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Jets select Pitt RB and Brooklyn native Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round of NFL draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

Running back was not at the top of the Jets needs entering this year’s draft, but it was undoubtedly a concern.Gang Green not only drafted a running back on Saturday, but it also took a local New York City player.With the 143rd overall selection in the fifth round, the Jets selected Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda, who grew up in Brooklyn.Abanikanda learned he was being chosen by the Jets while watching the draft news at Abraham Lincoln High School, his alma mater, with his friends and family.Abanikanda was the second Pitt player the Jets chose during Day 3 of the draft after selecting tackle Carter Warren in the fourth round.“When I got the call, it was random,” Abanikanda said. “I was just laying my head on my mom and it just rang, so I looked and saw New Jersey. Then I looked up and saw the Jets are up and I was like, ‘Man, I’m staying home.’ I was so excited, it is unreal.“It’s a dream come true as I always wanted t...

How Tom Thibodeau helped create the Jimmy Butler monster that Knicks now must stop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

Brian Scalabrine was summoned to Tom Thibodeau’s office in 2012 and the coach was fuming about a spot on ESPN Radio in Chicago.“He’s like, what the f—k are you doing going on the radio, giving them bulletin board material to use against Jimmy Butler?” Scalabrine, then a forward under Thibodeau with the Bulls, recalled to the Daily News. “He’s like, ‘You want to do radio interviews?’ I can make that happen tomorrow. You can do nothing but radio interviews.’”The subject of Scalabrine’s interview was Butler’s breakout stretch as a rookie midseason, when Luol Deng was injured and Butler, the 30th overall pick out of Marquette, helped the Bulls beat the Jazz, Knicks and Heat.Those performances awakened Scalabrine to the intensity and competitive spirit of Butler, the traits that carried the small forward to a certain Hall of Fame induction and, beginning with Game 1 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden, a second-...

Gators NFL draft tracker: LB Ventrell Miller headed to Jacksonville Jaguars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller is staying close to home after the Lakeland native spent the past six years in Gainesville with the Gators.The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Miller No. 121 overall during the NFL draft’s fourth round, allowing the 24-year-old to play before a fan base well familiar with his hard-hitting style, physical toughness and production at UF.“It feels good … being in my backyard,” he said. “It ain’t bad, definitely excited.”Miller also was relieved.December surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot kept him out of the Senior Bowl, the Scouting Combine and Florida’s Pro Day.Since he was unable to go through the draft process, Miller did not expect to hear his name called so early. Some pundits predicted he would be an undrafted free agent.“I was surprised a little bit, knowing I didn’t do anything,” he said. “When they called me, they told me they skipped up some picks to get ...

FSU draft tracker: Panthers take DB Jammie Robinson in 5th round

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

Jammie Robinson has always dreamed of playing professional football, and that dream came closer to reality when he was selected by the Carolina Panthers during the NFL Draft Saturday in Kansas City. The defensive back from Florida State was chosen with the No. 145th overall pick in the fifth round.Robinson became the first Seminoles player picked in this year’s draft and also continued Florida State’s impressive streak of having at least one NFL draft pick for 40 consecutive years. The program has a strong legacy of producing talented defensive backs players such as Asante Samuel Jr. (2021), Derwin James (2018) and Jalen Ramsey (2016).The 5-foot-11 defensive back has spent the past two seasons with Florida State after transferring from South Carolina in 2020. Robinson’s exceptional performance earned him consecutive All-ACC first-team as he led the Seminoles in tackles each season. He recorded a total of 183 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and 5 interception...

Hurricanes’ Will Mallory drafted by Indianapolis Colts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

Will Mallory is the latest Miami Hurricanes tight end to reach the NFL.Mallory, a five-year Miami veteran, was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round at pick No. 162 of the NFL draft on Saturday. He is the 22nd UM tight end to be picked in the draft, and the first since the Houston Texans picked Brevin Jordan in 2021.“It’s the reason why I came here,” Mallory said Miami’s Pro Day.“I wanted to be part of that tradition, that Tight End U tradition. There’s obviously great names that have been here before me and are currently doing it. Just honored to be a part of it and even to be considered in talks in there with them. Just to have the opportunity to continue playing is a dream come true for me. I want to keep trying to make the tradition proud.”Mallory grew into one of the ACC’s top tight ends during his five seasons at Miami. Mallory is the son of longtime college football and NFL assistant coach Mike Mallory and was a ...

