New Jets coach Adam Gase clearly won the power struggle with just-fired General Manager Mike Maccagnan. But it seems the seeds of the discord between them were sown during draft meetings, when Gase didn't have much of a voice and Maccagnan didn't offer him the chance to make it heard. As detailed by Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News , the rift between Gase and Maccagnan became apparent during preparation for the draft , when Maccagnan didn't invite the new coach to offer much input into scouting. It's reasonable for a coach to offer a template for what he's looking for in prospects to do things particular to a scheme, but coaches are by job description parachuting into this process late, so it's reasonable to scouts to be protective of the corners they've been working for months. Maccagnan took the same approach with Todd Bowles, but Gase apparently bristled at the treatment. "It pissed Adam off," a team source said. "Mike didn't want him to speak up too much. It's a weird philosophy." Gase would share his thoughts with Maccagnan in smaller meetings, but by and large, the draft meetings were conducted without much input from coaches. As a result, Gase largely washed his hands of the process. As they were setting up for the three days of picking players in April, Gase found that the seat reserved for him next to CEO Christopher Johnson was within range of the "war room" camera they had in place for the weekend. "He literally took his seat and moved it [out of camera view]," a current team employee that was in the room said. "That was extreme." That's one way of putting it. Passive-aggressive would be another mild version. Of course, Gase now has a draft class of guys he can say he didn't sign off on, which gives him some insulation if things go bad. But the fact such an organizational mismatch was allowed to continue through the draft is a failure that falls at the feet of Johnson   and the top-down dysfunction that has been the franchise's trademark doesn't seem to be letting up any time soon. (And could lead to Johnson trying for a Hail Mary. ) Related slideshow: 2019 NFL draft: The top picks (Provided by imagn)


Should Chevy bring back the full-size Blazer? The diversity of cars displayed at the SEMA Show each year is mind boggling, and despite being held at the largest convention center in the U.S., a large number of show cars still end up spilling out onto nearby parking areas. That was the case at last year's SEMA Show, where ScottieDTV spotted this interesting custom Chevy designed to mimic a retro K5 Blazer. Built by Fourway Motors of Macgregor, Manitoba, Canada, this interesting looking Blazer is actually a hodgepodge of various GM trucks and SUVs. This truck used the front clip of a Chevy Avalanche, the cab of a Chevy Silverado cab and the cargo box from a GMC Sierra, and it was topped with a modified and removable Leer truck cap. With the top off (as shown in an image on Fourway Motors' Instagram page), the transition from cab to open passenger area doesn't look as clean as the original Blazers, but it's still a very cool custom truck. It seems like a lot more work than getting a slightly older two-door Blazer/Tahoe/Jimmy and giving it a removable top, but then again, "easy" isn't really the point of a SEMA show vehicle. The interior received plenty of red accents to match the exterior, and the rear passenger area was given a custom roll cage with a baja-style spare tire mount. It would appear that the engine and running gear were all left stock. With Jeep bringing back a pickup truck and Ford getting ready to launch the next-gen Bronco, the return of a full-size Chevy Blazer would be fun to see   especially if it came with a removable top. Sadly, if you're looking for such a truck from General Motors, you're probably out of luck. The good is that custom jobs like this retro K5 Blazer from Fourway Motors do exist! h/t: Speed Society via ScottieDTV/ YouTube Read More... Custom Chevrolet K5 Blazer Stuns SEMA 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Is A Perfect Resto-Mod Off-Roader


A beloved service dog graduated alongside his owner Thursday at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. There is no doubt about it: A golden retriever service dog named Chief stole the show at this year's graduation at UMBC, where the mascot is the retriever. The dog's owner, Erica Haschert, told 11 News that Chief has not only become a fixture on campus, but in her life, as well. "He has helped me so much to get to this point. It's only fitting he gets to walk with me," Haschert said. As Haschert received her diploma in mechanical engineering, Chief -- in his very own custom-made cap and gown -- was right by her side, as he has always been. "He knows my every move before I even think it sometimes. I joke, he's my tattletale on my body, so he lets me know before stuff happens before usually any of the medical devices can pick it up, which is incredible," Haschert said. Chief has become a mainstay around campus as just about everyone knows him. Chief is also popular on social media. He became famous last year when a photo went viral during March Madness . "After he went viral last year for March Madness, people recognize him and say, 'Oh, is that Chief?' and I'm, like, 'Yeah, that's him,'" Haschert said. Ultimately, with college life behind them, entering the real world should be a breeze, since they can do it as they've always done everything together. "I'm just super looking forward to starting my next chapter in my life with him by my side until he wants to stop working," Haschert said. READ MORE: Beloved service dog graduates with owner at UMBC CHECK OUT WBAL: Get all the latest Baltimore news, weather and sports. WBAL-TV brings you the best in Maryland news online, anytime.


Wells Fargo beat analysts' estimates for quarterly profit Tuesday as the fourth-largest U.S. bank benefited from an uptick in lending and aggressive cost cutting. The San Francisco-based lender has had to work to gain back the trust of customers and investors after more than two years of fines and investigations into inappropriate sales practices. The bank has been leaning on cost controls to cope with sluggish revenue trends in the wake of the sales scandals that spread to each of its primary business segments and claimed two chief executives. Interim Chief Executive Officer Allen Parker said the bank had made progress in his second quarter in charge on its top priorities of focusing on customers and meeting the expectations of regulators. Wells Fargo reported non-interest expense of $13.4 billion, down $533 million from a year earlier, while total loans rose 0.6% to $949.88 billion. Net income applicable to common stock rose to $5.85 billion, or $1.30 per share, in the second quarter ended June 30, from $4.79 billion, or 98 cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts had expected a profit of $1.15 per share, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.


The Indianapolis Colts are one of the fastest rising teams in the league following a sensational turnaround during the 2018 season that saw them make it to the AFC divisional round. As the Colts hope to usher in a new era of dominance that stuck with the team for so long during the 2000s, there will be a few areas in which proving the doubters wrong will be necessary. Here are four things the Colts must prove to skeptics in 2019: Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 2018 wasn't a fluke After years of mediocrity and even a rough losing season, the Colts entered the 2018 campaign as a team with mixed predictions. Some had the Colts returning as a solid team with Andrew Luck back while others believed it would be more of the same. The Colts proved just about everyone wrong finishing the season with a 10-6 record and reaching the divisional round of the playoffs. Now, the Colts must prove that the incredible streak they enjoyed during the second half of the season was no fluke. It's been seen many times as a team gets hot and goes on a strong run only to falter the next season. The Colts will be out to prove that 2018 was simply the beginning of a strong run. Jamie Squire/Getty Images The pass rush will have an impact Adding to the pass rush was the No. 1 priority this offseason for the Colts. They have some solid players along the front seven, but the consistency the unit showed when getting after the quarterback wasn't there. The Colts made some big additions to the pass rush this offseason. The biggest likely comes in the form of veteran Justin Houston, who was signed out of free agency. They also are likely to use second-round pick Ben Banogu in a pass-rushing role at times. The pass rush is the biggest hindrance on the roster right now, but that can all change if the unit proves the moves made during the offseason were the right ones. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Firing Dave DeGuglielmo was the right move The Colts made a shocking move this offseason when they fired DeGuglielmo in favor of hiring Chris Strausser and Howard Mudd. While on paper it looks like a solid move, how the offensive line performs following the change remains to be seen. This isn't to say the Colts shouldn't have made the move, but DeGuglielmo did appear to get the best out of the unit when it mattered. Now, the Colts are moving in a more technical phase as Strausser and Mudd will help the offensive line with the fundamentals. The offensive line is a unit that holds the fate of the entire offense in its hands. The success of the group will take the Colts extremely far, but they must prove that firing DeGuglielmo in favor of Strausser and Mudd was the right thing to do. AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall The rushing attack will improve There is a lot of upside to be had in the Colts backfield. Marlon Mack leads the way while Nyheim Hines has carved out a role as a pass catcher. However, the unit must prove they can make improvements from year to year if the offense is going to become elite. Head coach Frank Reich has made it a point to improve the rushing attack to be a top-five unit in the NFL. If the Colts can do that, the entire offensive unit will be an elite group during the 2019 season. Having more consistency is the name of the game for the backfield, and there is a lot of encouragement from the group this offseason. However, they must prove they are taking steps in the right direction after all of the offseason focus. MORE: Kevin Na gives caddie awesome present right after PGA Tour win: 'That's your car!' Ahead of Finals, Stephen Curry defends Kevin Durant against critics LeBron James and LeBron James, Jr. lose it after massive poster dunk NFL world responds to passing of Packers legend Bart Starr Andy Reid's first impressions of his new defense, defensive coaching staff


