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Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL draft: 3 prospects, including DT Gervon Dexter, are added to the defense on Night 2

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles is off and running with his draft weekend to-do list, looking to improve a last-place roster and accelerate the team’s return toward playoff contention.In a demanding and busy offseason, Poles has expressed eagerness to do his heaviest lifting through the draft. That process began in Thursday night’s first round and will continue through Saturday evening.Bears remaining picks in 2023 NFL draft (Thursday-Saturday)Round 4: Nos. 103 and 133Round 5: No. 148Round 7: Nos. 218 and 258As Poles and the Bears navigate the weekend, we will offer you a comprehensive look at each of the players the team selects.Catch up on our draft coverageBears trade down again and select Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright with the No. 10 pick in the NFL draftColumn: Drafting Darnell Wright the latest item on the checklist so the Bears can better evaluate Justin FieldsColumn: The Panthers made Bryce Young the No. 1 pick. Here’s why it matters to...

Dolphins select CB Cam Smith, RB Devon Achane on Day 2 of NFL draft

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

The Miami Dolphins made the surprising move of going cornerback with their first 2023 draft pick, taking South Carolina’s Cam Smith in the second round, pick No. 51, Friday night.They followed that up by drafting Texas A&M running back Devon Achane in the third round, at pick No. 84.Smith (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) had six interceptions in his four-year career with the Gamecocks, leaving for the draft as a redshirt junior.He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. He’s touted for his length as a boundary cornerback, but scouts are concerned with his fluidity in coverage.New Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio gets a cornerback that could fit the zone-heavy coverages he’s looking to incorporate on the back end of Miami’s defense.Selecting a cornerback was surprising given the Dolphins’ needs at tight end and on the offensive line, but Miami general manager Chris Grier stayed true to his usual best-player-available approach to th...

Jarren Duran provides spark, but Red Sox fall to Guardians 5-2

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

The Red Sox offense didn’t have much of an answer for Shane Bieber and the Cleveland Guardians pitching staff. The top half of the lineup effectively no-showed and when Boston did get traffic on base the big bats couldn’t bring them home.At least they had Jarren Duran.The third time has been the charm so far for the young Red Sox outfielder, who has looked like a completely different player after two failed big league stints the past two seasons. Duran made his mark again on Friday by going 3 for 4 with a trio of doubles but the Red Sox couldn’t capitalize in a 5-2 loss.“He’s in the middle of the field staying with breaking balls and playing great defense,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He’s in a good spot right now, he’s playing with a lot of energy, a lot of confidence, we’re very happy with where he’s at.”Since being called up Duran is batting .421 with a 1.126 OPS, and of his 16 total hits eight have gone...

Ravens select Clemson ILB Trenton Simpson with 86th overall pick in third round of NFL draft

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

A day after bolstering the offense with wide receiver Zay Flowers in the opening round of the NFL draft, the Ravens added to their defense on Friday.With the 86th overall pick in the third round of the NFL draft, the Ravens selected Clemson inside linebacker Trenton Simpson.A former running back and a five-star recruit in high school — Simpson was the No. 1 outside linebacker in the 2020 recruiting class — he allowed only 406 yards in his career on 612 coverage snaps with the Tigers. He was a hybrid performer for Clemson, as coaches often relied on his versatility by using him as a nickel on one play and an edge rusher the next.This story will be updated. ()

Matt Olson’s 3-run homer sinks Mets as Braves take rain-shortened series opener

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

David Peterson was struggling for answers after his last two outings. His slider was failing him and the left-hander was failing to put lefties away.Peterson found some of the answers he was looking for Friday night against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field, but his struggles against left-handed hitters continued when he gave up a three-run homer to Matt Olson in the Mets’ abbreviated 4-0 loss.Peterson (1-4) dueled fellow left-hander Max Fried through four innings in miserable, rainy conditions. The two southpaws both went scoreless until the fifth inning when Peterson gave up four earned runs.Fried (2-0) pitched around a two-out Francisco Alvarez single in the fifth before play was suspended due to rain at 8:34 p.m. Fried went five scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to a ridiculous 0.45.Peterson looked like a different pitcher through the first four innings. His command was good and his pitch sequencing was effective. He faced only two over the minimum going into to the fifth...

