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Patriots enter NFL draft holding 11 picks to address needs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Most of the New England Patriots’ shortcomings last season can be traced back to the experiments they tried on offense that simply didn’t pan out.Entrusting that side of the ball and the pivotal second year of quarterback Mac Jones’ development to coaches with non-offensive pedigrees in Matt Patricia (defense) and Joe Judge (special teams), proved to be a mistake that coach Bill Belichick quickly addressed this offseason.The draft is part of what the Patriots hope will be a reset of sorts in 2023.Former offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is back, along with new coaches, including offensive line coach Adrian Klemm.While it would seem that a change at the quarterback position won’t be part of New England’s course correction, the party line this summer is that everything is on the table.“I think the big thing for us is everybody is starting with a clean slate,” O’Brien said. “I think every year is different. I think this year is no different from any othe...

Ravens extend naming rights agreement with M&T Bank through ‘at least’ 2037

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

Upcoming renovations will soon change M&T Bank Stadium. The venue’s name, however, will stay the same.The Ravens and M&T Bank have agreed to extend their naming rights agreement until 2037, they said Thursday, meaning the 71,000-seat stadium will retain the name it has held since 2003 for 15 more seasons. The current deal had been set to expire in 2027.The Maryland Stadium Authority, which owns M&T Bank Stadium, and the Ravens signed a new lease in January, extending the team’s formal ties to Baltimore from 2027 to 2037. That prompted the Ravens to reach out to M&T Bank and extend their partnership until the lease’s end, Ravens president Sashi Brown said.“As soon as we got to the point where we knew we would get to a deal — and we’re thankful to the state for that — we reached right out to M&T and advised them of the extension. They were excited to hear that and naturally began discussions about extending our partnership ...

Yankees Notebook: Giancarlo Stanton in ‘disbelief’ over latest ‘unacceptable’ injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

Giancarlo Stanton said his left hamstring felt better Thursday, but the Yankees slugger is taking his latest injury hard.Stanton, who suffered a Grade 2 strain Saturday while legging out a double, said the hammy is “improving every day, but it’s a slow process.” Aaron Boone hopes to have the designated hitter/outfielder back in six weeks, though Stanton didn’t offer a timeline when asked if he had the same target in mind.“I’m gonna be back as soon as possible,” he said.Stanton added that he felt tightness and grabbing in his hamstring — “It’s not a normal feeling, or a fun one” — and he immediately knew the injury would sideline him for a few weeks. He didn’t want to “confront that right away,” as soft tissue injuries have hindered him throughout his Yankees career.“The disbelief and disappointment at this stage is hard to put into words,” Stanton said. “It’s very frustr...

Julius Randle is relaxed and ready for pivotal Game 3 vs. Cavs: ‘Having the most fun in my career’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

The temperature read on Julius Randle –— two days after a defeat ended in anger because he was fouled on his butt by Jarrett Allen — was cooler than a polar bear’s toenails.The Knicks power forward, not frequently an engaging interview, smiled through his session with reporters Thursday, clearly eager for Friday’s tipoff of the pivotal Game 3.“I’m probably having the most fun that I’ve had in my nine-year career in the league,”  Randle told reporters at the Knicks’ practice facility in Tarrytown. “The game-to-game adjustments, the gamesmanship. Intensity. All that type of stuff. It’s fun for me because it’s a test on my mental, and I feel great. I don’t know, I just enjoy it.“I’m just having fun. It’s a lot of fun. I can’t lie.”The game represents the first postseason contest at Madison Square Garden since Trae Young eliminated the Knicks in 2021, when the Hawks poi...

Giants’ Joe Schoen: ‘Dialogue’s good’ with Dexter Lawrence and ‘it takes two to get a deal done’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

Giants GM Joe Schoen said Thursday that the “dialogue’s good” with Dexter Lawrence’s agents despite the defensive tackle’s spring absence related to his contract situation.“I’ve talked to Dexter’s representatives this week,” Schoen said. “The dialogue’s good there. It’s hard this time of year. We’re deep into the draft and the draft prep, but we’ve had good conversations with Dexter’s representatives. And we’ll see where that stands moving forward.”Schoen said “Dexter knows how we feel about him” and “knows he’s an important part of the organization. But the GM said, “there’s a business side to it, too.”“It takes two to get a deal done,” he added.Lawrence, 25, is seeking a lucrative contract extension entering the fifth and final year of his rookie deal after making second-team All-Pro in 2022. Jets first-team All-Pro Quinnen Wil...