Saturday night will mark only the second ever all-English Champions League final as Liverpool and Tottenham prepare to go head-to-head at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. Both sides enjoyed miraculous comebacks in their respective semi finals to reach the final, and the two teams will head into the game with plenty of confidence they can get the job done. The fans have made the long journey and are all set for what is primed to be an action-packed night, with messages of support flooding in ahead of kick off for both teams. There have been good luck messages from former players, fellow sports athletes as well as Aa-list celebrity fans. Tottenham will be hoping to win their first European trophy since 1984, and plenty of familiar faces have been getting in touch to wish them well... The legends are in Madrid @SpursOfficial good luck to the boys we believe in you #COYS pic.twitter.com/944LTWKbLF   Ledley King (@LedleyKing) June 1, 2019  What a man! #COYS https://t.co/IqfeuTZe1T   Steve Nash (@SteveNash) May 31, 2019   Marathon man and big Spurs fan @EliudKipchoge sends a good luck message ahead of tomorrow's #UCLfinal ! #COYS ⚪ #MarchToMadrid pic.twitter.com/kLHY9OPD0j   Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 31, 2019  This has really given us the feels.  @mousadembele  #UCLfinal ⚪ #COYS pic.twitter.com/uPOS8YvfWv   Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 1, 2019 Liverpool , on the other hand, have won the competition five times, but they'll be out for redemption after losing 3-1 to Real Madrid in last year's final in Kiev. After coming up short in the race for the Premier League title they'll be even more motivated to win some silverware after what has been a gruelling season for Jurgen Klopp and his men. Here are some of the good luck messages they have received ahead of the final... Me & the boys are ready for tonight's CL final. We're gonna have everything crossed 藍臘♂爛爛come on @LFC let's make it 6. Ps I'm not gonna lie I'm nervous as hell 臘♂臘♂ #YNWA #BeastMode #LittleNervous pic.twitter.com/UhPxDOfQbv   daRealAAkinfenwa (@daRealAkinfenwa) June 1, 2019  Good luck Liverpool! Xx L & Ben Mawson   Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) June 1, 2019  Memories I have of winning this cup whilst at LFC 4 times are unforgettable.I hope this team get 2 experience that winning feeling because I tell you now there is no better one! Good luck to @LFC players,staff+2 all the fans who also make these moments unforgettable COME ON REDS! pic.twitter.com/0wed48dyNE   ROY EVANS (@Roy_Evo) May 31, 2019  Hey, @LFC ! We've got a message for you from @CaroWozniacki ahead of the #UCLFinal ⚽ pic.twitter.com/tDNBjDq9nD   WTA (@WTA) May 31, 2019  YNWA @LFC pic.twitter.com/t9H0yCAaoV   Damian Lewis (@lewis_damian) May 31, 2019 It's set to be a fascinating final with so much on the line for both sides. Will Tottenham end their trophy drought or will Liverpool return to the pinnacle of European football for the sixth time?


There's no lack of star power in the Los Angeles Rams' secondary with names like Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters and Eric Weddle back there. The pass defense left plenty to be desired last season after Talib missed half the season and Peters consequently struggled, but expectations are once again high for this unit in 2019. That doesn't mean the Rams' cornerback group is considered one of the best in the NFL, though. Pro Football Focus recently ranked the five best cornerback trios in football and the Rams were left off the list. The Chargers got the nod at No. 1, followed by the Ravens, Broncos, Jaguars and Patriots. The Rams' cornerback group might not have the top-tier talent that some of those teams have with players such as Jalen Ramsey, Stephon Gilmore and Chris Harris Jr., but their collective skills rival just about any in the NFL. Talib is still playing at a high level despite being toward the end of his career, Peters is a ball hawk who thrives when put in zone coverage and Nickell Robey-Coleman is one of the best nickel corners in the league. The trouble with the Rams is consistency. Peters was one of the worst cornerbacks in the league at one point last season but turned it around when Wade Phillips went to a more zone-heavy defense. Talib is a lockdown cornerback but he has to stay healthy and also fight off father time in 2019. The ceiling of the Rams' cornerbacks is extremely high if they can play the way they did at the end of last season, but as we saw in the middle of the year when Talib was hurt, it can also be a weak point of the defense. It's difficult to say where Los Angeles' trio should rank on PFF's list and whether it should be in the top five, but the Rams shouldn't be far behind teams like the Patriots and Jaguars. Peters and the other DBs having another year in Phillips' scheme should help them in 2019. MORE: NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Giants' Darius Slayton already considered a Draft-day steal? Yasiel Puig erupts after being hit by Chicago's Pedro Strop The 8 most important players for the 2019 Detroit Lions Gil Brandt believes Xavier Woods is ready for breakout year


A gator weighing over 450 pounds had to pulled from a highway in Tallahassee after being struck by a semi-truck. WESH 2 News spoke with Florida Fish and Wildlife's nuisance alligator contractor for Leon County, Broderick Vaughan, of Vaughan Gators LLC, about the massive gator. Vaughan said they got a call about the 463-pound gator around 12:15 a.m. June 3. The over 12-foot gator had been struck by a semi-truck on Interstate 10 westbound, near the Monroe Street exit. Vaughan said it was the largest gator he's handled this year and the third gator they've trapped from a roadway. Nuisance gators over 4 feet are not allowed to be re-released. Vaughan said even if the gator was allowed to be re-released, it would not have made it due to its injuries. READ MORE: Massive gator struck by semitruck on Interstate 10 CHECK OUT WESH: Stay in the know with the latest Orlando news, weather and sports. Get the top stories and all the scores from the team at WESH.


