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Vikings sign former first-round pick N’Keal Harry to add more receiver depth

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is once again buying the dip.After hosting receiver N’Keal Harry for a workout at TCO Performance Center, the Vikings announced Sunday that they have signed him to a contract. It’s the latest example of Adofo-Mensah taking a flier on a young player who hasn’t exactly panned out to this point.After being selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Harry struggled to gain traction with the organization. He eventually was released, then spent some time with the Chicago Bears last season. He has 64 catches for 714 yards in 40 NFL career games.This is probably the last chance Harry has to make it in the NFL. He will join a group of receivers that doesn’t seem to be set in stone outside of Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and Jordan Addison.There’s a small chance the 25-year-old Harry could have some untapped potential. His massive 6-foot-4, 225-frame is certainly intriguing as a poten...

Hot mic catches Gophers coach P.J. Fleck’s guarded approach in camp

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

As usual Saturday, head coach P.J. Fleck wore a portable microphone as he zipped around the Gophers’ open practice at Huntington Bank Stadium.It provided dividends — and a rare, insightful moment.Fleck was able to readily give out coaching tips — in particular teaching a young wideout proper hand placement to reel in a low throw — as well as bursts of praise for standout plays, including one from top cornerback Justin Walley.“Good job, Walley!” Fleck bellowed, and his voice carried throughout the stadium.Later in that same 11-on-11 period, Fleck’s mic became hot.“Not showing Big Ten Network our … offense!” Fleck bellowed toward that unit.The Gophers had stripped down its offensive playbook with the conference’s TV partner, local media members and fans in the building for the first time this preseason.While its not atypical to keep schematic details private, the hot mic situation was a continuation of Fleck’s modus operandi to not share many, if any, details of how his team will look...

What will Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto’s second year bring after modest rookie campaign? “Definitely a more confident guy”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

In the middle of his rookie season, Nik Bonitto looked primed to break out.Inactive in Week 2 and used only sporadically early in the season, the Broncos needed their rookie second-round pick to step up after Randy Gregory sustained a knee injury in Week 4.After a couple weeks of steadily increasing playing time and an injury to Baron Browning, Bonitto logged a half sack against the New York Jets and another sack the next week in London against Jacksonville. He looked fast off the edge as a complementary piece.But upon Denver’s return, Bradley Chubb got traded to Miami. Defenses could pay more attention to the former Oklahoma standout. The Broncos’ pass-rush dried up overall and Bonitto went without a sack and logged just eighth tackles (one for loss) total over the team’s final nine games despite playing substantial snaps in all but one of them.On a hot August morning at training camp in the midst of a week spent flashing his speed off the edge and refining his technique, Bonitto s...

Austin Gomber leads Rockies to first series win in St. Louis since 2009

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

The last time the Rockies won a series in St. Louis, Austin Gomber was a sophomore at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Fla.Barack Obama was president, Michael Jackson died at age 50, and “Mad Men” was a sensation on TV.That was 2009.But Gomber’s six-inning gem on Sunday afternoon was the foundation for the Rockies’ nail-biting 1-0 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, enabling Colorado to take two of three games over the weekend.Gomber, the former Cardinal who came to Colorado in the infamous Nolan Arenado trade in 2021, delivered another stellar start. The lefty scattered six hits, walked three, and fanned two. Over his last seven starts, Gomber has posted a 2.51 ERA.“It felt good, and I made pitches when I had to,” Gomber told AT&T SportsNet. “I put myself in a couple of tough spots but made pitches to get out of it. I just continued to roll.”In three games previous games against his former team (one start), Gombe...

Suspect found with over 35 pounds of drugs in Orange County 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

Officers with the Garden Grove Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit announced the seizure of a large cache of illegal drugs from a suspect. According to an Instagram post from the GGPD, officers were originally conducting an investigation into an individual selling MDMA in Orange County. With the help of K9 Rocky, investigators were able a search warrant at the suspect’s home.  Car set on fire with homeless man inside in Green Meadows By the time authorities completed their search, they had located over 19 pounds of MDMA, 14 pounds of counterfeit Adderall, 2.3 pounds of cocaine and 1,260 Alprazolam (Xanax) pills. The suspect, who was not identified by police, was arrested and booked at the Orange County Jail for transportation and sales of narcotics. 

