramatic spike much more clearly. But you’ll also see that Peloton has several technical headwinds on the way up.

CHART 2. DAILY CHART OF PELOTON. Caution: there’s a lot of resistance above.

Still, if Peloton gets its house in order, this price spike may be the earliest technical entry point for what could be a potential “multi-x” return. Assuming this is the case, what are the levels to watch?

In addition to the daily chart seen above, let’s examine a few important levels from a tactical perspective.

CHART 3. DAILY CHART OF PELOTON WITH ADDED INDICATORS. Notice the rectangle formation, which should provide context in terms of support and resistance.

First, notice the spike in the StockChartsTechnicalRank (SCTR), from a low 20 to nearly touching the 90 line, which signals bullishness across multiple indicators and timeframes.

Next, look below the chart at the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF). That, too, jumped to a level higher than the previous nine months, indicating a surge in buying pressure.

Now, look at the price action itself. You can still see the resistance levels above, the first of which ($4.80) price is about to be challenged. Check out the rectangle formation (highlighted in orange). If you’re holding shares, you’re hoping the price doesn’t drop back into the middle—ideally, it’ll bounce off support at the top.

If the price dips, there’s another entry point at the bottom of the formation. With Peloton at its lowest amid a turnaround, a bounce is likely—unless Peloton fumbles the ball, so to speak.

If the price closes below the rectangle, more downside could be in play. How much further down before penny stock territory? It’s anyone’s guess. But now, the rectangle formation may serve as yet another cloud of “technical” resistance following a “fundamental” fail.

At the Close

Peloton is riding that fine line between potential turnaround and pitfall. With some evidence of early success, investors are betting on a multi-x recovery. But technical headwinds loom large ahead of its current breakout. Whether Peloton breaks out or dips back down hinges on its ability to execute its turnaround strategy. Stay sharp—this could be a make-or-break moment and a ground-level market opportunity.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

Keep Reading
By
Stocks

Jackson Hole Jay Doesn’t See His Shadow, Worst Market Weather Behind Us

It’s been nearly two years since Jackson Hole Jay saw his shadow and we all endured 6 more weeks of harsh market weather. If you need a reminder, August 26, 2022 was the day Fed Chief “Jay” Powell climbed out of his Jackson “Hole” Economic Symposium to announce “more pain ahead!” This is how the stock market weather turned out after Jay saw his shadow in August 2022:

Wall Street was seeing the “light at the end of the tunnel”, while Jackson Hole Jay saw an avalanche from a brutal winter approaching. The bulls sought hibernation for 6 more weeks, while short sellers were skiing the slopes of Colorado. Eventually, all was fine and the secular bull market emerged a bit later than I expected.

Now let’s fast forward to August 2024 and today’s speech. Jackson Hole Jay poked his head out and saw nothing but cloudy skies – no shadow, so potentially a mild market winter ahead. He went back into his Symposium and Wall Street was left feeling like the worst of the market winter was behind it. We know that August/September is not typically kind to market bulls. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been waving that caution flag for the past 5 weeks or so – even longer if we talk only about semiconductors ($DJUSSC). But it’s also difficult to ignore the risks that we could see a melt up – especially in certain areas of the market now that the Fed has FINALLY changed gears. Jackson Hole Jay all but guaranteed the first rate cut in September in what is likely to be a series of rate cuts. Everyone who follows me knows I’m a stock market statistician/historian. I ALWAYS approach August/September with caution, because of historical precedence. But there have been plenty of exceptions where Wall Street ignores those seasonal risks and bids prices higher.

2024 may be one of those years.

Over the coming days, after watching more rotational clues, I will provide our EarningsBeats.com members a game plan to attack the many opportunities ahead. I see certain asset classes and sectors that are likely to outperform, possibly in a very significant way. I see many stocks that are likely to double, triple, possibly more.

Despite the Fed’s much more dovish tone that will benefit U.S. equities, we’ll have HUGE opportunities on pullbacks. And it’s really hard for me to envision a straight-up move in August/September. There’s a chance of that, but much more likely will be the occasional pullbacks that we can use to build positions in key stocks and ETFs that will sweeten our portfolios as equity prices rise in 2024 and 2025.