Oakland Interested in adopting a pet   or just gazing at some cuddly canines up for adoption? There are dozens of endearing dogs up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Oakland. Animal shelters and pet rescue groups work hard to care for unhoused pets and connect them to loving homes. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of dogs currently available for adoption. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) CeCe, chihuahua and dachshund mix CeCe is a female chihuahua and dachshund mix currently housed at The Power of Chi . CeCe is a social animal   she's happy to keep company with other dogs. She's already vaccinated and spayed. Good news: She is already house-trained. More from CeCe: I love to chase and romp around with other dogs, so I'd be a great pup to take to the dog park. Did I mention I'm quiet and don't really bark? I can be a little shy at first, but when I come out of my shell, I'm a funny flirt and do well. I'm smart little girl and can pick-up things quickly if I'm shown. I'd really enjoy having a doggie friend so we can be DFFs (Doggie Friends Forever) until the end. Read more about how to adopt CeCe on Petfinder . Jackie Boy, Shih Tzu Jackie Boy is an adorable male Shih Tzu dog currently residing at Bella Vita Rescue . Jackie Boy plays well with others   he'll get along great with other dogs. He has been vaccinated and neutered. Have no fear: He's already house-trained. Here's what Jackie Boy's friends at Bella Vita Rescue think of him: Jackie boy is as sweet as can be. He is about two years old and would be the perfect dog for anyone who would walk to the beach or just hang out with him at home. Read more about how to adopt Jackie Boy on Petfinder . Coco Puff, Jack Russell terrier mix Coco Puff is a charming female Jack Russell terrier mix being kept at Bella Vita Rescue . Coco Puff gets along well with other dogs. She has been vaccinated. No need to worry: She is already house-trained. Coco Puff's current caretakers say: Cocoa Puff is a small dog who is an extremely sweet girl. She gets along with other dogs, adults and children. She would go great with someone who would want a lap-warmer kind of dog. She's a very loving dog who needs a lovely home. Could it be yours? Apply to adopt Coco Puff today at Petfinder . Marry, German shepherd mix Marry is a charming female German shepherd mix staying at Bella Vita Rescue . Marry is happy to keep company with other dogs. She's mastered her house-training etiquette. Marry is spayed and vaccinated. Here's what Marry's friends at Bella Vita Rescue think of her: She gets along with other dogs, adults and kids. She'd be the perfect dog to take a walk with or to just relax at the dog park. Will you be her next best friend? Apply to adopt Marry today at Petfinder . Stephi, chihuahua Stephi is an adorable female chihuahua dog being cared for at The Power of Chi . Stephi is happy to keep company with other dogs. She has mastered her house-training etiquette. She has all of her shots, and she's spayed. More from Stephi: I have a ton of personality   I'm an affectionate pup who will be in your lap as soon as you sit down. I love wiggling around in my dog bed, sunbathing, playing and warming your lap. I'm pee pad trained and get along great with my other doggie fosters. I'm sweet as pie but don't like being picked up until I know you. Read more about how to adopt Stephi on Petfinder . Tress, terrier mix Tress is an adorable female terrier mix being kept at California Pit Bull Rescue . Tress is friendly as can be, and she loves children, dogs or cats. Tress is already spayed and she has all her shots. She is already house-trained. Tress' current caretakers say: She is on the mellow side and wants to be your cuddle buddy. She is beautiful, shy and loving. She likes to patrol the backyard. She is such a good girl and loves to be held and given hugs and kisses. Read more about Tress on Petfinder . Tahoe, American Staffordshire terrier Tahoe is a male American Staffordshire terrier dog currently residing at California Pit Bull Rescue . Tahoe is ready to make friends   he'll get along great with other dogs, cats and kids. Tahoe is already neutered, and he has all his shots. He's already house-trained. Tahoe's current caretakers say: We love this big headed fella. His foster says he's a pleasure to be around, walks nicely on leash and is doing well with the other dogs in his foster home. Tahoe can be a little aloof meeting new people and isn't a fan of affection from strangers but warms up in no time. He's a smart dog and loves to learn and wants to please. Apply to adopt Tahoe today at Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Texas coach Shaka Smart was monitoring a recruit at an Atlanta AAU tournament just over two years ago when a player on the opposing team caught his eye. A long-armed 6-foot-8 kid was running the floor with a smooth, effortless stride not often seen from someone so tall. "He was very raw, but he looked like he had great potential," Smart said. "I remember texting my staff to say, 'Who is this guy?' " That kid turned out to be Jaxson Hayes, a player just beginning an unfathomably rapid ascent from high school benchwarmer to NBA prospect. The potential lottery pick will be the only player to walk across the stage at the NBA draft on Thursday night without starting a single high school game until his senior year. At 14, he was the last player to make the cut for his high school's freshman "B" team. At 15, he came off the bench for the JV team. At 16, he made varsity but struggled to crack the rotation. Now, one month removed from his 19th birthday, Hayes is the Big 12's reigning freshman of the year, a 6-foot-11 shot-blocking, rim-running monster drawing comparisons to the likes of Jarrett Allen and Clint Capela. "It's an amazing story," Smart said. "I certainly see him having some challenges early on in the NBA, but he's not the type of guy that is going to shy away from those. He understands that his best basketball is ahead of him and he's just going to get better and better. Unless something happens to disrupt his trajectory, his future is incredibly bright." A big reason that Hayes' potential went unnoticed for so long is that basketball initially wasn't his primary sport. He hails from a family of athletes that encouraged him to dabble in a number of sports instead of specializing in one. His mother Kristi is an Iowa basketball legend who scored over 3,400 points in her decorated high school career. His father Jonathan caught 153 passes in 11 seasons as a tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Initially, they put him in ballet and gymnastics, in addition to basketball and football. Later, it was baseball, lacrosse and taekwondo. When Hayes enrolled at Cincinnati's most tradition-rich basketball high school, his multi-sport background was a bit of a disadvantage to his hoops aspirations. Most of the other freshmen trying out for Archbishop Moeller's basketball team in 2014 were much more experienced and polished than he was. "There were a lot of kids who already had skill sets and were developed," his mother Kristi said. "They had been playing AAU from a very early age. Jaxson hadn't. The only reason he made the team at all was they saw some potential in him." At that time, Hayes looked nothing like he does today. He stood only 6 feet tall and weighed a rail-thin 125 pounds, though he did possess enough bounce even then to become maybe the first player in freshman "B" team history to throw down an in-game dunk. "The 12 people who were in there went berserk," Hayes joked in February to the Austin American Statesman. For his first couple years at Moeller, Hayes considered football his main sport. The sure-handed wide receiver only played basketball a few months a year during the high school season. That changed Hayes' junior year when a growth spurt took him to 6-7. Tired of linebackers and safeties taking aim at his knees and back, Hayes decided to focus exclusively on basketball for the first time in his life. After averaging one point and two rebounds during his junior season at Moeller as the backup to Cornell-bound Riley Voss, Hayes played AAU basketball for the first time. He joined Twenty-two Vision, an Adidas-sponsored start-up built around five-star prospect Romeo Langford and run by the father of the Indiana-bound guard. The visibility and playing time Twenty-Two Vision provided Hayes turned out to be life-altering for the little-known prospect. Coaches who came to watch Langford in the spring and summer of 2017 left enamored with the longterm potential of his teammate as well. Before his first AAU tournament, Hayes had one scholarship offer from Middle Tennessee State, which presented that to him after watching his highlight tape earlier that spring. Eight more schools offered Hayes after his first AAU tournament. Another 15 or 20 followed after the second one. "At one point in time, he had more high-major offers than high school varsity points scored," said 247Sports.com basketball recruiting analyst Brian Snow. "All of a sudden, it just started to click for him. That's when people started to see him." By the end of that summer, Hayes was pushing 6-11 and had piled up more than three dozen scholarship offers. The likes of Kentucky, Ohio State, Texas, Purdue and Xavier were each pursuing a player who had never started a high school game. Smart offered Hayes in July 2017, just a couple months after he'd first stumbled across the young big man in Atlanta. By that time, Hayes' bursts of potential were more frequent, from his emphatic blocks, to his soaring tip slams, to his surprising foot speed for his position. "He had grown a little bit and he had a little bit more violence in everything he did," Smart said. "Instead of two months going by, it looked like it had been 12 months. One of the most important things in recruiting is what trajectory guys are on. When we saw he was on that kind of trajectory, it was a no brainer to offer him." Hayes' ascent has only steepened since he committed to Texas in Sept. 2017. He averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks his senior year of high school, propelling Moeller to a 27-3 record and a state championship. He then broke into Texas' starting lineup in December, showcasing a knack for running the floor, finishing lobs and protecting the rim. Scouts are intrigued by almost everything about Hayes' defensive potential, from his 7-foot-3 wingspan, to his mobility on the perimeter, to his timing as a shot blocker. He doesn't rebound well yet and he needs to add strength to avoid being pushed around, but there's reason to believe he will continue to fill out given his wide shoulders and his father's football physique. What Hayes brings offensively is reliable hands, soft touch at the rim and knowledge of what he is and what he isn't. He's comfortable scoring on lobs, duck-ins and put-backs and he doesn't desire the ball in his hands more often than that. Hayes is expected to be drafted in the middle third of the first round on Thursday night, perhaps as soon as the latter part of the lottery. Whenever his name is called, it will be a proud moment for a family that has been by his side when the goal was simply starting a high school basketball game, not playing in the NBA. "To think he's going to be walking across a stage and they're going to be calling out a team's name, it's pretty surreal," Jonathan Hayes said. "I'm very proud of him for the hard work he's put in and for how he has kept climbing to reach his goals." More from Yahoo Sports: CP3, Harden relationship deemed 'unsalvageable' From mid-major to NBA draft: Morant's historic rise Coach K on Zion's NBA potential: 'He's a gift from God' Why D-Wade supported son at Miami Pride


With the Pirates out of playoff contention and infielder Jung Ho Kang in the throes of an awful season, his time with the organization may be nearing an end. Kang's Pirates tenure could expire as soon as shortstop Erik Gonzalez comes off the injured list on Aug. 6, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic observes (subscription link). General manager Neal Huntington admitted Wednesday that it's "valid" to question Kang's status with the organization, adding, "It's a conversation we need to have as a group now that the trade deadline has come and gone." Manager Clint Hurdle even acknowledged it's difficult to give playing time to a hitter whose "bat has not shown up as (much as) we were hoping to get." Hurdle further noted, "There's been a lot of swing and miss," which is true. Kang swung and miss in 8.7 percent of plate appearances from 2015-18, but the number has skyrocketed to 16.0 this season. At the same time, after Kang struck out in 21.2 percent of PA during his first few years as a Pirate, he's up to an unappealing 32.4 in 2019. The production has been abysmal as a result, with the previously impressive Kang having slashed a miserable .169/.222/.395 (56 wRC+) in 185 trips to the plate despite showing quite a bit of power (10 home runs, .227 ISO). The fact that Kang is only 15 PA away from earning $625K in incentives could be important to the low-budget Pirates, Biertempfel points out. Kang would also earn an additional $625K by reaching 300, 400 and 500 plate trips. However, those look like unrealistic goals for Kang, who entered the season as the Pirates' starting third baseman but has since faded into the background behind Colin Moran . Meanwhile, Kevin Newman 's locking down shortstop   Kang's secondary position   leaving no obvious spot for the veteran. He could become even less necessary to out-of-contention Pittsburgh with the return of Gonzalez, an offseason acquisition who hasn't played since April 19 on account of clavicle and hamstring injuries. Re-signing Kang was also part of the offseason business for the Pirates, who brought him back on a $3M guarantee after turning down a $5.5M club option. To this point, the team has stuck with Kang through worse ordeals than lousy on-field output. Kang, whom the Pirates signed out of Korea entering the 2015 season, was accused of sexual assault in 2016 (though criminal charges were never filed). He then missed all of 2017 and almost the entirety of last season because he had trouble acquiring a visa in the wake of his third DUI arrest in his homeland. Kang was outstanding on the field before he sat out nearly two full years. But with his effectiveness having waned to a significant extent in 2019, it appears Kang's finally about to run out of rope with the Pirates.