Rodriguez, Joe slug homers to power Pirates past Brewers 4-1, spoiling Woodruff’s return

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Endy Rodriguez and Connor Joe homered to spoil the return of Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff after four months, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-1 victory over the NL Central-leading Brewers on Sunday.Woodruff (1-1) was activated off the 60-day injured list (right shoulder inflammation) on Sunday and was making his first start for the Brewers since April 7. He retired the first six hitters, striking out the first five, before Rodriguez opened the third inning with his second homer.Joe opened the fourth with his eighth homer of the season to make it 2-0.Bryan Reynolds had a pinch-hit, two-run homer, his 14th of the season, off Abner Uribe in the eighth to make it 4-0.Milwaukee scored an unearned run in the ninth off Carmen Mlodzinski when William Contreras walked and Carlos Santana singled. Contreras scored from third on a two-out throwing error by third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.Johan Oviedo (6-11) allowed just two hits, both by Contreras, in seven innings and ...

Gomber shuts down former team, pitches Rockies past Cardinals 1-0 for rare series win in St. Louis

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Austin Gomber pitched out of trouble for six innings against his former team and Ezequiel Tovar had a sacrifice fly to lift the Colorado Rockies over the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0 on Sunday.In a matchup of last-place clubs, the Rockies took two of three games and won a series in St. Louis for the first time since sweeping the Cardinals in June 2009.St. Louis went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 15 overall. The Cardinals have lost four of six.Gomber (9-8) gave up six hits and struck out two. The left-hander was part of the trade that sent star third baseman Nolan Arenado from Colorado to St. Louis in February 2021. Gomber escaped a bases-loaded jam by getting Tyler O’Neill to ground out in the fifth.Colorado took the lead in the third. Tovar’s sac fly brought in Brenton Doyle, who doubled with one out.Tyler Kinley, Brent Suter and Justin Lawrence finished an eight-hitter for the Rockies. Lawrence earned his ninth save in 12 chances.Doyle had...

Four Rangers go deep to back shutout pitching in 6-0 win over Marlins

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Nathaniel Lowe, Marcus Semien, Ezequiel Duran and Adolis Garcia homered while Andrew Heaney allowed four singles in 5 2/3 shutout innings as the Texas Rangers beat the Miami Marlins 6-0 on Sunday to sweep a six-game homestand.Lowe lofted a two-run drive to right field in the third inning that barely landed in the home bullpen. Semien’s homer sailed into the visitors’ bullpen in left in the fifth inning. Duran led off the sixth with a homer to center after entering the game in the top of the inning. Garcia, the AL’s leader with 89 RBIs, homered to center leading off the eighth for his 29th this season.The six-game winning streak and four homers match Texas highs this season.Heaney (9-6) gave up two hits in the second inning, then retired 10 consecutive batters before leaving with two runners on in the sixth. He has a career-best scoreless streak of 15 2/3 innings.Miami’s first two outs in the sixth came when Jorge Soler’s scorching liner with runners on first ...

Diego Simeone’s son Giuliano seriously injured in Alaves game and taken off the field in ambulance

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Giuliano Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, was taken off the field in an ambulance after sustaining a serious leg injury while playing for Spanish club Alaves on Sunday.Giuliano Simeone was fouled from behind in Alaves’ friendly game against Burgos. The 20-year-old forward stayed down with players from both teams calling for help after seeing the apparent injury to his left foot. An ambulance came onto the field, and fans and players applauded as the player was driven away. The game, which was nearing its end, was called off.Alaves did not immediately give any more detail on the injury.Giuliano Simeone was set to make his first-division debut with Alaves this season. He played for Zaragoza in the second tier last season.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Colts’ Shaquille Leonard working to overcome fear of injury after missing most of past 2 seasons

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:51:48 GMT

WESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) — Shaquille Leonard finally looks and sounds like his old self. The Indianapolis Colts star linebacker is running around, making plays at training camp, injecting energy with his customary nonstop voice.On Saturday, after missing most of last season with an impinged nerve that required season-ending surgery, the three-time All-Pro took another major step in his long road back by returning to full contact in team drills. One of the most-watched players at camp also knows there’s one last hurdle to overcome.“I’m just going out and taking the fear out of making contact,” Leonard said. “I would still say fear — just being able to have contact for the first time in a long time, not knowing what result was going to come. It feels good, it feels amazing and I’m just happy to be out there.”It was evident each time Leonard lined up at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, about 30 minutes from the team headquarters. And it was noticeable in his typically ca...