Environmental vandals deflate tires of 43 SUVs in Beacon Hill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

Dozens of people in Beacon Hill woke up to a rude awakening Thursday when they found the tires of their SUVs deflated.The culprit: an international environmental activism group dubbed the “Tyre Extinguishers.”Venturing into Boston for the first time, the Tyre Extinguishers deflated the tires of 43 luxury SUVs late Wednesday night to address what they say is a climate emergency felt around the world.“The group took this action to render the large greenhouse gas emitting vehicles unusable, directly preventing the outpouring of emission from the vehicles into our atmosphere which further contribute to climate change and air pollution,” according to a release, sent early Thursday morning.The vandals didn’t target electric or hybrid vehicles nor any vehicles with handicap signage, the group stated. Owners of “large, luxury, gas-powered SUVs” received leaflets on their cars explaining why they were impacted and imploring them to stop using what the Tyre Extinguishers dee...

What to watch: ‘Dead Ringers’ is back and more creepy than ever

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

Rachel Weisz doubles down with two chilling and unforgettable performances in Amazon Prime’s limited series “Dead Ringers,” which serves up a bold vision of a twisted classic.It debuts this weekend, and tops our list of what to see, along with the conservationist-themed “Wild Life,” the historical biopic “Chevalier” and “Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant.”Here’s our roundup.“Dead Ringers”: It takes nerve to remake a David Cronenberg classic, particularly if you’re taking on the Canadian master of shock’s 1988 psychological squirm-fest about deranged twin gynecologists (Jeremy Irons) mishandling too many patients and too many forceps.But executive producer and director Sean Durkin has accomplished just that for Amazon Prime with a limited series of six truly horrifying stand-alone episodes. He and other directors — including the incredible Karyn Kusama — and a team of screenwriters have even improved on the original. Their “Dead Ringers” chooses smartly in the departures and asides they mak...

Tech review: Boulies Elite Max Gaming Chair is built for large people, like me

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

Jim Rossman | Tribune News ServiceI’ve broken a chair or two in my day.I don’t say that to brag. I’m a big guy, and I’m hard on my office chairs. I said “chairs” because if I use a chair long enough, I’m going to break something on it. Maybe the lift mechanism, maybe the recline, maybe a wheel.Let’s just say I’m 6 foot 2 inches and my doctor would love for me to lose some weight.It is refreshing (and long overdue) for me to find a chair made for people exactly my size.An interesting part about being a tech reviewer is when I publish a review for a product, I get a lot of other companies who have items in the same category (like keyboards, power stations, chairs) that reach out to ask you to review their product as well. About six weeks ago I reviewed a gaming chair from Vertagear.This week I’m reviewing the Boulies Elite Max Gaming Chair.The specs that got my attention about the Elite Max are the height and weight capacities.The Elite Max is designed for people from 5 foot 10 inches...

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Watch and revisit ‘The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults’ hosted by Geraldo Rivera

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

The most exhilarating live television event of 1986 was the Chicago Bears winning Super Bowl XX, for some.For others, it was a two-hour broadcast from a basement.On April 21, 1986 — 37 years ago — Geraldo Rivera hosted “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults” from the depths of the former Lexington Hotel at Michigan Avenue and Cermak Road on the city’s Near South Side.Chicago Outfit boss Al Capone once used the hotel as his headquarters and a cast of characters speculated that his belongings, bootleg liquor and even the remains of his enemies might be found inside a cement crypt at the site.Spoiler alert: The early experiment in unscripted programming was one of the most fascinating busts in Chicago history.Rivera may have walked out of the hotel empty-handed, but the show’s incredible ratings delivered him a long-term talk show deal.Capone’s riches, by the way, were eventually found decades later — thousands of miles away from Chicag...

Matt Patricia reportedly leaving Patriots for new coaching job in NFC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:43 GMT

Former Patriots offensive play-caller and offensive line coach Matt Patricia is flying south.During a pre-draft press conference Thursday, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said he is trending toward hiring Patricia for a role on his staff. Minutes later, ESPN reported Patricia and the Eagles have officially reached terms to make him a senior defensive assistant.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | NFL Draft 2023: Lukas Van Ness and 7 potential Patriots pass rushers to watch New England Patriots | Guregian: Patriots OC Bill O’Brien hopes to purge last year from the system New England Patriots | Jerod Mayo talks returning to Patriots, new role: ‘It would take a lot for me to leave’ New England Patriots | Patriots sign restricted free agent DB Myles Bryant New England Patriots | NFL Draft 2023: Jaxon Smith-Njigba and 9 potential Patriots WR picks to watch “Obviously (Patricia)’s re...