DENVER (AP) -- An increased tempo has the Denver Nuggets running and smiling after a dismal six-week stretch. Kenneth Faried had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Nuggets routed the New York Knicks 106-78 on Monday night. BOX SCORE: NUGGETS 106, KNICKS 78 Wilson Chandler had 17 points before leaving with a sore left knee and Will Barton also scored 17 for the Nuggets, who enjoyed their second-largest margin in a win this season. The Nuggets continued an offensive revival under interim coach Melvin Hunt. They are 3-2 after losing 18 of 20, costing Brian Shaw his job last week. Under Hunt, they have scored 100 or more points in all five games. "Playing at that pace is fun. It's exciting," Faried said. "The fans get into it, we get into it, we get to stand up for a big play. It's not just, bring the ball upcourt, pass it into the post. It's more like bring it up, pass, cut, backspin, spin, lob -- all that stuff." The Knicks lost their fourth straight and fell to 12-50, the NBA' first 50-loss team this season. Alexey Shved had 19 points for New York, which has just seven wins in 2015. The Knicks had just 10 players dressed for Monday's game. "When you have guys out it's a reality, and every team goes through it," coach Derek Fisher said. "That really doesn't excuse any particular effort by any particular guy on our team." The lead grew to as much as 34 in the fourth. It was the largest lead of the season for the Nuggets, who tied a season low with eight turnovers. They didn't have a turnover in the second or third quarter. "We weren't letting the ball stick," rookie Gary Harris said. "We were moving, guys were cutting to the rim and we were getting a lot of penetration and getting a lot of easy shots." The matchup between two of the worst teams in the league was close late in the second quarter when the Nuggets went on a run to take control. Faried had a dunk and Randy Foye hit a jumper before Andrea Bargnani drained a 3-pointer to pull the Knicks within 43-40 with 3:13 left in the half. Denver scored the next eight points to go up by 11 and then ended the half with four points in the last 2.1 seconds. Joffrey Lauvergne hit a layup and was fouled. He missed the free throw but Darrell Arthur tipped in the rebound to make it 55-40 at intermission. "We allowed the game to get away from us those last few minutes in the second quarter," Fisher said. "That's really a part of being in this business and being in this league, being able to finish quarters, finish halves." The Nuggets quickly went ahead 65-45 on Ty Lawson's 3-pointer early in the third. The margin stayed near 20 for most of the quarter until Denver scored the last 14 points of the third to lead 91-59. ------ TIP-INS Knicks: Forward Quincy Acy did not play because of a sore left knee injury. New York coach Derek Fisher said before the game Acy hurt his knee during Saturday's game but didn't feel pain or discomfort until that night or Sunday morning. He will likely get an MRI done in the next few days, Fisher said. ... G Tim Hardaway Jr. missed the game with back tightness. Nuggets: Forward Darrell Arthur played despite having tightness in his right calf that forced him out of Saturday's game. ... C Jusuf Nurkic took part in the morning shootaround but is still out because of a sprained right ankle. TEAM PLAYER With the game well in hand, Nuggets forward J.J. Hickson lobbied Hunt to allow Faried to stay in until he got his 18th double-double of the season. Faried grabbed his 10th rebound with 4:50 left and came out soon after. "J.J. said, `Let him rock, let him play,'" Hunt said. "That warms my heart. That's being a great teammate." UP NEXT Knicks: At Utah on Tuesday. Nuggets: Host Atlanta on Wednesday.


CHAMBERS COUNTY, Texas -- An additional person has died in Sunday's boating crash east of Houston, bringing the total number of fatalities to three. Two other people remain in critical condition, according to the Chambers County Sheriff's Office. One person has been arrested and charged for the incident, which happened on Old River Lake near Hugo Point County Park. The suspect is identified as Jacob Vernon Breaux , 23, of Baytown, according to the sheriff's office. He was arrested and jailed on three counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle with bonds totaling $200,000. The sheriff's office identified the victims as: Laura Kay Grant, 48, of Mont Belvieu, and William Robert Bowles, 36, of Baytown who were pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Precinct 6, Larry Cryer at the scene. Zachary Jackson Miles, 29 of Beach City, succumbed to his injuries and died at Hermann Memorial Hospital after being flown by helicopter from the scene. At this time, two more people are hospitalized in critical condition. The wreck involved 11 people   five in the wake/ski boat and six in the bass fishing boat. The boats collided Sunday around 7:30 p.m. about half a mile from the Hugo Park Road boat ramp in the Old and Lost River and Cross Bayou area, according to Sheriff Brian Hawthorne. The sheriff said a team of Game Wardens will lead the investigation with the assistance of the sheriff's office. ALSO POPULAR ON KHOU.COM Three-year-old boy dies after accidental shooting in Katy College student disappears not long after ordering Lyft ride Three-year-old cousin of NFL running back dies after accidental shooting


Julio Jones does most things better than most wide receivers. One area that he's the undisputed king in is the sideline toe drag catch. His all-time great reception in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LI was only the most visible example. The truth is Jones makes similar plays often enough that they're routine to Falcons fans. How did Jones get so good at it? If you guessed countless hours of practice and repetition, that's probably right on the money. Watch Jones warming up with second-year wide receiver Calvin Ridley in Canton before tonight's Hall of Fame Game against the Broncos, per Justin Felder at Fox. It's pretty cool to watch - Julio Jones has been going over a lot of little technique things with Calvin Ridley, route tips with Austin Hooper. Just little tweaks. Matt Ryan was also super detailed as he was throwing some passes. pic.twitter.com/w3aWPAFmka - Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) August 1, 2019 Ridley is going to learn to do a lot of things from Julio at a level that no other receiver in football can teach him. This is one of them. As for tonight's game, don't get your hopes up to see either one. Jones says he's not playing in the preseason this year and Ridley has been limited at practice by a tight hamstring the last few days of training camp. MORE: Jordan Crawford says Nike still owes him $500 for his legendary dunk on LeBron Biggest winners from the first week of Packers training camp Winners and losers from first week of Raiders training camp 2019 Hall of Fame Game: Who's sitting out for the Falcons? Cowboys reluctant to be 'market-setter' in contract talks


The winning culture of the USWNT spans three decades How the '99ers' changed the game They analyse the '19ers' before their Final against the Netherlands By Erin Fish with USA The USWNT culture is etched in every single player that has ever sported the crest. It is defined by the mentality, the heart and the grit of each and every person that puts in the work to be a part of the unit. It's fun, but it's also competitive. It's about winning. The first ever FIFA Women's World Cup™ in 1991 was won by the USA. In 1999, when the USA hosted the World Cup, the USWNT hoisted their second World Cup trophy after the '99ers' beat China in a penalty shoot-out on Brandi Chastain's famous penalty. What the '99 team did for women's football changed the game entirely. They inspired a generation of young girls around the world to play. "Women's soccer is here," Chastain told FIFA.com. "It's not a passing fancy, it's not just enjoyed by a few women who kick the ball around on Sunday. It's played globally and rightfully so that it has a stage like the World Cup." While they may not have realized it at the time, these women were an immense part in making that happen. It has been 20 years since the historic win in Pasadena, California, and there is a new group that has people talking. There have been numerous comparisons between the 99ers and this year's '19ers' set to take on the Netherlands in the France 2019 Final. Both squads are honored by the assessments. The current team idolized the '99 team growing up, and most of the '99 team are in France supporting the current team. "I love that I'm here," said Kristine Lilly. "I feel like we are their biggest fans." A few of the other players from the 1999 squad mentioned the similarities they see in this current team and why they think they have what it takes to win a fourth World Cup title. "They just look really unified," Joy Fawcett said. "They want this together and work really well together. That's what we had that pushed us through the hard times, and that's what I see from the outside." "There is a looseness to them and they're enjoying each other," Julie Foudy said. "And we were really, really good at enjoying each other." Foudy, who has been covering the team for ESPN during the tournament, also mentioned the depth of the two teams. She explained that skilful substitutes can bring about big moments, a strength of the '99 group and the current group. There is one key difference. Carla Overbeck, captain of the 99ers, pointed out that this outfit could do something that her team never did: win back-to-back World Cup titles. "I think they're going to," she said. "Just the confidence that you see in this team. I think we're going to see their best soccer in the final." Related slideshow: Best photos of the 2019 Women's World Cup (provided by imagn)


