Stories and skills learned on the road by Hobo Bob
In the spring of 02 there came a storm that rock the world on it’s heels. This is story of the survival of a homeless vet and his dog and how the two beat the odds, in the spring of 02.
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The 49ers waived defensive back Trovon Reed on Monday, according to the league’s transactions.
Reed, 27, spent time on the Seahawks’ and 49ers’ practice squads last season. San Francisco signed him to a futures contract in January.
The Auburn product signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in August 2015. He also had stints with the Chargers and Dolphins.
Now, that casino would be barred only from accepting bets on NBA games.
Tom Pohlman, the Golden Nugget’s general manager, said we are grateful to lawmakers for listening to our concerns, but we hope to persuade the lawmakers over time that the total NBA ban is unnecessary and should be limited simply to the Houston Rockets.
There’s a lot of luck involved, and these horses can be pretty fragile, so there’s a lot of disappointment in this sport, Mara said. But when you get to this stage right now, it makes up for it all.
Prior to this year, the best finish any of Mara’s horses has posted in a Triple Crown was a fourth in the Belmont. But this year he has something special on his hands. He’ll also have plenty of company, as Giants coach Pat Shurmur will be with him and will give the riders up call before the race.
When you add a guy like that, it just trickles down throughout the whole room of guys just their study habits, Carr said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. You see Jordy off to the side when another group is in, if you just look over there, he is probably just telling somebody something about a route or a technique or a coverage. He’s very smart. He can read coverage like a quarterback.
The Raiders are betting that Nelson’s smarts and the change of scenery will help him bounce back from a disappointing 2017 season with the Packers. If that happens and his presence helps spark a rebound for Amari Cooper as well, the move will go down as a major positive for the Raiders.
Quarterback Tom Flacco will leave Rutgers and head to Towson as a graduate transfer, two individuals with knowledge of his move told NJ Advance Media.
Flacco, a walk-on, graduated in May with a degree in labor and employment relations. He has two years of eligibility remaining and will be able to play immediately for the FCS program outside Baltimore.
A journeyman who no sooner signed with the Arizona Cardinals before they drafted his successor in Josh Rosen. Given what ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss saw at OTAs, that plan of succession may be proceeding faster than anyone (especially Bradford) thought it would: So far, the scouting report on Rosen has been dead-on.
The Brooklyn-based organization provides meals, gifts and academic support to children in need.
It is a cause close to the heart of Hernandez, who lived in a relative’s storage shed for two years after his family lost their home due to financial difficulties.
The Las Vegas native gave up football for a brief time to work construction and let his high school grades slip to the point where his NCAA academic qualification became a recruiting obstacle.
It’s a big deal to me, just that I’m able to help out in any way possible, Hernandez said. My main motivation is I know what it’s like. I know a lot of these people and kids get a lot of joy out of this. Even if it’s just a couple hours to spare, it goes with them forever. I’m glad to be here.
And he will be glad to be on the field Thursday when the Giants hold their 10th and final voluntary organized team activity leading into next week’s mandatory minicamp.
The New Orleans Saints’ top draft pick, defensive end Marcus Davenport, will have thumb surgery after this week’s three-day minicamp, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Dianna Russini. But the source described it as no big deal and said Davenport is expected to be fine by the start of training camp in late July.
The news was first reported by the New Orleans Advocate.
Man, he’s big and he’s long. He’s a tremendous worker … He’s coming along really well, Saints coach Sean Payton said recently when asked for his early impressions of the rookie. There’s a strength element you feel — and obviously we’re not in pads, but you saw it when he played (in college). And now it’s really working on his pass rush, working on his pass-rush plan and developing the three different pitches he needs to be effective when it’s not just playing the run. But obviously he, like the rest of that rookie class, has got a lot being installed. But he’s handling it well. It’s been really encouraging.
I also believe that based on my production over the last 8 years that I’ve earned the right to have this taken care of as soon as possible, Thomas wrote. I want to have certainty in regards to the upcoming years of my career.
Thomas told ESPN at the Pro Bowl in January that he may hold out if he doesn’t get a new deal before the season, and he also skipped the Seahawks’ voluntary OTAs last month. He would be subject to fines if he were to skip minicamp, though teams can decide to not impose them.
I hope my teammates understand where I’m coming from, Thomas wrote. I believe this is the right thing to do.
Seahawks GM John Schneider told reporters before the draft that he was told by Thomas’ representatives that Thomas was not planning on holding out.
This year, the maximum fine amounts for missing minicamp are $14,070 for the first day, $28,150 for the second day and $42,215 for the third day, for a total of $84,435. The Seahawks’ three-day minicamp starts Tuesday.
It’s not the $40 million per year that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell makes, but new XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck will be able to buy steak whenever he wants.
According to SportsBusiness Journal (via Rachel Bachman of the Wall Street Journal), Luck will receive $20 million guaranteed over multiple years as the leader of Vince McMahon’s resurrected football venture. The number could end up going north of $30 million, if the league succeeds.