Lacrosse great Billy Bitter takes the reins at Cohasset High

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

COHASSET — Woody Allen once said that 90% of success in life is just showing up. Sometimes, it’s simply about being in the right place at the right time.For Billy Bitter, the moment came when the Long Island native and former University of North Carolina men’s lacrosse star decided to move with his family to the seaside town of Cohasset just a few years ago.Now, the 34-year-old finds himself coaching one of the state’s most historic girls lacrosse programs at Cohasset High School, and he is looking to keep its tradition going as he takes on a new challenge.Bitter takes over for former Skippers coach Kully Reardon, who stepped down to spend more time with family last winter after a 10-year run with the program. During her tenure, Reardon led the Skippers to two Div. 2 state titles (2017, 2019), as well as an appearance in the Div. 3 statewide championship (a 12-9 loss to Medfield) last season.You could say Bitter has some pretty big shoes to fill. How did he end up in thi...

NFL Draft 2023: Patriots trade up for Maryland K Chad Ryland in 4th round

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

The Patriots added some competition for veteran Nick Folk by taking Maryland kicker Chad Ryland with the 112th’s pick in the fourth round.The Pats made a trade with the New York Jets to move up to 112, giving Gang Green No. 120 in the fourth round, and 184 in the sixth round in the swap.Jumping up the board, they had to feel Ryland, one of the top kickers in the draft, would be gone by their next pick at No. 117. On a conference call with the media, Ryland said it was “surreal” to get the call from the Patriots.“I’m super thankful for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to making the most of it,” said Ryland. “But at the end of the day, there’s a lot of work to be done, and I know that ahead of coming in. I can’t wait to get started.”Ryland had played at Eastern Michigan for four years, posting a single-season record for points scored before transferring to Maryland.During his one season with the Terrapins, he was selected...

Maple Leafs try once again to end near two decade playoff series drought

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

Sheldon Keefe refuses to tip his hand ahead of the biggest game of his career.“I’m not going to take questions on the lineup,” the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs began his availability Saturday, hours before Game 6 and a second shot to eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning.It’s a stance he reiterates when asked directly if defenceman Timothy Liljegren could draw into the series after sitting on the sidelines for 16 days.Toronto held an optional morning skate.Liljegren did not participate, which is his custom on nights he plays.The oft-criticized Justin Holl did participate; he seldom does on nights he plays.Justin Holl is participating in Leafs optional skate this morning and Timothy Liljegren is not. ????— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) April 29, 2023None of the forwards stayed on for extra work, which is unusual.Gamesmanship is at play here.Keefe says the Maple Leafs have some undisclosed injury-related, game-time decisions to make.Holl’s partner, Mark Giordano, did skate Sa...

Israelis rally for 17th week against judicial overhaul plans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis protested judicial overhaul proposals Saturday in the 17th weekly rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition.The demonstrations have been ongoing since the beginning of the year, and organizers plan to continue, despite Netanyahu delaying the changes last month. The leaders of the mass protests want the proposals scrapped altogether.“We are just getting started,” read a banner that demonstrators held at the main protest in Tel Aviv, Israel’s economic hub. Smaller demonstrations were reported in several parts of the country.Spanish Prime Minister and Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez voiced support to the Israeli antigovernment protesters in a video message aired on a large screen in Tel Aviv.“We as Socialist International have always fought for freedom, equality, justice, and democracy. Yet, as many of you know, these are values that we cannot take for granted,” Sanchez said.Protesters argue the prop...

Poland claims Russian school by court order; Moscow angered

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:02 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Acting on a Polish court verdict, Warsaw authorities Saturday took over a school building that was serving children of Russian diplomats and the military, drawing an angry reaction from Moscow. Poland’s Foreign Ministry said it had asked Warsaw authorities to claim the property which, Poland says, should have been returned by Russia years ago. “The bailiff’s execution is … in total agreement with the Foreign Ministry and based on a court order that gave the Polish state full ownership rights to the building which the Russian Embassy has had in its possession illegally for many years,” Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina said. Police and a court official came to the building, which is far away from the Russian Embassy and isn’t part of diplomatic premises. They gave the Russian side until Saturday evening to hand the building over, which took place. However, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Polish authorities “invaded” the school, say...