Every week, Sporting News releases a new MMA mix tape entitled "The Remix" that looks back at not only the biggest stories of the last seven days, but some of the ones that aren't getting enough attention too, with some weekly awards and a prospect to watch going forward added in for good measure. With the UFC's return to Minneapolis generating too many things that I want to discuss in greater deal, I wanted to start this week's edition of The Remix by giving a shout out to Cage Warriors for running its Night of Champions show on Saturday in London. The event, officially Cage Warriors 106, featured six title bouts and produced two results that should get consideration in the year-end awards race, which I'll get to later. While it wasn't a major item of discussion this week in North America, I know this was a huge deal in England and the European fight scene and is the kind of blockbuster show I'd like to see more promotions try once a year as a way to really demand attention from a wider audience. Join DAZN and watch more than 100 fight nights a year KSW does well promoting all of its shows and is gaining steam, but there are plenty of other regional outfits that have quality athletes who just need a little more exposure in order to gain the momentum needed to graduate to the next level and giving them a chance to shine on as big a stage as possible would be a cool way to build their names and that of the brand as well. Obviously, it's easy for me to say since I'm not the one footing the bill or having to think about how having six title fights on one card impacts the next show, but that's the beauty of being a regional promotion   the next show isn't necessarily next week and you're not beholden to anyone to have championship fights in the main event. Congrats to Graham Boylan and the crew and don't be surprised if a couple of competitors from that show find their way to the UFC or Bellator in the second half of the year. And now, onto the rest of my weekend thoughts. Franics Ngannou's impressive win doesn't really change anything Francis Ngannou is a truly terrifying figure in the cage   a hulking mass of violent potential whose kicks sound like a home run being launched into the upper deck and whose sheer presence in the Octagon causes you to tense up with anticipation and nervous energy because you know at any point, the Cameroonian heavyweight could uncork a right hand that stops the fight in a flash. All of that was known heading into Saturday's night main event at the Target Center in Minneapolis and yet as soon as Ngannou and Junior dos Santos started making the walk to the cage, everyone got filled with that radiant energy that accompanies fights of great consequence or violent potential. After trading hard kicks with dos Santos early, Ngannou made the former champion pay for reaching on a right hand, evading the shot and clubbing "Cigano" in the face from behind, forcing him to the canvas where the follow-up blows quickly brought the fight to an end. It was an affirmation of all the things we already know about Ngannou and another tremendous showing in his quest to re-establish himself as the inevitable menace in the heavyweight ranks after a disappointing and somewhat embarrassing start to 2018. Following the win, Ngannou called for a title shot and spent time crouched in the cage, speaking with UFC President Dana White through the fence, making his case to the man who will ultimately decide what comes next for him. From a pure sporting standpoint, Ngannou is the unquestioned No. 1 contender in the heavyweight ranks and there is no fight that makes sense for him next besides a date with the winner of the UFC 241 championship rematch between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic. Sign us up! @Francis_NGannou wants the winner of #UFC241 ! pic.twitter.com/n4HhPtSaod   UFC (@ufc) June 30, 2019 Yet despite amassing stoppage wins over Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez and now dos Santos in 142 seconds combined, all in the span of eight months, those conquests have done nothing to answer crucial questions about his wrestling, which is what will ultimately determine his success in a bout with either Cormier or Miocic. What made his fight with Miocic at UFC 220 so tantalizing was that Ngannou was fresh off sending Alistair Overeem's head into orbit and no one was sure that Miocic would be able to (a) avoid getting hit with something nasty or (b) use his wrestling throughout the fight to neutralize the challenger's immense power. Miocic did both en route to a unanimous decision win and the idea of Ngannou being a 'once in a lifetime' conqueror who could not be stopped evaporated, bringing his confidence along to ride shotgun. His confidence is clearly back and his power is undeniable, but the questions about his wrestling remain and make it difficult to get all the way hyped for seeing him challenge for the title again because while a jaw-dropping knockout is possible, seeing Ngannou get wrestled into oblivion again feels like the greater inevitability. "Joey Two-Times" still in uncertain waters Joseph Benavidez registered his second consecutive win in a rematch on Saturday night, stopping Jussier Formiga for a second time in the co-main event of the evening. After showcasing his otherworldly scrambling abilities when the Brazilian tried to climb on his back and control him on the ground, Benavidez started getting loose with his striking and started to wear down Formiga. Once it was clear he was hurt, Benavidez went in for the kill, eventually forcing Formiga to wilt under the unrelenting barrage of offense with less than 20 seconds remaining in the second round. It was a great performance and a statement victory for the 34-year-old divisional stalwart, who dubbed himself "Joey Two-Times" while calling for a rematch with champion Henry Cejudo. Much like with Ngannou, it is absolutely the only fight that makes sense for Benavidez going forward, but the reality is that the likelihood of it happen feels even less than seeing Ngannou fight for the heavyweight title again does. The fact that Cejudo just had shoulder surgery and is likely out until 2020 complicates things, but even if the reigning flyweight champion were healthy, I still don't think this fight would be high on the list of "Fights to Make" for the UFC. We know it's not high on Cejudo's list because as soon as he won the bantamweight title, he called out Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber and Cody Garbrandt before suggesting he might eventually chase the featherweight title too. This is where purging the division and moving towards disbanding it late last year only to issue a stay of execution now that Cejudo can parade around as a "Double Champ" comes back to hurt not only the UFC, but Benavidez specifically. He's just stopped the No. 1 contender, is 9-1 in his last 10 fights and there is literally nothing else for him to do at flyweight other than face Cejudo, who has shown zero interest in returning to the 125-pound weight class, despite claiming he was fighting to save the flyweight division. He could keep fighting whomever is available like he's been doing for the last five-plus years, but to what end? What good does beating Alexandre Pantoja or Deivison Figueiredo do? Interim titles carry no real value and an interim flyweight belt would be an absolute farce given that there are 13 fighters remaining in the division. As soon as Cejudo knocked out TJ Dillashaw in January, the UFC should have done an immediate about-face   just throw up your hands, say, 'We screwed up' and start signing back all the flyweights who were released and the ones with upside from outside the organization because even if things still played out the way they did with Cejudo claiming the bantamweight title as well, at least then there is still a bustling division with fighters jockeying for position in the title chase in his stead. Instead, a skeleton crew remains, Cejudo's focus is elsewhere and a guy who has done everything that has been asked of him and deserves another chance to capture the title that has eluded him to this point in his career is forced to tread water for the foreseeable future. A little love for all the middle-class fighters out there Just as I don't think calling someone a "gatekeeper" or "journeyman" are derogatory statements, I also see nothing wrong with classifying someone as a middle-class fighter in their respective division. Everyone knows exactly what group of competitors I'm talking about when I say, 'the middle class of the (insert division),' so why do we often act like being the 23rd best middleweight in the UFC or the 19th best bantamweight or somewhere in the 35-40 range in a loaded division like lightweight or featherweight or welterweight is bad? Saturday night's main card featured a pair of middle class lightweights showing not only how important the demographic is to the vitality of the division, but also delivering statement performances that help reframe and clarify the hierarchy in the 155-pound weight class. First up, Drew Dober absolutely picked apart Marco Polo Reyes, bombing on the TUF: Latin America alum until he crashed to the canvas in a heap. The 30-year-old Nebraska native and Elevation Fight Team member currently sits somewhere between 25-40 in the lightweight division, having been submitted by Beneil Dariush in his previous fight. In the very next fight, Vinc Pichel rallied after dropping the opening round to Roosevelt Roberts to claim a unanimous decision victory over the previously unbeaten prospect. Pichel is in that 25-40 range too, having won five or his last six, with his only loss coming to undefeated Top 15 talent Gregor Gillespie. Dober's win not only helps solidify his place in the division, but also re-affirms Dariush's position by extension, while Pichel's victory highlights that Roberts isn't quite ready for prime time and narrows the scope of where he sits in the pecking order, all of which combines to help dictate and determine how we rate and rank these athletes. We often get so caught up in what's happening at the top of each division and the energy of watching new names on the rise that we forget about the robust middle class that is vital to making the entire machine work. The UFC needs guys like Dober and Pichel in order to keep things moving at lightweight and get a rough idea of where everyone fits, plus, they're the kind of reliable hands you need to add depth to fight cards and who can be counted on to deliver entertaining performances every time out. Here's to the middle class! Fight of the Weekend: Ross Houston vs. Nicolas Dalby at Cage Warriors 106 The main event to Cage Warriors' blockbuster night of fights produced one of the most unique and memorable stoppages I can recall as the welterweight title bout between Houston and Dalby had to be called off two minutes into the third round because the canvas was so slick with blood that referee Marc Goddard deemed it unsafe to continue. Yeah. It was too bloody for them to safely maneuver their way around the cage, so the bout was halted, declared a No Contest and they'll run it back down the line. And it's not like this was some lopsided fight where a stray cut started gushing and caused the stoppage. This was an absolute crackerjack between the resurgent Dalby and the undefeated Houston where both men were dripping crimson and responsible for the Pollock being painted on the canvas. Actually, it was more like a Rothko. Either way, it was an outstanding fight and if you don't make a point of tuning into the rematch whenever it comes together, I can tell you right now that you're going to be missing out. Submission of the Weekend: Mads Burnell vs. Dean Trueman at Cage Warriors 106 Burnell has been on a mission since being released by the UFC following his loss to Arnold Allen in May 2018. The Danish featherweight quickly signed with Cage Warriors and got back into the win column with a first-round win before the end of last year and followed it up with a 50-second finish in March to set up a date with Trueman for the featherweight title. Saturday night in London, Burnell continued his run of success by finishing Trueman with what is becoming his signature submission   the rarely seen Japanese necktie. Mads Burnell gets it done! Fast as lightning! he locks up the choke for the submission win ⚡ #Cw106 pic.twitter.com/8L6utORMxl   Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) June 29, 2019 The Japanese necktie is a cool alternate to a D'arce choke where you lace the arm over the arm and under the neck like a D'arce, but lock your hands instead of grasping the bicep. From there, you trap the leg as Burnell did, lower your shoulder and press your hips in, creating the compression that prompts the tap. Knockout of the Weekend: Joseph Benavidez vs. Jussier Formiga at UFC Minneapolis I already talked about the predicament Benavidez finds himself in and how he swarmed Formiga as soon as he saw he was wilting, but I wanted to include his finisher here again because one of the knocks on the flyweight division was that no one likes to see little guys fight and they're just point fighters. >>GIF: Jennifer Lawrence mouthing "OK" and giving thumbs-up with "LOL whatever" expressionpic.twitter.com/moQrSMGM8h   Rhoda Nightingale (@Rhoda_Night) June 21, 2019 Prospect to Watch after this Weekend: Chase Hooper Remember Chase Hooper? No? Well last season on the Contender Series, Hooper was a mop-topped 18-year-old who pushed his record to 6-0 with a win over Canaan Kawaihae. While he didn't earn a contract, the Pacific Northwest product (Enumclaw, stand up!) impressed Dana White enough that the UFC boss gave him a development deal. Friday night, "The Teenage Dream" pushed his record to 8-0-1 with a first-round submission win over Luis Gomez at Titan FC 55. I'm honestly kind of surprised that Hooper's return to the Contender Series hasn't been announced as of yet because all the other fighters on developmental deals have been brought back and given another chance to earn a contract and one would think that an unbeaten 19-year-old featherweight with obvious upside coming off the best win of his career would be worth another look. That being said, there are still a couple weeks where the fight cards haven't been announced and as long as Hooper came away from Friday's win without an issues, don't be surprised if he's added to one of the cards in August.