The number of years in multiple is key, for a couple of reasons. First, it reveals the average salary; $20 million over three years obviously has much more annual value than $20 million over five years. Second, it may shed light on the number of years that are funded by McMahon for the second attempt to make the XFL a first-class operation.
Regardless of how it turns out, Luck will be getting real money to turn the XFL into a real football league. If similar money is available for players, the tug of war between the AAF and the XFL could get interesting.
Coming from Pick 147 to being cut and spending a whole year on the practice squad, then next switching positions and playing something I’ve never played before to securing at least $3 million this year for my family, Allen said. I don’t think there is anyone around that doesn’t think I can/shouldn’t make more, but I’m grateful.
Allen was a fifth-rounder in 2014, but was cut as a rookie and spent the season on the practice squad, which is why he was a restricted free agent rather than on the last year of his rookie deal. They could still sign him to a longer-term deal before the start of the regular season.
Second, Mendenhall suggested that four of five players who succeed in the NFL are destined to leave the game broken, in multiple ways.
The lucky ones that make it to their second contract — that means there is some sustainability — when they leave the NFL, they are all of the following — this is 78 percent, almost 80 percent, Mendenhall said. They are divorced, bankrupt, a substance abuser and disabled, all four. That’s almost 80 percent of the lucky ones that make it to their second contract.
So 80 percent of all players who earn a second contract in the NFL, according to Mendenhall, leave the game divorced and bankrupt and a substance abuser and disabled. Not one of the four. All of the four.
Cowboys’ 1978 halfback pass opens NFL’s Super Bowl trick-play TD video More Want even more evidence the NFL is a league that is hesitant to try things out of the norm? On the biggest stage with everything on the line, trick plays that break conventional wisdom rarely go down. Coaches often exist in a perpetual state of second-guess fear.
And yet there was Cleveland with a chance to steal Game 1 on Thursday night, thanks to Smith’s rebound four feet from the rim and a shot at a game-winning putback in the final seconds.
You’ve seen the replay of what Smith did instead by now: He dribbled the clock out like a fool. Golden State won the game in overtime. America collectively shook its head.
Just how badly did Smith screw up? Let’s put it in context with other championship-round gaffes, starting at least severe and careening to most cringe-worthy.
His voice trails off. He gazes down at the court. At one end, the 14-year-old (Javen) launches jumpers. At the other, Jazz is now throwing his Royals hat at the rim.
No, it never got to the point of plotting his own death. Suicidal thoughtsremained only that. Thoughts. But do not think for a second he’s in the end zone celebrating.
As the three kids begin to pinball back up the bleachers, I suggest to Lewis that he got to the other side. He cuts in.
It’s not over, he says. I have to keep moving.
I have always been an upstanding citizen and handled the situation the best way I know how, Williams said. I apologize if I should have handled it a little bit differently.
The 28-year-old Williams was expected to miss all the offseason workouts after breaking his right foot in January and having surgery. The Cowboys released 
in a cost-cutting move while signing two free agents and drafting two more receivers.
The Lions found three guys at their rookie minicamp who they wanted to take a longer look at.
The team announced they had signed wide receiver Deontez Alexander, tight end Marcus Lucas, and cornerback Josh Okonye.
By the way, if they do bring back the Batman look, they should bring back that entire diagram and have the players wear a single-bar facemask because those are amazing.
Anyway, here’s what a more modern version of the Batman uniform would look like.
Here’s what the same uniform would look like in white, if the Steelers decide to go that route. The Steelers will only be wearing the throwback for one game, so they definitely won’t be wearing both colors.
The new throwback won’t be the only different uniform the Steelers are wearing this year. The team has already confirmed that the all-black Color Rush uniform will also be on the field in 2018. The Steelers will be wearing that look for their Thursday night game against the Panthers in Week 10.
The Steelers will definitely be hoping that fans love the new throwback as much as they love the team’s Color Rush uniform.
Blandino will start the new position immediately and resume it in January 2019 after the next football season has wrapped up.
Is Keenum a one-hit wonder or a late bloomer? If it’s the latter, the Broncos might have signed a franchise quarterback in March for a more-than-reasonable $36 million over two years.
If he can perform the way he did in Minnesota, the Broncos will have a shot at the playoffs in 2018, regardless of what Chubb does opposite Von Miller.
Detroit Lions fans are allowed to be discouraged by the team’s failure to win more than nine games in five of the last six seasons. We’re in the post-Calvin Johnson era, and the Lions don’t appear as though they’re on the brink of a Super Bowl run in a division that features the juggernaut Minnesota Vikings and the Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers.
But it’s entirely possible we’ve yet to see the best of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who just turned 30 and is coming off his highest-rated season. 
Not many teams actually want to be on Hard Knocks. New Browns general manager John Dorsey made it clear earlier in May that he was no exception.
“I don’t think there’s anything good that comes out of Hard Knocks, but we’ll see,” he said on ESPN Cleveland 850.
When the announcement was made, Dorsey tried his best to play nice.