Shorthanded Yankees can’t overcome Clarke Schmidt’s rough outing in loss to Rangers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

ARLINGTON — The Yankees’ beleaguered batting order did little to mess with Texas — even after Rangers ace Jacob deGrom exited early with an injury.The Aaron Judge-less lineup mustered five hits in a 5-2 loss Friday at Globe Life Field, failing to take advantage of 5.1 innings by the Rangers bullpen on a night that began with dominance by deGrom.Judge remained out Friday after leaving Thursday’s series opener in Arlington with right hip discomfort. The reigning American League MVP underwent an MRI before Friday’s game to determine the extent of the injury, which he suffered in an awkward, head-first slide into third base Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins.The injury-riddled lineup couldn’t lift Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt, whose season-long struggles continued. He served up five runs on 10 hits over five innings Friday to drop to 0-3. His ERA rose to 6.84 and the Yankees fell to 1-5 in games started by him this season.The Yankees missed Judge...

UF DT Gervon Dexter, All-American G O’Cyrus Torrence chosen in 2nd round

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

Former Florida defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. and offensive guard O’Cyrus Torrence spent last season helping each other improve.On Friday night their hard work paid off as two teammates on opposites side of the football were selected during the second round of the NFL Draft.The Chicago Bears chose Dexter with the No. 52 overall selection. Seven picks later, the Buffalo Bills picked Torrence No. 59.The two players arrived at virtually the same point taking very different paths.Dexter was a 5-star recruit from Lake Wales in 2020 with limitless potential when UF signed him.Torrence was a lightly recruiting offensive lineman from rural Louisiana who was ranked outside the nation’s top 1,500 players in the 2019 class when Billy Napier lured him to Lafayette.Both would make an immediate impact.Torrence moved into a starting role after a starter was injured and eventually earned freshman All-American honors. Dexter intercepted a pass at Ole Miss during his first game for th...

Eagles select tackle Tyler Steen at No. 65, making Alabama standout St. Thomas Aquinas’ 34th NFL draft pick | Gallery

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

Alabama’s Tyler Steen, a 6-foot-6, 321-pound tackle, was picked 65th by the defending NFC-champion Philadelphia Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft on Friday night, making him the Raiders’ 34th player drafted in the Fort Lauderdale school’s illustrious history.Steen finished off his college career with the Crimson Tide after starting off at Vanderbilt.Between the two SEC programs, he has experience at both right and left tackle. Steen started his college career playing defensive tackle for the Commodores, although he was an offensive line recruit at Aquinas. ()

Bruins lose crazy game in Florida, forcing winner-take-all Game 7

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Bruins did not take care of the Florida Panthers when they had their chances and now they are looking down the barrel of a Game 7 on home ice on Sunday to keep their dream season from blowing up in their faces.The B’s wiped out three one-goal leads, then blew a pair of third-period leads before falling to the Panthers, 7-5, in an epic Game 6 at Florida Live Arena.After the B’s failed to clear the zone, a familiar story in this series, Eetu Luostarinen broke a 5-5 tie with 5:38 left in the third period when he whistled one over Linus Ullmark’s blocker.With Ullmark pulled, the B’s had two chances at the side of the net before Sam Reinhart cleared it off the boards and it slid all the way into the empty net with 28 seconds left.Amazingly, that held up as the game-winner, because it was wild third period.The Bruins tied the game for the third time 1:32 into the third period when, after the B’s created a neutral zone turnover, Tyler Bertu...

NFL Draft 2023: Patriots take Sacramento State LB Marte Mapu in third round

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:49:38 GMT

The Patriots have come out of the gates by taking three straight defensive players, adding Sacramento State linebacker Marte Mapu to the mix with their third round pick.He was the 76th overall pick taken Friday night.Mapu, a safety converted to linebacker, was the team’s second Day 2 pick, joining Georgia Tech linebacker Keion White, who arrived in the second round. Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez was the team’s first round pick, and 17th overall.This marks the sixth time Bill Belichick has used his first three picks on defensive players, with 2020, 2015 (first four players), 2012 (first six players), 2009, and 2008 the other years.Mapu, who wasn’t invited to the NFL’s Scouting Combine, played well at the Senior Bowl and adds another versatile chess piece to Bill Belichick’s defense.He’s 6-foot-3, 217 pounds. He’s known as a physical tackler. He also has a keen ability to read the quarterback, picking off six passes over the last two se...