I will be announcing the 10 equal-weighted stocks that we’ll “draft” into our 3 portfolios – Model, Aggressive, and Income” on Monday, August 26th, at 5:30pm ET. It’ll be designed, hopefully, to take advantage of what’s likely to happen during the balance of Q3 and into Q4. I’ll also be discussing this Fed change in policy and how I believe it’l impact the stock market. You can attend this with a FREE 30-day trial of our service. Be sure to click that link, kick the EB.com tires, and join me on late Monday afternoon. I’d love to see you!

Happy trading!

Tom

Keep Reading
By
Business

Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker advocates for interest rate cut in September

Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker on Thursday provided a strong endorsement to an interest rate cut on the way September.

Speaking to CNBC from the Fed’s annual retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Harker gave the most direct statement yet from a central bank official that monetary policy easing is almost a certainty when officials meeting again in less than a month.

The position comes a day after minutes from the last Fed policy meeting gave a solid indication of a cut ahead, as officials gain more confidence in where inflation is headed and look to head off any potential weakness in the labor market.

“I think it means this September we need to start a process of moving rates down,” Harker told CNBC’s Steve Liesman during a “Squawk on the Street” interview. Harker said the Fed should ease “methodically and signal well in advance.”

With markets pricing in a 100% certainty of a quarter percentage point, or 25 basis point, cut, and about a 1-in-4 chance of a 50 basis point reduction, Harker said it’s still a toss-up in his mind.

“Right now, I’m not in the camp of 25 or 50. I need to see a couple more weeks of data,” he said.

The Fed has held its benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a range between 5.25%-5.5% since July 2023 as it tackles a lingering inflation problem. Markets briefly rebelled after the July Fed meeting when officials signaled they still had not seen enough evidence to start bringing down rates.

However, since then policymakers have acknowledged that it soon will be appropriate to ease. Harker said policy will be made independently of political concerns as the presidential election looms in the background.

“I am very proud of being at the Fed, where we are proud technocrats,” he said. “That’s our job. Our job is to look at the data and respond appropriately. When I look at the data as a proud technocrat, it’s time to start bringing rates down.”

Harker does not get a vote this year on the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee but still has input at meetings. Another nonvoter, Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid, also spoke to CNBC on Thursday, offering a less direct take on the future of policy. Still, he leaned toward a cut ahead.

Schmid noted the rising unemployment rate as a factor in where things are going. A severe supply-demand mismatch in the labor market had helped fuel the run in inflation, pushing wages up and driving inflation expectations. In recent months, though, jobs indicators have cooled and the unemployment rate has climbed slowly but steadily.

“Having the labor market cool some is helping, but there’s work to do,” Schmid said. “I really do believe you’ve got to start looking at it a little bit harder relative to where this 3.5% [unemployment] number was and where it is today in the low 4s.”

However, Schmid said he believes banks have held up well under the high-rate environment and said he does not believe monetary policy is “over-restrictive.”

Harker next votes in 2026, while Schmid will get a vote next year.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Business

Peloton to start charging subscribers with used equipment $95 activation fee

Peloton on Thursday said it will start charging new subscribers a one-time $95 activation fee if they bought their hardware on the secondary market as more consumers snag lightly used equipment for a fraction of the typical retail price.

The used equipment activation fee for subscribers in the U.S. and Canada comes as Peloton starts to see a meaningful increase in new members who bought used Bikes or Treads from peer-to-peer markets such as Facebook Marketplace. 

During its fiscal fourth quarter, which ended June 30, Peloton said it saw a “steady stream of paid connected fitness subscribers” who bought hardware on the secondary market. The company said the segment grew 16% year over year.

“We believe a meaningful share of these subscribers are incremental, and they exhibit lower net churn rates than rental subscribers,” the company said in a letter to shareholders. 