Padres take another loss in the Rockies series On June 15 th the Padres took on the Rockies in the third of a four-game series. Some people say baseball is boring, but if you were able to watch tonight's game, I have a feeling you would disagree. The padres were able to get themselves three ejections throughout the game. Manny Machado struck out in the 5 th inning and did not hide his feelings about it. After voicing his opinion on the called strike 3, Machado was ejected by home plate umpire Bill Welke. In the 6 th inning, Andy Green and Matt Strahm were also ejected from the game. After a heated argument with the umpire and a lot of yelling, Welke had seen enough and threw Andy Green out of the game as well. This was Andy Greens eleventh ejection in his career and second of the season. Ironically enough, both ejections this season came from Welke. Even though it is frowned upon for the manager of the team to be yelling at the umpire, it was nice to see Andy Green showing some emotion. With the Padres struggling these last few weeks, this might be the spark that they needed. Unfortunately, the Padres weren't able to take the win against the Rockies like they did last night. After the exciting comeback the Padres had yesterday, the team and fans came into today's game with a lot of hope and enthusiasm, but it wasn't enough. The Padres started with Eric Lauer on the mound who threw 68 total pitches with 42 strikes, giving up 10 hits and 5 runs. Lauer only pitched 2.2 innings before Robbie Erlin came in to give up 6 hits and 6 runs. Phil Maton came in for one inning and was able to keep runs off the board, but Gerardo Reyes relieved Maton and gave up another 3 runs, giving the Rockies a total of 14 runs. With Lauer unable to make it through 3 innings, and the bullpen once again hemorrhaging runs, the Padres offense was fighting an uphill battle from the start. It is hard to imagine a world where 8 runs on 13 hits is not enough to win you a ball game. However, with all the chaos that went on in the mile-high city, San Diego's hot bats couldn't bring them the win. We can hope the team can take it from Taylor Swift and "Shake it off" for the fourth and last game of the series against the Rockies tomorrow night. Final: 8-14 Rockies Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


A frustrated Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to say by the end of next month if it will hear arguments on whether it can wind down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an Obama-era program that protects young undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children from deportation. Such action could mean the court hears oral arguments and issues a decision in the middle of the 2020 presidential election. As things stand, lower courts have ruled against the administration's attempts to rescind the program and issued a nationwide injunction that keeps it on the books, and the Supreme Court has not acted upon a longstanding request from the Justice Department to take up the issue. The justices' inaction suggests that some of them believe the issue should percolate in the lower courts before Supreme Court review. RELATED: In reversal from 2016, McConnell says he would fill a potential Supreme Court vacancy in 2020 "Twenty months ago, DHS determined, in accordance with the views of the Attorney General that DACA, a discretionary policy of immigration non-enforcement, was unlawful, ill-advised, and should be discontinued," Solicitor General Noel Francisco argued in briefs filed last week after the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals became the latest court to rule against the program . In a 2-1 ruling issued earlier this month, the appeals court held that the Trump administration's decision to rescind the program was "arbitrary and capricious" under federal law in part because the Department of Homeland Security "failed to give a reasoned explanation" for the change in policy. Francisco said that a nationwide injunction blocking the rescission of the program continues "to impede efforts to enact legislation" that would address "legitimate policy concerns" and that petitions filed in November 2018 with the Supreme Court have not been acted upon. "The government respectfully submits that further percolation is unnecessary and the time for the Court to act is now," Francisco wrote. In a motion to expedite, Francisco told the justices it was "critical" that they act before their summer recess to allow the parties time to file briefs in the matter for arguments next term. The Supreme Court will consider the motion behind closed doors on Thursday. Attorney General Bill Barr lamented earlier in the month that "nationwide injunctions have frustrated presidential policy for most of the President's term with no clear end in sight." RELATED: Trump unveils new (likely doomed) immigration plan In a speech before the American Law Institute in Washington, DC, Barr noted that the Supreme Court has not acted on the requests "and they languish on the conference docket". "Unless the court acts quickly and decisively, we are unlikely to see a decision before mid 2020 at the earliest -- that is, right before the next election," Barr said.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Donald Trump says the midterm elections are a "referendum about me." Of course they are. Everything is about him. Anyone who still believes the political divide runs between Republicans and Democrats hasn't been paying attention. There's no longer a Republican Party. The GOP is now just pro-Trump. Meanwhile, Trump is doing all he can to make the Democratic Party the anti-Trump Party. "Democrats," he declares, are "too dangerous to govern." They're "an angry left-wing mob," leading an "assault on our country." Never before has a president of the United States been so determined not to be president of all Americans. He's president of his supporters. Tyrants create cults of personality. Trump is beyond that. He equates America with himself, and disloyalty to him with insufficient patriotism. In his mind, a giant "Trump" sign hangs over the nation. "We" are his supporters, acolytes and toadies. "They" are the rest of us. When everything and everyone is either pro- or anti-Trump, there's no room for neutral expertise, professional norms, good public policy or the rule of law. Trump is reportedly on the brink of firing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, whom Trump suspects is "sort of a Democrat." Mattis' real sin has been to believe the military should be neutral and professional. To Trump, that smacks of disloyalty. Trump calls military generals "my" generals. He expects the FBI director, the attorney general and the Justice Department to be "his." He proudly points to "his" judges and justices. Republican members of Congress are part of "his" government -- unless, like Jeff Flake and the late John McCain, they're not. He believes the nation's press is either for him or against him. Fox News is indubitably for him -- now a virtual propaganda arm of the White House. The rest are against him even when they merely report the news. We're all being taken in by this Trumpian dichotomy -- even those of us in the anti-Trump camp. When Trump is the defining issue in America, he gets to set the national agenda. All major debate in this country revolves around him, his goals and the objects of his vilification. The Trumpification of America hardly ends if Democrats take over the House or possibly the Senate. Trump will blame them for everything that goes wrong. He'll make up problems they're supposedly responsible for. He'll ridicule them and call them traitors. He'll do the same to anyone who shows serious interest in running for president against him in 2020. Naturally, Democrats will want to defend themselves. Naturally, they'll also want to attack Trump. If they flip the House, they'll use their subpoena power to dredge up whatever dirt on him they can find -- summoning his tax records, special counsel Robert Mueller, Mueller's investigative findings -- and perhaps even beginning impeachment proceedings. Trump and his Republican enablers will fight back, condemning Democrats for weakening America, engaging in fishing expeditions and witch hunts. Trump and his lawyers will tie up the subpoenas in court, claiming executive privilege. Aspiring Democratic candidates for president will join in the brawl. Op-ed writers, editorial boards and pundits will argue over the best ways for Democrats to proceed against Trump -- going low or going high. Pollsters will tell us which Democratic candidate is seen as being most effective against him. But all of this is a giant trap. It accepts and enforces Trump's worldview that nothing is more important than Donald Trump, that he embodies all that's good or bad about America, and that our most significant choice is to be for him or against him. It allows Trump to continue to dominate the news and occupy the center of the nation's attention. We'd talk about nothing else for two years. We won't be discussing how to restore wage growth, get health insurance to all Americans, reverse climate change or get big money out of politics. We won't be envisioning how a new America can widen opportunity, expand voting rights, end racism, reduce poverty and work constructively with the rest of the world. We won't be aspiring to be more than we were before Trump. We'll debate and dissect the damage done since Trump. Of course Democrats have to fight him. But they also have to lift America beyond him. The central question shouldn't be whether we're pro- or anti-Trump, or whether we go low or high in fighting him. The question is where America should go -- and what we, together, can become. (Robert Reich's latest book is "The Common Good," and his newest documentary is "Saving Capitalism.")


After at least six U.S. tourists died under mysterious circumstances there in the last 12 months, Americans with plans to visit the Dominican Republic are reconsidering their vacations. The deaths include a California man, Robert Wallace , whose family told Fox News he became critically ill in April at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino resort in Punta Cana. They decided to come forward after learning of others recently who died in similar circumstances while vacationing on the island. Wallace's family says he was in the Dominican Republic for his stepson's wedding. He quickly became sick and died after drinking a scotch from the minibar at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Nearly two months later, his family still doesn't have answers. We now know of at least five other Americans who have died in the Dominican Republic in the last year -- most recently, Miranda Schaup-Werner and a couple from Maryland , Edward Holmes and Cynthia Day. All three died at Bahia Principe hotels. Preliminary autopsies released by Dominican authorities say they all had fluid in their lungs and respiratory failure. Toxicology reports have not yet been released. Felecia Nieves' sister Yvette Monique Sport also died at a Bahia Principe resort. She says last year, Monique had a drink at the minibar inside her hotel room, went to bed and never woke up. "There is something … something dirty at the bottom of all of this," Nieves said. "She was 51 years of age, relatively healthy, no reason for her to go on vacation and just die so suddenly." CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg said people shouldn't worry about the "fear factor" but instead about the "common sense factor." He said people should ask several questions of a resort before traveling to the Dominican Republic, including what kind of chemicals are used to clean rooms, how often are the mini bars inspected and restocked and how can staff ensure the drink labels at the minibar match what's inside. "When you look at the sheer number of people who are vacationing there, and then you look at the number of incidents, the numbers are overwhelming in your favor but that does not prevent you or shouldn't prevent you from asking some basic, common sense questions," he said. The Dominican Republic is among the most popular travel destinations for U.S. tourists. Dominican officials estimate around two million Americans visit the island each year, and they insist it's safe. Marci Hudson told CBS News she and her boyfriend recently canceled a trip to Punta Cana. "It was pretty much like a no-brainer," Hudson said. "They don't really have a clear explanation as to what's happening ... we're not even gonna risk it. We don't want to be next." CBS News found several other people on social media who claimed they also recently canceled their trips. Bahia Principe says none of the deaths at its resorts was connected, and Miranda Schaup-Werner died of a heart attack. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino said it is confident all operational protocols were followed. News of this latest death in the Dominican Republic came just after former Red Sox star David Ortiz was gunned down in his hometown of Santo Domingo. The country's attorney general told local media after the shooting of Ortiz that the Dominican Republic is "secure, but definitely has many challenges." The tourism minister basically says the deaths are just coincidences. On its travel advisory alerts, the U.S. State Department rates the Dominican Republic a level two out of four   urging visitors to "exercise increased caution."