In addition to drafting Mayfield first overall and trading for Taylor, the Browns acquired a slew of new pieces this offseason, including fourth overall pick Denzel Ward, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, cornerback Damarious Randall, running back Carlos Hyde and second-round runner Nick Chubb.
I think we’re all excited about him, and we think he can be a star, general manager Brett Veach said of Ragland last month, per the team’s official website. “We were very fortunate to be able to execute that trade.”
Ragland is a high-instinct sure-tackler who was the 2015 SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Alabama. He has the ability to make a major impact, but he’s rarely been healthy thus far in his career.
He is now, though, and we should see plenty of him in May and June.
Jackson claims to have “a different build” after spending time working on his size and strength this offseason, according to Jim Wyatt of the team’s official website. That could help as he fights for reps with new arrival Malcolm Butler and returning veteran Logan Ryan, both of whom are getting paid big bucks.
What’s more, all three of the team’s top corners will be adjusting to a new defense under incoming defensive coordinator Dean Pees.
Even with that looming cloud, there has yet to be an overwhelming urgency that galvanizes owners into some kind of decision. They failed to find common ground in meetings in November. They kicked the entire conversation down the road in March.
It’s not 100 percent clear how much Nick Foles will play next season, but he could be paid handsomely thanks to a restructured contract in Philadelphia.
The Eagles quarterback is set to make a minumum of $250,000 per game if he plays a third of the team’s offensive snaps, ESPN.com reported.
“[Plaintiffs] Eric Inselberg, Michael Jakab and Sean Godown have resolved all claims in their pending litigation against the New York Giants, Eli Manning, John Mara, William Heller, Joseph Skiba, Edward Skiba and Steiner Sports, in accordance with a confidential settlement agreement reached today. The compromise agreement, entered into by all parties, should not be viewed as supporting any allegations, claims or defenses.
Coaches wanted every player present from Day 1, but veterans like Pro Bowl running back Robert Smith would try to hold out every year before signing one-year deals. Smith had several major knee injuries early in his career, and he thought the extra contact would expose him to more. I was happy to sign him two weeks prior to the regular season, as I knew he’d be in shape when he reported. I didn’t have to worry about him getting hurt before the season.
Kyle scored 19 points in a game in Portland on March 15, but when he heard how sick his brother was, he chartered a plane that night and brought Kaleb and his wife, who live in Portland, with him to Iowa City. The family felt fortunate that Kyle had been in Portland so he could travel with Kaleb. They felt there was even more luck when the flight crew on the jet happened to be based in Iowa City and gave the Korvers a ride to the hospital.
Baker Mayfield was the No. 1 overall draft choice, but the Oklahoma quarterback will start his career No. 3 on the depth chart.
Coach Hue Jackson told reporters in Cleveland that the Browns will list Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton ahead of Mayfield, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Jackson reiterated that Taylor is the starter for 2018, adding the Browns will resist the temptation to throw Mayfield into the fire “too soon.”
Bills GM has looked at Dez Bryant’s tape, “but I wouldn’t take it any further”
Bills General Manager Brandon Beane doesn’t sound overly interested after taking a look at tape of free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant.
Asked about Bryant after the draft, Beane acknowledged looking at Bryant’s tape but then seemed to indicate that the Bills would go elsewhere if they add any more wide receivers.
“We’ll look at everything,” said Beane. “We have looked at Dez on tape, but I wouldn’t take it any further and I don’t know where that would go. We’re looking to get better at all positions and receiver is one, so if we thought that was the right fit for us we would potentially pursue it.”
“I want to emphasize again how we like our tight ends that we’ve got on the roster that would be on the roster if we don’t have Witten, but certainly Dalton was noted as what we thought was the best blocker of the tight ends,” Jones said. “That was impactful because that’s the area that probably would prevent a tight end from getting as much play time as rookie while he learns the ropes. What was important was that they didn’t throw it as much to him, but you had a lot of evidence that showed him having real good hands.
Big-12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced Wednesday that Walt Anderson has resigned his position as Coordinator of Football Officials for the conference to focus on his full-time role with the NFL, via George Schroeder of USA Today.
Anderson become one of 21 full-time officiating hires by the league last year but continued to serve in his role overseeing the Big 12 as well through last season. It was a post he’d held with the conference since 2006.
The Cowboys have the best bargain in football this season, paying Dak Prescott only a $630,000 base salary. Prescott’s per year average of $680,000 ranks only 74th among NFL quarterbacks. Seventy-fourth?
His wait ended in the fifth round when the Raiders made him the 140th overall pick. Hurst’s productivity at Michigan — 32 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks — makes him look like a useful addition to the defensive front in Oakland as long as he’s healthy enough to be on the field.
Hurst isn’t the first player the Raiders have picked up after a slide fueled by things other than their on-field ability. They picked defensive end Arden Key at the end of the third round following a 2017 that featured a trip to rehab and a shoulder injury.
Former Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam will reportedly try out for the New Orleans Saints at their rookie minicamp this weekend, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
Baltimore selected Matt Elam with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft out of Florida.
The Ravens didn’t pick up the option in Elam’s contract for 2017, and he did not play last season.