“It’s also worth highlighting that this activation fee will be a source of incremental revenue and gross profit for us, helping to support our investments in improving the fitness experience for our members,” interim co-CEO Christopher Bruzzo later added on a call with analysts. 

While plenty of Peloton subscribers are avid users of the home workout machines, some have likened them to glorified clothes racks because so many people stop using the equipment. Those people paid Peloton for that hardware originally, but importantly, many of them have canceled their monthly subscription, which is how Peloton makes the bulk of its money. 

The ability to attract new, budget-conscious members from the secondary market who are willing to pay for a monthly subscription is a unique opportunity for Peloton to grow revenue without any upfront cost, on top of the revenue from the original sale. 

Ari Kimmelfeld — whose startup Trade My Stuff, formerly known as Trade My Spin, sells used Peloton equipment — estimates there are around a million Bikes collecting dust in homes around the world that could be a source of new revenue for the company. 

He told CNBC he previously met with Peloton executives to discuss ways to collaborate, because every time he sells a used piece of equipment, it could lead to more than $500 in new revenue per year for Peloton. With the new used equipment activation fee, that number could grow to more than $600 for the first year. 

“We save the customer a lot more than $95,” Kimmelfeld told CNBC on Thursday after the new activation fee was announced. “I don’t think it’ll stop or slow down people from buying secondary equipment … because you can get a bike delivered faster and cheaper on the secondary market, even with the $95, let’s call it a tax, from Peloton.” 

Trade My Stuff sells first-generation Bikes for $499, compared with $1,445 new. It offers the Bike+ for $1,199, compared with $2,495 new. It also sells used Treads for $1,999, compared with $2,995 new. 

Since launching his business, Kimmelfeld has worked with people looking to sell their used Peloton equipment and has since sold a “few thousand” Bikes. In 14 cities around the country, including Los Angeles, Denver and New York City, the company offers same- or next-day delivery. Outside of those locales, it provides delivery within three to five days. That compares with a new Peloton purchase, which can take significantly longer to deliver. 

The used equipment activation fee is designed to ensure that new members “receive the same high-quality onboarding experience Peloton is known for,” the company said. Bruzzo said that those who buy a used Bike or Bike+ have access to a virtual custom fitting ahead of their first ride, as well as a history summary that shows how many rides those bikes had before they were resold. 

“We’re also offering these new members discounts on accessories such as bike shoes, bike mats and spare parts,” said Bruzzo. “We’ll continue to lean into this important channel and find additional ways to improve the new member experience, for example, providing early education about the broad range of fitness modalities that we offer and the many series and programs our instructors provide to new members.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Sports

NFL cut candidates: Nine notable players on chopping block

Arguably the cruelest day on the NFL calendar awaits next Tuesday.

The league’s annual cutdown day will force all 32 teams to shear their rosters down to 53 players in advance on the regular season. While those configurations are hardly final – franchises will scour the waiver wires in an attempt to keep adding talent – the moves will certainly mark either a significant setback or the full end of the road for many of those who receive that unwanted call.

And while the majority of those who will be sent packing will be undrafted free agents and other unproven hopefuls, several players who once figured prominently into their respective teams’ plans could also be headed out.

With that in mind, here are nine notable players who could be on the chopping block in advance of next Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline:

QB Zach Wilson, Denver Broncos

Bo Nix is officially the starter. Jarrett Stidham at least appears to have the edge for the backup job. Where does that leave Wilson? Denver acquired him in March for merely a late-round pick swap, so there’s little buy-in regarding the No. 2 overall selection in 2021. But Sean Payton has talked up Wilson’s play, lauding not only his strong arm but decision-making and timing – two elements that proved plenty problematic throughout his time with the New York Jets. Keeping a third quarterback seems like a luxury for one of the league’s most lackluster collections of talent, so Wilson might need to leapfrog Stidham for the second-string role to ensure he sticks around.