Milwaukee's weather report has light rainfall in store for today and tomorrow, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Monday should see the most rain, with a predicted accumulation of 0.28 inches. The next few days will also see warm temperatures, forecast to persist through Thursday. Temperatures will reach a high of 78 degrees on Wednesday, then turn milder on Friday. Skies will partly clear up on Thursday, remaining partly cloudy through Saturday. Winds are forecast to reach a modest high of 13 mph today, but will grow calmer starting on Wednesday. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Video by Veuer America's fertility rate is on the decline. There were more than 3.7 million estimated births in 2018, down 2% on the year before, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics said Wednesday. That's the lowest level since the 1980s, despite an improving economy. Here are some ways the falling fertility rate may impact Americans in the years ahead: The fertility rate could foreshadow an economic downturn Typically, the birth rate rises with an improving economy, but there are other factors at play. Younger and unmarried women are having fewer babies, more women are delaying marriage as they start their careers after college, and dual-income families find it increasingly expensive to have children, especially with the rising cost of child care. Couples may be finding it more difficult to pay their bills, and they're holding off on having more children until their financial situation improves. University of Notre Dame researchers said conceptions dropped ahead of the last three recessions, starting with the recessions of the early 1990s, the early 2000s and the Great Recession from 2008 to 2009. Families with fewer kids save money, but that may not be enough Day care to college tuition continue to climb, so fewer couples are having children. However, static wage growth means these couples are still struggling to make ends meet. Consider this sobering number from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: In 2015, a middle-income married couple with a kid spent 16% more than a family in 1960, adjusting for inflation. Families shouldn't spend more than 7% of their income on child care, according to a recommendation by the Department of Health and Human Services, but there's no state in the country where parents can follow that recommendation, a 2018 analysis by Child Care Aware of America found. Parents in the U.S. spent $9,000 to $9,600 annually for one child's day care in 2017, up roughly 7.5% on the year, according to Child Care Aware of America's study of national average costs. "No matter how you look at the statistics, child care is unaffordable for families across the country," the report said. Don't Miss: Massive cuts to Social Security: This is the 'wall' Americans should worry about It's also difficult for parents to take time off work, especially if they're not being paid. Only the District of Columbia and five states   California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, Washington   have paid family-leave programs. Each offers varying benefits, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Under the Family Medical Leave Act, employers are required to give new parents up to 12 weeks off to take care of a newborn child, but it's left up to the employer to decide whether they should get paid during that time. This will further compound declining Social Security contributions Anqi Chen, assistant director of savings research at Boston College's Center for Retirement Research, said robust birth rates were important for the future health of Social Security funds. "If you think of Social Security as a pay-as-you-go system, paying current and future promised benefits depends on future labor force and future workers," she said. And those numbers, she added, were pegged to factors like birth rates and immigration. With more baby boomers drawing Social Security checks and living longer, the funds are already under pressure. The 2019 Social Security Trustees Report, released last month, said 80% of scheduled benefits will be payable by 2035. At the end of last year, 63 million people received almost $989 billion in Social Security. The trustees' report acknowledges that the future of the trust funds depend on many things, like the size of the workforce, the number of recipients and how much they are getting. Immigration, marriage and divorce rates and the mortality rates also play a part. On a happier note, childless couples say they've better relationships There may also be some upside: Individuals without children said they felt the most satisfied with their relationship, according to a 2014 study carried out by researchers at United Kingdom's Open University; they surveyed 5,000 people over a two-year period ranging in age, sexual orientation and background Perhaps they had more quality time to spend with one another. That wasn't the case for everyone, however. Women with children said they were happy even if the relationship broke down. Plus, a separate study from researchers at Dartmouth College provided more context. It found that adults with kids didn't have higher happiness scores, but their satisfaction rose when the researchers adjusted for those who didn't experience difficulty paying bills.


MIAMI (AP) Runs were tough to come by for the Miami Marlins until their recent turnaround, and now they're scoring several at a time. Jorge Alfaro and Garrett Cooper hit Miami's first three-run homers of the year Tuesday in an 11-3 win over the San Francisco Giants, who lost their sixth game in a row. Trevor Richards (2-5) gave up a homer to Joe Panik on the game's first pitch but blanked San Francisco thereafter. He allowed two hits and one run in seven innings for the Marlins, who earned their eighth victory in 11 games but still have the worst record in the National League. The Marlins are last in the majors in runs, doubles, homers, walks, slugging and OPS. But the offense has been much improved lately. ''You're not hitting three-run homers if guys don't get on base,'' manager Don Mattingly said. His team totaled 14 hits against four San Francisco pitchers. It was another dismal all-around effort by the Giants (21-32), who have been outscored 45-11 in the past four games and are 11 games below .500 for the first time. ''You can't get off to a better start - your leadoff hitter hits the first pitch out of the ballpark,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. ''You think momentum is going to swing over and get the bats going, but it's just the opposite.'' Meanwhile, Miami kept adding on. Alfaro hit his eighth homer in the fifth to make the score 7-1, and Cooper added his third homer in the sixth. When asked about the three-run homer as a weapon, Mattingly smiled. The Marlins had none in their first 51 games. ''I don't mind it,'' Mattingly said. ''We just don't use it enough, right? It's good to see. They change the game quick.'' Starlin Castro's two-out, two-run double in the third put Miami ahead to stay. Rookie Harold Ramirez had three hits to hike his average to .413 in 13 games. ''Sometimes I don't believe I'm here,'' Ramirez said. ''But my mother and my wife told me believe it.'' Pinch hitter Rosell Herrera hit his first homer of the year in the eighth to make the score 11-1. Jeff Samardzija (2-4) lost his third start in a row. He allowed a season-high five earns runs in four-plus innings, matching his shortest outing of the year. ''Obviously everyone's aware of what's going,'' Samardzija said. ''As a starting pitcher, you get that one day, you're chomping at the bit to get out there and throw up a bunch of zeroes and get a big win. Unfortunately it didn't roll that way today.'' The Marlins' first seven runs scored with two out. They went 5 for 13 with runners in scoring position. Miami improved to 10-4 against the Giants since 2017. GOPHER BALLS Alfaro hit a 1-2 fastball from Nick Vincent for his homer. Cooper homered on an 0-2 knuckle curve from Derek Holland. ''Ahead in the count ... that's just poor concentration and execution,'' Bochy said. ''There's no excuses for that.'' TRAINER'S ROOM Giants: Vincent (right pec) will go on the injured list, Bochy said. The right-hander left the game in the sixth inning accompanied by a trainer. ... RHP Trevor Gott (strained forearm) will soon throw a bullpen and is expected to be activated next week. Marlins: RHP Riley Ferrell (sore lat) has been sidelined while on a rehab assignment. UP NEXT Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (3-4. 4.10), who will start the second game of the series Wednesday, has 70 strikeouts and only 13 walks this season. He's 2-0 in five starts in May. Marlins: RHP Pablo Lopez (3-5, 5.40) will start against the Giants for the first time. He is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in four home starts this year. --- Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Phoenix will continue to see hot weather over the next few days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach 109 degrees on Sunday. The immediate forecast also has cloudy skies in store for today. The clouds will part just a bit on Saturday, remaining mostly cloudy through Sunday. Winds are forecast to reach a modest high of 14 mph on Monday, while today and tomorrow will continue to be calmer. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