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

QB Bailey Zappe, New England Patriots

Zappe has been the lone holdover in what likely soon will be a fully overhauled Patriots quarterback room. Executive vice president Eliot Wolf brought in three passers this offseason: Jacoby Brissett as the veteran and potential bridge starter, Drake Maye as the big investment near the top of the draft and Joe Milton as the late-round developmental option. After starting eight games in the last two years, Zappe might spark some interest from a team looking to reshuffle its backup options. But after the 2022 fourth-round pick made his way back on to New England’s roster after being a surprise cut last August, don’t expect a similar return this time around.

WR Dee Eskridge, Seattle Seahawks

Between injuries and a six-game personal conduct suspension last season, Eskridge has seldom seen the field since the Seahawks selected him in the second round of the 2021 draft. Needing to prove himself to first-year coach Mike Macdonald and staff, the Western Michigan product still is struggling to make any substantive statement, missing all of last week due to injury. The 5-9, 190-pounder could still be an asset to offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb on jet sweeps, but Laviska Shenault Jr.’s recent rise both as a returner and an after-the-catch threat would seem to shut the door on Eskridge’s time in Seattle.

WRs Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs

The two-time defending champions sent a clear message this offseason that the status quo wouldn’t suffice for its underachieving receiving corps. With first-round pick Xavier Worthy in the fold and Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown seemingly avoiding major injury – and no sign of a potential Rashee Rice suspension just yet – two players who once appeared to hold key roles for Patrick Mahomes and Co. could be headed out.

Toney’s fall from Super Bowl 57 standout to an untrustworthy target might end with him tumbling all the way off the roster next week. His 2023 season was defined by a series of high-profile errors, starting with his drops in the Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions and continuing with his offside penalty that wiped out a go-ahead touchdown against the Buffalo Bills. He finished the year inactive for the team’s final seven games, including Super Bowl 58. Toney’s sloppiness has extended into this preseason, with the receiver committing two penalties on his first exhibition snap last week. Andy Reid has been patient in affording Toney additional chances, but that could be coming to an end.

Moore, meanwhile, also failed to live up to lofty expectations last season after creating a buzz in training camp. The 2022 second-rounder still could carve out a role by working the middle of the field and serving as a reliable blocker. But with special teams coach Dave Toub recently advocating for receiver/returner Nikko Remigio, Moore might simply be too far back in the pecking order at receiver.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s Fourth and Monday newsletter.

WR Terrace Marshall Jr., Carolina Panthers

After averaging 17.5 yards per catch in 2022, Marshall looked poised for a potential breakout season last year. Then Carolina’s season cratered, and the 2021 second-round pick went nearly two months without a catch after his midseason trade request led nowhere. With the Panthers bringing on Diontae Johnson and first-round rookie Xavier Legette to join veteran Adam Thielen and second-year pass catcher Jonathan Mingo, Marshall has been left to claw for one of the final roster spots. While new coach Dave Canales has praised the LSU product for a strong summer showing, he still must beat out Ihmir Smith-Marsette – a fellow deep threat who also adds value as a potential returner – and David Moore – a steadier option who has played under Canales in previous stops with the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

OT Jackson Carman, Cincinnati Bengals

In a league where demand for capable offensive linemen always outstrips supply, a former second-round pick with the versatility to play tackle or guard shouldn’t be sweating whether he makes a 53-man roster. Carman, however, appears to be on shaky ground, even on a team that still is facing injury-related uncertainty up front after being repeatedly undone in recent years by inconsistency along the line. The 6-5, 322-pounder started six games as a rookie but has played in just six contests in the last two seasons. His summer performance appears to have only further damaged his case, as Carman committed four penalties in the Bengals’ preseason opener. His fourth-quarter entrance in the second exhibition matchup likely signaled his forthcoming exit.

DE/LB Jamin Davis, Washington Commanders

Is Davis turning the corner in, well, learning how to turn the corner? A 2021 first-round pick as a linebacker, the Kentucky product is now trying to hang on to his spot in Washington as an edge rusher. Though he’s still plenty raw, the 6-4, 234-pounder has been working with four-time Pro Bowler and assistant linebackers coach Ryan Kerrigan to hone his pass-rushing skills. His promise was evident in last week’s preseason contest against the Miami Dolphins, when he beat second-round rookie offensive tackle Patrick Paul for a strip-sack. With the Commanders already having declined Davis’ fifth-year option, the draft capital that the previous regime spent on him means little to his current odds of staying on. But the talent and athleticism that helped him earn that status could prove meaningful in a late push to remain.

S Lewis Cine, Minnesota Vikings

With second-round cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. discarded in a trade earlier in August and fellow Day 2 picks Ed Ingram and Brian Asamoah yet to pay off, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first draft class has been a sore spot for Minnesota. But undoubtedly the biggest disappointment from that 2022 group is Cine, the last pick of the first round. The former Georgia standout had his rookie campaign cut short by a fractured leg and has logged just 10 defensive snaps in two seasons. Now, he’s buried on the depth chart, figuring to be no better than the sixth option at his position. While he recorded 11 tackles, an interception and a sack in last week’s contest against the Cleveland Browns, that performance might prove most valuable to Cine in potentially helping catch the eye of another team.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

College football season record projections for all 134 FBS teams

Deeper conferences. More games. An even tougher road to the national championship under the 12-team College Football Playoff format set to debut this season.

It’s become harder than ever to post an unbeaten record. That’s why there isn’t one team — not Ohio State, not Texas, not even Georgia — picked to run the table in the USA TODAY Sports record projections for every Bowl Subdivision conference.

The Bulldogs are still the favorite in the SEC, followed by the Longhorns, Alabama, LSU and Mississippi. The Buckeyes and Oregon are projected to lead the way in the Big Ten. Utah is the clubhouse leader in the new-look Big 12, while Clemson and Florida State will fight for the top spot in the ACC.

Among the Group of Five, no team is picked to put together a stronger playoff case than Memphis. But keep an eye on Liberty coming out of Conference USA and Sun Belt favorites Appalachian State and James Madison.

WANNA BET? These are the top NCAA football betting promos and bonuses in 2024 

ACC record projection

Clemson’s projected improvement on offense barely nudges the Tigers ahead of the Seminoles. But don’t sleep on North Carolina State, angling for the second 10-win season in program history, and fast-rising Virginia Tech. Miami and North Carolina have the talent to surge past our eight-win projections, though the Hurricanes could just as easily disappoint, as we’ve seen. The league adds in new members SMU, California and Stanford.

Big 12 record projection

The league has a vastly different look with the addition of several former Pac-12 members. One, Utah, is the preseason favorite. Kansas State has a new quarterback in Avery Johnson but the same benchmark of at least eight wins in the regular season. UCF and Kansas are just behind the Utes and Wildcats, as are Oklahoma State and Iowa State. And what about Colorado? The Buffaloes will be better in Deion Sanders’ second year, but not quite good enough to get to six wins in our projections.

All the news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s Sports newsletter.

Big Ten record projection

There’s terrific depth through the top seven or eight teams, a group that includes a rejuvenated Nebraska under coach Matt Rhule. But the story of the Big Ten is right at the top. While the conference should get at least two teams in the playoff field, the race between Ohio State and Oregon for the Big Ten crown should be one of the best in the FBS. Penn State and Michigan are also in the mix, though the defending champs are a bit of an unknown given the program’s many changes since January.

SEC record projection

Georgia. Texas. Alabama. LSU. Mississippi. Tennessee. Oklahoma. (We could keep going.) It’s obvious the SEC is the strongest conference in the FBS, a few steps ahead of even the very impressive Big Ten. While the Bulldogs are the preseason favorite, there’s little room separating teams in this top group. Down the conference standings, Texas A&M is picked to get back into bowl play under new coach Mike Elko, Auburn is pegged for a rebound in Hugh Freeze’s second year and Florida is expected to struggle to get to six wins against a brutal schedule.

Group of Five

American Athletic record projection

Memphis is picked to run the table through the American, with the one loss coming against Florida State in non-conference play. At 11-1 and the conference champs, the Tigers would be a no-brainer pick as the Group of Five representative in the playoff. Texas-San Antonio and Tulane don’t look as strong on paper but could win eight or more games. The AAC should have a solid middle tier composed of South Florida, Army, East Carolina and Florida Atlantic.