At the back of an altar in Westminster Abbey is a looted tablet deemed so holy by Ethiopian Christians that only priests from the country's Orthodox church are able to look at it. But the abbey has been accused of gross cultural insensitivity for apparently failing to respond when leaders of the church asked to be able to pray beside the artefact. "I was very shocked and surprised," said Samuel Berhanu, a deacon in the Ethiopian church in London, who contacted Westminster Abbey last year asking for permission for Ethiopian Orthodox church leaders "to organise a viewing and prayer session". "I just couldn't believe that in the 21st century you could have this mentality whereby they have no regard to cultural, religious issues. They were not even open to discussion." Tabots, small tablets in stone or wood, were among hundreds of objects looted in 1868 from Maqdala, the mountain fortress of Emperor Tewodros II in northern Ethiopia, by an expeditionary force under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Napier (one of the Victorian "titans" hailed by Jacob Rees-Mogg in his new book ). The treasures   which to the 35 million-strong community of Ethiopian Christians are deeply sacred   were shared between various institutions, including the British Museum. One tabot was donated to the abbey, by an army officer and in 1870 the architect George Gilbert Scott incorporated it into his designs for an altar in the Henry VII Lady Chapel. In 2010 Westminster Abbey was accused of sacrilege over its refusal to return it to the Ethiopian Orthodox church. Now it is facing another controversy, stemming from an email exchange between Berhanu and Duncan Jeffery, the abbey's head of communications, which began last August. Berhanu, who has campaigned for the return of looted artefacts, wrote to the abbey: "As you know, the tabot is the foundation of the Ethiopian Orthodox church and is what sanctifies and consecrates a church building. The tabot is believed by Ethiopian Christians to be the dwelling place of God on Earth, the mercy seat described in the Bible and the representation of the Ark of the Covenant. Every church has at least one tabot which, when consecrated, is kept in the Qeddest Qeddusan (Holy of Holies) where only the clergy may enter." He asked whether a visiting Ethiopian archbishop could arrange a viewing of the chapel and its tabot. Jeffery replied: "I must stress that the dean and chapter is acutely aware of the sensitive nature of the tabot … Because of the sensitive nature … steps were taken to ensure that the tabot, which is in a very sacred place, was properly covered and could not be seen by anyone. We have no plans to change these arrangements." Berhanu wrote: "Are you able to answer the rest of the questions I asked?" Jeffery replied: "Thank you for your email. The abbey will not be elaborating any further." Berhanu wrote again: "Is it possible to organise a viewing and prayer session from leaders of the Ethiopian Orthodox church? Would Westminster Abbey be able to accommodate this visit?" He said he had not received a further response. "As a Christian, how do you have this view? How are you not able to open the doors?" asked Berhanu. He described the abbey's approach as "quite shameful"   all the more shocking as the church itself was not granting permission to pray. "To me, that's an additional layer of disappointment." An abbey spokesman yesterday reiterated its statement to Berhanu about being "very conscious of the sensitivity of the tabot", adding: "The dean and chapter has no plans to change these arrangements."


Lamar Miller is no spring chicken, and that is why the Houston Texans running back has sought out advice on how to stay fresher in a game that favors youth. The Pro Bowl running back told reporters Sunday at Methodist Training Center that he has been working with Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore in the offseason. "Me and Frank Gore, we work out a lot," Miller said. "He gave me some advice on, as he got older in the league he's been losing weight so I've been trying to take that same strategy. So far, I've been feeling good." Gore is 36 years old and is coming off of one of his fifth-best season in terms of yards per carry at 4.6. While Gore's hometown Miami Dolphins did not retain him after one season, Gore has moved on to their AFC East rival in the hopes to play his 15th NFL season. For Miller, who is 28 years old, Father Time seeks an angle to tackle his career, too. However, the former Miami Dolphin has worked in the offseason to drop his body fat. "My main focus was to drop my body fat and continue to work on my speed and my lower body strength," said Miller. "That's something that I tried to improve on and so far I think I did a great job." Miller produced 973 yards and five touchdowns on 210 carries while also catching 25 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. The former Miami Hurricane, same as Gore, has not lived up to the expectations that come in replacing arguably the franchise's best back in Arian Foster, but Miller has been an effective chairman of Bill O'Brien's running back by committee since 2016. Miller can already feel the effects from a successful offseason. Said Miller: "I feel quicker. This offseason I've done a lot of agility stuff just to continue to try to focus on making guys miss in the open field. So far I've been feeling good." Miller isn't perfect when it comes to sticking to his diet though. A cheat day will pop up here and there, and he knows exactly what he's getting when it's cheat day. "I love burgers, so I always get burgers and fries," Miller said. MORE: LeBron James jumps into Bronny's layup line for a ridiculous dunk Gregg Williams blowing away Adam Gase with Jets training camp defense Emmanuel Butler starting to steal the show at Saints training camp Behind the scenes with new-look Nets: 'We got stars without mortgaging everything'' Packers training camp practice roundup: July 28


Scottish Premier League champion Celtic advanced mostly with ease to the second round of UEFA Champions League qualifying. In the first official home game of the season at Celtic Park, Celtic defeated FK Sarajevo, 2-1, advancing with a 5-2 aggregate victory. Manager Neil Lennon was able to rest some starters, including Craig Gordon, Scott Sinclair and Leigh Griffiths as Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor scored for the hosts. A second half turnover led to a wide-open Benjamin Tatar in the box, who finished to tie the score at 1-1 on the night. McGregor's 76th minute smash from 30-yards out gave Celtic the lead again, which it held on to for the rest of the game. #UCL Round 1 ✅ #CELFKS pic.twitter.com/n96ymdAxr9   Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 17, 2019 With the win, Celtic advances to face Nõmme Kalju of Estonia, with matches set to take place July 23/24 and July 30/31. Here's a roundup of other UCL first round qualifying second leg scores. Riga FC 0-0 Dundalk (4-5 on penalty kicks) AIK 3-1 Ararat Qarabag 2-0 Partizani Rosenborg 4-0 Linfield Ludogorets 2-3 Ferencvaros CFR Cluj 3-1 Astana Piast Gliwice 1-2 BATE Borisov Maribor 2-0 Valur Sutjeska 1-1 Slovan Bratislava


TOKYO (AP)   Mitsubishi Motors Corp. shareholders approved on Friday the ouster of Carlos Ghosn, who was pivotal in the Japanese automaker's three-way partnership with Nissan and Renault until he was arrested on financial misconduct charges last year. The vote took place at a two-hour general meeting of shareholders at a Tokyo hotel, with approval shown in clapping from some 500 shareholders present, although some votes were submitted in advance. Nissan Motor Co. owns 34% of Mitsubishi Motors. Osamu Masuko, who was reappointed chairman, promised to strengthen governance and transparency and monitor wrongdoing. More outsiders will check executive appointments and compensation, he said. Nissan shareholders held an extraordinary shareholders' meeting in April to oust Ghosn as chairman. It is holding a general shareholders' meeting next week to approve governance measures. French automaker Renault SA owns 43% of Nissan. They also approved the appointment of French alliance partner Renault SA's Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard to replace Ghosn. Renault owns 43% of Nissan. Nissan, based in the port city of Yokohama, is holding a general shareholders' meeting next week to approve other measures, including setting up committees to strengthen governance. Nissan said late Thursday two Renault executives will be on the committees. Renault had earlier said it will abstain in that vote, and the greater representation promised on the committees may gain Renault's approval. Some analysts suggest a deepening rift between Renault and Nissan after a planned merger between Renault and Fiat Chrysler fell through earlier this month. Nissan expressed reservations about immediately joining the merger. Masuko told shareholders the auto industry faced challenges because of the costs of advancements such as emissions standards and self-driving technology. He said the Tokyo-based automaker will pursue focus over expansion, repeatedly highlighting the company motto "small but beautiful." He also stressed the importance of auto alliances. "We want to be a profitable company even if smaller in scale," he told shareholders. One Mitsubishi Motors shareholder expressed anger over the Ghosn scandal. But most of the questions asked were peaceful and those asking wanted to know about new models and market strategy. Ghosn, who led Nissan for two decades, saving it from near-bankruptcy, had served as chairman at Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi, and was long a revered figure in the industry. He has been charged with falsifying financial reports in underreporting retirement compensation and with breach of trust in having Nissan shoulder investment losses and in diverting Nissan money for personal gain. Ghosn says he is innocent. He has resigned from Renault. ___ Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yurikageyama/?hl=en


. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) As we poured over the Madden NFL 20 player ratings for the Pittsburgh Steelers, several things stood out. As you all know, August 2 is the launch date for the latest version of the only NFL game on the market and every year when the player ratings come out, people have concerns. This year was less about outright complaints and more about surprise with overall how low many of Pittsburgh's top players were rated but specifically here are the three that took of off guard the most. Ryan Shazier's 84 rating While we appreciate the inclusion of Shazier in the game after spending last season in IR but it feels a little awkward to see him with an 84 rating as he spends a second straight year on the injured list while he continues to recover from his major back injury just 19 months ago. It will be cool to play with him but nevertheless having him one of the highest-rated players on the team seems out of place. Only one Steeler with a 90+ rating Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports The Steelers have 14 guys on the roster with at least an 80 rating but only a single one made it to 90 or above. While we agree guard David DeCastro deserves the 93 rating - and probably should be higher -- it is sobering to see him on top all by himself. It really drives the point home guys like Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are gone, Ben Roethlisberger is getting older and some of the younger guys aren't quite there yet. T.J. Watt's 82 rating Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports If there is any guy on the roster who was woefully underrated this time around it's Watt. How can a player who finished with 13 sacks, 68 tackles and six forced fumbles rate lower Shazier? This is no disrespect to Shazier but Watt deserves better than this. He is going to prove his doubters wrong this season for sure. MORE: NBA Twitter had so many jokes when Jared Dudley asked for an edit of him with his new number Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense E'Twaun Moore Q&A: 'I didn't know we were going to get all of that back for Anthony Davis' Woj: With only 1 open roster spot, Lakers unlikely to sign J.R. Smith "Madden NFL 20" ratings for 49ers offense