Conference USA record projection

Conference USA features a hodgepodge of teams led by preseason favorites Liberty and Western Kentucky. The Flames shouldn’t lose in league play, though non-conference games against ECU and Appalachian State won’t be easy. The conference also features some of the weakest teams in the FBS. That includes Kennesaw State, which is in its first year transitioning from the Championship Subdivision and is not eligible for the conference title.

Independents and Pac-12 record projection

A terrific defense, the potential spark from new quarterback Riley Leonard and a friendly schedule paints Notre Dame as one of the nation’s top playoff contenders. The Fighting Irish have to hit the ground running in the season opener at Texas A&M, the first of three or four games — joining Louisville, Florida State and Southern California — that will decide their season. While Oregon State and Washington State will play this season as members of the Pac-12, we included them in this space because neither team will play a true conference schedule.

MAC record projection

Toledo and Miami (Ohio) are picked to be neck-and-neck all season as the top teams in the MAC. But don’t sleep on Ohio and Bowling Green; the Falcons had a breakthrough in 2023 and could take another step up the conference ladder. We have seven MAC teams getting to bowl eligibility, one more than last season.

Mountain West record projection

Boise State’s biggest threat for the MWC title was supposed to be Fresno State, but it’s harder to predict the Bulldogs to win more than eight games after coach Jeff Tedford stepped down for health reasons in July. Instead, the Broncos top the standings ahead of UNLV, one of last season’s most pleasant surprises. Right behind this pair come Air Force and Wyoming, followed by the Bulldogs and Colorado State.

Sun Belt record projection

This may be the best league top to bottom in the Group of Five. The Sun Belt’s top half is so solid, in fact, that the league champion might not have the overall record to match up with the winner of the AAC. Appalachian State, James Madison and Troy lead the way, with the Dukes (Bob Chesney) and Trojans (Gerad Parker) looking to stay on track under new head coaches. While we have eight teams at six or more wins, the SBC could put 10 or more teams into bowl play for the second year in a row.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Harris campaign manager ignores press conference question as VP hits 33 days without one

: Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign manager dodged questions about whether the Democratic presidential nominee would hold a press conference as her presidential bid recently passed one month since being launched. 

Campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez ducked questions from Fox News Digital on Thursday at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, keeping her head down and speeding away when pressed about Harris speaking to the press, which she has been avoiding. 

‘Will Kamala talk to the press? Will she do a press conference?’ Fox News Digital asked Chávez Rodríguez, who is also the granddaughter of labor activist Cesar Chavez. 

‘Will Kamala do a press conference? Will she do a press conference?’ she was asked a total of four times. 

Chavez Rodriguez looked away and rushed to an open door without responding to the queries. 

Harris officially announced her campaign on July 21, following President Biden’s decision to drop out and endorse her as his successor. Since then, 33 days have passed without Harris holding a press conference or sitting down for a news interview. 

Her campaign has remained silent on whether she will hold a press conference prior to the presidential election in 74 days. Early voting begins even sooner, kicking off in just 14 days, meaning there are just two weeks before some voters can cast their ballots without hearing Harris answer difficult questions about her record and policy positions. 

Harris’ campaign website is also devoid of any policy positions. She recently released an economic agenda, which featured a proposal for price controls in the food industry, which was heavily scrutinized. However, no new policy prescriptions were introduced during the DNC this week. 

After being continuously pressed on when she would sit down for an interview, Harris told reporters earlier this month that she wants to get an interview on the schedule by the end of August. A campaign spokesperson repeated this on CNN, claiming last week that they would be doing a sit-down interview by the end of the month. 

However, no such interviews have been announced.

The lack of access to Harris on her presidential campaign could foreshadow what can be expected in terms of transparency out of a Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., administration. 

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has used Harris’ avoidance of the press as an opportunity to show contrast, holding frequent press conferences and taking questions from reporters. He has further challenged Harris to speak to the press herself. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By